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A DDOT robot is cruising the sidewalks of DC. Here's what it's up to

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A DDOT robot is cruising the sidewalks of DC. Here's what it's up to


A transportation department robot spotted on the sidewalks of Washington, D.C., is sparking curiosity and concerns from drivers about whether the robot is issuing tickets.

Videos of a little red and black robot rolling down a sidewalk on four wheels have circulated on social media recently, and many wondered if the robot is another way for D.C. to give drivers speeding or parking tickets.

The D.C. Department of Transportation told News4 Wednesday the robot is not for issuing tickets.

“Right now, it is helping us to update and maintain our sign inventory,” DDOT Innovation Branch Manager Stephanie Dock said.

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There are more than 200,000 traffic signs across the city, Dock said, which requires a lot of maintenance.

“Stuff is constantly changing on our streets. And we need a way to keep that information updated and current,” she said.

Dock said having human beings take inventory of the traffic signs proved to be difficult in the past, “And so we’re exploring how much automation and robotics can help us in that problem.”

DDOT currently has one robot, called a Kiwibot, as part of a pilot program.

When the agency sends it out, a DDOT employee can watch the video the robot captures and decide whether or not to send a crew to the area to make any sign repairs.

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Dock said if something goes wrong with the robot, there’s always DDOT employees close enough that can “come and help it.”



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Washington, D.C

DC stadium proposal raises questions about getting the game

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DC stadium proposal raises questions about getting the game


A common complaint about going to games and concerts at Northwest Stadium in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is getting there.

Having a new stadium with a better transportation situation than Northwest is a low bar to clear, a transportation official told News4.

The most obvious question about getting to a new stadium is, can Metro handle it? Metro General Manager Randy Clarke is optimistic about the Stadium-Armory station, which serviced the old RFK Stadium.

“Now we have three lines going through there – it used to only be two – and we can run up to eight-car train sets, which we never had the ability to do before,” he said.

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The Blue, Silver and Orange lines now travel through Stadium-Armory.

Part of the plan for a new stadium will analyze what, if any, transit improvements will be needed. Clarke said there is an older study that looked at a potential new station at nearby Oklahoma Avenue on the northern side of the stadium site. But he stressed it is very early to be talking about that.

“That could be part of the analysis as well,” he said. “We don’t know if a station is fully needed there or not. If it is, how much it would cost? How long it would take to build?”

Another potential transportation winner is D.C.’s streetcar system, which does stop at Oklahoma Avenue near the stadium and connects to Union Station. The streetcar is currently free to ride.

Mayor Muriel Bowser touted the transportation options already in place.

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“It is served by Metro. It’s served by the highway. It’s served by an expansive bus system,” she said.

Bowser stressed new parking will be built, but it won’t be a sea of parking like what exists at RFK now. In total, 8,000 parking spaces are expected to be available.

Team owner Josh Harris noted trail connections along the Anacostia River.

“You can actually ride your bike from Nationals Park,” he said. “It’s a 15-minute bike ride.”

An important thing to point out is serious parking restrictions in the neighborhoods around this stadium likely would be put in place on game and event days, much like what happens around Nats Park on gamedays.

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Washington, D.C

Ghanaian cuisine has a story to tell at Washington, DC restaurant Elmina

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Ghanaian cuisine has a story to tell at Washington, DC restaurant Elmina


Elmina, recently launched in Washington DC, and the debut bricks-and-mortar venture of Ghanaian-American chef Eric Adjepong, is a restaurant that celebrates modern Africa while acknowledging the complexities of its past. Its name carries weight, referencing the port that became the site of sub-Saharan Africa’s first European slave-trading post. ‘This restaurant has been a dream of mine since I was a child,’ says Adjepong, who made his name on Food Network TV series Top Chef.

Trade route: Elmina, Washington DC

(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)

Designed by local studio Drummond Projects, the 3,720 sq ft, three-storey space intricately weaves historical West African references into its aesthetic, with the restaurant’s six main areas subtly nodding to the prized commodities of transatlantic colonial trade. ‘We wanted to respond to Eric’s vision with a design proposal that would tell the story of migration, resilience and transformation,’ says studio founder and principal Jimmie Drummond.

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The journey begins in the cocktail lounge, where a warm interior palette, set against rich leather finishes, Venetian plaster and marble counters, evokes the appearance of tobacco, while the main dining room is wrapped in curved partitions, with textured white wallpaper symbolising cotton. Upstairs, a second dining room, featuring deep indigo tones, plush seating and gold accents, leads out onto an enclosed terrace, its lush green hues and natural elements referencing sugarcane. The lower level’s wood-themed washrooms and staff areas, meanwhile, allude to the timber used to build the transatlantic trade ships.

elmina washington dc review

(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)

elmina washington dc review

(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)

At the heart of the restaurant, a dramatic curvilinear stairwell, finished in a plaster-like texture, connects the various sections, its sculptural elegance enhanced by a series of striking pendants. Furnishings and accessories come from Crate & Barrel, CB2 and West Elm, while lighting has been sourced from Scout & Nimble, Lightology, Diode LED and Ferguson. Personal touches, such as the handwoven Kente cloth from Ghana gifted by Adjepong’s mother, add charm, as do the custom-made decking, bespoke artwork by Charles Jean-Pierre, wallcoverings by Belarte Studio and artisan-crafted Sailrite fabrics.

The food itself is deeply rooted in tradition. ‘The menu is a love letter to the ancestors and recipes I grew up with,’ says Adjepong. ‘Although the focus is on Ghana, we recognise the entire African continent and the diaspora at large.’ Experiences on offer span a five-course tasting menu, a chop bar selection and a hearty brunch, with standout dishes including the comfortingly smoky jollof duck pot.

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elmina washington dc review

(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)

elmina washington dc review

(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)

elmina washington dc review

(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)

‘Jollof is one of the most popular dishes in West and Central Africa. We’re cooking the duck’s leg, breast and eggs in a way I haven’t seen in this country.’

Elmina is located at 2208 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, United States; elminarestaurant.com

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A version of this article appears in the May 2025 Design Issue of Wallpaper*, available in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today.



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Illegal immigrant arrested in DC robbery of Kristi Noem – Washington Examiner

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Illegal immigrant arrested in DC robbery of Kristi Noem – Washington Examiner


The man suspected to have stolen Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s high-value Gucci bag from a restaurant in Washington, D.C., has been arrested. 

The suspect is believed to be in the country illegally, Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said in an interview with NBC News.

It is not believed that the suspect targeted Noem because of her role in the federal government. The theft is part of multiple purse robberies believed to be a theft ring recently targeting Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter.

“This was not an amateur. This was a person, a thief, that knew how to do this. You could see how he scouted the room out,” Martin told the outlet. Authorities are looking for a second suspect who is also believed to be in the country illegally.

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The investigation is being handled by the Metropolitan Police and the U.S. Secret Service. Martin said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now involved due to the man’s believed illegal status.

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Noem was dining at the chain restaurant The Capital Burger last week when her purse containing $3,000 in cash, her passport, DHS access badge, Louis Vuitton wallet, apartment keys, and checkbook, was stolen. 

According to CNN, security footage of the theft showed the suspect moving close to Noem as he locked in on her Gucci bag near her feet. The man was dressed in dark clothing and sat down at an empty table next to Noem with his back facing her after surveying the restaurant. He then used his foot to slide the bag away.



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