Smithsonian Craft Show

This annual showcase presents an eclectic variety of jury-selected ceramics, furniture, glass, metal, leather, wearable art, basketry, and more. The National Building Museum will host 120 artists to commemorate the theme of “American Artistry” in craft and design ($25+ general admission, $300+ for preview party).

Georgetown French Market

Georgetown transforms into an immersive French Market this month where you can shop sidewalk sales and deals from area boutiques, restaurants, galleries, and cafes. Dive into French culture along Wisconsin Avenue (from O Street to Reservoir Road) as stilt-walkers, jazz bands, face painters, balloon twisters, and a French unicyclist fill Book Hill at the three-day open-air market. Also, there’s European cuisines to taste, and books and vinyls to browse (free).

Alexandria Art Show and Craft Spring Fair

Get a head start on Mother’s Day gift shopping at this outdoor Alexandria Art Show and Craft Spring Fair. Dozens of vendors will be selling accessories, bath items, skin care products, fine art, and other items at John Carlyle Square Park (free).

Arlington Festival of the Arts with Craft Marketplace

At this two-day neighborhood marketplace you can score handcrafted sculpture, pottery, jewelry, photography, mixed media, and other neat pieces of artwork (free).

Flower Mart

Flower Mart returns to the Washington National Cathedral this spring. The family-friendly event features carnival rides, choral performances, dance, and a chance to shop flowers plants, books, and more across 65 boutique booths. The annual event helps support the cathedral’s gardens and grounds  (free).

Takoma Flea

If you’re looking to shop repurposed items, you can stop by the Takoma Flea Market for vintage clothing, records, jewelry, furniture, and other great finds. This year’s participating vendors include Heathers Hangers, Portfolio District, Far East Antiques, and more (free).

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival

Browse 120 booths full of fine art from local and national creators at the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival. Also, you can two-step to live jazz, rock, and country performances on the outdoor stage. DC’s own soul and jazz vocalist Cecily is scheduled to perform at this year’s festival (free).

Lucketts Spring Vintage Market

Go on a shopping spree at Northern Virginia’s Lucketts Spring Market. Browse chic garden gems, painted furniture, architectural salvage, rustic antiques, and other vintage finds at this outdoor, three-day market. Shoppers can expect live music, a beer garden, and food trucks. For a less crowded visit, the early-buyer option for May 15 is a morning pass to shop before general admission ticket-holders join the excitement ($20 general admission, $50 for early-buyer weekend pass).

The Capital Rare Book Fair

Calling all bookworms to The Capital Rare Book Fair in May. Book-lovers can spend hours browsing antique manuscripts, historic documents, and unique maps from more than 20 antiquarian booksellers from throughout the US. To start the reading fest early, there’s a preview party serving pours of wine and beer, snacks, and musical entertainment ($15 general admission, free for ages 16 and younger, $60 for opening night).

If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.

The post 9 Creative Spring Markets and Fairs to Shop in the DC Area first appeared on Washingtonian.

A Midcentury-Modern-Infused Home in Virginia

Price: $999,900

Where: 5222 Bradfield Dr., Burke, Va. 

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 5/4

House size: 3,445 sq feet

Listing agent: Jessica McCain, Realty ONE Group Capital 

Open house: Saturday, April 18, 2 — 4 PM

At this contemporary-meets-midcentury-modern home, a covered porch leads into a two-story foyer and beyond, a two-story family room with vaulted ceilings and nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, a loft with a skylight, and breakfast, sitting, and dining rooms. Outside, there’s a brick terrace with a built-in fireplace.

A Charming Semi-Detached Home in Michigan Park

Price: $784,900

Where: 1122 Upshur St., NE 

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 3/2

House size: 1,698 sq feet

Listing agent: Yianni Konstantopoulos 

Open house: Saturday, April 18, 1 — 4 PM; and Sunday, April 19, 1 — 4 PM

This colorful semi-detached brick home features arched doorways, an eye-catching fireplace, flex space on the lower level, and a back deck and patio. 

A Two-Story Condo in Petworth

Price: $949,000

Where: 5404 4th St., NW, Unit 2 

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 4/3.5

House size: 2,250 sq feet

Listing agent: John A. Coplen II, Long & Foster Real Estate 

Open house: Sunday, April 19, 2 — 4 PM

In addition to its four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, this renovated two-story penthouse condo in Petworth has oversized windows allowing lots of natural light, off-street parking, and a rooftop deck. 

