A morning roundup of news, opinion, and links from City Paper and around the District. Send tips and ideas to citydesk@washingtoncitypaper.com.

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When you roll up to your favorite D.C. venue—theater, restaurant, concert hall, whatever—where do you sit? To help readers optimally answer that question, City Paper has created our “Best Seats in the House” recommendations. Don’t’ worry: There are charts!

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

• The Public Service Commission has rejected a proposed $6.8 billion merger between Pepco and Exelon. [Post, WTOP, WAMU]
• D.C. police are investigating an attack that happened on Wednesday night in Southeast. [Post, NBC4]
• Metro hired a strategic adviser for almost $2 million to aid with “fiduciary and policy matters.” [City Desk]
• What did Mayor Muriel Bowser and DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson see inside Cuban schools? [Post]
• The Economist is skeptical of the D.C. streetcar, referring to it as a “low-speed car crash.” [The Economist]
• The District and nonprofit Think Local First launched a “Made in DC” partnership on Thursday. [DC Inno]
• Op-ed: Lawmakers should clarify the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act to aid “transient owners.” [Post]

RECENT CITY PAPER STORIES TO HELP YOU MAKE SENSE OF YOUR DAY:

• Pumping Up the Patrols: Metro says it will boost police patrols throughout its system to keep riders safe.
• Only Have Eyes for Jew: What’s playing at the annual Washington Jewish Film Festival? Read reviews.
• Bei Bei Loves Biscuits: The cuddly giant panda regularly consumes “leaf eater biscuits” as snacks. Watch.

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Will Sommer (tips? wsommer@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Muriel Bowser‘s trip to Cuba for education tips comes on a big discovery: It’s an authoritarian country! [Post]
• Former D.C. GOP boss lived large on contributions. [LL]
• Metro hires $2 million consultant. [City Desk]
• Mary Cheh on The Politics Hour [WAMU]
• Museum Square residents fight displacement. [Post]
• Eleanor Holmes Norton sweats D.C. Water because of… the Flint water crisis? [Times]
• Georgetown is a snooze, and now they’re realizing it. [Post]
• It’s the trains versus the teens. [City Desk]

ARTS LINKS, by Matt Cohen (tips? mcohen@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Whether you’re going to a concert, the theater, or the movies in the D.C. area, here are the best seats in the house. [WCP]
• According to FOIAs obtained by the Washington Post, Drake almost bailed on last year’s Landmark Fest and most of the $570,000 raised went to recouping the costs of putting it on. [Post]
• Open Studio DC teams up with Ivy City residents. [Arts Desk]
• For its National Harbor casino, MGM wants to commission work by local artists. [Washingtonian]
• This article sucks. [DCist]
• Selections from the Washington Jewish Film Festival, reviewed. [Arts Desk]
• Listen to New York-via-Arlington singer Abir. [Bandwidth]
• Wammies postponed because of computer hard drive crash. [Arts Desk]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Jessica Sidman (tips? jsidman@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Where to find loaded French fries around D.C. [Express]
• Why Beltsville is the D.C. area’s best cheap eats destination [Post]
• Bagels and Baguettes in Capitol Hill is closing. [PoPville]
• Big Bowl and a Wolfgang Puck restaurant are coming to local airports. [Eater]
• Far East Taco Grille to open location near Gallaudet University. [Hill Now]
• The best pizza in the D.C. area [Washingtonian]