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Axios DC
New park and pool open at D.C.'s former McMillan Sand Filtration Site
After years of opposition and back-and-forth, a new park and rec center has opened at the in-the-works Reservoir District.Why it matters: It's the first part of a huge project overhauling the former McMillan Sand Filtration Site just north of Bloomingdale — one of the city's largest undeveloped plots of land that saw decades of debate about balancing historical preservation with development.The big picture: The site's first update is the $137 million Reservoir Park Recreation Center and Aquatic Center and 6.2-acre park.The rec center includes a community meeting room, a fitness studio with showers and lockers, a pool, and a gallery space...
National Book Festival releases 2024 author lineup
The Library of Congress National Book Festival is back on August 24 with a lineup of more than 90 authors.Why it matters: This year's theme is "Books Build Us Up," showing how books can "connect us and inform our lives."What to expect: The free festival is held at the Washington Convention Center from 9am to 8pm. Events on the main stage will also be livestreamed.Among the authors this year:James Patterson will discuss his recently published nonfiction book, "The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians."James McBride will talk about his latest novel, "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store."Doris Kearns Goodwin will...
D.C. emergency declared as dangerous heat wave moves in
Note: Forecast as of June 17, 3pm ET. Data: National Weather Service; Map: Jared Whalen/AxiosD.C. issued an extended heat emergency through Friday and activated cooling centers as a stifling heat wave settles in along the East Coast.The big picture: A heat dome is building in intensity across the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes. It is forecast to shift east-northeastward this week, and potentially peak at record intensity at this time of year for New England.The latest: The National Weather Service forecasts highs in Washington at between 93°F to 99°F through Saturday, with the hottest temperatures arriving later this week.It's possible...
Map: Neighborhoods most affected by D.C.'s "mansion tax"
Georgetown will pay the most under D.C.'s new "mansion tax," which increases the property tax rate on homes above $2.5 million.The big picture: Revenue from the new tax, which got final approval from the D.C. Council last week, will essentially "be driven by a small subset of neighborhoods, primarily in the Northwest," the D.C. Policy Center wrote.By the numbers: The increase will give the District $5.7 million in additional revenue in fiscal year 2025, according to the D.C. Policy Center.While that's a drop in the bucket in a $21 billion budget, it still helps when other revenues are declining.How it works: The tax rate would increase from $0.85 to $1 per $100 of assessed value over $2.5 million. (The rate would still be $0.85 for the first $2.5 million of the assessment.)Zoom out: Georgetown has 515 properties that fit that bill, more than any other neighborhood.Kalorama — with the likes of Jeff Bezos — has 245 homes.Berkley has 179 homes, while Cleveland Park and Spring Valley are tied with 174 properties.
How to celebrate Juneteenth around D.C.
Washingtonians will be busy celebrating Juneteenth this Wednesday, thanks to a packed lineup of events.The big picture: The holiday commemorates the ending of slavery by marking the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, after the end of the Civil War to let the last enslaved Black people know they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation — issued by President Lincoln more than two years earlier.Here are some ways to celebrate around D.C.:🎆 Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival: As part of the dayslong festival hosted by Scotland AME Zion Church, Wednesday will be stacked with activities: a 5K race, a children's...
HBO Max debuts new doc about champion rock climber from Alexandria
A new documentary out this week follows the career of world-champion rock climber and DMV native Sasha DiGiulian. Why it matters: DiGiulian is a record-breaking athlete, writer, and speaker who got her start climbing at age 6 while growing up in Alexandria. The big picture: "Here to Climb" is a...
First look: D.C.'s reimagined Folger Shakespeare Library
Did you know: D.C. is home to the world's largest Shakespeare collection? But most people have never seen it.Why it matters: That will soon change thanks to an $80.5 million, four-year reimagining of the Folger Shakespeare Library on Capitol Hill, which has pulled treasures from its vast vaults to display — many for the first time in 92 years.What's new: The library reopens on Friday with 12,000 feet of public space, including two exhibition halls, a forthcoming café Quill & Crumb, a new learning lab and research spaces, and an expanded gift shop, plus outdoor gardens.📖 Flashback: New York oil...
