A few weeks back DCist explored downtown Silver Spring, a neatly organized if sterile shopping district populated with the usual suspects — Chipotle, Starbucks, Potbelly, Borders. We spied what seemed to be a park, full of playful children and couples. We approached. It seemed a little bright to be real grass. A little too well-manicured. Surprised were we to find out the park was nothing more than an expanse of AstroTurf, a carpet of fake grass amidst blocks and blocks of concrete and asphalt. Today the Post informs us that it’s actually called SoftLawn, and it’s a hit with local residents. Though the faux lawn only cost $96,000 and is a breeze to maintain, DCist is still old-fashioned enough to prefer the real kind. We can, though, only imagine what the National Mall would look like covered in this stuff…

District DUI Laws Criticized: District residents were surprised yesterday to find that even one drink with dinner can land drivers in the drunk tank for the night, as wrote the Post. Well, today the Post is reporting that even advocates for safer roads and tougher drunk driving laws think the District’s zero tolerance policy is excessive and a waste of police resources. Organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) noted that efforts would be better spent stopping drivers that are more seriously impaired.

Second AU Trustee Resigns: When DCist attended the Monday night announcement of American University president Benjamin Ladner’s dismissal for using university funds for personal expenses, Board of Trustees interim chairman Thomas Gottschalk proclaimed that the board had never been more united. Two days later, and that claim seems to be falling by the wayside. The Post today writes that a second trustee and active Ladner critic has resigned, declaring his opposition to the current negotiations over Ladner’s severance package. Leslie Bains, the former board chairwoman, resigned last Sunday night after expressing discontent with the way certain board members had dealt with the controversy surrounding Ladner’s lavish spending.

Evans Reimbursement In Question: Council-member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), a potential candidate to be chairman of the City Council, may have been reimbursed twice for an official trip he took to Asia last October, notes the Post. Evans, four other members of the council, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, and others traveled to China and Thailand on a culture and business mission, for which members of the council were reimbursed. Evans received $8,535 in reimbursement from the council’s budget, but similarly received $6,772.72 from a political action committee he controlled and has been using to pay back a variety of personal expenses, a possible violation of District campaign finance laws.

Panda Watch: Butterstick has teeth! Yes, we realize it’s only a few days until the little critter is named, but we’re sticking to Butterstick. Zoo officials have announced that Washington’s newest celebrity won’t be available to the public until at least December.

Briefly Noted: Weather celebrity coming back to District … Smithsonian receives $45 million donation … GWU student remains unconscious after Sunday fight … D.C. City Council debates schools and stadium … Deceased VCU student would have turned 18 today.

Picture above snapped by dcJohn.