⏸️ DC Council pauses tipped minimum wage hike

What's CITY Talking About?

Dupont Circle Will Be Open For Pride After All

On Monday, the National Park Service announced plans to close Dupont Circle park during this year’s Pride celebration. But they reversed the decision 24 hours later after overwhelming backlash. [New York Times 🔒]

• Keep reading: It’s just one more wrinkle in a complicated Pride season. We talked to D.C. Pride’s founder Deacon Maccubbin about how it’s changed in the last 50 years. [City Cast DC 🎧]

DC Council Pauses Tipped Minimum Wage Hike

After a heated debate, D.C. Council voted to pause the implementation of Initiative 82, delaying the tipped minimum wage increase from July to October. [Washington Business Journal 🔒]

• Today, they will have a hearing on whether to repeal I-82 entirely as proposed by Mayor Bowser’s 2026 budget.

Kennedy Center Subscriptions Down 36%

Subscription sales for the Kennedy Center’s upcoming season are down $1.6 million compared to this time last year. Staffers say it’s a look into the mismanagement by new leadership following Trump’s takeover. [Washington Post 🔒]

May Sees Homicide Spike

After a long stretch of lower homicide rates, a spike in violence led to 20 homicides in May alone. This brings the city’s year-to-date homicide count to 69 as of May 31. [Washington Post 🔒]

Your DC Local Music Guide For June 2025

Welcome to our monthly music feature, where we highlight a local artist and upcoming shows from local acts. From Juneteenth to hosting WorldPride, this June is all about the joy of diversity in identity, and what better way to celebrate than through music?

🎙️ Spotlight: LYRICALMAR

Self-Described Sound:

Rap, Hip-Hop, House

Get To Know the Artist:

Artist LYRICALMAR was dead set on performing at WorldPride in D.C., his hometown, this year.

“I probably emailed them 12 times,” LYRICALMAR confessed. “I really wanted to be a part of WorldPride in Washington, D.C., a place where I've grown up, a place that knows me and that I call home.”

Set to perform this Friday at the WorldPride Festival, the D.C. rapper and influencer looks to many artists for inspiration, but credits Lil Nas X for kickstarting his professional music career.

“With the release of ‘Old Town Road’ … Lil Nas X showed me there is an audience for what I do as a Black queer man in the music space,” LYRICALMAR said. “It’s what made me say ‘f-this I am doing it,’ and I’ve been happier ever since.”

With his latest EP “MARCHIVES” dropping last month, LYRICALMAR pulls from the early 2000s, mixing quirky pop beats with rapping to create danceable club tracks that are all his own. Read on to learn more about LYRICALMAR’s journey to the international stage.

Next Local Show:

June 6 | 3 p.m. | 139+ | WorldPride Festival Unity Stage at RFK Festival Grounds

Follow:

@lyricalmar

Song to Check Out:

“God’s Gift (My Turn)”

🎟️ Other Upcoming Local Shows To See

1. Ella Gallogly, All Her Muses, mysteryband 🏳️‍🌈 (Indie) | June 4 | 7 p.m. | $15 | Takoma Spark
2. RDGLDGRN (Alternative) | June 6 | 8 p.m. | $30+ | Songbyrd
3. Ammonite, Pet Names, Jane O’Neill 🏳️‍🌈 (Folk Rock) | June 14 | 8 p.m. | $21+ | Pie Shop
4. JJ202, Keenan Orr, Geena Marie, Baronhawk Poitier, B_X_R_N_X_R_D (Black Techno) | June 20 | 11 p.m. | $15+ | DC9
5. Peak Bloom, Night Hawk (opening for Cabin Fever) (Punk, Rock) | June 26 | 8 p.m. | $17+ | The Pocket

🎵 New Local Music Mentions

RDGLDGRN: Damn

Catchy and perfect for summer, this hip-hop song is reminiscent of early aughts OutKast. Blending rap and alternative rock over a chill funk beat, there’s an effortless ease to the track that will make you want to be sitting poolside with an iced drink.

🎧 Your Local June Playlist

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

What To Do