Last Sunday after Rock the Bells, Nas hosted an after-party at one of the newest lounges in Penn Quarter, Bar 7. Members of the Wu-Tang Clan also showed up to party with the locals and chat it up with local artists like Phil Ade and Ra the MC.

Many rappers have been taking advantage of DC, in town for the Rock the Bells Tour at Merriweather in Maryland. Method Man stopped by Stadium where headliner Snoop Dogg was holding an after party.

Although, one of my favorites Andy Roddick was defeated last night, there was still a lot of action in Arthur Ashe stadium at the U.S. Open last night. Kanye West showed up with model Selita Ebanks (it looks like a first date to me). Also spotted were R&B singers Usher and John Legend.

Does this really mean Summer is over? Labor Day marks the official change of the seasons from Summer to Fall. After Labor Day, the kids go back to school, you put away the grill and start eyeing your newest pair of Uggs. And although the dog days of Summer are coming to a close, that doesn’t mean we can’t go out with a bang. Here are this weekend’s top parties:

• Newest Redskin Donovan McNabb will host a Sunday night party at The Park at Fourteenth (920 14th Street NW). With an open bar from 8-9 p.m, come party with him on Sunday, September 5.
• Young Money’s Tyga will be performing live on Friday, September 3 at Ibiza Nightclub (1222 First Street NE).
• Host-DC is celebrating it’s three year anniversary party by doing it up yacht style. Hosted by Sonya Lowery of World Next Door TV, enjoy a  cash bar, buffet, a complimentary chairman’s reserve drink and $5 cocktails all night. Boarding begins at 8:30 p.m. and the boat will sail off at 9 p.m. Get tickets!
• Celebrate the release of Wale‘s Board Administration Mixtape and Sneaker Suite‘s five year anniversary on Saturday, September 4 at the Beacon Hotel rooftop (1615 Rhode Island Ave. NW). Enjoy $5 frozen margaritas and the sounds of DJ Premonition from 12 – 7 p.m.
• If you’re looking to party somewhere different, head to the Georgetown waterfront at Cabanas Club (3050 K St. NW) on Saturday, September 4. Doors open at 9 p.m.
• Come of age at Josephine Lounge (1008 Vermont Ave. NW) on Sunday, September 5. Virginia Tech Alumni will also be celebrating here tonight.

Tickets are on sale now to see Mary J. Blige perform live with the help of Jazmine Sullivan, Miguel and a special performance by El DeBarge.

The R&B songsters hit Washington, DC on October 7 at Jiffy Lube Live (7800 Cellar Door Drive
Bristow, VA 20136) at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $116 to $52.

There’s a new Friday night in town NOIR Marketing Group’s Social Friday’s at Conga International (1 Eliot St, Harvard Sq, Cambridge) Each and every Friday night

6PM-9PM
AfterWork Mixer

9PM-10PM
Complimentary Appetizers- Live Music & Drink Specials

10PM-2AM
A Diverse Night of todays latest Top 40| House| R&B

Ladies FREE until 11PM
Everyone Reduced until 11:30PM

For more information call/text 857.212.5660 or email

Photo Credit
Carnival season isn’t ova quite yet! Cambridge Carnival International takes place Sunday, September 12th in Kendall Square, Cambridge

12 pm – 7 pm

Go and enjoy the parade, the food and crafts!

Here’s the carnival schedule:

Costume Parade: 12:30 – 4pm
Viewing Stage: 12 – 6pm
The parade will feature steel bands and juried costume competition . The route pans 1.3 miles and the procession kicks off between 12:30pm and 1pm, starts near the Charles River at River Street and Blackstone Street, passes through Central Square along Massachusetts Avenue, continues up Main Street and ends in Kendall Square near MIT, Cambridge.

Viewing Stage features guest DJ’s

International Stage: 12 – 6:30pm
Musical accompaniments have set the tone for worldwide carnival celebrations. Bands representing several island and South American nations provide the sounds of Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean, Calypso, Reggae, Compa, Punta, and Salsa music.

Rhythm Stage: 12 – 6:30pm
Interactive druminning, dancing, and martial arts demos will be featured on this stage

KidsFest: 12 – 5:30pm
KidsFest zone with activities for childen ages 5 to 14 years with face painting, stilt walking, and arts and craft activities.

DJ Illabash (yay!) will be featured at the Globe near the Kendall Square T Stop

For more information check out their website

 The Berklee Beantown Festival celebrates 10 Years September 15 – 22

This year the festival pays tribute to the music and culture of New Orleans five years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita with both free and ticketed concerts. The kick-off date is  Saturday, September 25, in a free outdoor festival on three stages that stretches over six blocks in the South End. Last year’s event drew over 80,000, a new festival record.

The festival’s largest roster yet includes performances by 30 acts at the Berklee Performance Center (BPC), Scullers Jazz Club, Regattabar, Wally’s Cafe, Berklee’s Cafe 939 and David Friend Recital Hall, and outdoor stages along Columbus Avenue. The Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival is copresented by Target and sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts, Blue Cross Blue Shield, WCVB-TV 5, and others. JazzBoston is a festival partner. The festival is also receiving support from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, call 617. 747.2261 or visit their website

Many are tweeting and texting from inside the Discovery Building in downtown Silver Spring, where a gunman is keeping workers there hostage.

The unidentified man is said to have firearm and explosives. According to Montgomery County Police, the gunman told workers there that they’re not going anywhere.

Police have closed surrounding streets.

We have conflicting reports that the building is being evacuated although our contact inside the building said they are hiding.

We’ll have more as the story develops.

Update (2:46 p.m.): Several news reports are saying the gunman is now in hostage. He has been identified as James Jay Lee and has a history of protesting the Discovery channel. With an extremist list of demands such as, “All programs on Discovery Health-TLC must stop encouraging the birth of any more parasitic human infants and the false heroics behind those actions.”

Workers from inside Discovery captured a picture of the shooter.

Discovery workers have been told they cannot return to the building for the day and it’s suggested they head home.

A stretcher was rolled into the Discovery building, probably meaning that someone is hurt although that is not confirmed.

Lee is now in Montgomery County police custody. Police are now making floor sweeps to ensure all employees are safe.