An Updated Brick Home in Bethesda

Price: $1,299,000 

Where: 7515 Cayuga Ave., Bethesda 

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 5/3

House size: 2,608 sq feet

Listing agent: Karen Galanti

Open house: Sunday, April 19, 1 — 3 PM

The interior of this updated brick home features a mudroom, gas appliances, an airy living room, dedicated dining room, two fireplaces, and a lower level with built-in bookshelves, while the exterior includes an expansive deck with a screened porch and fenced-in backyard. 

The post 4 Open Houses Worth Checking Out This Weekend first appeared on Washingtonian.

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I can’t stop listening to:

Swansea Sound, “Not My Order.” Swansea Sound includes Hue Williams of the Pooh Sticks and Amelia Fletcher from Heavenly. This tune connects internet shopping to the profound loneliness of modern existence, and I’ll have to buy lots of stuff on Amazon to feel better now that I’ve heard it. Swansea Sound and Heavenly play Black Cat tonight alongside Lightheaded.

Take Washingtonian Today with you! I keep ridiculously long playlists on Apple Music and on Spotify of this year’s music recommendations. Here are 2025’s songs (Apple, Spotify), too.

Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out:

Fed: White House plans to highlight tax refunds under President Trump went awry when Trump threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell in an interview with Maria Bartiromo that aired Wednesday. (Politico) In response, US Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina reiterated his position that until Trump ends the criminal investigation of Powell that he dialed up—the President told Bartiromo that *he* didn’t plan to drop the probe, which is supposedly being conducted independently by the DC US Attorney’s office—he wouldn’t vote to confirm Kevin Warsh, Trump’s pick to succeed Powell when his term ends next month. (NBC News) Cue the anonymous sources: “Some of Tillis’ fellow Republicans privately acknowledged Wednesday they don’t understand the White House’s current strategy.” (Politico)

And then, of course, there’s the pope thing: Tillis also advised Trump to apologize for his attacks on Pope Leo XIV. Instead, the administration “abruptly canceled an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities to shelter and care for migrant children” that had been in place for more than six decades. (Miami Herald) Trump seems to be searching for the limits of his religious supporters’ patience: In addition to picking a fight with the pope, he used the f-word in a post on Easter Sunday and posted, then deleted, a meme that depicted himself as Jesus. (His explanation that he thought it made him look like a doctor doesn’t seem to have settled any nerves.) “These things add up,” Erick Erickson said. (Washington Post) There’s a rather amazing piece of connective tissue between Trump’s campaigns against Leo and Powell: Federal housing official Bill Pulte, who reportedly encouraged the Powell investigation, brought the Jesus meme to Trump’s attention. (Axios)

Meanwhile, life keeps getting more expensive for many Americans. Trump seems to have abandoned his campaign pledge to help with the cost of child care. (Washington Post) The price of gas has shot up because of the war he started with Iran, and the White House plans to ask oil-company CEOs today to drill more, which is not exactly a near-term solution. (Politico) The wealthy are doing great: Major indices had record days yesterday on hopes that Trump’s Iran adventure may end soon. (WSJ) And a new report says dozens of US corporations “paid no federal corporate income taxes in their most recent fiscal year despite enjoying substantial pretax profits in the U.S.” (ITEP) Because of Trump’s antics, a “growing number of White House allies are resigned to losing the House and fear that the Senate is also in play.” (Politico)

Speaking of Congress: Republicans in the Senate blocked a resolution that aimed to reign in Trump on Iran. (Reuters) Six House Republicans joined Democrats to advance a bill that would restore Temporary Protected Status to Haitian immigrants. (NBC News) The Department of Homeland Security remains unfunded. (NYT)

Administration perambulation: Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, her husband, Shawn DeRemer, and her father “routinely sent personal messages and requests to young staff members.” (NYT) Sebastian Gorka—remember him?—wants to run the National Counterterrorism Center. (Washington Post) John Eastman, the legal engine behind Trump’s attempts to overturn the election he lost to Joe Biden, got disbarred. (NYT) The Commission of Fine Arts will pretend to consider Trump’s planned triumphal arch today. (NYT) Rodney Mims Cook Jr., one of many allies Trump has on the commission, says DC needs even more arches. (Washington Post) Emails acquired via FOIA detail the, uh, extremely thorough bureaucratic processes involved in the Space Force’s pursuit of a theme song. (404 Media) A new book says Health Secretary RFK Jr. once cut off a raccoon’s dinger “for further study.” (TMZ) Trump thinks soda cures cancer. (The Hill)

