🏕️ Your DC camping spots this fall

What's CITY Talking About?

Get Thee to a Campfire

Summer’s over, but that doesn’t mean camping has to be. Whether you’re an experienced outdoorswoman like City Cast DC co-host Bridget Todd, or just testing the waters with a little car camping, there’s still time to get outside. On today’s podcast, Bridget talks with Leo Murray, founder of Kibiboyz and leader of Concrete Escapes, who’s helping DC city folks reconnect with nature, one campfire at a time. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Chicken Soup for the Federal Worker Soul

In the wake of the (continued) government shutdown, some of the 750,000 furloughed federal workers are sharing “day in the life” videos on Instagram and TikTok, whether recording themselves attacking long-procrastinated chores, being gym rats, or bedrotting. [Axios DC]

• Related: The White House’s threat to withhold back pay once the shutdown ends has federal workers scared and angry. It’s also unprecedented: Federal workers received back pay in every other previous shutdown. [Axios DC]

DMV Airports Feeling Delays

As expected, the shutdown has contributed to air traffic controller shortages around the country, and the pain is being felt in the DMV, too. Officials with Reagan, Dulles, and BWI airports told ABC7 there were no staffing issues, but flights coming into D.C. from other affected hubs can cause cascading delays. [ABC 7]

• Inside scoop: A friend of CCDC flew into DCA late this week. The pilot got on the intercom to apologize for the delays and acknowledged the shortage of air traffic control workers.

DC Council All Over The Place on Youth Curfew Extension

Earlier this week, the D.C. Council met to discuss councilmember Brooke Pinto’s emergency legislation to extend the stricter citywide curfew that passed in July (and is now expired). The Council initially rejected the bill, then went on recess to meet privately. They have put off a final decision — but look for it to come back, because discussions around youth curfews in D.C. are never far. [Washington Post 🔒]

DC's Best New Restaurants and Bars

The Union Market neighborhood is absolutely exploding with new spots, adding a new country bar, pizza joint, upscale speakeasy/restaurant, and more in just the last few weeks. But there are lots of other openings around the District to look forward to this month, including two upper Northwest spots: Acqua Bistecca in Tenleytown and the revival of beloved izakaya, Shibuya, in Chevy Chase.

Eunoia (Union Market District)

One of the most anticipated openings of the year, Eunoia is led by Mexico City chef Josa Maldonado. The menu emphasizes fermentation, scratch cooking, and local produce through dishes like seaweed mole with potato miso and chicken skin, smoked striped bass with adobo, and for dessert, kakigori with a cherry kombucha balsamic and churros. 

Manifest 002 (Union Market District)

Manifest’s second and much larger location has two floors packed with a menswear boutique, restaurant, café, barbershop, and hidden speakeasy. The culinary program is led by Maketto’s Erik Bruner-Yang, so you know it’s fire. The menu is D.C.-centric with baked oysters Rockefeller sourced from Maryland, Ethiopian-inspired white Bolognese, and a mambo sauce cocktail.

Shibuya Eatery 2.0 (Chevy Chase)

Adams Morgan's beloved Shibuya is rising from the ashes in the form of a fast-casual izakaya in Chevy Chase. Expect drool-worthy donburi and bowls with chef-y touches, like homemade broth, cooked to order proteins, and artfully pickled veggies. "Think Cava, but Japanese," the owners told Axios.

Barrel House (Logan Circle)

The iconic barrel facade on 14th Street NW has housed more than a few business concepts, but the latest is this cafe and bar from the Wundergarten team. They’ve hosted a series of soft-openings over the last few months, but it’s now open full time featuring a garden, lunch menu, and a packed events calendar.

Acqua Bistecca (Tenleytown)

This glam Italian steakhouse is the newest concept from chef Michael Mina of Bourbon Steak. The menu is divided into two sections, aqua (all things seafood) and bistecca (steaks). Think whole black bass, chargrilled flat iron steak, house-made pastas, and colorful crudo.

Desert 5 Spot (Union Market District)

Yeehaw 🤠 Desert 5 Spot describes itself as bringing the “rustic allure of Pioneertown and Cosmic Americana” to D.C. The new Union Market country bar has two floors with space for line dancing, bull riding, a cactus garden, and a DJ booth in the back of an old Chevy truck. Don’t sleep on cowboy karaoke night.

Taste of Lucy (Union Market)

This bite-sized version of chef Giulio Adriani’s Italian cocktail bar Lucy will serve Neapolitan-style pizzas, rotating pastas, and selections from Lucy’s OG bar menu. More importantly, they have a daily happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. The restaurant shares the space with the second location of Detroit-style pizza joint Slice & Pie (who are from the same owners).

Neighborhood Shoutouts

Lots of new members mean lots of new neighborhood shoutouts!

ICYMI: Every week, we include some D.C. recs from our City Cast DC Neighbors, from food to local orgs!

📣 Kevin S. says we’ve all been sleeping on the Westover Market and Beer Garden in Arlington. “Fall is beer garden time and this outdoor spot has live music on Fridays and a great staff!”

📣 Katy K. recommends the Italian Bar on Connecticut Avenue NW. “Really, really good espresso drinks and pleasant service.”

📣 Sarah T. wants to shout out the Rock Creek Conservancy, “for all the great advocacy and opportunities to volunteer!”

If you recently joined the Hey DC neighborhood, don’t forget to submit your own shoutout! ☺️ And if you become a City Cast DC neighbor, you too can share your shoutout!

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