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

Sign up: To get District Line Daily—or any of our other email newsletters—sent straight to your mailbox, click here.

The District saw six separate shootings this weekend, leaving three dead and others injured. Homicides in D.C. have risen 13.8 percent compared with last year, from 65 to 74 as of July 17.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • It’s so hot outside that there’s a heat advisory in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Yesterday, hundreds of D.C. residents lost power supplied by Pepco—it was the hottest night of the summer so far. [Post, WUSA]
  • Still, the brutal weather didn’t stop Han Solo fans from dressing up as Jedis and Stormtroopers at the Nat’s first ever Star Wars Day on Sunday. May the force be with you as you face “heat that would make Tatooine blush” this afternoon. [Post]
  • Today marks the first time in 54 years that the Cuban Embassy on 16th Street NW, a mansion, will officially open. [CBS]
  • A major developer has submitted plans to redesign D.C.’s Maine Avenue Fish Market in Southwest in less than two years. [WBJ]
  • It’s official: District residents are obsessed with the city’s restaurants, according to search data compiled by Google. [Vox]

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

Next Gen Ken Cen: After several rounds of negotiations with the National Capital Planning Commission, the Kennedy Center will expand with three new structures in place by September 2018.

Summer (in a) Cup: Local gin producer New Columbia Distillers will release a “summer cup,” debuting tomorrow at Boundary Road on H Street NE.

ICYMI: Read our lead story from last week that examines the District’s efforts to prevent deaths caused by heroin overdoses.

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

  • Synthetic drug boom drives summer violence. [Post]
  • Report finds big holes in District government buildings. [LL]
  • District’s unclaimed dead end up in unmarked graves. [Post]
  • Post ed board: Streetcar report reveals big mistakes. [Post]
  • Parklet takes up downtown parking space. [WAMU]
  • Post ed board: Anita Bonds‘ sexual assault bill hurts due process. [Post]
  • Man gets a year for anti-gay crime. [Blade]
  • Dave Alpert: two futures for the District. [Post]
  • The D.C. United deal makes a list of worst stadium agreements. [Market Watch]
  • One housing complex guard, another injured after shooting. [Post]
  • $58 billion more needed to cover D.C. area infrastructure repairs. [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Christina Cauterucci (tips? ccauterucci@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The Kennedy Center is adding three new buildings. Here’s what it has planned. [Arts Desk]
  • One of Rik Freeman‘s earliest murals is set to be destroyed by JBG construction. This weekend, he got an award for his work. [Arts Desk]
  • How Theatre Washington has struggled for funds, purpose, and faith from the community [Post]
  • Dupont ventriloquist Gordy Walck, who lost his home last year, says D.C. doesn’t truly appreciate his art. [Borderstan]
  • Solo singer-guitarist Sara Curtin, who’s got a new album out this month, considers how she’s grown since her last solo release in 2010. [Examiner]
  • A local record store clerk tells you what records you need to own. [BYT]

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

  • The best brewery in every state (and D.C.) [Thrillist]
  • D.C.’s iconic cheap restaurants [Eater]
  • Six new brunches to try [Washingtonian]
  • What to expect from Pizzeria Paradiso in Hyattsville. [WBJ]
  • Tom Sietsema says Fig & Olive in CityCenterDC is hit or miss. [Post]