Hidden Eats, by Ike Allen:

What started as a bakery in Anacostia became an African-inflected soul food takeout spot with popular fried whiting sandwiches. Now, Open Crumb is a mostly Ghanaian counter-serve restaurant just off H Street Northeast. The place still feels a little temporary, but chef Peter Opare’s cooking feels grounded and reliable. I liked the hearty vegetarian take on the classic West African egusi stew, with tender leaves of spinach and ground melon seed. Suya-spiced grilled beef atop jollof rice is brightened by an herb-y corn salad.

Recently on Washingtonian dot com:

• These unusual bagels will drive purists crazy.

• 323 Dhaba Express, a restaurant serving hearty Punjabi vegetarian fare, is spicing up Sterling.

• Architect Deborah Buelow talks about turning an 8,200-square foot Del Ray house into an energy-efficient “passive house.”

• Jazz in the Garden will return next month. Here’s how you can get tickets.

• This extravagant November wedding featured two ballet performances.

Local news links:

Trouble in the data center: Three years ago, almost 70 percent of Virginians polled said they would be comfortable with a data center being built in their area. Now only 35 percent say the same. (Washington Post) Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is seeking changes that would weaken bills “designed to shift more costs onto data centers.” (Virginia Mercury)

• Hair-touching Metro creep and Trump-pardoned January 6 rioter Bryan Betancur must remain in custody while his case proceeds, a judge ruled. (NBC4 Washington)

• Maryland Governor Wes Moore said he will sign a bill that forbids dynamic pricing in grocery stores. (DC News Now)

• Prosecutors “have added terrorism and weapons-of-mass-destruction charges” to the case against accused January 6 pipe bomber Brian Cole Jr. (Washington Post)

• A DC cop didn’t show up for a hearing about an 18-year-old arrested for carrying a pistol illegally, so the charge got dropped. A week later, police say, the teen shot and killed someone. (WCP)

• The Appellate Court of Maryland ruled in favor of the Washington Post in a suit the paper filed against Ocean City’s police department. The court ruled that a pro-transparency law the state passed in 2021 requires police departments to release the names of officers in use-of-force reports. (Washington Post)

• A 12-year-old boy died yesterday, the second child killed in a shooting Tuesday outside a convenience store in the District. (NBC4 Washington)

• Three people on scooters struck a pedestrian who confronted them about smoking weed on the Washington Monument’s grounds, US Park Police cops say. (ABC7)

• The Washington Capitals “might be more ready to move on” than Alex Ovechkin is. (WTOP)

• The Washington Commanders unveiled a new alternate uniform that includes the image of a spear, a reference to the team’s former name. (Washington Post)

• Former NPR President Kevin Klose died Wednesday. He was 85. (NPR)

• The FAA is looking into audio that shows two pilots near DC “making dog and cat noises” on their radios. (WTOP)

• Someone placed a “golden crapper” on the grounds of Culpeper County, Virginia’s administration building. The local sheriff’s department joked that the culprit should “come in here and beg for mercy.” (WUSA9)

Thursday’s event picks:

• It’s the first day of Filmfest DC.

• See “Freaky Friday”—on a Thursday.

• David Michael Wyatt plays the Howard Theatre.

See more picks from Briana Thomas, who writes our Things to Do newsletter.

The post Big Day for Trump’s Arch, Sebastian Gorka Is Back, and Someone Left a Golden Toilet in Virginia first appeared on Washingtonian.

Exit 323 on Interstate 81, near the Virginia/West Virginia border, looks a little desolate. There’s an Amazon warehouse, a fireworks store, a Methodist church, and some mobile homes and old houses along Martinsburg Pike. One business does stand out, though: 323 Dhaba Punjabi Veg Kitchen, a low-slung truck-stop diner advertising Northern Indian regional specialties in the middle of the Piedmont farmland.

