Wake to Washington

Get ya RFK souvenirs here!

Tough saying goodbye to RFK? Fans can buy items from the demolition, from seats in the stands to the scoreboard, in case you’ve ever thought those would look great in your living room. Teams have to remove asbestos and hazardous materials from the stadium before the salvage can begin.

Moonlighting in murder (writing)

Biden’s nominee for Archivist of the US has a side gig—writing murder novels set in Capitol Hill.  Colleen Shogan’s bibliography includes Stabbing in the Senate, Homicide in the House, and K Street Killing. (Some ideas from our team: Whacked at the Wharf, Fratricide on 14th, Bludgeoned in Bethesda, Garroted in Gaithersburg….)

When being a swamp comes in handy

A tiny bit of good news re: climate change, D.C. is actually set up well for impending storm surges. Climate modeling tells us the District’s waterfront parks would absorb the Potomac and Anacostia’s rising water levels, leaving most buildings dry — though we’re still at risk for interior floods that might come from Maryland.

• NPS is restoring the seawall around Tidal Basin. Up for consideration are seawalls around East Potomac, West Potomac, and Anacostia Parks. 

• Support our waterfront parks so developers can’t build over them.

“I think I died about three times in that match”

The Citi Open continues despite blistering heat. Yesterday sounded like a nightmare: players got heat-induced injuries, they relished in 10-minute breaks where they actually showered, and they had to clear the court when thunder struck. Officials say they’re considering the heat, but maybe they should consider a different time of year? They did it for the World Cup due to Qatar’s high temperatures! 

• Citi Open matches are still going until August 7, and you can get updates here. 

Our friendships, ourselves

Myriad forces make meeting new friends a struggle as we age into the "friendship desert of modern adulthood." But it doesn't have to be that way! This summer, we're trying our hand at creating a little friendship alchemy with 730DC Friend Lab —a hella platonic event where our readers can bask in the warm glow of new connection for a couple of hours. 

• Take a bold stance for friendship and apply to be part of our inaugural Friend Lab cohort! 

Also || “Fboys, it’s over”: new Facebook group for D.C. women to tell if they’re dating the same man, fundraiser for Ethiopian-owned Gedera Market (someone threw fireworks at it! Don’t do that!), lightning strike near White House injures four people, restaurant review: La Tejana, Twitter account from homeless in McPherson Square, single-tracking Red/Green/Yellow

The District Hunt is a city-wide adventure race…

…that combines puzzles and social impact. Assemble your team and join this year’s game on October 1. Discounted tickets available until August 15th! 

Friday August 5th 

OutWrite LGBTQ Literary Festival

DC Center’s annual literary festival hosts panels, plays, readings, and workshops where visitors can hear and learn from local LGBTQ authors. (6pm)

Beer Party 

Celebrate International Beer Day at Bark Social in Bethesda where there will be beers in buckets, towers, and perhaps some other surprising drink-holders. (5pm)

• International Beer Day at Wundergarten

Baha Men at the Bullpen 

The artists of the iconic “Who Let the Dogs Out,” and also other songs, are performing at the place that GW students with fake IDs go to get drunk before a baseball game? Anyway, catch this iconic group Friday. (5:00pm-10:00pm)(enough time to play “who let the dogs out” 83 times)

• Also: Indie-soul jams from DC’s Oh He Dead at Howard Theater. (8 pm)

Also || comedy roast, tunes: Bill McKay, walking french impressionism tour, heavyweights comedy, African Diaspora Film Festival, Fridays at the Saloon, Bad Bad Hats (what’s that a hat crazy funky junky hat), your favorite cover bands, Tenci @ Songbyrd, First fridays, Comedy and karaoke, Newly Juried @ Torpedo Factory

Saturday August 6th 

Won’t you take me to…funky town

Funk Parade is back and better than ever! Music lovers can bounce between four different stages at this free event for charity (you can donate if you cannot attend) up and down U street. Hosts hope to usher back the rich music history of Black Broadway with artists such as Uncle Mary, Yaj, and Naptown Brass Band. (11am-4pm)

• Prepare by watching the “Funk Parade” documentary or reading about the history of celebrations on U street or watch the iconic funky town clip from Shrek 2

Immigrant-owned mini market

KAMA DC and the Heurich House Museum host a mini market with 10 local small businesses in the biergarten (also home to an exhibit featuring 1,000 objects from the historic Heurich brewery)(also, beer). (3-8pm)

Citi Open watch party

Speaking of the Citi Open, you can watch the players power through the heat this weekend at City Ridge while playing your own outdoor games. (2pm)

Also || Girls Rock DC (school of rock in real life), see ‘courtney take your break’ live with “legally blonde jr.” please have any other readers seen this tik tok trend i need to talk, dancing on the waterfront, tunes: The Escape Artist (local post-rock), tunes: Charli XCX

Sunday August 7th 

The kind of activities two friends in a rom com do while they have a conversation that’s mostly just pointless exposition

• Meet up at Georgetown waterfront for some yoga and after-practice vegan snacks while your best friend reminds you that you haven’t dated anyone since Greg! (10am)

• Shop the Logan Circle and U Street 23rd annual sidewalk sale, featuring local businesses and amazing deals, while your coworker, who is slightly less hot than you, tells you to just ask your hot neighbor Steve to be your fake boyfriend at your sister’s wedding! (11am-4pm)

Tunes

• Hopeless Otis and other punks at the Public Option (7pm)

• Kehlani at the Anthem (I heard Steve was going) (8pm)

• Chronophage (cool, sounds like what your cool childhood babysitter would play while driving a honda accord that smells like cigs and mint gum) and Staffers at the Runaway (8:30pm)

• Elena La Fulana opens for Gina Chavez at Jammin' Java. (7 pm)

Also || Black girl art show, yappy hour at metrobar