Yala Greek Ice Cream

3143 N St., NW

This tiny, Greek-inspired ice cream spot in Georgetown is celebrating a few things this Sunday: National Ice Cream Day, the World Cup final, and its own first anniversary. Starting at noon, you’ll find limited-edition flavors inspired by World Cup semifinalists (think Basque burnt cheesecake ice cream for Spain and pain au chocolat for France), plus guest scoopers, hourly giveaways, and an outdoor TV to watch Spain play Argentina. A portion of the day’s proceeds will go to DC SCORES, a local organization that focuses on soccer, poetry, and community service.

Rice Culture

2672 Avenir Pl., Vienna; 14408 Chantilly Crossing Ln., Chantilly

This Asian-inspired ice cream/taiyaki destination is celebrating with $5 kid-size cups all day on Sunday. New summer flavors include pandan/piña colada; ube/horchata; and peach/milk tea.

DOLCEZZA

Multiple Locations

DC’s favorite gelato shop will be offering visitors a free scoop of its limited-edition Chocotorta gelato from 5-7 PM on Tuesday, July 21 at all of its locations except at the Hirshhorn museum. The featured flavor includes cake pieces folded into dulce de leche gelato, inspired by the Argentinian chocotorta.

Ice Cream Jubilee

Multiple Locations

This DC-based chain is celebrating with a giveaway: share a photo of your ice cream from any of their seven locations (don’t forget to tag them and cite the location), and you’ll be entered in a raffle to win a $50 gift card. One winner will be selected from each store. You can also head to their Navy Yard, Ballston Quarter, or Reston Town Center shops for free face painting on Sunday, and Navy Yard will have a DJ from noon to 3 PM.

Jeni’s

Multiple Locations

Jeni’s is serving up free Fudge or Caramel sauce with any scoop shop order on Sunday to celebrate.

Cold Stone Creamery

Multiple Locations

This Arizona-born chain is giving away $70 gift cards to 10 winners. To enter—now through July 22—follow Cold Stone on Instagram, like this post, and mention a friend in the comments.

Dairy Queen 

Multiple Locations

It might be time to sign up for DQ rewards—members will get a free chocolate-coated Dilly Bar with any $1 purchase made via the DQ app, now through Sunday.

Insomnia Cookies

Multiple Locations

From now through Sunday at participating locations, get a free cup of cookie-packed ice cream when you spend $5 or more.

Wendy’s

Multiple Locations

Rewards members can get a small chocolate or vanilla frostie for $1 via the Wendy’s app on Sunday. The promotion opens up to all customers on Monday and runs through August 23.

The post Here’s the Scoop on National Ice Cream Day Deals Around DC first appeared on Washingtonian.

One Fair Wage president Saru Jayaraman says the biggest reason for the delay was a lawsuit filed by DC bar owner John Guggenmos against the DC Board of Elections this spring, claiming that the board did not follow proper procedure and that the initiative’s language was misleading. A DC Superior Court judge ultimately ruled against Guggenmos, but Jayaraman says that left less than a week for the organization to collect the required signatures to get on November’s ballot.

“The opposition did what they always do every single time, which is they filed some frivolous charges about the Board of Elections process to try to delay us being on the ballot,” Jayaraman says. “We decided that we wanted to take not six days, but have the full time that were allocated by law.”

Jayaraman says they’ll begin collecting signatures this month. She believes the turnout will actually be higher for the special election because DC won’t have a very competitive election this fall, but two council seats will be up for grabs next year.

Meanwhile, Andrew Kline of Vertias Law Firm, which represented Guggenmos, says they’ve filed an appeal. Kline says they found the title of the initiative—”District of Columbia Living Wage for All Amendment Act of 2026″—misleading in that it referred to a “living wage” rather than the “minimum wage.” They also claimed the initiative’s summary statement was prejudicial and took issue with some of the language around how service charges can be used. The lawsuit also argued that the Board of Elections did not allow for a proper public process in moving the initiative forward.

Kline, who also works with the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, saw it as a positive for the restaurant industry that the the initiative will be moving forward later rather than sooner. Many DC operators have been against the measure, fearing the spike in labor costs could cause many restaurants to close or cut staff and their hours.

