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The Year Of Giving

As the nation struggles to recover from recession, many Americans remain out of work. The latest numbers from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show Washington's jobless rate rose to 12-percent in January.

Being unemployed might not seem like the best time to, say, start giving away your money. But when a 36-year-old man in Northwest D.C. was laid off from his job at a local nonprofit, that's precisely what he decided to do.

Since December, Reed Sandridge has been giving $10 of his savings to a different stranger each day. He calls it The Year of Giving.

Rebecca Sheir meets with Sandridge on Day 86...

Below is a video of Sandridge's conversation with Nathan, a man Sandridge decided to give $10 to on Day 86:

Jessica Piscitelli: Trust

Along with the spirit of giving, Reed Sandridge's concept touches on the issue of trust. For everyone who said "Yeah, sure I'll take ten bucks," there was someone who said, "Wait a minute, what's the catch?"

Writer Jessica Piscitelli says these days she finds herself in that second camp. While she was lamenting what she calls a loss of civility in 2010, she suddenly noticed her own loss of the ability to trust...

The Hall Of Human Origins

The Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History turned a 100 years old this week. And along with the birthday cookies the museum celebrated its origins with a new permanent exhibit on HUMAN origins. It was unveiled at the exact time the museum first opened its doors in 1910.

Stephanie Kaye speaks with curator Richard Potts about what it means to take a look back-waaay back-as the museum begins its second century...

March = Kite Fest Central

There are signs of spring everywhere, and it's not just pollen that you'll find blowing in the wind. There are two major kite festivals happening in the District, this weekend and next.

First up is the Kites of Asia Day inside the National Air and Space museum that's happening on Saturday, March 20th.

Andrew Hiller reports...

Fred Fiske: The Recession

Senior Commentator Fred Fiske considers the recession and its effects on Washington...

Twitter Trucks

Getting food in downtown D.C. at high noon can be enough to make anyone want to brown-bag it. Across the city, lunch lines at even basic chain restaurants like Chipotle or Potbelly can overflow onto the sidewalk.

But in the past few years, a new option has emerged. It's gourmet, literally on the go. Amy Blaszyk has this report on Twitter, trucks and street food...

Tim Carman: D.C. Street Food

For more on food trucks and carts in the area, we're joined by Tim Carman, food writer for the Washington City Paper...

D.C.'s Beer Garden Dreams Come True

Now that the weather is getting warmer, it's natural that we begin thinking about baseball, cherry blossoms and, of course, bratwurst and beer steins in the great outdoors.

A massive beer garden is due to open on H street Northeast in the District. We meet Fritz Hahn at the Bier Garten Haus at 1355 H Street. Fritz writes about nightlife for the Washington Post and the Washington Post's website...