🚨 Police standoff in Shaw

What's CITY Talking About?

Standoff in Shaw

There was a brief standoff in Shaw Thursday morning after two armed robbery suspects barricaded themselves in a building. The incident drew a large police presence and caused multiple street closures near the corner of Georgia Avenue NW and Florida Avenue NW while the suspects were apprehended. [WTOP]

Green Light for Bruce Monroe Park Development

The city has approved a plan to develop mixed-income housing on the Bruce Monroe Park site in Park View after seven years of zoning lawsuits. While the plan will provide up to 460 more units of housing, some are concerned the plan will force out current residents in an area of D.C. that is already quickly gentrifying. [DCist]

Bamboo-zling Return

The National Zoo is already in talks to have giant pandas return to the District, less than six months after they left. D.C. had been home to pandas for 23 years when Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji left last fall. The National Zoo is renovating its panda habitat in hopes that new bears arrive soon. [Washingtonian]

• Related: The pandas are certainly D.C.’s most divisive mammal. The City Cast team weighed in on their legacy of lovability and laziness before their departure in October. [City Cast DC 🎧]

What To Do

DC Insider Trivia

Alright, D.C., we’re back with this week’s trivia challenge, where I ask you something only a true Washingtonian would know, and you give your best answer (without looking it up!).

Submit your own trivia questions here!

Let’s start with last week’s question:

The National Zoo was once home to the “living symbol” of what famous cartoon icon?

1. Smokey Bear ⭐
2. Peppa the Pig
3. Curious George
4. Simba the Lion

Smokey Bear was brought from New Mexico to the National Zoo in 1950 after being badly burned as a cub in a forest fire that swept through Lincoln National Forest. There he served as a living symbol of the Smokey Bear forest fire prevention ad campaign which had started just six years earlier.

Smokey received so many gifts (mostly honey) and letters (more than 13,000 a week!) that he had to have his own zip code, 20252, which is still in use. He remained at the zoo until his death in 1976.

🏆 Nice work to Hey DC readers Daniel D., Scott R., and Matthew N. for being the first three readers to get it right!

Now onto this week’s question:

What was the first band to ever play at D.C.’s newest music venue – The Atlantis – a replica of the original 9:30 club?

1. Rare Essence
2. The Foo Fighters
3. U2
4. Stevie Nicks

Today on City Cast

Nadeau Recall, Retail Security Upgrades, and Chesapeake Oyster Boom

There’s a second recall campaign in the works, this time against Ward 1 councilmember Brianne Nadeau. We’re also talking about local stores upping security to curb theft and the Chesapeake’s oyster comeback.