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City Cast DC

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

How’s your D.C. food trivia game? Two of the city’s premier food journalists are here to match wits about the past and present of Washington culinary life. It’s Jessica Sidman versus Ann Limpert in a D.C. food trivia showdown.Jess mentioned that she doesn’t think D.C. is in the South, but we’re not sure it’s so simple. <a href="https://dc.citycast.fm/podcasts/is-dc-part-of-the-south">Check out the episode where we tried to figure it out</a>.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to<a href="https://dc.citycast.fm/newsletter"> sign up</a> for our morning newsletter Hey DC.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info<a href="https://citycast.fm/advertise/"> HERE</a>And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling <a href="tel:2026422654">202-642-2654</a>. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

D.C. Food Trivia Smackdown

How well do you know D.C.’s food scene? We 

chatted with two of the city’s premier food journalists

 – Jessica Sidman and Ann Limpert – to test them on the past and present of Washington culinary life. How do you 

Emma Uber

A federal judge has blocked political news site NOTUS from rebranding as 

Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. granted a temporary restraining order in a trademark lawsuit brought by 

 against NOTUS, finding that readers are likely to be confused by the similar names.

In U.S. District Court on Tuesday, Alston ordered NOTUS to halt plans to unveil a new website Wednesday and also forbade the publication from advertising the rebrand until he determined whether a preliminary injunction would be appropriate. He stopped short of requiring NOTUS to remove all existing references to 

A hearing on the preliminary injunction is scheduled for July 22, court records show. A spokesperson for NOTUS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

 for trademark infringement, asking a judge to order NOTUS to stop using the name and pay damages. 

, led by Dovid Efune, the publisher of the conservative 

, said it had been planning its own launch.

At the crux of the lawsuit lies a single question: will the names cause confusion?

argues yes, citing news articles and social media posts that conflate 

launch with the revival of D.C.’s long-defunct conservative-leaning daily newspaper. NOTUS argues no, pointing to a survey it commissioned of consumers who read U.S. politics news. The survey found none of them thought 

. Plus, lawyers for NOTUS argued, “Star” has been used in hundreds of newspaper names dating back decades.

In court Tuesday, lawyers for each publication argued they had more to lose. Lawyers for NOTUS noted the publication had spent $1.3 million on pre-paid advertising through July, in addition to the millions of dollars already invested into the new website, sponsorships, advertisement and launch events. Attorneys for 

 claimed that allowing NOTUS to rebrand would kill the newspaper’s revival before it truly began.

“If you allow them to rebrand, we’re dead,” said Laurin Mills, a lawyer representing 

NOTUS, owned by D.C. media mogul Robert Allbritton, announced its plans to expand coverage and rebrand as 

 last month. Many figured that the name was an homage to his family’s former ownership of 

– a paper that stopped printing in 1981.

began posting articles on Substack weeks after NOTUS announced its expansion, ending a 45-year publishing drought. Lawyers for NOTUS seized on 

’s inactivity as evidence its claim to the trademark was weak, pointing out that 

 existed only as a single webpage with links to third-party reporting until after NOTUS announced its rebrand.

In a statement Tuesday, Efune welcomed the ruling and reinforced his commitment to resurrecting the newspaper as the ideological counterweight to left-leaning D.C. publications.

"This ruling reinforces our focus on what matters most: reviving a legendary American institution and returning a much needed voice in our nation's capital," the statement read. "We invite the public and especially disenfranchised readers in Washington and beyond to join us in this effort."

Court filings also offered an inside look into the communications between the two publications leading up to the legal battle.

A buyer on behalf of NOTUS first approached 

r on March 2, court records show, offering to purchase the trademark for $5,000. Robert Garson, an attorney for The Washington Star, replied that Efune valued the name at $10 million. (Garson represented President Donald Trump in an unsuccessful $50 million lawsuit against ex-

As negotiations continued, the buyer disclosed that she was working on behalf of Allbritton and explained his family connection to 

but added that he had already secured the rights to multiple other names the paper could use if unable to reach a deal. Ultimately, on March 24, court records show NOTUS offered $50,000 for the name – $9.5 million shy of Efune’s assessed value. Efune rejected the offer.

