Visit DC in the middle of summer and you might wonder why this place was ever settled—much less chosen as the country’s capital. It’s humid, scorching hot, and mosquitoes fly around in swarms so dense you could rest a beer on them. But summer in DC also means hammering fresh crabs on newspaper-lined picnic tables, eating tacos on rooftops overlooking the Washington Monument, and pairing Chesapeake oysters with local beers like it’s your job. In a city with infamously long summers, there are more than a few places to actually enjoy the hottest time of the year. Here are some of the best.

Waterways around the District will be closed off as part of the security plan for the upcoming military parade marking the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday.

The preliminary plan is to block off access to the Potomac River from in Hains Point all the way up to the Key Bridge, News4 has learned.

Not everyone is happy with that decision.

Capt. Tim Blanchard, who runs the Fish the Potomac charter boat company near Navy Yard had his sights set on a busy day June 14.

“It’s Father’s Day weekend — so that’s one of the biggest weekends to get out on the water,” Blanchard said.

But the word now is trickling down to business and boat owners like Blanchard that much of the Potomac around the immediate area of the District will be off-limits June 14 because of the planned Army 250 events.

“They shut it down. It’s basically like closing the street for your store,” Blanchard said. “And we just can’t operate.”

Blanchard said he’s concerned about the economic impact on his business.

“Ah, this could be a couple grand for me, which, you know, for a small business like mine, it’s not a small amount of money,” he said. “You know, that’s probably my slip fee for a month and fuel.”

The Coast Guard sent out a memo saying in part: “This action is being taken to protect government officials, mitigate potential terrorist acts and incidents, and enhance public and maritime safety and security immediately before, during, and after this event.”

The military parade is expected to take place along Constitution Avenue NW between 15th and 23rd streets. More than 100 military vehicles are expected to roll out for the event. Army tanks already are headed to D.C., along with other equipment.

A massive air show featuring military planes and helicopters is also expected.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is warning of potential travel delays in the skies.

“There could be some disruption to the airspace at times,” Bowser said. “We don’t know when that is, but that could affect, for short periods of time, air travel.”

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority expects some air traffic to be halted at times, the agency confirmed to News4.

As for Blanchard, the charter boat captain, he said he’s hoping that maybe the government could make an exception for boats like his on that day. However, right now there’s no indication that a change in security will happen.

The D.C. Council has voted to pause further implementation of Initiative 82 until October.

Back in 2022, nearly 74% of District voters cast their ballots to phase out the minimum wage for restaurant and hospitality workers whose wages also include tips.

Back then, it was about $5 per hour. The Initiative has increased it, in steps, $10.

The vote was eight to four to pause the next step of Initiative 82, which would raise the minimum tipped wage for service workers to $12 an hour.

At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie said pausing the July first increase allows the council to assess the Initiative’s impact on workers and businesses.

Some DC bars and restaurants have cited increased costs from Initiative 82 as reasons for closing.

In a statement, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington applauded the council vote, saying, “We also appreciate that many of the Councilmembers drew attention to the fact that DC’s economic conditions have changed drastically since Initiative 82 was on the ballot in 2022.”

The statement went on to say, “It’s our shared responsibility to consider the world as it is rather than as it was.”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners and Civic Association Presidents who gathered to discuss the District’s 2026 budget that she backs full repeal.

“Fast forward a couple of years and we’re seeing a very challenging environment for our restaurants, so I proposed to the council that I-82 be repealed,” she said.

Paul Schwalb, the president of Unite Here Local 2025 Labor Union, which represents 7,000 hospitality workers in the area, called the pause of Initiative 82 a betrayal of workers and the people who voted for it.

“We believe that the council’s position is outrageous and undemocratic,” he told News4. “We believe also on the merits of it, these workers need a raise, which is why the voters of D.C. twice gave them a raise, and we find it, again, inexplicable why the council decided to stall those raises.”

Back in 2018, D.C. voters approved a similar wage measure called Initiative 77. It was overturned by the Council before it went into effect.