Built in 1959, the classic brick-and-slate residence encompasses nearly 5,800 square feet of living space, including a walk-out basement that opens to the expansive grounds. Recent updates, including a renovated kitchen, refinished hardwood floors, and an updated powder room, enhance the home’s timeless character while providing modern comfort.

The flexible floor plan features two bedrooms on the main level and four additional bedrooms upstairs, along with generous storage throughout. A sunroom overlooking the James River serves as a year-round gathering space, showcasing breathtaking water views and the surrounding natural landscape.

Mature hardwoods, rolling terrain, and direct river access create a setting that feels like a private retreat while remaining just minutes from Richmond’s amenities. Offering an unmatched combination of acreage, privacy, and waterfront living, this exceptional property is one of the city’s most unique residential opportunities.

Address: 10430 Cherokee Road, Richmond, VA 23235

Contact:
John Martin, Owner/Broker
804.928.6292
johnmartin@srmfre.com

The post A Rare James River Estate Offering Privacy, Acreage, and Direct River Access first appeared on Washingtonian.

”My brain, it is going a mile a minute right now, but my heart, it is so warm, it is so full,” Douglas said at a NASA press conference on Tuesday morning.

Douglas will serve as a mission specialist, responsible for maintaining the spacecraft, conducting experiments, and executing mission-specific tasks. He is joined by NASA’s Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio, as well as the European Space Agency’s Luca Parmitano.

This will be Douglas’s first space flight. Previously, he served as an officer in the US Coast Guard, and now is a commander in the Coast Guard Reserve.

Douglas, who became an astronaut candidate in 2021, served as the backup crew member for this year’s Artemis II mission, training alongside the eventual crew, including Baltimore native Commander Reid Wiseman. On launch day, he was an Astronaut Support Person responsible for strapping the crew into their seats in the capsule.

The Artemis III crew will orbit Earth to practice docking their Orion capsule with lunar landers, a critical step before NASA sends a different Artemis crew to land on the moon in 2028.

While he was born in Miami, Florida, Douglas grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia, and graduated from Western Branch High School. He has five degrees, two of which are from DC-area universities: he earned a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering from Johns Hopkins in 2019, and a Doctorate in systems engineering from George Washington University in 2021.

Douglas is far from the first Virginian to go to space—past astronauts include Falls Church native Mark Vande Hei, Charlottesville resident Kathryn C. Thornton, and even John Glenn, who lived in Arlington while serving as a US Senator. Elsewhere in the area, DC native and Anacostia High School graduate Frederick D. Gregory was the first Black man to pilot a space shuttle, and Gaithersburg native Jessica Watkins was the first Black woman to work and live on the International Space Station.

The post Virginia’s Andre Douglas Is Headed to Space on Artemis III first appeared on Washingtonian.

The exhibit, which organizers extended to run through June 14, houses 3.5 million pages of documents released by the Department of Justice documenting Epstein’s years of sex crime operations. Those documents are housed in 3,437 bound volumes displayed on several bookshelves within the exhibit, which David Garrett with the Institute for Primary Facts, the group behind the exhibit, said is meant to demonstrate the scale of Epstein’s crimes in a physical form. 

“I think it’s really hard to walk through here and see all this and think the investigation is done, I think there’s a lot more investigation to be had, a lot more accountability,” Garrett said. 

Garrett said after the success of the exhibit in New York, where it opened in May, the group received a large amount of public feedback that they should come to DC, to potentially spur more action from lawmakers as well as the release of all the Epstein files by the DOJ. Garrett said they moved quickly to move the exhibit, and they wanted to be in the capital for President Trump’s birthday on Sunday, June 14. 

“What we hope is that people will see this and demand accountability from our elected officials,” Garrett said. 

The downstairs space of the exhibit displays the partially redacted documents. There’s also a wall with a massive timeline documenting Trump and Epstein’s relationship through the years, culminating in 2019 when Epstein wrote to author Michael Wolff that Trump “knew all about the girls.” 

Trump has denied any involvement in Epstein’s trafficking of underage girls, saying he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago when he found out about Epstein’s conduct. 

A staircase to the second floor of the exhibit directs visitors toward artwork by survivor Maria Farmer. The upstairs area contains a display of lit candles as a tribute to Epstein’s victims, and several tables with messages encouraging visitors to call the DOJ and ask for the release of the full Epstein files while still protecting the identity of victims. 

