News & Politics

Washingtonian Today: The Hipster Coffee Shop Strikes Again

Some of the attendees at Tuesday's confirmation hearing for attorney general nominee William P. Barr. Photograph by Evy Mages

About Washingtonian Today

Washingtonian Today is not just another political news roundup. Instead, this daily morning brief provides local context on national news, catches you up on what’s happening at Washingtonian, points you toward super duper awesome things to do around town, and lets you in on some special events going on in-house. Sign up here to receive Washingtonian Today in your inbox every morning.

Day 26 of the partial government shutdown. DC’s Atlas Brew Works is suing acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, arguing that because the shutdown government won’t approve labels for an apricot IPA, it’s preventing the brewery from exercising its First Amendment right to seek customers.

Maybe Jacob Wohl had a point about those hipster coffee shops: Max Marshall tweeted Tuesday that he found mockups for an Amy Klobuchar 2020 presidential campaign logo in a DC coffee shop.

Congressional reporter William Steakin showed the images—I call them the Panama Bean Papers—to the Minnesota lawmaker, who told him the logo was bogus: “And the problem is it looks to me kinda like a mountain? That is not—I’m not from a mountainous state. So, let it be safe to say that we did not commission a logo.”

They will never log off: Chris Hayes thinks AOC may be our most online politician. Has he even scrolled through Chuck Grassley‘s tweets? C’mon.

Hello, I’m your author, Brittany ShepherdEmail me with comments or questions and follow me on Twitter. Sign up for this newsletter here.

William P. Barr
Photograph by Evy Mages

It’s Winter Restaurant Week. Here are some of the best new restaurants to check out, as well as the best brunches. And from 2015, but still relevant, here are Anna Spiegel‘s tips for getting the most out of Restaurant Week. Who wants to take me for British food at Scotts DC?

What we have cooking at Washingtonian:

Our pick for things to do around town:

THEATER The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical School of Rock (based on the 2003 film starring Jack Black) follows a failed rock musician who poses as a substitute teacher and inspires his students to form a rock band of their own– thus being musical theater’s first-ever rock band of kids playing instruments live on stage. The production, which runs at the National Theatre through January 27, is recommended for ages 8 and up. $54-$114.

Good reads:

Karen Pence will teach part-time at a private school in Virginia that doesn’t accept LGBTQ students or adults. Rebecca Klein notes that Pence taught at the school for 12 years when her husband, now the Vice President, was in Congress. The Pences’ daughter also attended Immanuel. (HuffPost)

Big events from Washingtonian

Want to discuss Trump’s fast-food feast? Get a Winter Restaurant Week recommendation? Join Ann Limpert this Friday at 11 AM to talk food and dining. You can leave a question now, and Ann will get to as many as possible on Friday morning.

You’re engaged?! Celebrate with us at Love Unveiled, the ultimate wedding showcase for all couples on January 27 at Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC. Visit washingtonian.com/unveiled for tickets before it sells out!

 

Staff Writer

Brittany Shepherd covers the societal and cultural scene in political Washington. Before joining Washingtonian as a staff writer in 2018, Brittany was a White House Correspondent for Independent Journal Review. While she has lived in DC for a number of years now, she still yearns for the fresh Long Island bagels of home. Find her on Twitter, often prattling on about Frasier.