🏆 DC’s restaurant award results

What's CITY Talking About?

New Long-Haul Flights At DCA

DCA is getting five new long-haul flights, though destinations are still being decided. Local officials have long-argued that new flights would exacerbate congestion issues, but Congress is the final decider and some politicians want direct flights back home. [Axios]

New Metro Screen Doors

Metro is looking for a vendor to provide platform screen door systems at two stations as part of a pilot project to improve safety. The screen doors separate the platform from train tracks, only opening when a train arrives. [Mass Transit Mag]

New Red Light Cameras

Four new red light cameras are coming to Arlington starting Aug. 1. There will be a month-long “warning period,” after which violators will be charged a $50 fine. [ARLnow]

• Related: The GOP has historically fought against red light cams in D.C. and could potentially do away with them under a Trump presidency. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Hana Market Building For Sale

The row home that houses Hana Market is up for sale. While nothing has been confirmed, it’s a disconcerting sign for the Japanese corner store. Across town, a group of Capitol Hill neighbors banded together to buy the closing Mott's Market. Could that be replicated here? [Popville, City Cast DC 🎧]

DC’s 2024 Restaurant Award Winners

D.C.’s dining association announced the 2024 RAMMY award winners Sunday night at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at a black-tie soirée with hundreds of guests. The annual award “honors excellence in the restaurant and food service industry in Washington D.C.”

The winners are chosen by an anonymous panel, with the exception of a few publicly voted categories. Think of it like a local James Beard award.

One of the most notable awards of the night – the Rising Culinary Star of the Year award – went to Masako Morishita of Perry’s. When we asked her about the win, she said she saw it as a “recognition of all the Japanese moms who have cooked for their families for centuries with love,” and she hopes it brings greater attention to “Japanese comfort food.”

Angel Barreto was named Chef of the Year for his work at the modern Korean restaurant Anju, after being nominated for two James Beard awards recently.

Best New Restaurant of the Year went to the new American comfort food restaurant Ellie Bird in Falls Church. Meanwhile, one of my favorites, Silver Lyan, won Best Cocktail Program of the Year.

Besides the required schmoozing of D.C. chefs, influencers, and politicians dressed in their finest, the awards are a rare opportunity to recognize restaurant workers and staff in an otherwise tough industry. More than one winner had tears in their eyes as they walked on stage to thank their colleagues and families.

Here’s the full list of the 2024 RAMMY Award winners.

Where Is It?

First, Where Was Last Week’s Photo?

Yes, this is the staircase at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, the central location of D.C.’s public library system. It’s home to dozens of book clubs, meetups, rooftop concerts, study rooms and of course tons of books 📚

P.S. If you don’t have a D.C. library card, what are you doing?! It gives you free access to hundreds of activities and resources, like music, movies, and more.

🏆 Congratulations to Austin A., Kristin L., and Dan S. for getting it right first!

A few of your favorite things to do at the library are:

“See gogo bands performing on the roof!” – Marcy R.

“Renew my passport.” - Austin A.

“I like working from the roof! They have tables that are undercover so you can be outside working on your laptop even in a rainstorm!” – Kristin L

“Take my kid on the slide.” – Dan S.

“Go to book talks or grab a bite at Marianne’s by DC’s Kitchen” – Ollie H.

Now, Onto This Week’s Challenge:

Now, can you tell me where this lovely flower garden is located? Hint: it is another type of library …

What To Do

Today on City Cast

How To Save Your Favorite Corner Store

The building that houses Hana Market is up for sale, and it got us thinking about how vulnerable corner markets are to real estate whims. In Capitol Hill, a group of neighbors bought the century-old Mott's Market to protect their beloved community space. We interviewed the new owners about how they did it and how it could be a model for others.