City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
New local laws dropping Sunday
September 29, 2023
Morning, neighbor! In classic D.C. fashion, bars are already releasing government shutdown specials in preparation for Sunday, including a “Red, White, and Blew It” punch at The Brighton.
What's CITY Talking About?
New DC Laws Coming Sunday
A bunch of new laws are going into effect on Oct. 1, the start of the fiscal year. These include improvements to the city’s public works system, expanded fertility treatment access, and increased support for residents with disabilities. Also, the ban on cashless businesses will finally go into effect, but it’s unclear how this will be enforced or whether it still has broad support amid the crime surge, as we discussed in today’s episode of City Cast DC. [DCist]
MoCo Bans Gas Leaf Blowers
Montgomery County just banned gas-powered leaf blowers. They’re known for polluting, being noisy, and harming users’ health. The county set up a rebate program to help residents buy new electric leaf blowers. D.C.’s own gas leaf blower ban went into effect last year. [DCist]
- Related: Next, D.C. is considering banning gas stoves. Should it? [City Cast DC 🎧]
DC Loves Driving Electric
D.C. is only second to California when it comes to buying electric vehicles. Now, we just need enough public charging stations to keep up with the EV sales. [WTOP]
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What To Do
🧘 World Culture Fest | Friday - Sunday | All Day
This enormous “cultural Olympics” brings food trucks, yogis, performers, and music to the National Mall. [Free, National Mall]
☕ DC Coffee Festival | Saturday | 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Top roasters and exhibitors will share their unique beans and flavor profiles and leave you absolutely buzzing. [$29+, Union Market]
🏛️ Black Feminist DC | Saturday | 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Learn a different kind of D.C. history through exploring sites and markers that honor Black feminists like Sweet Honey in the Rock, Pauli Murray, and Coretta Scott King. [Free, Downtown]
🍹 Margarita March | Saturday | 12 - 9 p.m.
It’s like a beer crawl, but for margaritas. Get eight different margs at local bars included with your ticket. [$40, Penn Quarter]
🧶 Craftism Circle | Saturday | 2 - 4 p.m.
Learn about historical conditions that have led our current society while crocheting and knitting. This month's theme is the fight for Ivy City. Beginners welcome. [Free, Anacostia]
🎉 Diaspora Fest | Saturday | 4 - 10 p.m.
Head to Franklin Park to take workshops, explore art and craft vendors, and jam to live music and dance performances from around the world. [Free, Downtown]
🧥 DC Fashion Week | Saturday | 6 - 9 p.m.
If you’re getting Paris Fashion Week envy, check out this D.C. emerging designers showcase at the National Housing Center Atrium. [$60, Downtown]
- Related: Get up to speed on “D.C. fashion” before you go. Yes, it’s a real thing.
🎨 Old Town Art Festival | Saturday & Sunday | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
This outdoor art festival in John Carlyle Square displays work from both local and national artists and is one of the top art shows in the country. [Free, Alexandria]
🎶 Sufi Music Festival | Sunday | 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Celebrate Mawlid with Indian, Moroccan, and American Sufi music. Also, enjoy performances, food, and programming from local community groups. [Free, National Mall]
🖼️ Echo Arts Festival | Sunday | 12 - 5 p.m.
This fall celebration at Glen Echo Park will have open studios, live music, food trucks, interactive crafts, and more. [Free, Glen Echo Park]
DC Insider Trivia
First, let’s answer last week’s question:
One of the streets on Capitol Hill is called Capitalsaurus Court. Where does it get its strange name?
- Dinosaur bones were found there
- L’Enfant named it for his son who loved dinosaurs
- It is named after D.C.’s official dinosaur from the Official Dinosaur Designation Act of 1998
- It was named in honor of a famous visiting archeologist who stayed there
Yep! The street sign marks the spot where dinosaur bones were discovered in a clay bed during sewer construction in 1898. The discovery kicked off Capitol Hill’s own prehistoric dig site where sections of back and tail bones were found.
Paleontologists think the bones may be from a dinosaur unique to D.C., earning it the nickname Capitalsaurus. Evidence suggests it was a 40-foot-long carnivore.
In 2001, January 28 was dubbed Capitalsaurus Day in D.C., commemorating when the bones were found in 1898! Nice work, Kathy F., Lorenzo C., and Nancy P. for being the first three to get the correct answer. Let’s see how you do on the next one.
What D.C. Metro station has the longest escalator?
- Dupont Circle station (north)
- Wheaton station
- Woodley Park station
- Eastern Market station
Today on City Cast
Skyrocketing Homicides, Shutdown Guide for D.C., and McDonald’s Mumbo Sauce
Our team chats with reporter Dan Reed about some sobering news: D.C. passed a grim homicide milestone this week. We’re also on the cusp of a government shutdown. But it’s not all heavy duty: McDonald's is about to start serving mumbo sauce, and it’s controversial.
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Pelosi At the Gay Bar
Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to the Little Gay Pub on Tuesday, perhaps the last place on earth you would expect to meet the representative. She even took a selfie in the bar’s famous ornate bathroom. OK, girl.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Priyanka Tilve. News was written by Susannah Broun.
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