The DOJ released a massive tranche of some 3 million documents related to the Epstein investigation in January, but the rollout quickly fell under scrutiny for not properly redacting the names of victims and not clearly outlining a list of all of Epstein’s clients who participated in his operations. 

The upstairs also includes a wall for visitors to write messages of support for victims and otherwise express their emotions from the exhibit. Some messages read “You didn’t deserve what happened to you!” and “Turn the files into trials.” 

The exhibit is hosting programming throughout the week, including an Epstein survivor Q&A with Congressional staffers, a talk with Amy Wallace—who collaborated with Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre on her memoir Nobody’s Girl—and a talk with US Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) about Todd Blanche, Trump’s nominee for attorney general who was heavily involved in the DOJ rollout of the files. 

Garrett said it is easy for people to ignore the severity of Epstein’s crimes when seeing it online, and with the exhibit he seeks to give people a space to acknowledge the pain the victims endured. 

“What we wanted to do here is stop the scroll,” he said. “When you come in here, you’re not looking for the next video, you can actually sit with it for a minute, and I think this particular case deserves that.”

Visitors can reserve free timed-entry tickets at https://trumpsonian.us/rr for the exhibit at 737 7th St., NW. 

The post “Epstein Reading Room” Opens in DC, Documenting Relationship With Trump first appeared on Washingtonian.

One of the internet’s most viral comedians, also known as Drew Desbordes and a native of Columbia, Maryland, brought his satirical social media series Coulda Been Records to Washington this past Sunday for a surprise show. 

The series, which began in 2019, features aspiring musicians and internet personalities auditioning in front of the comedian, often with the hope of turning a memorable performance into online fame. Since its 2019 debut, Druski has taken the show across the country and enlisted celebrity judges including Mark Wahlberg, Sexyy Red, and Timothée Chalamet. Its most recognizable bit—at least to me, as someone whose straight brother and roommates have somehow incorporated his catchphrases into their everyday vocabulary—occurs when Druski dismisses contestants by calling for security to “get ’em outta here.” 

Thousands reportedly showed up outside District Studios in Northeast Washington for a chance to meet the comedian. Some were earnest musicians. “I got here yesterday at 5 o’clock,” one attendee told WUSA9. “I stayed in the parking lot all day.” Others seemed more interested in becoming the next viral clip, including one woman who dubbed herself the “throat goat” while rapping for cameras outside. 

Perhaps the funniest moment came before the auditions even began. At a separate entrance, a crowd of aspiring comedians and influencers was reportedly met by an event staffer wielding a megaphone and a devastating message: “Thank you so much for coming, but we are not allowing social media trolls or comedians” inside.

While the full episode will likely arrive on Druski’s YouTube channel in the coming months, you can find highlights from his DMV stop below:

The post Druski Brought His Viral “Coulda Been Records” Auditions to DC first appeared on Washingtonian.

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed custom cocktails, savory bites and a delicious mocktail bar. Dessert arrived in a memorable fashion aboard an ice cream bicycle that made its way through the party. 

Thank you to our sponsors for making this celebration possible: Embassy of the State of Qatar, PepsiCo, FanDuel, AT&T, Humana, Citi, PHrMA, Lockheed Martin and Concordia.

Proceeds from this event went to the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.

Thank you to our event partners: Capricorn Creative, Well Dun Catering, Mixing Maryland, Bialeks Music, Artsella Productions, Stitches DC,  Molecular Food and Cocktails,  Lee’s Flower Shop, and MJ Valet.

Photography by Stacey Salter / IC Images and Evy Mages

The post Photos From Washingtonian’s America 250th Rooftop Celebration first appeared on Washingtonian.

Fan Zones

National Mall

Between 3rd St., NW and 4th St., NW 

The FIFA World Cup Fan Zone is showing every Team USA match and select non-USA games. The area opens an hour prior to the first contest of the day and closes an hour after the final match. Non-Team USA matches that start after 7 PM will not be shown. In addition to the games, there are family-friendly activities and concession stands.

