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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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It was good, it was bad, it was definitely boozy: Pick up our latest issue to flip through our annual Encyclopedia of D.C. to relive the year that was.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • D.C. schools reported a big jump in test scores, but, overall, still lag behind other urban school districts. [Housing Complex]
  • After years of decline, the District’s homicide rate is up this year. [AP]
  • The D.C. Council is considering legislation Thursday that would seal the criminal records of people convicted of marijuana possession if their cases did not involve violence. [AP]
  • Metro planners have suggested adding 10 new stations and creating four “super stations” at the two Farragut Square stations, Union Station, the Capitol South station, and the Pentagon station. [Post]

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

Quotables: Submit your nomination for best political quote of the year to Loose Lips.

Real World Panda: Starting January 18, the public can visit the baby panda, Bao Bao, at the National Zoo.

Fancy Poison: The Japanese tora-fugu, a type of blowfish with deadly poison in its organs, is back on the menus at Kaz Sushi Bistro and Sushi Taro.

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

  • The 2013 D.C. Encyclopedia is here! Ambulance fires, Vince Gray making up his mind, Marion Barry as Scandal fan, and more. [WCP]
  • Jim Graham wants office space on the redeveloped Reeves Center land. [Post]
  • Test scores up, but D.C. still lags behind other systems. [WAMU, Post]
  • Tax commission passes its recommendations. [Post]
  • Attorney general’s office alleges WUSA9 anchor J.C. Hayward was even more involved in alleged charter school self-dealing. [Post]
  • Post ed board: After parking meter spat, Council should ditch contracting approval. [Post]
  • Homicides up in 2013. [WTOP]
  • The Metropolitan Branch Trail still isn’t done. [WAMU]
  • Police investigating vandalism of Blade, Metro Weekly boxes. [Blade]
  • Developer proposes Congress Heights development. [WBJ]
  • Metro planners consider “super stations.” [Post]
  • What should the 11th Street Bridge Park look like? [Post]

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

  • A modest but attractive redesign of the Metro map [Behance]
  • Georgetown condo sells for a record $5.2 million. [WBJ]
  • Jim Graham is treating the Reeves Center “like a building he can personally construct with Legos.” [Blade]
  • Why is the northern segment of the Metropolitan Branch Trail taking so long? [WAMU]
  • JBG’s planning a big project for Dupont. [WBJ]
  • CBS is not so good on the Capital Bikeshare facts. [WashCycle]
  • The streetcar barn has gotten a lot more expensive. [WAMU]
  • Today on the market: Adams Mill Road 1BR—$385,000

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

  • Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans wants too put $25 million into D.C.’s currently dormant film incentive fund. [Washingtonian]
  • ICYMI: Nude-focused Georgetown gallery MOCA DC has left the District, will hold one last pasties-fueled bash in semisecret location. [Arts Desk]
  • What an exhibit of ancient Egyptian artifacts is doing at the Freer [Express]
  • A close look at a “Ubuhle Women,” a seven-panel ndwango canvas on display at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum [Express]
  • When D.C. Cab opened in 1983, you could see it at 18 Washington-area theaters. What are they now? [DCist]

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

  • The ultimate bartenders’ guide to holiday punches [BYT]
  • The man who duped millionaires into paying big bucks for fake wines [NPR]
  • Ten gifts for foodies under $40 [Washingtonian]
  • Bar Charley introduces new menu and chef. [Post]
  • Chefs past and present talk about five years of Bourbon Steak. [Eater]
  • Bryan Voltaggio‘s Lunchbox closes in Frederick. [Don Rockwell]
  • Ten biggest food social media moments of 2013 [Zagat]