Our list of Government Shutdown specials just got another update. Whether you're looking for discounted theater tickets or museum admission, free crafting classes, or cheap food and extended happy hours, we have you covered. Here's the gift link: wapo.st/3WgocR9

If you need to get your mind off things, there are almost 20 Taylor Swift dance parties, drag brunches, karaoke nights and quiz nights taking place around the D.C. area this weekend and in coming weeks. Here's a gift link: wapo.st/46kLqM0

To do this weekend: • Oktoberfests, from beer to racing dachshunds • Street festivals from Vienna to Del Ray to Takoma Park • Harvest festivals, with scarecrows or K-pop • Home Rule Music Fest • Wicked art • Pickle Bash • Yoga Fest • Fil-Am History Month party Gift link: wapo.st/4316yVj

We've updated our list of government shutdown specials with *even more* deals, including $14 tickets to see "The American Five" at Ford's, half-price admission to the Phillips Collection, $7 martinis at Shakers and all-night happy hours at Daru. Gift link: wapo.st/3WgocR9

During the shutdown, federal employees can take advantage of deals like: • Free Washington Spirit tickets • Free museum admission • All-day happy hours • Parties with free food and drinks Our growing list of specials (gift link): wapo.st/3WgocR9

During the shutdown, federal employees can take advantage of deals like: • Free Washington Spirit tickets • Free museum admission • All-day happy hours • Parties with free food and drinks Our growing list of specials (gift link): wapo.st/3WgocR9

Quick open-or-closed shutdown list: Smithsonian museums and Zoo: Open through 10/6 National Gallery of Art: Open through 10/4 National Archives, Library of Congress, Botanic Garden: Closed. Gift link: wapo.st/3VJlROv

At 12:01 am on Dec. 22, 2018, as what would become a 35-day shutdown began, I was sitting at the bar at Capitol Lounge, sipping a Nothing Really Mattis cocktail. I really miss that place.

Update: The Smithsonian is staying open "at least through Monday, October 6, 2025."

I have covered multiple government shutdowns (and near-shutdowns) for The Post since 2013. This is the first time I can remember that the Smithsonian and National Gallery have declined to say whether they can stay open using unspent funds. Gift link: wapo.st/3VJlROv

Whether there's a government shutdown or not, DC9 is hosting a "Hold the Line" happy hour with discounted drinks for all federal workers on Wednesday. $4 beers, rail drinks and rose with valid government ID. Details: dc9.club/event/hold-t...

First potential* gov shutdown happy hour has dropped: Carmine’s DC will offer all day Happy Hour for as long as the shutdown continues with $5 meatball sliders and 2 $8 cocktails: “Here We Go Again”, a frozen big berry Cosmo, and “The Essential Worker” a frozen peach bellini.

Saying farewell to the Atlas Brew Works taproom in Ivy City. I’m told the week of Oct. 20 is the target date for opening the Bridge District brewery in Anacostia.

Midnight dance parties. Themed drag shows. Cover bands. Music bingo. A guided wine tasting. Glittery cocktails. All-ages soirees with glittery mocktails. How to celebrate "The Life of a Showgirl" with fellow Swifties next weekend: wapo.st/46kLqM0

Fall is here. Start planning for cooler, dryer days with our guide to pumpkin patches, corn mazes, apple picking and family days out. (FWIW, I swear by apple cider doughnuts from Miller Farms and heirloom pumpkins from Wegmeyer Farms.) Gift link: wapo.st/4mx1kYi

To do this week/end: • See the whole Constitution • Fiesta DC and Hispanic Heritage Month fests • So many Oktoberfests • So many wine fests • Celebrate Africa Festival • Old Town Cocktail Week • Kingman Island family day • Free ballet Gift link: wapo.st/46CdGIV

The Rapture is upon us. youtu.be/xgkIDKyEP0I?...

Lots of very, very confused NFL fans at Franklin Hall today. See you next Sunday!

Your reminder that Oktoberfest celebrations really begin tonight, with a lagerfest at Lost Generation, a ceremonial keg tapping at Wunder Garten, $5 beers at Atlas Brew Works, and the "Queen of Oktoberfest" performing at Dacha. A guide to the weekend: wapo.st/46caS6l (gift link)

14 breweries, beer gardens and bars celebrating Oktoberfest this weekend: wapo.st/4nANm8T 39 things to do around D.C., including H Street Festival, Columbia Heights Day, Rock Creek Park Day, film fests, a Cumbia fest, family events and DC Theatre Week: wapo.st/4prO0Y0 (Both gift links)

Something ridiculously cool about your Uber home from Art All Night having a driver with an all-John Coltrane playlist.

Cised for the 911 reunion at the MLK Block Party during Art All Night. “Brown and White” was one of the best jams from D.C. in the early ‘00s. This version shouts out 911's regular sets at Heart & Soul, Deno's and Tradewinds, all of which are long closed. www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuLN...

Throughout this NFL season, we'll occasionally highlight a bar where fans of the Commanders' opponents gather to watch games. This week, it's fried cheese curds, brats and more curds with Lambeau on the Hill at Hamilton's. Gift link: wapo.st/46dSjxk

This week's to-do list: • Art All Night: 2 nights, 28 neighborhoods • A giant panda birthday • Thai and Ukrainian festivals • Adams Morgan Day • After-hours museum parties • Oktoberfests • Free DC walking tours Gift link: wapo.st/46dSjxk

Pulp. Jarvis. The Anthem. F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.

