“Not one fender was bent in the making of this minor motion picture.” Critic Chris Klimek says Mercy is a “harebrained real-time whodunit” that “appears to have been written, directed, and performed via algorithm.” The review:

Who gets to boycott the Kennedy Center? Big-name artists can afford to cancel shows, but local musicians say the decision isn’t so simple for them. “If a musician’s depending on income from the Kennedy Center, they gotta put up with that ignorant-ass shit,” says one artist. More here:

This weekend, Studio Theatre kicks off the inaugural New Pages, New Stages festival. The fest brings together Theater J, Theater Alliance, Arena Stage, and Solas Nua to develop new work and fill the gap left by the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage. More here:

"The entire tech world has gone full fascist. Any time you can get out of that is good.” —Rob Cline, Punch Tab Tapes co-founder. Meet the 20-somethings operating a not-for-profit cassette label out of a Columbia Heights row house:

Picking up where 28 Years Later left off, The Bone Temple is grisly, explicit, and features Ralph Fiennes lip-synching to Iron Maiden. Nia DaCosta’s “overindulgence in gross-out violence” had critic Chris Klimek squirming in his seat. The review:

All That’s Left of You is a moving multi-generational saga about a Palestinian family under Israeli occupation. Writer-director Cherien Dabis nearly gets into sanctimonious territory, writes critic Alan Zilberman, but “relents by finally following the nature of her characters.” buff.ly/BefBi4S

A playground in Petworth disappeared years ago. Neighbors assumed the National Park Service would fix it, but they never did. Contributor Alana Parker tells a classic story of D.C. residents caught between federal negligence and limited local control of park land:

Send us your burning questions about any and every aspect of life in D.C. We’ll get back to you in late February with some answers. Drop your inquiries, conundrums, curiosities, and head-scratchers here:

Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest centers on the civil rights pioneer’s formative years and the struggles that awakened his social conscience—with a hip-hop spin. To celebrate, Mosaic is launching a series of community-building events beginning this weekend. More on Young John Lewis:

Couples’ content, coffee dates, and diamond maximalism are out. Meddling, marathon first dates, and elopements are in. Here’s Ms. Guided’s take on what’s in, what’s out, and what your friend’s loser boyfriend says about her:

DCHA placed its internal auditor on leave after months of conflict with leadership. She alleges retaliation in a whistleblower lawsuit; DCHA sources cite alleged threats and mistreatment of employees. Full story:

A former DC Human Resources employee used her credentials to add herself to the life insurance policy of her son (an MPD officer) less than two hours before his death. She resigned shortly after she was caught. Full story:

If you think you’re too old, too shy, or too inexperienced to brave the page, D.C.’s literary scene is ready to prove you wrong. Here’s columnist Hannah Grieco’s guide to local writing communities, classes, and publishing resources:

IT: Welcome to Derry set a new bar for TV horror, Rachel Sennott’s comedy is more than Gen Z noise, and Pluribus is worth the hype. Columnist Bill Frost rounds up the best 2025 shows to stream in 2026.

We’re #hiring two reporters in D.C.: 🗞️ A Loose Lips Reporter to lead our political coverage 📰 A news reporter to cover how the federal government impacts local politics and everyday life in D.C. Share with a friend & learn more here:

The Go-Go Museum is celebrating 50 years of the genre all year, starting tomorrow with the Go-Go Awards at the Lincoln Theatre. “We’re bringing go-go full circle and making sure that we kick off the 50th anniversary year with a bang,” says museum founder Ron Moten. Full story:

For the past 12 months, we’ve covered the heart and soul of D.C.—from its thriving music scene to its robust theater culture and everything in between. Arts editor @sarahmarloff.bsky.social looks back at the arts coverage that defined 2025:

This year, we told you about shady developers, naughty cops, and bad actors. From Martha’s Vineyard to the Wilson Building, take a look back at the biggest stories of the year:

Trump’s inaugural parade. The dismantling of BLM Plaza. No Kings and Free DC protests. Pride. National Guard deployment. The People Issue. Revisit 2025 through @darrow-m.bsky.social’s lens:

Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme is “clever and relentless,” writes critic Lydia Wei, and Timothée Chalamet delivers “a phenomenal, career-defining performance.” “This is a bona fide movie event,” Wei writes. The review:

Pretty Bitter’s sophomore album, D.C. drill from Jaeychino, and bassist Andrew Musselman’s debut: City Paper’s music writers weigh in on the creme de la creme of this year’s new releases.

Making its U.S. premiere at Signature Theatre, In Clay tells the story of French ceramicist Marie-Berthe Cazin. Jack Miles’ jazz score is “vivid and affecting,” writes critic D.R. Lewis, but does the musical’s story live up to that emotional power?

