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

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The crowdfunding platform EquityEats has subleased five floors of a building formerly occupied by LivingSocial so restaurants seeking funding can host pop-ups. The facility, described as “a movie theater but for foodies,” is set to open this spring.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • D.C. is spending millions of dollars sheltering the homeless at motels. [Housing Complex]
  • The family of the woman who died in Metro’s recent smoke incident is expected to sue for $10 million. [Post]
  • Under a D.C. Council bill introduced by Chairman Phil Mendelson, distracted driving would have more severe penalties. [WTOP]
  • A rookie D.C. firefighter was arrested on gun charges. [NBC4]

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

Surge Pricing: A San Francisco-based app that launched this week in D.C. lets users book restaurant reservations when none are available, for a price.

Struck, Mapped: We’re mapping incidents of pedestrians and cyclists struck in D.C. this year. So far, there have been more than two dozen incidents.

Establishment Candidate: Brandon Todd, who has Muriel Bowser‘s backing to replace her on the D.C. Council, now has Councilmember Yvette Alexander‘s endorsement, too.

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

  • Late Kenyan McDuffie and Muriel Bowser staffer Tim Clark mourned. [Post]
  • District brings in a sixth motel to house homeless families. [Housing Complex]
  • Yvette Alexander backs Bowser’s pick in Ward 4. [LL]
  • Where the District’s cyclist and pedestrian incidents happen. [City Desk]
  • Grist runs down the Pepco-Exelon merger. [Grist]
  • If you lived here, you’d be home now, but still could not fly a drone. [WAMU]
  • Bowser celebrates LGBT groups at newly reopened gay club. [Blade]
  • Welcome to the pop-up war. [WAMU]
  • Bowser appoints former State Board of Education candidate David Do to Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. [Blade]
  • Rookie firefighter arrested on gun charge. [NBC4]
  • Dave Statter: Post ed board can blame itself for DCFEMS Metro response.[Statter911]
  • Post‘s Robert McCartney ditches his column to cover regional issues. [Post]

HOUSING COMPLEX LINKS, by Aaron Wiener (tips? awiener@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • An interactive map of where cyclists and pedestrians have been struck this year. [City Desk]
  • Fannie Mae will move to rebuilt Washington Post building. [WBJ]
  • The housing bust’s impact on wealthy black families, as seen in Prince George’s County. [Post]
  • Tracking incomes by Metro line and stop. [You Are Here]
  • Why the Exelon-Pepco merger is bad news for D.C. ratepayers and renewable energy. [Grist]
  • WMATA is installing five real-time bus arrival signs per day. [Post]
  • Today on the market: Semi-detached house in Fort Davis—-$245,000

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

  • The Helen Hayes Awards nominations are in, and they’re dominated by Signature Theatre and Synetic Theatre. [Post]
  • Photos of Baby Bry Bry & the Apologists, BRNDA, What Moon Things, and the Sea Life at U Street Music Hall [DCist]
  • A recap of the DC Record Fair at Penn Social [BYT]
  • Dr. Blues, the well-known and much-loved founder and owner of the New Vegas Lounge, died last week. [Facebook]
  • Usher, Jermaine Dupri, Phylicia Rashad, and other BET Honors guests after-partied at Joe’s Stone Crab. [Post]
  • Under the direction of Kristina Bilonick, Takoma’s DC Arts Studios will expand its gallery. [East City Art]

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

  • 25 classic bars and restaurants every Washingtonian must try [Eater]
  • Fire damages future home of Bar Civita in Woodley Park. [PoPville]
  • The most romantic restaurants in D.C. [Zagat]
  • Alexandria’s industrial enclave welcomes gourmet goods. [WBJ]
  • Try barrel-aged margaritas at Clarendon’s Fuego Cocina y Tequileria. [Post]
  • Early look at Founding Farmers in Tysons Corner. [BYT]