The biggest news is that the president has taken control of DC following the attack of a 19 year old DOGE staffer who, when driving home after a night at bars, was the victim of an attempted carjacking.

• 800 National Guard troops are being deployed to the streets of DC
• The DC police department has been put under federal control, with the head of the DEA being named as the DC police commissioner
• 500 federal agents from across FBI, DEA, Park Police, ATF, ICE, and others were deployed to DC last week
• DC MPD already has 5 police officers for every 1,000 residents,(which excludes police from different agencies and entities like Metro Transit Police and Secret Service). As of 2022, that was the largest per capita police force in the country.

DC Council and residents are pissed. Critics of the president are calling it another step to authoritarianism and a distraction from the president's inclusion in the Epstein files.

Some protests are planned, like Friday's sign waving at Scott Circle, and other organizations are ramping up their education of DC residents, like Free DC's trainings and The 51st's featured guides.

I am not the best source for news. Local news outlets like Washington Post and WUSA9 have been covering what's going on, and I would recommend looking at local news sources for real time updates.

A lot of people are turning to social media for their updates, with people sharing the locations of federal activity and recording. Euphemisms like "DC music festivals" being used to try to evade censorship on platforms like TikTok.

It is a wild time to live in DC.

If it is all too much for you, I put together this list of ways to disconnect and stop doomscrolling back in the fall that may help now as well.

Valerie

IN THIS ISSUE:

🌶️ DC's best spicy marg is back
🏛️ Join our private museum tour — limited spots
🎬 Free Moana + Shrek movie night at Audi Field
🪐 Meteor shower + Techno in the Park this weekend
🎂 Cake art, cannoli clash, and cozy book clubs

Give your opinion, and check back next week for the results.

Last week, I asked: How did you meet your newest local friend? You responded:

• Through other friends (44.8%)
• Through a shared activity (27.6%)
• At work (13.8%)
• At a bar or restaurant (10.3%)
• Through dating (we decided we're better as friends) (3.4%)

🍲 DC Summer Restaurant Week starts August 18 with lunch and dinner specials, and there are 10 Michelin-starred restaurants participating.

🚪 Atlas Brew Works is moving from Ivy City in NE to Southwest Waterfront, in another blow to retail and food establishment in Ivy City.

Tried & True features your favorite go-to restaurants that have been around for a while and serve you consistently good food.

This Week's Feature: Chicatana

"Chicatana is like Mexico City quality food. Everything has a little extra touch that brings it to another level. I'm pretty sure they put some salsa macha in their guacamole and it's better than any other guacamole in DC. They have a lot of good veggie options too, like the rajas or the cauliflor"

Editor's note: they also have the best spicy marg in DC

Locations: Temporarily popping up in Trini Vibes at 1400 Meridian Place NW
​Website​

😋 What is your favorite tried and true restaurant?

Where do you find yourself going back time and time again? Reply and let me know to be featured and share the love for a local DC restaurant.

Looking for something specific? Check out these options:

• ​Museum parties & happy hours​
• ​DC farmer's markets​
• ​DC-area BARK Ranger programs​
• ​Summer event series​

✨ Premium subscribers: Access the full list of 250+ events here.

• 🎭 Get ready for a fun movie night under the stars at Movies on the Pitch at Audi Field this Thursday! Gates open at 6:30 PM, so grab your spot early for a free screening of family-friendly blockbusters like Moana and Shrek. Thursday 8/14. FREE.
• 🕺 DC Bachata Congress is back with five days of non-stop Latin dance, music, and wellness workshops - perfect for both seasoned dancers and curious newbies. Thursday 8/14. $47+.
• 📖 Join a thought-provoking afternoon with Francis Fukuyama as he and moderator Damir Marusic chat about democracy and global affairs in a relaxed, salon-style setting. Thursday 8/14. Free.
• 📖 Nakeisha Daniel and JaMeeka Holloway talk about the beautiful overlaps between Shakespearean English and Gullah Geechee, over cocktails, right at Quill & Crumb. Thursday 8/14. Free, reserve tickets!
• 🤓 Ready to spell your way to victory? Check out the Adult Spelling Bee at Metrobar DC for a night of fun competition, nostalgia, and interactive games with a cash prize up for grabs! Thursday 8/14. $17.94.
• 📖 Calling all cozy sci-fi fans! Join A Novel Night Out to chat about Becky Chambers' MONK AND ROBOT and meet fellow book lovers over refreshments. Thursday 8/14. Free.
• 📖 Get cozy with fellow book lovers at Love & Lattes: A Romance Book Club where this month’s pick is a juicy tale of exes on a European tour. Thursday 8/14. Free.

