
Yep, Donald Trump Only Visited One DC Restaurant in Four Years
Donald Trump catered a White House reception for the Clemson Tigers with a table full of fast food. Photograph by Shealah Craighead / White House.In the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump couldn’t be more isolated from the city in which he resides. But even before the heavy barricades and National Guard troops fortressed a sizable chunk of DC, he never made any attempt to be part of the local community. Case in point: In his four years in office, Trump only visited a single District restaurant—the one in his own Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.To be fair, Trump was never going to be like...…Donald Trump catered a White House reception for the Clemson Tigers with a table full of fast food. Photograph by Shealah Craighead / White House.In the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump couldn’t be more isolated from the city in which he resides. But even before the heavy barricades and National Guard troops fortressed a sizable chunk of DC, he never made any attempt to be part of the local community. Case in point: In his four years in office, Trump only visited a single District restaurant—the one in his own Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.To be fair, Trump was never going to be like...WW…

It's Really Happening: Donald Trump to Leave DC on Wednesday Morning | Washingtonian (DC)
Marine One. Photo courtesy of iStock.We now know when—and how—Donald Trump, the soon-to-be-former President, will leave DC. He is planning to depart on Wednesday morning well before Joe Biden is sworn in, a senior administration official the Washington Post. In typical Trump style, his exit will be marked by some sort of military ceremony, according to the official. And then he will be gone.As with so many things related to Trump, his last moments in office will be unusual ones. Typically, outgoing Presidents attend the Inauguration of their successors, which Trump will not be doing...…Marine One. Photo courtesy of iStock.We now know when—and how—Donald Trump, the soon-to-be-former President, will leave DC. He is planning to depart on Wednesday morning well before Joe Biden is sworn in, a senior administration official the Washington Post. In typical Trump style, his exit will be marked by some sort of military ceremony, according to the official. And then he will be gone.As with so many things related to Trump, his last moments in office will be unusual ones. Typically, outgoing Presidents attend the Inauguration of their successors, which Trump will not be doing...WW…

White House Staff Packs for Move Behind Trump's Back | Washingtonian (DC)
Photograph by Alexander Ramjing via iStock.While President Trump fulminated and obfuscated about the election he couldn’t admit he lost, the residence staff at the White House was , Kate Bennett reports for CNN:As the President publicly railed against the election, fraudulently claiming it was rigged and clinging to the false hope of staying in the White House, his wife was packing up their things to move out, say multiple sources who have observed Trump’s activities since late November.The first lady is now more than halfway done with the job of shipping belongings either to Mar-a-Lago or...…Photograph by Alexander Ramjing via iStock.While President Trump fulminated and obfuscated about the election he couldn’t admit he lost, the residence staff at the White House was , Kate Bennett reports for CNN:As the President publicly railed against the election, fraudulently claiming it was rigged and clinging to the false hope of staying in the White House, his wife was packing up their things to move out, say multiple sources who have observed Trump’s activities since late November.The first lady is now more than halfway done with the job of shipping belongings either to Mar-a-Lago or...WW…

After Joining Capitol Protest, Virginia GOP Pol Says Critics Should Focus on "Colored Community" Instead
Dave LaRock. Photograph by VCU Capital News Service, .Virginia state Delegate Dave LaRock after he took part in last week’s protest against President Trump’s election loss, which turned deadly when a pro-Trump mob invaded the US Capitol. Since January 6, he’s that propagates the bogus theory that “paid provocateurs” were responsible for besmirching an “otherwise orderly protest.”LaRock also sent a letter to Vice President Pence on House of Delegates letterhead that called for Pence to , citing concerns about the security of the vote in a state that Joe Biden won handily.In a , LaRock says...…Dave LaRock. Photograph by VCU Capital News Service, .Virginia state Delegate Dave LaRock after he took part in last week’s protest against President Trump’s election loss, which turned deadly when a pro-Trump mob invaded the US Capitol. Since January 6, he’s that propagates the bogus theory that “paid provocateurs” were responsible for besmirching an “otherwise orderly protest.”LaRock also sent a letter to Vice President Pence on House of Delegates letterhead that called for Pence to , citing concerns about the security of the vote in a state that Joe Biden won handily.In a , LaRock says...WW…