The owner is Jasdeep Singh, a longtime trucker from the Punjabi village of Chamkaur Sahib, who settled down in Virginia in 2022 to run a truck-repair business. A year later, he added a vegetarian restaurant by popular demand. Hundreds of thousands of Punjabi Sikhs work in trucking in the US—about 20 percent of the industry’s workforce, by some counts—and Singh says about half his West Virginia customers are truckers.

Last November, Singh and his wife, Sandeep Kaur, opened their second location much closer to DC, near Dulles Airport. At 323 Dhaba Express, they’re catering to Loudoun County’s Indian community—more software and IT workers than truckers.

The menu at both locations is all vegetarian but no less hearty for it. Curries such as dal tadka (split-lentil stew) and kala chana (black chickpeas) are enriched with plenty of ghee. Punjab, sometimes called “the granary of India,” is known for its roti, paratha, naan, and kulcha. Fittingly, 323 Dhaba serves some of the best Indian breads in the area, all cooked to order in the restaurant’s tandoor oven. Parathas—as wide and oven-blistered as Neapolitan pizzas—can be stuffed with potatoes, cauliflower, paneer, or all the above. Lachha paratha is flaky and layered like a Malaysian roti canai. Makki di roti, a supple corn flatbread, is traditionally paired with creamy mustard greens.

The most impressive product of the tandoor is Amritsari kulcha, a stretchy flatbread stuffed with potatoes and dotted with crushed coriander seeds. A meal in itself, the kulcha arrives with a tray of condiments: salted butter, sliced onions, chickpea curry, green chilies, pickles, and raita with a confetti of fried chickpea flour.

The bread is named for the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, which is pictured on the walls of the restaurant. A message nearby offers a history lesson on India’s partition, which split Punjab between that country and Pakistan in 1947. It memorializes the death and displacement of millions because of decisions made “by those who were neither Punjabi nor ever lived in Punjab.”

For restaurant decor, it’s unusually solemn, and it speaks to Singh and Kaur’s desire to tell the full story of Punjabi culture through food.

“Here in Northern Virginia at 323 Dhaba Express,” the message reads, “we bring you the authentic taste from Punjab, the land of five rivers, along with our stories of sorrow, joy, and hope.”

This article appears in the April 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

The post This Indian Restaurant Is Bringing Savory Vegetarian Dishes to the DC Area first appeared on Washingtonian.

“The size was its biggest challenge,” says architect Deborah Buelow of Cedar Architecture in Alexandria. “It’s a big space, and that’s not easy to make a net-zero home.”

The family wanted more than energy efficiency—they envisioned what’s known as a net-positive, certified-passive, extreme-energy-efficient home, meaning it would power itself, store surplus energy for emergencies, and even feed electricity back to the grid. To receive its certified status from the Passive House Institute of the United States, the home required airtight insulation, a constant-ventilation system, a solar roof, and thermal heating and cooling.

“If this house had been built in a traditional manner, it would use more than three times as much energy as it does now,” Buelow says.

From the start, there were obstacles. The half-acre site had an irregular shape, cobbled together from three lots. After demolishing the existing structures, Buelow began designing, taking into consideration that while her clients wanted a spacious home, they also wanted it to blend in with the character of their Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria.

To achieve this, Buelow had the front of the house built out of brick made in North Carolina from 100-percent recycled ceramic materials. For the rest of the exterior, she used Kebony wood, a sustainable eco-treated pine that starts brown but weathers to a silvery gray. The homeowner added his own whimsical touch to the front porch by handcrafting swinging chairs from scrap wood.

“We brought the brick in as a way of kind of speaking to the Colonial style, but then wrapped the front of the house in wood to still give it a contemporary feel,” Buelow says. “And the wood will last forever. This type will never have to be replaced, painted, or coated. You never have to do anything to it.”

Throughout the process, Buelow prioritized incorporating nature into the design. While the house’s south-facing orientation captures abundant sunlight, generous four-foot roof overhangs shade the front windows from the high sun and prevent overheating during summer.

Other natural touches include slate flooring, rain roof gardens with native plants, and natural-grass wall coverings. Circadian bulbs in the Ketra intelligent lighting adjust during the day to mimic natural outdoor light. At the rear of the house, 16-foot-wide floor-to-ceiling sliding doors made by Zola draw in light and views of the back garden.

