According to a Nash & Smashed website, the fast-casual food outlet will open on Barracks Row. The new eatery will be located at 531 8th Street SE. For more: https://bit.ly/3PMdySw
A press release from Divaris Real Estate dated last September says the fast-growing restaurant chain specializing in Nashville-style fried chicken and smashed burgers will open in December, 2026. See here: https://bit.ly/4s6rMe9
531 8th Street is the decades-long vacant building next to the former Joey’s of Barracks Row. The latter, now owned by restauranteur Steve Salis, is expected to open as a Federalist Pig barbeque outlet later this year.
Nash & Smashed is a rapidly growing regional chain with multiple outlets in the DMV
Though largely a carryout business model, it will need some indoor seating to meet the fast-casual restaurant designation which companies created to circumvent zoning restrictions on fast food establishments in some areas – like Barracks Row.
CM Charles Allen: Community Office Hours Friday at The Roost
Councilmember Charles Allen will be at The Roost (1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) the morning of Friday, April 3 to meet constituents for community feedback: 8:30am – 10am.
Here’s the view of the National Mall about 12:30pm on Saturday, March 28, from the Went Front of the U.S. Capitol Building. Shown in the distance are protestors supporting one of several “No Kings” rally in the city as well as participants in the kite flying festival.
Here’s an image from earlier on Saturday of the DC Office of Planning’s open house on the RFK Master Plan seeking community input on development of the RFK campus including some agency programs for the site. The meeting was held at St. Coletta’s of Greater Washington in Hill East.
Here’s how it worked. Participants were directed to visit a series of stations, the first of which were informational regarding the planning process and explaining the five sites on the campus for which input was being sought. The remaining stations were interactive, asking participants to select options which they would like to see included in the design for the five districts: Riverfront, Stadium, Plaza, DPR, and Kingman Park.
This example shows images depicting potential design or activity features in the “Stadium District.” Participants indicated approval by “voting” on the features – green stickers for those they favored and red stickers for those they did not want. For more, go here: https://ourrfk.dc.gov/
Among the attendees was Capitol Hill resident and DC Director of the Department of Buildings Brian Hanlon seen here interacting with an event participant.
Mott’s Market inches closer to a spring opening. Payton Sherwood, the vendor and operator of the new Capitol Hill’s Mott’s Market at 232 12th Street, SE, says he hopes to open in May.
Mott’s Market closed as a neighborhood mom and pop store in 2022. A group of neighbors organized by neighbor Michael Skinner raised money to purchase and restore the store to preserve it as a community market. The market is owned by an LLC comprised of 90 community members.
Last Wednesday afternoon, city officials gathered in the North Hall of Eastern Market for an event billed as the 2026 Cabinet Meeting. Details on what was discussed are scarce since the meeting was not open to press coverage, but might have included a financial overview, administration priorities, economic growth issues, and proposed investment initiatives.
The Week Ahead…
Monday, March 30
ANC7D Community Outreach and Grants Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm
April 7, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. Lively Cajun French music from southwestern Louisiana. Dance to two steps and waltzes played by the Capitol Hill Cajun Orchestra (led by members of the Capitol Hillbillies). All ages welcome; free admission
Now at the Folger
As You Like It – Extended through April 19
by William Shakespeare
TICKETS: Starting at $20
Rosalind and her cousin Celia are forced to leave the court where they find respite and adventure in nature, inevitably succumbing to the madness of love and delightfully unpredictable circumstances.
“This production offers a love note to DC, imbuing the Forest of Arden with the familiar vibes, culture, and characters that mark the District as a singular, resilient, and redemptive place of belonging.” (Folger website.)
Here’s a look inside – with Pasha Castle Sweets’ remaining decor.
Doux, (Fr. for pleasant tastes) is coming to 615 Pennsylvania Avenue SE in the space formerly occupied by Pasha Castle. Signage says offerings include “Drink – Dip – Dessert.” Reportedly, the shop will specialize in Belgian chocolate and feature Mediterranean desserts. One less empty store front occupied by locally owned retail is a welcome addition to the commercial corridor.
No word yet on an opening date but opening or re-opening often takes longer than anticipated owing to DC’s permitting bureaucracy.
Loveful Hands Arrives on Eastern Market Metro Plaza
by Larry Janezich
Posted Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Loveful Hands by sculptor Jay Coleman was selected by the community as a piece of interactive public art for Eastern Market Metro Plaza in 2020. The long-anticipated installation became a reality today. Here’s a photo of the arrival on the Plaza.
Here’s the installation in progress. Photo: Bob Gellman
And here’s Loveful Hands. Today the public got a preview of the piece. Tomorrow, according to Coleman, it will be draped in fabric waiting an unveiling next week by Mayor Bowser.
French Bakery at Eastern Market Opens Friday April 10
by Larry Janezich
Posted Monday, March 24, 2026
Boulangerie Saint Georges, across from Eastern Market.
