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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast DC

Tips and tricks by Washington, D.C., locals, for locals.

A D.C. public library card is as good as gold. It gives you free access to hundreds of activities and resources.  Also keep in mind that D.C. residents can double up and get a library card from any of the surrounding counties which each have their own set of resources!  Check out these seven unique things you can do with your DCPL card:

You get 10 play credits per month on the movie streaming service 

Stream unlimited music with your library card 

, which has thousands of titles like the Economist, Foreign Affairs, and Rolling Stone.

recording studio, green screen, or dance studio

 sessions to kick off your SoundCloud career. Crafters can access a wide array of online crafting tutorials through 

 like quilting, embroidery, bookbinding, and sewing, plus lots of free patterns.

, which has interactive courses and tutoring in over 70 languages.

 for residents who are homebound. Once registered, library staff get in touch, learn about your interests and send library materials for free.

 for information on local history. You can find everything from old photos to information on your home and everything in between. You can also use your card number to access Ancestry.com for free.

7 Free Things To Get With Your Library Card

DC Life Hacks

 – the popular concert series in the National Gallery’s sculpture garden – only has a few shows left this summer. We’ve finally got the event down to a science. Here are our top dos and don'ts, so you can make the most of the final performances.

If you are headed to the Dupont Brass concert this Friday (lucky you), make sure to check out 

 Because of its popularity, tickets this summer are being doled out in a free lottery system. Each concert has its own lottery which opens the week prior and closes on Friday. There are some additional passes available at the entrance gates starting at 5 p.m. on the day of, but these go VERY quick.

: Even with the lottery system, the entrance line gets long because of security. Arriving early means you get in quickly and can snag a prime spot in the shade.

 Unless you want to spend $10 on a mediocre pizza slice from the Pavilion Café, I suggest bringing your own food. There’s a Foxtrot and a Safeway by the Gallery Place Metro. Also, make sure to bring a blanket and chairs to sit on.

I know it’s tempting to roll a bottle of wine in that picnic blanket, but they check bags at the entrance, so you’ll just hold up the line and lose perfectly good wine. You can buy beer and sangria pitchers inside.

Sadly, animals are not allowed inside the sculpture garden (except service animals) so leave the pups at home!

 You can still have your own party outside the fence. Park your blanket and picnic basket on the National Mall just outside and enjoy the ambiance of the music without the crowds.

Jazz in the Garden – the popular concert series in the National Gallery’s sculpture garden – only has a few shows left this summer. Here are our top dos and don'ts, so you can make the most of the final performances. 

Washington, DC's Jazz In the Garden Etiquette

Jazz In the Garden Etiquette Guide 

Dating in D.C. is pretty much the worst. From personal experience, I’ve found it’s often transient, status-focused, or a political minefield. We chatted with dating coach

 for tips on some classic D.C. dating dilemmas. You might not meet your soulmate right away, but at least you can have fun trying.

date across the river: People in D.C. get stuck in a geographic bubble and won’t think about someone amazing that’s just a metro ride away or (god forbid) across the river. It’s not long-distance; it’s Arlington.

make them come to you: If you ask someone on a first date, you should be willing to meet them where they are or choose a neutral location. Don’t just go to the bar downstairs from your building; it screams lazy.

 talk about work: Just not the entire time. The "what do you do" question gets a lot of flack in D.C., but our careers are a significant part of our lives! Talk it out and then move on. Maybe throw in a "what do you do for fun?"

 do a big activity on a first date. This is a trial session. Stick to something like drinks, coffee, a walk, or something else low commitment.

 bring up politics on a first date: But only if it is important to you. Otherwise, leave it for later discussions. In the same vein, be open to different political leanings. “Moderate” doesn’t necessarily mean they voted for Trump.

sit across from each other: Sit next to each other instead. Grab bar seats or a catty-corner booth rather than a high top, which can feel formal and far away. Plus, your elbows can “accidentally” graze each other. Whoops.

These tips just skim the surface. Erika had a lot 

 in our City Cast DC episode, featuring my tragic love life.

