Photo by Emily Reid

>> You know how we’re always hearing about how the D.C. metropolitan area is the United States’ richest? Well, so have some of the world’s swankiest brands. The Washington Post reports that auto makers like Aston Martin are opening dealerships in Northern Virginia, while luxury goods retailers like Yves Saint Laurent are adding stores, too. Tysons is also getting the area’s second Tesla dealership, where environmentally friendly rich people can drop upward of $100,000 on an electric car.

>> The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spent $1.5 million on defending former board member Dennis Martire in a lawsuit filed by the Virginia state government, WAMU reports. A federal inspector general’s report found that Martire used $38,000 in MWAA funds to travel to five conferences.

>> Oh, this will help smooth things over. Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) compared D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson to Southern segregationists who held up the Civil Rights Act and other landmark laws of that era, The Washington Examiner reports. Barry and Mendelson have been feuding for weeks over Barry’s bill that would expand legal protections offered to ex-offenders, which Mendelson has opposed.

Briefly Noted: McDonnell proposes $524 in budget modifications … Washington Times layoffs held off either because CEO is an idiot or CEO’s wife broke her leg … Capitol coal plant draws out protesters … Alexandria teen brought pellet gun to school on Monday … Wells wants vote on campaign finance

This Day in DCist: In 2010, Tommy Wells dressed up as Santa Claus.