City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
🐼 One man’s obsession with finding pandas
October 3, 2025 · — Natalia Aldana
WeeeOoo! It’s the FINAL day of our membership campaign. Thank you so much to those of you who’ve joined City Cast DC Neighbors. You guys rock, and your support is essential to keeping this newsletter going.
If you haven’t joined yet, what are you waiting for? Join the party! City Cast DC Neighbors exists to help you experience life in D.C. by connecting with you IRL at members-only events, (there’s one coming up on Oct. 14!) helping you get out into the community with a curated events guide, and so much more.
💡 Remember! Today is your LAST day to join and get the Neighbors Make DC tote bag. Like, forever.
What's CITY Talking About?
DC’s Response to the Shutdown
Just a few days into the government shutdown, we’re discussing how D.C. officials are responding. Also on today’s City Cast DC podcast, we’re talking about the drama surrounding Empower ride share, a new concert venue, and other great D.C. challenges. [City Cast DC 🎧]
- Related: If you missed it earlier this week, check out Ashe’s write-up of Transmission, a new music venue opening today in the Rock and Roll Hotel space.
Asylum Bid Denied for Kilmar Abrego Garcia
A U.S. immigration judge in Baltimore on Wednesday rejected a bid to reopen Abrego Garcia’s 2019 asylum application. He can appeal the decision within 30 days. Abrego Garcia, whose case has become a rallying point against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, is still facing threats from ICE of being deported again. [AP]
Jail Population Grows After Federal Takeover
The D.C. jail population has grown by 10% since the federal takeover in mid-August, and women detainees have increased by 25%. According to the Council for Court Excellence, this surge is straining facilities that were already facing overcrowding. [7News/WJLA]
- Related: The D.C. jail is in wretched shape with inhumane conditions. We talked about it with D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson back in July. [City Cast DC 🎧]
One Guy’s Search for 150 Missing Panda Statues
Forget real pandas — Hector Biaggi is hunting down the concrete kind, tracking long-lost fiberglass pandas around D.C. that were created from the 2004 PandaMania project. So far he’s mapped the location of 40 using geocaching and sheer panda obsession. [Washington Post 🔐]
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DC Insider Trivia
In case you’re new around here, we ask a D.C.-related trivia question every Friday 🤔 Click the button below to answer the question and see if you got it right!
And if you want more, previous questions can be found at the bottom of this page.
What To Do
Friday, Oct. 3
- 🕺 Reorient the Orient with Lionel Popkin at Dance Place (Edgewood)
- 🦖 Jurassic Park in Concert at The Music Center at Strathmore (Bethesda)
- 🧑🎨 The Art of Looking: María Berrío, A Sunburst Restrained with the National Gallery of Art (Virtual)
- 😆 Laugh Riot: Comedy in the Face of Everything! at Studio Theatre (Logan Circle)
- 🎹 Ellington Unleashed at Evermay (Georgetown)
Saturday, Oct. 4
- 🎤 Not Dead Yet! John Cleese & The Holy Grail at 50 at The Music Center at Strathmore (Bethesda)
- 🥒 DC Pickle Bash and Dill Disco After Party (Shepherd Park)
- ✊ Home Rule Music Festival at Alethia Tanner Park (Eckington)
- 🖼️ Black Magic and the Black Arts Movement at the National Gallery of Art (National Mall)
- 😍 Workshop: Natural Dyes of Türkiye at The George Washington University Museum (Foggy Bottom)
- 🎨 Fall Open Studios 2025 at 52 O Street Studios (Truxton Circle)
- 🎻 Tunes: Tregaron Unplugged at Tregaron Conservancy (Cleveland Park)
- 🎹 Tunes: Wu Han, David Finckel, and Benjamin Bielman at Takoma Park SDA Church
- 💐 Sips and Stems Floral Arranging at PLNTR (Dupont)
Sunday, Oct. 5
- 🏎️ Official F1 Watch Party at F1 Arcade (Union Market)
- 🍻 Oktoberfest at The Wharf
- 💭 Artist Talk: Rozeal. at the National Gallery of Art (National Mall)
- 🥧 Bake & Take: Apple Tart Edition at Mess Hall (Edgewood)
- 🎉 Rachelpallooza at Malcolm X Park
- 🎃 Spooky Art Contest at Deanwood Neighborhood Library
- 🌕 Full Moon Hike at the National Arboretum (Northeast)
👋 And the neighbors keep moving in! Welcome to new members Annette T., Lauren A., Bianca MH., Keith M., Endya B., Jennifer O., Ilana N., Enrique E., Kirsten N., Hannah P., Alejandro A., Kathy H., Jordon J., Jonathan Z, Steven O., Chae M., Erik E., Michelle C. and Brian L.!
This must be a new record — 19 DMV’ers became City Cast Neighbors yesterday! But we’re still not at our overall goal. Will you join us in beating yesterday's daily record!? Not only will you get to meet the City Cast DC team at future events, (like our next happy hour on Oct. 14!) but you’ll also meet other neighbors like the cool people listed above. Think of all the great networking opps!
🥳 Here's why Bianca H. joined the membership program:
Thank you to our members and also to all of our readers and listeners. We really couldn’t do it without you, and we’re grateful to have you, a smart, passionate audience who pays attention.
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