Homebuying in LGBTQ+-friendly metros like D.C. comes with a price
Reproduced from an Urban Institute analysis of Census data; Chart: Axios VisualsPeople need to earn $150,000 to afford the typical home in LGBTQ+-friendly areas like D.C. — nearly 50% higher than areas without LGBTQ+ protections, according to a recent Redfin study.Why it matters: The homebuying barrier is higher for LGBTQ+ people than their cisgender and/or straight counterparts.Zoom in: The median household income in the DMV is nearly $30,000 below what's needed to afford the median-priced home, per Redfin's report.Yes, but: The D.C. area is relatively affordable compared to other metros with large LGBTQ+ populations. For instance, there's a $223,000+ gap...
What's in Potomac Yard's post-arena future
Months after Virginia's Wizards and Capitals arena deal died, a big question remains: What's next for Potomac Yard?. Why it matters: It's a large, valuable chunk of land with close proximity to D.C. and a new $370 million Metro stop that sits in what Alexandria and Arlington are trying to establish as an innovation corridor, thanks to nearby Amazon HQ2 and Virginia Tech's forthcoming Innovation Campus.
Call Your Mother Georgetown decision delayed to the fall
Call Your Mother caught a break this week when D.C. zoning officials delayed a decision about the future of its Georgetown location.Why it matters: Some neighbors are waging a campaign to shut it down, calling the bagel shop a nuisance because of its big crowds who sometimes eat on rowhouse stoops.Driving the news: Call Your Mother is seeking a special exception to continue operating as a food establishment at the small corner store at 35th and O Street.The Board of Zoning Adjustment decided to revisit the topic in late September after an hourslong meeting on Wednesday.Between the lines: Despite complaints...
Record-threatening heat wave headed toward D.C.
A heatwave centered across the Southwest is sliding eastward, affecting D.C. and East Coast cities through next week — and possibly longer.Why it matters: Extreme heat is the top weather-related killer in the U.S. And a heat wave this time of year carries heightened health risks since people are not yet accustomed to the high temperatures. Zoom in: The D.C. area will experience an "appetizer round of heat" Thursday and Friday, according to the Capital Weather Gang, with temperatures reaching near 90°F — the hottest this year after a largely comfortable spring. The worst heat is expected to start mid-to-late...
Where to watch the Euro 2024 tournament in D.C.
The summer of soccer is here with the UEFA Euro 2024 Cup, and D.C. bars will be showing the matches and kicking in special deals.State of play: The tournament begins with 24 teams across six groups, and 16 will advance to the knockout stages.Host country Germany plays Scotland in the opener on Friday at 3pm ET. The final: On July 14 in Berlin.Fun fact: Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, is back with Portugal for a record sixth time in the Euros.Where to watchWunder Garten: The German embassy and Scottish government will host a watch party at the NoMA beer garden for Friday's...
Here's what's happening in D.C. this weekend
This weekend in D.C., check out Father's Day events, Annual Columbia Heights Day, Taste of DMV, a Juneteenth festival and more. 1. 🕺Celebrate Father's DayWith Father's Day on Sunday, this weekend's events are for the dads.For the car dad: CarCoterie, an exhibition of rare and collector cars, will take over CityCenterDC and display 25 vintage and hyper cars, 10am–4pm Saturday. There will be wine, drinks and live music. Free.👶 For the toddler dad: Enjoy games, competitions with dad, food, live music, kids crafts, bounce houses and face painting at Kids and Family Festival, noon–6pm Sunday at Shipgarten in Tysons Corner....
Pickleball is coming back to the National Mall
Free pickleball returns to the National Mall in September with pop-up courts, and everyone is invited to play.Why it matters: America's fastest-growing sport meets America's front yard — a champion shot.Zoom in: The National Mall of Pickleball spans three days (Sept. 27-29) and is free to play. The lineup includes on-site lessons, clinics with pros, walk-in and reserved court time, and a professional D.C. Pickleball Team showcase. Expect more details this summer.What's new: Two new courts for more play. Plus, the Trust for the National Mall and Humana — which ran the event last year — are hosting an "Ultimate Pickleball Duo" contest, where pairs of picklers from different generations can submit their stories for an all-expense-paid trip to the pop-up.But first, Major League Pickleball comes to D.C. for the first time this weekend with matches at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation's campus in Southeast D.C.It's MLP's second event of the 2024 season and will showcase a collection of the league's 22 teams. Tickets start at $40.
