Photo by JBassettPhotography.com

It was another busy week, with the nutty professor being chosen to play Marion Barry, a bunch of personnel changes and exciting announcements and more dreaming about the Redskins.

• Late in the week we learned that Eddie Murphy had been chosen to play Marion Barry in a Spike Lee-directed biopic on the mayor-for-life. We proposed a number of better leading men than the nutty professor for the role.
• In Occupy D.C.-related news, 31 people were arrested for a revolutionary barn-raising in McPherson Square, a court ruled that U.S. Park Police would have to give 24 hours notice before any evictions and three protesters launched a hunger strike for D.C. voting rights.
• It was big week for DCist, as we announced a new editor-in-chief and associate editor, launched our official DCist merchandise store (with all proceeds going to Bread for the City) and announced the 2012 DCist Exposed photography show.
• In the D.C. Council, an ethics bill passed on a first vote, legislators considered making it easier for retailers to fill growlers and register handguns. Legislation was also introduced limiting executive hires and pledging to keep D.C. United in town.
• At the same time, it was crickets out there on the fate of Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5).
• Much to the relief of some Capitol Hill neighbors, Mayor Vince Gray stressed that the H Street NE streetcar would not be going up Third Street on its way to Union Station.
• The District’s medical marijuana program faced yet another delay, while Montel Williams saw dreams of a Columbia Road dispensary go up in smoke.
• In the world of sports, Gray again dreamed the big dream of having the Redskins come back to town, cyclists got an early Christmas present with word of a velodrome in 2012 and a newspaper columnist accused Alex Ovechkin of using steroids (Ovi wasn’t impressed by the claims). And in a history-making event, a D.C. Rollergirl played for the French National Team.
• In food and drink, The Passenger and PX made the list of the 50 best bars in the country, we reminded that Repeal Day in D.C. is later than it is for the rest of the country, we considered the always hard-working Todd Gray and learned to make our own strawberry marshmallows.
• In arts and entertainment, Tom Petty did D.C. (well, kind of), The Artist won over local critics, we checked out the White House’s holiday decorations, checked out Ryan Adams at the Lyric Opera House and Kathryn Calder at Iota, reviewed Le Havre and The Sitter, and were happy with Shakespeare Theater’s take on Much Ado About Nothing.
• In Three Stars it was Dance for the Dying, and in Secret History it was Pitchblende’s Kill Atom Smasher.