The Median Price of Single-Family Homes in DC Just Passed $1 Million
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.Some holiday cheer for your retinas this Wednesday: Median single-family home sales in DC have surpassed $1 million for the first time ever. Listing service group reports that median sales for that type of home hit $1.1 million in October. In Palisades, the median price for detached homes was $2.1 million.Housing demand in the region has remained high over the past months, partly due to low interest rates. For the third month in a row, single-family homes sat on the market for a record low of seven days.And prices for all homes have recently risen in DC: the...…Photo from Wikimedia Commons.Some holiday cheer for your retinas this Wednesday: Median single-family home sales in DC have surpassed $1 million for the first time ever. Listing service group reports that median sales for that type of home hit $1.1 million in October. In Palisades, the median price for detached homes was $2.1 million.Housing demand in the region has remained high over the past months, partly due to low interest rates. For the third month in a row, single-family homes sat on the market for a record low of seven days.And prices for all homes have recently risen in DC: the...WW…

The National Zoo's Baby Panda Has Taken His First Steps
Photograph courtesy Smithsonian's National Zoo.Baby giant panda Xiao Qi Ji took his first steps on Thanksgiving, the National Zoo today.That’s right: while you were eating dry turkey on Zoom, the baby panda was very busy achieving his most adorable developmental milestone yet. Luckily, the Giant Panda Cam captured the three-month-old cub’s inaugural steps. After a short struggle, the pint-sized bear tucks his squat legs under his squat body and begins waddling towards mom Mei Xiang. He quickly topples over, rolling towards the massive mama bear. If you look closely, she appears to be...…Photograph courtesy Smithsonian's National Zoo.Baby giant panda Xiao Qi Ji took his first steps on Thanksgiving, the National Zoo today.That’s right: while you were eating dry turkey on Zoom, the baby panda was very busy achieving his most adorable developmental milestone yet. Luckily, the Giant Panda Cam captured the three-month-old cub’s inaugural steps. After a short struggle, the pint-sized bear tucks his squat legs under his squat body and begins waddling towards mom Mei Xiang. He quickly topples over, rolling towards the massive mama bear. If you look closely, she appears to be...WW…

Wilson High School's Potential New Names Include Marion Barry, August Wilson, "Northwest"
There are now seven names under consideration for the Northwest DC high school that is currently named for Woodrow Wilson, according to aThe school due to growing discomfort over the former president’s history of racism. An email announcing the seven potential names was recently sent to members of the Wilson community by the DCPS Office of Communications and Engagement. It’s unclear whether one of these options will definitely be selected, but a says that after people have had a chance to react to the nominations, “Chancellor Ferebee and Mayor Bowser will then review the feedback and decide...…There are now seven names under consideration for the Northwest DC high school that is currently named for Woodrow Wilson, according to aThe school due to growing discomfort over the former president’s history of racism. An email announcing the seven potential names was recently sent to members of the Wilson community by the DCPS Office of Communications and Engagement. It’s unclear whether one of these options will definitely be selected, but a says that after people have had a chance to react to the nominations, “Chancellor Ferebee and Mayor Bowser will then review the feedback and decide...WW…

Entire Staff Quits (Again) Over Coffee Shop Owner's Alleged Sexual Harassment and Covid Denials
Former Killer ESP employees accuse the owner of ignoring safety protocols and sexual harassment. Photograph by Andrew Beaujon.The entire staff of Alexandria coffee shop Killer ESP has quit en masse for the in the past six months. Employees allege that owner Rob Shelton willfully disregarded Covid-19 safety protocols and told staff and patrons they didn’t need to wear masks. They also echo previous allegations of sexual harassment, including unwelcome physical contact and sexual comments about their appearances.“He blatantly said that Covid was a hoax, that it was stupid, that it didn’t make...…Former Killer ESP employees accuse the owner of ignoring safety protocols and sexual harassment. Photograph by Andrew Beaujon.The entire staff of Alexandria coffee shop Killer ESP has quit en masse for the in the past six months. Employees allege that owner Rob Shelton willfully disregarded Covid-19 safety protocols and told staff and patrons they didn’t need to wear masks. They also echo previous allegations of sexual harassment, including unwelcome physical contact and sexual comments about their appearances.“He blatantly said that Covid was a hoax, that it was stupid, that it didn’t make...WW…

