🌸 Go buy a house while you still can

Good morning, DC. On this day in 1862, President Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation from the White House, giving Confederate states 100 days to rejoin the Union or see their enslaved people freed.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

September's mortgage rate dip to its lowest point since last October has DC-area buyers suddenly reconsidering their math. That rowhouse in Petworth or townhouse in Arlington just got thousands cheaper per year, even as median home prices hover around $675K. Justin Noble from Sotheby's reports that properties with high days-on-market counts are seeing significant negotiation room, including one recent row home that appraised for $40,000 over what his client paid. With inventory up 40% year-over-year and homes sitting on the market for 64 days versus 50 last year, the fall market is creating breathing room that hasn't existed since before the pandemic. Those "golden handcuffs" keeping homeowners locked into their 3% mortgages are finally loosening, which means more choices for buyers willing to act before the sideline crowd floods back in. Noble advises paying attention to properties with high DOM (days on market) counts for the best deals, though warns that the DC Metro's insulation from broader economic swings means hot properties still move fast with multiple offers.

Meredith Artyukhina's Capital Stitch Co. is turning embroidery into DC's unexpected social scene, with patterns featuring everything from cherry blossoms to "Defend Trans Lives" messages that have grandmothers and millennials alike defending the brand online. The women-owned, trans-owned business started with $400 and a District-shaped floral design that sparked partnerships with the National Cathedral, Smithsonian, and MLS. At her Shop Made in DC workshops and free community meetups, stressed-out Washingtonians are discovering what one attendee called the perfect antidote to work life: focusing on stitches instead of screens. Hugo the cat serves as quality control director while Artyukhina tackles the real mission, creating a welcoming vibe in a city where too many newcomers struggle to find their people. The kits come complete with everything needed for on-the-go crafting (perfect for Metro commutes), and you can catch her at this year's Downtown Holiday Market or at upcoming Halloween-themed stitch sessions where costumes are encouraged.

DC's restaurant scene is exploding this fall with everything from Hush Harbor, the city's first phone-free bar by "Hell's Kitchen" winner Rock Harper on H Street, to PubKey in Penn Quarter where Bitcoin is the preferred payment method. The lineup reads like a culinary world tour: Argentinian bars Florería Atlántico (ranked among the world's 50 best), Swediopian flavors at Marcus D.C., upstate New York garbage plates at Upstate FTW, and Slice & Pie expanding from 14th Street after being named the nation's second-best pizzeria. Ward 8 is getting major love too, with Atlas Brew Works and Andy's Pizza anchoring the new Bridge District development, signaling serious investment beyond the usual dining corridors.

Georgetown Olive Oil Co. is bringing its "international tasting gallery" to 1314 King Street, where the former S.L. Blake clothing store once stood, offering free daily tastings of more than 60 olive oil and balsamic vinegar flavors sourced from Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The shop goes beyond just oils with Italian ceramics, small-batch pastas, black truffle rosemary sea salt, and build-your-own flavor packs that have earned them 29 five-star Yelp reviews at their current Eisenhower Avenue showroom. Old Town's foodie scene just got another excuse to wander King Street with a sophisticated palate cleanser between wine bars and restaurants.

Here’s what’s going on around DC this week:

Smithsonian American Art Museum | Gallery Farewell Tours | Last chance to see 18th-early 20th century art before renovation closure | 11:30 AM

Northeast Neighborhood Library | Baby Lap Time | Stories, rhymes and songs for babies who aren't walking yet | 4:30 PM

Kennedy Center Concert Hall | The Princess Bride in Concert | Film screening with live orchestra performing the score | 7 PM

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library | Toddler Story Time | Interactive program with books, songs, and movement for ages 18-36 months | 11 AM

Monday

79 🌡 65 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 4 mph

Tuesday

82 🌡 68 | 🌧️ 20% | 💨 9 mph

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The Atlantis | Foxwarren with Allegra Krieger | 6:30 PM

9:30 Club | Russian Circles with Blackwater Holylight | 7 PM

Black Cat | Jadu Heart | 7:30 PM

The Howard Theatre | Tune-Yards | 8 PM

Lincoln Theatre | Young The Giant | 8 PM

The Atlantis | Water From Your Eyes | 6:30 PM

Kennedy Center | The Princess Bride in Concert | 7 PM

The Howard Theatre | Stereolab | 8 PM

The Anthem | Sam Fender with Young Jesus | 8 PM

Marcus Mariota stepped up huge in his first start since 2022, leading the Commanders to a 41-24 rout of Las Vegas with help from Jeremy McNichols' explosive touchdown run and Jamison Lane's 90-yard punt return score that tied the longest in franchise history. The victory improved Washington to 2-1, keeping them tied with Dallas for second place in the NFC East behind the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. The Commanders take their momentum to Atlanta next Sunday for a 1 PM matchup with the Falcons, looking to extend their winning streak against their Week 4 opponent.

Till next time,