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The now-scrapped plans for a museum at the Franklin School building downtown were too financially risky, a spokesman for Muriel Bowser says, adding that arts facilities that charge for entry may struggle to compete with the city’s many free museums.
LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:
- The Freer Gallery plans to close for more than a year, for major renovations. [Arts Desk]
- Inside a smoky, simulated Metro emergency. [WAMU]
- The Bowser administration will end the encryption of firefighter radios. [Post]
- CBS Sports analyst Greg Anthony is due back in court on a charge of soliciting a prostitute at a D.C. hotel. [NBC4]
RECENT CITY PAPER STORIES TO HELP YOU MAKE SENSE OF YOUR DAY:
Returning Citizens: A new D.C. business helps people transition from prison to jobs cleaning kitchens, for profit.
Slow Growth: D.C.’s population growth is slowing, and the numbers tell a different story from the conventional wisdom.
Turning the Tables: In a survey, chefs rated Tom Sietsema the No. 8 restaurant critic in the country.
LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Will Sommer (tips? wsommer@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Muriel Bowser will reportedly drop encryption on fire department radios. [NBC4]
- Candidates challenged in Ward 4 and Ward 8 [LL]
- D.C. Council fields will be big. [Post]
- After losing the Franklin School to Bowser administration decision, would-be arts center operator says “there was no failure here.” [WBJ]
- “Only money matters” to Bowser administration after Franklin School decision, says Post art critic. [Post]
- Bowser moves to expand summer jobs program up to 24-year-olds. [Post]
- District’s population keeps growing, but more slowly [Housing Complex]
- Whistleblower case continues over police escorts for celebrities [WAMU]
HOUSING COMPLEX LINKS, by Aaron Wiener (tips? awiener@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Dani Levinas says he had no warning about the administration’s yanking the Franklin School award. [WBJ]
- The move shows that Muriel Bowser is more interested in money than art. [Post]
- Handicapping the proposed rowhouse zoning change, which seems likely to pass [UrbanTurf]
- Schools don’t benefit proportionally from D.C.’s funding for at-risk students. [GGW]
- Controversial Anacostia development moves forward [UrbanTurf]
- The D.C.-area housing market is off to a strong start in 2015. [RealEstate Business Intelligence]
- Today on the market: Friendship Heights 1BR—$649,000
ARTS LINKS, by Christina Cauterucci (tips? ccauterucci@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- How GW is breaking its promises to Corcoran students [Bmore Art]
- Muriel Bowser put the kibosh on the nascent Institute for Contemporary Expression… [Housing Complex]
- …and here’s why that’s a short-sighted move that sells all of D.C. short. [Post]
- The best music merch from D.C.-area bands [Bandwidth]
- Watch Spoonboy‘s new music video for “The Dispossessed,” filmed at the Rocketship. [D.C. Music Download]
YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Jessica Sidman (tips? jsidman@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Rose’s Luxury chef will open a fancier fine dining restaurant next door—with reservations. [Post]
- Flat rate bottomless food and drink cafe looking to come to Rosslyn. [ARLnow]
- Yet another Valentine’s Day round-up [Washingtonian]
- Virginia will get three more Cava Grills, including one with breakfast. [Eater]
- Chez Billy Sud expanding to add a wine bar. [PoPville]
- A “sexy” new supper club encourages you to feed strangers. [Express]
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