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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Washington, DC. Written by Chelsea Cirruzzo, Cuneyt Dil and Paige Hopkins.

Axios D.C. Thought Bubble

Axios D.C.

Dating can be expensive, but you don’t have to spend a ton of money to have a good time.

Whether you’re on a first date or have been together for years, here are some affordable date ideas under $25.

Snag a swing along the pier then roast s'mores at the fire pit or grab a bite from one of the area's many eateries.

Best for: Couples who appreciate the waterfront.

Details: Enjoy a drink with a view at nearby Cantina Bambina, one of our favorite rooftop bars. 

Pack a DIY cheese board and head to the National Mall or Tidal Basin. Partake in some people-watching as you dine on the romantic spread.

Best for: Those who like playing tourist in their own city.

Details: Keep up the momentum with one of these local walking trails.

Children sit in front of the Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial. Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images.

Ted's Bulletin offers a variety of boozy and traditional shakes. Share the Irish Caramel Coffee or Key Lime Pie with coconut rum.

Cost: $12.99 per boozy shake; traditional shakes start at $7.99+.

Details: The modern American restaurant has several locations around the greater D.C. area. Check them out.

Ted's Bulletin. Photo: Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images.

3 D.C. date ideas under $25

Enjoy a day at The Wharf. Photo: Oliver Contreras/The Washington Post via Getty Images.

Washington, D.C.

Dating can be expensive, but you don’t have to spend a ton of money to have a good time.<ul><li>Whether you’re on a first date or have been together for years, here are some affordable date ideas under $25.</li></ul>

Food and Drink

Things to Do

Did someone say rooftop? Enjoy a drink with a view at these spots while the weather is warm. 

Why it matters: There's just something special about drinking on a rooftop with a warm summer breeze. Instant serotonin. 

Details: A whimsical gin garden serving colorful cocktails on Capitol Hill.

Go when: You want to dress up or grab a celebratory drink.

Two different cocktails in front of a grass wall

Lush greenery. Photo courtesy of The Betsy.

Details: A retro gamer's dream with an elevator to its rooftop with views of 14th St. 

Best for: When drinking outside seems like a good idea in theory, but you may want to steal away to the air-conditioned basement bar to cool down. 

Details: A laid-back, waterfront getaway at the Wharf with a partially covered roof deck.

Perks: Craft cocktails not speaking to you? DIY a margarita with any tequila on the menu.

Someone holds a beer with a Washington Nationals hat in front of the wharf

Cheers! Photo courtesy of Cantina Bambina.

Details: An expansive, green part-bar, part-eatery, part-events space atop Union Market.

Who to go with: Come with a large group of friends and lounge on the lawn if you can't snag a picnic table.  

Don't miss: If you want even more rooftop content, check out Barred in DC's comprehensive guide to all D.C. rooftops. It's also available in map form. 

4 must-try rooftop bars in Washington, D.C.

Did someone say rooftop? Enjoy a drink with a view at these spots while the weather is warm.

Boats and buildings on the wharf in Washington DC

The Wharf. Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Did someone say rooftop? Enjoy a drink with a view at these spots while the weather is warm. Why it matters: There&#x27;s just something special about drinking on a rooftop with a warm summer breeze. Instant serotonin.

Data: U.S. Census American Community Survey. Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios

The pandemic likely shaved a few minutes off your drive to work.

What's happening: The average one-way commute in Washington, D.C., was 4.6 minutes shorter in 2021 compared to 2019, per the latest U.S. Census data.

Commutes decreased the most in D.C., Boston, and San Francisco.

Why it matters: More people working from home and fewer commuting by car have reshaped the traditional back-and-forth.

Nearly half, or 48.3%, of workers in Washington, D.C., worked mainly from home in 2021 — the highest percentage of remote workers in the country, according to the data.

Between the lines: Traffic congestion is down about 27% across the downtowns in major U.S. cities compared to pre-pandemic levels, reports Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick.

Nationwide, the average one-way trip to work was two minutes shorter than in 2019, per the census data.

What we're watching: For those who do go back in, flexible work arrangements make it easier to avoid rush hour and cut back on some of the stress around commuting, research firm Moody’s Analytics senior director Adam Kamis told Axios.

Go deeper: The number of people working remotely tripled during COVID

Your D.C. commute may have gotten shorter

More people working from home and fewer commuting by car have reshaped the traditional back-and-forth.

The pandemic likely shaved a few minutes off your drive to work.What&#x27;s happening: The average one-way commute in Washington, D.C., was 4.6 minutes shorter in 2021 compared to 2019, per the latest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Census data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/people-working-from-home.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&amp;stream=top#_ga=2.73988241.2035717673.1665499575-amp-nRoaB8glk6WrcNozOf8Dpw" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/people-working-from-home.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&amp;stream=top#_ga=2.73988241.2035717673.1665499575-amp-nRoaB8glk6WrcNozOf8Dpw" target="_blank">U.S. Census data</a>.

News

A total of 17,300 mixed-use apartments have been completed in Washington, D.C., since 2012, per a report from RentCafe, a nationwide apartment search website.

Why it matters: The report found that rental communities that include residential, office, and retail space gained a foothold in the last decade, especially as the pandemic heightened renters' preference for having daily activities close at hand.

Between the lines: D.C.'s propensity for new neighborhoods has led to the creation of so many live-work-play communities.

One example is CityRidge, the development near Tenleytown that's home to D.C.'s first Wegmans. The 10-acre development combines apartments, offices, retail, and restaurants. 

Areas popular among D.C. millennials, such as CityCenter and The Wharf, have also become top live-work-play destinations.

Buzzard Point is likely to be the next such area with thousands of new apartments planned as part of a mixed-use project for the Southwest neighborhood.

Zoom out: The number of apartments in "live-work-play" buildings nationwide has quadrupled from 10 years ago, from 10,000 completed in 2012 to 43,700 in 2021, according to Yardi Matrix data.

What's next: The D.C. metro region is projected to see more than 12,000 new apartments this year, according to RentCafe.

The Washington area ranked ninth nationally for projected new apartment construction in 2022. Atlanta took the eighth spot and Los Angeles landed at ten. 

Good news: The new supply of units could eventually bring down rental prices, Axios' Jacob Knutson writes. 

The bottom line: Blending different types of real estate is one way cities are evolving in the era of remote and hybrid work.

D.C. is one of the top cities for live-work-play apartments

The number of apartments in "live-work-play" buildings nationwide has quadrupled from 10 years ago.

Illustration of an office cubicle with a roof like a house.

A total of 17,300 mixed-use apartments have been completed in Washington, D.C., since 2012, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report from RentCafe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/live-work-play-developments/" data-vars-content-id="ca280927-38f3-4884-9cb0-bfc49f7e4f7e" data-vars-headline="D.C. is one of the top cities for live-work-play apartments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/live-work-play-developments/" target="_blank">report from RentCafe</a>, a nationwide apartment search website.Why it matters: The report found that rental communities that include residential, office, and retail space gained a foothold in the last decade, especially as the pandemic heightened renters&#x27; preference for having daily activities close at hand.

Sami Sparber

Featured stories

Your D.C. commute may have gotten shorter

D.C. is one of the top cities for live-work-play apartments

3 D.C. date ideas under $25

4 must-try rooftop bars in Washington, D.C.