The year plows onward at an alarming rate. It’s already January 11 and the world is agog over Spare, Prince Harry’s memoir. We liked this review by the New York Times, this one by the Financial Times and this one by The Guardian. Will you be reading all 416 pages?
In #thistown news, after fifteen rounds of voting stretched out over five days, Kevin McCarthy was finally elected Speaker of the House and we could stop worrying about the most vulnerable workers in the House of Representatives– because you know that when crazy things happen, the people who get hurt are not the ones who grab the headlines. We’re just glad he finally nabbed the speakership on January 7, not the day before. NPR
(And we are not out of the woods in terms of procedure, because McCarthy promised a lot of things that may jeopardize his own tenure as speaker. Check out this detailed post from Punchbowl news for more.)
We laughed at the barrage of memes to come out of this glorious yet pathetic five days of voting, but perhaps the best bit was Union Pub’s “Speaker of the Pub” special, which featured enough alcohol to make you switch parties a couple of times. NBC affiliate
Last week also marked the two-year anniversary of January 6 and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton marked the occasion with a renewed plea to let the District have control over their own National Guard.
The Daily Caller reports on this “one trick” to curb violent crime and it’s basically increased evening patrols. Is it a trick, or is it just increased police presence?
Terry Clark, 20, of Southeast DC, was killed outside Navy Yard Metro Station sometime around 8 p.m. Saturday evening. WJLA
The District was shocked to learn that a man (who has not been identified) shot and killed 13-year old Karon Blake in the early hours of Saturday. Blake was out and about at around 4 a.m. in Brookland, riffling through cars and attempting to break into them. The man saw him and appears to have discharged his entire weapon on Blake, who died of his injuries. (DCist) Some of the comments online have been disgusting and polarizing, focusing on the man’s right to self-defense instead of focusing on the tragedy of a misguided young man who is now dead. Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising of those comments comes from Joshua Lopez, who is also very determined to make the term “Latte Liberal” catch on. We would like to point out that Republicans and Independents also enjoy the frothy charms of a good Caffè Latte.
The Union Station Redevelopment Corporation has a new president, Doug Carr, and he has great hopes for the future of Union Station. The Washington Post article also mentions Matt Barry, who was recently named by Rexmark as general manager of the retail operations at the Station, and focuses on safety concerns related to unhoused people, a September shooting inside the Main Hall, and the public’s perceptions of unsafe conditions inside the station. Look, as long as Claire’s comes back, I have no beef with this. And yes, seeing Wendy’s return was a welcome sight as well. The Washington Post
(The article doesn’t mention former manager Ashkenazy, Korean investor Kookmin, or the Amtrak eminent domain seizure. You can read more about that here and here.)
Inside Hook picks a low-cost favorite food from all eight wards of DC. For Ward 6, we’re happy to see Pete’s Diner’s omelette represented. Ward 7 has Roaming Rooster’s fried chicken and coleslaw and Ward 8 has pupas from Las Placitas. Good eats, all.
The Post’s Tim Carman reviews Hill East Burger.
Do we need one more pizza joint? Yes, says “Pizza man” Joe Farruggio, who is also behind Il Canale and A Modo Mio. The funeral home at 420 H Street NE was bought by an LLC associated with Farruggio at the end of last year, and now only the ghost of DCRA and neighbors’ complaints stand between us and his pizza. Washington Business Journal
Paste and Rind Cheese Counter and Wine Bar is opening soon in the 900 block of H Street NE, in Did Wine Bar’s old spot. PoPville
City Winery left DC abruptly, shuttering its three-story location on New Year’s Day. Washington City Paper outlines the many problems the venue had, especially when it came to keeping their employees safe at night.
The last before-5 p.m. sunset of the year was a stunner. Capital Weather Gang
Reminder: Do you have a child enrolling in DCPS or DCPSB? Make sure you fill out this year’s My School DC application. The deadline for grades 9-12 is February 1 and March 1 for PK-4 through 8th grade. You can find the application here.