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Tag: dupont circle

  • ‘In Phil we trust’: DC’s weather forecasting rodent makes Groundhog Day prediction – WTOP News

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    This Groundhog Day, D.C.’s very own weather forecasting groundhog made a prediction amid a frozen city filled and chilly residents hoping for a little warmth.

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    What Potomac Phil, DC’s weather rodent, forecasted on Groundhog Day

    This Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, meaning six more weeks of winter. Meanwhile in D.C.’s Dupont Circle, the city’s own weather forecasting groundhog made a prediction amid a frozen city filled with “snowcrete” and chilly residents hoping for a little warmth.

    Some bad news came from the lifeless, taxidermic rodent Potomac Phil early Monday morning.

    “I’ve been instructed which scroll to read for Potomac Phil’s weather and political predictions. Potomac Phil saw his shadow, so six more weeks of winter and six more months of political gridlock,” said Will Stephens, a board member of the Dupont Festival who helped organize the polka jam filled event.

    Even though it was not the news everyone was hoping to hear, dozens stood by and shivered to hear what the little stuffed mammal had to say.

    “I’m not going to lie, kind of a bummer this year,” Sam Edelstein told WTOP. “Kind of bummed about six more weeks of winter, but in Phil we trust, and I believe him, with all this snow.”

    This was his fourth time coming to the early February celebration.

    “It’s so fun,” he said. “There’s so many things going on in the world and in D.C., and this is just a reminder the importance of community and tradition and it’s just a really special day to be out here.”

    Potomac Phil predicted six more weeks of winter and six more months of political gridlock on Feb. 2, 2026.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

    crowd gathers to hear potomac phil's weather prediction in dupont circle
    Even though it was not the news everyone was hoping to hear, dozens stood by and shivered to hear what the little stuffed mammal had to say.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

    Potomac Phil predicted six more weeks of winter and six more months of political gridlock on Feb. 2, 2026.
    crowd gathers to hear potomac phil's weather prediction in dupont circle

    The forecast came more than a week after a winter storm brought snow and sleet to the D.C. area — much of which is sticking around due to lingering frigid temperatures.

    “I think everyone was showing up because they were hoping that this, what are we calling it, ‘snowcrete,’ would melt soon, but Potomac Phil has dashed our hopes and dreams,” Libby Norwood said.

    Some even ran for distance, with the route resembling the shape of the event’s signature top hat, hoping it would be good mojo.

    “We ran a 5K and then we came out to see Potomac Phil,” Emma Israel said. “I was hoping for more spring, but here we are.”

    Afterward the crowd sipped coffee and grabbed selfies with the famous stuffed groundhog.

    “I predicted that this is going to be one of our smaller crowds, given the weather and a Monday morning, but it was an amazing crowd,” Stephens said. “I think people just, especially these days, want some time to get together and maybe be silly and get distracted for a few minutes before the workweek starts.”

    For the 15th year in a row, Potomac Phil predicted another six months of political gridlock.

    “Potomac Phil is getting a little bit bitter, it sounds like, in his old age,” Norwood said.

    Potomac Phil predicted six more weeks of winter and six more months of political gridlock on Feb. 2, 2026.
    Potomac Phil predicted six more weeks of winter and six more months of political gridlock on Feb. 2, 2026.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

    crowd gathers to hear potomac phil's weather prediction in dupont circle
    Even though it was not the news everyone was hoping to hear, dozens stood by and shivered to hear what the little stuffed mammal had to say.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

    Potomac Phil predicted six more weeks of winter and six more months of political gridlock on Feb. 2, 2026.
    crowd gathers to hear potomac phil's weather prediction in dupont circle

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Luke Lukert

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  • Dupont Circle lab helps everyone from hobbyists to nurseries clone their plants – WTOP News

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    A look inside the D.C. facility that’s building the “shovels and picks” for plant tissue culturing and teaching hobbyists how to grow their own plants in test tubes.

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    DC lab is helping everyone, from hobbyists to nurseries, clone their plants

    A lab that’s just a few floors above Dupont Circle Metro Station may be responsible for that favorite succulent or money tree in your home.

    WTOP went inside the facility that is building the “shovels and picks” for plant tissue culturing and teaching hobbyists how to grow their own plants in test tubes.