“Anything we can do to give our members and the restaurant industry an opportunity to survive, we’re happy with,” Kline says. “And if it takes longer, then that’s a period of time during which restaurants can be profitable and survive, and lots of things can happen.”

Initiative 87 proposed to incrementally raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour by 2029 and phase out the tipped wage by 2031. Currently, the minimum wage in DC is $18.40 an hour, and the tipped wage is $10.30. (Employers are required to make up the difference between the tipped wage and full minimum wage if gratuities don’t cover it.)

There have been two past ballot initiatives in DC aimed at phasing out the tipped minimum wage. Initiative 77, passed in 2018, was ultimately overturned by the DC Council. Then came Initiative 82, which passed with more than 70 percent of the vote. The DC Council voted to reform the law last summer by slowing down and ultimately capping increases to the tipped minimum wage.

RAMW put out a press release last week noting a sharp decline in restaurant closures so far this year compared to last year’s record number. The group credited reforms to the Council’s reforms of Initiative 82 for “relieving pressure” on local operators who faced rising labor costs.

Jayaraman counters that there’s been consistent restaurant industry growth over the last few years. She cites a report last year from DC’s own Budget Director that found the restaurant industry “remains healthy” with a growing workforce, increasing number of restaurants, and rising average wages. “You can point to all the anecdotal information you want to point to it. The truth is restaurants close every year, but overall growth in the industry has continued to be the same every year,” Jayaraman says.

Jayaraman says she’s optimistic that the latest initiative will similarly pass overwhelmingly—and that the next DC Council will not intervene next time. “What’s different this time is we have a new mayor that was actually the champion of our issue the whole time—a former tipped worker—and new council members who were also champions of our issue all along.”

The post Advocates of $25 Minimum Wage in DC Blame Lawsuit for Ballot Delay first appeared on Washingtonian.

Sports this weekend: The Nationals return from the All-Star break with a visit to the Athletics Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Loudoun United FC host the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Segra Field Saturday. The Mystics visit the Golden State Valkyries Saturday. The Washington Freedom face the Texas Super Kings Saturday and MI New York Sunday; both matches are in Grand Prairie, Texas. The Washington Spirit visit Boston Legacy FC Sunday.

Get your tickets now to Best of Washington—Washingtonian’s premier food and drink celebration—which features top local restaurants, unlimited tastings, and an open bar. How well do you know the District? Play our new geography game and test your local knowledge. You can find me on Bluesky, I’m @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there’s a link to my email address below. This roundup is available as a morning email newsletter. Sign up here.

I can’t stop listening to:

Teen Cobra, “He’s Comin’.” The longest song on the new release by this self-described “Husband and wife lo-fi punk duo from D.C.” clocks in at just over a minute, so arrive on time when they play Rhizome Sunday with Vesuvian, Sexfaces, and the Armors.

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:

The war: Houthi rebels in Yemen are prepared to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait if the US bombs power infrastructure in Iran. The strait controls access to the Red Sea, to which Saudi Arabia and other oil producers have shifted much shipping since Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. (Reuters) Iran said the US had struck “power infrastructure” yesterday. US forces also hit highway and rail bridges near a major Iranian port. President Trump insisted the US was “winning big in Iran.” He started this conflict in February. (AP) Trump believes the strikes “will throttle the regime’s economy and convince it to release its hold on the Strait of Hormuz.” Tehran appears to see the situation differently. (WSJ)

Once more unto the speech: The White House promised bombshells about election security during Trump’s prime-time speech last night. But instead the President “described ‘vulnerabilities’ in election infrastructure, without alleging that the weaknesses were exploited.” (Washington Post) Trump complained about his loss in 2020 but “did not raise doubts about his election wins in 2016 or 2024.” (AP) Neither ABC, CNN, nor NBC carried the speech on their main broadcast platforms. Some of ABC and NBC’s affiliates owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group did. Trump said during his speech that ABC and NBC should lose their broadcasting licenses.  (THR) “The exercise underscored how much Mr. Trump in his second term has come to be obsessed with relitigating the 2020 election and finding ways to cast doubt on the 2026 election.” (NYT)

The new ICE storm: The ICE agent who shot and killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine this week was identified by his ex-wife as David Michael Brouillette. (Portland Press Herald) Brouillette has “a history of terrifying and violent behavior,” according to relatives. (AP) The shooting once again raises questions about ICE’s hiring spree under Trump. (Washington Post) Meanwhile: The administration “revived a policy that gives immigration officers wide authority to deny green cards to people they deem likely to rely on public assistance.” (NYT) And the State Department is toying with the idea of introducing a $100,000 bond for some green card seekers—a way to “limit immigration by foreigners of limited means.” (WSJ)

Administration perambulation: A new Washington Post-Ipsos poll is the first “where significantly more than half of Trump approvers support him only ‘somewhat,’ rather than strongly.” Trump and his handling of the economy remain broadly unpopular among Americans as a whole, and 67 percent of people polled said his war in Iran wasn’t worth fighting. (Washington Post) Trump’s Truth Social network will sell banks and traders faster access to the President’s potentially market-moving posts. (NBC News) Gabriel Perez, who has operated Trump’s teleprompter for a decade, “is in talks with federal regulators to settle allegations he used his inside knowledge of the president’s speeches to win more than $100,000.” (ABC News) Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with victims of the deceased, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein after US Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina demanded he do so in confirmation hearings for the permanent job. Blanche “repeatedly interrupted us and could not commit to anything that would demonstrate good faith,” one survivor said. (Politico) Federal authorities linked the cyclosporiasis outbreak to a lettuce supplier to Taco Bell in several states. The Washington Post has identified the supplier as Taylor Farms. (Washington Post)

Recently on Washingtonian dot com:

• Haile Gerima reflects on how his film “Sankofa” prompted a cultural hub by the same name in DC.

• A look ahead at the Mubadala DC Open, which returns next week.

• Fun stuff to do with the kids this summer.

• It’s been a tough year for local peach growers, but a few farms this summer still offer pick-your-own fruit.

• Alexandria real estate agent Allison Goodhart DuShuttle describes her perfect day in Old Town.

Local news links:

Marble cinematic universe: We begin with news from Trump’s plans to remake DC. ¶ The Commission of Fine Arts is on board with Trump’s plans to install permanent fencing around Lafayette Square near the White House—but some members “suggested that some of the design ideas presented were unnecessarily ornate.” ¶ Waterproofing experts identified “errors in the application process” of the Reflecting Pool’s lining—not vandalism, as Trump claimed—as the reason for its botched renovation. ¶ The National Park Service is soliciting comments on Trump’s plan to build a Triumphal Arch near Arlington Cemetery.

• The CFA also broadly approved the Commanders’ plans for a new stadium but asked for some revisions. (WUSA9)

• The Park Service removed rare documents from the Lincoln Memorial’s undercroft that “were exposed to unsafe temperatures.” (Washington Post) NPS will tear down the Foundry Branch Trestle Bridge at the southern end of the Glover Archbold Trail. (WUSA9)

• The DC region has lost more than 63,000 federal jobs since Trump’s second term began. (Axios D.C.)

• Arlington prosecutors in the news: Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti visited Capitol Hill yesterday for a closed-door deposition prompted by Republicans’ criticisms of her tenure. (NBC4 Washington) And Trump named Theo Stamos, who held Dehghani-Tafti’s job before she lost it in a Democratic primary in 2019, to be the acting US Attorney in Virginia’s Eastern District. (ARLnow)

• US Representative James Comer of Kentucky, whose committee summoned Dehghani-Tafti, introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for DC tax hikes. The measure faces long odds. (NOTUS)

• Montgomery County police are looking for someone accused of stabbing a patron in the bathroom of a Silver Spring restaurant named the Angry Jerk. (DC News Now)

• Police in Charles County say a DC woman tried to use a dead person’s ID to buy a Mercedes. (Fox 5)

• Actors were injured during a performance earlier this week of Arena Stage’s TLC musical, “CrazySexyCool.” (City Cast DC)

• Chris Hacopian drove from his home in Potomac to sign a contract with the Washington Nationals. (WTOP)

Weekend event picks:

Friday: The Smithsonian Castle’s exterior will light up tonight and tomorrow with “Smithsonian Dreams: Castle Illuminations,” a new work by the artist Refik Anadol.

