
City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
🎉 Bastille day, bike meetups, and an ACOTAR ball
July 7, 2025 · 💌 Kaela
Hey, neighbor! The first day back after a long weekend is always a drag. So, today we’ve pulled together a special newsletter with all the week's best events to keep you going ⬇️
If you love having all of D.C.’s best events in one place like this, join City Cast DC Neighbors. Our members get this curated events roundup every Monday!

What's CITY Talking About?
Mt. Pleasant Library Reopens
The Mt. Pleasant Library is finally reopening today after several months of construction, including work on a new roof and HVAC system. My holds don’t know what’s coming for them. [X/@DCPL]
What To Watch In Next Week’s Special Election
DC Council is already pondering whether to expel Ward 8 councilmember Trayon White again if he wins his seat back in the July 15 special election. But in the meantime, the voters get a say, and actually have a few candidates to choose from. Here’s who to watch. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Peak Bloom Alert! Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
The lotuses are in peak bloom at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The extreme heat means peak bloom is earlier than usual, but there will still be plenty of blooms through the end of July. Here’s how to see them. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Commanders Stadium Deadline Looms
Mayor Bowser said she’s very concerned about the RFK Stadium deal falling through and she's blaming D.C. Council. The deal could legally open to other bidders on July 15, but the council says they need more time to weigh pros and cons. [NBC]
Sponsored Content

NYT’s “Ask the Ethicist” at Library of Congress
New York Times columnist and Kluge Prize winner Kwame Anthony Appiah shares insights on resolving everyday moral dilemmas in “Ask the Ethicist” on July 24. Explore real-world scenarios, vote on what you would do, and then hear how one of today’s most influential modern philosophers thinks through the same questions.

What To Do
Tuesday, July 8
- 🖼️ Painting the Landscape Class at Georgetown Library
- 🪨 The Backstory of D.C.'s Bedrock with the Smithsonian (Zoom)
- 🎵 Tunes: Florencia & the Feeling (R&B/Soul) at DC9 (Shaw)
- ⚾ Profs & Pints: The Physics of Baseball at Penn Social (Penn Quarter)
- 🎨 Art Supply Swap at Arlington Public Library
Wednesday, July 9
- 📚 Library Day at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Downtown)
- 🎵 Rock the Dock: Hot Cactus (Party Hits) at the Wharf
- 🤘 Tunes: Cap’n Jazz (Punk/Indie) at Black Cat (14th Street)
- 🌈 Holocaust History and the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights at the Capital Jewish Museum (Penn Quarter)
Thursday, July 10
- 🏍️ Outdoor Movie: “Grease” on the Library of Congress Lawn (Capitol Hill)
- ✨ Japanese Star Festival At the Hillwood Estate (Van Ness)
- 🎥 Outdoor Movie: “Twisters” at The Wharf
- ✍️ AuthorTalk with Parvati Shallow: “Nice Girls Don’t Win” at Sixth & I (Chinatown)
- 📚 Author Talk: Terror Counter (Poetry) at People’s Books (Takoma Park)
Friday, July 11
- 🇫🇷 Bastille Day at the French Embassy (Georgetown)
- 🎻 House of Hamill (Celtic Folk) at the Hill Center (Capitol Hill)
- 🍿 Drive In Movie: National Treasure (Union Market)
- 🎤 MVEMNT Fest at the Bullpen (Navy Yard)
- 🕺 Sorry For Party Rocking Dance Night at Union Stage (The Wharf)
- 🔥 Book Talk: “I Want to Burn this Place Down” at Solid State Books (H Street)
Saturday, July 12
- 🇷🇴 Romanian Weekend at The Wharf
- 🎶 OCCIPITAL II Fashion & Music Festival at Rhizome DC (Takoma)
- 🥋 DC Martial Arts History Storytelling at the American Art Museum (National Mall)
- 👖 Clothing Swap at MLK Library (Downtown)
- 🌹 A Ball of Thorns and Roses at Culture House (Navy Yard)
- 🚴 Ward 6 Biking Meetup at Lincoln Park
- 🌿 Astroherbalism with PLNTR (Dupont)
- 🎉 CULTUR FM DC Party at AI Warehouse (Union Market)
- 🌲 Forest Bathing at the National Arboretum
Sunday, July 13
- 🧑🌾 Gardening 102 at Edgewood Community Farm
- 🌿 Herbal Allies & the Matrix of Destiny Workshop at PLNTR (Dupont)
- 🫖 Jane Austen Tea Party at Old Town Books (Alexandria)
- 🤔 Curiosity Day at Planet Word (Downtown)
- 🎷 Sunday Jazz Concert In Anacostia
- 🤘 Tunes: Joseon (Rock) at DC9 (Shaw)
Monday, July 14
- 📷 Mt. Planty Fest & Darkroom Fair at Rhizome (Takoma)
- 👠 Profs & Pints: The Life of Barbie at Penn Social (Penn Quarter)
- ✍️ Memoir Writing Workshop With DC Public Library (Online)
- 🎵 Tunes: Isaiah Falls (R&B) at Union Stage (The Wharf)
And if you're still feeling the post-long weekend blues. This article of 100 Reasons to Love DC Right Now is sure to snap you out of it.
P.S. If you want this event roundup every week, be sure to become a City Cast DC Neighbor today!
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