Washington, DC, will not simply celebrate Independence Day. It will become the symbolic stage for one of the most significant milestones in modern American history: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Washington, D.C
Cherry blossom-themed high tea, cocktails and other treats in the DC area – WTOP News
Here are some of the delightful and crave-worthy cherry blossom foods you can find in restaurants in the D.C. area.
Cherry blossoms are a big deal in the D.C. area. Every year, there is a flurry of excitement over when to expect peak bloom and what to expect during this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Some notable past stories from WTOP include exploring the little-known history behind D.C.’s oldest, original cherry blossoms, diving into the citywide tradition of decorating front porches with cherry blossom decorations and featuring the lasting legacy of one of the Tidal Basin’s most beloved trees.
WTOP staff have even taste-tested local, cherry blossom-inspired treats and found out how you can tell the difference between various types of cherry blossom trees.
For those who are in need of delicious treats to celebrate the season, WTOP has you covered once again. From high tea to desserts and beyond, here are some of the delightful and crave-worthy cherry blossom foods you can find in the D.C. area.
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Where to find boozy cherry blossom-themed high tea in DC
Cherry blossom-themed high tea
If you like to live the high life with high tea, here are a few hotels and other businesses offering themed options during the cherry blossom season.
- Moonraker at Pendry Hotel (D.C.): High tea with a cherry blossom-inspired twist and “Sakura specials” on the menu, priced at $80 per person. Also available is an interactive “Cherry Blossom Paint & Sip Experience,” priced at $75 per person.
- Park Hyatt (D.C.): Tableside tea service offered in the Tea Cellar on Saturdays and Sundays, priced at $110 per person.
- Willard InterContinental (D.C.): Afternoon tea is available in the “Peacock Alley” space on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, priced at $90 per adult or $105 with a glass of Champagne and $65 per child.
- Quadrant Bar & Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton (D.C.): “Cherry Blossom Tea Time” is available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, priced at $88 per person.
- CUT at Rosewood Hotel (D.C.): Starting March 15, Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant is debuting the “Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea” menu, offered on Saturdays and Sundays. The experience is priced at $85 per person or $105 per person with a glass of Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne, French 75 or Hugo Spritz.
Cherry blossom-themed cocktails and mocktails
For a list of both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages to consider in the D.C. area, hit up the following D.C.-area restaurants and bars. Please note that these offerings are temporary, may vary and may not be the only cherry blossom specials available at these locations.
- Ciel Social Club at AC Hotel (D.C.): This rooftop bar is decked out from head to toe in cherry blossom decor and is serving a wide selection of seasonal cocktails and food specials. Some worth looking forward to include the “Lychee Martini” with Skyy Vodka, sake, lychee juice, yuzu and orgeat, the “Yuzu Aperol Spritz” with Aperol, cava and yuzu, and the “Japanese Black Manhattan” with High West Bourbon, Averna Amaro, Japanese sweet vermouth and umami and angostura bitters.
- ilili (D.C.): For those craving a nonalcoholic option, ilili has a zero-proof mocktail, bottled in-house and made with a hibiscus and rosehips cordial, rose water and lime juice.
- SABABA (D.C.): “Tokyo Red” with Suntory whiskey, Luxardo, cherry hibiscus syrup and yuzu juice, and the “Melon Spring Elixir” with Barr Hill gin, Midori, lemon juice and mint syrup.
- China Chilcano (D.C.): “Hanami Ember” with Suntori Toki Whiskey, Mancino Sakura Vermouth and Aperol, “Kyoto Bloom” with Roku Gin, Mancino Sakura Vermouth, Green Chartreuse and a Campari wash of the glass and “Sakura Drift” with Kiyomi Rum, raspberry and lime.
- Chang Chang (D.C.) and NiHao (Arlington, Virginia.): Both restaurants will serve a sakura blossom sochu-based cocktail with Sloe Gin, Tutti Frutti, plum cordial, Peychaud’s and lemon.
