‘Tis two days before Christmas, when all through D.C., not a creature is stirring, except maybe Marion Barry. And who knows what he’s stirring anyway? Whatever it is, it’s probably not Splenda or non-dairy creamer. By the way, did you know that Marion Barry’s middle name is Shepilov? I read that Marion’s father Julian named his son after Dmitri Shepilov, the Soviet foreign minister under Khrushchev. But unless Julian Barry knew Shepilov personally, that can’t be right. Marion Barry was born in 1936, well before Shepilov rose to prominence.

Enough talk about Communists; they don’t celebrate Christmas anyway. But if you’re one of the few people staying the District for the holidays instead of returning to the state that issued your driver’s license, you do have a few dining-out options on Christmas Day that do not involve heading over to your local 7-Eleven for a “Big Bite.” Hotel restaurants typically stay open on Christmas Day, and Rachel Cooper has compiled a list of the spots serving Christmas dinner in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. As of 10 a.m. via OpenTable, you could still snag a reservation for two at Citronelle (Latham Hotel), Corduroy (Sheraton Four Points), and Cafe MoZU (Mandarin Oriental), among a handful of others. Or you could do what I did last year: go to the Far East restaurant in Rockville for some chicken with cashews and Singapore Slings.

Yenching Palace to Make Way for Walgreens

Speaking of Chinese restaurants and Communists, I read yesterday that owner Larry Lung has finally decided to close his historic Yenching Palace restaurant — presently known more for its role in having hosted talks between Soviet and American officials during the Cuban Missile Crisis than for its moo goo gai pan — and lease the space to Walgreens. Recall that DCist first informed you about this possibility back on September 15, thanks to a friendly tipster. Where will all of the Cuban Missile Crisis reenactors hang out now?