Another NOTUS representative – this time the CEO of an Arlington-based private investment firm – reached out the next day, records show, requesting a meeting with Efune. In a declaration filed in court, Efune said he and the representative spoke about the two publications potentially partnering. The representative even proposed a name trade, Efune said: 

 — a name NOTUS had already applied to trademark.

But the deal once again fell apart as Efune remained insistent that the trademark was worth millions.

“We see great value in this historic title, both in terms of overall recognition in the market and also the specific strong and valuable brand identity going all the way back to 1850,” Efune wrote in an April 6 email included in court filings. “I’m sure you also know of its storied history as Ronald Reagan’s favorite newspaper. We genuinely view this value to be well into the millions…”

Ten days later, NOTUS announced its rebrand as 

Federal trademark records show NOTUS secured the rights to 

In a court filing, attorneys for NOTUS said the acronym, short for “News of the United States”, has proven inaccessible and distracting to the broader audience beyond political insiders the news organization is now trying to reach. 

 is the antidote for the confusion, the attorneys wrote, because “Star” has been associated with news organizations for over 100 years. Notably, the explanation of the name choice does not mention the Allbritton family’s ownership of the defunct 

“The name also fit NOTUS’ ethos, as THE STAR represents the ‘north star of journalism,’ which is to be non-partisan and accurate,” the attorneys wrote.

NOTUS was sued by the owner of The Washington Star for trademark infringement. 

News Site NOTUS Blocked from Rebranding as The Star for Now

Local News

Get the story that everyone in Washington is talking about.

D.C. Local News

Between Pride, America 250 events, Juneteenth celebrations, film festivals, and new museums, June is not a month to stay home. 

Here’s how to up your D.C. cultural ~ aura ~ this month

 from around the world. For a D.C.-focused film, check out 

 about local legend Samu Kureshi, who spent 50 years building the country’s largest private collection of Commanders memorabilia! You can get an all-access pass for $237 or catch individual films for $17 a pop.

America's 250th anniversary events are coming to the National Mall and beyond. From the 

 starting June 25, the celebrations are going to be non-stop. For something more local check out the 

Turns out you don’t need to stay at a fancy D.C. hotel to use their pool. You can just buy a day pass on 

 for around $20 to $60. You can even rent a whole cabana with your friends for $100. But of course, we’re never too good for a dip in one of D.C.’s public pools either. Here’s a 

It’s impossible to talk about June without mentioning Pride. The annual 

 is on June 20 this year, but why stop there? Watch the 

 with Maren Morris and Leikeli47, hit up 

 opens on June 26 with interactive exhibits, massive projections, and a magazine archives gallery. Tickets are $29 and include entry to the museum and attached food hall with Italian, Moroccan, Peruvian, and Vietnamese options, plus a full bar and bakery.

 — is happening at Wonderland Ballroom on June 7. Sundresses are required (regardless of gender). So beg, borrow, or steal one from a friend and show a little leg for charity. There will be some to borrow if you don’t have your own so you can compete for the best dress award.

Get the Meat Sweats at the National Capital Barbecue Battle

Endless meat for the price of a $21 day pass. What could go wrong? Barbeque vendors from around the country 

 on June 27-28, while local go-go legends like Rare Essence, Junkyard, EU, and the Chuck Brown Band sing your meaty worries away.

Listen For More Things To Do In DC This June

June is slam-packed with activities (not to mention an election!). Here’s the best things to do in D.C. this month.

Your Guide to Washington, D.C. in June 2026

Your Guide to D.C. in June 2026

Tips and tricks for living your best DC life, by locals, for locals.

DC Life Hacks

Michael Schaffer

When the roster of artists slated to play the Great American State Fair was announced earlier this week, D.C.'s reaction was simple: Why couldn't we get A-List talent?

Two days later, the question has changed: Why couldn't we even keep D-List talent?

The first to bust a move was Young M.C., the rapper best known for the 1989 hit "Bust a Move.” 

"The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” 

 early Thursday, noting that SPIN had described the gig as "Trump-backed.”

More drop-outs followed. Morris Day, the longtime Prince collaborator who appeared in 1984's 

 that "contrary to the rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing.” Milli Vanilli, the 1980s duo best remembered for a lip-synching scandal where it turned out they hadn't even sang their own song, declared that t

hey had never agreed to perform in the first place

The Commodores, the legendary 1970s soul act, 

: “Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party,” they wrote on social media.