To preserve the interior climate, triple-pane windows and insulated doors were installed. The walls are 16 inches thick, including four inches of exterior insulation—creating a tight thermal envelope. The front door is secured with a bolt system in five places, keeping it tight to the frame to ensure that no air slips in or out when the door is closed.

“Any gaps in the exterior—whether through windows, doors, or wiring—pull air out and cause heat loss,” Buelow says.

Inside is where the true energy efficiency is on display. After creating the sealed environment, a circulation system moves air throughout the house and continuously draws in filtered outdoor air. The kitchen operates entirely on electricity, including an induction cooktop in the island that boils water in minutes while keeping cool to the touch—a necessary safety feature for a household with four young children.

But the house has an equally impressive design. Despite its large footprint, individual rooms were configured on a more intimate scale to keep from feeling overwhelming. To create a seamless flow, Buelow established transitional zones between rooms, giving each area a distinct function. White-oak slats affixed to the front entry’s ceiling and walls, along with a modern hanging light fixture, create an elevated atmosphere for welcoming visitors. A separate mudroom entrance—with built-in benches; storage for coats, shoes, and backpacks; and laundry and plant potting stations—provides a practical space for everyday comings and goings.

“We were aiming for spaces that are comfortable and not just about grandness, more about how a family actually uses the house,” Buelow says. “We spent a lot of time thinking about what they need in each room.”

An eye-catching central staircase, created by Treenet Collective, serves as a sculptural focal point, its “rainbow whirl” design featuring multicolor paracord typically used by rock climbers. Two slowly moving fans over the staircase circulate air, and the staircase is flanked on both sides by a three-story curtain window-wall that provides natural light deep into the home’s interior.

A mechanical room in the basement serves as the hub for the house’s energy efficiency. Integrated Tesla Solar roof panels feed power into smart panels in the room. A battery backup system stores the excess, up to three days’ worth of electricity, meaning that the homeowners might never even pay an electric bill.

“The amount of solar supply from the panels equals just a little bit more than the amount of energy this house requires,” Buelow says.

The home also has a geothermal heating-and-cooling-exchange HVAC system. It consists of three wells in the driveway that circulate water on a continuous loop via pipes that extend 300 feet underground. Because the water circulates through a constant underground temperature, it can keep the house’s temperature fairly constant and cut heating and cooling costs by 20 to 50 percent, Buelow says. Maryland, Virginia, and DC offer incentives and tax credits for installing geothermal electricity-based heating systems.

With changing climates and escalating heating and cooling costs, Buelow expects more homeowners to look into eco-friendly options when updating, renovating, and building homes. Though constructing a net-zero house of this type may cost 5 percent more upfront, she says, lower utility bills over time can make the investment worthwhile.

“The demand is growing as people are learning about the benefits,” Buelow explains. “Building codes are going to be requiring you to build with more energy efficiency anyway. People are going to have to understand that it’s going to have to be part of their homes and that your home can be the house you want and also be energy-efficient.”

Four Energy-Efficient Upgrades

1. Replace Your Windows

Switching from single-pane to double-pane windows is one of the most effective ways to reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency.

2. Seal Air Leaks

Gaps around windows, exterior doors, or electrical wiring can allow air to escape, causing significant heat loss. Insulating these areas helps maintain your home’s temperature. Another way to plug leaks around an exterior door is a multi-lock system, in which one key turns multiple bolts that run the length of the door. This not only provides greater security but also pulls the door tighter to the frame, reducing heat and cold loss.

3. Install LED Bulbs

LED lights use at least 75 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent, according to the Department of Energy. In addition, LED bulbs such as Phillips Hue and Ketra can simulate the natural light patterns outside by changing throughout the day, thereby helping regulate your biological clock. “That helps keep your body in relationship to nature, which has many proven health benefits,” says architect Deborah Buelow of Cedar Architecture in Alexandria.

4. Replace Your Stove

Induction cooking offers multiple advantages: Water boils faster than on either conventional electric or gas; the cooktop stays cool to the touch, eliminating burn risks; it requires less energy; and it provides healthier home air quality compared with gas.

This article appears in the April 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

The post How an Eco-Efficient Del Ray Home Was Redesigned to Power Itself first appeared on Washingtonian.

Gates open at 5 PM, giving attendees time to stake out a picnic spot and grab some sangria. Concerts begin at 6 PM, though there will also be some casual dance lessons preceding the shows. No performances will take place on June 5 or on July 3.

