City Cast DC

Welcome to 2025! A lot happened in DC over the last week and a half, and we’re here to round up what you missed. We’re talking about crime: It’s down. We’re talking about a new football stadium: It might be going up. Plus, will you turn right on red this year? The team is here to discuss whether a law that isn’t really enforced will be followed at all. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sig...

The start of the new year can be hard for some folks. It’s still cold out, and the holidays are over. Lucky for you, some of us here at City Cast DC love and thrive in the January energy, so today the gang is here to give you everything you need to make January 2025 your best yet. Also! Check out our daily newsletter Hey DC’s take on what to do this month. And if you're finding our recs helpful, p...

The New York Times may know NY, but do they know D.C.? Their guide to 36 hours in D.C. had our local team reeling a bit, and we hopped on mic to share some thoughts, feelings, and differing opinions on where to send your family next time they come to town. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for...

Thrifting in the DMV often means finding all kinds of treasures, but the landscape can be hard to navigate. To help with this journey, we brought in Sidney Hui, owner of Disco Loft, to give you our guide for thrifting in D.C.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Learn...

Eating out in D.C. doesn’t have to break the budget. Big Schlim’s food reviews will show you how to eat well in D.C. – and get you hungry while you scroll. He joins us to highlight some of his spots for what he calls a “light pocket meal.” Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a...

We’re talking about the fate of RFK — the stadium, that is. We’ll also talk about DC culture in the second age of Trump. And can a restaurant ban twenty-somethings? Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 20th episode: Paulso...

The DC Council just wrapped its 2024 session by passing a flurry of bills dealing with everything from pets in apartments to teens in detention. Meagan Flynn covers the Council for the Washington Post and is here to tell you what your elected reps are up to.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, f...

It seems like every other day there’s a new, hip spot opening up in the alleys near Union Market. But the long and bizarre history of DC’s alleys dovetails with the city's complex relationship with race and class and power. Historian Kim Prothro Williams has literally written the book on DC’s alleys and she joined us in April to share how the history of Washington is all about the streets behind t...

A DC Council sub-committee yesterday unanimously recommended expelling Ward 8 councilmember Trayon White, saying he violated council ethics by allegedly receiving large bribes. Washington City Paper’s Alex Koma, who was at the Wilson Building for the hearing, joins to tell us what went down. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a...

There are more than a billion dollars in unpaid tickets owed to the DC government — and a lot of those cars are still driving around. But, there’s a new law that’s trying to hit the scofflaws where it hurts. The Washington Post’s Rachel Weiner is here to explain.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listeni...

We’re talking about what a Trump return-to-work order might mean for local DC, a novel type of apartment about to make its local debut — and some reactions to our annual end-of-year awards: The City Cast 6, presented by Christopher Nace and the trial lawyers at Paulson & Nace.   Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with...

It’s cold! And wet! But we’ve got you covered, figuratively and kind of literally, too: The City Cast team put together a collection of cozy winter spots where you can drink, eat, and hang out until the weather turns.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Learn more ab...

Southeast DC is home to some of the city’s most interesting spots to check out. LaVondra Shinholster, a DC influencer who you might know as @typicalblaqueen, is from the area. We sat down to discuss her favorite Southeast gems and why the quadrant reflects the tensions of the city itself.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a me...

A crazy high school football scandal has been roiling the Northern Virginia suburbs all year. It’s like a movie plot: The new coach at Hayfield High School is accused of having recruited a team of ringers to romp to the championship by beating other teams by 75 points. But the whole scam fell apart thanks in part to the work of a small local newspaper. Dave McKenna from The Defector has been cover...

It’s the City Cast 6 – our end of year awards for DC’s most influential people. Washington Post’s Michael Brice-Saddler, Axios’ Anna Spiegel, and Greater Greater Washington’s Dan Reed join the team to decide who influenced DC in 2024, for better or worse. The City Cast 6 is presented by Christopher Nace and the trial lawyers at Paulson & Nace. It’s our year-end membership campaign! Member support...

We’re talking about DC’s Amazon Prime deserts, some crime stories the region ought to be talking about, and a big change at Dulles. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 6th episode: District Bridges Paulson & Nace BetterH...

Trinidad is one of DC’s last truly affordable neighborhoods. Writer Austin Graff and local yoga studio owner Erica Koster are here to tell you how that came to be and how to get the most out of a visit. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Learn more about the sponsors...

Trump is on his way back to the White House in January. So how is the city preparing and what does another Trump presidency mean for D.C.? The Washington Post’s Emily Davies explains what’s next for everyone from federal workers to the Council. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as...

It’s December, which means if you procrastinate, it’s time to rush to get folks gifts for all the holidays coming up. There’s a ton of local gifts to get people excited, and the City Cast team is here to help break down what you should be buying. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little...

It’s getting chilly, the holiday season is here, and that means it’s December in D.C.! Our team is here to give you all the tips and tricks to have the best December ever, from ice skating at the Sculpture Garden to noshing on soup dumplings. Check out Hey DC’s take on what to do this month. And if you're finding our recs helpful, please consider becoming a member to help us stick around long-term...

It’s almost cocktail week in DC – the perfect time to take yourself on a solo date. But it can be a little daunting figuring out where to go, and what to do,  so the city cast team is here to talk through tips and tricks for going out alone in the District.  Places mentioned in this episode: Showtime Lounge Lyman’s Tavern Red Derby Last Call Bar Jackie Lee’s Bar Charley Want some more DC news? The...

November 2024 has been a month with a good amount of headlines it’s fair to say. In the barrage of national news, some of which obviously has a very strong local impact, you might have missed some big D.C. headlines. The City Cast DC team is here to get you up to speed. ICYMI:  A New Plan to Fix DC’s 911 Call Center DC Needs a ‘Real’ Chinatown DC’s Best International Grocery Stores Want some more...

It’s Thanksgiving! And there’s so much to be thankful for. Including pardoning turkeys! So we’re rerunning a chat that our host Bridget had with Beth Breeding about what happens for one, sometimes two, lucky turkeys every year. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. This...

We’re talking about the latest twist in DC’s ludicrous sports-gambling saga, the big news about the Washington Spirit soccer team, and ways you can have the best Thanksgiving ever. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 22nd...

Washington loves a good elites-behaving-badly story, whether it’s real life or fiction. Which is why we’re hanging out with Emma Sasaki, the pseudonymous author of It’s a Privilege Just to Be Here, a novel set at a D.C. private school that looks a lot like Sidwell Friends School, which just happens to be her alma mater. The book is pretty scathing — especially about the parents, who have been scat...