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Axios DC
Call Your Mother is fighting to stay open in Georgetown
Call Your Mother is fighting for the right to stay open in Georgetown, caught between unhappy neighbors and century-old zoning minutiae.Why it matters: The beloved bagel shop is part of a retail renaissance in the historic neighborhood that has outsiders wondering, is Georgetown back? But its popularity (even President Biden stopped by) is driving a handful of next-door neighbors mad.Driving the news: The Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission last week formally asked the District to yank its permit, arguing that "large crowds" are causing "objectionable conditions" to the neighbors.The technicals are all rather bureaucratic. At the heart of the matter is...
Meet DMV Olympic fencer Tatiana Nazlymov
Bethesda fencer Tatiana Nazlymov is making her Olympic debut next month.Why it matters: The 19-year-old Princeton student is among a handful of people with DMV ties headed to Paris for the summer games.The big picture: The games will run from July 26 to Aug. 11, with about 10,500 athletes competing.Zoom in: Nazlymov, who went to Georgetown Day School, picked up the sport at age 9 and grew up fencing at her family's club in Bethesda, Nazlymov Fencing.Fencing runs in the family β her father, Vitali Nazlymov, is an NCAA champion, and her grandfather, Vladimir Nazlymov, is a three-time Olympic champion.Fave...
D.C. sweeps the 2024 James Beard Awards
It was a huge night for D.C. area chefs at the James Beard Awards, with wins for Albi's Michael Rafidi, Perry's chef Masako Morishita, and Harley Peet of Bas Rouge on the Eastern Shore.Why it matters: "The Beards" are big-time β considered the Oscars for the American hospitality industry.π Zoom in: Arguably the biggest award of the night β a hugely competitive national category, delivered last β went to Rafidi, who won for Outstanding Chef.Rafidi, a Palestinian American who grew up in the D.C. area, dedicated the award "to Palestinians, and all the people out there, whether it's here, Palestine,...
D.C. sued over weed shops near schools
Two community organizations are suing D.C. for granting medical marijuana licenses to dispensaries located near schools in the Palisades and Penn Quarter.Why it matters: It's the latest shot fired in an ongoing battle between the District's Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), marijuana retailers, and parents and community leaders concerned about drug exposure.Catch up quick: The city is busy expanding its medical marijuana program, creating a pathway for unlicensed weed "gifting shops" to become legally permitted or face crackdowns β a process that started last spring.Existing law says cannabis licensees β including dispensaries and growing facilities β can't operate within...
Where the Connecticut Avenue redesign stands
Bicycle lanes are officially off the table for the redesign of Connecticut Avenue, but the city is moving forward with ways to make it more pedestrian-friendly.Why it matters: The already delayed project will take longer, and it appears the clash over bike lanes is now put to rest.State of play: The 2.7-mile stretch of Connecticut Avenue from Chevy Chase to Woodley Park will be redesigned to make it safer for pedestrians to cross and to add more traffic enforcement.The plans show that left-turn lanes will be added to reduce crashes and improve vehicle flow.Curbs would be extended in some intersections...
How to watch D.C. chefs at the James Beard Awards
Six food and beverage talents from D.C. are finalists in the 33rd-annual James Beard Awards tonight.Why it matters: It's Oscars night for the culinary world.Zoom in: Some of our local nominees include Michael Rafidi of Albi for Outstanding Chef, Perry's Masako Morishita for Emerging Chef, and Kevin Tien and Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit for (respectively) Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic and Outstanding Pastry Chef. You can catch them on the red carpet, where our colleagues at Axios Chicago will be broadcasting live.Watch on Instagram Live, starting at 5pm ET. And check in with Axios D.C. tonight and in Tuesday's newsletter as we announce the results.Here's how the months-long awards process works:infographic; by: @Lindsey Bailey
Not-So-D.C. Jobs: Meet a local luxury hotel concierge
Today's installment in our "Not-So-D.C. job" series β about gigs that aren't your standard, inside-the-Beltway 9-to-5 β features Conrad Hotel chief concierge Jeffrey Morgan.π How it started: After attending culinary school, Morgan worked for chef Robert Wiedmaier when he took over one of iconic chef Jean-Louis Palladin's Watergate Hotel restaurants. From there, he headed to the Four Seasons in Georgetown, where he was a concierge for almost 20 years."I've earned every one of my gray hairs," he says.βοΈ A typical day: Up first, checking to see which VIPs and groups are visiting the hotel, as well as doing a sweep...
