>> Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) was indicted today on allegations that he took bribes to promote high-tech business ventures in Africa and for being a complete idiot for storing that money in his freezer. [WaPo] >> “If my understanding of DC history is correct, the grounds where the Ronald Reagan building stands have been: 1. a swamp-assed forest 2. an awkward triangle in L’Enfant’s partially realized dream 3. a neighborhood of brothels, flopboxes,…

D.C. Battles It Out In The Kitchen One of Washington’s best food events, the Capital Food Fight, is a little over a week away, and I expect there is wanton smack-talking between the competition’s 10 food-fighters. Bebo’s Roberto Donna, Mie n Yu’s Tim Elliot, Kinkead’s Bob Kinkead, last year’s winner Ris Lacoste, Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar, Taberna del Alabardero’s Santi Zabaleta, John Wabeck of Firefly, IndeBleu’s Vikram Garg, Anthony Chittum from Notti Bianche,…

The Washington Post reports today that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pentagon Memorial, commemorating those that died on September 11th, has been scheduled for June 15. The design includes 184 benches, each one engraved with the name and birth year of someone who perished in the Pentagon or on Flight 77, cantilevered over small reflecting pools. Located at the building’s southwest corner, the memorial will occupy 1.93 acres and cost approximately $17.5 million to build….

We know many of our readers may not have $350 to drop on a gala banquet ticket, but Goodwill’s unique event this weekend looked so intriguing that we had to make a mention. The Fashion of Goodwill, presented this Saturday, Sept. 17 by Goodwill of Greater Washington, is the organization’s first runway show and gala. The evening is hosted at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center (snazzy!) and in addition to the runway show, guests…

As part of Disney’s celebration of Mickey Mouse’s 75 anniversary the company has designed 75 Mickey Mouse sculptures which will be touring the country. All 75 will be shown at the International Trade Center downtown from March 19 to April 30. Even though he says “I don’t really even like mickey mouse and have never been to disneyland,” local photographer Eric Petersen wrote to let us know the exhibit is already up, and he…

This is the third week of the month and that means two more gallery crawls this week. >> The first gallery crawl is on Thursday, when the galleries and art venues around the 7th Street corridor have their openings and extended hours. As always, these events are free and open to the public (see their website for more info). Of particular interest are the new artists being showcased at Zenith Gallery and the 7th Annual…

2:15 a.m. … It all hung on Ohio or it may still hang on Ohio. Some media outlets have put Ohio in the Bush column, but it appears that the Kerry camp hasn’t given up all hope yet. Ohio’s 20 electoral votes may be up in the air for days. There are still ballots to be counted. But right now, it appears that George W. Bush will be re-elected and Sen. John Kerry of…

As we’ve mentioned, lines to vote today have been forcasted to be long, and indeed they are. This photo here is of the voting site at the 2nd District Police headquarters on Idaho Avenue. Over at the International Union of Operating Engineers hall in Glover Park, the line to vote stretched down Calvert Street nearly to the western gate to the vice president’s house at the Naval Observatory. (Here’s the Post’s morning update on…

Today marks the three year anniversary of the horrible terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which turned a beautiful September morning into a day that changed the nation and the world. Flight 77, out of Dulles Airport, was hijacked, descended on the city and crashed into the northwest side of the Pentagon. Flight 93, out of Newark, N.J., turned around near Cleveland and was heading toward Washington with its eyes on the Capitol, but…

Two noteworthy specials will air on WETA PBS-23 tonight related to the 9/11 attack on New York City. First will be what DCist has heard is a very good NOVA documentary about the World Trade Center attack titled “Why the Towers Fell” at 8 p.m. Second, at 9 p.m., is the premier of a new Frontline documentary titled “Sacred Ground” about the planning surrounding the site’s reconstruction. Featured in the Frontline documentary is wrangling surrounding…