    “What tissue culture is, at its simplest, is we’re growing plants in sugar, instead of plants in soil,” said Yoni Kalin the CEO of Plant Cell Technology.

    Whether they propagate the plant in a nutrient rich gel or their new more efficient bio rector, it allows nurseries to clone their bestselling plants. All they need is that nutrient-rich compound and a little bit of light.

    “You go to a Home Depot, if you go to a Trader Joe’s, where do those plants come from? Fun fact, they’re all clones or a lot of them are clones,” Kalin said.

    This type of technology is also why we can get fresh fruit and vegetables out of season all year long.

    “When you eat blueberries in July, or you buy blueberries in September, they all taste the same. Why is that? Because they’re all clones,” Kalin said. “They’re all coming from the same mother plant.”

    It allows these producers to give grocery store shoppers roughly the same size, same flavor and same nutritional composition every time.

    “That’s the beauty of tissue culture,” Kalin said.

    He added that this technology, which has been around for decades can also save crops from being wiped out by pests, flood or other disaster. These tissue culture plants can act like an “cloud” backup for farmers.

    Beyond selling to professional nurseries, farms and research universities they also sell and provide education for hobbyists.

    It’s a mission to involve more and more people in this field of plant science. Hobbyists can get a starter kit for $120 and create their own tissue cultures of plants they found outside or even their favorite orchid or cactus.

    “If we can provide this tool to the masses. That means, hey, if somebody is a carnivorous plant lover, they’re going to focus on carnivorous plant conservation. If somebody is an orchid lover, they’re going to focus on orchid conservation,” Kalin said. “We’re caretakers of the earth species.”

    The small lab in Dupont Circle can be seen in videos across YouTube where they have dozens and dozens of videos explaining how to make their own tissue culturing lab equipment or focus on culturing specific plant species like peace lilies and even cannabis.

    “Back in 2019 and 2020, you’d go on YouTube, and you might see somebody talking about plant physiology on a whiteboard, but you wouldn’t be able to actually watch somebody in a lab subculturing a plant,” Kalin said.

    They also offer online or in-person master classes.

    “We have one customer who came to our class, and he had this vision of building a plant tissue culture lab. He showed us pictures of his lab, and now he’s one of the largest suppliers of clones in the industry,” Kalin said.

    “The house plants that you buy at Home Depot or plant shops that you buy and kill … We can teach you how to keep them alive, and we can teach you how to grow thousands of them.”

    WTOP went inside the facility that is building the “shovels and picks” for plant tissue culturing and teaching hobbyists how to grow their own plants in test tubes.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

    researcher in plant lab
    A lab above the Dupont Circle Metro Station may be responsible for that favorite succulent or money tree in your home.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

    Whether they propagate the plant in a nutrient rich gel or their new more efficient bio rector, it allows nurseries to clone their bestselling plants. All they need is that nutrient-rich compound and a little bit of light.
    Whether they propagate the plant in a nutrient rich gel or their new more efficient bio rector, it allows nurseries to clone their bestselling plants. All they need is that nutrient-rich compound and a little bit of light.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

    This type of technology is also why we can get fresh fruit and vegetables out of season all year long.
    This type of technology is also why we can get fresh fruit and vegetables out of season all year long.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

    It allows these producers to give grocery store shoppers roughly the same size, same flavor and same nutritional composition every time.
    It allows these producers to give grocery store shoppers roughly the same size, same flavor and same nutritional composition every time.
    (WTOP/Luke Lukert)

    WTOP/Luke Lukert

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    Luke Lukert

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  • DC restaurant honors past presidents, East Wing with 2025 Christmas tree – WTOP News

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    After months of brainstorming, Floriana’s annual Christmas tree in Dupont Circle unveiled its bold 2025 theme: White House Christmas.

