Washington City Paper: Contents for Feb. 20

Heat of the Night
When 5-year-old Sha Niesha Minor hears a firetruck, sometimes she asks her father an old question: "Daddy, is our house on fire again?"

Cover Story

Last June, an investigator with the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department noticed some similarities between about a half-dozen recent arsons in the area. Someone was setting fire to residential homes, between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., using an accelerant. In some cases, the arsonist set the fire near a doorway where a victim might try to escape.

As they became more certain of the links, P.G. investigators started to wonder if the problem might extend beyond the county. They shared their findings with D.C. fire officials, and by the end of June, the two departments jointly notified the press that a serial arsonist had set at least four residential fires in the metro area. An additional 15 fires, they said, appeared alike in nature. Investigators would soon add other recent arsons to the list, bringing the total number of similar fires to more than two dozen, some stretching as far back as March. One of the suspicious fires killed 86-year-old Lou Edna Jones in her Evarts Street NE home. More fires were set during the fall and winter, pushing the list to its current dimensions—35 arsons, 14 of them conclusively linked.... Continued

Issue of Feb. 20 - 26, 2004

News and Features

Heat of the Night
When 5-year-old Sha Niesha Minor hears a firetruck, sometimes she asks her father an old question: "Daddy, is our house on fire again?"
Cover Story By Dave Jamieson
Moving Backward
The District officially joins the wretched of the earth.
Feature By Felix Gillette
Split Decision
Court ruling sparks challenges to apartment sales.
The City By Chris Shott and Brian Montopoli
Spot Check
District garages squeeze the rules.
The City By Anne Ray
Return to Sender
The post office balks at District tax forms.
The City By Annys Shin
Flatland
Tire damage becomes a weekly ritual on Kansas Avenue NW.
The City By Bidisha Banerjee
Fire Starter
The Mail By Louise Hills

Columns

God Squad
Cheap Seats By Dave McKenna
Tap Dance
City Desk By Mike DeBonis
Brick Out
City Desk By Bidisha Banerjee

Eats

Dessert Storm
Young & Hungry By Todd Kliman

Movies

50 First Dates
Film Review By Tricia Olszewski
Carnival Roots
Film Review By Mark Jenkins
Robot Stories
Film Review By Josh Levin

Music

America’s Sweetheart
Music Review By Sean Daly
Apropa’t
Music Review By Joe Warminsky
Brewing Trouble
Music Review By Jason Cherkis
Thirty Years of Farming
A few of the things we’re listening to this week, in no particular order
Music Review By Caroline Schweiter
The Complete Discography
A few of the things we’re listening to this week, in no particular order
Music Review By Christopher Porter
“Kanga-Roo”
A few of the things we’re listening to this week, in no particular order
Music Review By Shauna Miller
Alone in San Francisco
A few of the things we’re listening to this week, in no particular order
Music Review By Jason Cherkis
Nuther World
A few of the things we’re listening to this week, in no particular order
Music Review By Pamela Murray Winters
Workers Playtime
A few of the things we’re listening to this week, in no particular order
Music Review By Shannon Zimmerman

Theater

Filler Up
Theater Review By Janet Hopf
Language Barriers
Theater Review By Bob Mondello

Arts and Events

Photographic Memories
At 83, Lida Moser looks back at a decadeslong career behind the camera—and hopes that her work may have its best years ahead of it.
Arts By Matthew Summers-Sparks
Photo Shop
Artifacts By Mike DeBonis
Loaded Magazines
Artifacts By Bidisha Banerjee
Boxing Out
Show & Tell By Robert Lalasz