The most painful hits came last. Country singer Martina McBride, who actually has fans in MAGA America, 

. “I was presented with the opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading,” she wrote in a long, somber statement.

And then came Bret Michaels, singer of the 1980s hair-metal band Poison — and a one-time winner on 

. “Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than I agreed to be part of,” 

The internet has had a lot of fun with it, but the vibe may also feel familiar to Washingtonians: It’s not so different from what happened after Trump took over the Kennedy Center and acts started pulling out in order to not be associated with a once-neutral seeming institution that had now acquired a political charge.

Sure enough, Ric Grenell, who presided over the Kennedy Center during the artistic exodus, weighed in to slam McBride: “You’ve always been a woke lefty,” 

. In another post, he referred to the cancellations as “censorship.”

It’s not — though you can expect some political fireworks from one side or the other over Michaels’ claim that “concerns have been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family, and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable.”

Artists have a right to associate with whatever political figure they want. But these particular artists’ choices are sad all the same. It used to be that playing at a big national institution like the Kennedy Center, or joining a National Mall festival designed to celebrate July 4, didn’t feel like linking arms with any political figure at all.

The Trump-era personalization of the capital’s symbolic core — the president was talking up his plans for the Mall even as the cancellations rolled in — has changed the dynamic so even hokey D.C. stuff now feels inextricably tied to the guy at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

That’s especially true for the Great American State Fair. Given that the festival is full of Make America Healthy Again content, it’s not hard to see why people would think of it as not just another bit of federal-city programming.

This change in the political valence of the Mall and its festivals, in the long run, is especially lousy for D.C. residents. We used to enjoy the benefits of capital-city events — sometimes with actual A-list stars — that you couldn't see in a regular American metropolis. Not these days.

Luckily, we can still see Vanilla Ice and Flo Rida, who as of this writing have not canceled.

Is Everyone Dropping Out of Trump’s Great American State Fair Concerts?

Locals have refused to call the iconic D.C. performing arts venue the “Trump Kennedy Center,” even after the board voted to add Trump’s name in December and changed the signs. Now, a judge says the renaming was against the law.

A federal judge on Friday ordered the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts building and all official branding, ruling that the board acted unlawfully by renaming the institution without an act of Congress. In a 94-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper also temporarily blocked the institution from closing for two years of renovations.

"The Kennedy Center's organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board's unilateral say-so,” wrote Cooper. “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”

As part of his ruling, Cooper ordered that all signage and online materials referring to the "Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts," the "Trump Kennedy Center," or anything similar must be removed within 14 days.

Cooper also found that the institution’s board had been “derelict” in failing to consider the consequences to programming when shutting down the center and called the renovation plans “murky,” writing that none of the board members had enough information to decide whether the closure was necessary. Most performances have already been canceled in anticipation of the closure that was set to begin in July — plus, the center has struggled to 

 talent since Trump installed himself as chair of the board last year.

The ruling does not prevent the Kennedy Center's board from a future closure, but the judge said that it should only do so after the board has "sufficient information to make a considered, independent decision, taking account of its obligation to both maintain and operate a premiere arts venue and its solemn duty to memorialize a fallen President."

Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the center, said it would appeal the decision. In a statement Friday, she said that the Trump administration remains committed to giving the center “an urgent and significant restoration.”

“We are confident that on appeal the court will uphold the Board’s will to recognize President Trump’s historic contributions to our nation’s cultural center,” she said. “With $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress, the resources are in place and we remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.”

In an email sent after the ruling, Daravi referred to herself as the “Trump Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations.”

In response to a request for comment, the White House referred to Trump's lengthy 

 Friday evening, in which he railed against Cooper and decried the center as in need of renovation. He also wrote he is going to be 'working with Congress to transfer this failing Institution back to them,' though Congress already possesses legal control of the center.

"Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into “NEVER NEVER LAND.”"

The rulings mark a win for Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democratic congresswoman and board member who in December sued her fellow trustees after they voted to rename the institution after Trump. She later broadened her lawsuit to contest the closure of the center altogether.