Securing tickets for the popular event requires some luck. Tickets are doled out through a lottery system that opens on Mondays at 10 AM the week before each show and closes at noon the following Friday. People will find out if they are selected the following Monday, with the opportunity to claim up to four passes. Even if you don’t win the lottery, there’s still hope: Some tickets will be offered at the garden entrance gates at 5 PM on show day.

Beyond the music, the concert series is a lovely opportunity to spread a blanket for a picnic surrounded by art. You can pick up a bite from the Pavilion Café or bring your own fare to pair with beer, wine, sangria, and soda available at bars in the garden. No outside alcohol is allowed.

Here’s the lineup for the 2026 Jazz in the Garden season:

May 22: Oh He Dead

May 29: The Fly Birds

June 5: No concert

June 12: The Fly Birds

June 19: Georgia Heers

June 26: Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars

July 3: No concert

July 10: Garry Burnside

July 17: Joe Pug

July 24: Red Baraat

July 31: Eric Byrd Trio

August 7: The Honey Dewdrops

August 14: Brass Queens

The post Jazz in the Garden Returns to DC This Summer With 11 Concerts first appeared on Washingtonian.

Chocolate Chip

Goldberg’s New York Bagels

These NYC–inspired kosher bagel shops in Montgomery County add a deluge of dark-chocolate chips to their rings, making you feel like you’re eating a cookie for breakfast.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Call Your Mother

These garlicky circles, bubbly with cheese, were created as a foundation for the meat-ball bagelwich at this Miami Vice–hued bagel chain. The seasonal bagels became so popular that they’re now a long-term menu item.

Rainbow

Bethesda Bagels

Prismatic bagels, swirly with food coloring, are Instagram thirst traps. These are available only Friday through Sunday in limited numbers.

French Toast

Brooklyn Bagel Bakery

Arlington’s longtime bagel pros evoke the sweet breakfast favorite by adding eggs to their dough, rolling the unbaked rounds in cinnamon and sugar, then finishing them off with powdered sugar.

Old Bay–Sesame

Buffalo & Bergen

Pairing bold Chesapeake vibes with a subtler nutty undertone makes these disks popular for tuna-salad sandwiches and BEC breakfast sandos at Gina Chersevani’s homage to New York’s corner delis.

Cinnamon Sugar

Chewish Deli

The blue-and-white-accented corner bagelry in Old Town rolls its bagels in an aromatic spice blend that recalls just-baked snickerdoodles.

This article appears in the April 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

The post 6 Unique Bagels Around the DC Area to Sink Your Teeth Into first appeared on Washingtonian.

Among the couple’s favorite parts of the day were the father of the bride, Dr. Ali Ramadan Alfaqi’s speech (Shaden’s favorite part), and the dabke performances (Isa’s favorite part). For an extra special, over-the-top touch, there were also two ballet performances with violin accompaniment—the first after guests were seated in the ballroom, just before the newlyweds made their grand entrance, and the second during dinner.

Other highlights of the day included lush architectural flower arrangements; a drummer who hyped up guests on the dance floor; signature mocktails that included an elderflower paloma drink and lavender lemonade; and a larger-than-life cake. See the details below.

Wedding Details

The post This Luxe Ritz-Carlton Wedding Reception Featured Two Ballet Performances first appeared on Washingtonian.

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I can’t stop listening to:

Dead Meadow, “Voyager to Voyager.” The onetime DC band’s adventures in unreasonably heavy psychedelia continued with last year’s album of the same name. Prepare to explore the dustiest reaches of your mind when Dead Meadow plays Pearl Street Warehouse tonight with Cory Shane and Caustic Casanova.

Take Washingtonian Today with you! I keep ridiculously long playlists on Apple Music and on Spotify of this year’s music recommendations. Here are 2025’s songs (Apple, Spotify), too.

Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out:

War news: The US and Iran are amenable to extending their ceasefire for another two weeks, mediators said early Wednesday. (AP) President Trump described the war he started with Iran as “close to over” in an interview that will air later today, according to a clip released last night. (Fox News) The US said it had blockaded Iran’s ports. Trump also claimed the US had accomplished regime change in Iran (it has not) and said talks with Iran were likely to restart after they collapsed last weekend. He also said the ceasefire was unlikely to be extended, so who knows about that one. (Reuters) Israeli and Lebanese officials met in DC Tuesday for talks to end the conflict there. (NYT) Israel’s war on the Iran-backed group Hezbollah “has so far killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and wounded thousands more.” (AP)

Is the pope Catholic? Vice President JD Vance warned Pope Leo XIV to “to be careful when he talks about matters of theology.” (USA Today) Over the weekend, Trump tried to pick a fight with the pope, who has been critical of Trump’s war. Vance, a convert to Catholicism who has a book about his faith due out soon, also said he has “a lot of respect for the pope.” (NYT) House Speaker Mike Johnson said he advised Trump to delete a social media post that depicted the President as Jesus. (Politico) Trump’s war and weekend antics have left some of his base “exasperated” and “puzzled.” (Politico)

Pirro hour: US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro asked a federal appeals court to throw out convictions for leaders of extremist groups convicted of seditious conspiracy after Trump’s fans attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, following his election loss to Joe Biden. (AP) Trump commuted the sentences received by leaders of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys on his first day back in office but their appeals had continued. (Politico) Prosecutors from Pirro’s office “showed up unannounced Tuesday at the construction site for the Federal Reserve’s headquarters renovation,” a sign their investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell that Trump sought continues. (WSJ) The US Senate will hold a hearing next week about Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to replace Powell when his term as chair ends next month. US Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has said he won’t allow any nomination to proceed while Pirro’s investigation of Powell continues. (NYT) Meanwhile: The Department of Justice released a report claiming the Biden administration had “egregiously weaponized a law that has historically been used to prosecute people who physically block women from entering abortion clinics.” (Washington Post)

Administration perambulation: The US killed four more people in an attack on a small boat in the Pacific yesterday. (NYT) The administration may nominate Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC. The agency “has been without a permanent director for all but 29 days since Trump took office in January 2025.” (Washington Post) FIFA executives hope their prez, Gianni Infantino, will leverage his friendship with Trump to ask him to hold off on ICE enforcement during this summer’s World Cup. (The Athletic) Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the body could act quickly to confirm a new Supreme Court justice if a vacancy opens and Trump nominates someone—perhaps US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. (Politico) A lawsuit filed by a former Reuters editor says he was fired after he criticized his employer for selling data products to ICE. (404 Media) King Charles III and Queen Camilla of Great Britain will visit the White House at the end of this month. They’ll also visit Virginia. (ABC News) Trump said he would erect “a 4,500 seat arena” on the White House grounds for a UFC event planned there this summer. (Deadline) Asked about claims by Gregg Phillips, a top FEMA official, that he had teleported to a Waffle House, Trump said, “I know nothing about teleporting or him, but I’ll find out about it right now.” (CNN)

How to get tickets for the White House garden tour, by Daniella Byck:

Twice a year—once in the spring, once in the fall—visitors have the opportunity to stroll through the White House gardens. The springtime tours will take place this weekend on Saturday, April 18, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM and Sunday, April 19, from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. Free timed-entry tickets are doled out first-come, first-served basis at the White House Visitor Center (1450 Pennsylvania Ave., NW) starting at 8:30 AM. Passes are limited to one per person, so make sure your whole crew comes out. The tour covers the White House Kitchen Garden, the Rose Garden—which is really more of a rose-lined patio these days—and the commemorative trees planted by past Presidents.

Recently on Washingtonian dot com:

• Linh Mai, the sassy new baby elephant at Smithsonian’s National Zoo, will finally meet the public a week from today.

• The DC delegate race between Robert White and Brooke Pinto is getting personal.

• Here’s what you need to know about DC Mayor Muriel Bowser‘s war on rats.

• The Atlantic says the cranberry-walnut loaf at Le Diplomate is the nation’s best bread. We went down for a taste.

• Shay Taylor-Allen‘s Match Day moment went viral. The Howard med-school grad tells us about her life in DC.

