Hospitality_Recreation

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G.W. Student Alicia Little dresses as Harlequin (The Joker's girlfriend from the Batman comics) gives London Hall, 3, from District Heights, Md., a playful bop on the head with her inflatable hammer at Awesome Con D.C., a comic book convention at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 21, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A member of a group dressed as X-Men characters gives her best scream for judges during a costume contest at Awesome Con D.C., a comic book convention at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 21, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Will Makaneole of Dumfries, Va., wears a Wookie-like jacket from the Star Wars movies as he photographs a group posing during a costume contest at Awesome Con D.C., a comic book convention at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 21, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A group dressed as X-Men characters, bottom, pose for a packed audience during a costume contest at Awesome Con D.C., a comic book convention at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 21, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A man dressed as a military figure walks through a shaft of light at Awesome Con D.C., a comic book convention at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 21, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Eligah McNutt, 4, of South Riding, Va., center, dresses as Captain America at Awesome Con D.C., a comic book convention at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 21, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Justin Youtz of Woodbridge, Va., left, dressed as Anakin Skywalker reads comics with his son Tristin, 9, dressed as Captain Rex from Star Wars at Awesome Con D.C., a comic book convention at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 21, 2013. Tristin won 1st place in Awesome Con's Kid Costume Contest. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel gestures before boarding an aircraft at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington's Maryland suburbs on Saturday, April 20, 2013, for a trip to the Middle East. (AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

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The newly renovated Howard Theatre opened a year ago bringing back memories of Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross who all played the club when it was a premier entertainment destination. Its amateur night gave young talents such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billy Eckstine their big breaks.

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Friday night's gala will honor (from left) Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan and Valerie Simpson, three singers who "signify some of the great history of the Howard Theatre."

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A photograph of Billie Holiday now graces the lobby of the redesigned Howard Theatre, which celebrates its first anniversary Friday with a gala hosted by D.L. Hughley (below).

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**FILE** Matt Brown, co-owner of Denver's new My 420 Tours, looks over a sampling of marijuana edibles at a dispensary in Denver. He has sold 160 tour packages to visiting pot smokers for the April 20 weekend, the first 420 Day in Colorado and Washington since voters decided to make pot legal.

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The Scooter Store, which ran late-night ads implying that many people could get "free" motorized wheelchairs paid for by taxpayers has filed for bankruptcy.

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The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps participate in the Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day parade, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 16, 2013. President Abraham Lincoln freed approximately 3,100 slaves in the District of Colombia on April 16, 1862, nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Ayo Handy-Kendi, center, and others wears chains to show their opposition to the district not having a voting representative in congress as she participates in the Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day parade, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 16, 2013. President Abraham Lincoln freed approximately 3,100 slaves in the District of Colombia on April 16, 1862, nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Tender Huynh [cq], 10, of Washington, D.C. wears a plastic Washington, D.C. firefighters hat and takes photos with her camera phone as she watches the Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day parade, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 16, 2013. President Abraham Lincoln freed approximately 3,100 slaves in the District of Colombia on April 16, 1862, nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington, D.C. Coucilmember Tommy Wells makes his way through cheerleaders with Miner Elementary School before they participate in the Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day parade, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 16, 2013. President Abraham Lincoln freed approximately 3,100 slaves in the District of Colombia on April 16, 1862, nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Spectators watch military marchers participate in the Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day parade, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 16, 2013. President Abraham Lincoln freed approximately 3,100 slaves in the District of Colombia on April 16, 1862, nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)