It's hard to believe that Oklahoma's Republican Sen. Tom Coburn has ever been to the IHOP in Columbia Heights' DCUSA shopping center. In his 2011 "Wastebook," a guide to what he considers wasteful government spending, Coburn lists the subsidy received by Jackson Investment Company as the sixth most egregious (thanks to New Columbia Heights for pointing this out):

An International House of Pancakes (IHOP) franchise was built with financial assistance courtesy of Uncle Sam. It was intended to help an "underserved community." The federal funding went to the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation.  According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), "$500,000 of the $765,000 grant was used as an equity injection in DC Pancakes LLC for a 19% ownership interest." The remaining funds went to training costs for new employees, and other consultants.

The new IHOP is not located in an "underserved community" but a popular Washington D.C. neighborhood. The neighborhood is Columbia Heights, which has become a local shopping hot spot for some and "one of Washington‘s more desirable neighborhoods."

Coburn quotes an Examiner column about Columbia Heights which asserts that the neighborhood isn't underserved because, among other things, Meridian Pint serves fancy imported beers. (It doesn't, by the way. As New Columbia Heights notes, it sells largely local brews, including some made in the District.) Last year Lydia DePillis described how the IHOP franchise qualified for a subsidy—and yes, some of the problems with that. But those problems had to do with directing subsidies intended for local businesses to a franchise of a national chain.

Because if you spend some time at the IHOP, it's clear that it's one of the few restaurants that serves the area's working class residents—people who, despite Coburn's assertions, do still live in Columbia Heights. Just last month, hundreds of low income residents lined up overnight on 14th Street for a shot at 10 open apartments and 100 spots on a waiting list for subsidized housing in the Hubbard Place apartments.

I asked Coburn's spokesperson John Hart why the senator flagged Columbia Heights as affluent.

It wasn't a surprise that he ignored my main question, instead writing back, "If the D.C. government wants to invest more in IHOP they are certainly welcome to do so. We don't believe this should be a priority of the federal government when we're running a $15 trillion debt and our entitlement programs are on the brink of insolvency."

This may just be a matter of ideological consistency. Coburn, whose nickname is "Dr. No," generally doesn't want to spend any money on anything—no matter how "underserved" it really is. But Washington City Paper would be happy to buy Coburn a short stack on Irving Street if he'd like to check it out.

Update: Courtesy of Media Matters for America, here's video of Fox News Channel's coverage of the Coburn report, in which the network's anchors complain about "pancakes for yuppies."

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

Fight the Power: Scholars of social movements have seen it before—first, a moment of triumph, then, the whole thing descends into bickering. And so it is that the day after Mayor Vince Gray and a quorum of the D.C. Council were arrested by Capitol Police in a protest of D.C.'s lack of autonomy and voting rights, the question on people's minds Tuesday was, "Where were the rest of the councilmembers?" (The answer appears to vary by member.) That didn't stop Gray from doing a run of national media interviews, probably surprising some cable news anchors who assumed Adrian Fenty was still mayor. Our prediction: The attention still won't stop the rest of the country from forgetting the whole thing in a few days. But it can't hurt to try. +1

The Needle and the Damage Done: The budget deal, bad as it was, turns out not to be quite as bad as initially feared. While President Obama brushed aside D.C.'s local budget autonomy and the access poor women might have to abortions ("John, I will give you D.C. abortion"), Democrats did manage not to fold on another Republican budget rider, one that would have banned the city from spending its own money on a needle exchange program. Last year, the program reportedly gave out more than 100,000 needles, which probably made it worth fighting for. +2

Special Delivery: What our obese society needs more of these days is exercise, and what it needs less of is calories. So news that the IHOP in Columbia Heights will soon be delivering pancakes, eggs, and—most caloric of all—Bacon 'N Beef burgers to neighborhood residents should be bad news. But let's face it: Sometimes you really want some pancakes, and sometimes, you really don't want to have to leave your couch to get them. +2

