Obama Says He Favors DC Voting Rights; Rickey Named DC's Native Cocktail: Morning Links

Obama Favors DC Voting Rights: In a recent interview with NBC4's Jim Vance, President Barack Obama said he favors voting rights for DC in Congress. Still, many advocates feel the president isn't doing enough on the issue. Vance said he felt the president didn't have time because he was busy with other issues.

The Rickey Becomes DC's Native Cocktail: DC Councilmember Jack Evans, of Ward 2, declared that Washington is home of the rickey, a cocktail made with gin or whiskey, fresh lime juice, and club soda. The cocktail was invented at Shoomaker's in 1883, the Washington Post reports. July has been dubbed "rickey month."

Living Social Branches Into Vacations: LivingSocial, the daily deal giant, has branched into travel-related adventures after buying Urban Escapes, Jeff Clabaugh at the Washington Business Journal reports. The company has also bought daily deal sites in Thailand and the Philippines.

Fenty Finished: NBC4 also scored another high-profile interview yesterday with former DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, who says he's finished with electoral politics. Though the former mayor has been talking a lot recently about his pet issue, education reform, he hasn't said a word about allegations against current members of the DC council.

Arlington Officials Hope to Rescue Artisphere: The Rosslyn arts center Artisphere, the former home of the Newseum, is only brining in 22 percent of expected revenues after the city invested millions in renovations. Now, a truncated short-term rental agreement is in the works to draw in more business, Liz Essley at the Washington Examiner reports. Many feel the space's current 15-page agreement is serving as a deterrent to potential users of the venue.

Report Still Shows Landlords Unwilling to Rent to Blacks: A report released yesterday by the US Commission on Civil Rights shows that housing discrimination still exists in the area's rental market. Few rental units are accessible for the disabled and African Americans, especially west of Rock Creek Park, the Washington Post reports.

Briefly Noted: Bicycle-related crashes are on the rise in Fairfax. . . . More fancy apartments are planned for Bethesda's Woodmount Triangle. . . . Two men dressed as Pepco employees robbed and killed a man Wednesday in Fairwood.

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