Lunchline: Washingtonians documenting Washington

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Friday, April 27, 2012 Yesterday, I addressed the issue of racism in hockey culture. If you missed it, here it is. Or, if you'd prefer to hear me talk with WTOP's Dmitri Sotis about it, there's that, too. Props to both the Bruins and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis for speaking up about it as well. The riders' cries were heard, but Metro ignored them. While the fare hikes the system approved are hits on everybody's wallet, the effect on disabled passengers is particularly difficult. Advocates were hoping that the complex fare structure of MetroAccess would be made clearer. And though dozens showed up to make their pleas, the board of directors went ahead with all the increases anyway. The Post's Dana Hedgpeth reports on the scene. It looks like the check has finally come for the Occupy tab. It's going to cost nearly $8,000 to restore the grounds destroyed by people camping at McPherson Square. I walked by it just yesterday and, honestly, the fenced-off look is kind of depressing. Apparently, there's now going to be another standoff at the park, this time over whether or not the people there will make way for flowers to grow. Just in time for tourist season! The Post's Annie Gowen has the details. There are few things that make me happier than seeing Washingtonians ply their trade in the city. And it's particularly cool to see those same people doing their best to tell the stories of fellow D.C. natives. And when that person is someone you went to school with your whole life, well, that's extra inspiring. Ellie Walton is a documentary filmmaker. She lives in D.C. and is an amazing storyteller. The Post's Carla Broyles profiles the career of a longtime friend of mine. This area is home to a vast melange of cultures. If done right, a trip around the Beltway can feel like a trip around the globe, if you know where to look. And lucky for us, many of the people that have come here have brought their brand of the world with them. In other words, if you like markets, this is a good place to be. The Post's Emily Wax, who honed her market game as a foreign correspondent in New Delhi, takes us on a trip around the region's ethnic enclaves. The important day of the NFL Draft has come and gone, and many Redskins fans are far happier. The team picked Robert Griffin III, also known as RGIII. This is officially what's known as the honeymoon period. I'll check back in when they actually start playing football games that count on Sept. 9. But in the meantime, the D.C. Sports Bog has a plethora of stories about the man who has yet to play a down for the Redskins. Extra Bites • M.I.T. isn't exactly known as a mecca of cool, but their tradition of throwing a piano off a dorm roof every year to commemorate the last available day to drop a class without consequence is downright awesome. • Rule 1 of catching foul balls at baseball games: Give them all to the nearest seated kid. Rule 2: Always follow Rule 1. No questions asked. • This is the best picture of a bear falling out of a tree you'll ever see. Happy weekend, kiddos! 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