City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
Trump to close Kennedy Center
February 2, 2026 · 💌 Kaela
Welcome to February, D.C.! It’s one of the hardest months to get through in D.C. It’s the cold, gray, slog into spring. But the City Cast team is here to warm you up with ideas about how to make it not suck, from new restaurants, to museum openings, to line dancing. Yeehaw 🤠
What's CITY Talking About
Trump Closes Kennedy Center For Renovation
In a lengthy Truth Social post Sunday, President Trump announced plans to close the Kennedy Center for two years for reconstruction starting on July 4. He claims it is the best way to bring "success, beauty, and grandeur" to the center. He also says the financing for the rebuild is already complete. [Reuters]
National Guard, Your Bill Is Here
The National Guard deployment in D.C. cost taxpayers $223 million in 2025. That’s $607 per guard member per day — higher than any other U.S. city. There are currently over 2,600 members still deployed in D.C., set to remain indefinitely. [Axios]
America250 Grand Prix Is Coming
President Trump wants to launch an IndyCar race on the streets of D.C. as part of America’s 250th birthday this summer. The executive order, signed Friday, instructs his administration to sort out approvals. IndyCar is on board and Mayor Bowser says she’s “thrilled” about it. [NBC]
- Trump also wants to build a 250-foot-tall arch near Memorial Bridge, saying he wants it to be the biggest in the world. He hopes to begin construction within two months. [Washington Post 🔒]
Randy Clarke 2026 Dreams Dashed
Metro General Manager Randy Clarke confirmed that "Randy for mayor" will not be happening. The half-joking call for him to run blew up on socials again amidst Metro’s widely praised snowstorm response. [Axios]
PG Residents Sue Over At-Large Seat Selection
Prince George’s County residents are suing the county council and member Wala Blegay in an attempt to overturn her appointment to an at-large council seat. They claim the council abused the normal process of filling the vacancy to choose people they like. [WTOP]
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What To Do
Monday, Feb. 2
- 🕺Community Tap Class with Maud Arnold at Edgewood Arts Center (Brookland)
- 💪 Pilates with Purpose at Georgetown Neighborhood Library
- 📽️ Barry Farm: Community, Land and Justice at MLK Jr. Memorial Library (Chinatown)
- 🧘 Gentle Yoga in the Galleries at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (Arlington)
- 📕 Book Talk: Clay Cane, "Burn Down Master's House" at Arlington Central Library
- 💗 Galentine’s Sip & Shop at Vienna Thai and Bar (Vienna)
Tuesday, Feb. 3
- 🍻 Profs & Pints DC: Empathy 101 at Penn Social (Penn Quarter)
- 📚 Book Talk: One & Only, Maurene Goo at East City Bookshop (Capitol Hill)
- 🕵️ House Histories 101 at Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library (Cleveland Park)
- 📚 Book Talk: The End of Romance: A Novel at Poetry and Prose Bookstore (Chevy Chase)
- 🤘 Ritual Arcana w/ Borracho, Foehammer at Pie Shop (H Street Corridor)
- 💝 Resin Art Heart Dishes Craft Workshop at Locally Crafted Workshop (Gaithersburg)
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Life in D.C. is feeling a lot like this New Yorker cartoon lately.
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