Another Thursday, another batch of photos from @darrow-m.bsky.social’s archive. Here’s the latest installment of Postcards From Home.

Arena Stage’s Damn Yankees revisal, directed by Sergio Trujillo, adds new layers, a modern timeline, and standout performances to the 1955 musical. But can you teach an old musical new tricks? D.R. Lewis reviews:

Tenants in Columbia Heights were promised 20% ownership of their apartment community by two affordable housing developers. Three years later, they’re facing mold, rodents, disrepair, and drastically reduced equity. “He love-bombed us,” one resident says. Full story:

For D.C. singer-songwriter Roba Djalleta, Virginia really is for lovers. Her new EP Lover’s Virginia documents the pivot between her teens and 20s—a time when she established herself in the local music scene and came out as transgender. Contributor Taylor Ruckle on Djalleta’s journey:

Adapted from Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel, Kiss of the Spider Woman follows two cellmates in an Argentine prison who find love during a turbulent time. GALA’s Spanish-language revival is “inspired theater that resonates anew,” writes critic Daniella Ignacio.

Columnist Hannah Grieco sits down with Chet’la Sebree and Susan Coll, two local writers whose latest releases “offer us the perfect snapshot of the beautiful complexity that the D.C. literary scene offers to readers.” Plus more local reads for your TBR and upcoming lit events:

After the Council declined activists' push to protect the heritage trees around the RFK stadium site, the Commanders pledged to save some of the towering oaks and elms. Full story from @holaculturadc.bsky.social:

Merry Wives relocates William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor to present-day Harlem for an upbeat celebration of West African culture and community. Critic Chris Klimek calls STC’s production “a feast for the eyes.”

The History of Sound follows the same trajectory as Brokeback Mountain, with Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor as folk-obsessed ethnomusicologists instead of cowboys. But critic Alan Zilberman found it “dramatically inert.” His review:

We’re closing out the Fall Arts Guide with a roundup of unmissable dance, opera, and more performances coming to D.C. Add these to your fall calendar:

The latest Postcards From Home, @darrow-m.bsky.social's unpublished book capturing two decades of D.C. life on film. The book never materialized, but Darrow’s revisiting the project with new eyes.

Theater Alliance’s dark comedy is set in an unknown time and place where being a low-wage worker is even worse than it is here and now. “It’s a radical and red-hot reflection on the absurdity of needing to make a living or die trying,” writes critic Stephanie Rudig.

From go-go in Anacostia to salsa in Mount Pleasant, Art All Night brought all eight wards together for a weekend of art, celebration, and resistance. “You have to find joy in this moment,” says Free DC co-founder Kelsye Adams. And they did:

The D.C.-area concerts you won’t want to miss this fall: Rico Nasty, Ginger Root, the War and Treaty, Indigo De Souza, Purity Ring, Blood Lemon, and more.

Zines have always been central to D.C.’s punk and indie music scene, connecting fans and fueling movements. Now, they’re back. Contributor Taylor Ruckle looks at the resurgence of zines—the “paper boom,” as one zine maker calls it.

A last-minute amendment to the RENTAL Act from At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds exempts small buildings from TOPA. Opponents worry it opens a loophole for landlords. Full story:

Explore the evolution of Arab pop art, discover local creatives, and get to know Dutch women artists of the Golden Age. These are our fall museum picks:

“ My existence in this space is my own form of resistance and is in a performance piece in itself,” says Alex Goldstein. After a two-year closure and lengthy (ongoing) legal battle, the Fridge—D.C.’s beloved street art gallery—is back.

The Council votes today on the RENTAL Act, a sweeping housing bill that would roll back parts of TOPA. A new UMD study shows TOPA has helped preserve affordable housing for low-income Black tenants, contradicting a landlord lobby’s claims. Full story:

D.C. book lovers, here is your fall roundup: Patricia Lockwood, Leigh Bardugo, Jane Goodall, A History of Punk Fanzines, Jane Austen’s birthday bash, and more.

This fall, D.C. theaters are staging “art that speaks to our desires for transformative communal mourning, connection, and healing.” Here are our picks:

Catholic University cut down more than 300 trees to build a massive solar farm, making it the District’s top deforester. Our latest story with @holaculturadc.bsky.social takes a closer look at CUA and other D.C. schools cutting down trees to “go green.”

Finding affordable performance space is a perennial problem for D.C.’s small theater companies. But two advisory neighborhood commissioners are working to change that.

Our film critics round up their picks coming to local screens this fall, from concert films and horror revivals to Hong Kong cinema classics and Latin American Innovation.

How does Abbie Algar keep AFI Silver buzzing? Critic Alan Zilberman talks to the director of programming about how she chooses what screens at the local flagship cinema.

