730Day is back, baby! We’ll be hanging at Metrobar from 1-5pm on Saturday, July 30. Come say hi to the team, enjoy some food truck nachos and/or transit-themed cocktails, see our new merch, sign up for Friendship Lab™, etc. RSVP via Eventbrite.
We’re all very heated
For the first time since 2016, DC could hit 100 degrees this Sunday. Mayor Bowser declared a heat emergency, opening shelters and cooling centers to District residents. The Washington Post reports that while this weekend’s temperatures might fall short of the area’s records, they’re still 10 degrees above normal. Stay out of the sun and drink lots of water and, you know, urge the country to divest from fossil fuels.
After a life full of prison sentences, profiting off of the sex trade (then losing the money), child pornography charges, and launching nonprofits—Dennis Sobin earned the Libertarian party’s nom in the race for DC mayor. The campaign banks on the idea that no one will remember his crimes, but they will remember his name. Sobin claims politics has “moved in his direction…over the past few years.” He’s not wrong? But he’s not right, either.
Freaky Friday with Rico Nasty
Stereogum names the Maryland rapper’s Las Ruinas their album of the week, tracking a meteoric rise from Soundclouds to big stages—and maybe big rooms, too, if the dance orientation of Ruinas is any indication. Other music tidbits for snacking:
The DC legislature has much less time to respond to the Mayor’s proposed budget than you might expect from following federal negotiations.
Legislation with a fiscal impact has to be separately funded. It can stay on the books, but have no influence if it’s not in the budget. Things can also be partially funded (like the Birth-to-Three program).
LitHub takes us through science fiction—replete with wisdom from the late Ursula LeGuin—to land at a new reality: if we want a bike culture like Amsterdam’s, perhaps we have to learn from their graphic protests to “Stop de Kindermood” (Stop the Child Murder).
Shawn O’Donnell was killed downtown by a driver this week. A ghost bike ceremony will take place Monday.
How to give tenants more power
DC’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) was meant to protect DC renters from being displaced if their landlord decided to sell—and for a long time, it was the only legislation of its kind. But since 2019, similar legislation in San Francisco (COPA) has shown a new way of preventing displacement and ensuring affordability for tenants.
If you’re thinking about real estate in the District, it’s not getting cheaper (even if the market is cooling down).
You are invited to watch The Song of the Butterflies at the National Museum of the American Indian. This Saturday, 1 p.m., follow Rember Yahuarcani on his journey from Peru to Colombia.
Capital Fringe, a leading local showcase of independent culture and performing arts, is officially underway. There’s something for everyone—theater, comedy, live music, open mic, and more, with shows in vacant retail spaces in Georgetown. Here’s a list of performances broken down by genre, and you can click to view a full show schedule here. All shows are $15.
Tosser, Saffron, and Fake Bodies play to celebrate the release of issue #4 of DC’s favorite indie music zine! Be sure to break out your coolest tote bag to carry home some treasures from the mini pop-up zine and art market. (7pm)
Black Restaurant Week
Actually a 2-week festival ending on July 31st, Black Restaurant Week features deals and specials from 90 Black-owned restaurants throughout DC and Baltimore.
Alethia Tanner Park is officially open and celebrating with a pop-up market, music, food trucks, bike repairs and a demo and double dutch lessons from DC Retro Jumpers. (11am-3pm)
Head across the river for She Deserves Dignity & Joy, a family-friendly roller skating event held at the Anacostia Park Skate Pavilion with food, skate lessons, live performances and more. (12-4pm)
Are you rich?
If so, join Resource Generation DC in Rock Creek’s picnic grove to learn about this multiracial community of young people with wealth or class privilege committed to the equitable distribution of wealth. That giant pile of gold doubloons, loose gems and haunted oil paintings you swan-dive into on a regular basis could be put to better use supporting projects like Baldwin House, a tenant-owned housing cooperative (see below!). (4-7pm)
Summer Gods, Summer Goals
You never “Graduate” from needing to see Third Eye Blind at Merriweather Post Pavilion. (7pm)
Baldwin House is an effort to turn a building into affordable housing owned by Black and Brown tenants. Celebrate them buying a building with live music, art, games, food, and storytelling. (1-5pm)
Adobo Gigante: The Anniversary
Promoter Adobo DMV's anniversary party at Echostage features Latinx, go-go and hip hop performances from names like Oro Solido, DJ Craze, and New Impressionz. (2pm)
Today's newsletter is by:
Hayden Higgins, Abi Newhouse, Sahar Roodehchi, and Lily Strelich supported by you on Patreon
sponsored by NMAI Branding and design by Composite Co.