National Landing Is Two Years Old, and People Are Kind of Getting Used to It | Washingtonian (DC)
A rendering of the future National Landing, courtesy of JBG Smith.Amazon, Arlington, and Alexandria delivered a sharp shock to the world on November 13, 2018, when they announced that not only would Amazon’s much-desired “HQ2” land in Northern Virginia, but that Crystal City and parts of Alexandria would make up a new neighborhood called . The name was . It further . But by the time it , people were just like, Oh, that’s National Landing for you; what are you gonna do?Amazon announced Monday that it is celebrating the anniversary by like legal service providers, neighborhood clinics, racial...…A rendering of the future National Landing, courtesy of JBG Smith.Amazon, Arlington, and Alexandria delivered a sharp shock to the world on November 13, 2018, when they announced that not only would Amazon’s much-desired “HQ2” land in Northern Virginia, but that Crystal City and parts of Alexandria would make up a new neighborhood called . The name was . It further . But by the time it , people were just like, Oh, that’s National Landing for you; what are you gonna do?Amazon announced Monday that it is celebrating the anniversary by like legal service providers, neighborhood clinics, racial...WW…

DC Trump Supporter Bar Gets $2,000 in Fines for Maskless Crowds
Trump supporter's crowd Harry's Bar on Nov. 13. Photograph by Evy MagesAs Trump supporters, Proud Boys, and other right-wing fringe groups over the weekend, Harry’s Bar at the Hotel Harrington quickly became their go-to drinking spot. On Friday night, MAGA crowds packed together with red Solo cups and cans of Truly hard seltzer on the patio, where a halibut sandwich was on special. They sang “God Bless the USA” and waved a big “Blue Lives Matter” flag in the street. Almost none of them were wearing masks.That same night, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration issued Harry’s a...…Trump supporter's crowd Harry's Bar on Nov. 13. Photograph by Evy MagesAs Trump supporters, Proud Boys, and other right-wing fringe groups over the weekend, Harry’s Bar at the Hotel Harrington quickly became their go-to drinking spot. On Friday night, MAGA crowds packed together with red Solo cups and cans of Truly hard seltzer on the patio, where a halibut sandwich was on special. They sang “God Bless the USA” and waved a big “Blue Lives Matter” flag in the street. Almost none of them were wearing masks.That same night, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration issued Harry’s a...WW…

A New Organization Is Trying to Keep Former Trump Appointees From Getting Private-Sector Jobs
Photograph by Evy MagesIn ordinary times, there’s a fairly routine churn of personnel between government jobs as political appointees and positions in the private sector—in Washington and beyond. At the start of a presidency, party loyalists leave their law firms or corporate gigs or political-campaign work in order to go to work for the American people. And at an administration’s end, they update their resumes, where their federal experience usually helps them land a better-paying job on the outside.But the Trump era, especially its chaotic end, is no ordinary time. Inside the government,...…Photograph by Evy MagesIn ordinary times, there’s a fairly routine churn of personnel between government jobs as political appointees and positions in the private sector—in Washington and beyond. At the start of a presidency, party loyalists leave their law firms or corporate gigs or political-campaign work in order to go to work for the American people. And at an administration’s end, they update their resumes, where their federal experience usually helps them land a better-paying job on the outside.But the Trump era, especially its chaotic end, is no ordinary time. Inside the government,...WW…

