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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Good morning from Washington City Paper! It’s Thursday! The dead-tree edition is hitting the streets, so get out there and grab yours.

LEADING THE MORNING NEWS: D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown resigns due to bank fraud charges and every political reporter in town gets in on the action. [Post] [Times] [WAMU] [AP] [NBC4] The Post also considers what scandals mean for D.C.’s reputation, while Robert McCartney “explains” them, and the Post editorial board endorses Phil Mendelson for interim chair. At NBC4, Chuck Thies takes a victory lap and reminds potential political crooks: “[U.S. Attorney Ronald] Machen is smarter than you.” The Times‘ Deborah Simmons says there are more shoes yet to drop. Plus: U Street about to become a construction zone. [NBC4] Parents in D.C. and Alexandria aren’t spoiling their kids. [WTOP] D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton still fighting the D.C.-funded abortion fight. [Times] Metro tips for interns. [Post]

YOUR DAILY QUALITY-OF-LIFE MEASUREMENT: Wednesday, City Paper‘s Needle fell eight points. The damage done: Kwame.

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

Fully Unloaded: LL’s column this week is all about Kwame’s fall and what it means for District governance if Machen brings the hammer down on, say, the mayor: “Wilson Building aides may want to bone up on logistics for similar future meetings. Another longstanding investigation, into Mayor Vince Gray’s 2010 election campaign, jumped into ‘holy shit’ mode last month, with U.S. Attorney Ron Machen’s team getting guilty pleas from two former aides who had illegally funneled money to nuisance candidate Sulaimon Brown, then lied to cover up the payments. LL and the Post have each reported that Gray’s best friend and former campaign chairwoman, Lorraine Green, is the unnamed individual who prosecutors say in court papers also knew of the payments. That investigation, if anything, seems to be more far-reaching than the one into Kwame Brown; FBI agents raided the homes and offices of one of D.C.’s biggest campaign contributors, city contractor Jeff Thompson, in March.” Plus: Check out Brown’s resignation letter, and a City Paper Kwame Brown Reader for a deep dive into Brown’s history.

D.C.’s Most Valuable Restaurants: Value doesn’t always mean cheap. “In assigning this year’s Most Valuable Restaurants issue, we tasked writers with coming up with their own answers to the question of what makes an eatery valuable. The goal wasn’t to come up with a ‘best restaurants’ list, but rather a survey of places where you’ll feel your money and time are well spent. For some, that meant a good deal. For others, a perfect meal. For others still, the value lived in the very fact that they were willing to trek out to Wheaton or endure an hour-long wait for a table. The point is: In eating, as in life, value is what you decide it is.”

Sticker Shock: In her Housing Complex column this week, LDP explains how low appraisals drag down home prices in Anacostia. “For-sale homes are held hostage by the low appraisals of the short sales, foreclosures, and abandoned homes all around them; Four Points Development’s long-planned condo project at 13th and W streets SE has stalled over the same issue. That means that no matter how many people want to pay for new homes near the Anacostia Metro station, across the bridge from Nationals Stadium, or on a planned streetcar line—factors that make this neighborhood perhaps the most attractive of any east of the river—builders won’t be able to meet the demand. And without higher-income buyers, it’s hard to make a case for the kind of stores and restaurants that everybody says they want.”

Go to the (Ex-) Mountain: Why the Dance Exchange’s Cassie Meador Walked 500 Miles: “When Meador explains the origins of the project in public, she brings up her experience helping to teach an ecology class in Guyana three years ago. Living outdoors for two weeks, it was obvious where resources came from: Water was drawn from the river, and the only source of light was her headlamp. When she returned home, Meador realized how little she knew about the source of her electricity, so she did some research and was shocked to learn that much of it was linked to mountaintop removal.”

Outdoor Restaurant Garden State Coming to Shaw: The beer garden and BBQ trend seems to show no signs of slowing, Jessica Sidman reports. “Garden State, named after its address at 1539-1541 New Jersey Ave. NW, would feature picnic tables and ‘straight-forward food’ like half-smokes, tater tots, barbecue, and coleslaw. Hirsch would also like to add a bocce court or corn hole to the 8,000 sq. ft. lot, as well as a gazebo for non-amplified performances, plenty of bike racks, and a sand box to play in.”

DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YA PHOTOS OF THE DAY: Kwame Brown Will Resign by Darrow Montgomery.

LINKDUMP BELOW!

LOOSE LIPS DAILY POLITICS LINKS, by LL columnist Alan Suderman (tips? lips@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Fully Unloaded [LL]
  • “Earlier in the day, a casually dressed Mr. Brown appeared to be in good spirits and told a reporter from The Washington Times in the hallway that he was ready for a normal workday.” [Times]
  • Mary Cheh feels betrayed [Post]
  • Vince Gray is “shocked” [Examiner]
  • Kwame’s weird look as elevator door closes [NBC4]
  • He’s a big fan of the Current, apparently, picking one up on his way out the door [AP photo]
  • Slide show of the shit show [WCP]
  • Did Marc Fisher break into “Bullet Proof” and peruse Kwame’s library? [Post]
  • Mendo for chair, says Post [Post]
  • Mendo’s “record doesn’t justify another term,” says the Post, 2010 [Post]
  • “City leaders keep arguing for more autonomy, but it’s hard to get there when so many people keep getting indicted,” says Jason Chaffetz [Post]
  • Remember, the city’s still humming along [Post]
  • Control Board coming? [Washingtonian]
  • Jaffe blames Barry [WUSA9]
  • David Catania says Gray needs to start explaining or start resigning [Fox5]

REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LINKS, by Housing Complex columnist Lydia DePillis (tips? housingcomplex@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Nordstrom Rack to old Borders space? [Bisnow]
  • Interesting affordability restrictions you’ve got there, Tysons. [Washington Times]
  • Wonderbread Factory gets office tenant, unnamed restaurant. [Urbanturf]
  • 9th Street condo project gets the Historic signoff. [Urbanturf]
  • All that fretting about a Redskins training facility for nothing! [Post]
  • Any D.C. government employees need a house? [Post]
  • Outside Wisconsin, a bad day for unions. [WAMU]
  • New York preservation groups launch war on landmarking. [NYO]
  • Holy schneikes! The tallest building in New York City, only 128 units! [NYO]
  • A list D.C.’s glad not to be on: Most endangered places. [PreservatioNation]
  • Can’t wait for Reason TV’s expose on the CaBi boondoggle. [DCist]
  • Today on the market: 28 windows.

ARTS LINKS, by arts editor Jonathan L. Fischer (tips? artsdesk@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Ryan Rilette to succeed Blake Robison as the artistic leader of Round House Theatre. [Post]
  • The Corcoran’s multiplying budget deficits [Modern Art Notes]
  • Rapper/producer Oddisee (reviewed in this week’s WCP!) discusses growing up with go-go, concocting a D.C. hip-hop sound. [Spin]
  • Video: Raheeem DeVaughn performs “Bulletproof” at Big G’s birthday. [DC Mumbo Sauce]
  • The enduring legacy of Cool “Disco” Dan. [GGW]
  • Mixtape DJs make a playlist for Capital Pride. [GOG Blog]
  • Svetlana Legetic to anxious D.C. creatives: I’m not leaving. [ReadysetDC]
  • Janel & Anthony discuss recording their new album Where Is Home (reviewed in this week’s WCP!) [DCist]
  • “Redact your fucking face” and other devastating insult’s from Veep. [Warming Glow]
  • Brightest Young Things’ Capital Pride party at the Howard will be the recently restored venue’s first queer party in 40 years. [Blade]

FOOD LINKS, by Young & Hungry editor Jessica Sidman (tips? hungry@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Diners spend $32,800 at Marcel’s plus $10,000 tip [Washingtonian]
  • The people behind Galaxy Hut in Clarendon open Spacebar in Falls Church with 17 grilled cheese sandwiches [Going Out Gurus]
  • New ice cream truck called Street Cream launches in D.C. [Food Truck Fiesta]
  • Panoramic views and small bites in steel lunch boxes at 1909 OverlooK, one of the city’s highest rooftop bars [Thrillist]
  • Tacos El Chilango coming to 12th and V streets NW [PoP]
  • Following Lincoln and Roosevelt-themed eateries, JFK and Jefferson restaurants may be next [Eater]
  • Cal Ripken‘s burgers are “rather impressive” [Washington Post]
  • What’s in Green Pig Bistro chef Scot Harlan‘s fridge? Rice cakes and kochijang. [The Plate]