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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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Our latest cover package takes a look inside D.C.’s ultimate local institutions: corner stores. Learn about five neighborhood stores, how these small shops get fresh produce, and, most importantly, where to find the best bottle of wine.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • All eight D.C. mayoral candidates participated in last night’s WAMU-hosted debate. [WAMU]
  • Mayor Vince Gray is expected to detail a plan to protect transgender D.C. residents from discrimination in health care. [News4]
  • The masked robbers who abducted a mailman and beat him near Fort Totten were looking for a specific package. [Post]
  • Despite calls for resignation from Councilman Tommy Wells, Mayor Vince Gray says he’s sticking by his fire chief and deputy mayor for public safety. [Post]

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

Turning a Corner: D.C. Central Kitchen’s Healthy Corners Program is bringing fresh produce to local corner stores.

One Stop Shop: The eccentric owner of an Anacostia corner store sells patterned jeggings, kimchi, and everything in between.

God Save the Quinoa: Nothing stands between Georgetown residents and their longtime corner store.

Uncorced: The final failure of the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

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

  • Mayoral candidates tussle in broadcasted WAMU debate. [WAMU, NBC 4]
  • Vince Gray won’t be canning his fire chief, Tommy Wells‘ request aside. [Post]
  • Jack Evans heads to Muriel Bowser‘s turf to criticize her economic record. [LL, Post]
  • Tommy Wells concedes that new ad isn’t accurate, but it’s nice of his staff to think so. [LL]
  • D.C. cops need better hate-crime training, new report says. [Post]
  • Mayor talks transgender health care discrimination later this morning. [AP, Blade]
  • Potholepalooza pothole-filling campaign starts next month. [Post]
  • Evans tells the Post ed board he has the “vision” they say he lacks. [LL]
  • Petworth wins big in school funding changes. [Housing Complex]
  • Gray tech initiative runs into naming dispute. [WBJ]
  • District, Maryland, and Virginia will each put $25 million into Metro improvements. [WAMU]
  • Condos could come in next to Georgetown’s Exorcist Steps. [WTOP]
  • New York aside, bottomless-mimosa brunches will stay legal in D.C. for the foreseeable future. [WBJ]

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

  • Everything you always wanted to know about corner stores (but never thought to ask). [WCP]
  • Buying is still cheaper than renting in D.C., but the gap is narrowing. [UrbanTurf]
  • An express bus for all of Rhode Island Avenue? [GGW]
  • D.C.’s the top city for both wealthy millennials and wealthy boomers. [DCist]
  • Slightly less wealthy millennials will drive demand for micro-units. [UrbanTurf]
  • Yet another hotel will open by Nationals Park. [WBJ]
  • Circulator could get new routes and a fare hike. [DCist]
  • Today on the market: “Sake by owner” at 16th and U—$460,000

ARTS LINKS, by Jonathan L. Fischer. (tips? jfischer@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The great tragedy—plus some smaller ones—of the dissolution of the Corcoran. [Arts Desk]
  • New restrictions on the National Mall have imperiled the annual Smithsonian Folk Life Festival. [Post]
  • Former Portrait Gallery Director Martin Sullivan dies. [Arts Desk]
  • Arena Stage’s 2014-2015 season includes a play about cantankerous Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. [Style Blog, New York Times]
  • The facade of the under-construction National Museum of African American History and Culture will look bronze, but it’ll actually be polyvinyl difluoride. [WBJ]
  • Mambo Sauce‘s Black Boo on the state of go-go and the go-go vote [Style Blog]
  • Get to know Trinidad music venue Tree House Lounge. [D.C. Music Download]
  • A guest DJ session from Ian and Alec MacKaye [Dissonance]
  • Ben Affleck testified to Congress, yadayadayaha. [Foreign Policy]

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

  • Everything you want to know about D.C.’s corner stores [WCP]
  • This man has eaten nothing but pizza for 25 years. [VICE]
  • Why you should always order the bigger pizza [NPR]
  • Ten restaurants for those who want it all [Eater]
  • Pasta Mia to remain open while negotiating new lease. [Post]
  • Try the waffle sandwich at The Coupe. [Zagat]
  • New Virginia legislation could mean more breweries. [NoVa Mag]