Space Oddity: Space is, as Star Trek taught us, the final frontier. For the space shuttle Discovery, though, Fairfax County will have to do. The shuttle will reside permanently at the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center, near Dulles Airport, when the program is terminated permanently soon. More futuristic than the space shuttle: You will, someday, be able to take Metro to go see it. +1

Yesterday's Needle rating: 54 Today's score: +6 Today's Needle rating: 60

IHOP, Irving Street NW, November 23

D.C. Don't Stand for Dodge City: And now, time for more '90s nostalgia, as a new ranking lists the District as the fourth-most dangerous large-ish city in the country, behind only Detroit, Memphis, and Baltimore. (Among all cities, the report puts D.C. 22nd.) The actual value of the report has already been widely called into question, so we won't bother with that; we'll just note that El Paso, Texas, ranked as the second-safest big city, though a voluntary survey on the El Paso Times website shows that 36.69 percent of respondents don't believe the stats. And since an Internet poll that we had to vote in in order to see the results has about as much statistical validity as the report does, that obviously puts the whole thing to rest! (For the record, we voted "yes, we're rated the safest city for a reason," despite never having set foot in El Paso.) -1

We Need Some Money: Almost Mayor Vince Gray must be wondering by now whether it's too early to start a recall petition to rescue himself from the job he's got lined up for next year. Today, in a speech addressing the city's budget woes, he predicted pain and suffering in the years ahead. On the bright side, that effort to manage expectations does show Gray has more political sense than the guy he's replacing. -3

Here Come the Freaks: Line up now for free pancakes—the new IHOP in Columbia Heights is giving short stacks, gratis, to the first 1,500 people through the doors in the morning. This is the sort of promotion you'd expect during Thanksgiving week; here's hoping it doesn't end up like the madhouse scenes of shoppers frantically rushing into malls on Black Friday. +2

Back Up Against the Wall: Not even a full week after suffering national humiliation on ESPN's Monday Night Football, the Redskins beat the Tennessee Titans 19-16 in overtime in Nashville, persevering even after injuries knocked starter after starter out of the game. (Which may mean the backups should play more often.) The victory puts the team at 5-5, already giving it a full 25 percent more wins this year than they had last year with six more games to play. But don't let any of that change your opinion of Dan Snyder. +2

Friday's Needle rating: 46 Today's score: 0 Today's Needle rating: 46

So what the hell is actually open right now? Plenty. The District still loves to eat brunch even in these conditions. Here is a list of places currently open for business. We will update throughout the day:

3:10 p.m. Update:

The Diner: The Adams Morgan restaurant is open. It has no plans on shutting down its 24-hour service.

Angles: The 18th Street NW watering hole plans on opening at 4 p.m. per usual.

2: 50 p.m. Update:

Comet Ping Pong: No answer.

Second Story Books: The Dupont Circle location is open. But will be closing "when it gets dark. Probably about 5-ish," an employee says.

Soho Tea & Coffee: The P Street hangout is open. They plan on closing at around midnight.

Som Records: The 14th Street vinyl shop isn't answering its phone. A bad sign.

Red Onion Records & Books: The 18th Street shop isn't answering its phone. I wouldn't take a chance on going over there.

2:36 Update:

The Raven: The Mount Pleasant bar says they plan to open in one hour!

Commonwealth: The gastropub is open and has no plans to close early. "We are pretty packed right now," an employee tells me.

Yes! Organic Market: The Adams Morgan grocery is closing right now.

Melody Record Shop: The Dupont store is open. They are undecided on whether they will close early. "We have a constant customer traffic coming in," says an employee.

2:16 p.m. update:

The Heights Life says Target and Bed Bath and Beyond in Columbia Heights have closed.

DC Fire/EMS is reporting that Safeway at 40th Street NE is reporting smoke in bakery section, light blast, possibly electrical.

Banana Cafe: The Cap. Hill restaurant and piano bar is open. "Maybe we close early, depends on the weather," says an employee.

Denny's: the Benning Road NE outpost is open and plans to be open all day.

Java House: The 17th and Q Street NW coffee shop is closed.

Open City is open and packed.