- Bresca (D.C.): “Just a Whisper” with sakura syrup, yellow chartreuse, Roku Gin, dragon god, soda and a strawberry Calpico foam.
- Ambar (various locations): “Cherried & Spiced” with gin, pear rakia, cherry-cardamom syrup and lime juice.
- Royal Restaurant (Alexandria, Va.): “Cherry Blossom Sangria” with brut rosé, Lustau blanc vermouth, cherry juice and orange flower water.
- The Majestic (Alexandria, Va.): “Cherry Blossom Sangria” with sweet vermouth, tart cherry juice, sparkling wine and simple syrup, topped with a twist of orange peel.
Cherry blossom-inspired mains, desserts and other sweet and savory treats
For those with a seasonal sweet tooth, check out the following restaurants and shops for their treats. Please note that these offerings are temporary, may vary and may not be the only cherry blossom specials available at these locations.
- SABABA (D.C.): “Cherry Blossom Sundae” with cherry blossom ice cream topped with candied almond and white sesame.
- a.kitchen+bar (D.C.): The various specials include a raw scallop dish with rhubarb, tarragon and sakura shuyo, with mains such as a lamb shoulder with fregola sardo, hakerie turnips and watercress. Two desserts to expect include a hibiscus panna cotta and a chocolate tahini sorbet.
- Bar Japonais (D.C.): Masaaki “Uchi” Uchino, the executive chef and Sushi Nakazawa alum, launched his inaugural omakase menu. Expect 15 courses of specials, which include a cherry blossom-steamed sushi, firefly squid and cherry salmon. These specials are also be available à la carte.
- Zaytinya (D.C.): “Manour Cream with Cherries” with sweetened tart cherries, Greek balsamic pickled dry cherries, candied almonds and tarragon, and “Ekmek Kadayif” with kataifi, chocolate mousse, cherry compote, toasted pistachio, chocolate crumble and milk sorbet.
- Jaleo (D.C.): “Gazpacho de cerezas con queso de cabra,” which is a chilled Spanish soup with cherries and goat cheese, “Panceta con cerezas y pure de patata,” which is a confit pork belly with cherries, a cherry demi-glace and potato puree, and “Sherry Blossom Parfait” with cherry marmalade, vanilla yogurt mouse, cherry granita, olive oil, pistachios and cherries.
- China Chilcano (D.C.): “Cherry Blossom Panna Cotta” with Sichuan cherry compote, yuzu and almonds. Other seasonal treats include a crab rangoon and a “Sakura Crystal Dumpling.”
- CUT at Rosewood Hotel (D.C.): The “Cherry Blossom Tasting Menu” encompasses three cherry blossom-inspired courses with dishes that include skull island prawn with sunflower seed and a cherry gremolata as an appetizer, a cherry wood-smoked short rib as a main and, for dessert, a strawberry and cherry blossom caramelized shortcake with basil stracciatella gelato. The experience is priced at $85 per person with wine pairings available for an additional fee.
- Ambar (various locations): “Hot Chocolate Brownie” with red tart cherry compote, vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and hazelnuts.
- Immigrant Food (various locations): “Cherry Blossom Tres Leches” with freeze-dried strawberries and three types of milk.
- NiHao (Arlington, Va.): “Sakura Cherry Swiss Roll” with a traditional Swiss roll with cherry jam and sakura powder.
Other cherry blossom offerings worth exploring
Once again, the immersive digital art gallery, known as ARTECHOUSE, has brought back a cherry blossom-inspired exhibition. This year, the exhibition, called “Blooming Wonders: A Best-of-Spring Exhibition,” combines larger-than-life floral landscapes with interactive, themed installations. The exhibition runs through the end of April.
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Washington, D.C
Jeanine Pirro vows DC Reflecting Pool vandals will be ‘prosecuted to the fullest extent’ | Fox News Video
U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro joins ‘The Sunday Briefing’ to discuss vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the broader issue of crime in the nation’s capital.
