City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
Wiener races, street fests, and more
September 15, 2023
Hey! The National Cathedral is revealing its new stained-glass windows next week. The church’s 200+ windows will now include biblical iconography, racial justice themes, and nods to American history, replacing Confederate scenes. The unveiling event on Sept. 23 is free and open to the public.
What's CITY Talking About?
New DCHA Director
D.C. native Keith Pettigrew has been named the new executive director of The D.C. Housing Authority. Pettigrew led the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority since 2017, but grew up in Barry Farm and began his career with DCHA in 2000. He will step into the leadership role on Nov. 1. [Washington Business Journal]
- Related: The new director has a lot to deal with as DCHA has been consistently criticized for its long wait lists and poor living conditions in some units. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Maryland Transportation Is Out Of Money
Maryland officials say the state’s transportation department does not have enough funds to pay for approved projects including the Red Line in Baltimore and a new American Legion Bridge over the Potomac. In fact, they are $2.1 billion short of what they need for the $21 billion in planned transportation projects. The shortfall is due to rising construction costs and the fall in gas tax revenue. [Washington Post 🔒]
Community Kitchen in Ward 8
The nonprofit Martha’s Kitchen is opening a state-of-the-art kitchen in Ward 8 for aspiring chefs and restaurateurs, in partnership with the Latino Development Center’s Food Venture Initiative. Their program will provide five startup food business owners with access to a 1,000-square-foot kitchen along with training, resources and mentorship. [WTOP]
What To Do
🇺🇦 Washington Ukrainian Festival | Friday - Sunday | All Day
Watch Ukrainian performers and musicians and delve into borscht, pierogies, and other traditional dishes. There will also be vendors, crafts, and a beer garden. [$20, Silver Spring]
🍔 Perry’s X Hill East Burger Pop-Up | Friday | 5 - 10 p.m.
For one day, Chef Masako Morishita of Perry’s will join Hill East Burger for a pop-up menu with dishes like a Wagyu Teriyaki Burger topped with lemon garlic mayo and tamari onions and Shiokoji Ranch Loaded Fries. [Menu prices, Capitol Hill]
💃🏿 Oktoberfest: Polka Dancing | Friday | 7 - 9 p.m.
Kick off Oktoberfest Weekend at The Wharf with a traditional polka dance session on Transit Pier. [Free, The Wharf]
🛥️ Anacostia River Tour | Saturday | 9 - 10 a.m.
Cruise down the Anacostia while learning about its history, wildlife, environmental threats it faces, and solutions. [Free, Navy Yard]
👯 National Dance Day | Saturday | 10:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Celebrate hip hop’s 50th anniversary at the Kennedy Center with local movement artists, a DJ competition, and free dance classes. [Free, Foggy Bottom]
🏠 Party at Lincoln's Cottage | Saturday | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
This all-day family-friendly celebration at President Lincoln's Cottage includes a 5K, crafts, a petting zoo, and kids’ competitions. [Cost]
🫑 Brunch on the Farm | Saturday | 12 - 3p.m.
Head to the ol’ farm for a totally vegan menu by Chef Demi Unique using veggies from the garden. [$80, Bloomingdale]
🎉 H Street Festival | Saturday | 12 - 7 p.m.
D.C.’s biggest street fest is back, spanning more than 12 blocks with 200 businesses. Listen to tunes, hang in the beer gardens, watch some drag, and eat your heart out. [Free, H Street]
🌭 Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash | Saturday | 2 - 5 p.m.
This is my favorite event of the year. Cheer as over 100 wieners race for glory while sipping an Oktoberfest beer. [Free, The Wharf]
👟 Summer Sneaker Ball | Saturday | 3 - 9 p.m.
Show off your sick style with other sneakerheads at this Nats Park dance party. [$25, Navy Yard]
🫖 Clay Festival | Sunday | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Celebrate and buy from dozens of local potters at this annual market along Brookland Arts Walk. [Free, Brookland]
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DC Insider Trivia
First, let’s answer last week’s question:
What is D.C.’s official cocktail?
- Espresso Martini (vodka, coffee liquor, espresso)
- The Rickey (gin, lime, club soda, garnished with lime)
- Moscow Mule (vodka, ginger beer, lime, mint)
- Piña Colada (rum, coconut, pineapple juice)
The correct answer is #2, The Rickey. The cocktail was invented at the D.C. bar Shoomaker’s, which was popular with politicians and reporters back in 1883. The drink was named for a famous Democratic lobbyist Col. Joe Rickey, who drank a proto-version of it every day at the dive bar.
A book by Elbert Hubbard described Shoomaker’s at the time as “a grocery where no groceries have been sold since Lee surrendered to Grant. There are boxes piled to the ceiling, and you make your way through a narrow passage, past barrels and kegs, and find yourself in the back room, vulgarly called the barroom. … The shabbiness of the place is its asset; the cobwebs are its charm.”
Nice work to Maia J., Jerry M., and Kaci E. for being the first three to guess correctly!
Gallaudet University in D.C. is credited with starting which national sports tradition?
- The Gatorade shower
- Shaking hands after the game
- Ceremonial first pitch in baseball
- The football huddle
Today on City Cast
NIMBY Fights, New Restaurants, and Hell’s Kitchen Allegations
A NIMBY fight in the suburbs is pitting mental health advocates against disability rights activists. Plus, there have been reports about a toxic and racist work environment over at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen on The Wharf. Contributor Dan Reed and Washingtonian’s Jessica Sidman chat with us about those two stories plus some exciting restaurant openings.
Here’s one beautiful sunset over the Potomac to go.
Kaela
Today’s newsletter was edited by Priyanka Tilve. News was written by Susannah Broun.
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