Fall in love with the District

After D.C.’s brutal summer, when the temperature finally dips below 70, any hard feelings we might have accumulated toward the city finally start to give way, obscured by autumn festivals and fall events lists—WCP’s own 2023 Fall Arts Guide came out just last week! With no shortage of hikes within the District where Washingtonians can admire the fall foliage, and enough area bakeries whipping up their own apple cider donuts, it’s easy to remember why we love D.C. so much.

Maternal Health in D.C.

WCP contributor Candace Y.A. Montague was joined by Jenn Ross-Moore at the Mayor’s National Maternal & Infant Health Summit last Tuesday, Sept. 19. The two met with D.C. residents to talk about the city’s elevated infant mortality rate and how it affects parents and loved ones. 

If you’ve had an experience with infant mortality, we want to hear about it.

Share your story by filling out this form, or reach out to Montague directly by emailing cmontague@washingtoncitypaper.com or calling (202) 650-6957.

A long list of finalists for the Best of D.C.’s Best Midwife and Best Doula indicates there are healthcare professionals that D.C. residents trust. WCP hopes that, with this reporting, we can help to share further resources among families, lessen the isolation that follows infant loss, and try to get answers.

News & Events

• If Best Local Instagram account Clockout DC dubs it Lazy Girl Fall, then who are we to say otherwise? The beloved Washingtonian has returned with a slight rebrand of her blog, which spotlights under-the-radar events in the DMV. Run by Jade Womack, the blog recently began posting again after taking a brief and well-earned hiatus.
• Yellow, the cafe applauded by WCP’s Nevin Martell for having the Best Liquid Fluffernutter, is expanding their dinner offerings. Yellow originally launched as a pop-up by Chef Michael Rafidi of Navy Yard’s Albi. Now their pizzas—dubbed, (not) pizzas—have permanently made it on the evening menu.
• The Northwest location of Best of D.C.’s Best Ice Cream will close in just a few short weeks. Ice Cream Jubilee’s T Street NW shop will be shuttering on Oct. 16th. Until then, their many fall flavors can be enjoyed at all three of their current locations.  
• Oktoberfest celebrations are well underway in the District. Celebrate at one of the city’s many beloved breweries and bars, including at Wundergarten’s four-week-long festival or Dacha’s upcoming weekend events, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.  
• Best of D.C.’s Best Chef Finalist Erik Bruner-Yang and the Maketto team host a cookbook release party for Fly by Jing founder Jing Gao on Oct. 10. The line of chili crisp has recently taken the culinary world by storm, and Gao releases her own “personal” cookbook, The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp, today, Sept. 26. The celebration takes place at Bold Fork Books with snacks by several D.C. favorites, including Chef Tim Ma of Navy Yard’s Any Day Now.

Tastes Like Autumnal Spirit

Pumpkin spice has earned a bad rap as a sickeningly sweet artificial flavor. But fall doesn’t have to mean horribly overpriced lattes, and a bevy of local coffee shops are coming out with their seasonal menu items that prove it. 

Commonwealth Joe is incorporating peanut butter and sage into some of their drinks, and even offers a chai refresher for those not looking for less caffeine. 

Baked and Wired also gave their followers an inside look at the making of their pumpkin spiced lattes that makes the argument to revisit the cliché coffee order.

Check out all of our Best of D.C. winners, runners-up, and finalists here. We’ll see you in two weeks for the fourth edition!