: U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro joins Peter Doocy to discuss the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism after a $14 million renovation. Pirro addresses President Trump’s accusations against ABC reporter Jonathan Karl for tampering with the pool. She emphasizes Trump’s commitment to making D.C. safe and beautiful by prosecuting all violations of law, including minor crimes, to foster respect.
WASHINGTON (7News) — Two men were injured in a shooting Saturday night in Northwest Washington, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Third District officers responded around 10:08 p.m. to the 900 block of Florida Avenue NW after receiving reports of a shooting.
ALSO SEE | Man dies after early-morning shooting in DC’s Shaw neighborhood
When officers arrived, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
D.C. Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and took both victims to hospitals for treatment. Authorities said the injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
Investigators have not released a description of any suspects, and no arrests have been announced as of Sunday.
READ ALSO | Suspect in Shaw Metro fatal shooting of AU grad appears in D.C. Superior Court
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 202-727-9099 or submit anonymous tips by texting 50411.
Washington, D.C
Fourth of July 2026: Washington DC prepares for historic America250 milestone | The Jerusalem Post
As the Fourth of July approaches, one of America’s biggest celebrations ever is about to commence.
Across the capital, the familiar rhythm of the Fourth will transform into a citywide spectacle of history, patriotism, and celebration, reflecting the spirit of the official America250 theme: Celebrating a quarter of a millennium of the American spirit.
The heart of the festivities will unfold along the National Mall, where hundreds of thousands, and possibly more than a million visitors, are expected to gather for a full day of events under the banner of “Salute to America 250.”
Among the highlights will be the Great American State Fair, bringing together representations from across the country in a celebration of America’s diversity and identity, alongside an expanded National Independence Day Parade along Constitution Avenue. Military bands, ceremonial units, cultural delegations, and representatives connected to all 50 states are expected to transform downtown Washington into a moving portrait of America itself.
My visit to the capital, a few weeks ahead of the celebrations, was already emotional.
Mt. Vernon, the home and final resting place of America’s first president
At Mount Vernon, the home and final resting place of George Washington, America’s first president and founding hero, after whom the nearby capital was named, the approaching anniversary feels especially meaningful.
Each spring, the estate hosts its Revolutionary War Weekend, transforming the grounds into a living scene from the 1770s.
As I walk through the estate, hundreds of history enthusiasts from across the United States, most of them unpaid volunteers driven by a deep passion for preserving America’s story, march in period military uniforms while cannons thunder. A unique and original time-travel to America’s history.
Throughout Washington, banners and commemorative displays carrying the America250 branding already signal the approaching celebration. Washington reveals itself as a city of endless layers, where every corner seems to tell a different American story.
Georgetown blends old-world charm, university spirit, and timeless Washington character into one of the capital’s most picturesque neighborhoods. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum celebrates aviation pioneers, moon landings, spacecraft, and innovation.
A visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is equally essential, preserving memory and confronting humanity’s darkest chapter through powerful personal testimonies.
As night begins to fall, I join an intimate, organized mini-bus tour with a knowledgeable yet loquacious guide to discover Washington from a different perspective. One by one, the capital’s iconic memorials emerge from the darkness and become even more powerful after sunset, illuminated symbols of freedom, leadership, sacrifice, democracy, and the defining moments that shaped the American story.
The towering memorials to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr. stand alongside places of remembrance, including the Marine Corps War Memorial (better known as Iwo Jima), the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Together, they tell the story of a superpower that not only celebrates victory but remembers the cost behind it. At night, Washington feels less like a political capital and more like a vast open-air tribute to the ideals, struggles, and people that built the United States, grand, historic, and deeply symbolic.
One of America’s most fascinating hospitality landmarks, The Watergate Hotel
But my visit was also driven by another reason: the desire to explore one of America’s most fascinating hospitality landmarks, The Watergate Hotel. A place where political history, luxury hospitality, river views, and timeless Washington intrigue come together.