Local news links:

Abigail Spanberger news: Virginia’s governor signed a bill that ends tax exemptions for Confederate organizations such as the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She already signed a bill that discontinued a Virginia license plate honoring Robert E. Lee, a traitor to the US who lost the war the South fought to try to preserve slavery. (NYT) She signed a bill adding Virginia to a group of states that have pledged to eventually “award their presidential electoral votes to the nationwide popular vote winner.” (NPR) Spanberger wants the launch of Virginia’s recreational marijuana market delayed by six months and asked for higher taxes and new criminal penalties, including for minors caught with weed and people who use it in public. (Marijuana Moment) She signed and amended legislation about guns, including a ban on s0-called assault weapons and magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition. (Virginia Mercury)

• The National Park Service removed a sign that explained the racist beliefs of former US Senator Francis Newlands, for whom a fountain on the border between DC and Maryland is named. (NBC4 Washington)

• A tip based on facial recognition software led to an Oklahoma woman being jailed for six months on charges of bank fraud in Maryland—a state she had never visited. (Washington Post)

• DC’s Board of Zoning Adjustment hasn’t been able to achieve a quorum for more than a month, stalling dozens of projects. (WCP)

• A woman died and a man is hospitalized after house fire in Bethesda this morning. (WTOP)

• DC cops arrested and charged someone they say stabbed another person on the D20 bus. (WUSA9)

• Police in Harford County, Maryland, charged a DC police officer with “with sexual solicitation of a minor and child pornography.” The accused officer, Matthew Mahl, was previously the head of the DC police union. The department revoked his police powers and placed him on leave. (NBC4 Washington)

• Police in Laurel are looking for people who used pickaxes to burgle four restaurants. (DC News Now)

• Leesburg will use funds raised in part from data centers to buy a farm once owned by the Cook family. The vice mayor says the town overpaid. (WUSA9)

• Bees swarmed on L Street. (PoPville)

• Maryland may soon have a state shark. (NBC4 Washington)

Wednesday’s event picks:

• Hayley Williams plays a sold-out show at the Fillmore Silver Spring.

• Tonight’s NMWA Nights event will feature fashion made from upcycled materials.

See more picks from Briana Thomas, who writes our Things to Do newsletter.

The post US Vice President Offers Theological Advice to Pope, King Charles Will Visit DC and Virginia, and Maryland May Soon Have a State Shark first appeared on Washingtonian.

“Our team is working very, very, very hard, long hours to make sure she has everything she needs to thrive,” says Robbie Clark, elephant manager and acting curator of the zoo’s Elephant Trails. “It’s one of the most exhausting things that I’ve ever had to do.”

Linh Mai requires constant care from the team, which has been taking round-the-clock shifts. She drinks a special elephant-milk replacement out of large baby-bottle-like containers, and the hungry calf demands her bottle every two hours, chugging the entire volume in a mere two to three minutes.

“A lot of people ask if we burp her, and no, we don’t,” says Clark. “But she has such a grip on drinking her bottles now that she actually collapses the bottle to get as much milk as she can. We have to constantly break the seal.” She has already gained more than 100 pounds and is expected to gain one to two a day for the next year.

Now, after months of nurturing, Linh Mai is ready to meet her fans. What’s her budding personality like? She’s already responding to her name, and she enjoys running after her caretakers. “She’s incredibly smart and curious,” Clark says. When not exploring or splashing in pools, she’s been spending her days learning to socialize with the zoo’s 52-year-old female elephant, Swarna, who’s become one of Linh Mai’s trusted auntie-like companions. She’s still learning to socialize with her mother, Nhi Linh, who initially rejected her after birth (a not-so-rare occurrence with elephants).

As for Linh Mai’s dad, Spike, he’s occasionally around. Recently, Mai “booped” her 13,000-pound parent—a playful elephant nudge that’s a sign of growing confidence. She’s also vocal, prone to “rumbles and roars” when she wants attention, is hungry, or needs a nap.

Now that she’s grown a bit, Linh Mai is slowly moving out into the five acres of outdoor space that’s accessible to the public, allowing visitors to finally see her. “She definitely has a little personality that’s blossoming,” says Clark. “She is rambunctious. She is sassy. She’s playful. She very much loves her bath time. It’s been truly rewarding to get to know her.”

Linh Mai’s public debut is set for April 22. (The zoo’s elephant cam, which has been offline while the baby acclimates, will also return on that date.) It’s not a coincidence its happening on Earth Day: One goal is to raise awareness for elephant conservation and protection. US Fish and Wildlife estimates there are only 30,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants left in the wild, with continued declines due to habitat loss, human-elephant conflict, and poaching.

The post The National Zoo’s Baby Elephant Is Ready to Meet You first appeared on Washingtonian.