    The 2025 Christmas tree put together by D.C. restaurant Floriana.
    (WTOP/Scott Gelman)

    WTOP/Scott Gelman

    Floriana Christmas Tree
    Image of the construction area around the White House placed on Floriana’s Christmas tree.
    (WTOP/Scott Gelman)

    WTOP/Scott Gelman

    Floriana Christmas Tree
    Images of former first ladies Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush used as ornaments on the 2025 Floriana Christmas tree.
    (WTOP/Scott Gelman)

    WTOP/Scott Gelman

    Floriana Christmas Tree
    Ornaments used on Floriana’s Christmas tree showcasing past U.S. first ladies.
    (WTOP/Scott Gelman)

    WTOP/Scott Gelman

    Floriana Christmas Tree
    Portrait of former U.S. first lady Jackie Kennedy sits alongside Floriana’s 2025 Christmas tree.
    (WTOP/Scott Gelman)

    WTOP/Scott Gelman

    Usually around August or September, Floriana owner James Branda starts receiving text messages about what the theme of the restaurant’s annual Christmas tree will be.

    Branda and Dito Sevilla agonize over it during the summer. Sometimes, there’s a theme set for a month or two, and then they have a change of heart, prompting the creative process to start again.

    The two brainstormed while sitting at lunch this summer, and by September, there was an intriguing option considered. But, then it shifted.

    By the first week of November, this year’s theme emerged and was selected: White House Christmas. Neither Branda nor Sevilla remember who came up with the idea, but it stuck.

    The 2025 tree, officially lit up during a ceremony outside the Dupont Circle restaurant on Wednesday night, honors holiday traditions at the White House and the influence of former presidents and first ladies.

    It also offers a satirical take on President Donald Trump’s transformation of the East Wing.

    “The theme sort of chose itself,” Sevilla said. “We were looking back at some of our favorite trees and how many of them had been politically popular, and what would enchant the neighbors, as we always add those factors in to the decision making.”

    ‘East Wing of the White House revival tree’

    The 14-foot tree includes traditional ornaments, snowflakes, American flags and pictures from the Kennedys to the Clintons. A “Be Best” ornament, Sevilla said, honors first lady Melania Trump with the mantra she used during Trump’s first administration.

    Sevilla described the tree as a “East Wing of the White House revival tree.”

    “There are a lot of ornaments that harken back to the past, while at the same time, showing us imagery of the current East Wing, which doesn’t exist,” Sevilla said.

    “There’s rubble sites, and there are some bulldozers on top, and some Earth movers, and pictures of the East Wing as it was, and some of it currently displayed here, where you can see there’s nothing but rubble.”

    A day after the tree arrived, Sevilla started decorating it outside the restaurant. The ornaments are brainstormed in advance, so they can be added quickly, too. The tree will stay up through January.

    “We want people to come by and really enjoy the work that we’ve put in,” Branda said. “We hope to get a chuckle out of people.”

    For years, Sevilla and Branda worked to create a tree that honors luminaries, politicians or current events. Last year’s tree theme was “La Dolce Vita,” all things Italian. Others have honored former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as Kennedy Center honorees and teachers.

    “As a D.C. local, I think it’s a great example of the creativity and humor that goes into planning a festive, D.C.-specific landmark,” said David Clark, who attended Wednesday’s lighting.

    For passersby who might not find that humor, Branda said, “Let people have fun. Not everyone’s going to agree with you. Not everyone’s going to think the same things about the same things.”

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Scott Gelman

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  • Who says you can’t run in high heels? DC proves you can – WTOP News

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    Over 200 participants gathered at the starting line, dressed in creative costumes and makeup, while the sidewalks were lined with fans waiting to see racers sprint down the street in various styles of footwear.

    Participant Parker Beckley (C) of Bozeman, Montana, crosses the finish line as he wins the 38th annual 17th Street High Heel Race on October 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. The annual race, with participants dress in drag costume racing down 17th Street in high heels, is one of the most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations in DC.
    (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

    Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

    Men in maid outfits and colorful wigs at the annual 17th Street High Heel Race on Tuesday night.
    (WTOP/Steve Dresner)

    WTOP/Steve Dresner

    Men dressed like Disney’s Princess Merida (left) and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (center) at the annual 17th Street High Heel Race on Tuesday night.
    (WTOP/Steve Dresner)

    WTOP/Steve Dresner

    A man dressed patriotically at the annual 17th Street High Heel Race on Tuesday night.
    (WTOP/Steve Dresner)