"Today's ruling rightly affirms that this administration's efforts to rename and close the Center have no basis in law," Beatty said in a statement. "The Kennedy Center is an institution that belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump. He has desecrated this sacred memorial for his own vanity."

In a separate decision Friday, Cooper denied a similar challenge to the renovations brought by preservationist groups.

A lawsuit filed in March by a coalition of architectural and historic preservation organizations, including the DC Preservation League, argues the Trump administration has already caused historic harm to the building and must go through a federal review process before any more work can be done. The group alleges that the administration appears intent on “major aesthetic transformation” or maybe even total demolition of the arts center.

The government countered by saying the Kennedy Center is not a federal agency subject to those review requirements, and that the construction plans do not indicate an intention to demolish the arts center.

Cooper sided with the government, but said his position could change based on the scale of the renovations.

“If the work is, say, more transformative than present testimony suggests or requires permits that the center has yet to acknowledge or secure, the court’s legal analysis might look substantially different,” the judge wrote.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said the Kennedy Center’s board acted unlawfully by renaming the center without congressional approval. 


Trump’s Name Must be Removed from Kennedy Center, Judge Orders

The Stars may not be aligned for D.C. media mogul Robert Allbritton.

Last month, Allbritton’s political news site NOTUS announced it would expand its coverage and rebrand as 

 Many figured the name was an homage to his family’s former ownership of 

 – a paper that stopped printing in 1981. In 

 with the Columbia Journalism Review, Allbritton said replicating the full name of the paper would be too "backward looking.”

It may not have been quite so simple. According to a lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday, the name wasn’t Allbritton’s to use. According to the suit, NOTUS twice engaged in talks with The Washington Star Company to purchase the trademark, but were unable to reach an agreement. They went with a galaxy-inspired name anyway, just dropping the “Washington.”

Now, days before the planned relaunch, that decision is proving complicated.

was actually planning its own launch, led by Dovid Efune, the publisher of the conservative 

 began posting articles on Substack this month, ending a 45-year publishing drought weeks after NOTUS announced its expansion. Efune told the 

’s newsroom, soon. According to the lawsuit, having another company with Star in the name is bad for business.

The lawsuit claims the two newspaper names are confusingly similar and, since media executive Dovid Efune holds the trademark, a judge should order NOTUS to stop using the name and pay damages for infringing on 

’s relaunch had been “some years in the making.” Federal trademark records show that Efune has held the trademark since 2023. Interestingly, records show the trademark was filed by Robert Garson, one of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyers, who represented Trump in an unsuccessful $50 million lawsuit against ex-

In a statement to City Cast DC on Thursday, Allbritton said NOTUS plans to "vigorously defend against the claims.”

“Six weeks after NOTUS announced that it was rebranding to The Star, a newly formed entity associated with Dovid Efune has sued NOTUS for trademark infringement,” the statement read. “The entity does not and cannot own the word “Star,” which has been used by and associated with dozens of media publications for over 100 years. The entity itself only even claims to have recently adopted “The Washington Star,” decades after numerous other “Star” publications have been using “Star” marks.”

Lawyers for Efune are pointing to Allbritton’s family history with 

 as another reason D.C. readers may be confused about the distinction between the two publications. Allbritton’s father, Joseph Allbritton, owned the newspaper from 1975 to 1978. The paper folded a few years later, going bankrupt after 128 years as a conservative-leaning newspaper. The 

purchased its newspaper plant, printing presses and delivery trucks after the closure, but stopped short of acquiring the paper itself. (City Cast DC is owned by Graham Holdings, formerly the Washington Post Company.)

The younger Allbritton, meanwhile, stayed in the media business, founding Politico, which ultimately sold to a German media firm for more than $1 billion — giving him the money to bankroll this new venture.

website within the next two months and print a weekend newspaper by the end of the year. 

 will publish under the oversight of right-leaning 

 until an editor in chief is named, and in his editorial Efune wrote that the publication will support “limited government” and oppose “bureaucratic corruption and federal overreach.” He hasn’t said anything about covering local Washington, and the 

 does not focus extensively on metro news in its city.

For the record, City Cast DC will not be rebranding as City Star DC.

The plaintiffs say Washington is a one-star town.

