Washington, D.C
Inside Celebrity Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s Long-Awaited Return to D.C.
Most chefs prefer to sit down to discuss their upcoming restaurant in the space itself. But Kwame Onwuachi isn’t most chefs. Instead, the national culinary icon insisted on talking while walking as he played a few rounds on D.C.’s East Potomac public golf course last week. Over the duration of his 5 p.m. tee time, the Top Chef star told Eater all about his anticipated return to D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront dining scene in September.
At his new Afro-Caribbean restaurant Dōgon (pronounced “Doh-gon”), opening at the foot of the 373-room Salamander Washington DC on Monday, September 9, Onwuachi pays homage to D.C.’s legendary land surveyor Benjamin Banneker and his ancestral ties to the Dōgon tribe. Onwuachi’s menu explores both his own Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Creole heritage and D.C.’s melting pot of cultures through a “West African lens.”
“Everything is meant to be shared,” says Onwuachi. “I’m taking inspiration from everything from Korean to Ethiopian [cuisines].”
While Dōgon won’t usually be open on Mondays, September 9 signifies the date when D.C. was formally named in 1791. Gold chain curtains surrounding the stunning, 200-seat dining room reference the mathematical device Banneker used to map out city lines (1330 Maryland Avenue SW).
Onwuachi is best known locally for his time at the Wharf InterContinental’s long-closed Kith/Kin, and Dōgon marks the celebrity chef and author’s second act inside a posh hotel along the scenic Potomac River.
“It’s so emotional to be back,” he admits, while sporting Dōgon’s new black-and-gold cap on the course. “There’s lots of memories here, good and bad — but there’s a homecoming feel at the same time, similar to when I went back to New York.”
He returned to his NY roots in 2022 with the blockbuster opening of Tatiana, a high-end ode to the Bronx carryouts of his youth. Long wait lists and accolades quickly ensued, with New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells giving the wildly successful Lincoln Center attraction a three-star review — and No. 1 title of the best restaurant in New York.
It was during his D.C. hiatus when he also fell in love with the game of golf; ever since his actor friend Adrian Homles — who plays Uncle Phil on Peacock’s modern-day TV series Bel-Air — took him to his first driving range, he was hooked. “It’s so serene — you’re in nature and can’t be on your phone,” he says. In between taking swings and bites of his “fucking good” $5 half-smoke from the course’s on-site cafe Potomac Grille, he adds: “This is the first time I’ve had work-life balance.”
The night before, he previewed Dōgon’s full menu for the first time during a private tasting with Salamander CEO Sheila Johnson. The duo’s fourth annual Family Reunion is this weekend at Salamander Middleburg, where 40 of his chef friends (plus surprise musicians) gather to celebrate diversity in the hospitality industry. He reveals he first met the billionaire businesswoman six years ago “very randomly,” after delivering a speech at a Bahamas wedding convention. “I was very candidly myself and cursing,” he recalls. “She was the only person who got up at the end, saying ‘You’re real. I like you.’”
Maybe it’s his newest outdoor hobby, or simply the culinary confidence that comes with more years in the kitchen, but the 34-year-old chef appears to be fully at ease and in control as he undertakes his next big project. After his first D.C. restaurant Shaw Bijou famously fizzled fast in 2016, the pressure was on to make Kith/Kin deliver at the Wharf (it did, of course, earning him the 2019 James Beard Award for Rising Chef and critical acclaim for his refined approach to jollof rice, oxtails, and curried goat).
“I just feel more mature and not so obsessive over it, unlike the last time when I was in the public eye. I was still a kid growing up,” he says, of opening his first restaurant at age 26. “This one is super special to me.”
He’s amassed a dream team of talent to debut Dōgon, which includes his former Kith/Kin chef Martel Stone and beverage director Derek Brown, the pioneering D.C. mixologist who founded Columbia Room.
The vision for Dōgon predates Tatiana, going back four years ago when he was researching how big of an impact Banneker made on the nation’s capital. “I was like, ‘this is incredible.’ This Black man was hired by George-fucking-Washington — how good did he have to be at his job to be hired back then at the beginning of time?”
Banneker, a largely self-educated mathematician, astronomer, and urban planner, turned to the starry night sky as a geographical guide.
“D.C. wouldn’t even have a capital without West African science as we know it today. So why not tell the story? All the dishes are inspired by that,” he says.
As far as what Dōgon’s destination one will be, he always leaves that up to the guests; he didn’t anticipate Tatiana’s greatest hits to be its tender short rib pastrami suya or “bodega special” featuring a Cosmic Brownie. (Turns out, no one ended up ordering his hopeful signature: a hot pocket.)
“Honestly, I’m just trying to cook some good food — that’s always my goal,” he says.
Surrounded by swaying willows, views of DCA planes flying in, and sounds of squawking geese on the 18th hole, his randomly-matched golf partner of the day finally realized he was playing with a famous chef the entire time. “Holy shit, I just Googled you,” he says. “You’re the answer on today’s Washingtonian crossword puzzle.”
To which, Onwuachi quipped back: “I’m just an amateur golfer, man.”
Washington, D.C
Delaware victims lost in Washington D.C. crash remembered at memorial service
Vitali Kay speaks from Gold Ice Arena after wife, son killed in crash
Vitali Kay visits the University of Delaware’s Gold Ice Arena with his three children as a way to honor their mother and brother on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. His wife, Julia, and their 11-year-old son, Sean, were among those killed on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in a plane crash near Washington, D.C.
A solemn memorial service was held on Sunday at the Fred Rust Ice Arena to honor five members of Delaware’s ice skating community who died in a collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter last Wednesday near Washington, D.C.
