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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Dozens of local holiday gift ideas for your lovers, your friends, their kids, their pets, and more.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Can Anacostia plan its redevelopment in advance? [Housing Complex]
  • Metro is considering an agreement with Giant Food that would allow the grocery store’s delivery service to deliver groceries to Metro stations. The six-month pilot program could begin next spring. [Washington Post]
  • After a New York City grand jury decided not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner, hundreds of people protested in D.C. [News4]
  • Remembering A.J. Cooper, a D.C. activist and council candidate who died Wednesday of a heart attack at the age of 34. [Washington Post]

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

Bad Heir Day: Who can replace Marion Barry in Ward 8?

Food Porn Pro: People actually get paid to Instagram food at restaurants.

The Sleigher: This year’s first installment of The Sleigher—-Arts Desk’s cheery and cheeky evaluation of new holiday music.

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

  • Ward 8 hopefuls keep their intentions quiet, mostly. [LL]
  • Ward 4 Council candidate A.J. Cooper, 34, dies suddenly of a heart attack. [LL, Post, WAMU]
  • Marion Barry services start today. [Post, WAMU, Times]
  • Congressional Republicans aim to stop marijuana legalization. [National Journal, WAMU]
  • Can Anacostia steer its inevitable development? [Housing Complex]
  • Federal arts commission finds itself embroiled in pop-up debate. [WAMU]
  • Pedro Rubio wants the Ward 4 seat. [LL]
  • Gay liaison officers detailed to Chinatown. [Blade]
  • “Glide path towards eminent domain” for the D.C. United stadium. [WBJ]
  • New Metro cars could be held back over safety. [WAMU]
  • Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton‘s name will be on Southwest Waterfront plaza. [WBJ]

HOUSING COMPLEX, by Aaron Wiener is on vacation. (tips? awiener@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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

  • The Sleigher, Arts Desk’s cheery and cheeky evaluation of new holiday music, returns with a new take on an old classic from Yoko Ono and the Flaming Lips. [Arts Desk]
  • Local rapper SmCity on making music everyone can dig [Bandwidth]
  • The Colbert Report will film a show at George Washington University—-but sorry, oldies, tix are only for students. [DCist]
  • Drag performance artist Pussy Noir on how to have a sexy holiday: cock rings and nipple clamps. [BYT]
  • A stale “funniest celebrity in Washington” leans on tired, occasionally sexist jokes and only one woman contestant. [Post]

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

  • Tom Sietsema says the new Thai X-ing surpasses its predecessor. [Post]
  • Where to find reasonably priced sushi [Express]
  • Daikaya now serves ramen upstairs Fridays for lunch. [Eater]
  • Eight food and drink reasons to drive to Annapolis [Zagat]
  • Okapi Salvadorean/Tex-mex restaurant now open in former Moroni and Bros. space. [PoPville]
  • Some of the best sandwiches in D.C. [DCist]
  • 17 reasons why 2014 was kale’s best year [BuzzFeed]