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 takes a historical look at how D.C. churches defied the Reagan administration and helped Central American refugees flee repression in the ’80s. 

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Commercial strips far from Metro stations along Rhode Island Avenue NE are struggling. Could “transitional retail” be the answer? [Housing Complex]
  • In response to a federal court ruling overturning D.C.’s total ban on carrying guns in public, city officials have proposed legislation that would define who could carry a gun in public. [City Desk]
  • Muriel Bowser has a big double digit lead over David Catania, according to a new NBC/Post poll. [Loose Lips]
  • Get ready, the first mayoral debate of the season is tonight at American University. [News4]

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

Salute Your Schwartz: Carol Schwartz and her outsized personality make another shot at the mayoralty.

Celebrity Chef: Daniel Boulod looks to ingratiate himself in D.C. in a way other celebrity chefs haven’t.

Power Bottle Service: Yet another steakhouse is coming to D.C. this week. And this one—-Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse—-has power outlets meant to symbolize “power dining” and a rack just for $8,000 to $10,000 bottles of wine.

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

  • Muriel Bowser leads by double digits in new poll. [LL, Post, NBC4]
  • Carol Schwartz tries to be mayor on the force of her personality…and not much else. [LL]
  • Elissa Silverman campaign says their poll shows her leading the at-large race. [LL]
  • Republicans ask Bowser to retract radio ad. [LL, Post]
  • Mayoral candidates receive top scores from gay group. At-large candidates, not so much. [LL, Blade]
  • Police chief Cathy Lanier scores high in poll. [Post]
  • Council, mayor respond to court ruling with new gun law. [City Desk, Times, WAMU, Post]
  • ANC commissioner accused in homeless attack gets plea offer. [Post]
  • Bowser holds LGBTQ meet and greet. [Blade]
  • “Two is enough!” say pot legalization opponents. [WAMU, Post]
  • Streetcar nears another testing phase. [WAMU]
  • What LGBTQ candidates want to see at tonight’s mayoral debate. [Metro Weekly]
  • Developer Jair Lynch takes on project near Nats Park. [WBJ]
  • Some terrible reasons to oppose District statehood. [Post]

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

  • If you’re living in D.C. four years or longer, it’s better to buy than rent. [UrbanTurf]
  • Tell that to Robert De Niro, who’s paying $125,000 a month for his New York apartment. [Vanity Fair]
  • Major Congress Heights project gets tweaked. [WBJ]
  • Readers weigh in on 11th Street Bridge Park designs. [UrbanTurf]
  • Jair Lynch re-envisions Half Street SE. [WBJ]
  • Software tool could help developers assess project feasibility. [UrbanTurf]
  • Today on the market: Foggy Bottom “extra large studio”—$220,000

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

  • The mayor of Richmond pronounced yesterday “Foo Fighters Day” in honor of the band’s crowdfunded concert. [SPIN]
  • Watch Olivia Neutron-John‘s music video for “Death/Tango,” a tribute toAnna Nasty‘s late friend, Richie Terrific. [Bandwidth]
  • Gene Weingarten wrote his first children’s book. [Post]
  • Photos of Ty Segall at the 9:30 Club [BYT]
  • At his Echostage concert, Sam Smith‘s songs didn’t meet the high standards of classic soul and R&B. [Post]
  • Actors Michael Patrick Thornton and Joseph Carlson of Olney Theatre Center’s Colossal, on playing younger and older versions of the same character in one play [DC Theatre Scene]

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

  • The best food trucks for every craving [Washingtonian]
  • Indian spice market, cafe, and cooking school opens in Dupont. [PoPville]
  • Three places to try during Turkish Restaurant Week [Zagat]
  • Old Ebbitt Grill customers eat about 3,000 oysters a day. [Eater]
  • SnoCream Shavery serves up a different kind of frozen treat from a school bus. [Express]
  • More of the city’s best pizzas [DCist]
  • Tom Sietsema finds plenty of wholesomeness at DC Harvest. [Post]
  • Chupacabra is hosting an eating contest this weekend. [Frozen Tropics]