City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
☕ How Compass Coffee failed
February 24, 2026 · — Natalia Aldana
Hey there! The State of the Union address is tonight. Although D.C.-specific issues are not expected to be on President Trump’s agenda, the snowstorm affecting parts of the East Coast has likely impacted attendance on Capitol Hill 🥶 Meanwhile, given how much interference we’ve seen in D.C. this year, we’ll still be watching to see if the District gets name-checked. Here’s where to stream the address.
What's CITY Talking About
How Compass Coffee Failed
British coffee chain Caffè Nero bought DC’s Compass Coffee at auction last week. It was an ignominious end for what was once one of the DMV’s hospitality high-flyers. What went wrong? It’s a story that involves hubris, betrayal, bad decisions, and the economics of a work-from-home city. The Washington Post’s Tim Carman is on today’s podcast with a deep dive into the fall of the house of Compass. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Maryland Sues to Stop ICE Detention Center Construction
Maryland sued the Trump administration yesterday to block plans to convert a Washington County warehouse into an immigration detention facility. The state attorney general and governor accuse the administration of not conducting an environmental review or seeking public input. [Washington Post 🔒]
DC Water to Hold Public Meetings on Sewage Spill
Following the pipeline collapse that led to more than 240 gallons of raw sewage spilling into the Potomac River in January, DC Water is hosting two public forums this week to update residents on repair plans. Public briefings will be held on Feb. 25 at DC Water headquarters and in Bethesda on Feb. 26. [ABC7News]
JLG’s Strategy for Dealing with Trump
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, who is vying to become D.C.'s next mayor, shared how she’d handle President Trump if elected mayor. Lewis George said that she’d work with Trump to redevelop downtown, support a new business tax to fund child care, and would aim for a pragmatic approach to home rule, among other strategies. [Axios]
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Sharing culture through the art of quillwork
Learn how the art of porcupine quillwork is used to create something special at the National Museum of the American Indian. Enjoy artist demonstrations, join a tour of the special installation Making a Statement, and get hands-on with objects to deepen your understanding of quillwork. Saturday, March 14, 11 AM.
What To Do
Tuesday, Feb. 24
- 🎤 Melodies of Migration: Storytelling through Music at the Dupont Underground
- 🎛️ Tunes: Nuovo Testamento (Synthpop) at DC9 (Shaw)
- 📚 Booktalk: “Kin” at Busboys and Poets (14th St. NW)
- 🪡 Architectural Earring Workshop at Merry Pin (Takoma)
- 🎞️ Chasing Cupids Film Series at the West End Library
- 🃏 Magic: The Gathering Trading at Labyrinth (Eastern Market)
Wednesday, Feb. 25
- 🎤 Kramers Poetry Reading: Winter Edition! (Dupont Circle)
- 🪡 Adult Learn to Sew at Shepherd Park Library
- 🎥 Documentary Screening: “Sitting Still” at the National Building Museum (Penn Quarter)
- 🇲🇬 Cookbook Talk: “A Taste of Madagascar” at Bold Fork Books (Mt. Pleasant)
- 📜 Genealogy Program at the Francis Gregory Library
- 💀 The RENS / Bonnet Talk Sketch Comedy at the DC Arts Center (Adams Morgan)
❄️🥇 The Winter Olympics are over! Here’s how athletes from the DMV fared in the Milano-Cortina Games.
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