    WTOP/Steve Dresner

    WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 28: A participant poses for photographers prior to the 38th annual 17th Street High Heel Race on October 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. The annual race, with participants dress in drag costume racing down 17th Street in high heels, is one of the most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
    A participant poses for photographers prior to the 38th annual 17th Street High Heel Race on October 28, 2025 in DC. The annual race, with participants dress in drag costume racing down 17th Street in high heels, is one of the most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations in DC.
    (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

    Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

    WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 28: Participants dressed in Santa Claus costumes pose for photographers prior to the 38th annual 17th Street High Heel Race on October 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. The annual race, with participants dress in drag costume racing down 17th Street in high heels, is one of the most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
    Participants dressed in Santa Claus costumes pose for photographers prior to the 38th annual 17th Street High Heel Race on October 28, 2025 in DC. The annual race, with participants dress in drag costume racing down 17th Street in high heels, is one of the most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations in DC.
    (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

    Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

    WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 28: Participants in costume pose for photographers prior to the 38th annual 17th Street High Heel Race on October 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. The annual race, with participants dress in drag costume racing down 17th Street in high heels, is one of the most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
    Participants in costume pose for photographers prior to the 38th annual 17th Street High Heel Race on October 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. The annual race, with participants dress in drag costume racing down 17th Street in high heels, is one of the most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations in DC.
    (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

    Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

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    High Heel Race in DC returns with dazzling costumes, community spirit

    It’s not often there’s a running competition through the streets of D.C.’s Dupont Circle, where the main objective isn’t to finish first, but rather trying not to break a heel and fall flat on your face.

    That was the general consensus of some of the participants at the 38th annual High Heel Race, held along 17th Street in Northwest on Tuesday night.

    Over 200 participants gathered at the starting line at 17th and R streets, dressed in creative costumes and makeup, while the sidewalks were lined with fans and outdoor foodies, all waiting to see racers sprint down the street in various styles of footwear.

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was the honorable host of the longtime neighborhood tradition that dates back to the late 80s.

    The High Heel Race first began on Halloween of 1986 as a bet between two drag queens. Now, it continues to gain wide support from the D.C. area’s LGBTQ community.

    At the end of the 2025 race, several racers crossed the finish line at the same time, prompting some participants to ask, “Who won?”

    Ironically, many had the same answer — “Those who didn’t fall flat on their faces were the ones who won this race.”

    The real winner was Parker Beckley of Bozeman, Montana, who won the race while painted head to toe in teal and gold makeup as the Statue of Liberty.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Steve Dresner

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  • Downtown DC holiday market returns, as does separate Dupont Circle variation – WTOP News

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    The beloved DowntownDC Holiday Market returns this winter with 100+ local vendors near Capital One Arena. Meanwhile, Dupont Circle is bringing back its own holiday market along New Hampshire Ave — giving shoppers even more ways to celebrate the season.

    The popular Downtown D.C. holiday market is scheduled to make its annual return in less than a month, and a separate market is planning to open in a different part of the city again this winter.

    The DowntownD.C. Holiday Market is scheduled to open daily starting Nov. 21. It’ll open in its usual location — on F Street NW, between 7th and 9th streets, near Capital One Arena.

    It will have different hours for weekdays and weekends and remain open for holiday shopping until Dec. 23.

    Speaking to a full room of city leaders and market supporters at Carmine’s Restaurant on Monday afternoon, Mayor Muriel Bowser said last year’s Downtown market averaged almost 11,000 people every day.

    “What we know is how resilient our economy has proven, even given all of the different things that have come at us,” Bowser said.

    This year, there will be 119 total vendors at the Downtown market, including 23 new ones. One booth in particular will display products that are made and manufactured in D.C., and another will celebrate businesses east of the Anacostia River.

    There will be 15 food and drink vendors, including the S’mores N’ More’s hot chocolate, which received notable attention on social media last year, according to Gerren Price, president and CEO of the DowntownD.C. Business Improvement District.

    It’s free to walk through the market, and it will feature live music Thursdays through Sundays.

    “This market is incredibly diverse,” Price said. “The vast majority of the vendors that are represented in our market are locally owned, women owned, BIPOC owned and/or LGBTQIA+ owned.”

    Police Chief Pamela Smith said D.C. police will have an even greater presence near the DowntownD.C. Holiday Market than last year. The agency will again redeploy recruit officers currently assigned at the D.C. police academy to “bolster our visibility in our city and certainly in the commercial corridor areas.”

