Link roundup

The City Paper takes an early look at the soon-to-open Capital City Diner (1050 Bladensburg) and suggests it may open by the end of the month.

Frozen Tropics announced that Toyland (421 H St) officially opened on February 10 and is now open 6 days a week at 5 pm (closed Mondays).

DC Urban Turf says Trinidad may be the next great real estate hot spot, noting that properties flew off the market there in 2009 (50% more sales than in 2008), that assessments were recently up 33% over the course of a year, and that the southwest portion of that neighborhood seems to be the most desirable (ie the parts closest to H Street, such as Florida Ave from 10th to 15th).

We Love DC featured the Evolve Urban Arts Project Gallery at the Pierce School Lofs (1375 Maryland Ave).

Voice of the Hill noted that the city's planning office has proposed an entirely new zoning category to benefit development of the plot behind Union Station along both sides of the Hopskotch bridge. The proposed change appears to be designed to allow Akridge Development's Burnham Place project to rise as high as 130 ft above the bridge, which would violate the H Street Overlay and the City's comprehensive plan (because maximum height should otherwise be measured from the ground below the bridge (ie 82 ft lower) and tower over surrounding buildings.