M.K. Koszycki

SHAED’s Max Ernst Talks the Band’s Colorful Campaign

It’s a busy summer for D.C. trio SHAED. In addition to basking in the glow of their recently released album “High Dive,” they’ve kicked off the Colorful Campaign, a multi-faceted fundraising and awareness project that will raise money for and shine a…

Jesse Garcia Talks 50 Fray Leagues, His Chosen Family + Building LGBTQ+ Community

From his background in communications and working as a public servant with the U.S. government to his involvement in kickball leagues around town, Jesse Garcia uses his skills to connect with others and foster safe spaces for those in the LGBTQ+…

District Fray’s Pride Playlist

Music has always been a tool for resistance, acceptance and celebration. With that in mind, we put together District Fray’s Pride playlist by asking some LGBTQ+ locals featured throughout the issue to contribute songs that represent Pride to them and…

Ally Spaulding Leads the Charge at A League of Her Own

It’s no secret that bars hold the ability to bring people together, forge new friendships and be the place where lifelong memories are forged. But some bars — and the people who run them — are more than just a social hotspot for fun, dancing and…

Morgen Hunt is in the Business of Inclusivity

As a small business owner, Morgen Hunt has worked hard for herself and her company Horizon Paramedical throughout her career. After opening many doors for herself through hard work, both personally and professionally, she attended an event and began…

Meet the Makers of National Landing Market: Capital Vintage

Kicking off this Saturday, May 15, National Landing Market in Crystal City will showcase the best of culture in the D.C. area through the diverse, talented vendors who will line the Plaza at 220 with their wares. To better introduce the creators who…

Inside DC Funk Parade’s 2021 Hybrid, Multi-Day Return

After being cancelled last year at the beginning of Covid, D.C.’s beloved Funk Parade is back. Presented in a hybrid format that kicks off this Saturday at Alexandria’s Aslin Beer Company and concludes on May 8 with a virtual festival chock-full of…

Local Entrepreneurs Infuse CBD into Wellness

CBD (an abbreviation for cannabidiol) has gained popularity for its multitude of uses and benefits like aiding in chronic pain, easing anxiety, improving skin problems and more. It’s a naturally occurring, non-psychoactive substance found in cannabis…

SHAED Releases First Full-Length Album in a “High Dive” of Faith

Everything leading up to D.C.-based electropop trio SHAED releasing their first full-length album was a whirlwind. The remix of their song “Trampoline” with ZAYN (of One Direction and solo fame) catapulted their stardom even higher after droves of…

Day Tripping: Where to Eat, Drink + Play in Baltimore

Charm City earned that moniker for a reason – the Maryland city is chock full of cultural attractions, top notch food and drink and more. Plan a day trip to Baltimore for a great weekend escape as the weather warms up and enjoy these can’t-miss spots…

Emma G Talks Wammie Nominations and the D.C. Music Community

This Sunday marks another year of The MusicianShip’s Wammie Awards, a 33-year-old award show that showcases the contributions and talents of the DMV music community. The awards honor the music, advocacy, venues, educators and more in the area, and…

21 D.C. Makers + Curators to Follow

Whether a creator, artist, curator or any of the titles the individuals on this list hold, they’re all integral parts of the creative fabric that make up the District. They shared their creative ethos, where they unexpectedly find inspiration and…

The Survival of the Brutalist: D.C.’s Complicated Concrete Legacy

In late December, former president Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to eliminate new federal buildings built in the style of Brutalism and modernism. Brutalism, especially in the District, is an inextricable part of the area’s landscape.…

Venues Reflect on a Year Without Live Music

Around this time last year, waves of live event cancellations began to crash throughout D.C. Even as nonessential businesses like music venues shut down and many events were rescheduled, we collectively held our breath for the pandemic to be a blip…

Road Tripping: Where to Eat, Drink + Play in Pittsburgh

While you should perhaps dedicate a full weekend to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania instead of a mere day trip, it’s a fun and easy-to-get-to weekend escape full of food, drink and of course, art you can’t miss. I grew up going to the Pennsylvania city…

8 Rom-Coms for Your Queue This Valentine’s Day

Sure, classic rom-coms are great, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t options from more recent years to satisfy your craving for all things sappy, sweet and funny. Though great picks year-round, they’ll make wonderful additions to your…

Step Up Your Skincare: Building Beautiful Skin + Sustainable Habits

We’ve all seen it: Some sort of self-care along the lines of, “Take a deep breath and do a face mask.” In a world where face masks mean more than just a relaxing skincare step and taking a deep breath isn’t always enough to center oneself, skincare…

20 Masters of Mindfulness, Movement + Connection

To kick off our first issue of 2021, we reached out to our extended community to recommend the D.C. area individuals included in this roundup. Whether working as personal trainers, nutritionists, manifestation mentors or so many other roles, they…

A New Way to Binge: Sobriety Anchors Business + Being for Gigi Arandid

At first blush, naming a bar that eschews booze “Binge Bar” might seem like an odd choice. But for Vergie “Gigi” Arandid, it couldn’t be more fitting. “It means to binge on everything that is good – mind, body and soul,” says the founder and owner of…

Bartees Strange’s Banner Year

All things considered, 2020 was a banner year for Bartees Strange. In March of last year, the D.C.-based musician released “Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy,” an EP of covers by The National. At the start of October, he released “Live Forever,” his first…