🐴 How to celebrate Lunar New Year in DC

What's CITY Talking About

Shutdown Hurts Smithsonian Visitor Numbers

The Smithsonians saw a drastic decrease in visitors in 2025, with 1.9 million fewer visits than the year before. The obvious reason was the longest-ever government shutdown, where the museums had to close for over a month. [NoVA Magazine]

• Related: The Smithsonian’s annual Folk Life Festival will not take place at its usual spot on the National Mall this year because of President Trump’s Great American State Fair.

Get Your Sidewalk Clear!

Two weeks after the big storm, D.C. is starting to fine residents and business owners who haven’t fully cleared their sidewalks. Mayor Bowser had previously waived the fine due to hard-to-remove ice on the sidewalk. [WTOP]

NoVa Key To VA Redistricting Bid

The Virginia Democrats’ new congressional map proposal would split NoVa’s heavily blue areas across multiple districts and pair them with surrounding moderate ones. If successful, the redesign could hand them all but one of Virginia’s House districts in the 2026 midterms. [Axios]

Read This DC Thriller Before It Airs On TV

What happens when you add D.C.'s competitive personalities with big bank accounts and real estate anxiety? You get "Best Offer Wins," the hit thriller by Marisa Kashino, a former Washingtonian real estate reporter. We talked with her about the real life stories that inspired the book. [City Cast DC]

Measles Are Back In Town

Multiple measles cases have been tracked across the city including at Metro stations, Union Station, DCA, and Children’s National Hospital. Check the article for a full list of exposure sites. [ABC7]

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