D.C. Council passes $21B budget after disagreement with mayor
The D.C. Council gave final approval Wednesday to a $21 billion budget, one of the most difficult plans to cobble together in decades due to a drop in revenue and the end of federal pandemic aid.Why it matters: Lawmakers devoted more funding for housing assistance and raised taxes on businesses — frustrating Mayor Muriel Bowser, who wanted more cuts to spending.How it works: D.C. is set to raise a payroll tax on businesses. The hike was originally intended to float the paid family leave program, but council members instead are directing the funds to the broader budget.The property tax rate...
Scoop: Washington Post CEO buys $7 million Georgetown digs
Washington Post CEO Will Lewis is putting down D.C. roots with the recent purchase of a multimillion-dollar Georgetown home, Axios has learned.The big picture: Lewis is the talk of the town following an uproar at the Post over former executive editor Sally Buzbee's recent departure, the announcement of a new editorial structure, and reports of Lewis attempting to meddle in editorial coverage about him.State of play: Lewis and his wife, Rebecca, recently dropped over $7 million on a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom house in Georgetown, per D.C. property records.The home, originally built in 1900, is over 5,000 square feet with a wood-burning...
5 new restaurants added to Michelin's D.C. guide
Michelin teased five new restaurant additions to their D.C. guide — a sneak peak into the 2024 red book, which will drop later this year.Why it matters: The highlighted restaurants could earn stars, Bib Gourmand awards, or remain as honorable mentions. Regardless, it's a big deal to be included.How it works: Michelin inspectors are notoriously mysterious in their review process, but in recent years they've teased restaurants they say are "too good to keep a secret."The picks:Almeda (Petworth): A tiny, 20-seat Afro-Caribbean newcomer that becomes Little Food Studio Café by day for pastries and sandwiches.Balos Estiatorio (Dupont Circle): An island-inspired Greek restaurant specializing in seafood and DJ vibes at night.Mita (Shaw): Chefs Tatiana Mora and Miguel Guerra create artful, plant-based Latin tasting menus.Moon Rabbit (Penn Quarter): Chef Kevin Tien's upscale Vietnamese restaurant that was also just up for two James Beard Awards.Omakase at Barracks Row (Capitol Hill): Sushi Nakazawa alum Ricky Wang's destination-worthy omakase counter.Zoom out: Michelin also just released their first "key" awards — like stars for hotels — for seven properties in D.C. (including the Rosewood, Jefferson, Eaton DC, Pendry, Riggs, Dupont Circle Hotel, and Hay-Adams).
Scoop: New Brit regime atop Washington Post aims to boost local coverage
Washington Post CEO Will Lewis is the talk of the town, but how much of a payoff does the new British regime see in covering hometown D.C.?What I'm hearing: Sir William and co. are floating an idea called "Local+," a new offering for readers who want to pay extra for premium local content, sources tell me.The nascent idea includes building a subscription model with premium newsletter(s) and "exclusive experiences" for locals.The big picture: This would be a 180. The Jeff Bezos era introduced the idea of the Everything Newspaper — local took a backseat in the pursuit to go toe-to-toe...
Former Key Bridge Marriott might be headed toward demolition
It appears that the former Key Bridge Marriott in Rosslyn is headed toward demolition.Why it matters: The future of the now-vacant Rosslyn property — which sits at a prominent location near the Key Bridge overlooking the Potomac — has been the subject of much discussion, especially after a string of trespassing incidents and a fire.Driving the news: Arlington County issued a Notice of Unsafe Structure on May 17 declaring the building a "public nuisance" due to "dangerous," "unsafe" and "unsanitary conditions" that "menace the health and safety of the building's occupants and/or the public," per a copy of the notice...
HFStival is launching a comeback in D.C. with an epic lineup
The '90s are back, and so is HFStival — a legendary D.C. alt-rock concert that's being revived at Nationals Park in September with artists like The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, Incubus, and Violent Femmes.Why it matters: Nostalgia overload in the best way possible — now if only Commander Salamander returns for the 'fits.Flashback: Progressive rock station WHFS launched the festival from "high atop the Triangle Towers" in Bethesda in 1990. Massive concerts ran at different venues, including RFK, through 2006 with headliners like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Blondie, Jay-Z, Eminem, and blink-182.In its heyday, it was...
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Axios DC, anchored by Chelsea Cirruzzo, Cuneyt Dil and Paige Hopkins, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
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