Protesters gathered in front of the Supreme Court following its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Credit: Darrow Montgomery

This weekend’s rainy weather didn’t stop protestors from gathering to express their support for abortion rights. Hundreds of people carrying signs and chanting phrases like “We will not go back” gathered downtown and marched from Franklin Park to Lafayette Park outside the White House, the Post and BBC report.

Although some of the participants anticipated interacting with the police—one person told the Post she specifically packed cash in case she or someone else needed bail money—no arrests were made. The day before the march, President Biden signed an executive order related to reproductive rights, which will protect access to medication abortions and emergency contraception, as well as patients’ privacy, but it only goes so far. 

Monkeypox Cases Climb

As of this past Friday, there were 64 recorded cases of monkeypox in D.C., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s counter. While D.C.’s number may seem large (the CDC has confirmed 767 total cases in the U.S.), there is an available vaccine that offers protection against the virus. Rollout of vaccines hasn’t been smooth—DC Health has mainly announced appointments through Twitter, DCist reports—but local officials assure residents they are working to contain the virus’ spread.

All Aboard

Amtrak often gets a bad rap, what with the quiet car rule violations, expensive fares, and slow speeds it’s forced to maintain on shared tracks, but here’s some good news from the nation’s rail service: New trips from Union Station to Roanoke and Norfolk start today. They’re technically an extension of the Northeast Regional and will allow Virginians to reach D.C., Baltimore, and New York more efficiently. If you’re considering a trip south, take this news as a sign to book a seat and explore the Blue Ridge Mountains or Virginia’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay.

—Caroline Jones (tips? cjones@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • To see today’s COVID-19 data, visit our coronavirus tracker.
  • D.C. police have arrested fewer ATV riders this year. [Post]
  • A 17-year-old boy from Alexandria was shot and killed in Northeast on Saturday. And D.C. police made an arrest in a separate fatal shooting of a 16-year-old. Alphonso Oliver was charged with second degree murder for the July 5 shooting of Levoire Simmons. [NBC4, NBC4] 
  • The Scotland African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is getting a new building as part of its historical restoration project. [DCist]

By Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Metro is staring down a $350 million budget gap, forcing leaders to once again consider budget cuts, fare increases, or service reductions. D.C. and suburban jurisdictions might need to chip in more cash to fund the transit service. [DCist]
  • The lawsuit alleging that the Metropolitan Police Department (and former Chief Peter Newsham) kept a “watchlist” of troublesome records requesters is moving forward after a federal judge denied D.C.’s attempts to dismiss it. The city is arguing that such a watchlist didn’t exist, but if it did, it would only be a “minimal” burden for the reporters and activists on the list. [InsideNoVa]
  • Mayor Muriel Bowser helped commemorate the opening of the city’s first Wegmans, dubbed the “Disney World of grocery stores” by employees. It officially opens to shoppers Wednesday, as part of the massive City Ridge development remaking the old Fannie Mae headquarters in Northwest. [WTOP]

By Alex Koma (tips? akoma@washingtoncitypaper.com)

Credit: Nevin Martell

Good Taste: Botanical Bar Is the Plant-Based, Whimsy-Loving Shangri-La We Need Right Now

Fern fronds hang from the ceiling. Charming portraits of native nocturnal creatures and Victorian era […]

  • Aslin Beer Company’s beer garden/cafe opened in Logan Circle late last week. [DCist]
  • Filipino pop-up Balangay (inside Bullfrog Bagels on H Street NE) is a work in progress, but could soon find its place among D.C.’s mainstays, Tim Carmen writes. [Post]
  • ShutDownDC is offering service industry workers $250 for alerting them when any of the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade eats out in D.C. Abortion rights protesters forced Justice Brett Kavanaugh from a Morton’s Steakhouse last week. [Axios]
  • Green Hat Gin will close its Ivy City distillery and gin garden. But gin production will continue at their facility in Atchinson, Kansas. [Washingtonian]
  • 3 Stars Brewing also closed the doors of its taproom Sunday night, and production will not continue. [Washingtonian]

By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)

Credit: Jati Lindsay

The Hot Wing King Is More About Queer Manhood Than Wings

Food Is Not Art […]

Looking West Through the Eyes of Robert Adams

Robert Adams, one of quintessential photographers of the American West, is best known for his […]

  • “A sufficiency of the deadly conventional”—architect Frank Lloyd Wright was underwhelmed by D.C. design when he, unsuccessfully, attempted to alter the city’s skyline in 1940. [Post]
  • Looking for some local entertainment coming to a page or screen near you? Check out this round up of NoVa-created media dropping in July. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

By Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Wayne Rooney will return to D.C. United as the club’s next manager. [ESPN, Twitter]
  • Veteran free agent Taj Gibson signed a one-year contract with the Wizards. [Bullets Forever, Twitter]
  • Josh Bell didn’t make the NL All Star team this year despite strong numbers. But neither did any of the players who inked contracts worth at least $100 million in 2022. [Post, WTOP]

By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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