    The DowntownD.C. Business Improvement District, which includes the stretch where the market sets up, has reported a 21% drop in violent crime, Smith said.

    The competitor up the street

    While this year will be the DowntownD.C. Holiday Market 21st anniversary, a separate market is being planned for Dupont Circle.

    Bill McLeod, executive director of the Dupont Circle Business Improvement District, said while the group hasn’t received the permit yet, it’s planning a holiday market along New Hampshire Avenue.

    Last year’s D.C. Holiday Market in Dupont Circle was run by Diverse Markets Management, which used to run the Penn Quarter market.

    Now, Makers Show runs the DowntownD.C. Holiday Market. Price said Monday that the new group “brought a new infrastructure, a brand new look and aesthetic, new social media channels and a website, and a renewed commitment to secure an even more diverse group of vendors.”

    The D.C. Holiday Market in Dupont Circle rose as a competitor to the iconic Penn Quarter market, boasting its tables of vendors and exhibits as another option for the city’s residents.

    Its website says the market is set to open from Nov. 14 to Dec. 23.

    The National Mistletoe at Anthem Row is also returning, with the goal of setting a Guinness World Record for most kisses under the mistletoe.

    The Winter Skate Spectacular is also back at the National Building Museum, with themed skate nights and opportunities for D.C. Public School kids to skate for free daily.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Scott Gelman

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  • Large DC rally held in support of union workers, blasts Donald Trump’s policies – WTOP News

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    Nearly 400 pro-union activists and supporters gathered at Dupont Circle park on Thursday to march and kick off what they called a season of solidarity.

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    Massive rally in DC in support of union workers and against Trump’s policies

    Nearly 400 pro-union activists and supporters gathered at Dupont Circle park on Thursday to march and kick off what they called a season of solidarity.

    The “solidarity season” is a week full of pro-union events, and those gathered at the park on Thursday set the tone — starting with their complaints over what they called destructive policies of President Donald Trump’s administration.

    The event was organized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of the AFL-CIO, which represents about 150 union organizations in the D.C. area. President Sam Epps said union workers must stick together through what he called a crisis in government.

    “Labor will continue to fight for freedom, fairness and security,” Epps told the crowd.

    “Our solidarity extends to our members who live in the District of Columbia, who deserve to live free from this administration’s harmful and unlawful occupation,” Epps said. “We say ‘Free D.C.!’”

    Also speaking at the event was Keya Chatterjee, executive director of the Free D.C. organization.

    She told the crowd, “Here in D.C., we need to fight back right now, the same way that labor unions do all the time.”

    “We demand the escalated federal forces leave immediately!” Chatterjee said to cheers. “We demand that [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents] get out of our communities. We demand that federal workers get their jobs back. We demand power over our own budget, laws and justice system here in D.C. And we demand that D.C. is admitted as the 51st state.”

    The D.C. chapter of the AFL-CIO sponsored a huge rally and march in support of unions, while blasting what they call the “destructive policies” of President Donald Trump, including the deployment of the National Guard and federal police onto the streets.
    (WTOP/Alan Etter)

    WTOP/Alan Etter

    The group ended their march in front of a restaurant on 14th Street called Le Diplomate, which is owned by Starr Restaurants.
    The group ended their march in front of a restaurant on 14th Street called Le Diplomate, which is owned by Starr Restaurants.
    (WTOP/Alan Etter)

    WTOP/Alan Etter

    The group ended their march in front of a restaurant on 14th Street called Le Diplomate, which is owned by Starr Restaurants.
    The group ended their march in front of a restaurant on 14th Street called Le Diplomate, which is owned by Starr Restaurants.
    (WTOP/Alan Etter)

    WTOP/Alan Etter

    Nearly 400 pro-union activists and supporters gathered at Dupont Circle park on Thursday to march and kick off what they called a season of solidarity.
    Nearly 400 pro-union activists and supporters gathered at Dupont Circle park on Thursday to march and kick off what they called a season of solidarity.
    (WTOP/Alan Etter)

    WTOP/Alan Etter

    Nearly 400 pro-union activists and supporters gathered at Dupont Circle park on Thursday to march and kick off what they called a season of solidarity.
    Nearly 400 pro-union activists and supporters gathered at Dupont Circle park on Thursday to march and kick off what they called a season of solidarity.
    (WTOP/Alan Etter)

    WTOP/Alan Etter

    After the rally at the park, the group marched east along P Street behind a large red banner that read “Solidarity” with a white shape of the District of Columbia.