DC United’s United in Play Soccer Celebration

1332 I St., NW; 101 Tingey St., SE 

Our hometown team is hosting watch parties in Franklin Park from June 12 through 14 and Tingey Plaza from June 19 through 21. Find soccer-themed activities for kids, local food vendors, and, of course, massive screens. Admission is free, but you must register in advance.

The Wharf

Pearl St., SW

From June 11 through July 19, fans can watch daily World Cup matches on a 14-foot-tall Jumbotron. Surrounding restaurants such as Colada Shop and Easy Company are offering food and drink specials.

Copa Tysons

Multiple locations in Tysons 

Team USA fans can partake in watch parties across Tysons with food and drink specials, giveaways, live DJs, and big screens. The first three watch parties are taking place at Starr Hill Biergarten. Locations for future matches will be announced as the tournament progresses.

Bars and Restaurants

Astro Beer Hall

1306 G St., NW

The beer hall is serving $5 loaded nachos, $5 wings, and drink specials during every World Cup game.

The Bullpen

1201 Half St., SE

This sporty venue in Navy Yard is showing games on multiple screens, with extended hours on select match days.

Casta’s at Bodega

2127 I St. NW

Fans of Latin American teams can go to the rum bar for games with Spanish commentary, plus food and drink specials.

La Cosecha

1280 4th St., NE

The Latin American food hall is showing matches on the big screen. Go from spectator to player during pickup soccer tournaments in the neighborhood.

Hi-Lawn

1309 5th St., NE

Catch game play on a 8-foot-by-12-foot LED screen and 100-inch screen on Union Market’s rooftop. Feeling inspired by the athletes? Show off your skills on a turf soccer pitch.

Metrobar

640 Rhode Island Ave., NE

The transit-themed bar is screening every Team USA match on all TVs plus a 20-foot screen. Show up in red, white, and blue and dine on pizza from El Jefe Wood Fired Pizza.

Public Bar Live

1214 18th St., NW

If you need a spot to watch a late-night game, this sports bar/nightclub is open until 2 AM. Featured matchups are playing on multiple screens, and the bar is pouring drink deals.

Sports & Social

1314 U St., NW

Specials include $3 Coors Lights and stadium-themed foods. Select games will have DJs and hosts—putting the party in watch party—plus wall-to-wall TVs and surround sound.

Street Burger/Street Pizza

507 7th St., NW

Gordon Ramsay’s adjoining Penn Quarter restaurants are showing every match this summer. Specials including $1 wings and $4 pints.

Tom’s Watch Bar

1250 Half St., SE

The sports bar allows you to secure seating in advance of a matchup, ensuring you have a spot to watch the action on over 100 screens.

Wunder Garten 

1101 1st St., NE

Watch more than 75 games throughout the tournament on indoor and outdoor screens. The NoMa beer garden is collaborating with Volo Sports to offer games and interactive experiences that celebrate the teams and their countries. Fans who register to attend through the sports group will get discounted food and drinks, raffle opportunities, merch, and more.

Embassy Events

Embassy of Austria at Aslin Beer Company

1740 14th St., NW

The embassy is bringing together fans at Aslin Beer Company for the country’s June 22 match against Argentina.

British Embassy at Duke’s Grocery

2000 Pennsylvania Ave., NW 

Embassy of the Republic of Haiti at Hook Hall

3400 Georgia Ave., NW

The post Where to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup Around DC first appeared on Washingtonian.

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I can’t stop listening to:

Hemlocke Springs, “Girlfriend.” The buzzy lo-fi synth pop artist plays 9:30 tonight with the Girl!

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: A US helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz last night. The cause of the crash is not yet clear, and President Trump said the aircraft’s two crew members were safe. (NYT) Israel and Iran both said they would halt attacks on each other for the time being. (Reuters) Trump said in an interview that he’d told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu “you will be on your own very soon” if attacks continue. He also said—as he’s been claiming for months—that the US and Iran were close to a peace deal and that “We are getting everything we wanted” in negotiations. (Axios)

Let’s step back for a moment. Trump and Netanyahu are increasingly fighting their entwined wars with different motivations. (AP) Trump “has been asserting blunt power over Israel in a way no other president has in decades,” and Netanyahu has found few sympathetic ears among members of the GOP, which Trump controls entirely. (Washington Post) Trump has had less success controlling the reality of the stalemate between Iran and the US since he began this war in late February. (NYT) Meanwhile: Oil prices spiked yesterday but pulled back after Iran and Israel said they’d stop trading attacks. (CNBC) New US government stats show that US airlines spent 78 percent more on fuel in April than they did during the same period a year before. (AP)

