Petula Dvorak

The pool is where it’s at in summer

The contemporary swimming pool is the place we go to play, gossip and bond.

Petula Dvorak

Marion Barry’s painful family legacy

Stories like Christopher Barry’s tale of addiction are sadly played out across socioeconomic levels everywhere.

Petula Dvorak

Faltering fans of women’s sports

Every once in a while, something will happen to energize the masses about women’s sports. But the excitement usually doesn’t last.

Petula Dvorak

Meditation on the Buddhists around us

The Dalai Lama is in Washington. And if you think about it, what other place has more need for peace, harmony and cleansing?

Robert McCartney

Stonewall’s belt buckle an auction surprise

Manassas National Battlefield Park displays the Confederate general’s buckle, lent by couple who didn’t know what they were buying.

Robert McCartney

Spending cuts and regional transit

GOP’s proposed spending cuts on transportation would stall or reverse transit plans in the Washington region.

Robert McCartney

Textbook needs to lose liberal tone

A 3rd-grade textbook criticized as too liberal by a mother and tea party supporter is slanted to the left and should be revised or scrapped — even though I support its goals

Robert McCartney

Shame Leslie Johnson out of office

To help shed its corrupt image, Prince George's’ County should wield public humiliation to force Leslie Johnson to quit the County Council now that she has pleaded guilty to a federal felony.

Courtland Milloy

Honoring Civil War’s black soldiers

The African American Civil War Museum and Memorial reopens in a much larger space in Northwest Washington.

Courtland Milloy

Leggett mindful of black political success

The Montgomery County executive knows that the wrongdoing of a few can cast a negative light on all.

Courtland Milloy

For Americans and Cubans, divide not that deep

There are so many ways our countries could help one another. Instead, American arrogance and Cuban pride shortchange us all.

Courtland Milloy

Another side of Gil Scott-Heron

The protest poet and critic of global injustice was also a man who could find pleasure in his children, his mother and the 1969 Mets.

The Federal Eye

Federal employees surveyed on benefits

Joe Davidson

The Office of Personnel Management wants to find out what federal employees think about their benefits and what Senior Executive Service members think about their career program.

Joe Davidson

Federal unions campaign against cuts

Fearing members will pay more than their fair share to fix the nation’s financial problems, they’re fighting back.

The Federal Eye

NTEU kicks off campaign to boost federal workers’ image

Joe Davidson

The National Treasury Employees Union launched a public service campaign Thursday to counter “unwarranted and harmful attacks on federal workers and public service.”

The Federal Eye

Hundreds of post offices could close

Lisa Rein and Joe Davidson

FED EYE | U.S. Postal Service will review up to 3,600 post offices as its mail volume continues to decline.

All We Can Eat

Richard Brandenburg leaves ThinkFoodGroup

Tom Sietsema

The former chef for Cafe Atlantico accepts a job at a real estate development company.

Going Out Gurus

Chef change for America Eats Tavern

Tom Sietsema

Richard Brandenburg, the former head chef of Cafe Atlantico and America Eats Tavern, is leaving the ThinkFoodGroup to work for a development company, and his main focus will be rethinking Capital City Market in Washington.

Tom Sietsema

Ask Tom -- Washington Post restaurant critic Tom Sietsema discusses the DC dining scene

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Tom Sietsema

First Bite: Seasonal Pantry

Chef Daniel O’Brien offers a meal three nights a week in his small food shop in Shaw.