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Washington Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
It's D.C.'s 235th birthday. How much do you know about the city?
Are you a tourist, transplant or true local? Test your knowledge. Happy birthday, D.C.! It's been more than two centuries since D.C. was established as the nation's capital with the signing of the Residence Act on July 16, 1790 — but back then, it was called the Territory of Columbia. Our fair city didn't have 'district' in its title until a name change in 1871, nearly a hundred years later. Did you already know that? D.C. is among the most educated U.S. cities, and Washingtonians are, stereotypically, great lovers of bar trivia and fun facts. (We're not calling you nerds!) So celebrate the city's 235th birthday by testing your knowledge. Are you a true local, transplant or total tourist? 1 of 12 How many steps do visitors climb between the Reflecting Pool and the main chamber of the Lincoln Memorial? A. 58 B. 93 C. Four score and seven D. 15 2 of 12 Which character is depicted in a limestone grotesque on the Washington National Cathedral? A. Voldemort B. Darth Vader C. Peppa Pig D. Bill from 'Schoolhouse Rock!' 3 of 12 Which giant panda was not born at the Smithsonian National Zoo? A. Tai Shan B. Bei Bei C. Bao Li D. Xiao Qi Ji 4 of 12 Which Metro station has the tallest escalator in D.C.? A. Dupont Circle B. Tenleytown C. Wheaton D. Woodley Park 5 of 12 Of the top five most-visited museums in the United States last year, how many are in D.C.? A. None B. 1 C. 2 D. 3 6 of 12 What hotel chain started as a root beer stand in Columbia Heights? A. Omni B. Marriott C. Hilton D. Holiday Inn 7 of 12 What cocktail was invented by a lobbyist at a bar on E Street? A. Old Fashioned B. Negroni C. Gimlet D. Rickey 8 of 12 Which street in Northwest was D.C.'s original northern border, originally named Boundary Street? A. V Street B. Florida Avenue C. Willard Street D. New Hampshire Avenue 9 of 12 Which of the following professional sports teams based in D.C. has never changed its name? A. Wizards B. Nationals C. Commanders D. Capitals 10 of 12 Which celebrity was not born in D.C.? A. Katherine Heigl B. Maggie Rogers C. Marvin Gaye D. Samuel L. Jackson 11 of 12 Before becoming one of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance, poet and activist Langston Hughes worked in D.C. as … A. A busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel B. A short-order cook on U Street C. An usher at Griffith Stadium D. A teacher at Dunbar High School 12 of 12 Which late-night pizza shop is credited with inventing the gut-busting jumbo slice? A. Pizza Mart B. Jumbo Slice C. Alberto's D. Duccini's You need to answer every question to see your result. 0 of 12 Your score: Fritz Hahn, Mark Miller and William Neff contributed to this report.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia falls for Apoh the ‘chonky' black panther
Malaysia 's internet has fallen in love with Apoh, a black panther at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur whose portly figure has prompted both laughter and reassurance from zookeepers. Apoh the 'chonky' panther relaxes on a log at Malaysia's National Zoo. The zoo encouraged Photo: TikTok/znmzoonegara Apoh celebrated his 15th birthday on Tuesday, but it was last week that he shot to online fame after a visitor shared a 15-second TikTok clip of the panther rolling onto his back, his belly prominently displayed. A text overlay in Malay asks the zoo to explain how Apoh got 'so chonky and cute'. The video attracted thousands of comments, with many likening him to an overweight house cat rather than a majestic jungle predator. This viral moment stood in stark contrast to earlier footage from 2023, which showed a leaner, more muscular Apoh prowling confidently around his enclosure. 'Yes, Apoh is looking a little chonky, but don't worry!' the zoo reassured people in a TikTok post. 'Our dedicated zookeepers and vets are keeping a close eye on him and making sure he gets the best care possible.' Apoh bares his teeth while yawning and stretching in a still from the zoo's social media video. Photo: TikTok/znmzoonegara The zoo said it welcomed the public's concern and encouraged supporters to contribute to Apoh's care by joining its animal adoption programme, which helps fund food, medical attention and general upkeep.
South China Morning Post
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Write a funny caption for this lady dressed as a mermaid
People in a variety of colourful costumes participated in the 43rd annual Mermaid Parade at Coney Island, New York in June. The annual Mermaid Parade marks the beginning of summer in New York City and pays tribute to Coney Island's Mardi Gras celebrations in the early 1900s. Agence France-Presse Send us a funny caption by filling out this form or emailing us at editorial@ The deadline is at 12pm on July 9. We'll publish the best ones next week. Last week's top caption Eduardo Sacasa, president of the Zoo Friends Foundation, holds an albino congo monkey at the National Zoo of Nicaragua back in 2007. Photo: EPA-EFE Posties editors: How dare you finish all the bananas?
Washington Post
12-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
A grassland bird eavesdrops on prairie dog calls to keep itself safe from predators
WASHINGTON — Prairie dogs are the Paul Reveres of the Great Plains: They bark to alert neighbors to the presence of predators, with separate calls for dangers coming by land or by air. 'Prairie dogs are on the menu for just about every predator you can think of'— golden eagles , red-tailed hawks, foxes, badgers, even large snakes — said Andy Boyce, a research ecologist in Montana at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
New York Times
04-06-2025
- General
- New York Times
Leopards on the Potomac! Trump Is Delighted by Deal With Saudis for Rare Cats.
Of all the splashy announcements that marked President Trump's trip to the Middle East last month, there was one that delighted him in a way that was different from the rest. It had nothing to do with money or military might. It had to do with cats. Big, rare, glamorous, killer cats. Perhaps you missed it; there was a lot going on. When the White House put out its 'fact sheet' highlighting the various investments it claimed to have secured in Saudi Arabia, there was one line, buried way down low, that stood out: the 'creation of a dedicated exhibit in Washington' for 'the endangered Arabian leopard.' The Smithsonian had spent months trying to get its paws on a pair of Arabian leopards, and now the Saudis are agreeing to send two of them to live at the National Zoo as part of a conservation program. A proper habitat will need to be constructed, and the exact pair of leopards has yet to be chosen, but if all goes according to plan, the cats will make it to the capital city while Mr. Trump is still in office. Brandie Smith, the director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, spoke briefly with Mr. Trump about all this and said that he was 'very interested in the leopards as a species.' Most of all, she said, he wanted to learn about the leopards' 'personality.' Ms. Smith traveled to Saudi Arabia last month for the announcement. She was there at the royal palace in Riyadh when Mr. Trump arrived on the first day of his trip. Foreign dignitaries, business titans and muckety-mucks of various other stripes had lined up to shake hands with Mr. Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the kingdom. When the two leaders reached the end of this very long line, they met the zookeeper. She explained to them why she was there. 'As soon as I said leopards, I saw both of them, their attention popped,' she recalled in a recent interview from her office back at the National Zoo. She said that Mr. Trump had many questions about the leopards: 'Like: 'How big are they? What do they eat? How dangerous are they?' That kind of stuff.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