The nice thing about Henceforth’s rooftop Sunset Happy Hour is that you can get a hot dog and a house-brewed cream ale, ESB or IPA for $10. The even better thing is that it runs until 8 p.m. Wed-Sun – a nice excuse to visit the H Street brewpub on a weekend. They’ll even provide the sunscreen.

To do tonight: • See "Kung Fu Hustle" on the Mall • Gyros and dancing at a Greek festival • A US Open viewing party • “Rum Sodomy & the Lash" with The Pogues Gift link: wapo.st/4gc7ThA

I am just saying that today feels like the perfect day to leave work early and go eat hot dogs. wapo.st/4mE6W3S

To do this weekend: • National Book Festival • Silver Spring & Rosslyn Jazz Fests • Dogs in pools! • DC State Fair • Punk at the library • Asian Film Fest • Early Oktoberfests • Takoma Park Folk Fest • Beyoncé Block Party • Much more Gift link: wapo.st/4gc7ThA

Friendly reminder for museum party-goers: The lottery for free tickets to the next National Gallery Nights (Sept. 11) is open through Thursday at noon. www.nga.gov/calendar/nat... Tickets for the next NMWA Nights (Sept. 17) are available tomorrow at 10 a.m. nmwa.org/whats-on/cal...

Decided to do an early date night at St Vincent Wine because they had $35 bottles of wine and $7 snacks (including horseradish-caviar dip) and we had such a good time that we hung around much longer than planned.

Thursday’s DC JazzFest kickoff at Anthem Row was a laidback vibe: People lounging in chairs and on banquettes, eating ice cream, sipping wine, and listening to Langston Hughes II and Belladonna.

I spent the summer eating hot dogs. Big dogs and cheffy dogs. Riffs on styles from Seattle to NYC. Dogs served with High Life in dives, and dogs served with $23 martinis. Even dogs topped with ketchup and marshmallow fluff. Here's my report. Gift link: wapo.st/4mE6W3S

To do over Labor Day weekend: • DC JazzFest • Afro+Fest • Glen Echo Art Fest • Outdoor movies • NSO at the Capitol • Chinese and Scottish festivals • Shaw’s most challenging 0.5K race • Capital House Music Fest • Farewell to Dynasty Brewing • Dozens more ideas! Gift link: wapo.st/45GrjHK

Sad #beerhistory news from Dogfish Head - Dr Pat McGovern has died; a true pioneer of brewing archaeology.

Video debunks Trump’s claim that Md. governor called him the ‘greatest president’ www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

The Post is collecting and documenting videos and photos of public encounters with police, ICE and other law enforcement in D.C. If you'd like to share any footage that you've taken, you can do so here: thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/law_en...

The watermelon Gose was one of my favorite beers at the Port to Port festival. Super refreshing on a hot day.

Just got called out by a Post intern for saying I was cised for a colleague. Her: Cised? What is that? I've never heard that before. Me: It's D.C. slang. Her: Is it like an *old* D.C. word? Reader, I felt as ancient and scuffed as the "Go-Go Posse" vinyl that sits on my desk.

To do tonight/this weekend: • Go-go karaoke • Dog-centered meetups • Arena Stage Community Day • Rooftop Caribbean festival • Renn Fest (free for kids) • Flower Festival • Opera in the Outfield • Restaurant weeks • Improvapalooza • Fort Dupont concerts return • Much more Gift link: wapo.st/4mMe6Tw

Restaurant reservations down 31% year on year. Staff afraid to come to work. Diners and barhoppers “on edge.” Everyone should read Tim Carman and Warren Rojas’ deep dive on the perilous state of D.C.’s dining scene. Gift link: www.washingtonpost.com/food/2025/08...

I may gripe about pumpkin ales showing up in stores in summer, but I will not complain about my favorite D.C. Christmas market making a "save the date" post in August, because the Czech Embassy's celebration is worth looking forward to. Nov. 8. Free admission. www.instagram.com/p/DNYTSDIgL8G/

Not telling you who I voted for in the annual Electric Cool Aid Frozen Test, but it was really great (and refreshing) on a sweltering day!

Happy to see the Guardian has an obituary for Martyn Cornell out today. He deserved that. Even if it does feel bitter-sweet to read it. www.theguardian.com/food/2025/au...

More than half of all Premier League teams have a supporters group hosting viewing parties in the D.C. area. As the season kicks off, here's an updated guide with all the big transfer news, including new homes for Fulham and Manchester City. Gift link: wapo.st/45AFM6W

Looking forward to: • Outdoor movies • County fairs • Chuck Brown Day • A bar crawl with live music • Refocusing in nature • National Rum Day • A tomato party • Family kite fest • Cosplay at Once Upon a Con • Craft beer • Much more Gift link: wapo.st/3JgTG6z

Today is National Oyster Day. Take advantage with half-price oysters all day at the Old Ebbitt Grill, Clyde's Restaurants and all Hank's Oyster Bar locations, or get $1 oysters and $6 oyster shooters at J. Hollinger's. More info: wapo.st/3IRC1lL

I can’t imagine that anyone who knows who Albert Pike was supports having a statue of him in D.C.; I can’t image that anyone who supports having a statue of Albert Pike in D.C. can tell you who he was. wapo.st/4omEmFE

Get excited for: • Maryland’s biggest crab feast • Art walks at Glen Echo and Dupont • African Diaspora film fest • Shark fest • Wine and jazz fest • $10 Kayaking • Jerry Garcia week • Bend it Like Beckham outdoors • Much more! Gift link: wapo.st/3IRC1lL