Saturday: The Lotus and Lily Festival opens a two-day run at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Sunday: It’s your last chance to see “Beetlejuice” at the National Theatre.

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

The post Smoke and Lettuce Join Forces to Make Your Friday Difficult, Panel Okays Fence Around Lafayette Square, and There’s Even More to Read About the Reflecting Pool first appeared on Washingtonian.

“I came to DC in ’75 to teach at Howard University. I left Howard for two years in 1993 just to distribute Sankofa. Washington is where we started what we call the “Sankofa Family” that helped us distribute the film in the Black community, raise money, and then go to other states.

“We called community elders that were supportive of cultural movements, rented a theater, and showed them the film. I said, ‘If you want to help us, if you believe in the film, show [that you do].’ And [the Sankofa Family] formed there.

I thought I was [dreaming], because the outcome was not what I expected. We marched from the Ghanaian Embassy, because the film was shot in Ghana. They drummed [in a procession] all the way to the theater. After that, the film sold out. Black people lined up, even from out of state.

“[Meanwhile] my wife and I always wanted a bookstore where you ‘read’ films and books together. We wanted to make sure we did relevant things with whatever money we got [from the film]. The idea was to have a film-production place where we [also] distribute our own films, so we paired it: video and books.

“My father [a historian and playwright] had a bookstore where I used to work. When he published a book, he wanted a store [to sell it], so he bought this broken ambulance from the Italian war [with Ethiopia] and made that a bookstore.

“At Sankofa’s opening in 1997, with [writers like] Sonia Sanchez and Haki Madhubuti, we didn’t have a stage—we were just in the parking lot. Community activists and poets from Chicago, Philadelphia came, saying, ‘This is our place.’

“All the time, Black folks pass through, buying things, renting the space, or sometimes requesting it for community meetings or study groups. The other day, a brother brought a special flower for Sankofa and planted it in front of our building. I was emotional—I left quickly.

“[But without the film] there would not be a bookstore. It was like a university for me on the capacity of the Black community, how giant they are when they believe in you.”

This article appears in the July 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

The post Filmmaker Haile Gerima on the Power of the Black Community first appeared on Washingtonian.

Kids Eat Free at Nats Park

Root for the Nationals at a home game with your family to score free food. Children 12 and younger can grab a hot dog, chips, and bottled water meal from one of the five Kids Eat Free stands and kiosks at the stadium this season. On Sundays, baseball fans ages four to 12 can get in on the action after the game when youngsters are invited to run the bases ($5 for DC residents on select games, $20+ for ages 3 and older, free for children under 2).

Sleeping Beauty: The Time Traveler 

The classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty gets a time-traveling remix at Adventure Theatre and ATMTC Academy. Princess Aurora teams up with Rolly—a visitor from the future—to plot an escape beyond the castle walls and into the modern world ($28).

Live from the Lawn

Summer is in full swing, bringing outdoor concerts to parks and yards across town. This month at Strathmore there are two concerts for kids on the Gudelsky Gazebo stage: high-energy blues music from Wendy and DB and Big Bang Boom performs rock-pop everyone can move along to. Pack a picnic and bring your own lawn chairs (free).

Waterfront Movie Series

Bring a blanket or lawn chair to a sunset movie screening along the Georgetown waterfront. There’s a family-friendly schedule of movies to see ranging from comedies such as Grown Ups 2 to heartfelt adventure flicks such as Finding Dory (free).

Hershey Super Sweet Adventure

Youngsters will have a blast winning chocolate-themed games and venturing through imaginative playgrounds at Hershey Super Sweet Adventure. The sweet treat-inspired play space take children through rooms of interactive and sensory games such as blowing up balloons, decorating a Hershey’s Kiss, catapulting blocks, and lots more fun ($19.99).

Pete the Cat: A Live Rock Musical

The storybooks of children’s authors Kimberly Dean and James Dean come to life on stage with fast-paced rock music in Pete the Cat. The narrative follows a second grader who is nervous about finishing the school year ($15+).

Maryland Youth Ballet

Local student troupe Maryland Youth Ballet is back at Wolf Trap for its annual summer showcase. This year’s storytelling dance performance enchants audiences with fairy magic, princess fun, and a narrative on love in Sleeping Beauty. Families are invited to watch the show outdoors at Children’s Theatre in the Woods ($14, free for ages under 2).

