🌸 $50K has left Kennedy Center, here's where it went

Good morning, DC. Hope you're staying warm out there. Perfect weather for planning your week from somewhere with good coffee and better Wi-Fi. The Kennedy Center's rough stretch is becoming regional theaters' windfall. Cork Wine Bar just planted its flag in Cleveland Park. And there's a takeout window near Howard that's making a convincing case for the best chicken sandwich in the region. Wednesday's looking good. Let's get into it.

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In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

The Kennedy Center's turbulent period (leadership restructuring, artist boycotts, declining subscriptions, the Trump name addition, the Washington National Opera's departure) is creating a windfall for regional theaters. Olney Theatre Center has received approximately $50,000 in donations redirected from Kennedy Center supporters. "About $50,000...have come our way from people who would have put that money toward the Kennedy Center," said executive director Debbie Ellinghaus.

Signature Theatre in Arlington reports stronger ticket sales and fundraising than in previous years, with holiday sales particularly robust. "We are selling more tickets and bringing in more revenue right now than we have in prior years," said managing director Maggie Boland. Arena Stage and Strathmore are fielding increased inquiries for rentals and collaborations from performers seeking alternative venues.

The shift represents both opportunity and validation for DC's regional theater ecosystem. Olney Theatre is nearing completion of a $37 million expansion. For audiences, this means more investment in local stages that have consistently delivered quality productions, without the controversy.

Why it matters: If you've been defaulting to Kennedy Center because it's "the" theater in DC, $50K in redirected donations suggests the energy is moving elsewhere. Plus, Signature and Arena Stage won't make you fight for Watergate parking.

Doro Soul Food, a takeout window at 2108 8th St NW near the 9:30 Club and Howard University, is staking a serious claim to the DMV's best chicken sandwich. The secret weapon: chef Elias Taddesse, Ethiopian-born and Michelin-star trained, who merges American soul food with Ethiopian spices.

The signature chicken sandwich features mit mita spice blend (creating a lingering pleasant heat) on perfectly fried chicken, cooled by Old Bay aioli. Food creator Nick "Mr. 8 That" Sevilla, who scores restaurants on a combined price/taste scale out of 10, gave Doro Soul Food an 8.7 (one of his highest ratings). Beyond the sandwich: berbere fries, Doro Wat mac and cheese, and turmeric coleslaw round out a menu that proves fusion doesn't have to mean confusion.

The small-format takeout window keeps things approachable, and the U Street corridor location means you can grab it before a show at 9:30 Club or Howard Theatre.

Why it matters: DC's fried chicken discourse has been dominated by chains and one Barracks Row spot for too long. A Michelin-trained Ethiopian chef entering the conversation is exactly the kind of chaos this city's food scene needs. If you think Popeyes still holds the crown, reconsider.

Cork Wine Bar and Market, the beloved 14th Street wine destination that opened in 2008, has expanded to Cleveland Park at 3504 Connecticut Avenue NW. The new location, which held its grand opening on January 8, offers a different experience than the flagship: counter service only, a smaller footprint, and a focus on wine without the full kitchen.

Co-owners Diane Gross and Khalid Pitts tapped Gronning Architects to transform a former Trust Bank branch into a wine lover's destination. The setup: 20 seats in the street-level wine bar and retail area, a 15-seat mezzanine tasting room for classes and private events, plus 8 seats of outdoor seating. The weekly rotating selection of 15 wines by the glass complements around 350 bottles available for retail or on-site consumption (with a $25 corkage fee).

The wine focus leans old-world (France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria) with an emphasis on organic, biodynamic, and sustainable producers. For Cleveland Park residents who've watched the neighborhood shed restaurants faster than the zoo loses pandas, Cork's arrival is the first good news in a while. Right next to the Metro, no reservation required.

Lil Sweet Treat, the TikTok-viral candy chain that started in New York City in September 2024, has arrived in Georgetown on M Street. The business model: imported gummy and sour candies starting at $22.40 per pound, social media clout from the founder's entrepreneurial journey content, and a Gen Z aesthetic.

DC's established candy shops aren't trembling. The Chocolate House (between Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle, founded 2006) focuses on artisan craft chocolate. "Our focus is on craft chocolate, which is a completely different category from mass-produced or novelty sweets," says general manager Peng Xu. Velatis, making handmade caramels and chocolates since the 1850s, emphasizes in-house production and minimal preservatives. The Capital Candy Jar on Capitol Hill (founded 2017) has built its reputation on handmade chocolate-covered Oreos, lollipops, and custom orders.

The local owners see the chain's arrival as validation of DC's candy market rather than a threat. As Velatis owner Amy Servais notes: "Everybody wants the stuff that we make in house." Before you drop $22/pound on imported gummies so your kid can post an unboxing video, you might want to see what's been here since before TikTok existed. Velatis has been making candy since the 1850s. They've outlasted administrations, they'll outlast algorithms.

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Here’s what’s going on around DC this week:

National Museum of Women in the Arts | Community Day | Free admission day saves you $16 on the collection, kid-friendly | 10 AM - 5 PM

The Phillips Collection (Anacostia) | Crochet Circle | Free guided crochet workshop, no experience needed | 6 PM

Shaw | A People's Choir DC Pop-Up | Free drop-in community singing, no audition required | 7 PM

Studio Theatre | Octet | A cappella musical about digital addiction opens tonight | 7:30 PM | Tickets from $49

Sage Theatre | Drunk Romeo & Juliet | One actor has 5 shots of whiskey and attempts Shakespeare while sober actors improvise around the chaos | 7 PM

The Atlantis | Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble | Grammy-winning producer performs Grateful Dead's "Blues for Allah" in full | 6:30 PM

Kennedy Center | NSO with Daniil Trifonov | World-class pianist performs Brahms and Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" | Tickets from $33

MGM National Harbor | Martin Lawrence | Stand-up from the "Martin" and "Bad Boys" legend | Tickets from $172

Capital One Arena | Capitals vs. San Jose Sharks | First Responders Night, plus Ovechkin's goal chase continues | 7 PM

Wednesday

54 🌡 27 | 🌧️ 20% | 💨 7 mph

Thursday

29 🌡 22 | 🌧️ 5% | 💨 15 mph

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The Fillmore Silver Spring | Nothing More with Catch Your Breath, Archers, Doobie | 6:30 PM

Soundcheck | Nimda | 10 PM

The Atlantis | Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble | 6:30 PM

9:30 Club | MO (Karen Marie Ørsted) | 7 PM

The Capitals (22-15-6) host the San Jose Sharks Thursday at 7 PM for First Responders Night. Ovechkin continues the all-time goals chase against one of the league's weaker opponents. A good night to catch a game at Capital One Arena. The Wizards (7-24) are on a West Coast road trip with no home games this week. Sometimes the schedule does you like that.

Till next time,