Here’s a glinpse inside.
According to Boulangerie Saint Georges’ co-owner Louis Khenane, the new French bakery across from Eastern Market will hold its grand opening on Friday, April 10. He says he is happy to share this slice of French culture, presenting authentic French bread and pastries baked on the premises.
St. Georges plans to post baking schedules so locals can time purchases of croissants, breads and pastries as they come hot out of the ovens. The shop will offer full coffee service – drip to espresso to cappuccino – featuring Italian coffee, as well as sandwiches on baguettes. This summer, Khenane expects to begin serving bistro fare.
The café at 303 7th Street, SE, will be the first U.S. venture for the team of restaurateurs who own five restaurants in Paris.
Saint-Georges is currently hiring barista/bakery counter staff.
The Week Ahead…& Photo Essay: “Legacy of the Deal”
by Larry Janezich
Posted Sunday, March 22
Legacy of the Deal at the Folger Library
Mandy Cano Villalobos is a Folger Artist Fellow who describes herself as a “cultural scrapper”. Her current solo exhibition, titled Legacy of the Deal, now through April 5, is featured as part of the “Contemporary Art at the Folger” series.
What’s the deal? Villalobos encourages us to conclude it’s a deal with the devil.
The exhibition features five mixed media works created from domestic objects like broken jewelry, discarded toys, and used clothing. Inspired by ornate book bindings in the Folger collection, Villalobos combined found objects into 3 dimensional art forms – assemblages. The resulting compositions explore ideas of time, memory, place, belonging and identity, highlighting themes we often don’t like to think about: the intersection of modern consumption and excess with Western history of colonization, injustice and environmental damage. For more on the artist, visit: https://www.mandycano.com/
Sugar Queen 2025. Decayed teeth reference Elizabeth I’s love of sugar, its status as a luxury item among the nobility, and the transatlantic slave trade.
Deeds of the Dead 2025. Ditto
Measure and Means 2025. Secondhand textile signifies the transatlantic slave trade and modern fashion industries’ reliance on child labor.
The Gambit’s Prayer 2025. Discarded plastic nods at environmental injustice, waste, and labor exploitation.
The Favorite 2025. A pig’s foot and bling might serve to remind us of the disparity between wanting and having.
The Week Ahead…
Monday, March 23
ANC6A Community Outreach Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Discussion of a substantial change request to a license to add (3) Sports Wagering betting kiosks inside premises on the main floor and in the bar area for Allure Lounge, 711 H Street, NE
Discussion of a substantial change request to a license to change hours of operation and alcoholic beverage sales, service, and consumption, and hours of live entertainment, for Transmission, 1353 H Street, NE.
Discussion of a medical cannabis retailer license application for DC Dank, 712 15th Street, NE.
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
FREEDC EVENTS for March
Go here to see a list of upcoming events for this week and to sign up to join FreeDC: https://freedcproject.org/
Hill Center Event: Profs & Pints DC: The Search for Life Beyond Earth
Profs & Pints DC: The Search for Life Beyond Earth
6:00 PM – 8:30pm. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital.
Profs and Pints DC presents: “The Search for Life Beyond Earth,” with Måns Holmberg, postdoctoral researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute and part of a team of astronomers looking for chemical traces of life on distant exoplanets.
(Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.)
Rosalind and her cousin Celia are forced to leave the court where they find respite and adventure in nature, inevitably succumbing to the madness of love and delightfully unpredictable circumstances.
“This production offers a love note to DC, imbuing the forest of Arden with the familiar vibes, culture, and characters that mark the District as a singular, resilient, and redemptive place of belonging.” (Folger website.)
As reported in the previous post on this blog, the Office of Planning will host open houses on the development of RFK March 24 and March 28.. Here are some photos showing the current state of the demolition of the stadium. For comparison, here’s a photo from January 30, 2025.
And a similar view from March 15, 2026.
Here’s the view as one enters the National Gallery’s West Building Rotunda from the Mall Entrance. Behind the sculpture of the Roman god Mercury is a massive screen showing “Digital Waves” – a computer-generated video.
Another view.
Artist Clifford Ross says “Digital Waves” is a “light storm” that reveals not only the complexity and power of the ocean,” but also “the surprises and form and movement that are central to the wonder we experience.”
The Mary Cassatt exhibit, “Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris,” at the National Gallery of Art, now through on August 30, 2026. The exhibition, located in the West Building, features 40 works from the museum’s collection to mark the centennial of the artist’s death. Admission is free and tickets are not required. This is an exhibit that shouldn’t be missed. Cassatt was a gifted artist and a strong advocate for women’s autonomy who supported the women’s suffrage movement through financial contributions, art exhibitions, and symbolic painting.
Pedestrian Signal Timing on Constitution Avenue NE. This was discussed at the November 2025 TPS meeting. Residents have continued to raise concerns about how long they wait for a signal to cross Constitution and how short the signal time is.