The post 7 Exciting Things to Do with Kids This Summer Around DC first appeared on Washingtonian.

Larriland Farm

2415 Woodbine Rd., Woodbine, MD

Distance from DC: About 40 miles.

Hours: Saturday and Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM; Tuesday through Friday 9 AM to 6 PM.

Prices: $3 wristband for admission. Ages 2 and under are free. Pay for peaches by the container.

Peach-picking days will be sporadic throughout the summer. As of July 16, Red Haven peaches are available in the orchard on Peach Hill. Check the daily harvest report for updates.

Great Country Farms

34345 Snickersville Tpke., Bluemont, VA

Distance from DC: About 60 miles.

Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

Prices: $5.99 per pound, plus an admission ticket ($11 for children, $13 for adults online; $12 if you buy them at the gate).

Wagon and RTVs take visitors to the orchard from 9:15 AM to 4 PM. Reusable containers are provided. Great County is also hosting a Peach Fuzztival on August 1 and 2 with a pie-eating contest, water balloon toss, and a range of peach drinks such as wine slushies and cider. (Tickets are $12 per child, $14 per adult online and $16 per person at the gate.) 

Hartland Orchard

3064 Hartland Ln., Markham, VA

Distance from DC: About 60 miles. 

Hours: Weekdays from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Prices: $25 per peck.

Due to the limited crop this summer, the orchard does not have enough peaches to host weekend picking sessions. However, fruit collectors are welcome Monday through Friday. Red Haven and Ernie’s Choice peaches are currently in season. The orchard only accepts cash or checks. 

Hollin Farms

1524 Snowden Rd., Delaplane, VA

Distance from DC: About 60 miles. 

Hours: Wednesday to Friday 9 AM to 12:30 PM, Saturday to Sunday 9 AM to 1:30 PM.

Prices: TBA.

Starfire, Red Haven, and Blazingstar peaches are available as of July 16. Orchards are only accessible by foot. Check the website for daily updates.

The post 4 Places You Can Still Pick Peaches in Maryland and Virginia first appeared on Washingtonian.

Here’s what to know about the 2026 DC Open: 

The Players 

The tournament brings together some of the world’s top players and multiple Grand Slam winners. Men’s players to watch include Maryland native Frances Tiafoe, No. 5 ranked Alex de Minaur (the winner of last year’s tournament), No. 10 ranked Taylor Fritz, and No. 6 ranked Ben Shelton. On the women’s side, 2025 champion Leylah Fernandez returns along with Naomi Osaka, Venus Williams, No. 3 ranked Jessica Pegula, and No. 10 ranked Elina Svitolina. 

“Any day you’re there, any time you’re there, you’re going to watch some really famous, extraordinary tennis players,” says DC Open chairman Mark Ein. 

The Fan Zone 

A new addition this year is a fan zone dubbed the Front Porch, accessible to all ticket holders. Building off the “market square” area at past DC Opens, the Front Porch is located in an unused tennis court by the entrance with picnic tables, a bar, and a jumbotron showing live matches. Ein says the experience is partly inspired by Wimbledon’s “Henman Hill,” a grassy amphitheater where fans can watch matches on a screen. Food vendors include Greek spot Balos, Ice Cream Jubilee, and Silver and Sons BBQ.

The Food and Drink 

Step aside, Honey Deuce. The DC Open has a culinary roster of local restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs. Food vendors include Duke’s Grocery, King Street Oyster Bar, Roaming Rooster, Taco Bamba, and Dolcezza. 

“This is a tournament where you’re going to not just see amazing, high-level tennis in a fantastic facility, but you’re going to be able to eat really well,” says Taco Bamba chef Victor Albisu. He’ll be offering a selection of traditional tacos as well as nachos, churros, and tequila. 

In the VIP area, a slate of top chefs are preparing menus: José Andrés, Miguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora of Mita, Jeremiah Langhorne of the Dabney, Patrick O’Connell of the Inn at Little Washington, Ryan Ratino of Bresca, Jônt, Ox and Olive, and Nicholas Stefanelli of Masseria. For Guerra, bringing his vegetable-centric Latin American cooking to the tournament is an opportunity to combine two passions.

