Our favorite stories we published in 2025

Hi friends,

What a year it's been. Thank you for being here with us through it all. Rather than trying to recap 12 months of coverage (you don't need that, you were there!), we're closing out December with a new piece from contributor Sam Delgado, which looks back at the ways D.C. built community power in the face of the Trump presidency and all that's come with it.

We know 2025 has been a shitty, scary, and downright terrible year. But D.C. is still the same beautiful city, full of resilient, organized, smart, and compassionate people — so to that end, today we've also rounded up five of our favorite stories we published this year, showcasing exactly those people.

These are stories we think show both what The 51st is about, and what D.C. is about. (Those are kind of the same things, anyway – if we're doing our job right.) They are stories we hope never get lost, even as we're all busy fighting for basic protections and democratic representation.

Whether it's spending a morning on the Potomac with local fishermen or gazing up at the sky over Mount Pleasant with neighbors, we want to tell the real D.C. stories — those that inspire community, teach you something new, and make you feel more connected to the place you love.

Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Love,
Colleen and The 51st Team

How D.C. residents fought back in 2025

The last 12 months have marked a new period in D.C., one where residents are reminded how vulnerable our local laws and political systems are, and how easily daily life can be disrupted by the federal government.

But it’s also been a year that D.C. fought back. Washingtonians organized rallies and protests on the steps of the Capitol. They documented ICE sightings and made sure kids got to school safely. They chanted “Free D.C.” at soccer games and testified at D.C. council hearings about the federal surge. 

'D.C. fishing is a culture': Meet some of the anglers casting into our rivers

"Can't nobody talk bad about this river in front of my face." That's how Ernest Robinson, also known as Ernie the Hog Snatcher, defends the Potomac — a river that's received its fare share of flack for its levels of bacteria, sewage, and toxic chemicals (... as if that's the river's fault?).

Ernie is one member of a vibrant fishing community in D.C. – full of folks who are out on the waters likely before most of us have even gotten out of bed. For these anglers, fishing is more than just a hobby — it's a way to connect with themselves, the waters they love, and their neighbors. This story from 51st contributor Sam Delgado is one of those "did you know?" stories that we set out to bring our readers when we first dreamed up The 51st.

Mount Pleasant’s sidewalk astronomer might have to leave his home

The federal takeover, the militarization of D.C., and the fear and chaos unleashed by ICE was an inescapable story this year. We tried our best to cover the news — providing residents with the facts they needed to protect themselves and their neighbors — but we also sought out hyperlocal stories to show the true depth of loss our communities are facing.

Gael Gomez, the "people's astronomer" and co-founder of Mount Pleasant Sidewalk Astronomers, is one of those stories. Gomez moved to D.C. at age 12, and was one of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans whose Temporary Protected Status was revoked under the Trump administration. With his family's future in D.C. uncertain, Gomez gathered with dozens of neighbors in Mount Pleasant on an October night to gaze up at the sky together one last time. Months later, Gomez' family is still trying to find a way to stay — you can support their fundraiser to help cover legal fees.

Leigh H. Mosley is documenting the legacy of D.C.'s Black lesbian elders

Leigh H. Mosley carries many titles: photographer, videographer, filmmaker, activist, educator. Her six decades of work form an intimate record of D.C.'s ever-shifting community, and her latest documentary project – Pioneers for Justice: Black Lesbians in the DMV – centers 11 women who have substantial contributions to D.C.'s LGBTQ+ and Black communities over the past half-century.

51 contributor India Kea sat down with Mosley ahead of the documentary's release to discuss her work, her life, and what D.C. means to her as a home, sanctuary, and creative ground.

D.C.'s 'protest restaurant' brings Palestinian food and culture to U Street

Nabiha was born as an act of resistance. Following a verbal dispute with neighbors who were spray painting over pro-Palestinian signs (which we've also covered elsewhere in the city), owner Nesrin Abaza's husband, who operates an adjacent restaurant, called her and said: "I'm putting up the biggest Palestinian flag on U Street ... and you're going to open a Palestinian restaurant." And that's exactly what they did.

Abaza and her family have been running what they call the "protest restaurant" for well over a year now – not just serving food, but preserving Palestinian identity and solidarity by hosting events, markets, and screenings. In Abaza's words: "It's a restaurant without walls." 51st contributor Rebecca Kern brought us this story (and told us the restaurant filled up with even more customers after publication).

With cellphone cameras and tip lines, D.C. residents find small ways to fight ICE

During the first weeks of the federal takeover, our social media feeds – and likely yours, too – were inundated with video clips, photos, and rapid response callouts involving interactions with ICE and federal agents. You probably passed wheatpasted posters against ICE or saw someone distributing know-your-rights pamphlets.

In the absence of broader protections from our local leaders, the D.C. community stepped up to protect its own, in both big and small ways. At The 51st, we're focused on cutting through the noise and delivering information to keep our residents safe, without stoking fear. And in August (and now) we knew local organizers were best equipped to tell that story of protection.