🌸 Build-your-own pasta hits Foggy Bottom

Good morning, DC.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

Adams Morgan has seven residential developments in the pipeline, with more than half focused on affordable housing in a neighborhood better known for its nightlife than new construction. The projects range from Jubilee Housing's long-awaited 50-unit development at the contentious former SunTrust Plaza site to a 52-unit building at 2400 Ontario Road that will include a rooftop aquaponics farm meant to supply fresh produce to local restaurants while providing workforce training for residents. The SunTrust site alone took nine years to reach this point, starting with PN Hoffman's market-rate condo proposal in 2016 that faced years of community pushback before the bank ultimately donated the property to Jubilee in 2023. The shift toward affordable housing reflects both neighborhood advocacy and the city's ongoing struggle to balance development with accessibility, though construction timelines remain uncertain for most projects. Combined, these developments will add more than 250 units to a neighborhood that has resisted large-scale residential growth, with income restrictions ranging from 30% to 80% of median family income across the affordable projects.

A DC resident participating in the National Week Without Driving ran into a familiar wall: the Maryland Renaissance Faire, sitting just outside Annapolis with zero public transit access, forcing even the most committed car-free locals to beg for rides or miss out entirely. Ward 1 resident Bianca Palmisano documented the experience as part of Greater Greater Washington's Transit Diary series, tracking a week of navigating the city without driving and running headlong into the reality that house parties in the suburbs, camping trips, and late-night events after Metro shuts down all require either a car or someone willing to chauffeur you on their schedule. The diary captures what 40% of DC residents already know: living car-free works beautifully within the District's transit-rich neighborhoods, but the region's suburban destinations remain stubbornly out of reach, creating a two-tier system where urban residents are effectively locked out of events and experiences just beyond the Metro map. Palmisano noted the faire would be a prime opportunity for a shuttle service from DC or Baltimore, especially since many attendees drink and need safe transportation home. The National Week Without Driving campaign invited DC residents to document their experiences getting around without cars, highlighting both the city's transit strengths and the gaps that still leave too many destinations accessible only to those who can drive or afford rides.

Miss Pixie's Furnishings and Whatnot, the Adams Morgan secondhand furniture institution that outfitted generations of college students and diplomats alike, closes its doors Friday as owner Pixie Windsor retires to the Eastern Shore after nearly three decades in business. The shop became known for its eclectic mix of locally made art, diplomat estate sales, and the kind of random treasures that could only accumulate over 28 years of selling everything from Turkish rugs to vintage postcards. Windsor says most items are at least 20% off for the final sale, though she's eyeing a white circular sofa that showed up the week before closing—proving that even after 28 years of searching, good furniture timing remains elusive.

Gigi's Pasta opens Tuesday at Western Market with a build-your-own pasta bowl concept inspired by the husband-and-wife owners' trips to Italy, where customizable pasta spots have taken off in recent years. The restaurant serves fresh pasta prepared daily with house-made sauces in bowls starting at $12, keeping prices deliberately low during the government shutdown that's squeezed District wallets for nearly a month now. Owners Stephanos and Constandina Andreou decked out the space with Amalfi Coast colors and even imported the pasta machine's ceramic pedestal from Southern Italy, hoping to bring affordable Italian authenticity to a neighborhood that could use some budget-friendly comfort food.

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

Eastern Market | Hill-O-Ween | Family Halloween fest with pumpkin carving and DJ | 4:30 PM

Navy Yard | Nightmare in Navy Yard | Three dance floors, animatronics, open bar | 8 PM

Synetic Theater | Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus | Post-apocalyptic adaptation with pantomime performances | 7 PM

U Street Corridor | Hip-Hop Halloween Bar Crawl | Nine venues, costume contest, drink specials | 2 PM

Arena Stage | Damn Yankees | Baseball musical with Devil's deal, Broadway-bound | 7:30 PM

Warner Theatre | Sasha Colby: Stripped II | RuPaul's Drag Race winner's intimate solo tour | 8 PM

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Friday

59 🌡 46 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 14 mph

Saturday

62 🌡 45 | 🌧️ 10% | 💨 13 mph

Sunday

64 🌡 46 | 🌧️ 10% | 💨 5 mph

9:30 Club | White Ford Bronco | 6 PM

Union Stage | Carter Vail | 7 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Tom Paxton | 7:30 PM

The Atlantis | Sidewalks & Skeletons | 7:30 PM

Warner Theatre | Gov't Mule | 8 PM

The Anthem | Jon Batiste | 8 PM

Pearl Street Warehouse | Oddisee | 8 PM

9:30 Club | King Princess | 10 PM

Soundcheck | Nikita, The Wicked | 10 PM

Echostage | Chris Lake | 10 PM

9:30 Club | Balu Brigada | 6 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | John Violinist | 7:30 PM

Lisner Auditorium | Fareed Ayaz | 7:30 PM

The Atlantis | Stand Atlantic with Daisy Grenade | 7:30 PM

Warner Theatre | Jorma Kaukonen | 8 PM

The Anthem | Ty Myers | 8 PM

The Fillmore Silver Spring | Boris with Agriculture | 8 PM

Music Center at Strathmore | Herbie Hancock | 8 PM

DAR Constitution Hall | Behnam Bani | 8 PM

Soundcheck | Sigala | 10 PM

Echostage | James Hype | 10 PM

9:30 Club | Hippie Sabotage with Kembe X | 10 PM

9:30 Club | Hot Mulligan with Drug Church | 6 PM

The Atlantis | Madilyn Mei | 6:30 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Keiko Matsui | 7:30 PM

The Anthem | RIIZE | 7:30 PM

Union Stage | Jenevieve | 8 PM

The Hamilton Live | Grateful Shred | 8 PM

Maryland hosts No. 2 Indiana Saturday at 3:30 PM as a 21.5-point underdog, hoping to snap a three-game losing streak where each loss came by four points or fewer after starting the season 4-0. The Terps lead the nation in turnover margin and boast an impressive defense that's held opponents to just 17.3 points per game, but fourth-quarter collapses have become the story of their season, with opponents outscoring them 61-24 in final frames. Indiana just demolished UCLA 56-6 last week and remains undefeated at 8-0, while Maryland quarterback Malik Washington and coach Mike Locksley try to avoid falling to 1-4 in Big Ten play on homecoming weekend. The Terps need two more wins from their remaining schedule against Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan, and Michigan State to reach bowl eligibility, making Saturday's home game against a playoff-bound opponent a chance to play spoiler rather than save the season.

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Till next time,