WASHINGTON — In the heart of downtown D.C., a new event is aiming to bring more business to restaurants and shops facing a difficult stretch.

"DC is back tonight!" said Gerren Price, president and CEO of the Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID), during the first Thursday Night Out event. The evening featured local artists, live go-go music, and food and drink vendors. The goal is to draw people back downtown.

He says seeing fewer people out and about this time of year isn't unusual.

"Congress is out of session. Families are on vacation. You tend to have sort of a lull," he said. But this summer, the typical slowdown was compounded by what Price called a "federal takeover" following an emergency declaration in August.

But, the past few weeks have been "worse than they've ev

See Full Page