For the past seven years, the Kennedy Center has launched its season with Prelude, a month-long series of events that are available to the public for free or at a low cost. Prelude gives a chance for new patrons to see the range of performances the Kennedy Center offers, while regular patrons have a chance to experience more contemporary and innovative works. This year's Prelude is titled Arts Across America, and is a multi-disciplinary program......

Mark your calendars: WMATA put out a release earlier today announcing the dates of a series of six public meetings at which you can voice your opinions about the proposed Metro fare hikes, which would go into effect in January. The full set of proposed increases is here, but the basics include raising the base fare of Metrorail from $1.35 to $1.65, keep bus fares the same as long as you use SmarTrip cards (add......

City Paper really needs to pay employees more This blog post from City Paper's Jessica Gould seems to imply that perhaps City Paper is not paying its employees quite enough. Recalling The Simpsons episode, "Lisa Gets an A", Gould discusses going to Whole Foods with the purpose of compiling a lunch entirely from the free samples. As she went for a sample, one of the employees "caught her in the act." I'm all about......

Instead of drooling over more astrophotograpy (you mean you missed this gorgeous sight on Saturday night?), let's bring the lens in a little and admire this shot by Flickr user Joshua Davis (articnomad). He stopped by the Joint Services Open House, an annual air show at Andrews Air Force base, and caught this guy, part of the U.S. Army's Golden Knight jump team, floating his way back to land. EXIF.......

>> At the the Guy Mason Recreation Center tonight there will be an open house to discuss DDOT's Glover Park Transportation Study. 6:30 to 8 p.m. [via FreeRide] >> Trippy Japanese instrumentalists Mono stop by the Rock and Roll Hotel with Grails and World’s End Girlfriend. $10/$12, 8 p.m. doors. >> The American City Diner & Cafe hosts a special screening of the still great Mike Nichols film Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, starring......

FRIDAY: >> What, you mean you don't already see enough of Ian Svenonius around town? The DJ, Internet talk show host and former head of Nation of Ulysses and The Make-Up is giving you another chance to eyeball his annoying multitalentedness with a slide show presentation in conjunction with the release of "The Psychic Soviet", a collection of essays he's recently published. 7 p.m. tonight at Crooked Beat Records. SATURDAY: >> There is an open......

>> Looks like this morning's hellish Red Line delays were caused by an electrical malfunction involving the much-storied third rail. Sparks and smoke were first reported on the tracks between Dupont Circle and Woodley Park Stations at 7:15 a.m., forcing both north and southbound trains to share one track for two hours. Delays continued after the issue was resolved, as backed-up passengers filtered onto inbound trains. [Washington Post] >> One blogger tells the harrowing tale......

It's that time of the year again, when people make resolutions they do not plan on keeping. Join DCist in resolving to see more art in 2007, but let's mean it. You could get started this week. >> Studio Gallery will have an invitational show featuring artists from the greater D.C. metropolitan area (January 3 to 28). This will include Suzanne Quinlan, whose work is shown at right. Open Wednesdays to Sundays, 2108 R St.......

Time to put on your bow ties and ball gowns, because it's inaugural season — at least it is here in D.C., where Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty is planning on holding an inaugural ball January 2. And guess what? You're invited! Yes, you. I know; we feel special too. Starting today at 9 a.m. and going till 6 p.m., free tickets to the inaugural ball will be handed out in the rear lobby of the Frank......

Everyone must be finishing up their holiday shopping this weekend, because arts events are a little few and far between, but we've got your weekend warm-up for you: >> If you haven't yet trekked to one of the many local venues that have featured artist Amy Lin, it's time to clear your Friday evening schedule and head down to the DCAC in Adams Morgan. The space will show Obsession, curated by Anne Collins Goodyear, an......

If you follow the comments on this site at all, you've probably noticed that one of the topics that stirs up much digital debate is Metro. Be they lovers or haters, DCist readers love to complain about it, compare it to systems in other cities (especially New York), suggest ways to improve it, etc., etc. Well, here's your chance to take your comments offline and address them to someone who can actually do something about......

Good morning, D.C. Thanks to everyone who joined us for Unbuckled last night — DC9 was packed for what we think was our best show yet. We had a great time, and we hope that you did, too. If you snapped some pictures while you were there, do us a favor and tag them on Flickr with unbuckled3 so that we can round 'em up in one place. Now that your concertgoing and drinking responsibilities......

The weekly Ist wrap-up is written by Seattlest editor Dan Gonsiorowski. Gothamist posts on the capture of a NYC perv thanks to Little Brother and a camera phone. They also scour the city for vodka martinis and Shamrock shakes and spot the friend from the Wonder Years at a city law firm. New York police think that Littlejohn is their man. Houstonist is no stranger to megachurches or stripmalls or mega-strip-churchmalls. The children of Houston......

With a piece that illustrates the unique beauty and historical significance of the Heurich House, the Post has published an article on Washington's very own piece of the Victorian Era. From the article, docent Mary Anne Hoffman observes, "This is the last grand splash of high Victoriana," also noting that Heurich House is "a time capsule." The Post goes on to describe the intricate details and furnishings of the house, transporting the reader back to......

With all our posts as of late regarding Heurich House you can tell that we're fans of trying to save it from being sold (and very possibly gutted) for private use. Interest expense on the house has risen over $150,000 in the past two years, thus exceeding the budget of the Heurich House Foundation, the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) that holds the house in the public interest. Due to having defaulted on the rising interest payments, the......

