City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
January’s 8 best restaurant openings
January 24, 2024
Morning, neighbor! You’ve heard of ax throwing and the horrific Hook Hall hot tub. Now let me present D.C.’s newest attraction: the boozy bounce house. The Lane play space in Ivy City is opening to adults. And, yes, you can buy a membership.
What's CITY Talking About?
MCPS Superintendent in Hot Water
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Monifa McKnight says she will fight back against the school board’s “unwarranted” attempts to oust her. McKnight is taking the heat over the county’s handling of a harassment case last year. The board asked her to step down last week. [WTOP]
DC Overpaying for Vouchers?
The federal government is investigating whether local landlords are overcharging the DC Housing Authority for voucher units. The investigation follows a 2022 review that found that the DCHA was paying landlords above market-rates, draining the city’s housing assistance funds and driving up rent prices. If DCHA is found to have overpaid landlords, it must reimburse the federal government. [Washington Post 🔒]
- Related: DC has been overpaying landlords for years - and it’s making housing less affordable for everyone. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Progress in Falcicchio Harassment Case
The Inspector General has appointed law firm Arnold & Porter to investigate the complaints of sexual harassment against Mayor Bowser’s former chief of staff John Falcicchio that led to his resignation last year. The Council has four months to file a report on the investigation’s findings. [X, formerly known as Twitter]
- Related: Falcicchio’s resignation exposed a pattern of mishandled cases in Bowser’s administration. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Best Restaurant in DC?
Washingtonian named Causa the best restaurant in D.C. for 2024. The Peruvian spot in Blagden Alley serves a six-course tasting menu every night. Reservations are hard to come by! Stay tuned for the publication’s highly anticipated, full “100 best restaurants” list later today. [Washingtonian]
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What To Do
Wednesday, Jan. 24
- 🫖 Kombucha Workshop | 6 p.m. | Suggested donation | Lanier Heights
- 🍸 Valentine's Cocktail Making | 7 - 9 p.m. | $65 | Penn Quarter
- 🏒 Curling & Cocktails | 7 - 10 p.m. | Free | The Wharf
Thursday, Jan. 25
- 📚 Reading Room Festival | Varies | $35, Free for students | Capitol Hill
- 🎵 Wonderland’s Holiday Hangover Show | 7 p.m. | Free | Columbia Heights
- 😋 Holy Food Cookbook Talk | 7 p.m. | $5 | Mt. Pleasant
- 🍇 Urban Grape Opening | 11 a.m. | Free | Shaw
Friday, Jan. 26
- 🎨 Introduction: Rothko Paintings | 1 p.m. | Free | National Mall
- 🍸 Mindful Drinking Fest | 5 p.m. | $40 | Union Market
- 😆 Comedy: Don’t Tell Arlington | 8 p.m. | $25 | Crystal City
- 🎤 Seven Black Minutes Show | 7 p.m. | $10 | Anacostia
- 🪩 Broke Gay Boys | 10 p.m. | Free | U Street Corridor
Today on City Cast
Can We Make Downtown D.C. More Livable?
When was the last time you hung out downtown, not going to a specific place or errand? That’s probably because downtown is still mostly empty office buildings. But, Tristan Navera from the Washington Biz Journal tells us some solutions the city is working on.
Howard Country is in the process of designing a new flag for the first time in 50 years, and is hoping to pull on the county’s artistic talents. It’s hard to compete when D.C.’s is one of the best in the country.
- Kaela
Today’s newsletter was edited by Priyanka Tilve. News was written by Ashe Durban.
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