Happy Monday, DMV! It’s July 6.
On July 4, DOGE officially came to an end. Today’s newsletter is about one good thing that (indirectly) came out of their efforts: Karaoke Therapy.
Eric Saul, an architect and satirist in Takoma Park, launched the karaoke parties in March 2025, the early months of the Trump administration as DOGE was slashing the government. At first it was held at the VFW in downtown Silver Spring.
“I wanted to do something fun for everyone getting laid off or struggling after the election,” he said, noting that the crowd usually averages about 20 or so people and the biggest was about 50 people.
“Federal employees were getting laid off, and everyone was just down in the dumps, so we decided to keep it going. It started off with me and my crappy karaoke machine … We used YouTube and had to wait for annoying commercials.”
Eric slowly upgraded the experience with a projector, a better sound system, inflatable props and hats for costumes and the KaraFun karaoke app.
As of this month, Karaoke Therapy has moved to Busboys and Poets in the Takoma neighborhood of D.C. I went Friday evening. Among the 30 or so in the crowd, I saw a few familiar faces from my yoga studio.
I met Catherine Rytkonen and a few others as I walked in, and within minutes, Catherine and her almost-name-twin Kathryn, whom I recently met at yoga, pulled me on stage for a song. (I can’t remember the song, though I remember we had a good dance while singing.)
Many of the people who join Karaoke Therapy are strangers who become regulars and friends, said Catherine, a “karaoke-obsessed fanatic” who helps spread the word about the event. “It’s incredibly therapeutic, and I think a lot more people could use that kind of release,” she told me in a chat.
After that first song, I opened KaraFun on my phone. Inspired by Eric and his wife, who sang “The Promise” by When in Rome, I scrolled through 80s songs and picked “In Between Days” by the Cure. When my turn came, I danced out the instrumental intro … then was too winded to really belt it out. (Lesson learned. How do pop stars do it?)
Later that night, all the women in the room went onstage for “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips.
Singing “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips. (Catherine Rytkonen)
They then joined for the next song, which was my last pick of the night: For the Fourth of July, “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus … which is much higher in pitch than I remembered! I sound so much better singing it alone in my car than on stage, into a mic.
Oh well, anyway, it was just the therapy I needed. The next round is July 21. Come join.
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📰 News around the DMV
D.C. snags three record highs in a row with 103 on July 4 (Capital Weather)
USDA expects ‘significant number’ of staff facing relocation to leave their jobs (Federal News Network)
How Metro got its groove back (The 51st)
📷 Your joy
It’s lotus flower season.
(Mike Finkelstein)
Mike Finkelstein, 64, of Springfield, Virginia, took this pic on June 30 at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens.
Kenilworth will have its lotus and water lily festival next weekend, July 18 and 19.
(Susanne Ehsani)
Susanne Ehsani, 68, of Vienna, Virginia, took this pic June 25 at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
“Summer flowers are in full bloom and lotus flowers are emerging. They are just spectacular! Highly recommend a stroll there,” Susanne wrote in her submission.
More summer photos, please! Show us your favorite pools, swimming holes and splash pads; ice cream, popsicles and slushy drinks; and how you and your pets are keeping cool. Share your photos of summer life in the DMV here.
🎤
