After nearly thirteen years of planning and construction, the beautiful bronze building on the National Mall will open for the first time. The long-awaited National Museum of African American History and Culture, which was authorized by Congress in 2003, will open September 24 with a three-day festival and a dedication …

FAMOUS FORECAST The usual 93 and sunny. Just take a look for yourself. FRIDAY JAM Brought to you by Tazwelle Jones of Bryant Row.   It’s Friday, which calls for a song of the day that pumps you up for the weekend. DJ duo The Chainsmokers partnered with Halsey for this summery mix called …

FAMOUS FORECAST Summer is here to stay for the rest of August, that’s for sure! A high of 91 today with partly cloudy skies and some lovely humidity to make that commute home extra special. WEDNESDAY JAM Brought to you by Tazwell Jones of Bryant Row.  We don’t need to wait ’till Thursday …

FAMOUS FORECAST It’s a perfect day in DC – the sun is shining, temperatures are in the 80’s, and it’s Thirsty Thursday. THURSDAY JAM Brought to you by Robert Cogan of the United States House of Representatives. My Throwback Thursday track is THUNDER IN YOUR HEART from the critically acclaimed 1986 BMX …

FAMOUS FORECAST Fingers crossed that summer is here to stay. We are loving the 80 degree temps and fabulous sunshine! WEDNESDAY JAM Brought to you by Taz Jones of Bryant Row. If you haven’t heard of the Morrison Brothers Band, you’d better listen up. These DC locals are making us proud nationwide with …

FAMOUS FORECAST We’re making progress! The temps are slowly climbing with a high of 81 and scattered storms throughout the District today. MONDAY JAM Brought to you by Taz Jones of Bryant Row. Mondays are a lot easier when you remind yourself that you’re a rock star. A motivating soundtrack helps a …

FAMOUS FORECAST Could it really be the sun? YES! FRIDAY JAM Brought to you by Taz Jones of Bryant Row. It’s gorgeous out there today, folks, and that’s a powerful reminder to pause and enjoy the simpler things in life – they’re usually the best. You’re going to need a great soundtrack …

FAMOUS FORECAST Absolutely no rain in sight for the duration of today with temperatures hitting 68 degrees. THURSDAY JAM Brought to you by Brian Johnson, founder of HungryLobbyist.com. My Throwback Thursday jam is Wu Tang Clan’s “Da Mystery of Chessboxin” from their 1993 album 36 Chambers. When Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, …

FAMOUS FORECAST Well…at least there isn’t any rain today. Fingers crossed it stays that way! WEDNESDAY JAM Brought to you by Taz Jones of Bryant Row. We love being that voice in your head telling you to turn it up and let loose, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kick back and take …

FAMOUS FORECAST This is a sick joke, right? TUESDAY JAM Brought to you by Taz Jones of Bryant Row.  Some people are going to tell you that Tuesday is way too early in the week to cut loose and have fun. None of those people work at FamousDC. Crank out Song of the …

The Skinny (No Spoilers) When I was in high school, my U.S. history professor said that the biggest mistake that teachers make is to not teach past World War II. Whether it is from spending too much time on the Civil War or on the outsized personalities of revolutionary presidents, most professors run out of time at the end of the year and are only able to get us to 1945. As a result, we have kids that know what happened at the constitutional convention, but don’t know about those events that still directly impact their contemporary worlds: What caused the first Gulf War? What is the Civil Right Acts? What the hell happened during the Vietnam War? Last Days in Vietnam is a damn good documentary on the evacuation of the American embassy in Saigon in 1975. The famous picture of people scurrying to the roof to board a helicopter has been burned into a generation of American memories, rightly or wrongly, as a symbol of the wars futility (even though the roof shown is not actually that of the embassy). Directed by Rory Kennedy, who won an Emmy for the documentary Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, Last Days of Vietnam uses interviews from former embassy workers and soldiers, American and Vietnamese, to paint of rich narrative of those chaotic days. Running a quick 98 minutes, Last Days in Vietnam moves quick as a bunny, while still giving the viewer the necessary context. This is a must watch for those within Generation Y, since it is highly unlikely they have read, or heard, much about these April events.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, opened in 1972 to much fanfare, took the banner of “central library” from the Mt. Vernon branch for which Andrew Carnegie donated funds (Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square). After a study from Booz Allen confirmed the downtown area needed a modern library, the MLK Jr. Library was constructed. Now, the 40,000 square foot glass and steel hulk stands apart from its neighbors, not quite traditional DC style and not quite contemporary, but altogether bold. Originally (that’s 1896 originally), Congress decreed DC needed libraries “to furnish books and other printed matter and information service convenient to the homes and offices of all residents of the District.” Now, in an age where libraries can go bust thanks to digital resources, the library offers classes on modern subjects like how to use Adobe Illustrator (gasp!) and Vine (gosh!) and will have a Digital Commons space soon. Since it will be renovated (already in process), it’s worth a stroll through the stacks to get that pop-70s feel one more time.

The 9:30 Club as you know it today- an award winning, freestanding venue just north of U Street- wasn’t always on the corner of 9th and V NW. As a less-than-five-years-category newbie to DC, I’ve been to a couple dozen concerts at the 9:30, but didn’t know much about its history (including its  mysterious …

Settled on the edge of the Mt. Vernon neighborhood, a self-described historic hotel projects into DC an image of its near-past. Intricate eaves of the Morrison-Clark Inn lock together under an Asian-inspired, red tiled roof. Its dark, grand woodwork and bold colors lend a masculine touch, but its history and leadership were commanded by prominent women in the early 1900s.  

When the District was illuminated by gas flame and before cell phones (BCP) city planners spliced street lights and call boxes together to create a corner by corner assistance system. Bright red glass surrounded the flame up top, making a “Police” or “Fire Call Box” logo glow in the darkness. …