Washington City Paper: Contents for Jan. 5, 2007

The Second Coming
Harry Thomas Sr. cultivated his common touch with quick smiles, hugs, and baseball caps. Harry Thomas Jr. cultivates his common touch with quick smiles, hugs, and baseball caps.

Cover Story By James Jones

Washington, D.C., politicians have always given a lot of lip service to faith. They fawn over religious leaders. They are forever convening prayer breakfasts. Nearly every time Ward 8 Councilmember Marion S. Barry Jr. begins a speech, he robotically thanks God “for giving us this great day.”

Neophyte Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr., 46, promises much more of the same.

Thomas’ first day as a sworn D.C. councilmember began before dawn, just across the District line in Maryland. He led a group of 18 vehicles in the darkness to Fort Lincoln Cemetery. Thomas was there to pray at the grave site of his father, Harry Thomas Sr., who held the Ward 5 seat and dominated politics in Northeast for 12 years. “Tommy,” as the son is affectionately known, is the first legacy ever to serve on the city’s legislative body.

Before walking up a path to his father’s final resting place, Thomas told about 40 people bundled against a cold morning breeze that his dad is interned in a section of the memorial park called “Garden of the Apostles.” The place “has a lot of symbolic meaning for me,” he said. “There were 12 apostles,” he told the crowd. “And, you know, there are also 12 councilmembers and one chairman. I like that analogy.”

Thomas then recounted how he had visited the cemetery often “to talk to my dad about all kinds of things.” At the ceremony, he gave each of his family members a rose to place on the grave, where he deposited a wreath. “Thank you for being a leader and a friend to this city,” Thomas said during his graveside chat with his father. “All things should be done for the good of the people.”... Continued

Issue of Jan. 5, 2007

News and Features

The Second Coming
Harry Thomas Sr. cultivated his common touch with quick smiles, hugs, and baseball caps. Harry Thomas Jr. cultivates his common touch with quick smiles, hugs, and baseball caps.
Cover Story By James Jones
Snitch and Moan
Police informant wants to know: Where’s my reward?
The City By Arthur Delaney
Conventional Wisdom
Government Video & Technology Expo: Dec. 6-7, Washington Convention Center
The City By Rob Tierney
Pleading the Filth
Quizno’s: 208 Michigan Ave. NE
The City By Amanda S. Miller
Stone Age
The Mail

Columns

Fenty’s First Fumble
Loose Lips By James Jones
League of Nations
Globalization transforms parochial-school hoops rosters.
Cheap Seats By Dave McKenna
Channel Serf
A Week of Substance in TV's Vast Wasteland
Television By Jay Dyckman
Have the Internet Terrorists
Already Won?
Savage Love By Dan Savage

Eats

Buy, Buy This American Pie
New joint aims to fashion nostalgia from small, pricey pizzas
Young & Hungry By Anne Marson

Movies

Rabbit Punch
Film Review By Mark Jenkins
Short Subjects
Movie Reviews: Dreamgirls, Night at the Museum, Children of Men, Black Christmas, Freedom Writers
Film Reviews By Mark Jenkins
Film Reviews By Mark Jenkins

Music

Gutter Fabulous
Music Review By Aaron Leitko
Bible Belting
Music Review By Joe Dempsey
One Track Mind
What's new in the local music scene, a few minutes at a time
Music By Justin Moyer
Discography
Music Reviews By Emily Zemler

Theater

Arts and Events

Banned Camp
How you get booted from D.C.’s nightclubs
Show & Tell By Jessica Gould
Speed Reads
Book Reviews By Ian Martinez
Jan. 4-11, 2007
Tuesday: Black Ops Presents!
City Lights
Home Is Where the Art Is
Kriston Capps' profile of D.C. musician/artist Ryan Nelson and his latest exhibition
Artifacts By Kriston Capps