City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
🎒Truancy rates worsen at DC schools
October 17, 2025 · 💌 Kaela
Hey D.C.! Candy prices might be the scariest haunt of all this Halloween. High cocoa prices are pushing up sweets costs and it’s changing how people fill their candy bowls. No jumbo bars this year at my house kids, sorry.
What's CITY Talking About
Ferris Bueller's (Many Days) Off
Truancy rates in D.C. Public Schools worsened last year despite spending $17M on attendance boosting programs. Critics say the city is too focused on pricey, short-term fixes and not long-term solutions. [Washington Post 🔒]
Landlord Pays Up In Rent-Control Lawsuit
A local landlord will pay $700K to settle accusations that they illegally dodged rent-control laws. The lawsuit claims the landlord leased rent-controlled apartments only to housing voucher holders, which reimburses landlords at higher rates. [Washington Post 🔒]
Democracy Is Melting (Literally)
A 20-foot melting ice sculpture of the word “democracy” was placed on the National Mall Thursday — as part of an initiative led by Ben & Jerry’s cofounder Ben Cohen. [NBC4]
Will Bowser Bow Out?
Everyone is wondering if Mayor Bowser is going to run for a fourth term. She has reportedly been discussing the possibility of bowing out with her advisors and several say it’s 50-50 if she runs again. On today’s podcast, we break down what it would mean for the 2026 mayoral race. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Sponsored Content
Final performances of Folger Theatre’s Julius X!
This “urgent and timeless” (The Washington Lobbyist) new play by Peabody Award-winning journalist Al Letson remixes Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar with the history of Malcolm X, sampling lyrically and historically from Shakespeare’s text, famous speeches by Civil Rights leaders, and Letson’s own verse. Playing through October 26 at the Folger Shakespeare Library.
The DC Mini Crossword
We’re trying something new! A mini crossword puzzle that hinges on your knowledge of D.C. and local news. How fast can you complete it?
☝️Let me know what you think! Should we do this again next week?
What To Do
Friday, Oct. 17
- 📚 Friends of Tenley Library Book Sale at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library
- 👻 “Ghostbusters” on The Plaza (Union Market)
- 🧑🎨 Fragments: Dany Green, Louis-Antoine Gilbert, & J.D. Deardourff begins at Thundershark Gallery (Truxton Circle)
- 🐲 Celebrating 30 Years of Hung Tao Choy Mei begins at Dupont Underground (Dupont Circle)
- 🎩 HOW?! The Magic Show at Lisner Auditorium (Foggy Bottom)
- 🕺 Queer Line Dancing at North Hall (Eastern Market)
- 🎥 “Halloweentown” at The Yards Park (Navy Yard)
- 🤗 A Night of Healing and Hope at Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel (Arlington)
Saturday, Oct. 18
- 👑 No Kings D.C. Rising Rally (National Mall)
- 🐶 Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens (Forest Hills)
- 🎃 Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild Fall Festival at the Franciscan Monastery (Brookland)
- 🍎 12th Annual Apple Festival at The LINE DC (Adams Morgan)
- 🎉 5th Wordiversary Celebration: Free Community Day at Planet Word (Downtown)
- 🎷 Jazz at The Kreeger: Johnny O'Neal at The Kreeger Museum (Berkley)
- 🤗 Volunteer: Lower Georgia Avenue Clean Up Crew meets at Harrar Coffee (Park View)
- ❤️🩹 Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at the Lincoln Memorial (National Mall)
- 😈 Goatman's Camp Fear at the Linville Manor (Marlboro, Maryland)
Sunday, Oct. 19
- 🎻 Choral Society: Mozart’s Requiem at Washington National Cathedral (Northwest)
- 🧑🌾 Pollinator Planting Program at UDC (Forest Hills)
- 🧁 October Bake Club: Nadiya's Everyday Baking at Bold Fork Books (Mount Pleasant)
- 🎉 Turkish Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue (Northwest)
- 📀 DC Record Fair at Eaton DC (Downtown)
- 💀 Nightmare on H St: A Horror Writing Workshop at Solid State Books (H Street Corridor)
- 🎽 Run For A Better Life 5K at the Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion (Southeast)
- 🍵 Tea Drying & Blending Workshop at Edgewood Community Farm (Edgewood)
- 💬 The Crisis of Jewish “White Slavery,” 1880-1920 with the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington (via Zoom)
☕ The weather is too perfect not to get a cozy sweet treat today. I went with a miso caramel latte from Little Hat Coffee but here are our other favorite local fall coffee creations.
Free · 5 days a week