D.C.’s best summer festivals

What's CITY Talking About?

Four New Flights

The Senate reached a preliminary deal to add four long-distance flights at Reagan National Airport. D.C.-area lawmakers and the airport’s management aren’t happy. The deal has a ways to go before becoming law but it’s a tentative win for the Delta-led group lobbying for more long-distance service at the airport.  [Washington Post 🔒]

• The DCA debate is juicy, with competing business, residential, and political interests. We covered the who, what, and why for ya. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Teachers Are Quitting and Parents Want Answers

Parents with kids at D.C.’s Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School protested last week against the high level of teacher turnover. They’re demanding meetings with school leadership, more open communication, and a plan to address learning loss. [Washington Post🔒]

Accountability for D.C’s Flawed 911 System

A new D.C. Council bill would require the city’s emergency dispatch agency to release more information about their mistakes. The bill calls on them to publicly post data monthly, including descriptions of errors, response times, and staffing levels. This bill is a response to years of mistakes, some fatal. [DCist / City Cast DC 🎧]

Outdated DMV Tech Threatens Road Safety

DMV workers say the agency’s computer system is too old and buggy to accurately manage drivers’ records, making it hard to efficiently suspend licenses and keep bad actors off the roads. The issue has surfaced after a recent crash on Rock Creek Parkway killed three people, and it came out that the driver had multiple DUI convictions, but still had a working license. [WAMU]

What To Do

🌙 Solstice Soiree | Tuesday | 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate the summer solstice at Doubles with a reading featuring local writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. [Free, Park View]

📚 Gender, Sexuality, & Fairy Tale | Tuesday | 6:45 p.m.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman discuss modern LGBTQ+ twists on old tales and traditions. [$25, Virtual]

⚖️ Downtown Annual BID Meeting | Wednesday | 5 p.m.

Chat with and hear from city leaders about the trajectory and recovery of the downtown D.C. area. [Free, Downtown]

🎤 The Torah and Taylor | Thursday | 7 p.m.

Combine Jewish teachings and the wisdom of Taylor Swift. Rabbi Nora will lead you through questions like, what to do when you have bad blood? And, do Jews believe in karma? [$18, Chinatown]

Today on City Cast

A Guide to D.C.’s Summer Festivals

There’s an overwhelming number of culture and food fests this July and August. Are they all worth it? We break down D.C.’s best summer festivals, and give tips for making the most of them.