Boos news: Knicks fans booed Trump vigorously when he attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York last night. (NBC News) “It was, I think, mostly cheers,” is how Trump remembered the incident. (AP) His visit imposed great security restrictions near Madison Square Garden—no one was able to walk near the arena, which sits above part of Penn Station, without train tickets or Knicks tickets, and a planned watch party outside MSG was canceled. (NBC New York) The Knicks lost. (Athletic)

A Hill to climb: Trump formally nominated Todd Blanche to become attorney general. Tensions between Blanche and Senate Republicans over his part in Trump’s apparently thwarted $1.8 billion slush fund and the release of files about the deceased, disgraced financier Jeffery Epstein could complicate his confirmation. (NYT) A single Republican no vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which includes US Senator John Cornyn of Texas—whose primary defeat Trump recently engineered—could sink Blanche’s nomination. (Politico) And a deal to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires Friday, remains in doubt because Trump picked Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence. (Politico) Some GOP lawmakers expressed qualms about Trump’s defense of the fund after Blanche said DOJ wouldn’t move forward with it. (NBC News)

Almost Heaven can wait: The administration squashed criminal inquiries into coal businesses controlled by Republican US Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia. (ProPublica) Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said he’d referred Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, both Democrats, to DOJ for criminal investigation over what Vance said was social-services fraud in their state. (NBC News)

Administration perambulation: A federal judge in Massachusetts threw out the administration’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applicants. The White House signaled it would appeal. (NYT) The Pentagon re-categorized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Christian denomination after backlash from LDS lawmakers. (Politico) The administration will seek to denaturalize 17 US citizens, the largest-ever such effort. (CBS News) In a social media post, Trump called for US Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough to be fired. (Hill) Vance added a henhouse shaped like his residence—and 12 chicks—to the US Naval Observatory. (AP)

A Glenstone day trip, by Daniella Byck:

We’re spoiled with world-class museums in DC, but there’s another drive-worthy option nearby: Glenstone, the massive temple of contemporary art and sleek architecture in Potomac. Like Smithsonian Institution facilities, the complex is free to access (though you must reserve tickets in advance), with an incredible collection of mind-bending works from legendary artists (think: Alexander Calder, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama). You’ll want to see the grounds—especially Jeff Koons’s living sculpture “Split-Rocker”—as much as the galleries, but the indoor/outdoor aspect of the museum offers some flexibility if it’s hot or raining. Guided nature walks are a lovely half-mile stroll across streams and structures, leaving from the Pavilions Overlook at 1 PM. But this luddite’s favorite feature? No photos are allowed in the galleries, and the rule is enforced, so your view isn’t ruined by an errant iPhone.

Recently on Washingtonian dot com:

• Protect yourself from ticks this summer, because they want to eat you.

• A trip to Rockville’s Gourmet Bazaar offers a tour of Iranian cuisine via stews, sandwiches, and groceries.

Local news links:

• The Kennedy Center removed Trump’s name from its website. It’s still on the building. (Washington Post)

• The Office of Management and Budget hopes to force the Smithsonian Institution to spend money according to the administration’s priorities. (NOTUS)

• DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson unveiled his own version of a budget, which restores social spending on some programs to which Mayor Muriel Bowser had proposed cuts. (WAMU)

• The DC Board of Ethics and Government Accountability censured Council member Trayon White for failing to file required financial disclosures and fined him $900. (WTOP)

• Accused hair-touching Metro creep Bryan Betancur‘s trial will begin next month. (WUSA9)

• An electrical fire in a tunnel near the Medical Center Metro station injured six workers. (MoCoShow)

• A school bus hit a tree in Frederick County. The driver was airlifted to a hospital. (DC News Now)

• Police in Prince William County said a drunk driver struck a police vehicle while cops conducted a separate DUI arrest. (WUSA9)

• A lawn mower caught on fire in Falls Church. (DC News Now)

• The years-long work on the GW Parkway’s northern end is finally complete. (WTOP)

• Copperhead snakes are biting people earlier this year. (ABC 7)

Tuesday’s event picks:

• The first of this summer’s Sunset Parades takes place at the US Marine Corps War Memorial this evening.

