City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
DC food critic exposes industry secrets
July 27, 2023
Morning, neighbor. The Japanese food hall Love, Makoto opened up its fast casual side yesterday, adding ramen, dumplings, and pick-up sushi to its three upscale sit-down restaurants. Matcha, mochi donuts, and Japanese curries are still to come.
What's CITY Talking About?
It’s Gettin’ Hot in Here
Brace yourselves. D.C. is heading towards a heat wave. The next couple of days are expected to have temperatures that feel well into the triple digits. D.C has activated a heat emergency plan which includes opening cooling centers around the city. [WTOP]
- Related: Need a way to beat the heat and city crowds? Check out these water-based day trips!
VA Sports Teams Reject Anti-Trans Policy
Virginia’s school sports authority is defying statewide guidelines by continuing to allow transgender students to be on sports teams that match their gender identity. The policy will however require students-athletes who have transitioned to provide extensive documentation, receive signatures from the principal and a parent, and be reviewed by a committee. [Washington Post 🔒]
Downtown’s Post-Pandemic Plight
The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID)’s report on the state of downtown shows the area is still struggling to recover from the pandemic. Downtown’s economic activity has risen to 65% of pre-pandemic levels but levels of office and retail vacancy are still rising. The BID hopes several planned construction projects will help revitalize the neighborhood. [DowntownDC BID]
- Related: We’ve been imagining a downtown that’s fun and livable. But is it feasible?
Sponsored Content
Adams Morgan Eats in the Streets Festival
Embark on a culinary adventure on Saturday, July 29th, 1-8pm, in the Adams Morgan Pedestrian Zone (2300-2400 blocks of 18th Street NW). Attendees can sample cuisines from across the globe and enjoy free entertainment. 50 neighborhood businesses will be offering all-day discounts and a favorite menu item for $10 or less.
What To Do
🛼 Skate Night | Thursday | 6 - 8 p.m.
This free plaza roller skating night will roll you right back to the ‘90s. But you gotta bring your own skates. [Free, Tysons Corner]
🎵 Summer Groovefest | Thursday | 7:30 p.m.
Bring your foldable chairs to the last American Pops Orchestra concert of the summer with the theme of “Mirrorball Magic.” [Free, City Center]
👾 Otakon | Friday - Sunday | All Day
This enormous Asian pop culture convention celebrates all things anime, manga, music, video games, and their fandoms. [$40+, Mt. Vernon Square]
🍨 Rooftop Ice Cream Making | Saturday | 1 -2:30 p.m.
Learn to make your own ice cream and icy treats at W.S. Jenks' rooftop garden using ingredients from local farms. [$15, Carver]
Today on City Cast
Tom Sietsema has spent a career eating his way through town as the Washington Post’s restaurant critic. He won’t tell us his secret aliases for reservations, but he is here to spill some other secrets, like why it’s important to check out a restaurant bathroom, his worst D.C. dining experience, and why brunch is for suckers.
This list of D.C.’s hidden gem restaurants according to TikTokers and Instagrammers is absolutely wild. I can’t help but feel that Primrose and Dolan Uyghur are not so hidden gems, but what do you think?
Kaela
Today’s newsletter was edited by Priyanka Tilve. News was written by Susannah Broun.
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