Up in smoke: D.C. officials crackdown on unlicensed marijuana “gift shops”

By Katherine Wilkison

I-71 legalized the possession and consumption of up to two ounces of cannabis, as well as the “transfer” of up to one ounce as long as the recipient is 21 years or older and no money is exchanged for the cannabis. Its passage led to the opening of dozens of “gift shops” that “gift” customers cannabis in exchange for the purchase of items like stickers, postcards, and t-shirts. Now, the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are cracking down on I-71 shops. This comes as residents, government officials, and even legal medical dispensary owners have grown fed up with the unlicensed stores, which are untaxed and not subject to safety regulations.

Through sorrow and rage, students and faculty hold vigils mourning the 42,000 Palestinians killed by Israel

By Samantha Monteiro, Dolce Coury, and Izzy Wagner

On Oct. 8 and 9, Students for Justice in Palestine and the Georgetown Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine held vigils in remembrance of the Palestinians Israel has killed since Oct. 7, 2023. 

One year after Oct. 7, Georgetown’s Jewish community reflects and remembers in memorial services

By Franziska Wild and Sydney Carroll

Following a Yizkor Memorial Service held by Jewish Life, Georgetown Israel Alliance hosted a student-led memorial to commemorate the 1,200 people killed by Hamas the evening of Oct. 7, 2024 on the Healy Steps.

Forced to leave Shanghai, a beloved bookstore is finding a new home in Dupont

By Eileen Chen

D.C. has long been a home for mom and pop bookstores, often nestled in the nooks and crannies of the city. On Labor Day, one more store joined the city’s lineup of iconic bookshops: JF Books, D.C.’s first and only Chinese-language bookstore.

“Fighting for our lives”: Environmental justice in the nation’s capital

By Alexandra Risi and Chih-Rong Kuo

Historic policy decisions have created lasting environmental impacts in cities across America, including D.C., that disproportionately affect Black and lower-income households. Nonetheless, the fight for environmental justice is a collaborative effort, and organizations like the Potomac Riverkeeper Network and Empower D.C. cannot do it alone.

Thirty feet below the streets, The Washington Ballet brings the affect of high society to Dupont

By Aidan Monroe and Zachary Warren

Once abandoned by the city and left to collect dust, the old underground streetcar tunnels are now home to a one-of-a-kind performance venue known—quite appropriately—as Dupont Underground. And for the first weekend of October, The Washington Ballet brought its talents to the space with the latest show in its Dance for All series.

Love Is Blind Season 7 is a half-apt portrait of the District and its dating scene

By Aminah Malik

D.C. has long been known as one of the worst dating scenes in the country, but the reality show is hoping to bring some happy endings to the city. On Oct. 2, Netflix released the first six episodes on streaming, introducing audiences to the 30 singles seeking love this season. The season sets itself up to somehow both encapsulate the District’s dating pitfalls yet be unrepresentative of real life in D.C.

D.C. theater shines a satirical spotlight on politics

By Sofia Kemeny and Hailey Wharram

While D.C. is known for its political nature, its professional culture often overshadows its concurrent status as a stronghold for the arts. The bustling, politically in-tune D.C. theater scene easily rivals those seen in Chicago and Los Angeles in terms of its quality, diversity, and generation of original productions. Though the buttoned-up and costume-donning sides of D.C. seemingly operate parallel to one another, in reality, local creatives are perpetually in conversation with the happenings on Capitol Hill. 

Is Jayden Daniels the answer for the Commanders?

By Bradshaw Cate

There’s an electric energy to this year’s Washington Commanders team. The organization has new team owners and new head coach Dan Quinn, who has Super Bowl experience. With the Commanders now sitting at 4-1, there is finally real hope for this team after decades of mediocrity. And that spark starts with the fiery play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. 

Beyond the pros: D.C. rec leagues are bringing sports to everyone

By Anna Cordova

Washington, D.C. is home to several well-known professional sports teams, including the Washington Wizards, Washington Commanders, and Washington Spirit. Yet, beyond the field of Northwest Stadium and the court of Capital One Arena, a dynamic network of youth and adult recreational leagues flourishes. 

Hardcore or hard to find? What happened to alternative rock bands in D.C.

By Elaine Clarke

Back in the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s, D.C. was the place to be if you were a hardcore punk band. Bands like Bad Brains and Minor Threat, known for their fast and aggressive music paired with politically charged lyricism, found fame in our nation’s capital. But today, it seems like D.C.-grown hardcore bands are harder to come by and like most alternative bands don’t even stop in the District.

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