    The group ended their march on 14th Street in front of a restaurant called Le Diplomate, which is owned by Starr Restaurants.

    Employees of Le Diplomate have been trying to form a union of their own, but have been met with resistance from Starr. The demonstrators marched in front of the restaurant, located at 14th & Q Streets NW, shouting, “Le Diplomate is unfair to its workers,” and carrying signs that read in part, “Le Diplomate has no union contract.”

    In a February statement, Starr Restaurants said the vote to unionize within its St. Anselm restaurant was “unlawfully tainted” by “coercive tactics” from the union and its supporters.

    UNITE HERE Local 25, a union representing hotel and restaurant workers in the D.C. area, has called on customers and restaurant workers to boycott the Logan Circle eatery over the labor disputes.

    A person who said he was a manager of the restaurant told WTOP that most of their employees don’t want to join a union.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Alan Etter

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  • 37th annual 17th Street High Heel Race run goes off without a hitch – WTOP News

    37th annual 17th Street High Heel Race run goes off without a hitch – WTOP News

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    The 37th annual 17th Street High Heel Race went off without a hitch Tuesday evening as dozens of drag kings, queens and others dashed a few blocks on 17th Street in D.C. to the cheers of crowds lining the sidewalks, streetery bars and restaurants.

    On a night in which Vice President Kamala Harris was delivering her campaign closing speech close by on the Ellipse, costumed revelers jammed the sidewalks of the Dupont Circle neighborhood, snapping pictures of elegantly dressed drag queens parading between P and S Streets.

    At exactly 9 p.m., racers wearing high heels ran south on 17th Street to the cheers of revelers. A few moments later, the racers crossed the finish line, some gasping for breath from the sheer exertion of the competitive run.

    Security was heavy for the event, with heavy trucks used to close intersections, sealing the neighborhood for the race hosted by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.

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    Dick Uliano

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  • DC gets another holiday market – WTOP News

    DC gets another holiday market – WTOP News

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    The D.C. holiday market scene will have more options this year with the addition of another market in the Dupont Circle area.

    The D.C. holiday market scene will have more options this year with the addition of another market in the Dupont Circle area, which will be operated by the company that used to run the longstanding holiday market at Penn Quarter.

    The Dupont Circle market is called the DC Holiday Market and it’s run by Diverse Markets Management.

    “Dupont Circle has a tradition of small businesses, including art galleries and mom & pop shops. The holiday market is a perfect complement to the stores and restaurants around Dupont Circle,” said Michael Berman, president of Diverse Markets Management, in a statement.

    The market will be in historic Dupont Circle in the 1500 block of 19th Street NW right outside the Dupont Circle Metro station.

    It will open Friday, Nov. 22, until Sunday, Dec. 15, and boasts new features, alongside the tables of local vendors, including “a new lineup of entertainment, unique exhibitors, sweet treats and festive decor and lights throughout the season,” the market said in a news release.

    “We are so excited to partner with Diverse Markets Management,” Jason Goldman, marketing and events manager for the Dupont Circle BID, said in a statement.

    The market will be open every day, from noon until 8 p.m. on weekdays, and from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

    Melee at the markets?

    The market at Penn Quarter, now managed by Makers Show, is called the DowntownDC Holiday Market, and it will open also on Friday, Nov. 22 until Monday, Dec. 23, on F Street NW outside the National Portrait Gallery.

    In a statement to WTOP, president of the DowntownDC BID, Gerren Price, said the Penn Quarter market “will continue to be one of DC’s beloved traditions and will remain in Downtown D.C.” and that the organization is planning how it can “evolve and expand the market.”

    DowntownDC Holiday Market will be celebrating its 20th year with a larger footprint and more than 100 vendors, a market spokesperson said.

    Diverse Markets Management operated the holiday market at Penn Quarter for many years.

    But in April, the DowntownDC BID said it would be switching to a new company — New York-based Makers Show — to manage the market instead, NBC Washington first reported.