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Ready to make a statement? Join the #BeBraveDay - NATIONAL DAY OF RUSH-HOUR RESISTANCE at Scott Circle and Dupont Circle. Show up, bring your signs, and stand together for democracy. Friday 8/15. Free.
• 🕺 Get ready to dance under the stars at Techno in the Park featuring EVILOGIK spinning beats at Wangari Gardens - at a park that isn't on federal land. Friday 8/15. Price not stated.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 To all bakers, gardeners, crafters, and artists, registration for the DC State Fair competitions just started. If you bake, knit, paint, or grow plants, the contest is for you. Hurry before registration closes on Friday 8/15. Free.
• 🎭 Enjoy a night of laughter with Erik Griffin at Room 808 - perfect for a fun evening out with friends! Friday 8/15. $20.
• 🕺 If you're at the Nats game on August 15, stay for the Sam Hunt postgame set, and get a free concert WITH your game tickets! Friday 8/15. Free.

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Get your game face on for Pickle Me N-Pink, a day of friendly pickleball competition with snacks, giveaways, and medals, all supporting breast cancer awareness. Saturday 8/16. $29.
• 🌲 Catch the Perseids Meteor Shower at Fort Hunt with ranger talks, constellation tours, and telescope viewing - bring a blanket and enjoy the night sky! Saturday 8/16. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Take a breather and sip on some matcha while meeting folks who care about mental wellness at this mental wellness meet-up. Saturday 8/16. Free.
• 🖌️ Get your hands dirty and your creativity flowing at the Build-a-Boob Pot Pottery Workshop where you can craft a unique boob pot and embrace body positivity in a fun, supportive setting. Saturday 8/16. $70.
• 🎈 Celebrate D.C.'s Go-Go spirit at Bustin' Loose: The Chuck Brown Market at metrobar with art, food, and vinyl vibes all day long! Saturday 8/16. Free.
• 🤓 Get ready for an epic day at the Grand Opening for Valhallan Esports with games, prizes, and fun for everyone - it's the perfect spot for young gamers and their families! Saturday 8/16. Free.
• 🤸 Enjoy a peaceful morning with How a Garden Might Tend the Heart at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, where you'll join a free mindfulness meditation class in a beautiful outdoor setting. Saturday 8/16. Free.

• 🖌️ If you've ever dreamed of creating a cheeseburger and french fries cake masterpiece, don't miss the Cheeseburger & French Fries Themed Cake Decorating Class at Fran's Cake & Candy Supplies this Sunday 8/17. $130.
• 🕺 Enjoy a night of electronic and synth music with techno, bass, and killer visuals with DC Modular Society - it's a party for your ears and eyes! Sunday 8/17. Free.
• 🎈 Get ready for the sweetest showdown at the First Annual Cannoli Clash in Capitol Hill. Join the cream-filled fun and see who will be crowned DC's cannoli champion. Sunday, 8/17. Price not stated.
• 📖 Join Not Bored in DC for a private tour of the National Museum of Asian Art and explore stunning artworks from across Asia with fellow art lovers. Sunday 8/17. Free.
• 🖼️ The Black Girl Art Show in DC will feature 150+ Black women artists! Stay tuned for Sunday 8/17. $35+​
• 🧑‍🍳 Roll up your sleeves and bake something delicious at the August Bake Club: GALETTE! by Rebecca Firkser. Share tasty creations and baking stories with fellow enthusiasts. Sunday 8/17. $18.
• 🏞️ Lace up your sneakers for a refreshing 2.3-mile walk through Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens with We BE Walkin'. it's a chill way to connect with nature and meet new friends. Sunday 8/17. Free.
• 🖌️ Cool down and chill out with DIY Popsicles & Pastilles in College Park, where you'll mix herbs into tasty treats and take home a bundle to keep the fun going. Sunday 8/17. $50.
• 🤸 Experience a calming soundbath with Tara Aura and enjoy a unique blend of crystal bowls, breathwork, and guided meditation for a soothing Sunday morning. Sunday 8/17. $60.54.

🤫 Psst! I couldn't fit everything in this issue. See more events happening this weekend and next week.

⚡ More events. More access. Zero FOMO.

Our premium subscribers get the full event list (250+!), weekly updates, and VIP access to exclusive Not Bored in DC events.

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Know of something cool happening? Submit an event for consideration!

* Items marked with an asterisks contain affiliate links (for which I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you) or sponsored. Events are featured based on if I find them interesting and think others will too, regardless if they are affiliate or sponsored.