1 p.m. Update:

Crooked Beat Records: Yes. You can still buy vinyl. The Adams Morgan store is open all day unless, an employee tells me, "it gets ugly." No customers have come in yet. "I don't know if you've been outside but...some of us made it here because we're idiots...We're here," the employee says.

Cafe Saint-Ex: It's open–as of now the restaurant is not closing early. "We're fairly busy right now," an employee tells me.

City Lights of China: The Dupont Circle restaurant reports that they are open and have no plans to close early just yet.

Lauriol Plaza: It's open. No decision has been made on whether the Mexican restaurant will close early. "We're probably going to be regular hours," a manager says, adding that they are still waiting on the owners to arrive. She says there are plenty of tables available.

The Black Squirrel: This institution will be open at 2 p.m.

Red Rocks: It's open and an employee tells me they will not be closing early. "It's pretty crowded," the employee says.

The Tune Inn: The Cap. Hill institution is open. An employee says: "We're open all day long, buddy."

12: 30 p.m. Update:

Columbia Heights Coffee: Not answering their phone.

Sticky Fingers Bakery: It's open but will be closing at 3 or 4 p.m. "We have some pretty decent business," an employee tells me. "We're probably about half full in our seating area."

Kramerbooks & Afterwords: It's open unless they lose power. "We should be running normal hours," says an employee. "We don't plan to be closing....We're starting to fill up our dining room."

Politics & Prose: It's open until 4 p.m. and opening late tomorrow at noon. Still, it's busy. "We've been getting a steady stream of people," an employee says.

ORIGINAL POST:

Ben's Chili Bowl: It's open. There are currently 20 people inside the U Street institution.

Target: It's open. An employee says that the big box may close early.

Tryst: It's open. An employee says that they currently have a "full house."

Busboys and Poets: The 14th Street location is open and has no current plans for modified hours. An employee tells me they are currently serving between 60 and 70 people. "I believe we're the only restaurant open on the block," she says. "At least that's what customers have told us."

IHOP: The Alabama Avenue SE outpost is open and may close early. An employee tells me they restaurant is fairly empty. But there's a reason for that: She says that Alabama Avenue has not been plowed.

*photo by Darrow Montgomery.

Pancakes are in. Organic tofu is out. The Washington Business Journal is reporting that IHOP is in talks to move into the DCUSA behemoth. DCist is on board. Prince of Petworth appears to have scooped everyone. POP wonders what people think. We wonder, too.

Bloomingdale (for now) observes the slow neglect of a huge brick home on Seaton Place. "16 months have passed, and the tyvek wrap continues to blow off the building, exposing the wood underneath to the elements. enormous amounts of water from the rains of the last year must have managed to seep down into the walls of this old rowhouse," the blogger notes.

River East Idealist posts five reasons to support the relatively new IHOP on Alabama Ave. We paid a visit when it first opened and walked away impressed. Unfortunately, we never again saw the waitress that we so loved. We have gone back many times. Sometimes the service absolutely sucks. Sometimes it's over-the-top awesome. The food is still IHOP food. Only this IHOP has rules like no sideways ballcaps. Sweet. River East Idealist gives kudos to the staff, the overall atmosphere, the fact that it exists, among other reasons.

Southwest...The Little Quadrant That Could presents a handy list of alternative ways to get to President-Elect Obama's swearing in. List includes ways to get to the Mall on foot, by water taxi, and by bike. Good luck. Soon after the inaugural, we may get tired of the motorcades once again. Even when it's Obama stopping traffic, it's not that fun.

Capital Spice offers a handy map detailing all 213 bars, restaurants and clubs that have extended hours for the inaugural week.

Pop Cesspool hates on Thievery Corporation (and the 9:30 Club). I wonder what the blogger would think about the duo's new video featuring Chuck Brown. The Cesspool writes: "...The Thievery dudes, with their XPN-approved album and their unflagging good taste, and they're blazingly recession-proof, at least in D.C., where lots of youn'ins still apparently have lots of disposable income and want to do things that are more 'benignly stylish' than 'dangerously interesting.'"