💰How landlords are ripping off the city

What's CITY Talking About?

AG Advises Against Arena Move

D.C’s Attorney General advised Monumental Sports not to break its lease with Capital One Arena which ends in 2047. However, legal counsel for Ted Leonsis says the Caps and Wizards owner can legally escape the lease by prepaying its outstanding bond. This is the latest blow to the arena deal, after it was left out of the VA budget. [Axios, City Cast DC 🎧]

• Related: Bet Leonsis would be extra frustrated to stick around Chinatown now that we all know his issues with a local busker there. [City Cast DC 🎧]

DC Budget Date Set After Delay

After Council Chairman Phil Mendelson blamed the mayor’s office for delays last week, D.C.’s 2025 budget is set to be unveiled at a meeting on April 3. The proposal follows reports of a substantial budget deficit earlier this month. [X, formerly Twitter, City Cast DC 🎧]

Judge Tosses Noncitizen Voting Law Challenge

A federal judge has upheld the D.C. Noncitizen Voting Act, rejecting a lawsuit that alleged that noncitizen votes dilute residents’ voting power. The 2022 act allows immigrants to vote in local elections regardless of their citizenship status. [Washington Post 🔒]

April Local Music Guide

Welcome to another edition of our monthly music newsletter feature, where we highlight a local artist and upcoming shows. April marks two prominent D.C. music moments: The local music awards, a.k.a “The Wammies,” and the kick-off to festival season with the annual EDM fest, Project GLOW. We spoke with Baronhawk Poitier, a D.C. house DJ and artist who is performing for the first time at Project GLOW.

🎙️ Spotlight: Baronhawk Poitier

Self-described sound:

House Music

Background:

As a competitive breakdancer in high school during the early ‘00s, Baronhawk Poitier began cutting and editing music for his crew. In 2005, he began DJing and producing seriously when a dance student gifted him his first turntable, which he still uses today.

Poitier’s mixes pull from jazz, funk, R&B, Latin, and Afrobeat. His style is syncopation and percussion heavy, which he credits to growing up around go-go and Baltimore club music. Always a dancer at heart, the PG County-raised, D.C.-based artist intentionally combines different styles of music to coach people to dance certain ways regardless of skill.

Next Shows:

April 6 | 10 p.m. | Free | Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club

April 28 | TBD | $133+ | Project GLOW at RFK Grounds 

Follow:

@baronhawkpoitier + @danceclub.link

Song To Check Out:

“Temperado Tornado”

To learn more about Baronhawk Poitier, his queer collective, and why he loves D.C., read the full article here.

🎟️ Other Upcoming Local Shows

1. Prinze George (Indie Pop) | April 7 | 7 p.m. | $21.89 | Songbyrd
2. Pinky Lemon (opening for Annita Velveeta) (Shoegaze) | April 12 | 8 p.m. | $15+ | Comet Ping Pong
3. The Crystal Casino Band (opening for Quarters of Change) (Alt. Rock) | April 21 +22 | Doors 6:30 p.m. | $22 | The Atlantis
4. Joy Viver (opening for daarling) (Indie)| April 27 | 8 p.m. | $15 |Rhizome
5. BRNDA (opening for Bodega) (Punk)| April 27 | 10 p.m. | $18.54 | Comet Ping Pong

🎵 New Local Music Mention

Jane O’Neill - “WhistlePig”

Ahead of her self-titled EP which dropped on March 22, Jane O’Neill released this Americana ballad packed with imagery of longing for an ex-girlfriend who drank the titular whiskey. O’Neill pulls at your heartstrings with her sultry tone and sentimental lyrics.

🏅 Wammie Nominee Music Mention

Mojo Aces - “Too Late”

As one of the finalists for the Wammies Best Hard Rock/Metal song this year, this track gives major nostalgia. Reminiscent of AC/DC and a touch of Guns N’ Roses, “Too Late” tells the story of a deceased cheating lover through gritty rage-fueled vocals and catchy guitar riffs.

🎧 Listen to all these artists and more on our Spotify Playlist!

Where Is It?

First, where was last week’s photo?

This photo was taken on the patio of Residents Café & Bar in Dupont. I can’t think of a restaurant that goes harder for cherry blossom season – from thousands of fake blossoms to festive drinks like the Sakura Spritz and Japanese Highball.

Some of your favorite cocktails included the Bee Vol 4. (reader Catherine R.), the Rhubarb (reader Melissa T.), and of course their classic espresso martini (reader Alex Q.)

🏅Nice work, Lizzy H., Mallory R., and Catherine R. for guessing correctly first!

Now, onto this week’s challenge:

Where is this orangery located? I will give you a hint, it is not at the Botanic Garden.

What To Do

Today on City Cast

How Landlords Are Ripping Off The City

There’s been a lot of controversy around D.C.’s public housing agency. The latest involves the question of whether the city is overpaying landlords. Steve Thompson from the Washington Post is here to explain why it matters — to people on public assistance and to everyone else in D.C. too.