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As the weekend is upon us, continue to make wise choices. Here’s an idea, support your neighborhood restaurant or bar. Might I recommend Heat Da Spot Café in Petworth for a breakfast sandwich. Or Dew Drop Inn in Edgewood for a T-n-T.

Takeout is the safer option. DC Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, for one, has not dined indoors since the coronavirus pandemic. 

Bars and restaurants continue to need help. A testament to the times: Two bartenders—Zac Hoffman of Cafe Fili and Megan Barnes of The Brighton—are still trying to get insurance companies to cover losses related to the pandemic. 

Insurers have largely been denying these claims, so a growing number of bars and restaurants are taking them to court. The thinking goes, these businesses do pay premiums in case disaster strikes. 

Meanwhile, Hoffman and Barnes are trying to persuade lawmakers to clarify ambiguities in the insurance policies. They joined a national advocacy coalition founded in April called Thirst Group. The Council looked into passing such legislation in May, but declined to.   

“Every time a restaurant or bar closes permanently,” says Hoffman, “there are 20, 30, or 40 jobs that aren’t going to come back for people counting on them.” He and Barnes hope people join them in their efforts to save the service industry. Consider joining them? Dozens of restaurants have already closed in the region.

Read the article on Thirst Group by City Paper’s Laura Hayes online here.

—Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

CITY DESK LINKS, byAmanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)       

  • As of Aug. 19, D.C. reported one additional death related to COVID-19 and 60 new positive cases bringing the total numbers of people to 602 and 13,469, respectively. D.C. saw 55 cases per day over the past week, or a 16 percent decrease from the average two weeks earlier. [EOM] 

  • Lawyers accuse D.C. of failing to educate students with disabilities in DC Jail during the pandemic and threaten legal action. [DCist]

  • A trial date is set in a civil case for Bijan Ghaisar, who was fatally shot by U.S. Park Police in 2017, but the feds are trying to delay. [Post]

  • Residents at Capitol Riverfront’s newest apartment building will pay 10K a month in rent for a bowling alley, speakeasy, sauna, and shared Tesla. Of course, amenities don’t explain the full costs. [WTOP]

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Terry McAuliffe might run for governor of Virginia again. [AP]

  • A judge gave preliminary approval to end federal oversight of D.C.’s Child and Family Services Agency. [Twitter, DCist]

  • AG Karl Racine is suing the Washington Sports Club again. [DCist]

  • A D.C. voters’ guide. [Post]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Appioo reopens its dining room with a new slate of West African dishes. [Eater DC]

  • Summer cocktails you should try. [Washingtonian]

  • No chef or restaurant James Beard Awards will be handed out this year or in 2021. [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • A 1,000-square-foot Ida B. Wells art installation is going up at Union Station. [DCist]

  • Director and producerSheldon Epps is joining Ford’s Theatre leadership as senior artistic advisor. [DC Metro Theater Arts]

  • Here’s a quick guide to how panda birth actually works. [Washingtonian]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The Caps’ season has come to an end with a 4-0 loss in the decisive Game 5 against the Islanders. For the second straight season, the team has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. [Russian Machine Never Breaks]

  • Here are five NBA prospects the Wizards could draft with the No. 9 pick in October. [NBC Sports Washington]

  • Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera has been diagnosed with cancer but says that the cancer is in early stages and considered “very treatable and curable.” [ESPN]

  • Linebacker Thomas Davis Sr. will be a key part of leading the culture change that Rivera wants for the Washington Football Team. [WCP]

CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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