With the holiday season upon us, DCist is bracing for the usual phalanx of seasonal activities. There’s a number of events around the mall of interest. Now that we’ve answered all your questions about the National Christmas Tree, you can head down to the Ellipse tonight to see it lit. To the right is a photo of Lynn Cheney putting the finishing touches on it last week. If the idea of a family-friendly Pagent of…

A tip from a neighbor has placed Arlington resident Nancy Swift under the eye of the federal government. The school teacher found her home and work visited by groups of federal agents last summer, apparently after a neighbor called authorities to report a tenant of her home, a young Middle Eastern resident, had friends over to visit. The same neighbor also calls authorities when her grass is too long. Now Swift and her former housemate…

>> Flip Orley, self-proclaimed world’s funniest comic hypnotist, brings his show to DC Improv tonight. He’ll be here through Nov. 14. 8:30 p.m. >> The Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam makes a stop at the Lincoln Theater. Nine poets, melding hip hop and the spoken word, read from their works. 8 p.m., $36. >> Take your inner child out for a movie: The Polar Express, starring a vaguely creepy animated version of Tom Hanks, opens…