    So to sum up, shoppers. There will be holiday markets in Dupont Circle and at Penn Quarter. Both will open on Nov. 22. Happy shopping!

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Abigail Constantino

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  • Historic DC church for sale in Dupont Circle at $5M asking price – WTOP News

    Historic DC church for sale in Dupont Circle at $5M asking price – WTOP News

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    Since 1894, the Church of the Holy City has called D.C.’s 16th Street NW home. Soon, that is going to change.

    Since 1894, the Church of the Holy City has called D.C.’s 16th Street NW home.
    (Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography)

    Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography

    Church of the Holy City in Northwest D.C.
    The beautiful church is hard to miss as you drive around the Dupont Circle area of 16th Street NW.
    (Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography)

    Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography

    Since 1894, the Church of the Holy City has called D.C.’s 16th Street NW home.
    (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)

    WTOP/Jimmy Alexander

    The church has a distinguishable red door.
    (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)

    WTOP/Jimmy Alexander

    The church has 44-foot high ceilings, perfect for an echoing organ.
    (Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography)

    Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography

    The church has 44-foot high ceilings, perfect for an echoing organ.
    (Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography)

    Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography

    A Tiffany Studios stained glass window in the church depicts the Archangel Raphael.
    (Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography)

    Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography

    The gothic revival church was built by two prominent architects, including Paul Pelz, who was the main architect of the Library of Congress.
    (Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography)

    Courtesy HD Bros Real Estate Photography

    Since 1894, the Church of the Holy City has called D.C.’s 16th Street NW home.

    Soon, that is going to change. This week, the historic church was put on the market for the asking price of $5 million.

    The gothic revival church was built by two prominent architects, including Paul Pelz, who was the main architect of the Library of Congress.

    “It’s still an active Swedenborgianism church,” said real estate agent Bo Billups with Sotheby’s International. “The congregation is much smaller and they are moving to a more appropriate place that is more in line with their needs.”

    The beautiful church is hard to miss as you drive around the Dupont Circle area of 16th Street NW.

    While it is quite close to the bars and restaurants on 17th Street NW, there is no chance that the Church of the Holy City will turn into Washington, D.C.’s newest hot nightlife spot.

    “That zoning does not include restaurants and certainly not a bar,” said Billups.

    The church is over 16,000 square feet, and the real estate agent described it as awe inspiring.

    “These interior spaces, 44-feet high,” said Billups. “The stained glass, including one from Tiffany, the stone inside, the woodwork. It’s a beautiful place.”

    Since the church was put on the market on Tuesday, Billups has heard from 20 potential buyers.

    “A majority are developers, investors who are considering different uses for it,” said Billups. “Certainly, residential development. We do have conceptual plans from Bonstra Haresign architects.”

    Incredibly, Billups did hear from someone that looked at the church as a possible single-family home.

    If you do decide to shell out $5 million for this home, there are some things you need to know before you move in.

    The church does have four half bathrooms, but no full bathroom or kitchens.

    One feature the church does have is worth its weight in gold when you are looking for a parking spot in Dupont.

    “It has a driveway and five-car parking,” said Billups. “In Dupont, that close to downtown for that surface space, it’s worth $40-50,000, maybe more.”

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    Ciara Wells

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  • Suspects in custody after shooting in DC nightclub leaves 5 injured – WTOP News

    Suspects in custody after shooting in DC nightclub leaves 5 injured – WTOP News

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    At least five people were injured in a shooting inside a nightclub in the Dupont Circle neighborhood in Northwest D.C. late Friday night.

    At least five people were injured in a shooting inside a nightclub in the Dupont Circle neighborhood in Northwest D.C. late Friday night.

    Reports for the shooting on the 1200 block of Connecticut Avenue NW and 18th Street NW came in around 11:30 p.m.

    Five people who were wounded in the shooting were transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. D.C. Police also confirmed to WTOP that three suspects are in custody and a weapon was recovered from the scene.

    In a post on X, D.C. Police announced, “The scene is secure and there is no further threat to the community.”

    Below is a map of where the shooting occurred:

    WTOP’s Juan Herrera contributed to this report.

    This story is developing. Stay with WTOP for the latest.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Ciara Wells

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