New Business
DDOT Public Space Permit. Paving: Leadwalk Only, Paving: Curb & Gutter(s), Fixture: Bike Rack(s): DDOT Standard, Fixture: Hand Rail (36″ high for ADA, 30″- 42″ high other), Projections: Bay Window(s), Paving: Sidewalk(s), Landscaping: Tree Planting, Projections: Areaway Entrance at 800 – 899.
Park Proposal on Florida Avenue NE. Jonathan Pineda of 6A01 will join the TPS committee to discuss a proposal for a dog park on Florida Ave NE.
Congestion Pricing Study. Mayor Bowser released a study of congestion pricing that was conducted several years ago.
Wednesday, March 18
ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
1332 Corbin Place NE. Board of Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a third story and a three-story with basement rear addition, to an existing, attached, two story with basement, principal dwelling unit. Special Exceptions: rear yard requirements and lot occupancy requirements.
628 15th Street NE. Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application. Re ANC receiving notification that the alley does not meet 10’ requirement. No changes from original plan supported by ANC in September 2025. BZA hearing administratively rescheduled to May 13, 2026.
New Business
1350 East Capitol Street, NE. Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application. To construct a two-story plus cellar rear addition and a one-story plus cellar side addition, to an existing, attached, two-story plus cellar, principal dwelling unit. Special Exception: lot occupancy requirements.
***
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
FREEDC EVENTS for March
Go here to see a list of upcoming events for this week and to sign up to join FreeDC: https://freedcproject.org/
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Pearl Escape Project nonprofit is hosting a discussion about women, race, and voting for women candidates.
The Pearl Escape Project presents:
Why Don’t Women Vote for Women? A Panel Discussion. 7:00pm – 400 I St. SW, Westminster Church. Register here: https://bit.ly/3NlaSu8
Panelists: Iris Harvey, Shari Miles-Cowen, Marjorie LIghtman & Elizabeth O’Gorek
Women are more than half of the population. They are well organized. They have been able to defy convention and custom to change laws from suffrage to Title 9. Why haven’t they been able to elect a woman president?
Join us as we explore the historical, psychological, and cultural pressures that shape women’s attitudes toward other women and political leadership.
Sunday, March 29
Hill Center Event
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Stone Room Concerts @ Hill Center Featuring Eastern-European Jewish Folk Music with Seth Kibel & The Kleztet
Rosalind and her cousin Celia are forced to leave the court where they find respite and adventure in nature, inevitably succumbing to the madness of love and delightfully unpredictable circumstances.
“This production offers a love note to DC, imbuing the forest of Arden with the familiar vibes, culture, and characters that mark the District as a singular, resilient, and redemptive place of belonging.” (Folger website.)
Comments Off on The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
Last Tuesday night, ANC7D – chaired by Commissioner Brian Alcorn – heard an update from the Office of Planning (OP) concerning the community input engagement process on the RFK Master plan. On hand were Diamond Thompson-Smith, OP’s Deputy Project Manager for the RFK Master Plan and Associate Director of Neighborhood Planning Heba El Gawish.
The RFK Master Plan will outline the District’s vision in coordination with input from community stakeholders on needs for the campus and some agency programs for the site including housing and retail. It will also identify key amenities for current uses and future resident needs and consider how to integrate the site design with the surrounding neighborhoods.
Here are the details for two upcoming Open Houses in Ward 7, hosted by OP. Both events will share the same content and on-line module will be released for those unable to attend in person.
Here’s the time line for the engagement process which anticipates submitting the Master Plan to the City Council in the fall of 2026.
Comments Off on Upcoming Community Meetings on RFK Master Plan
“bumblebirds” (formerly Good Stuff Eatery) Opens Mar 14 on PA Ave SE
By Larry Janezich
Posted March 9, 2026
The former Good Stuff Eatery Morphs into “bumblebirds”
“bumblebirds,” Spike Mendelsohn’s newest fast-casual restaurant features Southern fried chicken sandwiches, spirited cocktails, will OFFICIALLY open at 11:00am Monday, March 16, 2026 at 303 Pennsylvania Ave SE on Capitol Hill. BUT – a grand opening celebration will take place on Saturday, March 14, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. (free fried chicken sandwiches or nuggets for first 100 people in line + giveaway for a party for 6 at bumblebirds)
Celebrity chef, bestselling author, and television personality Carla Hall is partnering with the Mendelsohn family (Cathy, Harvey, Micheline, and Spike) and their Sunnyside Restaurant Group to bring the new concept to life. Photo: Johnathon Pushnick
Photo: Vina Sananikone
Menu highlights include:
The OG Bumble – Crispy Fried Chicken, Black Pepper Ranch Slaw, Cheese, Pickles
The Blue & Buffalo – Celery Leaf Slaw, Creamy Blue Cheese, Spicy Buffalo Sauce
The Sassafras – Grilled Chicken, Collard Garden Aioli, Pickled Red Onion
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 