As a teenager, I admired President Richard Nixon for his support of Israel. Spending three nights at a hotel forever associated with the political drama that ended his presidency felt unexpectedly emotional.
The Watergate name became permanently etched into history after the Watergate scandal, the political break-in and cover-up that ultimately led to Nixon’s resignation in 1974.
The story later reached audiences worldwide through the acclaimed film All the President’s Men, which won four Academy Awards and starred Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman. A landmark motion picture that captured both the inquiry and the enduring power of investigative journalism.
One of the hotel’s most fascinating experiences is the so-called “Scandal Room.” Concierge Mesfin Asfaha takes me through a captivating presentation explaining how operatives tied to Nixon’s reelection campaign broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the neighboring office complex. While the break-in itself did not take place inside the hotel, the Watergate became forever linked to one of America’s defining political dramas.
Today, the room serves almost as a living museum, displaying posters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and memorabilia from that turbulent period. Apparently, the demand to stay overnight in the room is surprisingly high. Guests willingly sleep beside history.
The Watergate remains today one of Washington’s most elegant and sought-after luxury hotels. Our room was spacious and refined, with an open balcony overlooking the mighty Potomac River, arguably one of the finest hotel views in the American capital.
The hotel comes under new ownership
Yet the hotel’s own story after 1972 was far from simple. Following decades of changing fortunes and growing competition from newer luxury hotels, the property closed in 2007.
Its revival came when developer Euro Capital Properties, led by the Cohen family, acquired and reimagined the property. Reopened in 2016 after an extensive redesign, the vision was not to recreate the past but to restore the hotel’s status as one of Washington’s unique addresses, blending mid-century glamour with contemporary sophistication across 336 rooms, including 35 suites over 12 floors.
“Among our signature venues is our acclaimed rooftop, frequently ranked among the most impressive in the United States,” says managing director Dan Pimentel. The venue, Top of the Gate, feels like a stage suspended above the city. Panoramic views stretch across the Washington Monument, the Kennedy Center, the Potomac River, and the bridges leading into Virginia. Trust me, the view is magnificent.
“Looking ahead to the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations, Pimentel reveals that the hotel is preparing an exclusive rooftop event for approximately 400 guests, with prices beginning at $1,750 per person, including front-row views of the fireworks, accompanied by Dom Pérignon and caviar, all in a deliberately relaxed atmosphere without a formal dress code.
I was fortunate to experience the hotel during a quieter period. “During weekends,” explains Pimentel, “the atmosphere shifts noticeably as government offices slow down and diplomats, officials, and international visitors increasingly treat the hotel as a leisure destination rather than simply a business address.
“A phased renovation program is also underway, with completion expected by the end of the year. Yet even before the upgrades, America250 is already driving demand. During the celebration period, minimum stays are expected to reach three nights, with rates beginning around $1,000 per night,” he reveals.
An Israeli twist to this dramatic story
An Israeli twist adds to the story. While the iconic curved exterior remains faithful to the original 1960s architectural vision, the hotel’s contemporary revival introduced selected interior touches by Israeli designer Ron Arad, creating a dialogue between retro elegance and modern luxury.
That design language extends into Kingbird, the hotel’s signature restaurant. Breakfast here moves away from the familiar buffet format. Guests select each dish individually from a refined menu. Dinner, orchestrated by the talented chef Brad Deboy, becomes an exercise in understated fine dining.
At Kingbird, the Watergate feels less like a political landmark and more like a contemporary Washington salon, where diplomats, theatergoers, and travelers gather over handmade pasta, premium steaks, and long conversations while the Potomac glimmers quietly beyond the glass.
And as fireworks are about to explode above Washington and America marks 250 years of independence, the Watergate feels like more than a place to stay.
Once linked forever to one of America’s defining political chapters and now reborn as an iconic luxury address, it reminds visitors that even at such a festive anniversary, America’s story is never static.
On this extraordinary Fourth of July, the Watergate stands exactly where history and hospitality meet.
The writer is the Travel Flash Tips publisher.
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