How To Date In DC 

D.C. ranks in the top 10 cities for lead pipes. The most recent estimates show 42,000 lead service lines in the District (the line between the water main and your house).

“D.C. has a history of serious lead-in-water issues,” 

said environmental reporter Kayla Benjamin

. “Activists say there's no such thing as a safe lead pipe, even if the water is treated.” Even minor amounts can cause serious problems for kids and pregnant people. It’s particularly bad in D.C.’s older neighborhoods and buildings.

How do you know if you have lead in your water?

The first step is to search your address on DC Water’s Service Map. It shows if your home might have a lead service line, but it’s not fully conclusive.

If you are still unsure, DC Water offers annual 

 kits for residential and commercial customers. However, Benjamin warns these “might not actually capture if there's lead in your water because lead can flake off. If there's no lead in your water one day, it doesn't necessarily mean that there's no lead in your water another day.”

DC Water also offers a guide on how to tell 

. If it’s not magnetic, and you can scratch it with a coin, it’s probably lead.

"The most important thing to do,” says Benjamin, “is get a filter that is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation to meet ‘standard 53,’” which means it’s designed to reduce 

 like lead. And before you google it, yes, a Brita Filter qualifies.

If you want to replace your private lead service line, 

the District will pay for 50% to 100% of private-side costs

D.C. Council is considering a mandate that would replace all lead pipes free-of-charge for residents. There is no city budget for either, but there may be some federal money.

“We really have a moment to address this problem. But people have to say, ‘Hey, this matters to me’, and talk to their local leaders.” said Benjamin.

 for more on how D.C. has failed in this department in the past, and what it’s doing to fix it now.

How to Test Your Water for Lead

, and with a kid in tow, no less. He shared some tips on our podcast City Cast DC for 

 with a young one and where you should start.

 Kids’ patience for walking is limited; biking is fun and lets you explore an entire neighborhood in one day.

 Teach kids the alphabet by venturing across the city. Start from A and go to different neighborhoods that began with that letter. So, A for Anacostia, B for Brookland, C for Congress Heights, etc.

They're everywhere in parks, on buildings, and outside of museums. Take the time to read them because it’s an easy way to learn about the history and context of a place. Especially fun for kids learning to read.

A underrated area to explore with kids, Southwest has great food and architecture peeping. Austin recommends the duck pond, which has rocking chairs and a four-story little free library, for a Sunday afternoon. The nearby Titanic memorial is perfect for watching the sunset over the water.

 This neighborhood has a lot of murals that 

. Austin and his daughter love printing the map and using it as a scavenger hunt.

 Grab a fried chicken sandwich and brown butter chocolate cookie from Open Crumb and walk by the 

, which gives the kiddos a kick. Anacostia Park has an outdoor skating pavilion that has local DJs on the weekend.  You can bring your skates or rent them.

How To Do DC With Kids

You might have some cash lying around you don’t even know about! Unclaimed property is turned over to the state annually from businesses or 

government offices when they owe you money but can’t get in contact with you. That can include payroll checks, safe deposit boxes, uncashed checks, refunds, or any other form of money that is technically yours, and you just need to claim it.

To check if you have unclaimed property, go to the appropriate state's site and enter your name and ZIP code into the search page. You can also search for your family members or a business. Since new properties are added weekly, it’s worth regularly checking. Try different spellings and old addresses as well.

the Office of the Chief Financial Officer

A lot! In 2022, D.C. returned $27 million in unclaimed property to its rightful owners. Over the years, Virginia has returned over $1 billion.

You can seek your unclaimed property even decades after it was turned over to the government. Once you file a claim, it can take anywhere from six weeks to three months to process it.

have unclaimed properties in other states

Claim Your Money

If DC Owes You Money, Here's How To Claim It

How to Claim Your Unclaimed Money

D.C. is the hub of spy activities in the U.S. because so many people have ties to the government and top secret clearances. But the work culture and suspicion also make it a hard place to maintain your cover.

