Ben Ali, co-founder and namesake of Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C., died Wednesday night at the age 82. Thursday morning, his joint -- the one that he has run for 51 years with his wife, Virginia, and their extended family, the one that has fed everyone from politicians, actors and rock stars to all the regulars it has collected over the years -- opened as normal, serving half-smokes, chili dogs and coleslaw to the crowds that came to pay their respects, to remember Ali or just t
