All Access

Washington D.C.

blue

A guide to fun things to do in D.C. this weekend.

Axios D.C. Weekender

Weekender

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Washington, DC. Written by Anna Spiegel and Cuneyt Dil.

Axios D.C. Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios D.C.

Standard

D.C. Alerts

Alert

Washington, DC Members

Membership

The mysterious dog illness sweeping headlines has landed in Maryland

Experts know very little about the disease, which has kennel cough-like symptoms.

News

The biggest money-making speed cameras in D.C.

One speed camera recorded $3.8 million in the first half of 2023.

D.C.'s best holiday pop-up bars

Hot cocktails, faux snow and Christmas music.

Things to Do

13 must-see holiday light displays around D.C.

What to know about the new COVID vaccines in D.C.

The shots should be available starting this week.

Updated COVID vaccines were <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="just recommended" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="c6d934fc-e67f-409d-9039-4bb23d240c3b" data-vars-headline="What to know about the new COVID vaccines in D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" target="_self">just recommended</a> by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and should be available to D.C. residents starting this week.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID hospitalizations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/08/21/covid-summer-wave-eg5" data-vars-content-id="c6d934fc-e67f-409d-9039-4bb23d240c3b" data-vars-headline="What to know about the new COVID vaccines in D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/08/21/covid-summer-wave-eg5" target="_self">COVID hospitalizations</a> are rising around D.C. and the country and the new round of vaccines will be available for anyone ages six months or older.

an illustration of three vaccines surrounded by circles and legal imagery 

COVID is clawing its way back around D.C.

We're trending above the nationwide average rate of hospitalizations.

More people around the D.C. area are wearing masks again while out and about — even outdoors.<ul><li>That&#x27;s because <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/11/latest-covid-strain-seattle" data-vars-content-id="2aee0d79-e2a5-4b65-80d1-5c81b6c0a38f" data-vars-headline="COVID is clawing its way back around D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/11/latest-covid-strain-seattle" target="_self">COVID-19</a> is back on the upswing, according to closely watched metrics.</li></ul>

How the 988 crisis hotline is faring in D.C.

Most Americans still aren't aware the 988 national suicide prevention and mental health hotline exists.

Health

More than 35% of calls made to the 988 crisis hotline in D.C. between April and May were redirected outside the District, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kff.org/other/issue-brief/taking-a-look-at-988-suicide-crisis-lifeline-implementation-one-year-after-launch/" data-vars-content-id="8ddf1b5b-fa95-4de2-bad1-f8f76550e20b" data-vars-headline="How the 988 crisis hotline is faring in D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kff.org/other/issue-brief/taking-a-look-at-988-suicide-crisis-lifeline-implementation-one-year-after-launch/" target="_blank">new analysis</a> from health research outlet KFF.Why it matters: When calls are transferred to another locality because the local hotline center is unavailable or the wait time is too long, it becomes much harder for those specialists to locate nearby services for people in crisis.

Why you shouldn't throw away your Maryland medical marijuana card

Medical cards provide benefits to patients beyond what recreational consumers can get.

Medical marijuana cardholders in Maryland should hang onto those cards even after July 1.Why it matters: Maryland&#x27;s recreational marijuana market is slated to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="begin sales next month" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/04/11/maryland-weed-market-marijuana-legalized" data-vars-content-id="ebbd354c-196f-4a39-9b7c-296c63c495ef" data-vars-headline="Why you shouldn&#x27;t throw away your Maryland medical marijuana card" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/04/11/maryland-weed-market-marijuana-legalized" target="_self">begin sales next month</a>, but the medical market isn&#x27;t going away — and provides benefits to patients beyond what recreational consumers can get.

Cancer deaths drop in D.C.

The death rate was 423.9 between 1996 and 2003. It dropped to 163.9 between 2012 and 2020.

Cancer deaths in D.C. dropped 61% over the past quarter century, higher than typical declines nationwide, according to a study published in the journal Cancer.<ul><li>The study shows <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cancer deaths" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/13/acs-cancer-deaths-fall-chart" data-vars-content-id="074823b1-9e1d-4da5-ba9a-53981f3900cf" data-vars-headline="Cancer deaths drop in D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/13/acs-cancer-deaths-fall-chart" target="_self">cancer deaths</a> declined <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in every congressional district" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/09/cancer-congressional-district-mapped" data-vars-content-id="074823b1-9e1d-4da5-ba9a-53981f3900cf" data-vars-headline="Cancer deaths drop in D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/09/cancer-congressional-district-mapped" target="_self">in every congressional district</a>, typically between 20% and 45% among men and 10% and 40% among women, writes Axios Health reporter Tina Reed.</li></ul>

Body scans could be Washington's new status symbol

MRI group Prenuvo recently opened its first local clinic in Bethesda.

