We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.

Unsubscribe any time.

A morning roundup of news, opinion, and links from Washington City Paper and around the District. Send tips and ideas to citydesk@washingtoncitypaper.com.

Sign up: To get District Line Daily—or any of our other email newsletters—sent straight to your mailbox, click here.

Florida Rep. John Mica isn’t impressed with the District’s successful referendum on budget autonomy. “When my kids were young—-teenagers—-they wanted budget autonomy, too,” he told Fox 5 yesterday.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • In D.C., the rich have trees, the poor don’t. [Post]
  • No kids allowed at Alexandria sushi restaurant. [WTOP]
  • Logan Circle beating could be a hate crime. [NBC 4]
  • Metro to sell Fourth of July-themed SmarTrip. [Examiner]
  • City won’t lease government land to KIPP charter school. [Post]
  • Four lines of track work this weekend. [Post]
  • Rockville woman has a cat tattoo, but steals a dog. [Post]

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

Photo of the Day: Miss Rodeo Virginia.

Big Box: The H Street Walmart doesn’t look like your average Walmart.

Wrong Side of the Tracks: A look at the richest and poorest areas surrounding Metro stations.

Hit the Slopes: A disco/ski chalet lounge is opening in Dupont Circle.

LOOSE LIPS, by Loose Lips columnist Alan Suderman. (tips? lips@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Florida congressman compares D.C.’s budget to his kids’ allowance. [Fox5]
  • D.C. is a city of tree haves and tree have-nots. [Post]
  • Vince Gray says he has a plan to clean up Jeff Thompson’s $70 million mess. Awkward. [WBJ]
  • Anita Bonds‘ victory a blast from the past, says Jonetta Rose Barras. [Examiner]
  • Paul Zukerberg says he’s just getting started, maybe. [Post]
  • Funny, don’t remember Vincent Orange caring so much about a Medicaid MCO’s financial health when he voted to give extra money to Jeff Thompson’s Chartered.  [WBJ]
  • Rest of Congress doesn’t appear to care about recent budget autonomy vote. [Times]
  • Bob King’s support of Muriel Bowser’s mayoral campaign raises eyebrows. [Blade]

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

  • D.C. issues call for developers for Mount Vernon Triangle site. [WBJ]
  • $100 million later, Woodson High School is still falling apart. [WJLA]
  • Low-rise, high-density? A formula for sunshine and ugliness. [Atlantic Cities]
  • An argument in favor of preserving the West Heating Plant. [GGW]
  • Scenes from the D.C. Council’s DHCD oversight hearing. [CNHED]
  • A “discotheque meets après-ski chalet” is coming to Dupont. [Young and Hungry]
  • D.C.’s first marijuana dispensary is set to open within weeks. [DCist]
  • The best real estate deals of the year. [WBJ]
  • Today on the market: Truxton condos

ARTS LINKS, by Ally Schweitzer (tips? artsdesk@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • 2 Chainz acquitted of his Maryland drug charge. [AP via Huffington Post D.C.]
  • More about the massive Glenstone museum expansion in Potomac [Architect]
  • WAMU on D.C. band Ugly Purple Sweater, whose Columbia Heights anthem “DC USA” we named “Best Local Ode.” [WAMU]
  • Rolling Stone deems 9:30 Club the “Best Big Room in America.” [Rolling Stone]
  • Watch: A new, heavy video from Drop Electric [D.C. Music Download]
  • Friday listening: A mix from Virginia-based, Netherlands-born electronic-music producer Martyn [Soundcloud]

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

  • A fried chicken taste test reveals who’s got the best birds. [Washingtonian]
  • Former Queen Vic and Sonoma chef Michael Bonk heads to The Pig. [Eater]
  • Sugar Magnolia to become a 12-seat group dining room for Ripple. [Post]
  • Mothership launches brunch this weekend. [PoPville]
  • Japanese bring latte art to a new level. [NPR]
  • Chefs add flowers to dishes and drinks. [Express]
  • Soft shell crabs at Mokomandy [NoVa Mag]