"Racist work culture" at DC's Hell's Kitchen

What's CITY Talking About?

Hell Comes to Hell’s Kitchen

Eleven employees at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen restaurant walked out Labor Day weekend claiming a toxic and racist work environment. They allege that the lead host segregated Black diners and one of the managers regularly yelled profanities at employees and even threw a ladder at a window. The restaurant suspended the host and manager and opened investigations into both. [Washingtonian]

More Frequent Metros

Starting today, Metro is running more frequently during peak commute times. Red Line trains will be running every five minutes, Green and Yellow line trains every six minutes, and Blue and Silver line trains every 10 minutes. Happy Monday! [DCist]

• Related: Metro’s making lots of big changes this fall, and some of them could cost you. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Three Bowser Officials Step Down

Continuing the city government exodus, three notable officials are leaving Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration. The director of the District Department of Transportation, the head of the Mayor’s Office on Veterans’ Affairs, and the director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development will all be leaving their roles in the coming weeks. These departures add to the abnormal amount of turnovers since Bowser started her third term. [Washington City Paper]

• Related: The most high-profile resignation was John Falcicchio, who stands accused of multiple counts of sexual harassment. [City Cast DC 🎧]

DC’s Gone Dry

The city’s gotten five inches less rainfall this year, and while that might not sound like much, it’s enough to lower the Potomac’s water level and raise fears of water scarcity. Officials are considering turning to backup reservoirs for drinking water. Jacob Fenston joined our podcast to explain how that would work. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Where Is It?

Nice work! This is a sign for a former bakery on Mt. Pleasant Street NW, above what is currently Ellē Café. Heller’s closed in 2014 after almost 80 years of bread baking. Now, Ellē dishes out some of the best coffee and pastries in D.C. and has a wonderful dinner menu to boot.

Nice work Jessica T., Beth L., and Cristina L. for being the first three readers to guess it correctly! The next challenge is also on sign identification.

Can you tell me where this wall of forlorn signs is located? Bonus points if you can tell me what the art installation is called.

What To Do

😮‍💨 Drug Legalization Debate | Monday | 6 p.m.

Learn about the pros and cons of ending drug prohibition, as well as alternative policy considerations, at this Profs & Pints lecture. [$15, Penn Quarter]

💀 Late Night Stand Up | Today | 9:45 p.m.

This anniversary party/show with Stage Fright will have an all-night happy hour, rapid-fire sets from comics, and lots of audience interaction. [Free, U Street]

📰 DC Newspaper Describe-a-Thon | Tuesday | 6 p.m.

Learn how to create descriptions and help add digitized newspaper issues to the DC Public Library’s historic online collection. [Free, Virtual]

🌍 Naomi Klein | Wednesday | 7 p.m.

Author and social critic Naomi Klein will be discussing her riveting new book “Doppelganger” in the GWU Amphitheater. [$40, Foggy Bottom]

Today on City Cast

How DC Is Managing The Drought

You wouldn’t know D.C. is in the middle of the drought with all the flooding lately. So, how can both things be true? And what should we be doing about it?