City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
DC renters finally get a win
May 11, 2023
Good morning! Priyanka Tilve here, the City Cast DC team lead.
I’m so psyched to share that Van Leeuwen ice cream is opening its second D.C. location in Georgetown today and offering $1 scoops from 12 to 2 p.m. Get the Dirty Chai Cupcake, a D.C.-exclusive flavor made in collaboration with Baked & Wired.
What's CITY Talking About?
Marbury Plaza Residents to Receive Rent Credits
A D.C. judge is ordering owners of the beleaguered Southeast building to pay rent credits to residents for the months they lived in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, some of which included rodent infestations, mold, and faulty air conditioning. [The Washington Post 🔒]
An Effort to Increase Civic Access to Inmates
Leonard Bishop, an ANC in Ward 7, is drafting a proposal to allow incarcerated residents to participate in City Council hearings and ANC meetings. The recently appointed commissioner plans to implement this effort next month. [Washington City Paper]
- Related: D.C. residents sentenced to more than a year get pulled into the federal criminal justice system, which often means being sent to prisons across the country. That has huge implications for how they’re treated and their ability to re-enter society. [City Cast DC 🎧]
How Much Space Can You Get for $1,500 in D.C.?
The short answer: not much. That’s according to a RentCafe report, which found that this budget gets you only 484 square feet in D.C. proper, and up to 640 in Alexandria (the highest in the D.C. area). That’s still well below the national average of 728 square feet for that rental price. [Urban Turf]
A Symphony with Galactic Origins
The National Philharmonic is teaming up with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for its new production, “Cosmic Cycles, A Space Symphony.” The seven-movement symphonic suite was inspired by images from NASA’s telescopes, including Goddard, in Greenbelt, Maryland. [DCist]
Sponsored Content
Fun for all ages: 007 or 037.
Ever wonder what it’s like to be James Bond? Jason Bourne? The Black Widow? At the International Spy Museum, your mission begins in the briefing room where you’ll receive an undercover identity. From there, you’re challenged to steal secrets, crack codes, and squeeze through ducts. Book your visit today!
What To Do
✍️ Hands on Henna | Thursday | 4 p.m.
Try your hand at South Asia’s traditional henna during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. [Free, Kensington]
👨🍼 The Daddy Diaries | Thursday | 7 p.m.
Listen to TV and radio host Andy Cohen discuss the newest installment of his New York Times bestselling diaries series with former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Virtual tickets are also available. [$12 - $37, Penn Quarter]
🤣 Stand-Up Showcase | Thursday | 7:30 p.m.
Spend the evening chuckling with up-and-coming comics from D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and beyond. [$20, Downtown]
🎻 The String Queens | Friday | 6:30 p.m. & 9 p.m.
This D.C.-based trio combines orchestral sounds with soul, featuring music from the baroque era and modern hits. [$30 - $45, North Bethesda]
Sponsored Content
Westpost has it all
Spring’s greetings from Westpost, National Landing’s go-to destination for up-scale shopping, exquisite culinary experiences, boutique fitness, and so much more. Find delight at Westpost, where enchanting experiences await around every corner.
Today on City Cast
Why do restaurants play such a big role in spy stories? And which D.C. eateries should you hit if you want to dine where the secret agents met their sources? Andrew Hammond from the International Spy Museum fills us in.
🕵️ Here’s your Spy Week tip of the day: If you’re visiting with kids (or kids at heart), don’t miss the air duct crawl through on the fifth floor where you can spy on unsuspecting guests below.
— Priyanka Tilve
Free · 5 days a week