“Exhilarating and exhausting,” Avatar: Fire and Ash “gives us more of everything that was great about the last one, but with too little that feels new,” writes critic Chris Klimek. The review:

Dante' Pope moved to D.C. as a Hill staffer and found the local jazz closed off to transplants. Twenty years later, he’s touring the world with Dom Flemons and Nashville-based string band Old Crow Medicine Show. Read about his journey in the latest Swing Beat:

After DHCD returned more than $3M in federal assistance meant for affordable housing, councilmembers questioned Director Colleen Green about how it happened. Now they’re demanding more information. Full story:

Paul Feig’s latest thriller is nasty, gruesome, and an hour too long. “The Housemaid plods along, inspiring more of a shrug than the catharsis it dearly craves,” writes critic Alan Zilberman. The review:

Paul Morella’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol, on stage at Olney through Dec. 28, is “a wholehearted embrace of Dickens’ storytelling as storytelling,” writes Allison R. Shely. The review:

D.C. residents will see their gas bill increase by roughly $11.24 per month starting Jan .1. Washington Gas claims their modernization plan is necessary to improve safety and reliability. Critics say its a profit strategy with harmful climate and health risks. Full story:

Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Guys and Dolls is a crowd-pleasing classic, anchored by performances elevate the 1950 musical to something even richer than “a clever romp with a magical score.” Read Douglas Corzine’s review:

A new D.C. Auditor report says that during his time as ANC 8C chair, Salim Adofo used ANC funds on headshots and event photos used in his campaign for D.C. Council. The auditor identified nearly $18K in questionable spending. More on the report and Adofo’s response:

Seven family members. One house. Lots of unspoken rules. Making its U.S. premiere at Round House, Rules for Living puts a trickster spin on the familiar tale of a disastrous family holiday.

Husband-and-wife team Anthony and Candice Shuford are paying tribute to go-go culture with GoGo Puffs breakfast cereal. “Ingredients are cinnamon, brown sugar, and go-go,” Candice says. More on the story behind GoGo Puffs:

The Coil Project revisits Macbeth with just three actors—each taking on a staggering range of roles. “It’s an audacious setup, but also one that invites many questions,” writes critic Lydia Wei. “Namely: Why does Macbeth need to be staged with three actors?”

A new lawsuit alleges Camden Development’s “hugging culture” is to blame for one employee’s sexual assault. The man initiated the alleged assault by first asking for a hug. More on the ongoing case:

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

The year’s movies were immersive, political, and overwhelming, and they “provided a little tenacity for what still lies ahead,” write critics Chris Klimek and Alan Zilberman. Here are their picks for the best of 2025:

Two D.C. hemp retailers were shut down Thursday, even though they say their products are under the federal THC limit. Store owners tell contributor LJ Dawson they’ve been getting mixed signals from the District—raising questions about the city’s authority to regulate hemp.

Mother’s Baby embraces the quiet, banal horrors of domestic motherhood for a “gripping horror portrait” of an isolated mother struggling to find out what’s happening to her body and her baby. Lydia Wei reviews the latest from Austrian filmmaker Johanna Moder:

The D.C. OIG says DOES Director Unique Morris–Hughes violated spending rules by approving tens of thousands for go-go bands, DJs, speakers, and acrobats for staff events. Read the full story—missing hotel vouchers, a Real Housewives cameo, and inconsistent statements—here:

When indie trio Home Remedies formed in 2022, the bandmates were undergrads at GW. Three years later, they’ve graduated and released solo projects, and they just dropped a new single. On Dec. 13, they reunite at Songbyrd to raise money for the local unhoused community. Read about their journey:

Paula Vogel’s “stirring, compact” memory play is “at once intimate and epic,” writes critic Chris Klimek. “Kate Eastwood Norris is the player most directly responsible for that little miracle.” Read the review:

City Paper’s longtime photography critic, Louis Jacobson, rounds up his seven favorite shows of the year. And maybe it’s just coincidence, Jacobson writes, but this year’s list doesn’t include a single nod to larger museums.

“Imagine if Björk did a Christmas special that doubled as a group therapy session.” Critic Stephanie Rudig reviews Estonian clown Julia Masli’s holiday-themed improv show at Woolly Mammoth.

At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds will not run for re-election, opening up another race in 2026. @trsdc.bsky.social has the details: buff.ly/x8AJIaq

The Secret Agent, the new historical Brazilian thriller from writer-director Kleber Mendonça Filho, blends genres to illustrate the toll of years under a dictatorship. Alan Ziberman’s review:

Netflix’s Jay Kelly wants to be a deep character study of an aging A-lister (played by George Clooney). But maybe it falls short because “champagne-problems auteur” Noah Baumbach “hasn’t done an honest day of yearning in his life,” writes critic Chris Klimek. The review:

This week's page three photo @wcp.bsky.social

Devin Denzel Davidson was just 3 when his father, Rare Essence drummer Quentin “Footz” Davidson, was killed. Now, Footz’s legacy shapes Devin Denzel’s new album, The Test of Faith, with an unmistakable go-go feel. More on how he’s carrying go-go forward:

’Tis the season for those cheesy, predictable holiday TV movies that can’t be avoided during the Christmas rush. Grab your hot chocolate, ice skates, and pickleball paddles, columnist Bill Frost has some so-bad-they’re-so-good festive flicks:

A new lawsuit claims Bernstein Management Corporation charged hidden fees across 16 rent-stabilized apartment buildings to increase rates past legal limits. Here’s what we know: