City Cast DC

Today, Bridget and Mike tackle a question that needs an answer: Is D.C. considered ‘The South’? And if not, what part of the country DOES it best fit in? Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by...

2023 is going to be our year! At least if all of us, and our neighbors, and city leadership pay heed to the New Year’s resolutions featured in this episode. Thanks to all of you who sent in your thoughts. We were blown away by the response! A lot of you also got in touch via our morning newsletter Hey DC. Be sure to subscribe to become a part of that community. And you can also join in by followin...

Today's episode is related to our NYE resolution to follow through even more on listeners' pitches! Like this episode, which we originally aired in August: What happens when neighbors band together and transform a section of asphalt in their own backyard? Bridget Todd meets up with Tyrone Goodwyn, who explains the history of Crispus Attucks Park in Northeast D.C. and how it became Bloomingdale’s s...

One of City Cast DC's resolutions is to not just present problems about the city, but also find a way to help YOU solve them. So in that vein, here’s our chat from August, with the Head of DC Health’s Rodent Control Program Gerard Brown, to talk about the rat problem in the District and how you can be a good neighbor and help solve it. If that gets you thinking about any solutions you’ve come acro...

A big resolution for us here at City Cast is to continue picking stories that make people smile, have fun, and also get them out of their comfort zones! And if you need inspiration, well, a story that took us out of our comfort zones was the one at Markoff’s Haunted Forest, since none of us had ever been! We had a blast making this, and we know you'll have a blast listening to it if you missed it...

One resolution we have at City Cast DC is holding those in power to account. We are local journalism after all! But we rely on listeners like you to help us find those institutions to hold accountable. One episode from earlier this year that fit in that camp, was our chat with Washington Business Journal’s Hannah Denham this August, about her investigation into the now defunct international educat...

What’s the best bread in DC? Jill Nguyen, the Bread Lady of Capitol Hill, dove into baking during the pandemic, and has some thoughts — about what’s coming out of her oven, and beyond.  Our sister newsletter Hey DC has tons of great baked good suggestions, and other fun lists. Be sure to subscribe. You can also follow us on Twitter at @citycast_dc.

George Mason University started 50 years ago as a pokey little commuter school. Since then, it’s evolved into a global institution that helped lure Amazon to the DMV. And in a weird way, the evolution tracks that of the Virginia suburbs it calls home. We’re talking to GMU’s in-house historian about how we got from there to here. Our sister newsletter Hey DC is putting out all kinds of cool holiday...

The National Mall has limited space. So what happens when you want to add a new monument or site? This is actuallu poised to take place with the addition of two new museums. Philip Kennicott, the Washington Post’s Art and architecture critic, has a big vision for a better National Mall.  Be sure to sign up for our morning newsletter and follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on th...

Street Sense is a newspaper with a mission- to end homelessness in DC. In honor of the paper’s 20th anniversary, two vendors, Aida Peery and Jackie Turner, are putting together an oral history of how Street Sense has helped so many Washingtonians find confidence, hope, and housing. In case you missed that exciting live taping we mentioned in the newscast (about D.C. judges, the National Zoo, and h...

The D.C. Housing Authority's troubles seem to just dig deeper and deeper. Lead Producer Priyanka Tilve and Mitch Ryals from the Washington City Paper are here to talk about that, plus we’re dreaming up new uses for the RFK stadium space as it finally nears demolition. Need more DC news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter. You can also check us out on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc And we...

Area 2 Farms in Arlington is not what you imagine when you think of a farm. It's indoors and has bizarre plants that taste like roasted garlic, cheese, or oysters. And for the cherry (tomato) on top, this vertical farm is fighting climate change with all kinds of sustainable techniques. We road-tripped out there to learn about it all from founder and chief science officer Tyler Baras. If you subsc...

D.C. has it own sound that sticks with you. And nobody knows that more than D.C. rap legend Kokayi. He joins us today to talk about his new book, You Are Ketchup and how D.C. influenced everything in his life, from the music he makes to where he sends his kids to school. You can check out Kokayi's book here. Want some more DC news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Fo...

It’s a big week of changes for Metro — more service and shorter waits on trains, free rides on D.C. buses. But there will also be some fare hikes and other wrinkles. WAMU transportation reporter Jordan Pascale is here to walk us through it all.  We're going to continue covering this story on the pod, as well as on our sister newsletter, so make sure to subscribe. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us a...

Bottoms up! But hold the hangover? Booze free bars are becoming a new trendy thing with one called Binge Bar opening right here in D.C. in January. We’re joined by Jessica Sidman from Washingtonian to get the mix on what’s behind this thirst for mocktails in the district.  Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. And give us a follow on Twitter at @citycast_dc. Wann...

For this week's roundup, we’re talking about some pretty notable D.C. renovations — one for an outdoor music venue and the other that’s at the heart of the U Street Corridor. Plus we’re going to get hype about some women’s soccer news. Check out more about these stories, from our colleagues around town: https://dcist.com/story/22/12/02/carter-barron-amphitheatre-rock-creek-park-renovation-alliance...

There’s a plan to rename Good Hope Road after Marion Barry. Is this a good idea? Performative nonsense? Both? Cohosts Bridget Todd and Michael Schaffer spent some time breaking it down.  Subscribe to our morning newsletter for more news and events (like the public hearing about Marion Barry Ave., happening on Tuesday). Those who wish to testify must register at http://www. ChairmanMendelson.com/te...

DC Council is closer than ever to decriminalizing unlicensed street vending, but … as the year end nears, sellers pushing for the change may be running out of time. DCist’s Hector Arzate has been talking to vendors about why these changes matter, and how they would affect street vendor corridors like the one in Columbia Heights. Sign up for our morning newsletter for more news about the city (and...

The holidays are here! Which means it’s time to entertain yourself and your visiting family. City Cast DC contributor Cornelia Poku is here to tell us how to hit up the local Christmas markets, ice rinks, and of course, which bar and restaurant pop-ups are worth your money. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_d...

On November 18, a mass shooting DIDN’T take place at D.C.’s Jackson-Reed High School. But the day was still traumatic. After reports of gunshots, the school went into lockdown. Kids huddled in rooms, some sent goodbye texts to families; others sat in classrooms where the teachers kept on teaching. We talked to the school newspaper’s Co-Editor-In-Chief Benjamin Chait about what happened, and the af...

It’s our first ever live taping! We’re at Politics and Prose Union Market, but we’re still talking about the news in D.C. — like the far too many judicial vacancies, some National Zoo news, and holiday book suggestions. City Cast CEO David Plotz and Anton Bogomazov, who is the Chief Adult Book Buyer at Politics and Prose, join host Michael Schaffer to chat about it all. Here are some of the other...

There’s been a push to require that all D.C. childcare workers have college degrees, and the first set of new regulations go into effect today. But, people who disagree with the law say it’s putting a lot of qualified people out of work. Today we're hearing from Robert McNamara from the Institute For Justice and Councilmember Christina Henderson as they try to make their case. Want some more DC ne...

Today is the last day of Native American Heritage Month, but we shouldn’t limit conversations about Indigenous culture to November. So we’re joined by Dana Hedgpeth and Mary Phillips to chat about the rich history of D.C.’s indigenous communities and all the ways to celebrate them. Also, we’re doing our first live taping TODAY! It’s happening at the Politics and Prose at Union Market. We start at...

It’s Giving Tuesday. And whether you’re writing a check or planning to volunteer your time, you’ll want to know whether you can trust the organizations you’re donating to. The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington publishes an annual guide to local giving, and they’re here with some timely advice. This year, make your Giving Tuesday donations through GiveLocalTogether.org. And in case you...

Washington is full of world-famous tourist sites, but there are so many hidden gems you’ve probably never heard of. Today, we’re sitting down with Clockout DC’s Jade Womack to talk about lesser-known spots where you can take the out-of-towner who thinks they’ve seen it all.  For more details about the Heurich House Christmas Markt, go here. And our sister newsletter Hey DC has tons more event and...