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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Apologies for the lack of a District Line Daily yesterday—-blame the hackers, I certainly do. If you’re looking for holiday presents for your kids, your significant other, or your boss, this week’s hard copy Washington City Paper gift guide has you covered.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS:

  • FBI investigating whether Mayor Vince Gray‘s campaign concealed donors’ names. [Post]
  • Metro ridership drops below expectations. [Examiner]
  • D.C. Council passes budget autonomy referendum bill. [Times]
  • Everybody wants a piece of RGIII. [Post]
  • Blue Line service to get worse after Silver Line opens. [Examiner]
  • Jack Evans and Marion Barry are the new kings of the Council, says Harry Jaffe. [Examiner]

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

Photo of the Day: Contrail.

Healthcare in Hock: Both embattled campaign financier Jeff Thompson and former lobbyist David Wilmot are exiting the publicly-funded health business in the District, costing the District money—-like it always has.

Boxed In: The new D.C. Costco could help the District grab tax money from Maryland, so much so that the Mayor Gray refers to it as “the tollbooth.”

Back to Brew: Bardo, one of Arlington’s hottest nightlife spot in the ’90’s, is attempting a resurrection on Bladensburg Road.

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

  • District-friendly members of Congress retiring. [Post]
  • Darrell Issa staffer hints at legal challenges that could derail budget autonomy push. [Times]
  • Power vacuum at the Council? [Examiner]
  • Che Brown to plead guilty to bank fraud. [Post]
  • Bike spaces more efficient than parking spaces. [Georgetown Met]

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

  • Popping up like an over-eager Pop-Tart on V Street NW [PoP]
  • Going low in Mt. Pleasant [UrbanTurf]
  • A velodrome for Buzzard Point? Not gonna happen. [DCist]
  • D.C.’s losing friends in Congress. [Post]
  • Where should the Benning Road streetcar terminate? [GGW]
  • After a scare, Anacostia townhouse-and-condo development is selling well. [UrbanTurf]
  • DDOT aims to simplify parking signs. [WJLA]
  • A CaBi station’s more valuable than three parking spots. [Georgetown Metropolitan]
  • Today on the market: Become an AdMo landlord

ARTS LINKS, by Caroline Jones (tips? artsdesk@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Congratulations to D.C.’s own Wale, who scored his first Grammy nomination for his song “Lotus Flower Bomb” [Grammys]
  • Molotov Theatre Group is restructuring their leadership in the new year. Michael Wright, founding Artistic Director of SeeNoSun OnStage joins the company as co-artistic director. [Molotov Theatre Group]
  • The Kennedy Center will honor the late Dave Brubeck, a 2009 Kennedy Center Honor recipient, at this weekend’s performances of “A Jazz Piano Christmas.” Both shows are sold out but will be broadcast later on NPR stations. [Post]
  • One local rapper is speaking out on serious issues, like bullying and talking to strangers – 9 year old Chi Chi Monet. [WJLA]
  • A Corcoran student describes collaborating with photographer Taryn Simon on iTransparency, his show that’s currently on view at the Corcoran’s Gallery 31. [Pink Line Project]

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

  • Critic Tom Sietsema drops new Minibar to two stars. [Post]
  • Minibar’s José Andrés responds to Sietsema. [Twitter]
  • A second Protein Bar is coming to 19th and K streets NW. [PoP]
  • 11 places to find latkes in D.C. [Eater]
  • Gifts for a cocktail lover [Washingtonian]
  • Universal Doughnuts: home to the most delicious breakfast sandwich [Borderstan]
  • Bitter family feud threatens Ras Restaurant & Lounge. [Arts Desk]