This social media starlet can help you hack DMV estate sales
A silver pickle jar. A "womb chair." An artist's home stuffed with treasures. Maddy Brannon, a 33-year-old social media influencer, is digging through DMV estate sales βΒ and amassing a huge following along the way.Why it matters: The estate sale universe can be daunting β where to go, how to weed out gems from junkβbut Brannon, a stand-up comedian by trade, makes it fun and accessible. Plus, you can snag great stuff from her recommended spots.The big picture: Estate sale TikTok is a hot trend du jour, with Gen Z influencers from New York to Los Angeles descending on a niche...
Hidden treasures at the Library of Congress, revealed
Historical treasures, many previously hidden in the Library of Congress' vast vaults, will be on display as part of a new exhibition starting June 13.Why it matters: The Library of Congress holds over 178 million items in its collections, and thanks to a $10 million donation from philanthropist David Rubenstein, some of its most precious pieces will be displayed in a new gallery.Zoom in: The "Collecting Memories" exhibit, which will run through 2025, launches with over 120 American and international items that explore how culture preserves memory. Highlights include:President Abraham Lincoln's handwritten Gettysburg Address, and separately, the personal contents of his pockets on the night he was assassinated in 1865. Librarian of Congress librarian Carla Hayden (right) with Lincoln's possessions. Photo courtesy of the Library of CongressOriginal sketches of the Washington Monument and Vietnam War Memorial.Photographs and writings from the AIDS Memorial Quilt archive.James Madison's crystal flute, played more recently by Lizzo.The intrigue: State-of-the-art display cases were designed for the treasures in Italy β and transported in by massive cranes.Details: The multimedia collection will rotate and be on exhibit at the David M. Rubenstein Treasures Gallery through December 2025. Free, timed-entry tickets are required.
You can live in an old D.C. school, attached to an art museum
Data:Β RentCafe; Chart: Simran Parwani/AxiosThe next in-demand apartment could be inside an old Washington school.The big picture: Former schools accounted for 3% of U.S. apartment conversions in 2023, data shared with Axios shows.Former offices and hotels dominate the national conversion trend, comprising 28% and 36% of newly completed projects, according to a RentCafe analysis.Why it matters: As cities and developers seek to repurpose empty space into much-needed housing, a mix of building types are on the table.Zoom in: D.C. is among metros leading school and office-to-apartment conversions across the U.S., per RentCafe data shared with Axios.Most recently, the former Elizabeth G. Randall Junior High School project in Southwest D.C. was converted into The Rubell Museum and an apartment complex called Gallery 64.While turning cafeterias and gyms into homes is easier said than done, state and federal historic preservation tax credits can incentivize school flips.School buildings can also offer more of the natural light renters want, compared to offices, developers say.
Joro spiders are floating across East Coast, and D.C. could be next
The idea of neon green, four-inch-long spiders "flying" around cities sounds apocalyptic. But as it turns out, the Joro spider is more of a paper tiger.Why it matters: They are an invasive species spreading across the Eastern U.S., spawning alarming headlines β and making us wonder, is D.C. next?What they're saying: The narrative is "how these giant spiders were flying into your city and they were going to eat your brains," says Andy Davis, a research scientist at the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia.Reality check: First off, they don't "fly." When tiny babies, Joro spiders can...
Hot bar and restaurant openings around D.C.
A bar and restaurant boom is happening in the D.C. area with a bunch of exciting openings β and more on the way this month.Just in: Ama, a chic all-day Italian restaurant, just breezed into Navy Yard. We can't wait to try the homemade focaccia sandwiches, frozen spritzes, and chef Johanna Hellrigl's lesser-seen regional dishes like Ligurian ravioli.π Baan Mae (Shaw): Thip Khao chef Seng Luangrath plays with Southeast Asian flavors at "mom's house." Get the crab curry and fruity cocktail and hit the hidden back patio.πͺπΉ Eatopia (U Street): An Ethiopian DJ and restaurateur are behind this eclectic Adis-style...
I Deserve This: Iced matcha and Trader Joe's flowers
Our new series "I Deserve This" is all about "little treat culture" β aka the purchases we absolutely do not need but which absolutely keep us going.Today's series of little treats is from Susannah Birle, 23, who lives in Shaw:π₯€ La Colombe iced vanilla matcha ($7.97): "The perfect afternoon pick-me-up for noncoffee lovers after a rough morning. Tastes like a vanilla milkshake."πͺ Whole Foods brown butter chocolate chunk cookie ($1.99): "Cheap enough that you can get one for your roommates too to brighten their day! Warmed up for a few seconds + a scoop of vanilla ice cream is the cure to anything."π Trader Joe's hydrangeas ($5.99): "A great way to brighten any room."Want to be featured? Send your name, age, location, and a few sentences about what you bought, how much you spent, and why it's such a treat to: mimi.montgomery@axios.com.