“I love tennis, personally. I gave it a try when I was a kid,” he says. “When they reached out last year, I said we have to do it.”

The Luxury Options 

For the first time, people can purchase single-day passes for the VIP lounge, which includes access to the cheffy menus and seats with air conditioning. According to Ein, there’s been a growing demand for private suites, so the tournament has added more exclusive experiences, including a new package with private space for gatherings plus courtside box seats and a tour of the tournament grounds. Attendees can also purchase a private dining experience with a four-course dinner made by Stefanelli, which includes wine pairings and front row seats.

The post What to Know About the 2026 Mubadala DC Open first appeared on Washingtonian.

“Between the waterfront, local shops, restaurants, parks, and community events, there’s always something to do,” says Goodhart DuShuttle. “You’re almost guaranteed to run into friends and neighbors.” She walks us through a perfect day in Old Town.

8 AM: Coffee at Misha’s.

“Old Town has no shortage of great coffee shops, but my go-to is Misha’s Coffee. It’s locally owned and based right here, which makes it feel especially Alexandria. I love the Prince Street location near the waterfront. (There is another one by my office on upper King.) It’s small, charming, and has a rooftop deck overlooking the Potomac. Grab a coffee and don’t sleep on the baked goods, especially the pies.”

9 AM: Old Town Farmers Market at Market Square.

On Saturdays, DuShuttle says, the next stop is the Farmers Market. This one, she notes, is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers markets in the country. “George Washington reportedly shopped here, too,” she says. “Pick up a fresh juice, a breakfast sandwich from one of the local vendors—be prepared for a small wait—and spend some time wandering the stands. It’s one of my favorite places to catch up with neighbors, run into clients and friends, and enjoy the sense of community that makes Old Town so special.”

10:30 AM: Explore the Waterfront.

“From the farmers market, head back a few blocks toward the river. Depending on the day, you might walk along the waterfront, rent a bike and hop on the Mount Vernon Trail or simply enjoy the views from one of the many parks along the Potomac. Easy access to the water is one of my favorite things about living here. The trail runs south to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s historic estate. Heading north, it passes Reagan National Airport and continues toward Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, and Washington DC. You could also hop on a water taxi to National Harbor, Georgetown, the Wharf, Nats Park, or a historical tour towards Mount Vernon.”

11:30 AM: Check out the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

“It’s one of Alexandria’s most unique attractions with working artist studios where you can watch painters, jewelers, photographers, and makers creating in real time,” says Goodhart DuShuttle. “No two visits are ever the same.”

1 PM: Lunch with a View.

“Grab a table with a view at Ada’s on the River, Barca Pier and Wine Bar, or Jula’s on the Potomac,” she suggests. “There are few things better than a leisurely meal overlooking the water, especially on a beautiful day.”

2:30 PM: Stroll King Street—and Beyond.

“Browse local shops, people-watch, and take your time exploring. But don’t just stay on King Street itself,” says Goodhart DuShuttle. “Some of my favorite boutiques and hidden gems are tucked along the side streets that make up Old Town’s Boutique District. The best discoveries are often a block or two off the main drag.”

5 PM: Happy Hour at Brut.

“Order a glass of wine, or bubbly if you’re in the mood, and the raclette,” she says. “Then ask owner Dustin what he’s excited about pouring that day. He always has a great recommendation and makes everyone feel like a regular. I may see you there!”

7 PM: Dinner.

“Old Town has fantastic restaurants, but for dinner out I’m usually choosing Italian. Thompson Italian and Landini Brothers are two perfect spots to settle in for a relaxed evening with family or friends. Thompson Italian is a newer addition to Old Town and has quickly become a favorite. Landini Brothers is the quintessential Old Town institution. I’ve been going for years.”

9 PM: Ice Cream, a Nightcap, and the 100 Block of King.

“To end the day, grab ice cream, like at Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, or a nightcap on the pedestrian-only 100 block of King Street. Between the street performers, outdoor dining, waterfront views, and steady stream of people enjoying the evening, it’s one of the most vibrant corners of the city. It’s the perfect place to sit, soak up the atmosphere, and remember why so many of us love calling Old Town home. If you’re not quite ready to call it a night, head up to the rooftop at Hotel Heron for some of the best views in Alexandria. Or if seafood is more your style, make one last stop at Hank’s Oyster Bar for oysters, seafood, and a glass of wine.”

