📚 7 free things to get with your library card

What's CITY Talking About?

Solid State’s Union Is Officially Solid

The staff of Solid State Books voted to ratify their first union contract. They are the second bookstore in D.C. (following Politics and Prose) to ratify a collective bargaining agreement. After just 17 days of negotiations, owners and employees agreed upon a three-year contract that includes cost-of-living wages and strong anti-discrimination protections. [UFCW Local 400]

• Related: Several popular D.C chains have unionized recently, but a successful vote doesn’t mean the end of workers’ struggles. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Property Crime On The Rise

Residents across D.C. are on high alert over the steep incline in property crimes. They’re at their highest point since 2017. Dozens of D.C. retailers are getting robbed, sometimes by organized theft rings. You might notice additional security being added and more items are under lock and key at stores such as CVS. [Washington Post 🔒]

Teachers Are Sticking Around

Fewer teachers are resigning in D.C.-area schools this year. During the 2021-22 school year, 452 teachers left their positions at D.C. public schools. This year, the number dropped to 314. School officials say it’s due to a compensation agreement with the Washington Teachers’ Union and lower principal turnover. [WTOP]

Where Is It?

Yep, this is the Anacostia Park roller skating pavilion! It is free and open to the public daily. They also have monthly Late Skate nights with free skate rentals, music, and dancing. Reader Jammie J says. “Late skate lasts all the way up to 12:00 a.m. It’s a great place to go, and the DJ is FABULOUS!” Once you’re there, you can check out what else the park has to offer!

Nice work to readers Arthur S., Khalilah M., and Wayna Z. for being the first to guess correctly!

Now we’re crossing to the other side of D.C. Can you tell me what this historic mansion is? Here are a couple hints: It’s open to the public, and it used to be called the golden house on the hill.

What To Do

🌹 Bachelorette Viewing Party | Monday | 7 p.m.

Catch up on all the drama and excitement of The Bachelorette Season 20 at Baja Tap with lots of food and drink specials. [Free, Adams Morgan]

👑 The History Behind Bridgerton | Monday | 6 - 8:30 p.m.

Get a crash course on the Regency Period of Britain’s monarchy, when (spoiler alert) King George III suffered mental illness while married to Queen Charlotte. [$15, Penn Quarter]

🇷🇺 Putin's Image Crisis | Tuesday | 6 - 8:30 p.m.

Learn about how the Prigozhin mutiny has sparked a new ideological battle in Russia, with propaganda scholar Dr. Ksenia Turkova. [$15, Penn Quarter]

🎶 DC Punk Archive Rooftop Show | Wednesday | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

This concert series on the MLK Library rooftop garden concludes with Hammered Hulls, Jenny Hates Techno, and Emotional World. [Free, Downtown]

Today on City Cast

This Is What the Future of Metro Looks Like

Metro is considering its largest expansion since the announcement of the Silver Line. Jordan Pascale, WAMU’s Transportation Reporter, shares details of the potential new routes and an overall vision for D.C.’s transportation future.