🌸 92 DC restaurants closed in 2025

Good morning, DC. If your phone was blowing up Monday night with aurora photos and you assumed it was a filter, you weren't alone. But it was real: the strongest solar storm in 23 years brought the northern lights as far south as Alabama. Meanwhile, Restaurant Week is underway (and DC restaurants need it more than ever), the Caps and Wizards are both struggling, and there's a Caribbean spot downtown that's already hosted the Obamas. Wednesday's packed. Let's get into it.

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In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

If your social media feed filled with aurora photos Monday night and you thought it was a prank, it wasn't. The strongest solar radiation storm since 2003 hit Earth on January 19, reaching G4 (severe) levels on NOAA's space-weather scale. The result: aurora borealis visible as far south as Alabama, Kentucky, and yes, the DC area.

For most DC residents, seeing the northern lights typically requires a plane ticket to Iceland or Alaska. The city sits too far south for typical visibility. But during storms this strong, faint green or reddish glows can appear low on the northern horizon, especially if you got away from the city lights. Photos flooded social media from across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with sightings from Virginia to Pennsylvania.

The storm peaked Monday afternoon around 2:20 PM Eastern, triggered by a powerful coronal mass ejection from the sun. If you missed it, you're not alone. Most people found out after the fact. But for a few hours Monday night, DC looked up at something that had nothing to do with politics.

Why it matters: A solar storm this strong might not happen for years. If you got photos, you have bragging rights. If you didn't, at least now you know it was real.

The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington delivered sobering news this month: 92 DC restaurants closed in 2025, up from 73 in 2024 and nearly double the closures in 2022. If trends continue, the city could surpass 100 closures by the end of 2026.

The hardest hit: mid-priced restaurants ($21-$40 per person), the spots middle-class families have long relied on. They account for two-thirds of reported closures, over 60 businesses. "Restaurants that middle-class families have long depended on are disappearing," said RAMW President Shawn Townsend. Contributing factors are stacking up: federal workforce cuts, wage increases, immigration enforcement fears (83% of RAMW members cited this as a top concern), and higher food and labor costs.

The timing matters: Restaurant Week runs through January 25, with hundreds of restaurants offering fixed-price menus ($25-$35 lunch, $40-$65 dinner). It's more than a deal. It's a chance to support the survivors. After a year where nearly 100 spots closed, every reservation counts.

Why it matters: That neighborhood spot you've been meaning to try? Now's the time. Restaurant Week ends Saturday.

Isla, the Caribbean-influenced fine dining restaurant at 1100 15th Street NW, is drawing a crowd. The Obamas have already been guests. The Washington Post recently gave it a favorable review. And it's showing up on "hot new restaurants for Restaurant Week" lists.

The team behind Isla, chef Lonie Murdock and hospitality veteran Darren Hinds, relocated from Toronto, where they ran the celebrity-favorite Miss Likklemore's. They completely reimagined the former Philotimo space into 8,000 square feet of jewel-toned dining room with a dramatic pink chandelier and a "rum room" that aims to house the largest rum collection in the DC area.

The menu walks a line between refined and rooted: snapper crudo, lamb tartare with green seasoning, grilled Trinidadian flatbreads. It's Caribbean fine dining without pretension, the kind of place where the food has credentials but the vibe doesn't require a jacket. Next door is Goodlove, their cocktail lounge with Caribbean tunes and classic cocktails. Hours are Mon-Wed 4-10 PM, Thu-Sat 4-11 PM. Metro-accessible via McPherson Square.

Washingtonian dropped their January "restaurants we're excited about" list, and a few stand out:

Tadayoshi sits two blocks from the White House with Michelin ambitions. Just 12 seats, all fish sourced from Japan, high-end sake pairings available. This is the splurge-worthy omakase experience for when you want to impress (or when someone else is paying).

Manifest 001 / (h)ours takes the barbershop-meets-cocktail-bar concept to Union Market with 11,000 square feet of space. The restaurant side comes from chef Erik Bruner-Yang (Maketto, Toki Underground), serving DC-inspired dishes like berbere-spiced white Bolognese and buttermilk-fried plantains.

Atlas Brew Works Bridge District brings a new taproom to Anacostia near the Frederick Douglass Bridge. Microbrews, pizza, wings, and proof that the brewery scene has finally crossed the river.

Qui Qui is chef Ismael Mendez's Puerto Rican restaurant, which found a new home in Park View after losing its Shaw space. Mofongo, empanadas, fried chuletas, octopus salad.

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

National Museum of Women in the Arts | NMWA Nights | After-hours access with two drink tickets, vision board workshop, Ruth Orkin photography tour | 5:30-8 PM

Warner Theatre | Taskmaster Live | British comedy panel show with Greg Davies and Alex Horne, five-city US tour | 8 PM

National Theatre | Gabby's Dollhouse Live! | Netflix animated series comes to life with puppets and songs, 75 minutes (family-friendly) | 6 PM

Folger Shakespeare Library | Reading Room Festival Opening | FREE opening night exploring how Shakespeare influenced American musicals, with performances from West Side Story, Kiss Me Kate | 7 PM

National Theatre | Gabby's Dollhouse Live! | Second night, same puppets, same kid-friendly chaos | 6 PM

Capital One Arena | Wizards vs. Denver Nuggets | Yes, the Wizards have lost seven straight, but this is your chance to see Nikola Jokic up close | 7 PM

Wednesday

41 🌡 18 | 🌧️ 10% | 💨 14 mph

Thursday

50 🌡 31 | 🌧️ 10% | 💨 15 mph

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9:30 Club | Magic City Hippies with Supertaste | 7 PM

Birchmere, Alexandria | Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone | 7:30 PM

The Barns at Wolf Trap | Del McCoury Band | 8 PM

Blues Alley | Dara Tucker | 8 PM & 10 PM

The Anthem | Eric Church with Caylee Hammack | 8 PM

9:30 Club | Beats Antique with High Step Society | 7 PM

Soundcheck | Ninajirachi | 10 PM

DC9 Nightclub | Modern Nature with Brigid Dawson & The Mothers Network | 7 PM

The Capitals dropped back-to-back games over the weekend, falling 5-2 to both the Panthers (Friday) and Avalanche (Sunday). Jacob Chychrun scored twice against Florida; Ethen Frank had two against Colorado. Neither mattered. The Caps are now 6-10-3 in their last 19 games and heading west for a six-game road trip through Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. No home games this week.

The Wizards extended their losing streak to seven with a 110-106 loss to the Clippers on Monday. Alex Sarr led Washington with 28 points, but Kyshawn George missed a potential game-tying three late. Trae Young (knee, quad) still hasn't played since arriving from Atlanta. The bright side: the Wizards host Denver Thursday at 7 PM, which means you can see three-time MVP Nikola Jokic at Capital One Arena. The outcome is probably predictable, but at least you'll see good basketball from someone.

Till next time,