Lunchline: A new look for the National Mall

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Monday, April 9, 2012 I saw "American Reunion" last night. It wasn't terrible, but I don't think I need to ever watch that movie again. WAY too much Stifler for my taste. Tremendous soundtrack, though. As long as I've been alive, Union Station has been in various states of mediocrity. The glorious train station never was able to get out of its own way when it came to a genuine retail experience, and it affected the surrounding neighborhood. Now, a guy who used to roam the area as a teenager wants to revamp the surrounding neighborhood. First Potomac Realty Trust has plans to transform NoMa in to a thriving locale, Capital Business' Jonathan O'Connell reports. I'm sure you've watched TV and thought: "Man, that person is on all the time. It's like they've got a studio in their house." Well, in fact, many do. For today's hottest cable television pundits, making an on-camera appearance is just as easy as taking out the trash. And for some, it can be a true family experience-- be it letting their kids on camera or the family dog barking throughout a radio appearance. The Post's Ned Martel details the latest status symbol for professional talkers. The National Mall is America's front yard, but things aren't always well-manicured. The National Park Service fielded designs to renovate a few of the sites. To put it plainly, some of these plans are extremely ambitious, but very cool. The competition is being run by the Trust for the National Mall, which is looking to raise $350 million for the project. Check out the renderings of some of the proposals. In the movie "Forrest Gump," Lieutenant Dan makes it clear that socks are of the utmost importance. And he's right. Going through a day with a janky or uncomfortable pair of socks can be quite annoying. But some people take it to the next level. Personally, I'm the kind of guy who will gladly wear a mismatched pair as long as they're both clean. Other guys will gladly spend $200 on a pair. Slate's Seth Stevenson explores "the strange world of outlandishly expensive hosiery for men." The quest for Lord Stanley's Cup is officially underway. And for their troubles of making the playoffs in the penultimate game of the regular season, the Capitals have the pleasure of facing the defending NHL champs. They'll face the Boston Bruins, who have home ice advantage after winning the Northeast division, starting Thursday. The Post's Tarik El-Bashir offers an early preview of what the Caps will be up against to start the second season. Extra Bites • When Mike Wallace passed Saturday, the world lost one of its pioneering journalists. The 93-year-old hadn't been in the public eye in some time, but in 2005, he did an interview on NPR that is one of my favorites. • What do you get when you add sandwiches, Instragram and Tumblr? Well, Instagramwiches, of course! Shoutout to@Calsef for his handiwork. • Drake has two new videos out. I'll let you decide which one is better. Check out my Facebook fan page, my Twitter feed, or e-mail me at clinton.yates@wpost.com. Get The Washington Post, your way. Want to stay on top of the latest news, features, commentary and more? Here's how: Mobile: Alerts: Social Media: Applications Web site E-mail SMS RSS Feeds Facebook Twitter SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 ©2012 The Washington Post Privacy Policy