DC Police Said Proud Boys Were Stabbed on Election Night. Then They Changed Their Story. | Washingtonian (DC)
Early Wednesday morning, and reported that the DC police said three members of the white nationalist group Proud Boys were stabbed by three people “associated” with Black Lives Matter on New York Avenue early Wednesday morning.However, an hour later, the two news outlets updated their stories to say that the police had retracted the earlier statements, saying that there was no evidence that the suspects were affiliated with Black Lives Matter and that the victims were not members of Proud Boys.A police source close to the investigation says that the difficulty began because the officer...…Early Wednesday morning, and reported that the DC police said three members of the white nationalist group Proud Boys were stabbed by three people “associated” with Black Lives Matter on New York Avenue early Wednesday morning.However, an hour later, the two news outlets updated their stories to say that the police had retracted the earlier statements, saying that there was no evidence that the suspects were affiliated with Black Lives Matter and that the victims were not members of Proud Boys.A police source close to the investigation says that the difficulty began because the officer...WW…

Delaware Man Relocating to Historic Ward 2 Home
Ward Two's Newest Resident, federal employee Joe BidenA Delaware man relocating for a senior federal job will be the new occupant of one of Ward 2’s most sought-after homes, according to multiple reports.The tenant, Joseph R. Biden Jr., will not be a complete newcomer to the city when his moves in this winter. He previously lived in Ward 3 between 2009 and 2017. And his professional connections in the District date back to 1973, when he began a 35-year career on Capitol Hill. But during those decades, he continued to commute home to Wilmington, never relocating his family to the nation’s...…Ward Two's Newest Resident, federal employee Joe BidenA Delaware man relocating for a senior federal job will be the new occupant of one of Ward 2’s most sought-after homes, according to multiple reports.The tenant, Joseph R. Biden Jr., will not be a complete newcomer to the city when his moves in this winter. He previously lived in Ward 3 between 2009 and 2017. And his professional connections in the District date back to 1973, when he began a 35-year career on Capitol Hill. But during those decades, he continued to commute home to Wilmington, never relocating his family to the nation’s...WW…

Jill Biden's Students Are Telling the World What They Think of their English Professor, the New First Lady
Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for PresidentDr. Jill Biden plans to continue teaching English at Northern Virginia Community College when her family officially enters the White House. The education doctorate has taught writing at the local college since 2009 — and doesn’t intend to stop just because she’s adding a new gig to her CV.The American people just made a referendum on her husband, but what do Biden’s students think of her teaching style? While Rate My Professor doesn’t have quite the polling reputation of Gallup or Monmouth, it is a go-to for college students looking for the lowdown...…Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for PresidentDr. Jill Biden plans to continue teaching English at Northern Virginia Community College when her family officially enters the White House. The education doctorate has taught writing at the local college since 2009 — and doesn’t intend to stop just because she’s adding a new gig to her CV.The American people just made a referendum on her husband, but what do Biden’s students think of her teaching style? While Rate My Professor doesn’t have quite the polling reputation of Gallup or Monmouth, it is a go-to for college students looking for the lowdown...WW…

Washington Is Boarding Up for the Election. It's Absolutely Heartbreaking.
Photograph by Kristen HinmanOur most popular stories of the week, sent every Saturday.Join the conversation!SIGN UPWe engage readers directly in their mailboxes with topics like Health, Things to Do, Best Brunches, Design & Shopping, and Real Estate. Get the latest from our editors today.Get The Best Of Washingtonian In Your Inbox!…Photograph by Kristen HinmanOur most popular stories of the week, sent every Saturday.Join the conversation!SIGN UPWe engage readers directly in their mailboxes with topics like Health, Things to Do, Best Brunches, Design & Shopping, and Real Estate. Get the latest from our editors today.Get The Best Of Washingtonian In Your Inbox!WW…

