As students deserted D.C. to return home, many changes, festivities, and in some cases controversies hit the D.C. Metro area.
Below are a few highlights and happenings in the District from the holidays into the new year. New Movies, New Drama, New Places, and New Prices!
1. Pariah Opened at E Street Cinema
The film is an expansion of writer and director Dee Rees' 2007 award-winning film "Pariah", which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. Howard alumnus, Bradford Young won the Excellence in Cinematography Award for "Pariah" at the 2011 Sundance Film festival. The contemporary drama is about a Brooklyn teenager juggling conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression. On Jan. 6,the Howard University Department of Radio Television and Film presented a special viewing of the independent film at the E Street Cinema.
2. Former D.C. Councilmember plead guilty
Harry Thomas Jr. resigned Thursday night, hours after he became the first sitting D.C. council member to be charged with a felony, when federal prosecutors accused him of embezzling more than $350,000 in government funds and filing false tax returns.
3. Mrs. YoMamma Controversy
"I'm sure you'll join me in wishing Mrs. YoMama a wonderful, long Hawaii Christmas vacation — at our expense, of course," is what the chain email forwarded by Kansas House Speak Mike O'Neal read, including a photo comparing Michelle Obama's hair style to that of the Grinch. O'Neal said he didn't see the text referring to the first lady as "Mrs. YoMama" before forwarding the text. O'Neal issued an apology apologizing for anyone he offended.
4. Metro Teen Aids to receive BET Honors
MTA was chosen to be the sole beneficiary organization at the 2012 BET Honors. The network is donating ticket sale proceeds to the local organization fighting against HIV/AIDS.
6. Georgetown Barnes and Noble closes its doors
First, the two Borders in Washington closed its doors and on Dec. 31, 2011, the Georgetown Barnes & Nobles did the same. According to WTOP, the mega-bookstore lost its lease and silently shut down.
7. Starbucks Price Increase
Starbucks raised their prices Starbucks Corporation raised their prices by an average of about 1 percent in the Northeast and Sunbelt on Jan. 3.
8. The Hamilton 24/7 restaurant
In December of 2011 Clyde's Restaurant branched out with a 24/7concert hall and restaurant in Penn Quarter named The Hamilton. The Hamilton will serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and post-midnight and around-the-clock sushi service.
9. D.C. Taxicab fare increase for 2012.
On Dec. 13, 2011, the D.C. Taxicab Commission approved a proposal to increase cab fares in Washington and introduce a credit-card payment. The base fare will remain $3 but the per-mile rate will jump from $1.50 to $2.16. Several additional fees — for luggage, additional passengers, pets, emergency fuel surcharge and personal service — would be eliminated.
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