There was an earthquake yesterday! Rare for this area. We ask in our poll: Did you feel it?

It's an expensive city to live in, but turns out DC's also costly to visit. "At $350 a day for two adults, D.C. ranks sixth on the list of the most expensive vacation cities in the U.S., according to the 2008 edition of AAA's Annual Vacation Costs Survey."

What's Up Arlington writes about an upcoming walking tour through "seedy Arlington history."

Creative DC recommends heading to the grand opening soiree of the new location of Tranquil Space Yoga.

Take our poll of the day below! We're wondering: Did you feel that monstrous 1.8 earthquake on Tuesday? (Personally, we did not at the Washingtonian.com offices, and we're slightly bummed.) 

The sight of the filly Eight Belles collapsing after crossing the wire to finish second in the Kentucky Derby was unusual, but only because she made it the finish line and then suffered a catastrophic injury that required her being put down.

Apologists for the racing industry, and there are many, always argue after such an event that these breakdowns “don’t happen every day.” They are rare, they are unusual. Trainers, owners, grooms, and jockeys are animal lovers who would never do anything to endanger the lives of the horses they love so much.

If only that were true. At the upper end of the sport, where the Triple Crown races occupy the stage, it is somewhat true. If you have a $1-million investment in the animal, yes, the owners are going to do everything they can to protect and preserve the horse. But the fact is that horses like Eight Belles go down somewhere every day.

During a dinner last week at Healy Hall on Georgetown University's campus, Georgetown President Jack DeGioia honored the British Ambassador Nigel and Lady Sheinwald, who arrived in Washington last fall. See below for our photos of the event.

Police have released the D.C. Madam suicide notes.

A Facebook-esque site for wonks on the Hill—will it work?

Did you know such a thing as a can't-miss perfume book exists? Apparently, it does, as this reviewer lets us know.

What: The 20th black-tie benefit that King (a survivor of quintuple-bypass surgery) has hosted to raise money for his foundation, which pays heart-related medical bills for patients who can’t afford treatment.

Where: The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C., 1150 22nd St., NW

When: Saturday, May 3, 6:30 PM

Who: Recognizable VIPs peppered the 44 tables in the ballroom of the Ritz. King and wife Shawn Southwick-King, sitting front and center, bounced on and off the mike all night, introducing everyone from Saturday Night Live comedian Darrell Hammond to Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder. The honorable Sandra Day O’Connor—no introduction necessary—remained modest in the corner, but mention of her name brought a round of vigorous applause. Las Vegas hotshot illusionist Nathan Burton had the crowd believing in magic, and Grammy winner Seal brought down the house (and the hearts of every woman there) with a passionate performance.

Tailgaters, many with vintage cars, produced tables with crisp white linens and enjoyed shrimp cocktail, tea sandwiches, and Champagne—not exactly the same set that floods the parking lots of FedEx Field. On Member’s Hill, a gated section where race sponsors and other businesses set up tents, crowds enjoyed Southern-style fried chicken, spicy pork loin, and more tasty bites by Grand Cuisine caterers. Each tent also included a bar with wine and beer and a flat-screen TV for watching the races in comfort.

Photographs by Chris Leaman.