Lots of DC Bars and Restaurants Are Going Into Pandemic Winter Hibernation
Image via iStock.Washingtonian is keeping you up to date on the coronavirus around DC.Given the cost of staff and running kitchens—plus an understandably skittish customer base who may ebb and flow when Covid cases rise and temperatures drop—business owners say it’s a better economic gamble to temporarily close and hope for a spring boost. Even if venues have outdoor space, it’s exponentially more expensive to keep customers comfortable in winter than in summer—especially in a pandemic, when a bigger-than-ever demand for heaters, propane, and costly durable tents is driving prices through...…Image via iStock.Washingtonian is keeping you up to date on the coronavirus around DC.Given the cost of staff and running kitchens—plus an understandably skittish customer base who may ebb and flow when Covid cases rise and temperatures drop—business owners say it’s a better economic gamble to temporarily close and hope for a spring boost. Even if venues have outdoor space, it’s exponentially more expensive to keep customers comfortable in winter than in summer—especially in a pandemic, when a bigger-than-ever demand for heaters, propane, and costly durable tents is driving prices through...WW…
Death and the All-American Boy | Washingtonian (DC)
Photograph by Barbara Hadley.According to his staff he was hounded for weeks by the media. “It was awful in the beginning,” says Chazy Dowaliby, a press aide. “A few weeks after Neilia’s death weAlthough time has softened the pain of those early months in the Senate, Biden’s staff still protects him. The few reporters admitted in the past eighteen months have been asked to concentrate on Joe Biden, Senator, rather than Joe Biden, tragic figure. But the combination of youth, death, and a Kennedy-style upset victory continues to fascinate the press. How did an unknown attorney with only two...…Photograph by Barbara Hadley.According to his staff he was hounded for weeks by the media. “It was awful in the beginning,” says Chazy Dowaliby, a press aide. “A few weeks after Neilia’s death weAlthough time has softened the pain of those early months in the Senate, Biden’s staff still protects him. The few reporters admitted in the past eighteen months have been asked to concentrate on Joe Biden, Senator, rather than Joe Biden, tragic figure. But the combination of youth, death, and a Kennedy-style upset victory continues to fascinate the press. How did an unknown attorney with only two...WW…

Right-wing Evangelical Sean Feucht Has Invited 15,000 Worshippers to the National Mall this Sunday
Photo courtesy Sean Feucht.Washingtonian is keeping you up to date on the coronavirus around DC.On Sunday, Sean Feucht, an Evangelical singer and former Republican congressional candidate, is hosting a “worship protest” on the National Mall, complete with mass baptisms. He expects 15,000 people to show up, per his National Park Service permit. Conspicuously absent from said permit? Any kind of mask or social distancing requirement.This weekend’s event is the final stop of Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” tour, which has convened thousands of maskless followers in other cities, even as the...…Photo courtesy Sean Feucht.Washingtonian is keeping you up to date on the coronavirus around DC.On Sunday, Sean Feucht, an Evangelical singer and former Republican congressional candidate, is hosting a “worship protest” on the National Mall, complete with mass baptisms. He expects 15,000 people to show up, per his National Park Service permit. Conspicuously absent from said permit? Any kind of mask or social distancing requirement.This weekend’s event is the final stop of Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” tour, which has convened thousands of maskless followers in other cities, even as the...WW…

DC Apartment Rents Continue to Plummet Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic
The 14th Street corridor in Logan Circle. Photograph by Ted Eytan/FLICKR.Washingtonian is keeping you up to date on the coronavirus around DC.The latest data evaluating Washington’s luxury apartment market shows the Covid-19 pandemic continues to seriously impact both rents and vacancies. On average, rents in the types of high-end, amenity-packed buildings that have proliferated in Washington are down 10.7 percent within the city of DC, and 7 percent metro area-wide, compared to the same time last year., an authority on local commercial real estate, released the findings this week in its...…The 14th Street corridor in Logan Circle. Photograph by Ted Eytan/FLICKR.Washingtonian is keeping you up to date on the coronavirus around DC.The latest data evaluating Washington’s luxury apartment market shows the Covid-19 pandemic continues to seriously impact both rents and vacancies. On average, rents in the types of high-end, amenity-packed buildings that have proliferated in Washington are down 10.7 percent within the city of DC, and 7 percent metro area-wide, compared to the same time last year., an authority on local commercial real estate, released the findings this week in its...WW…

