The District saw a record number of visitors flow through last year, with 18.9 million visiting the city for either work or pleasure, and spending about $6.2 billion on the local economy in the process.

The 18 million visitors that came to D.C. in 2011 pumped over $6 billion into the local economy. That should be enough for us to excuse the left-side standing on Metro escalators, right?

The folks at Destination D.C., the city-funded District tourism bureau, have hired Dr. Ruth Westheimer to be their newest spokesperson. An event scheduled at the National Press Club Thursday morning promises an appearance from the diminutive psychosexual therapist, alongside At-large D.C. Council member Kwame Brown, to celebrate the launch of Destination D.C.’s latest ad campaign, described as a “month-long ‘stimulus plan’ designed to boost hospitality business by highlighting the romantic and playful side of…