😍 A local 'Love is Blind' analysis

What's CITY Talking About?

Trayon White Informant Bribed Another Official

Recently unsealed court records show the FBI informant in the Trayon White bribery case secretly pled guilty earlier this year to also bribing another D.C. official. The informant – Allieu Kamara – paid an employee at the Child and Family Services Agency hundreds of thousands of dollars from 2019 to 2023 to benefit his businesses. [Washington Post 🔒]

Uptown Theater Makes a Comeback

The husband-and-wife duo behind Artechouse just signed a 20-year lease on Cleveland Park’s Uptown Theater. The Art Deco movie theater has been shuttered since 2020. The couple wants to restore it as an “old glamorous Hollywood” theater. [Washington Post 🔒]

The Stanley Cup Heist

In what might be the most basic girl crime ever, two women stole 47 Stanley cups from the NoMa REI. The metal tumblers go for $45 each, so that’s $2,121 total. Police have yet to find the suspects. [WUSA9]

Your Local Music Guide To October

Welcome to another edition of our monthly music newsletter feature, where we highlight a local artist and upcoming shows from DMV acts. It’s officially Halloween season. As you contemplate your costume and how much pumpkin spice to consume, embrace a darker-tinged local playlist that matches the chill in the air.

🎙️ Spotlight: Flowers for the Dead

Self-Described Sound:

Alternative Rock

Band Members:

Jessie Szegö (lead guitar/vocals)

Ella Buskirk (bass/vocals)

Ricky Martinez (drums)

Get To Know the Artists:

Flowers for the Dead planted its roots two years ago when Jessie Szegö moved away from the indie-style music she played in her early teens to alternative rock. Inspired by Slint and The Breeders, the band’s debut album released in 2022. “Quiet Corrosion in the Dancing Hall” showcased Szegö’s haunting cadence over heavy grunge composition. Ella Buskirk and Ricky Martinez joined the band a year later, after organically connecting through the D.C. music scene.

As DMV natives, Szegö, Buskirk, and Martinez bring promising new energy to the local rock scene. Flowers for the Dead dropped three singles this year that carry more edge in their vocals and sarcastic wit in their lyrics than their debut album. While they can’t share any formal updates, you can expect more new music from them soon.

Next Local Show:

Oct. 24 | 8 p.m. | $10 | Rhizome DC

Nov. 11 | 8 p.m. | $15 | Songbyrd

Follow:

@fftdmusic

Song to Check Out:

“Teeth”

🎟️ Other Upcoming Local Shows To See

1. Andrew Toy, Time in the Wilderness, A Promising Local Band (Experimental, Jazz) | Oct. 9 | 8 p.m. | $15+ | Songbyrd
2. Glitterer, Victor Arce, Roxy 2 (Indie Rock) | Oct. 11 | 10 p.m. | $10+ | Comet Ping Pong
3. Jackie and the Treehorns, Roscoe Tripp, Nayan (Rock) | Oct. 12 | 8 p.m. | $10+ | Pie Shop
4. Sam Elmore, Argo & The Violet Queens, The Montaines (Folk, Indie) | Oct. 19 | 10 p.m. | $18+ | Comet Ping Pong
5. Drook, Flowerbomb, Some Nobodies (Pop, Latin) | Oct. 24 | 8 p.m. | $14+ | The Pocket

🎵 New Local Music Mentions

Flowers for the Dead: “See-through”

Our spotlight band’s latest single features Szegö’s signature hypnotic vocals over heavy guitar riffs. The song toes the line between shoegaze and grunge, and will be an excellent companion to your next fall stroll in Rock Creek Park.

🎧 Your Local Monthly Music Playlist

Check out this Spotify playlist we made, featuring Flowers for the Dead’s songs and inspirations, plus music by the other local bands above.

Where Is It?

First, Where Was Last Week’s Photo?

This mural is located in Adams Morgan in an alley off 18th Street NW. The mural was painted in 2014 by the local artist Aniekan Udofia. The bottom part of this mural was painted over by the building owner a few years ago.

Udofia has murals all over the city, including at DCA, Highlands restaurant, DC Bouldering Project, various street corners, and office buildings.

🎉 Nice work Chris B., Grace H., and Jamelia C. for being the first to guess the mural’s location correctly!

Now, Onto This Week’s Challenge:

Can you tell me where this picture was taken? Bonus points if you can tell me your favorite thing to see there.

What To Do