While there is plenty to discuss in the world of Metrorail and Metrobus, today's installment of Transit on Thursday will focus on the always controversial Whitehurst Freeway. As you may recall, the Whitehurst -- built in the 1940s and named after Herbert Whitehurst -- has been on the chopping block for some time now, eyed by Council-member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) for demolition. He and his Georgetown constituents have never much liked the elevated......

Viridian Crosses Starting Line Engines thumping, and pumping in time. Everyone, including Daily Candy, Don Rockwell, aunts and uncles, etc. have been telling us that Viridian is opening this weekend. Looks like it's true, despite the dose of snark in last week's Feed. According to the owners, Rebecca Byrnes (formerly of The Reef) will be head chef at the 14th Street NW joint, and Kenan Forman will be in charge of the adult grape juice.......

A few months back, DCist readers had the chance to go back and forth on an issue that has since quieted down -- whether the city should knock down the Whitehurst Freeway or not. Opinions differed, with some readers arguing that the freeway -- which parallels the Potomac River above K Street in Georgetown -- is an eye sore that limits development and others noting that it helps direct 42,000 cars a day away from......

>> New York artist Faith Ringgold's latest series, Jazz Stories 2004: Mama Can Sing, Papa Can Blow, will be at the University of Maryland's The Art Gallery starting Wed. through Dec. 10. If you were inspired by last weekend's Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, try to make it there by 5 p.m. tomorrow for the artist talk, then stick around for the opening reception from 7 to 9 p.m. >> Hemphill Fine Arts is hosting a......

The only good thing about the end of summer for this DCist (sniff) is that we can hear more good music this week, and that means that your Classical Music Agenda finally has something to report. Unfortunately, if your budget is limited, most of the city's free concert series, but not all, do not begin their fall seasons until October. Nevertheless, thanks to our tireless searching on your behalf, we still have a few free......

From DCist Food contributor Adam Bailey As you know, the many tentacles of DCist pay no heed to political boundaries. Even Western Ave. at the fair District's northwest edge can't contain us. That's why we're looking forward to the 16th annual Taste of Bethesda. ToB is Saturday, October 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Woodmont Triangle in conjunction with the annual Best of Bethesda Day (or, as DCist prefers, Besthesday), so mark your......

Looking to get out on the water this weekend? Sunday is National Learn to Row Day and the Capital Rowing Club is hosting an open house at the Anacostia Community Boathouse at 1115 O St. SE, on the far side of the Navy Yard. There will be hands-on instruction in the basics of sweep rowing. And it’s free. All you have to do is be at least 13 years old. And we hear that......

Enjoy today as temperatures will rise up near 70 degrees. It'd be a great day for a lunchtime walk or extended lunch, if you're so lucky. Perhaps a stroll past the Robert A. Taft memorial on the Senate side of the Capitol grounds, as seen in this DCist photo taken early Tuesday evening. And speaking of weather, Dan Stillman at Capital Weather questions why Reagan National Airport is D.C.'s official weather observation post and......

A few months ago, we were told a story about a couple that had just bought a condo on the Georgetown waterfront with a prime view of the ... Whitehurst Freeway. (Ooops, you didn't see the highway during the open house? The curtains must have been closed.) "Oh, we have a strong citizens' association!" the wife said. "We're going to have the freeway taken down." We thought, boy, it's amazing how far one's condo fees......

Washington is an international city and draws people and visitors from around the globe, but it is more often associated with cynicism and politics than with warm fuzzy feelings of goodwill. That is why it is especially heartening to see local fundraising efforts for tsunami relief activities continue to grow. The latest announcement comes from Georgetown Yoga, which is offering three charity yoga classes, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., on January 16, 23, and 30. Proceeds from......

>> Avoid the mall and take advantage of the numerous venues for purchasing handmade arts and crafts here in D.C., including Gateway Georgia Avenue's 2nd Annual Holiday ArtWalk tomorrow night in Silver Spring. Local artists will have paintings, prints, photos, quilts and more available for sale for $15-$300. Even if you're only browsing, you can enjoy free empanadas from Los Arrieros or wine and finger food at The Graphic Workshop, Pyramid Atlantic and Kari Minnick......

(From DCist's Cyndi Spain) >> New at the Govinda Gallery in Georgetown is "Kate Simons. Photographs" which celebrates the intimate portraits that Simons took of Bob Marley (one example, above) until his death in 1981. The exhibition commemorates Marley's upcoming 60th anniversary and includes the new, limited edition publication "Rebel Music: Bob Marley & Roots Reggae." Each copy (available through the gallery) is signed by the photographer and weighs in at a hefty $395.......

There's a variety of events this week that might be of interest to DCist readers. Tomorrow, WMATA will be holding their first-ever "open house" at their downtown headquarters. In light of a number of recent transit snafus, we think this meeting will be well worth attending -- if only to see who turns up. Wednesday is the November Weblogger Meetup scheduled through the Meetup.com service. The group will be meeting at 7 p.m. at the......

WMATA ignored suggestions made by the National Transportation Safety Board after a 1996 accident that could have prevented injuries in the recent collision on the Red Line. After a train operating by computer collided with an empty train on the Red Line during a snow storm in 1996, the NTSB suggested WMATA reinforce their cars to prevent "telescoping." The Post is clear in their story that the recommendation on reinforcing the Metro cars was one......

The region's largest transit agency has made a couple important announcements lately. First, WMATA has announced it will hold its first-ever town hall meeting and open house on Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. The meeting will allow members of the public to directly ask the Board of Directors questions, and will be moderated by former Post columnist Bob Levey. We expect the meeting to be interesting, particularly since they have recently admitted......