🌸 Cherry Blossom Registration Opens Today at 10 AM

Good morning, DC. We're back after the holidays, and 2026 is already moving. Cherry Blossom race registration opens at 10 AM today, Mi Vida's 14th Street spot closed on New Year's Day, and Tuesday brings Three Kings Day celebrations across the city.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

The year ahead is packed. The National Geographic Museum of Exploration debuts downtown this summer, followed in July by a new underground museum beneath the Lincoln Memorial and the complete expansion of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. October brings the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden reopening after a $68 million renovation.

America's 250th birthday celebration runs all year. The National Museum of American History's "In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness" exhibition (March-September) spans three floors with 250 significant objects from the collection. The National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 20-April 12) plants 250 new trees at the Tidal Basin. The Smithsonian 250th Festival (June 18-July 12) transforms the National Mall with performances, exhibitions, and programming. July 4 features the National Park Service's traditional fireworks show and parade, scaled up for the anniversary.

Closer in: DMV Winter Restaurant Week runs January 19-25 with hundreds of restaurants offering fixed-price menus ($25-$65). And if you want to run DC's most iconic spring race, registration opens today.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile lottery opens at 10 AM today and closes January 19 at midnight. The race happens April 12—a week later than usual because Easter falls on the first Sunday in April. Entry fees are $64 for the 10 Mile, $47 for the 5K, $111 for the Double Blossom.

The 10 Mile uses a wave start with six waves of roughly 3,500 runners each, departing in 3-5 minute intervals from the Washington Monument Grounds. Runners get assigned to color-coded corrals based on previous race times. Lottery results arrive by January 22. The 5K opens January 26 on a first-come, first-served basis—no lottery required.

This is DC's most popular spring race, winding through iconic landmarks during peak cherry blossom bloom. You have 97 days to train, or more realistically, 97 days to keep saying you'll start training tomorrow.

Mi Vida's 14th Street location closed permanently on January 1, shuttering the pink-exterior Logan Circle restaurant that opened in 2022. A Mi Vida representative confirmed the closure but didn't provide specific reasons beyond "the restaurant closed its doors on Wednesday."

Chef Roberto Santibañez's remaining Mi Vida locations continue operating at The Wharf (the flagship), Penn Quarter, Virginia Beach, and Philadelphia. No word yet on what will occupy the former 14th Street space.

The closure continues DC's brutal 2025 restaurant trend. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington documented 92 closures through November, with mid-priced spots ($21-40 per person) accounting for two-thirds of them. Pressures include inflation, Initiative 82's tipped wage increases, immigration enforcement affecting labor availability, federal layoffs, and the record government shutdown. The middle is getting hollowed out—fine dining weathered the storm better, but neighborhood spots continue closing.

After a quarter-century of Tuesday closures, Taqueria Poblano opens Tuesday evenings starting January 9, from 5 PM to 9 PM. "Our customers have been asking us to open on Tuesdays for years and we decided it was the right time," the owner said.

The Del Ray fixture has operated at 2400B Mt Vernon Ave since 1999, building a loyal following for fish tacos and authentic Mexican cuisine. This isn't a new restaurant opening—it's a beloved neighborhood spot finally giving in to 25 years of customer requests. If you've been craving their tacos midweek, the wait is almost over.

Del Ray is Metro-accessible via the King Street station on the Blue and Yellow lines.

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

Cherry Blossom Race Registration | Lottery opens at 10 AM for the April 12 race | Closes January 19 at midnight | $64 (10 Mile), $47 (5K)

Capital One Arena | Capitals vs. Anaheim Ducks | Ovechkin continues his historic chase, first 10,000 fans get Alex Ovechkin floss holders | 7 PM

Sage Theatre | Drunk Romeo & Juliet | Shakespeare performed by actors drinking throughout the show | 7 PM

Red Bear Brewing, NoMa | District Trivia | Free weekly Monday event, grab a beer and test your random knowledge | 7 PM

Tuesday is Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes Magos). Here's how DC celebrates:

GALA Hispanic Theatre, Columbia Heights | Three Kings Day Celebration | Performance celebrating Día de los Reyes Magos | 1:30 PM

Rita Bright Community Center, Columbia Heights | Teatro de la Luna: Three Kings Day Festival | FREE community celebration with music, dance, and arts & crafts for kids | 4-7 PM | Family-friendly

Red Bear Brewing, NoMa | Drag Bingo with ASL Interpretation | Tiffany D Carter and guest host Frieda Poussay, first Tuesday of the month with ASL interpretation

City-State Brewing, H Street NE | Old Time Jam Session | Open jam for Appalachian string band music, bring your instrument or just listen | First and third Tuesdays

Sage Theatre | Drunk Romeo & Juliet | Shakespeare with alcohol continues | 7 PM

Capital One Arena | Wizards vs. Orlando Magic | Wizards (6-25) continue the rebuild, young core getting development time | 7 PM

Get your name in front of thousands of DMV area locals 3x/week.

Monday

44 🌡 27 | 🌧️ 10% | 💨 10 mph

Tuesday

52 🌡 34 | 🌧️ 10% | 💨 7 mph

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9:30 Club | Snow Strippers | 7 PM

Soundcheck | Krewella | 10 PM

Birchmere Music Hall, Alexandria | Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder | 7:30 PM

Echostage | Nora En Pure | 10 PM

Soundcheck | GHENGAR with Ghastly | 10 PM

The Caps (21-15-6) turned their December around and are playoff contenders heading into the new year. Ovechkin scored his NHL-record 912th career goal on December 27 and now has 15 goals on the season after a slow start. The Metro Division is tight—only seven points separate first from last—but the rising stars are stepping up while Ovechkin continues his historic chase. Monday: vs. Anaheim Ducks, 7 PM at Capital One Arena.

The Wizards (6-25) are deep in the tank, averaging 114 points per game but giving up 121 to opponents. Late December brought a rare two-game winning streak—beating the Raptors 138-117 and Memphis 116-112—but this isn't about wins. It's about draft positioning and seeing which young players (Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington) can be part of the future. Tuesday: vs. Orlando Magic, 7 PM at Capital One Arena.

Till next time,