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Good afternoon, D.C. Temperatures are rising after a chilly weekend, which hopefully portends good things for this week. Now for some non-weather news you may have missed over the weekend.

Person Found Dead in Second District Cell Block

Marquez Parker, a Northwest D.C. resident, was found unconscious and not breathing hours after he was arrested on Thursday morning. Parker was arrested on armed kidnapping charges and surrendered to members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force without incident around 6:45 a.m. He was held at the Second District headquarters on Idaho Avenue NW, according to the Post. When officers went to check on Parker around 10:30 a.m., he was unresponsive. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine how Parker died. MPD’s internal affairs bureau is also investigating the events. As of this morning, one officer had been placed on non-contact status while the investigation is ongoing.

Parker was charged with kidnapping his girlfriend, Selita Tashaun Lee, in late July. She was found several hours later.

Chocolate Shop Robbed Twice in 24 Hours

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, staff at the Chocolate House, a small candy store on 18th Street NW, are dealing with the aftermath of two robberies that took place on Feb. 2 and 3. Around 1 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, a man wearing dark clothing broke the store’s glass front door, told employees he had a gun, and demanded money from the cash register. Police say that the same man returned on the evening of Friday, Feb. 3, and this time, took a money pouch. Police believe the suspect, who remains at large, then robbed another person on the 2200 block of 18th Street NW. 

Owners of the shop say this is the first time they’ve dealt with robberies in their 17 years of business, but they remain worried about a recent spate of break-ins nearby. The glass door at Bombay Street Food 3 was also smashed on Friday morning, and the Philz Coffee location on Adams Mill Road reported a robbery on Friday morning as well. Philz announced late last month that it would leave the D.C. market in the coming weeks, citing “business conditions and [their] desire to provide the best possible experience to our customers” as the reasons behind the exit.

—Caroline Jones (tips? cjones@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• On Friday, Mayor Muriel Bowser offered only qualified opposition to congressional Republicans’ actions that would block two pieces of recently passed legislation. She repeated some general platitudes about the importance of Home Rule, but suggested that these GOP lawmakers were acting to block the overhaul of D.C.’s criminal code simply because they have “similar concerns” about the legislation’s impact as she does. The full Council, by contrast, was unequivocal in condemning these disapproval resolutions in a letter to House leaders. Now Bowser is proposing her own changes to the code revision, setting up a showdown in the Wilson Building. [Post, Twitter, Twitter]
• Bowser also appointed a new head of the city’s troubled 911 call center Friday, picking Heather McGaffin, formerly the deputy director for the Office of Unified Communications. Will she win over skeptical lawmakers after they beat back a nomination for her former boss, Karima Holmes? [DCist, WTOP]
• A former police sergeant claims she repeatedly told Chief Robert Contee that she’d seen other officers performing “jump out” searches, a tactic that is technically prohibited in D.C. Her lawyers got the chance to depose Contee in her legal action against the police department, in which the chief claims the sergeant didn’t provide enough evidence to justify him taking action. [WUSA9] 
• Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen has backed a bunch of new pieces of environmental legislation as he takes over chairmanship of a key Council committee. The new bills offer incentives for e-bikes and electric stoves. [DCist, Post]

By Alex Koma (tips? akoma@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Ayob Metry and Nadia Gomaa went from competing with each other in the kitchen at Whole Foods—seeing who could make the best koshary—to opening their own Egyptian restaurant in Arlington, King of Koshary. [Post]
• STK, the “not your daddy’s steakhouse,” that’s “geared toward females,” is returning to D.C. for a second try. Now advertised as a “modern steakhouse and a chic lounge,” the international chain appears to be planning to take over the space in the Marriott Marquis hotel that used to house disgraced chef Mike Isabella’s Arroz. [Eater]
• Need eggs? Get ’em at the farmers market. [Washingtonian]
• Chefs and co-owners Lew McAlister and Pinkey Reddick opened a new Black-owned restaurant in Woodley Park. Flavoture is the first Black-owned business to open in the upper Northwest neighborhood. Chef Mac says they’re serving upscale American cuisine, elevated soul food, and vegan dishes. [NBC Washington, WTOP]

By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)

Dating in D.C. is hard. But going on dates in D.C.? A cherry blossom-scented breeze! With so many free museums and comedy nights, award-winning theater shows, and buzzy restaurants, coordinating a date becomes more about agreeing on a quadrant than finding an activity. And with Valentine’s Day a week away, if you choose to celebrate, it might be time to make a plan. 

At City Paper we like to think we’ve experienced enough of the city—and collected enough intel from our readers—to be able to give some recs. In the days leading up to Feb. 14, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite D.C. date ideas for romantic Valentines, a Galentine’s extravaganza, or a solo evening—however you decide to celebrate love.

For a classic evening in downtown D.C., start things off at the National Portrait Gallery. This Smithsonian museum is a favorite among Washingtonians and for good reason. It’s a low-pressure museum you can visit without feeling obliged to stay for hours or come out with a hot take on the sociocultural significance of Dali. The Portrait Gallery also stays open until 7 p.m., so it’s a perfect pre-dinner activity.

Continue kicking it downtown with another D.C. staple: Jaleo. José Andrés might not be a D.C. native but he’s become synonymous with the city and its downtown restaurant scene as his culinary empire has expanded. Jaleo marked Andres’ D.C. beginning, so it holds a special place in our hearts. The restaurant is currently featuring a special Valentine’s Day menu from Feb. 10–14, which features a pink motif and some aphrodisiacal apps. Reservations are still available.

Cap the evening off with a stroll through Lafayette Square for a dreamy D.C. moment and grab the Metro home because downtown is nothing if not well-connected. Thanks, WMATA! You’ll always be our Valentine.

By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• Unfortunately, acclaimed local poet E. Ethelbert Miller, who was featured in our 2021 People Issue, did not take home a Grammy last night for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album. But we’re still hella proud of his nomination. [DCist]
• The DC Public Library’s Southeast Neighborhood Library will close this summer for a two-year renovation project, but an interim space has yet to be named, concerning some residents who say children and seniors can’t be expected to do the 1.6-mile, round-trip walk to the Northeast Library. [Hill Rag]

By Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• The Wizards gave up a 20-point lead to the Kyrie Irving-less Nets. The 125-123 loss was the second time in as many days that the Wiz blew a 20-point lead—the first team to accomplish that particularly embarrassing feat in the past 25 seasons. Kyle Kuzma did, however, wear an amazing jacket to the game. [Post, Twitter]
• Alex Ovechkin and his 4-year-old son Sergei skated together during the skills contest at NHL All-Star Weekend. Cue the awwwws. [ESPN]
• Trinity Rodman is the first Washington Spirit player to become a bobblehead. Fans can get one if they become season members. [WTOP]
• The Mystics acquired center Amanda Zahui B. from the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for two second-round draft picks. [ESPN]

By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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