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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Our latest cover story explores the District’s booming high-end, luxury gym scene. Are they making D.C. a healthier city, or they are just serving the already fit and rich? Give us 30 burpees and we’ll tell you.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

• Is the city to blame for Anacostia’s vacant properties? The D.C. government owns dozens of vacant properties in the neighborhood, but doesn’t have immediate plans to develop very many of them. [Housing Complex]
• A 13 year-old boy was shot and killed by his best friend Tuesday in an apartment in the 1400 block of Downing Northeast. Police believe it could have been an accident and the victims father says he hopes no charges will be brought against the shooter. [News4]
• The Vince Gray era is almost over. Just don’t tell the mayor that. [Loose Lips]
• A federal D.C. judge regrets a long sentence he issued to a low-level player in an expansive cocaine ring. Now the judge is working to do that and says the prisoner is a “prime candidate for executive clemency.” [Post]

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

Flight of Fancy: The District’s restaurant crazy is hitting the airports as they get a dining overhaul. Kapnos, Cava, &pizza, and El Centro are all coming to a terminal near you.

Day of Reckoning: The D.C. government finally admits that its workers’ comp program is a complete and total mess.

And Another Debate: Washington City Paper is hosting a D.C. Council at-large debate on Oct. 8 at the Black Cat.

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

• The Vince Gray era is almost over. But don’t tell him that. [LL]
• Nonprofit poll has David Catania only eight points behind Muriel Bowser. [LL]
• Democratic Vermont governor endorses Catania over Bowser. [LL, Post]
• Jim Graham worries that ridesharing bill from Mary Cheh is unfair to cabbies. [WAMU, City Desk, Post]
• How much is the District to blame for vacant Anacostia properties? [Housing Complex]
• Gray will light up the Wilson Building for the Nationals playoffs. [LL]
• Attorney general hopeful Edward “Smitty” Smith lands police union endorsement. [LL]
• Election endorsement-palooza. [LL]
• Get it together, Metro, says Post ed board. [Post]
• Ex-Human Rights Campaign boss Joe Solmonese fundraises for at-large candidate Khalid Pitts. [Blade]
• Former LivingSocial CEO gets a job with his father-in-law’s company. [WBJ]
• Innovative building design: a box covered in glass! [Housing Complex]
• Gentrification in one east-of-the-river neighborhood. [WAMU]
• Gyms, gyms, gyms all around the District. [WCP]
• Neighbors anxious about D.C. United stadium proposal. [Housing Complex]
• Nats playoff runs could mean big dollars for the District. [Times]

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

• Columbia Heights building owner seeks to jack up rent to make capital improvements. [New Columbia Heights]
• Nitpicky streetcar critics are making a good project look bad. [GGW]
• A loopy approach to mixed-use development. [designboom]
• Adams Morgan’s one of America’s 10 best neighborhoods, and Pennsylvania Avenue’s one of its best streets. [Post]
• But the latter needs a lot of work. [WBJ]
• Rhode Island Avenue pedestrian bridge should be done by year’s end. [DCist]
• The wisdom of switching to taxis for MetroAccess. [GGW]
• West End/Foggy Bottom is one of America’s most expensive areas for renters. [UrbanTurf]
• With new fiscal year underway, low-income residents try to get their utilities turned back on. [WJLA]
• Today on the market: 1BR Adams Morgan condo—$329,000

ARTS LINKS, by Christina Cauteruccitips? ccauterucci@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• The controversial 5×5 art installation in Anacostia that Marion Barry called “junk” has been deemed a fire hazard and will be removed. [Arts Desk]
• A profile of Claire Felicie, who brings haunting photos of Dutch marines who’ve served in Afghanistan to this weekend’s (e)merge art fair. [East City Art]
• How to see art: get away from the noise, take your time, and do your homework. [Post]
• Listen to Dunc‘s new track, “Through the Storm,” which builds up and recedes like a bout of rain and thunder. [Bandwidth]
• Dozens of comedians are set to perform at this year’s Bentzen Ball shows. Who should you see? [Arts Desk]
• Howard University’s biggest homecoming bash, Yardfest, won’t feature live hip-hop sets this year. [Post]

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

• Inside the secretive world of the CIA Starbucks [Post]
• A pumpkin dish for every day of October [Express]
• Why Kushi mattered to the D.C. dining scene [Washingtonian]
• What to order at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House [Zagat]
• Six underrated spots for cocktails [Thrillist]
• Preview of Jaleo‘s paella festival [BYT]
• A look at Ripple‘s fall menu items [DCist]
• Brookland’s Finest and The Pug bartender Joe Madden is missing. [PoPville]