“At its heart, this year’s Fall Arts Guide is an ode to hyperlocal creativity and the ways in which our scenes not only survive but thrive in the worst of times.” Arts editor @sarahmarloff.bsky.social welcomes you to the 2025 guide:

This Week’s Page Three Photo @wcp.bsky.social

Revisiting The Royal Tenenbaums: Gene Hackman, Wes Anderson, and the off-screen tension that made the 2001 cult classic unforgettable. Catch a screening at AFI Silver Sept. 13, 14, and 17.

Trayon White may not be able to argue in court that he was set up by law enforcement, as he has claimed publicly. Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to restrict his defense in the bribery case. Full story:

Another round of photos from @darrow-m.bsky.social's archive 🎞️ Catch up on Postcards From Home, an unpublished series of photos capturing D.C. life from 1986 to the early 2000s.

“Featuring some of the best acting in any [Stephen] King adaptation, The Long Walk is equal parts intense and satisfying.” Critic Alan Zilberman reviews Francis Lawrence’s take on King’s early dystopian survival novel.

“I’m fearful that the Occupation will take years for the city to recover.” Contributor Jason Cherkis reports on life in a city patrolled by the National Guard and D.C.’s long history of federal intrusion.

BRNDA’s new album Total Pain drops Sept. 12, followed by an East Coast tour ending Oct. 19 at Songbyrd. Contributor Dorvall Bedford caught up with them at “the Shack,” the garage-turned-rehearsal space at Leah Gage and Dave Lesser’s home:

Columnist Bill Frost rounds up the best new shows streaming this September. Get cozy with his fall TV picks:

Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin’s follow-up to the Climb is “less of a surprise,” writes critic Alan Zilberman. But “the filmmakers still find intriguing ways to explore their favorite topic: toxic, self-destructive romance.”

“Lou has written the history of the gay movement here in the District from 1976 to today.” —Pate Felts, executive producer of a new documentary on the iconic journalist. Contributor Vince Morris on Lou Chibbaro’s 50-year legacy and the Blade’s vital role covering queer life in D.C.:

V.E. Schwab’s latest book gives women the choice to become a vampire or remain an object in a man’s world. @sarahmarloff.bsky.social talks to the prolific fantasy author about power, queerness, and vampires ahead of her stop at the National Book Festival this weekend.

Arena Stage kicks off its 75th anniversary season with a bold “revisal” of Damn Yankees. Moved into the 21st century, Joe is reimagined as a Black man with ties to the Negro Leagues, and the women get autonomy.

Steve Coleman has spent 30 years turning D.C.’s neglected green spaces into hubs for healing and equity. Through Washington Parks & People and the DC Green Corps, he’s training the next generation of environmental leaders—just as climate change and inequity make the mission especially urgent.

The latest Postcards From Home by @darrow-m.bsky.social 📸 A look back at D.C. life from 1986 to the early 2000s, all shot on film.

The last three U.S. poets laureate reunite Sept. 6 for a panel discussion and reading at the National Book Festival. “This festival can be a transformative experience for everyone who chooses to sit and listen,” says Tracy K. Smith.

Spent a really long time working on this complicated story and I'm grateful for everyone who agreed to speak with me.

What if Luigi Mangione could burn through chains with his piss? You would have a movie kinda like The Toxic Avenger, a big budget remake of the Troma classic that may have better actors and special effects, but has not lost its anger or agreeable bad taste. My @wcp.bsky.social review.

This week's Page Three photo @wcp.bsky.social

When local theaters make cuts, it’s often the unseen workers who are the first to go. These engineers and artists are crucial to putting on shows, but many say they felt devalued and blindsided. @sarahmarloff.bsky.social spoke with laid-off staff about their experiences. Here’s what they said:

PHOTOS: @darrow-m.bsky.social has spent the past 10 days documenting Trump’s federal takeover of D.C., where roughly 2,000 National Guard troops have been stationed.

MPD Officer Peter McCauley sped through traffic before crashing into another vehicle, sending himself, his girlfriend, and a civilian to the hospital. A Virginia State trooper hit 119 mph trying to stop him. More on the hearing:

The Council is set to approve the removal of 31 heritage trees around RFK Stadium—mature trees that are otherwise illegal to cut down because of their environmental benefits. The exemption amounts to a $1M giveaway to the Commanders’ billionaire owner.

Leigh Bardugo & John Picacio’s hauntingly beautiful children’s book takes place in a cemetery on Dia de los Muertos. Drawing on Mexican history and culture, it tells a story of grief, family, and honoring what’s lost. They told @sarahmarloff.bsky.social about the decade-long journey to make it:

Another round of photos from @darrow-m.bsky.social ’s archive 📸 Catch up on Postcards From Home, an unpublished series of photos capturing D.C. life from 1986 to the early 2000s.