Following yesterday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon, police agencies across the city began to take extra precautionary measures to ensure safety against either copy-cat attacks or further coordinated attacks. Removing the trash cans and recycling bins from around Capitol Hill seems to be among the measures taken, since early reports indicate that whatever attacker left two improvised explosive devices in trash cans near the marathon finish. People heading to work this morning noticed the metal husks of Capitol Hill trash cans strewn along the ground, without actual bins for trash inside.

For their part, U.S. Capitol Police say that they are following the events in Boston and working with national and other local law enforcement to prevent a similar attack. “At this juncture, we have no information linking the events to the Capitol Hill community,” U.S. Capitol Police wrote in a press release. “While there is no known connection to the Capitol Hill Complex, the USCP is being diligent in response to the events in Boston and taking additional practiced steps.”

The trash cans in Grand Central Station in New York were also covered up recently to deter similar attacks. Like the airline rules prohibiting liquids and requiring travelers to remove their shoes, this one incident may cause the removal of public trash cans everywhere. London already removed most of its trash cans after deadly attacks by the Irish Republican Army.

Photo: John T. Bennett

h/t DCist

You’ve heard a little bit about D.C. as a whole. Now it’s time to explore her neighborhoods past M and Wisconsin. We don’t pretend this a comprehensive guide, but rather a little taste of what the city has to offer. Hold tight for Friday when we take on the top nightlife venues!

Dupont Circle (Metro: Dupont Circle)

With a combination of embassies, restaurants, shopping, and bars, Dupont Circle has it all, and it’s only a free GUTS bus ride away from Georgetown. Dupont Circle is also the closest Red Line Metro Station to Georgetown.

The main shopping street in this area is Connecticut Avenue northwest of the circle. Here you can pop into one of the largest independent bookstores in the region, Kramerbooks & Afterwords, which also has a café famous for its delicious pie!

Just off the circle on Massachusetts Avenue is Embassy Row, where the SFS Academic Council organizes trick-or-treating every Halloween.

Also check out the Phillips Collection. It’s not free, but there’s an excellent rotating collection of modernist and contemporary art.

Photo by Shubert Ciencia

Foggy Bottom (Metro: Foggy Bottom)

Just a 20-minute walk down M street, Foggy Bottom is home to George Washington University, the Kennedy Center, and the White House.

Adams Morgan (Metro: Woodley Park, 42 bus to 14th St./Columbia Rd.)

It’s hard to talk about Adams Morgan without talking about nightlife. But this area has a slew of great ethnic restaurants, from Ethiopian to Arab fare.

Sober or drunk, the tiny Amsterdam Falafel shop is your best bet for cheap, delicious falafel. This self-service shop let’s you stuff your falafel full of delicious toppings, and best of all it’s open late for the hungry bar hopper. And if you’re still thirsty afterwards, Tryst is a great place to listen to somber jams while sipping a sophisticated beverage.

A few blocks from the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan Metro Station, the National Zoo is free and makes a great daytrip in the fall or spring. The Zoo is one of only a handful of U.S. zoos that have giant pandas.

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