• The Picnic Theatre Company presents a parody performance of “My Favorite Year” at la Maison Française.

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

The post Knicks Fans Boo Trump, JD Vance Installs Chicken Coop, and Years-Long GW Parkway Work Ends first appeared on Washingtonian.

As a kid, Navid Nasseri ran a sort of analog version of Instacart in his Tehran neighborhood. The nine-year-old would go door to door taking down lists of what his neighbors wanted from local markets. Then he’d deliver them on his bike, tacking on a percentage to make it worth his while.

Years later, Nasseri’s family moved to the US, and he began working in construction after high school. But the grocery business, he says, was still in his system. In 2013, Navid sold his brother Nasser, a rheumatologist, on the idea of opening a store together. They hired three employees and launched Gourmet Bazaar in Rockville’s Woodmont Station strip mall.

Three years ago, they moved a mile up the road to their current location, a major upgrade. Walking through the aisles is like getting a tour of Iranian cuisine: borage petals; chicory water; crisp bunches of dill and mint; dried plums, dates, and oleaster fruit so rich they have to be refrigerated; eye-catching displays of roasted nuts and melon seeds; and huge scrolls of freshly baked flatbread.

But at lunchtime, most customers walk straight past all this to the prepared-food counter.

There’s a pan of ash reshteh, a vernal soup of beans, greens, and noodles, topped with dried mint, fried onions, and strained yogurt. You can also find many traditional Persian meat stews, each of which incorporates its own artful juxtaposition of ingredients, such as gheimeh (split peas, tomatoes, and dried limes), ghormeh sabzi (dark greens, fenugreek leaves, and kidney beans), and fesenjan (walnuts and pomegranate molasses). They all come with rice and the most irresistible bite in Iranian cooking: tahdig, the crispy rice from the bottom of the pot.

The ground-meat koobideh kebab is worth a try too, but what sets Gourmet Bazaar’s hot-food counter apart is how deep it ventures into the Iranian home-cooking catalog.

“Anybody can go and get kebab,” Nasseri says, “but if you ever wanted to get some kind of stew before, you had to call around and see if anybody’s running any specials.”

Gourmet Bazaar packages both stews and kebabs in unusual and somewhat unwieldy shoebox-like containers that will make you feel as if you’re bringing home something expensive from a department store.

The place also excels at representing Iran’s syncretic sandwich culture. You can order a soft sub roll filled with mortadella, slices of kuku sabzi (a verdant herb frittata), or dollops of mayo-and-potato-based Olivier salad. Another sandwich option is the sosis bandari, a tangy fry-up of sausage, peppers, and onions that was invented in a Persian Gulf port city but reminded me of a sub I once ate at an Italian deli in Philadelphia. On that same note, the grill cooks here also make a surprisingly great cheesesteak.

The war in Iran has brought obvious logistical challenges for a shop that sources more than 6,000 Middle Eastern products, many of which are shipped through the United Arab Emirates.

“For the time being, we have enough, but I have no idea what’s going to happen two or three months from now,” Nasseri says.

Some Iranian Americans hope the war will bring about a regime change, but Nasseri says the prevailing mood among his customers is painful uncertainty. Because of the internet blackout in Iran, he can’t communicate with his family there. But the conflict does seem to have brought Nasseri’s customers closer together.

“My Persian customers, they’re not happy at all,” Nasseri says, “and our American customers, they all tell me that they’re sorry that this has happened to Iran.”

This article appears in the June 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

The post This Iranian Market in Rockville Offers Traditional Stews and Lesser-Known Sandwiches first appeared on Washingtonian.

Show your Pride spirit at Washington Blade’s annual waterfront gathering. Also, FIFA World Cup takes over the DC area with soccer parties, live match broadcasts, and family-friendly festivals.

Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend

June 8–14

1. 1. Pride on the Pier. Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier is back. Head to District Pier to dance to the beats of a live DJ, check out performances, and enjoy lively activities (Sat, free, Wharf).
   2. FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Zone. World Cup watch parties and screenings are popping up all around town. Soccer fans can cheer on Team USA as they compete against Paraguay, Australia, and others live from the National Mall. All ages are invited to watch select FIFA World Cup matches on a massive screen between 3rd Street and 4th Street, NW. There are also food concessions to buy snacks (Thurs through July 17, free, National Mall).
   3. DC United’s United in Play Soccer. If you’re looking for a local take on FIFA watch parties, DC United is throwing two weekend celebrations where families can jump into the soccer fun. Find broadcasts of the matches, soccer activities for kids, bites from local food vendors, and music at Franklin Park and Tingey Plaza (Fri-Sun, June 19-21, free, Downtown, Navy Yard).
   4. Jill Scott concert. Iconic neo-soul vocalist Jill Scott arrives in DC to promote her new project To Whom This May Concern—her first album in nearly a decade (Thurs-Sun, June 23, $215+, MGM National Harbor).
   5. Eat 250. As the country marks its 250th birthday with celebrations, exhibits, and history talks, DC’s culinary scene joins the commemorations with dining deals, chef-curated dinners, and food and drink tastings. Savor Japanese, Italian, and Ethiopian delights at Marcus DC, Maketto, Union Market and several other eateries during EAT250: America at the Table (Sun through June 28, $25+, various participating locations).

Want More Things to Do?

Arts and culture:

• This exhibit considers America’s next 50 years of innovation. Check out “The Spirit of 2076” to see how innovation will impact the future (ongoing, free, Downtown).
• View a screening of artist Coco Fusco’s film To Live in June with your Tongue Hanging Out followed by a fireside chat with scholars at Hopkins Bloomberg Center (Mon, free with required registration, Penn Quarter).
• Poetry, music, and storytelling come together at Busboys and Poets’ Pride celebration (Wed, $21, Cardozo).
• Watch more than 60 documentaries and shorts at DC/DOX Film Festival (Thurs-Sun, $225 for festival pass, $18.89 for individual pass, various participating DC locations).
• Best-selling writer Ben Fountain speaks about his new political satire Rasputin Swims the Potomac (Fri, free, virtual, Northwest DC).
• Explore Central Asian history and landscapes through the lens of film and installation artist Saodat Ismailova (Sat through November 29, free, Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art).

Community and heritage:

• The US Marine Drum & Bugle Corps and the US Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon kick off their traditional Sunset Parades this week (select Tues through August 11, free, Arlington).
• Capital Jewish Museum marks the 150th anniversary of the first purpose-built synagogue in DC with a history exhibition (Wed, free, registration required, Downtown).
• Take a guided tour through U Street’s Black Broadway queer history with Off the Mall Tours and the Rainbow History Project (Fri, $30, U Street Corridor).
• At Gays & Graves, visitors can learn about the LGBTQ+ activists and pioneers who are buried at the Historic Congressional Cemetery (Sun, free, Capitol Hill).
• Tour beautiful lavender and wildflower fields while listening to live music at Lavender Days Festival (Sat-Sun, $25, Mechanicsville).

Theater and shows:

• Laugh at this parody performance of My Favorite Year at the Embassy of France La Maison Française (Tues, $12, Georgetown).
• Relive the music of ’90s supergroup TLC in the new production Crazy Sexy Cool at Arena Stage (Fri through August 9, $83+, Southwest DC).

Music and concerts:

• Rock out with Amyl and the Sniffers (Wed, $62+, Wharf).
• Come dressed like your favorite Black Pink, BTS, or Stray Kids artist at Union Stage’s K-pop and K-EDM night (Fri, $21, Wharf).
• Sing along to feel-good hits from Bleachers at Merriweather Post Pavilion (Fri, $56+, Columbia).
• Sing Democracy 250 performs two new works: “Redeem the Dream” by Brandon A. Boyd and “US” by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm (Sat, $16+, DAR Constitution Hall).
• Vans Warped Tour continues the punk rock mania at a two-day summer showcase featuring more than 80 live acts (Sat-Sun, $199+ for two-day admission, RFK Festival Grounds).

Sports:

• This summer is all about soccer. Watch World Cup matches on the Wharf’s Jumbotron screen (Thurs-June 19, free, Wharf).
• UFC Freedom 250 brings live mixed-martial arts to the Ellipse as well as athlete meet-and-greets and music (Sat-Sun, free, The Ellipse).