Here's what's happening in D.C. this weekend
This weekend in D.C., check out the annual Pride parade, Chris Stapleton at Jiffy Lube Live, U.S. vs. Colombia in soccer and Flo Rida at Nats Park. 1. π Get to PrideKick off Pride month with a parade, festival and concert including special guests Billy Porter and Keke Palmer during Capital Pride Alliance's weekend events.The latest: The 17th Street Block Party is noonβ10pm Saturday and the Pride Parade is 3β7:30pm through Shaw, Logan Circle, Downtown and Penn Quarter.The annual festival is noonβ10pm Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue, with the concert starting at 1pm Sunday. Free.What they're saying: "This year, with...
D.C. police crack down on illegal scooter activity
D.C. police are cracking down on motorized scooters and mopeds with a brand-new road safety program.Why it matters: Under Operation Ride Right, which launched on Wednesday, MPD is deploying officers to neighborhoods across the city to address safety concerns from an influx of scooters.The big picture: Moped use is way up in cities like D.C. and New York due to a high demand for delivery services, and an influx of immigrant workers looking for a quick and cost-effective mode of transportation. Motor-driven cycle registrations have jumped nearly 165% in the last two years, according to the D.C. Department of Motor...
Bad news: D.C. is going to be hot AF this summer
D.C., prepare to be sweaty AF β our unusually hot summer is just ramping up.Why it matters: Sure, D.C. summers are hot and swampy, but this one seems extra sticky: Expect long periods of 90-degree days and some "brutal, sauna-like conditions," the Capital Weather Gang predicts.Other predictions: The average temperature from June through August is forecast to be about one degree above the 1991-2020 average.There are 40 predicted 90-degree days for June, July, and August, compared to the average of 34.The longest 90-degree day streak this summer: Eight to 10 days.The number of 100-degree days: One or two.Context: These predictions...
A fancy pet hotel in Maryland with pools and private patios
Boarding pets can be stressful for folks headed out of town this summer, but pawsh kennels near Annapolis and Maryland's Eastern Shore promise to give you and your pup a worry-free getaway.Why it matters: Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat boasts more room to roam than any options in D.C., plus perks like pools, nature trails, and suites outfitted with private patios and TVs.Zoom in: Customizable lodging packages start at $55 a night, which include perks like playtime and woodland trails. You'll pay more for roomier suites and add-ons like a "belly rub tuck-in and storytime."Anna's thought bubble: We boarded our rottie...
In Ward 7 race, Wendell Felder declares victory over anti-stadium rival
Data: Associated Press; Chart: Axios VisualsThe Ward 7 D.C. Council race remains too close to call, but the candidate friendly to a new Commanders stadium has the upper hand.The big picture: Wendell Felder has declared victory, and holds a narrow 330-vote lead over Ebony Payne, a staunch opponent of a new stadium at the RFK site. But Payne's campaign tells Axios she isn't conceding.State of play: Felder has told Axios he is open to a stadium β with community support and without taxpayer funding.Payne won precincts surrounding the site, where many residents oppose the traffic a stadium would bring. Felder meanwhile dominated votes east of the Anacostia River.About 83.5% of expected votes have been reported, per the Associated Press.Friction point: Payne's campaign manager Chuck Rocha tells Axios they're waiting for all votes to come in."Wendell gave a speech," Rocha, who is also Payne's fiancΓ©, said in a text message. "He doesn't get to decide."The fine print: Campaigns can request a recount, but will have to pay out-of-pocket if the difference between candidates is over 1%.Felder currently has a 3.2 percentage point lead.
Foxtrot is reopening, but not in D.C.
Sorry, D.C. It looks like Foxtrot will outfox us once again.The big picture: Founder Mike LaVitola, who's reviving the bougie bodega brand with a new ownership group, tells Crain's Chicago that reopening plans are happening in Chicago and Texas β not D.C.Why it matters: The tiny treat mecca was super popular and we could almost taste those sour berry gummies when it teased a comeback.Catch up quick: Foxtrot abruptly closed all its locations, including 10 in the D.C. area, in April. Parent company Outfox Hospitality filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy weeks later.Foxtrot's assets β including intellectual property and inventory β...
Nervous Bay Bridge drivers can pay this company to take the wheel
Heads up: If crossing the four-mile-long, winding Bay Bridge makes you nervous, there's a company that will take the wheel for you.Why it matters: A trip to Rehoboth or the Eastern Shore shouldn't give you anxiety (save your scaries for the OC Boardwalk).How it works: Drivers for the Kent Island Express meet you near the bridge and hop in your car.It's $40 cash, or $50 for a credit card.You need to call an hour ahead of getting to the bridge.The drive can take five to 10 minutes β or worse in traffic.Bridge jitters: The Washington Post recently found that more...
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Axios DC, anchored by Chelsea Cirruzzo, Cuneyt Dil and Paige Hopkins, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
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