Watch out, Washington: We might have a new status symbol.<ul><li>Out: Posting pictures with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tinx at Tammy Haddad&#x27;s annual garden brunch" data-vars-click-url="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2023/04/30/the-best-lines-and-spotteds-from-whcd-00094553" data-vars-content-id="28f6e362-1588-470e-9a7a-07447a0bbeea" data-vars-headline="Body scans could be Washington&#x27;s new status symbol" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2023/04/30/the-best-lines-and-spotteds-from-whcd-00094553" target="_blank">Tinx at Tammy Haddad&#x27;s annual garden brunch</a> during White House Correspondents&#x27; weekend. In: Posting pictures of yourself <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="posing in scrubs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvszJqGyfqr/" data-vars-content-id="28f6e362-1588-470e-9a7a-07447a0bbeea" data-vars-headline="Body scans could be Washington&#x27;s new status symbol" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvszJqGyfqr/" target="_blank">posing in scrubs</a> by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Prenuvo" data-vars-click-url="https://www.prenuvo.com/" data-vars-content-id="28f6e362-1588-470e-9a7a-07447a0bbeea" data-vars-headline="Body scans could be Washington&#x27;s new status symbol" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.prenuvo.com/" target="_blank">Prenuvo</a> MRI machine.</li></ul>

An image of Prenuvo's MRI machine in a treatment room.

What's going on with D.C.'s Narcan vending machines

Checking in on the harm reduction pilot that launched this spring.

D.C.&#x27;s harm-reduction vending machines have pumped out at least 2,800 distributions of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Narcan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/30/narcan-nasal-spray-fda-approval-naloxone" data-vars-content-id="b5098ebb-41dc-4a23-b77a-f5032d744b9a" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s going on with D.C.&#x27;s Narcan vending machines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/30/narcan-nasal-spray-fda-approval-naloxone" target="_self">Narcan</a>, Fentanyl tests, and other protective items since a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pilot program" data-vars-click-url="https://dchealth.dc.gov/release/new-vending-machines-provide-life-saving-products-naloxone-along-wellness-products-district" data-vars-content-id="b5098ebb-41dc-4a23-b77a-f5032d744b9a" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s going on with D.C.&#x27;s Narcan vending machines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dchealth.dc.gov/release/new-vending-machines-provide-life-saving-products-naloxone-along-wellness-products-district" target="_blank">pilot program</a> launched last spring.Why it matters: With opioid overdoses at an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="all-time high" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/us-overdose-deaths-cdc-3c3848da5f8aa01d7b9f232ba5a34152" data-vars-content-id="b5098ebb-41dc-4a23-b77a-f5032d744b9a" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s going on with D.C.&#x27;s Narcan vending machines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/us-overdose-deaths-cdc-3c3848da5f8aa01d7b9f232ba5a34152" target="_blank">all-time high</a>, more communities are investing in innovative and low-cost intervention efforts — like vending machines stocked with free medical supplies — to help save lives.

The D.C. steakhouse owner who's feeding thousands of locals in need

Mark Bucher's nonprofit is one of the area's few pandemic-born emergency response groups that's still active and expanding.

Food and Drink

cEveryone knows D.C.&#x27;s star chef-humanitarian José Andrés. But there&#x27;s another chef-tarian working to feed local families in need: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Medium Rare" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mediumrarerestaurant.com/" data-vars-content-id="57d9f7de-3dc6-4023-8ed0-eeeb2d6ec2ad" data-vars-headline="The D.C. steakhouse owner who&#x27;s feeding thousands of locals in need" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mediumrarerestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Medium Rare</a> restaurateur Mark Bucher.Why it matters: Bucher&#x27;s nonprofit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Feed the Fridge" data-vars-click-url="https://feedthefridge.org/" data-vars-content-id="57d9f7de-3dc6-4023-8ed0-eeeb2d6ec2ad" data-vars-headline="The D.C. steakhouse owner who&#x27;s feeding thousands of locals in need" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://feedthefridge.org/" target="_blank">Feed the Fridge</a> is one of Washington&#x27;s few pandemic-born emergency response organizations that&#x27;s still active and expanding.

Health 🩺

What to know about the new COVID vaccines in D.C.

COVID is clawing its way back around D.C.

How the 988 crisis hotline is faring in D.C.

Why you shouldn't throw away your Maryland medical marijuana card

Cancer deaths drop in D.C.