I Have Watched the New "Borat," and Rudy Really Was Just Tucking In His Shirt. But Almost Everything Else About His Scene Is Gross.
Photograph by .Work basically stopped for everyone I follow on Twitter yesterday when the Guardian , Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which will premiere on Amazon Prime Friday. Catherine Shoard, the Guardian‘s film editor, wrote about a scene where Baron Cohen and co-star Maria Bakalova prank Rudy Giuliani, where the former New York mayor and current attorney to President Trump “is seen reaching into his trousers and apparently touching his genitals while reclining on a bed in the presence of...…Photograph by .Work basically stopped for everyone I follow on Twitter yesterday when the Guardian , Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which will premiere on Amazon Prime Friday. Catherine Shoard, the Guardian‘s film editor, wrote about a scene where Baron Cohen and co-star Maria Bakalova prank Rudy Giuliani, where the former New York mayor and current attorney to President Trump “is seen reaching into his trousers and apparently touching his genitals while reclining on a bed in the presence of...WW…

Exclusive Details on Moon Rabbit, Chef Kevin Tien's Soon-to-Open Wharf Restaurant
Moon Rabbit, the latest venture from chef Kevin Tien, opens at the Wharf. Photography courtesy of Moon Rabbit. 801 Wharf St., SW.*This story has been updated with a new opening timeline from Moon Rabbit.The best breakfasts and brunches to try every weekend, plus our most popular food stories of the week.Join the conversation!SIGN UPWe engage readers directly in their mailboxes with topics like Health, Things to Do, Best Brunches, Design & Shopping, and Real Estate. Get the latest from our editors today.Get The Best Of Washingtonian In Your Inbox!…Moon Rabbit, the latest venture from chef Kevin Tien, opens at the Wharf. Photography courtesy of Moon Rabbit. 801 Wharf St., SW.*This story has been updated with a new opening timeline from Moon Rabbit.The best breakfasts and brunches to try every weekend, plus our most popular food stories of the week.Join the conversation!SIGN UPWe engage readers directly in their mailboxes with topics like Health, Things to Do, Best Brunches, Design & Shopping, and Real Estate. Get the latest from our editors today.Get The Best Of Washingtonian In Your Inbox!WW…

A Little Pearl Chef Is Launching an LA-Style Mexican Food Pop-Up in DC
Nick Olivas is making hard shell tacos at Gonzo. Photo courtesy of Gonzo.There has never been a better time to find tacos in DC, thanks to the . But for California native Nick Olivas, Washington still lacks the kind of Mexi-Cali fare he grew up eating from takeout windows in the San Gabriel Valley. So the chef is launching Gonzo, a pop-up specializing in Los Angeles-style tacos and tortas. The first series will be held at Dupont Circle cocktail bar on Fridays and Saturdays from October 23 to October 31, available for takeout and dine-in.“Mexican food in Los Angeles, for me, is usually...…Nick Olivas is making hard shell tacos at Gonzo. Photo courtesy of Gonzo.There has never been a better time to find tacos in DC, thanks to the . But for California native Nick Olivas, Washington still lacks the kind of Mexi-Cali fare he grew up eating from takeout windows in the San Gabriel Valley. So the chef is launching Gonzo, a pop-up specializing in Los Angeles-style tacos and tortas. The first series will be held at Dupont Circle cocktail bar on Fridays and Saturdays from October 23 to October 31, available for takeout and dine-in.“Mexican food in Los Angeles, for me, is usually...WW…

DC's List of High-Risk States Hits a Record Number
Photograph via iStock.Washingtonian is keeping you up to date on the coronavirus around DC.The District of Columbia Monday updated its list of high-risk states. Anyone traveling to Washington, DC, from these states for non-essential activities, or returning home from one of them, must quarantine for two weeks, the city’s health department says. Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have been added to the list; none have come off.This is the longest list the District has issued and will be in effect until November 2. Its previous peak...…Photograph via iStock.Washingtonian is keeping you up to date on the coronavirus around DC.The District of Columbia Monday updated its list of high-risk states. Anyone traveling to Washington, DC, from these states for non-essential activities, or returning home from one of them, must quarantine for two weeks, the city’s health department says. Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have been added to the list; none have come off.This is the longest list the District has issued and will be in effect until November 2. Its previous peak...WW…