
City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
🍸 These DC bars rank top 50 in North America
May 1, 2025 · 💌 Kaela
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What's CITY Talking About?
May Day Protests
Expect several protests around town today against President Trump's "war on working people." One starts at 10 a.m. on the National Mall; another starts at 5 p.m. at Freedom Plaza. [May Day Movement]
DC Budget Bill Lacking GOP Support
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) says the bill that would allow D.C. to avoid $1B cuts doesn't have GOP support in the House. He said they are specifically concerned about D.C. considering spending money on reparations and RFK Stadium. [WTOP]
- D.C. has already started cutting spending and freezing hiring because of the Congress-forced cuts. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Digging Begins on DC Sewage Tunnel
D.C. broke ground on a $819M tunnel under the Potomac to divert sewage overflows and reduce river pollution by 93% in the next 5 years. The tunnel will stretch 5.5 miles from Georgetown to an existing system near the Anacostia River. [WUSA9]
DC Bars Rank Top 50 in Continent
Three D.C. bars — Silver Lyan, Service Bar, and Allegory — made it on to the list of North America’s 50 Best Bars for 2025. Cheers! [50 Best]
- But what are the most underrated bars in D.C.? [City Cast DC 🎧]
Sponsored Content

Support Small Businesses and Invest in Community!
Small businesses are vital to our city. Did you know that 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the community? That’s only true for 11 cents at a national retailer. @DistrictBridges supports small businesses and invests in community here in DC.

What To Do
Thursday, May 1
- 🎺 Tunes: Somi (jazz) | 8 p.m. | Free | Library of Congress
- 👯 Polyamory for Dummies | 7 p.m. | Free | Cleveland Park
- 😆 Author Talk: Ed Helms | 7 p.m. | $12 | Chinatown
- 🎵 Tunes: Camden Bay (pop) | 7 p.m. | $15 | Truxton Circle
Friday, May 2
- ☕ Small Planes Coffee Tasting | 11 a.m. | $10 | Arboretum
- 🛍️ First Fridays Chevy Chase | 3 - 8 p.m. | Free | Chevy Chase
- ✍️ Washington Writers Conference | All Day | $429 | Rockville
- 🎉 Community Forklift First Friday Party | 5 - 8 p.m. | Free | Edmonston
- 🕺 Half Halloween Party | 8 p.m. | $10 | Black Cat
- 🧑🍳 Cookbook Talk: Rick Martínez | 7 p.m. | $20 | Columbia Heights

Neighborhood Shoutouts
Introducing Neighbor shoutouts! Every week, a few City Cast DC Neighbors will share their fave local spots. Recs like this keep our community going.
📣 Adonne W. says to check out Anacostia's new coffee shop Grounded, which offers all kinds of weekly events for the community.
📣 Anna Claire W. recommends the craft store Merry Pin In Takoma as a space to connect with community and create.
📣 Jillian M. on the U St. Corridor says Flow Yoga Center is where it's at!
Become a City Cast DC Neighbor today to share your own shoutout!
Thank you to our newest City Cast DC Neighbors: Herbert M., Jacob P., Rahul J., Mark C., Jacob S., Ben D., Laura-Anne T., Monica G., Greg L., Evan M., Dannie D., and Kevin C.
🗣️ Special shoutout to Ben D. who told us: “City Cast DC captures why I love this city as a place with local community, culture, traditions (and quirks) continuing to thrive adjacent to (and often in spite of) the federal footprint.”
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