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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Pope Francis will be here soon, folks, and some people are starting to freak out about the expected disruptions his visit will cause. Others are gearing up to make the most out of his stay through housing rentals, surge pricing, and—in the case of thousands of kids—school closures. As for Francis himself? Rest assured he’s getting proper bedding.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

• Mayor Muriel Bowser yesterday announced a $60 million tax-abatement deal with the Advisory Board Company to keep the consultancy in the District. (It’s getting a new HQ in Mount Vernon Square.) [WBJ]
• As the Pepco-Exelon merger rears its head again (not dead yet!), unlikely allies are lobbying the mayor to oppose it. [Loose Lips, Post]
• If the federal government shuts down again toward the end of this month, D.C. says all will be well. [Post]
• In the past two months, the D.C. metro area has only gotten a quarter to half of its usual rainfall. [WTOP]
• Famed journalist Bob Woodward has joined Twitter a month before his new book comes out. [City Desk]

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

• What’s in Store for the Hirshhorn? Read our cover story on the museum’s director, Melissa Chiu, to find out.
• Bad Saint Comes Marching in: A new Filipino restaurant in Columbia Heights is making a big splash.
• Food Quiz! Can you tell if the following menu items, some available at local restaurants, are real or fake?

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

• Muriel Bowser offers $60 million in tax breaks to the Advisory Board. [WBJ]
• Phil Mendelson likes it. [WBJ]
• The Pepco-Exelon merger fight continues with rally in front of the Wilson Building. [LL, Post, WAMU]
• See renderings of the Wizards-Mystics complex planned for Ward 8. [WBJ]
• Crime hearing gets testy. [LL]
• Capitol Hillians not happy about potential Pigskins move to RFK site. [Post]
• Deborah Simmons talks to Congress Heights residents wary of the Wizards deal. [Times]

HOUSING COMPLEX LINKS, by Cuneyt Dil

• Capitol Hill residents oppose another football stadium at RFK [Post]
• First renderings of proposed Wizards training facility at St. Elizabeths [WBJ]
• Winners and losers in Metrobus overhaul [GGW]
• Akridge to redevelop two buildings at 1100 block of 16th Street [WBJ]
• Enjoy D.C.’s 33 parklets today [GGW, Borderstan]
• 18th-century house hits market [Urban Turf]

ARTS LINKS, by Cuneyt Dil

• Former City Paper publisher Amy Austin heads to TheatreWashington [Arts Desk]
• Hirshhron revives “After Hours” musical performances [Post]
• Jazz this weekend [Arts Desk]
• See the work of Civil War photographer Alexander Gardner at the National Portrait Gallery. [Express, Post]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Steve Cavendish

• Kliman reviews Brine, from owners of Rappahannock Oyster Bar. [Washingtonian]
• A bar guide for watching your favorite NFL team. [Washingtonian]
• Bar Deco and Beef n Bread are now in soft-opening mode. [Eater DC]
• BKK Cookshop brings Thai-influenced menu to Shaw. [Going Out Guide]
• The Airdale scores for soccer fans and lovers of soft-serve. [Going Out Guide]
• Carman reviews Heckman’s Delicatessan, finds sandwiches worth arguing over. [Post]
• Six places for large-format cocktails. [Zagat]