The post A Perfect Day in Old Town Alexandria first appeared on Washingtonian.

Get your tickets now to Best of Washington—Washingtonian’s premier food and drink celebration—which features top local restaurants, unlimited tastings, and an open bar. How well do you know the District? Play our new geography game and test your local knowledge. You can find me on Bluesky, I’m @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there’s a link to my email address below. This roundup is available as a morning email newsletter. Sign up here.

I can’t stop listening to:

Night Hawk, “Intuition.” This folky local indie group takes its name from the Edward Hopper painting (and sound nothing like the longtime DMV band the Nighthawks); they’ll play the US Botanic Garden tonight. 

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:

The war: The US struck targets near Tehran and in northern Iran early Thursday. Yesterday, American forces fired on and disabled a cargo ship the US said “ignored multiple warnings” about its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran launched attacks against neighboring countries. (AP) President Trump again threatened to hit civilian infrastructure in Iran, which called control of the Strait of Hormuz a “red line” and said it would strike “all remaining infrastructure” in the region if he did. (Reuters) Trump is inclined toward more military action in Iran. (WSJ) The US’s recent strikes are aimed at softening the ground for “more complex operations” ahead. (Reuters)

And more: Trade in the strait is now effectively at a “standstill” again. (WSJ) Diesel prices rose. (NYT) Gas prices followed. (AAA) Iran released Dena Karari, an Iranian-American whom it had prevented from leaving the country since December 2024. (NYT) A lawsuit filed in DC yesterday claims that US immigration officials gave Iran access to records about Iranians who sought asylum in the US. The administration denied it had done so. (NYT) Meanwhile: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon would test American troops for low testosterone and administer voluntary hormone treatments to those found lacking. (NYT)

Veep talking: Some in the Israeli government hope to “keep the war going on indefinitely,” Vice President JD Vance told Joe Rogan in an interview released yesterday. (New York Post) Vance also said the Trump administration “absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files” and blamed former Attorney General Pam Bondi for overstating “what we had and what we didn’t have.” (Politico) Members of Vance’s security deal are reportedly muttering about assignments they consider inappropriate, such as a canceled plan to fly his son to a golf lesson in a military helicopter. (MS Now)

Blanche not? Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had a not entirely smooth hearing yesterday in the Senate yesterday as he seeks confirmation to hold his job permanently. He sought to assure senators he wouldn’t roll over for Trump, an assertion he may have undercut by saying “I am his lawyer,” then correcting himself to say “I was his lawyer.” He’ll return for another round of questions today. (Washington Post) Senator John Cornyn of Texas, whom Trump successfully worked to unseat, will be a crucial vote. He says he’s still making up his mind. (NYT) Cornyn and other GOP senators “showed that their loyalty to the president isn’t what it used to be” yesterday. (Politico) In a separate hearing, Jay Clayton, Trump’s pick to be the next director of national intelligence, refused to say whether Joe Biden won the 2020 election. (CNBC)

Speech, speech: Trump plans to claim Chinese meddling in US elections in a speech tonight. (CBS News) Some Republicans are “scared shitless” of what he may say. (Politico) Networks are struggling to decide whether to air the speech, which will likely contain Trump’s lies about the 2020 election—but not airing it could mean running afoul of the administration’s activist FCC. (Axios)

Administration perambulation: Trump criticized his own administration for pausing vehicle stops after a week in which ICE agents killed two people. ICE then reversed course on reversing course. (Washington Post) Some administration officials may have to turn over their phones as the White House investigates who leaked information about the potential security deficits of the luxury airplane Qatar gave the President. (CNN) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US will produce a $1 gold-colored coin with Trump’s face on it. (Washington Post) What happened to the “American flag blue” coating on the Reflecting Pool? That thing is gray now. (AP) National Park Service staff say a new museum under the Lincoln Memorial is endangering rare documents on display there, including a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. (City Cast DC)

Hidden Eats, by Ike Allen:

