Welcome back, Washington. We hope those of you who celebrate Christmas had a holly and/or jolly one, and that your stock of material possessions has been satisfactorily increased. As you might expect, not too terribly much happened while you've been away. Davis Mulls Eighth Term: Sure, it was published yesterday, but we imagine many of you may have missed the Post's analysis of whether Tom Davis will seek another term as congressman for Northern......

Happy Friday morning, Washington. After the latest concerns over the quality and safety of the D.C. area's drinking water, did you think twice about drinking out of the tap yesterday? We mentioned it briefly at the end of the day yesterday, but the Post has a full story on how WASA and Washington Aqueduct officials are trying to calm our concerns about our tap water. Officials said high levels of chlorine toxins found in May......

With military recruitment numbers continuing to spiral downward, this week's quote of the week got us thinking. All the military really needs is better marketing. You can't really envy their task in trying to get people to sign up for an unpopular war. Maybe they need to play down the grim realities. Play up the softer side of the military. Use things like the volleyball montage from Top Gun to show that doing your duty......

Today activists around the country are planning demonstrations supporting immigrantions. You'll recall that last year organizers staged a national boycott to highlight immigrants' contribution to the American economy. In D.C. several demonstrations are slated. The National Immigrant Solidarity Network sponsors a few of the events. WTOP has a fairly exhaustive list: A May Day Asian American rally is planned for noon at Taft Memorial Park, north of the Capitol. A hunger strike and rally at......

We already used one of Flickr user aterkel's photos from the kite festival this morning, but how could we resist using this quintessential Springtime In D.C. shot for Photo of the Day? EXIF.......

Good morning, Washington. Well, it was great while it lasted. But while it's true that last night's rains may have added to the treacherous icepack, and although WTTG has made a yeoman's effort at convincing us that icy death could plummet onto us from above at any moment, we still can't help but feel like the golden age of this winter's weather paranoia may be drawing to a close. That's Barely $2M Per Seat!:......

In D.C.'s own rendition of manifest destiny, our suburbs seem to be expanding with all the vigor of well-watered kudzu. It's how DCist imagines the old horror standard The Blob, if it were retold by John Cheever: the mucilaginous mass slowly gorges on pastoral countryside, dusty antique shops, and quaint Main Streets, leaving only Bed, Bath, and Beyond in its wake. While taking a look at the political implications of these population shifts, the Post......

Let's start with the good news this morning: this excessive, unrelenting, soul-sucking heat is expected to come to an end tomorrow, say the guys at Capital Weather. And we say they better not just be leading us on. However, today is yet another day in Scorcher '06 -- and may even be the hottest one yet -- with highs once again flirting with triple digits. Heat-related Problems Continue: With near record temperatures, people are......

What is art? In D.C. there seems to be a fine line between destruction of property and what is considered an appropriate form of expression. Last month we talked about Stamp Act Congress' campaign to stamp their logo onto money to show support for their cause, and questioned the legalities behind the defacement of such currency. In a similar fashion, two graduate students from an art school in San Francisco have recently started-up a website......

In the second installment of our new Music Rountable feature, we ventured to encapsulate the elusive art of a live show. After you see what our panel of D.C. musicians and music professionals have to say, let us know -- why do you go to see live music? What do you look for? Or, offer your thoughts on the question as posed to our panel. How important should the performance aspect of a show be?......

Good morning, Washington. Today our thoughts are outside the beltway and with the people in the regions bracing for the wrath of Katrina, which made landfall this morning. Katrina may have been downgraded to a category four hurricane, yet it remains among the most powerful to ever hit the continental U.S. Our friends at Capital Weather have been following the storm closely and have posted a trove of commentary and insight. Our thoughts are with......

Sometimes you're in a Gulf Coast mood. You know, the kind of mood that compels you to do any number of things you'd normally avoid. Like wear a Hawaiian shirt, or drink mai tais, or listen to Jimmy Buffet. For those moments (and admit it -- you've had at least one, right?) there's Cantina Marina, located not on the Georgetown Waterfront, but on the water in Southwest -- one of the new epicenters for development......

WJLA is reporting that unless Gov. Mark Warner amends or vetoes a recently passed bill, underage drinking will be legal at private parties in Virginia. The original bill was intended to prevent those under 21 from consuming alcohol, but a loophole was added via an amendment in the Virginia Senate. Underage drinking is still illegal in Virginia, but a technicality allows hosts to claim that those underage are guests at a private residence and allowed......

On our way home from work, DCist took a quick stroll across the newly reopened Pennsylvania Avenue pedestrian precinct in front of the White House. While How Now, Brown Pau was underwhelmed with the results, we're still digesting the revamped streetscaping. From How Now, Brown Pau: I had expected that the whole stretch of Penn Ave from 15th to 17th NW would be paved over with colored granite slabs, turning the street fronting the White......

"You're missing the biggest story of the day," a vigilant reader writes us. "I just waited half an hour to early vote at the DC Board of Elections. I also voted electronically-smooth, easy and idiot proof." In D.C., voters may cast an absentee ballot in person up to 14 days before the election: You may cast an absentee ballot, in person, in our office (441 4th St., NW #250) beginning 14 days before the election.......

The creators of the ubiquitous political flash film This Land have released another work, this time declaring It's Good To Be In D.C. While we appreciate the subject matter (It is good to be here!) the flash doesn't quite measure up to This Land - which the brothers readily admit on their blog: "In truth, we’re a couple of whores. Jay Leno asked if we’d be interested in making another one to debut on The......

So if you've been wondering who we are, we have a staff page that is more or less ready for viewing, but with new DCist contributors coming on board, look for it to change. If you find yourself on 18th Street this evening, we would love for you to join us for our launch party/happy hour. DCeiver even says we're giving out free treats, Oprah-style. While we cannot confirm that everyone will get a free......