🌸 A new week full of new openings

Good morning, DC. Between the autumn-like weather teasing us this weekend and restaurant musical chairs continuing, there's plenty to discuss over the fence this week, so let's dive into what's happening in our slice of the DMV.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

GALA Hispanic Theatre launches its 50th anniversary season with a poignant revival of Kiss of the Spider Woman, the same production that made history in 1994 when founder Hugo Medrano became the first actor to win a Helen Hayes Award for a Spanish-language performance in DC, timing that feels eerily resonant as the play's themes of political imprisonment hit differently in 2025. The intimate two-hander, performed in Spanish with English surtitles through September 28, features Rodrigo Pedreira as a Marxist revolutionary and Martín Ruiz as a gay window dresser sharing an Argentine prison cell during the country's military dictatorship, passing time by recounting old Hollywood movie plots that transform their gray walls into Technicolor escapes. Director José Luis Arellano keeps things deliberately spare, letting Tony Cisek's minimalist cell design and the actors' chemistry carry the weight of Manuel Puig's 1976 story about finding humanity in the least humane places. The production gains extra cultural currency with Jennifer Lopez's movie musical adaptation hitting DC theaters next month, though GALA's stripped-down version offers something the Hollywood treatment can't: the raw immediacy of live theater in a 240-seat house where you can feel every emotional shift. Tickets run $25-50 at the Columbia Heights venue (one block from the Metro), with that miraculous $4 Giant garage parking validation that locals know is the best theater deal in town.

Downtown Silver Spring's dining scene continues its perpetual game of musical chairs as Italian Kitchen quietly ends its decade-long run at 8201 Fenton Street, leaving only Vicino and Mamma Lucia to carry the marinara torch in a neighborhood that seems increasingly disinterested in red sauce. Though at least we're spared another "fast-casual bowl concept" replacement, for now. The more dramatic closure involves Dimmples Kettles on Georgia Avenue, whose owner was federally indicted for allegedly threatening Cameroon citizens and providing material support to separatist groups, which certainly puts your typical Yelp drama into perspective. But Silver Spring rebounds as it always does: the team behind Effoi Restaurant just transformed the old Nexus space into Selam Garden Grill & Bar at 944 Wayne Avenue, celebrating their grand opening this weekend with authentic Ethiopian fare in what's essentially a restaurant time-share with Ghar-E-Kabab. Over at Solaire Social, Shuga x Ice is celebrating National Coffee Day on September 29 with Buna ice cream, Ethiopian coffee beans mixed with popcorn pieces.

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The team behind Chiko and Anju has taken over Sports & Social's kitchen at 1314 U Street NW to launch Upstate FTW, bringing Syracuse native Scott Drewno's hometown specialties like garbage plates, beef on weck, and legit Buffalo wings that take 25+ minutes because they're brined overnight and dried for two days before frying. After taste-testing eight Buffalo wing spots in one day for research, Drewno discovered no decent wings came out in under 22 minutes, a revelation that now shapes their no-shortcuts approach to serving proper wings alongside Rochester white hots and chicken riggies. Despite the upstate New York menu, they're backing the home team as a Commanders bar rather than competing with Bills haven Exiles down the street, proving you can import the food without the fandom.

Capitol Hill scores a double-header this fall when acclaimed restaurateur Rajiv Chopra transforms the former Crazy Aunt Helen's space at 713 8th Street SE into Taki Taki (modern South Asian on the first floor) and Rumba Rumba (global tapas and cocktails upstairs), creating what sounds like the neighborhood's most ambitious two-in-one dining destination since someone decided to put a CVS inside every Target. Cork Wine Bar continues its march toward citywide domination with a third location opening in Cleveland Park at 3504 Connecticut Avenue this fall, bringing 20 seats, a mezzanine tasting room, and approximately 350 bottles to a neighborhood that's been thirsting for something beyond Cava and Politics & Prose coffee since the Obama administration. The fall lineup also includes heavy hitters like Austin's James Beard Award-winning Uchi bringing oak-grilled sushi downtown, and Chai Pani's Indian street food finally arriving at Union Market, suggesting DC's dining scene is about to get significantly more interesting than another "Mediterranean-inspired small plates concept."

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

Start your week with a donation-based flowing yoga class in MoCA Arlington's beautiful Tiffany Gallery, where contemporary art installations provide the perfect backdrop for finding your balance—bring your own mat and journal.

📍 Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington | 🕐 6:30 PM

RuPaul's Drag Race icons Ginger Minj, Jujubee, and Sapphira Cristál bring their wickedly campy theatrical tribute to Hocus Pocus, complete with powerhouse vocals and enough glitter to summon the spirits of Salem.

📍 Lincoln Theatre | 🕐 8 PM

The hills are alive at Kennedy Center as the beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein classic launches its North American tour with a fresh staging by three-time Tony winner Jack O'Brien, marking the 65th anniversary of a musical that still has audiences singing "Do-Re-Mi" in the lobby.

📍 Kennedy Center Opera House | 🕐 7:30 PM

Unleash your dog's inner artist at this free outdoor event where pups create paw-print masterpieces you can take home, complete with pet polaroids, portrait demos, live DJ, and complimentary pup cups from South Block.

📍 Metropolitan Park | 🕐 5 PM

Monday

75 🌡 55 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 7 mph

Tuesday

75 🌡 57 | 🌧️ 10% | 💨 9 mph

The Atlantis | Amble | 6:30 PM

9:30 Club | The Brian Jonestown Massacre | 7 PM

The Atlantis | The Buttertones with Cathedral Bells | 6:30 PM

9:30 Club | Spacey Jane | 7 PM

The Wolf Trap | Alison Krauss & Union Station | 7:30 PM

The Howard Theatre | Cash Cobain | 8 PM

Lincoln Theatre | Sparks | 8 PM

The Washington Commanders opened their 2025 campaign with a convincing 21-6 victory over the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium, with their defense completely shutting down Big Blue's offense and allowing only two field goals. Jayden Daniels showed poise in his second NFL season, throwing for 233 yards and a touchdown to Zach Ertz while adding 68 rushing yards, continuing to showcase the dual-threat ability that makes him one of the league's most dangerous quarterbacks. New acquisition Deebo Samuel proved his worth with a crucial 19-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter that sealed the win, while seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt surprised everyone with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut. The victory extends Washington's dominance over their division rival to three straight wins and starts the Dan Quinn era's second season on a high note as the Commanders look to build on last year's NFC Championship appearance.

Did You Know? The Library of Congress, the world's largest library, adds approximately 15,000 items to its collection every working day but keeps only about half of them. Meaning roughly 3,750 books, maps, recordings, and manuscripts get tossed daily after being deemed not worthy of America's permanent collection.

Till next time,