Urbana's Gluten-Free Pasta; Casino Coming Soon

PENN QUARTER— Potential good news for tourists and eighth grade field trip visitors. Hard Rock Cafe has overhauled its menu, adding 30 items and changing almost 30 others. New dishes include an Oreo cheesecake, a "Cowboy" ribeye steak and several salads. [EaterWire]

DUPONT CIRCLE— Urbana is making its own gluten free pasta. Customers can ask for any pasta on the menu to be prepared gluten-free (using the restaurant's pasta extruder). There is a $2 surcharge. The pasta debuts this evening. [EaterWire]

POLITICS— From the public sector to wine bar owner to politician. Cork co-owner Khalid Pitts plans to run for the D.C. city council in November, according to the Washington City Paper. [WCP]

OXON HILL— Things are moving quickly for the planned MGM casino at National Harbor. The complex, which will include plenty of restaurants, may break ground as soon as April. [WBJ]

Urbana's pasta extruder [Photo: Urbana]