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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“The 9:30 Club holds a special place in D.C.’s heart.” Read excerpts from a new book commemorating the venue’s 35th anniversary this year, featuring memories from 9:30’s staff, fans, and the bands that made music history there.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Report: “Was Pepco’s $25-million deal for D.C. United naming rights a case of ‘pay-to-play’”? [WAMU]
  • Southeast’s Navy Yard neighborhood is growing—perhaps more quickly than any other in D.C. [Post]
  • Red pandas are coming back to the National Zoo, and Bei Bei makes his public debut next week. [DCist]
  • 400 D.C. public school students and teachers could travel to one of 12 countries this summer. [City Desk]
  • The D.C. Council will hold a public hearing today on stricter traffic fines that some have criticized. [Post]
  • In other transportation news, cabs and rideshare cars won’t have the same accessibility mandates. [WAMU]
  • The D.C. Guardian Angels are coming back to the Metro’s Red Line this weekend after violent incidents. [Post]
  • Likewise, an ANC commissioner plans to organize a patrol near the Potomac Avenue station. [FOX5]

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

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

  • Muriel Bowser: Police headquarters is probably the worst city-owned building. [WBJ]
  • Kathy Patterson plans an ambitious 2016 as D.C. auditor. [LL]
  • New fire department rules after man’s death. [Post]
  • Kenyan McDuffie on Kojo Show  [WAMU]
  • Blade: Activists predict Vince Gray would win plurality of gay vote in D.C. Council run. [Blade]
  • Marijuana strike for living wage initiative becomes more like a marijuana diet. [City Desk]
  • Deborah Simmons: Why is New York Avenue so ugly? [Times]
  • New bill would tie tax breaks to living wages. [WBJ]

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

  • Read excerpts from the 9:30 Club oral and pictorial history book. [Arts Desk]
  • The Renwick Gallery’s new Instagram-ready “Wonder” exhibit is blowing up, but is the art any good? [Post]
  • Listen to the new Tomato Dodgers [DCist]
  • More murals coming at the D.C. Alley Museum. [Post]
  • Iron Chic, Timeshares, Loud Boyz, Slingshot Dakota, and Lilac Daze headline the inaugural Breakin’ Even Fest. [Arts Desk]
  • Is the 9:30 Club’s new World’s Fair exhibit whitewashing its own history? [Bandwidth]

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

  • Gwyneth Paltrow is an investor in Beefsteak. [Post]
  • Eight can’t miss D.C. food and drink events in January [Zagat]
  • Four D.C. restaurants getting a little crazy with ramen [Eater]
  • Restaurant menus then and now [NoVa Mag]
  • Hipster generated restaurant names decorate Ivy & Coney‘s door. [PoPville]
  • Adams Morgan residents wary of forthcoming Italian restaurant. [Borderstan]