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Science City or Sprawling Mess?

The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda is one of the largest employers in Montgomery County. It's so big, it has its own Metro stop. County lawmakers are now reviewing planning and zoning changes that would allow a science-focused development on a similar scale in an area west of Gaithersburg - anchored by Johns Hopkins University. But the nearest Metro stop is four miles away. Matt Bush reports on how residents, politicians, planners and the school are battling over what some are calling an impending traffic nightmare.

Fred Fiske: Why I am Thankful for Traffic Tickets

Nobody likes being on the receiving end of a ticket. But Commentator Fred Fiske says we should find a way to be thankful for traffic tickets.

Blessed Are The Cheesemakers

About ten years ago, a pair of mad scientists named Mike Koch and Pablo Solanet set about trying to reinvent the wheel - a wheel of cheese, that is. Working solely in goat's milk, the pair founded Firefly Farms. The creamery is located in Bittinger, Maryland... that's in Garrett County, on the far western edge of the state. It produces seven varieties of goat cheese ranging from a soft, brie-like cheese to a strong bleu. And it can boast about numerous domestic and international awards, including a gold, silver, and bronze in the 2008 World Cheese Awards. On October 3rd, their cheeses will be submitted for judging again. Andrew Hiller has more.

Pirate Linguistics

Avast me hearties! International Talk Like a Pirate Day be a holiday like no other. But did you ever stop to wonder why pirates don't conjugate the verb 'be?' Well, linguistics students at Georgetown University did. Last weekend, in honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day, they held the first symposium on the topic of pirate language, giving a scholarly spin to a silly holiday. Lisa Raffensperger reports.

Vandaveer - Divide and Conquer

The DC band Vandaveer is back with its second album... and 'Divide and Conquer' finds the duo delivering an understated gem. It's packed with solid songwriting and attention-grabbing vocal harmony.

We're joined in the studio by Vandaveer - Mark Charles Heidinger and Rose.

Bets Bets with Colleen Fay

Autumn is upon us. And with it comes a new wave of theatre, dance and music productions in and around DC. To help us sort it all out, Arts Editor Colleen Fay is back with another edition of her best bets.

Bonnie Auslander: Knitting and Chekhov

Now that fall clothes are filling the store shelves, writer Bonnie Auslander has big dreams for future knitting projects. She admits, though, that her love for knitting is greater than her talent.

Bonnie Auslander is a writer - and knitter - living in Bethesda.