Things to do with kids:

• Kiddos can ride the carousel, watch a puppet show, snack on rainbow treats, play on the playground, and more at Pride Family Day (Sat, free, rsvp encouraged, Glen Echo).
• Take the family to Workhouse Arts Center’s Summer Block Party for gymnastics activities, artist demos, and a behind-the-scenes look at SpongeBob the Musical (Sat, free, Lorton).

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 27 Things to Do in the DC Area This Week and Weekend first appeared on Washingtonian.

Hey if you’re in dc and you’re spending lots of time outside you need to check yourself for ticks regularly there’s a 500% increase in ticks this year and yesterday me and my friends found 3 on our clothes after hanging out in dupont circle

— Organizermemes (@OrganizerMemes) June 1, 2026

The moderator of the OrganizerMemes X account, who asked to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns, told Washingtonian about his recent tick encounter. (Yes, it happened in Dupont Circle! Not even in the woods! We’re talking city parks here, people.) “We were just walking around, enjoying the few days of livable, bearable weather in DC before it gets too humid,” he recalls. “And we’re just sitting, chatting, and I was like, ‘Something’s biting me.’ ” He and his friends went home, checked each other for more creepy-crawlies, and fortunately disposed of the offenders before they had a chance to gorge on any precious blood. I am coming to you with this tale as a native of eastern Connecticut, the mystical land where Lyme disease symptoms were first documented and I learned to fear ticks above serial killers: It could have been you.

First, some news that will feel good to read: That 500-percent-increase figure cited in the OrganizerMemes post is probably not legit, just because it’s virtually impossible to quantify exactly how many ticks are out there. “We just don’t have that data in regards to the population,” says Tom Dobrinksa, a board-certified entomologist and a resident tick expert for the pest control company Terminix. “But what we can do is refer to the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and kind of look at some of the trends.” The CDC reported in April that the US is seeing more tick bite-related emergency room visits this year than we have since 2017.

In fact, ticks have been on the up-and-up locally and beyond for the past several years. CDC data shows a 57 percent jump in DC Lyme disease cases between 2012 and 2023—and that’s only what has been reported. Why is this happening to us? It has a lot to do with climate change, Dobrinska explains. Warmer winters, wet springs, and high humidity all make for environmental conditions that are friendly to both ticks and the host animals that they’re attracted to, like deer and raccoons. “That means that peak season now starts a little earlier, and it also is going to end a little later,” he says. Ticks can technically find you in the off-season, but April through September is considered their busiest time of year. “We’re going to probably have another surge in late summer based on their life cycles,” Dobrinska adds. Here is what you need to know about these little demons and how to protect yourself.

What kinds of ticks are in DC?

“I’ve never lived in a place that has ticks,” OrganizerMemes says. When he posted about his Dupont Circle experience, “all of a sudden, all these people were asking me questions about whether it was a tick or a beetle, and then they were mad at me for not knowing.” It sounds like our city needs a primer on what kinds of ticks tend to live in these parts, what they look like, and what diseases they carry.

Deer ticks: These fellas are best known for their transmission of Lyme disease, but they also carry other bacterial infections like babesiosis and anaplasmosis. They are about the size of a sesame seed. Females have a reddish-brown abdomen, while males are solid black or brown. Also known as black-legged ticks.

Lone star ticks: These are the creatures behind what Dobrinska calls the “disease du jour”—alpha-gal syndrome, which causes a severe allergy to red meat. They are reddish-brown in color. Females have a single white dot on their backs, while males boast white streaks or scattered spots.

American dog ticks: These freaks are the largest of the “big three” local tick types. They start at around 4 millimeters long, and I’m not even going to get into how big they grow once they start feeding. They are also reddish-brown; males tend to have white markings all along their backs, while these patterns are concentrated around the head in females. They are famous for giving humans Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and as their name suggests, they quite enjoy the blood of dogs.

How can you protect yourself from ticks?