When Xue Ling and her mother Hua Wang closed Northwest Chinese Food—a fixture on Washingtonian‘s 100 Very Best Restaurants list—in March, they left a real void in College Park. But I was glad to find out that Li Chun, Ling’s cute tea shop and cafe around the corner, offers a pretty extensive Chinese menu too. Bings (savory pancake wraps) are the specialty here, but one noodle dish stood out in particular: Shanxi triple noodle, a layer of chewy knife-cut noodles topped with discrete portions of braised pork, scrambled egg and tomato, and tender potatoes in black bean sauce. Mixed together, the combo formed something comforting and revelatory. Maybe I was just missing Northwest Chinese Food. Stay tuned—Ling tells me there’s news on that front coming soon.

Take Hidden Eats with you! Our very popular new map will show you which Hidden Eats—the out-of-the-way mom-and-pop eateries Ike highlights in this newsletter and in our print magazine—are near you.

Recently on Washingtonian dot com:

Our Best of Washington package is here, including:

Food and drink: The best restaurants, brunch spots, and happy hours.

Things to do: Our favorite playgrounds, run clubs, and places to learn something new.

Where to shop: Our top places for gifts, vintage goods, and DIY crafts.

• The new Union Market dance club Tigres de la Noche has a no-phones policy. Its owner says patrons can focus more on music as a result.

• Curious what the DC Council’s passage of a ticket-resale bill means for consumers? Here’s an explainer.

Local news links:

• National Guard troops will mill about in DC through the rest of Trump’s term. (NBC4 Washington)

• Fairfax police say County Supervisor Andres Jimenez was doing 104 in a 70 miles-per-hour zone when they gave him a speeding ticket in May. (WTOP)

• Stephen Chadwick Howell of Arlington got 18 years yesterday for sexually exploiting minors. When FBI agents arrived to arrest him last May, he grabbed knives from his kitchen, barricaded himself in his bedroom, and peed on his laptop to try to shield its contents. (ARLnow)

• Former MoCo elementary school teacher Sarah Katherine Magid got 12 years for selling fentanyl that left a man dead. (WUSA9)

• The suspect in the Cherrydale carjacking was arrested in DC, where the vehicle in question had flipped over while police pursued it. (ARLnow)

• The Capitals will face Pittsburgh in their home opener on October 7. (WTOP)

• Rugby players in Alexandria will head to Dundee, Scotland, for matches next month. (Alexandria Times)

• George Conway‘s fifth-place finish in a New York congressional primary cost him $2 million. (NOTUS)

Thursday’s event picks:

• Kelly McHugh leads an in-depth look at the exhibit “Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe” at the National Museum of the American Indian.

• Sigrid Nunez discusses her new short story collection with Lily Meyer at Politics and Prose.

• Enjoy some bluegrass and learn about printmaking at the National Postal Museum.

See more picks for this week and weekend from Briana Thomas, who writes our Things to Do newsletter.

The post Trump Speech Rattles Republicans, Networks; Guard Troops Will Be Here Till January 2029; and Pentagon Looks for Troops With Low Testosterone first appeared on Washingtonian.

Drive time from DC: One hour and 30 minutes. 

Bring kids to play paleontologist at nearby beaches in Calvert County, an hour-and-a-half drive from DC. Once you arrive, there are two options for fossil-hunting shores: Calvert Cliffs State Park and Flag Ponds Nature Park.

It’s a 1.8-mile trek from the parking lot to the sands of Calvert Cliffs State Park, where shark teeth and scalloped shells are common finds near the scenic rock face. At Flag Ponds, walk half a mile to the beach for Miocene-era finds. The park also has a quarter-mile boardwalk trail through a bald cypress swamp.

After the fossil-finding mission, take  a detour to the Solomons Island Boardwalk, a drive that’s nine minutes from Calvert Cliffs and 15 minutes from Flag Ponds. It’s a lovely stroll by the Patuxent River, and you can stop for soft serve at Cone Island. For a full meal with waterfront views, Island Hideaway serves seafood, pasta dishes, and sandwiches. A kids’ menu is also available.

Looking for more day trip ideas? Check out our Perfect Saturdays series.

The post Find Fossils at These Beaches Near DC first appeared on Washingtonian.