 The Washington Star Is Suing The Star In a Very Confusing Media Battle

Summer is just around the corner. We talked 

 about the best beach getaways close to D.C. and how to make the most of them.

Shoulder months like June and September tend to have significantly fewer crowds and lower accommodation prices. But whenever you go, be sure to book lodging a month or two in advance (or more for peak months!) if you want anything remotely close to the water.

Haters will say it’s not a “real beach.” Sure, it’s a little small, and sure, you can see the other shore across the Chesapeake, but it still makes for a great swim. Getting there is super convenient and has great views of the Bay Bridge. The only downside is the beach can stain your legs orange because of the sands' naturally high iron content.

There are no restaurants or activities within walking distance. I recommend picking up some subs and snacks from Wawa on your way. If you want something more refined, Annapolis is a 15-minute drive with favorites like 

A quick afternoon dip and a free orange spray tan.

A personal favorite, this quiet, dog-friendly beach is hidden behind a park. It’s small, but the water is shallow and warm, so it’s perfect for swimming if you’re a baby about getting in the water like me. Park for free near the Matapeake Clubhouse then take a short, winding trail through the woods to get to the water.

You’re legally required to stop at the 

 on your way back, a seasonal takeout restaurant with freshly steamed Maryland crabs, fried shrimp, and fat crab cakes.

Somewhere free and easy to bring your pup.

Technically still on the Potomac, this beach is clean and rarely crowded, making it a popular spot for fishing and crabbing. It’s nothing like the larger Virginia Beach or Ocean City, but it has a quaint charm that Ebner swears by. There’s parking, public bathrooms on site, and a public pier. Just beware, it tends to have quite a lot of jellyfish in summer!

The tiny nearby town was a popular resort town in the early to mid-20th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It only has one stoplight but packs in some great local joints. 

 has a sand floor with a full bar and stage that hosts free open-air concerts. 

 has stellar homemade flavors (get the churro ice cream) and 

 has great fajitas and margarita flights.

Your next great fishing spot or a historic getaway.

Now we’re getting to the good stuff: the beaches on the ocean. Rehoboth is the epicenter of the LGBTQ+ community and queens can be seen lounging in Speedos on Poodle Beach at all times of day. But it’s also very family-friendly, says Ebner, with a long boardwalk that has a small amusement park and a bandstand with free concerts.

The connecting town is picturesque, with everything from ice cream stands to bookstores. Fill up on shellfish at 

 or get some perfectly crisp calamari at 

Speedo clad queens, concerts, and the perfect Insta pic.

A fan favorite of horse girls everywhere, Assateague is a national park with tons of birds and wildlife — including wild horses. The beach itself is wonderful (just be careful horses don’t get into your snacks!) and the surrounding nature makes it great for an outdoors-y weekend trip.

 and make your way up the 37 miles of beaches. In Chincoteague town, grab a latte from 

 or get some surprisingly good Korean food from the 

 tiki hut. Camping is a popular option at Assateague State Park and can be a blast, but make sure to reserve your spot early and bring your own firewood!

Outdoor activities and wildlife sightings.

Washingtonians often say this is the closest “real beach” because of its size and 3-mile boardwalk. The boardwalk itself is complete with rides, crappy T-shirt stalls, and more fried food than you could eat. 

 vinegar-drenched French fries are non-negotiable. They've been an Ocean City staple since 1929. Down the boardwalk, 

 is the go-to for ice cream and milkshakes.

Beyond the beach, Ocean City is a party town. 

 is a classic, says Ebner. The Jamaica-inspired nightclub has multiple dance floors, Caribbean food, and tropical cocktails you can drink at a bar in the water.

“It’s a guilty pleasure of mine even at my ripe age of 40,” says Ebner. “The music is always pumping. It's a fun way to have a dance or two and just celebrate life.”

 has the best live music in town. And on your way back to D.C., make sure to stop at Crabs To Go on Ocean Gateway, which won the “

From family-friendly boardwalks to beachside party towns, here are the best beach getaways from D.C.

The Best Beaches Within 3 Hours of Washington, DC

The Best Beaches Within 3 Hours of DC

How well do you know D.C.’s food scene?

Food and Culture

The Ultimate DC Food Trivia

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

City Cast

D.C. Food Trivia Smackdown

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