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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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This month marks the 20th anniversary of D.C.’s most enduring book about itself, Dream City. Our latest cover story is an oral history of the volume, which chronicles D.C. from the promise of Home Rule and civil rights in the early 1970s to the waves of crack cocaine and violence in the 1980s.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • Polls show that a majority of D.C. residents are in favor of legalizing marijuana, but the group trying to get the measure on the November ballot is well behind schedule in collecting the necessary signatures. [Loose Lips]
  • A married D.C. cop is accused of assaulting and threatening to kill his girlfriend. [News4]
  • Two people were arrested and charged for taking old trash bins that had “Take Me” stickers on them. [Post]
  • The House voted Wednesday to create a commission to study the feasibility of a National Women’s History Museum on the National Mall. [AP]
  • Prince George’s County opted not to live-tweet a prostitution sting because of security concerns. [WAMU]


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

The Rising: What’s no longer missing from D.C.’s dining scene? A great bakery. Mark Furstenberg is opening Bread Furst in Van Ness on May 6.

School of Lock: Learning to pick deadbolts with D.C.’s least dangerous scofflaws.

Window of Missed Opportunity: Why the does the National Gallery of Art mount so few exhibits about women and people of color?

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

  • This week’s cover story: 20 years later, an oral history of Dream City, the definitive book on Marion Barry and everything else in District politics. [WCP]
  • Pot legalization advocates fall behind on their signature schedule. [LL]
  • Why is the police union attacking Phil Mendelson in campaign ads? It’s all part of a plan. [LL]
  • Artist arrested in alleged theft of leftover recycling bins says she just wanted to make flower planters. [Post]
  • Why are there so many leftover bins, anyway? [Post]
  • House hearing on D.C. marijuana decriminalization moved to Friday. [Times, WAMU]
  • Report: 5,000-plus poor children in the District receive inadequate mental health treatment. [WAMU, Post]
  • Completing the Anacostia streetcar line will take at least three years. [Post]
  • Love nightclub is up for sale again after a confusing day in court. [Times]
  • Bicyclist hit by hit-and-run driver on Bike to School Day. [WTOP]
  • Police chief attributes shooting near Ballou High School to “a spontaneous reaction to a dispute.” [Post]

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

  • Gentrification may reduce crime, but demolishing public housing doesn’t. [Vox]
  • Realtors use drones to market Brookland—illegally. [WAMU]
  • Big new development planned at Union Market. [WBJ]
  • Former residents of Mount Pleasant’s burned-out Deauville are getting ready to return. [Post]
  • Couldn’t get your hands on Dream City? Here’s the oral history. [WCP]
  • Developer plans his dream home atop a Mexican restaurant in Shaw. [UrbanTurf]
  • Bike Month is off to an unfortunate start. [WashCycle]
  • Life expectancy in D.C. is lower than in neighboring counties. [RTKL]
  • D.C. is America’s most stressed city, and other meaningless rankings. [DCist]
  • Today on the market: Mount Pleasant rowhouse—$875,000

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

  • Kelly Towles‘ mural at Art Yards is even more evocative now that the building’s falling apart. [Curbed]
  • An interview with the three members of Wanted Man on the “danger” of making experimental music [D.C. Music Download]
  • The start of spring means lots of art studio open houses. [East City Art]
  • The Make-A-Wish Foundation arranged for a five-year-old from Alexandria to star in her own music video for Katy Perry‘s “Roar,” and it’s adorable. [DCist]
  • An Amtrak tunnel underneath the Bureau of Engraving and Printing boasts some choice graffiti art. [BYT]

FOOD LINKS, by Jessica Sidman. (tips? jsidman@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Where foodies shop [Washingtonian]
  • The best international food markets in the D.C. area [DCist]
  • Where to drink outside with your dog [Thrillist]
  • Old Bay seasoning is about to make it big. [Post]
  • Brasserie Beck opens location in Gaithersburg. [Eater]
  • Nando’s Peri-Peri opens in former Armand’s Pizza space on May 21. [PoPville]
  • Q&A with Dram & Grain bartender Trevor Frye [BYT]