Lindsay Moran, a D.C. native and former CIA agent, says “you can’t swing a dead cat in D.C. without hitting a spy,” so you should always have your guard up. Here are Lindsay’s tips on what to watch out for and how to know if someone is pumping you for intel:

Face it, if you’re a five and they're a 10, but they approach you at a bar, chances are they are trying to get information. Try to keep your ego in check.

They ask about your work … like a lot: 

If someone is asking detailed questions about where you work or what you do, especially if your job is sensitive in some way, this should be a red flag.

A bump is when someone approaches you with an obscure excuse for a conversation. For example, someone comes up and says they lost their earring and it sparks a conversation and friendship. It’s possible it’s serendipitous; they’re a spy.

 Most spies pretend to have lower-level bureaucratic jobs whose descriptions will put you to sleep.

 If you see someone multiple times in multiple places, you might be being followed. Try taking left turns to sneak a look behind you, or walk in a roundabout way.

Lindsay’s got more tips on tomorrow’s episode of City Cast DC, so be sure to tune in!

How To Catch A Spy

Dating in D.C. … sucks, for lack of a better word. We chatted with dating coach 

 for tips on some classic D.C. dating dilemmas. You might not meet your soulmate right away, but at least you can have fun doing it. Check out her advice for 

, and stay tuned for our next episode with her on City Cast DC tomorrow!

 People in D.C. get stuck in a geographic bubble and won’t think about someone amazing that’s just a metro ride away or (god forbid) across the river. It’s not long-distance; it’s Arlington.


 If you ask someone on a first date, you should be willing to meet them where they are or choose a neutral location. Don’t just go to the bar downstairs from your building; it screams lazy.


: Just not the entire time. The "what do you do" question gets a lot of flack in D.C., but our careers are a significant part of our lives! Talk it out and then move on. Maybe try "what do you do for fun?"


 This is a trial session. Stick to something like drinks, coffee, a walk, or something else with less commitment.


: But only if it is important to you. Otherwise, leave it for later discussions. In the same vein, be open to different political leanings. “Moderate” doesn’t necessarily mean they voted for Trump.


 Sit next to each other instead. Grab bar seats or a catty corner booth rather than a high top which can feel formal and far away. Plus, your elbows can “accidentally” graze each other. Whoops.

How To Date In D.C.

It’s the season of the big SAD, a.k.a your friend Seasonal Affective Disorder.

In D.C., the average 

 hours drops from 282 in June to 140 in January (RIP). The lack of sunlight can affect our melatonin and serotonin levels, mess with our circadian rhythms, and decrease our vitamin D. For some people, this can lead to major depression symptoms.

Besides just waiting around for spring, there are some things you can do to get back to your sunny self. 

Get a therapist! It’s 2023 people, just do it. They can lead you through coping strategies, stress management, and if needed, can prescribe some good ole’ Lexapro. D.C. also has a 

Light therapy. Try to spend some time outside every day, or invest in a light box to use in the morning. Both have been proven to help treat SAD.

Exercise regularly. It doesn’t have to be intense, and D.C. has tons of cheap and free options to motivate you. Work on your balance 

What are some ways you like to stay active and keep the seasonal blues at bay in D.C.?



If you or someone you know is in crisis or at risk for self harm, please call 911.



How to Deal With Seasonal Affective Disorder

Find presents for everyone on your list at these favorite local spots, plus a few unusual ones.

 – A District standby, this shop has four locations dedicated to only products made in town. Think art, soap, ceramics, and cards.


 – For the plant parent in your life, this shop is the leafy sister to Salt & Sundry with just as many aesthetic goodies.


 – There are 27 artist studios along this block, with something for everyone. I have some mugs from 

 – This outdoor shopping village has over 70 local vendors and runs till Dec. 23. There are many other 

 – Reader Darell Z. says, “Three Littles is a fantastic children's store with sustainable toys and clothing. It's where we get all of our children's gifts for our family and friends.”


 – A jewelry boutique with pieces from local independent designers at varying cost points. 


 – Reader Amirio F. says “I’m *obsessed* with finding little treats to make my pantry and home bar feel fancier, or to gift to the foodies in my life. My go-to spots for natural wines, fringe condiments, and more are 