News & Politics

Afternoon Shots: November 12

Post columnist pens infuriating article, Andy Shallal begins mayoral campaign, and other things to know.

Photograph via Shutterstock.

The Washington Post’s Richard Cohen wrote this today: “People with conventional views must repress a gag reflex when considering the mayor-elect of New York—a white man married to a black woman and with two biracial children. (Should I mention that Bill de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray, used to be a lesbian?) This family represents the cultural changes that have enveloped parts—but not all—of America. To cultural conservatives, this doesn’t look like their country at all.” [Post]

Cohen’s editor says the column was “misinterpreted,” but maybe it should have been edited “more carefully.” [Business Insider]

What voter turnout issue? More than 75,000 votes have been cast so far in the National Zoo’s panda-naming contest. [Twitter]

Police are investigating the murder of Council of Governments transportation planning chief Ron Kirby, who was found dead Monday in his Alexandria home. [Capital Comment]

Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal launched his mayoral campaign today. [Capital Comment]

H&M’s Georgetown store (3222 M St., NW) reopens tomorrow. The line outside the door is likely forming some time later tonight. [Shop Around]

Why bother with all the prep work when you can buy Thanksgiving meals from some of Washington’s best restaurants? [Best Bites]

Union Market is getting an eight-screen movie theater in 2015. [Open House]

Happy hour of the day: Athens, Georgia-based Terrapin Beer Company enters the DC market with a tap takeover at ChurchKey (1337 14th St., NW).

Staff Writer

Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.