City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
When is DC getting high-speed rail?
October 6, 2023
Morning, neighbor! Washington Capitol’s superstar Alex Ovechkin is renting out his Arlington home for $9000 a month. The house has five bedrooms, a wet bar, and a sauna. I think I can swing it … if eight of you go in on it with me.
What's CITY Talking About?
New High-Speed Trains Face More Delays
Amtrak’s new Acela fleet for the northeastern corridor is facing expensive delays because of rising costs and an extensive federal approval process. The 28 new high-speed trains were supposed to be in service 2.5 years ago, but they still haven’t undergone safety tests. [Washington Post 🔒]
To Dulles, With Love
One million people have used the Dulles International Airport Metro station since it opened a year ago. Since the $3 billion Silver Line extension launched, Dulles has been able to attract more flights, making it the fastest-growing U.S. airport for international flight activity this year. [Washington Post 🔒]
- Related: Seems more of you are flying out of Dulles than ever before. We’ve got some tips on how to navigate the place. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Long Lines for Housing Help
Some Loudoun County residents lined up overnight and around the corner on Wednesday to get on the county’s housing voucher waitlist. Within two hours, the county reached its cutoff of 300 applications. The DMV has some of the highest housing costs in the country, with the average home prices in Arlington, Bethesda, and D.C. exceeding $1 million. [NBC4]
Sponsored Content
Storytelling Night: Immigrants Celebrating Independence and Individuality
Please consider joining Tuesday, October 10th, as KAMA DC and the Nigerian Center host a storytelling event showcasing stories from immigrants on the themes of Independence and Individuality! The event will start at 7pm and take place at the Anacostia Arts Center. Link to tickets here!
What To Do
💃 And Action | Friday | 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Head to Merriweather Post Pavilion for a salsa dance class followed by a screening of Coco (don’t forget the tissues!). [Free, Columbia, MD]
🐐 Halloween Costume Goat Yoga | Friday | 6 - 7 p.m.
Costumed goats from Walnut Creek Farm will help you with your yoga. Click the link just for the pictures, I beg of you. [$40, Arlington]
🎬 The Parent Trap | Friday | 7 p.m.
Watch Lindsay Lohan’s iconic ‘90s performance on the big screen at this community screening on the Tubman Elementary lawn. [Free, Columbia Heights]
🚲 Georgia Ave Open Streets | Saturday | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Three miles of Georgia Avenue NW will be closed to cars to allow for dance parties, classes, and music. [Free, Petworth]
🎨 Art On the Avenue | Saturday | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
This arts festival will have hundreds of local vendors and artists, food stalls, live music, and a pie-eating contest. [Free, Del Ray]
🇰🇷 Chuseok Family Festival | Saturday | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Celebrate Korean Thanksgiving at the National Museum of Asian Art with performances, food talks, and traditional crafts. [Free, National Mall]
🧄 Taste of the Harvest | Saturday | 3 - 8 p.m.
This community harvest festival includes music, food, garlic planting, face painting, and s’more roasting under the stars. [Free, Shipley]
🔪 Murder In the Brewhouse | Sunday | 2 - 4 p.m.
Come out for an afternoon of murder at Atlas Brew Works Ivy City. Staff will guide attendee characters to solve this "whodunnit" mystery. [$50, Ivy City]
🌱 Dumbarton Oaks Volunteer | Monday | 9 a.m.
Help maintain the nature and wildlife at Dumbarton Oaks and prepare it for winter. [Free, Georgetown]
🚶🏽♂️ First People's Walkabout | Monday | 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This walkabout explores the forgotten history of America’s first peoples with an emphasis on the Indigenous communities and settlements in the DMV. [Free, Foggy Bottom]
DC Insider Trivia
How well do you know the DC area? The answer will be revealed in next week's Hey DC newsletter! First, let’s answer last week’s question:
What D.C. Metro station has the longest escalator?
- Dupont Circle station (north)
- Wheaton station
- Woodley Park station
- Eastern Market station
The correct answer is the Wheaton station! At 230 feet, these are the longest single-span escalators in the Western Hemisphere, taking just under three minutes to travel from top to bottom. The second and third longest are at the Bethesda station and Woodley Park station respectively.
Nice work, Brad P., Abby D., and Stephan G. for being the first three to guess the answer correctly. Who’s going to be first to get this next one?
Before the famous Washington Monument was built on the National Mall, there was another, smaller monument in his honor.
Where was the original Washington Monument built?
- Mount Vernon, by Washington’s grave
- Boonsboro, Maryland
- The Arlington Cemetery
- Trenton, New Jersey
Today on City Cast
Pricey Nats Upgrade, DC’s Budget Surplus, and Pandas’ Farewell
Michael is joined by me and producer Julia Karron to talk about taxpayer money — first for a stadium scoreboard, then for a boost in food assistance. Plus, we’re chatting panda diplomacy, or lack thereof now that they’re leaving D.C.
Sponsored Content
Experience Nostalgia at Fray’s Laser Tag Tournament
Re-live your favorite childhood memories by joining DC Fray at Kraken Courts on October 15th to put your sharp-shooting skills to the test. Sign up as an individual or create your own team of 4 to secure your spot in this double-elimination laser tag showdown.
Heads up! We are off on Monday for Indigenous People’s Day but will see you back here on Tuesday. Enjoy the long weekend.
Kaela
Today’s newsletter was edited by Priyanka Tilve. News was written by Susannah Broun.
Free · 5 days a week