Now that you know a little more about our local tick population, you need to understand how they move. “They’re starting low because [when] the eggs are deposited, they fall onto the ground,” Dobrinska explains. They’re “coming from the soil, and they are working their way up” to about two or three inches above the dirt. Tick bites typically happen when you’re rubbing up against vegetation—say, lying in tall grass or walking through the woods. But emerging science suggests that you don’t even need to be physically touching any plant life to get nipped. New research shows that ticks, which cannot jump or fly, apparently harness static electricity to hop a number of millimeters away onto a host. “If you just even come close to that vegetation, they can actually be transmitted that way, which is mind-boggling and diabolical,” Dobrinska says.

If you’re going for a romp in nature, you can buy permethrin spray to deter ticks. “Keep in mind, you don’t want to treat your skin with permethrin,” Dobrinska says. “You’re only putting that on your clothes.” Speaking of clothes, conventional wisdom suggests wearing long sleeves and long pants outside during peak tick season. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to do that,” Dobrinska admits, given the summer heat. But you should at least consider sticking to long pants if you plan to rub up on any vegetation, and especially if you’re venturing into the woods. He also recommends checking out the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of registered repellants, and be sure to review the application instructions on the packaging—some go directly on your skin while others are meant only for clothing, and you might end up with a rash if you cross those wires.

If you’re a homeowner, be sure to keep your grass cut short. As we head into fall, stay on top of raking your lawn, since ticks tend to thrive in leaf litter. In fact, they enjoy all manner of shady environments, so consider moving your kid’s playscape into direct sunlight. Avoid stacking piles of rocks and wood, since those can also foster a cool and humid environment, and mind any bird feeders—seed spillover will attract rodents, which will attract ticks. “If it’s something that’s beyond your control, homeowners can always hire a licensed professional that’s familiar with tick biology and the best application practices as well,” Dobrinska adds.

How should you check for ticks?

I am drawing from personal experience when I say that you should really be checking yourself (and your pets!) for ticks whenever you go outside this time of year. If possible, it’s best to bathe within two hours after returning home from an outdoor excursion so you can more easily spot and remove ticks.

Let’s say you have just spent a sunny afternoon lying in your preferred patch of local grass, and now that you’re inside, you’d like to ensure that you do not contract any tick-borne illnesses. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1. Find a buddy. If you must, skip this step and opt for a mirror, but it is easier to perform a thorough sweep when you have a friend to check your work. It can also be a great bonding experience, and is perhaps the most health-conscious way to flirt with a picnic date.

Step 2. Inspect each part of your body, but focus on the “moist and humid” areas, as Dobrinska describes them—armpits, thighs, inside your belly button, behind your knees, and importantly, around the neck where your hair meets your skin. “You’re just looking for something maybe a little smaller than an appleseed, something that’s smooth, and it’s sedentary, too,” he says. “It’s just going to be there. It’s not going to be moving around.”

Step 3. Carefully examine any clothing, gear, or pets that accompanied you outside. If you find a tick on your clothes, tumble-dry them on high heat for about ten minutes (longer if they’re already damp). If you need to wash those clothes anyway, do it in hot water. This should kill the tick.

If you find a tick, take it off with tweezers. This is important. “Make sure that you’re avoiding crushing that tick on your fingers, because you could cause a secondary infection if you have some sore or something that’s open,” Dobrinska explains. If you are hanging out at a park, spy a tick on your skin, and don’t have your tweezers handy, go straight home and remove it appropriately. Infection transmission is time-sensitive and “you still want to get it as soon as possible,” he adds, but a 30-minute trip home to acquire the right gear is “probably negligible.” It’s also possible that you’ll remove a tick but its mouthparts will still be embedded in your skin. In that case, call a doctor.

Once you take the tick off your skin, you have a few disposal options—remember that stomping on them can release infected fluids. Consider filling a plastic bag with rubbing alcohol and dropping the tick inside. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, you can just seal the empty bag shut. You might also flush it down the toilet.

“The key for me is keeping your head on a swivel, knowing what to look out for when you’re taking hikes and things like that, and knowing how to prevent it in the first place, especially in your backyard and making sure you’re wearing the right repellents,” Dobrinska says. In other words, know your enemy. “It’s always ‘mosquitoes, mosquitoes,’ but if we’re talking about transmission of pathogens that cause diseases, in the United States, it’s the ticks that are going to be responsible for 90 percent of that. Don’t underestimate them.”

The post There Are So Many Ticks in DC Right Now. Here’s How to Protect Yourself From Their Wrath. first appeared on Washingtonian.