The victims — coach Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, his students Angela Yang and Sean Kay, along with Angela’s mother, Zheheng “Lily” Li, and Sean’s mother, Yulia Kay — were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, according to family and friends.
Organized by High Performance Skating Center coaches Michelle Dumler-McKeever and Joel McKeever, the service drew a quiet, respectful crowd that filled one side of the 2,500-seat arena. Mourners from the Delaware skating community gathered to share memories, honor the lives lost and support one another in the face of this tragedy.
Reflections and remembrances
For over an hour, members of Delaware’s skating community walked the long black carpet to the center of the ice to deliver heartfelt tributes to their lost friends and colleagues.
“I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around the fact that I’ll no longer share the ice with him,” said Dumler-McKeever, her voice heavy with grief as she stood surrounded by others who knew and loved Kirsanov.
Sara Papillo, 24, who had trained under Kirsanov since age nine, shared touching memories of her mentor.
“Never in a million years could I or any of us have imagined an accident like this. One that claimed the lives of our loved ones and left our small, close skate community in pieces,” Papillo said with her voice trembling with emotion.
Papillo also reflected on the budding talents of Sean and Angela, describing them as polite, respectful, and full of potential. “Sasha was so proud of them,” she added, recalling how he often spoke of their progress with pride during her training sessions.
Joel McKeever, Kirsanov’s close friend, colleague, and frequent travel companion, spoke fondly of their bond. He recounted Sasha’s sharp sense of humor and their daily interactions both on and off the ice, affectionately referring to him as his “work wife,” a testament to the deep friendship they shared.
The lives behind the loss
Kirsanov, 46, was a high-performance coach at the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and a coach for the University of Delaware Collegiate Figure Skating Team. A professional ice dancer, he competed for the United States, Azerbaijan, and Russia, earning numerous accolades, including a bronze medal at the 2003 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany.
Angela Yang, 12, discovered her passion for ice dance after watching her siblings play ice hockey. Known for her dedication and talent, she quickly became a standout in the sport.
Sean Kay, 11, was remembered for his love of Metallica and his playful sense of humor, which he shared with his siblings, who are also figure skaters. His mother, Yulia Kay, worked nights as a nurse to support her children’s skating dreams, often sacrificing sleep to drive them to early morning practices.
According to a GoFundMe campaign organized for Angela’s family, Li was a devoted mother who dedicated her life to raising her three children while managing her own business. She raised them largely on her own in the U.S. while her husband worked overseas, supporting her children’s academic and athletic pursuits with unwavering commitment.
Mourners praised Kay and Yang for their exceptional talent and advanced skating skills for their age.
“I have no doubt they would have achieved many of their dreams,” McKeever said.
Community support and GoFundMe campaigns
In the wake of this tragedy, members of Delaware’s skating community have rallied to offer comfort and support to the victims’ families and each other.
A GoFundMe campaign, organized by family friends, is raising money to support the surviving Kay children in continuing their skating journey in tribute to their mother’s steadfast dedication.
A GoFundMe campaign has also been set up to support survivors in Yang’s family. Proceeds will benefit Yang’s siblings Tiki and Miller Wu and her father, Jianjun “Jacob” Wu who lives overseas.
Dumler-McKeever also organized a GoFundMe campaign in the memory of Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov for his wife and daughter’s expenses.
Other members of the skating club flew to the camp but booked flights arriving in Baltimore rather than Washington, D.C. As the Delaware skating community grapples with the profound loss, the memories shared and the support extended at the memorial service reflect the deep bonds forged on and off the ice.
The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club is offering counseling services to support those affected.
You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.
Washington, D.C
Washington DC crash: Data from plane’s black boxes gives conflicting information on altitudes – as pictures of third soldier with Joe Biden and Ralph Lauren emerge
Preliminary data from the Washington DC air collision that killed 67 people gives conflicting information about the altitudes of the plane and military helicopter at the time of the crash.
In a news conference, officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that data from the jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325ft, plus or minus 25ft, when the crash happened on Wednesday night.
But preliminary data in the air traffic control tower showed the Black Hawk helicopter at 200ft at the time. The discrepancy has yet to be explained.
NTSB member Todd Inman also revealed that the jet’s flight recorder showed a change in its pitch but did not say whether this meant the pilots were trying to avoid the crash.
It comes as the third soldier who died onboard the Black Hawk has been named as Captain Rebecca M Lobach.
Final moments before the crash
Information from the jet’s black boxes has been recovered but the helicopter’s is taking more time to retrieve because it became waterlogged after the aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.
Brice Banning, the investigator in charge of the case, said the plane’s crew “had a verbal reaction” in the last moments before the crash.
He said the data recorder showed “the airplane beginning to increase its pitch… sounds of impact were audible about one second later, followed by the end of the recording”.
The NTSB also said five people were working in the air traffic control tower at the time of the crash, after reports that staffing levels were “not normal”. The NTSB did not comment on whether there was an appropriate number of staff on duty.
The collision near Reagan National Airport in Washington was the deadliest US aviation incident in almost 25 years.
The 60 passengers and four crew on the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, as well as the three soldiers on the army helicopter were killed.
Last soldier named
Some 38 of the bodies have been identified, with authorities saying they expect to recover all the victims – but the plane’s fuselage will probably have to be pulled from the water to retrieve the rest.
More information about those who died has also emerged. The US Army identified Captain Rebecca M Lobach, from Durham, North Carolina, as the third soldier who died in the crash.
The names of the other two soldiers were released on Friday, but Ms Lobach’s name was withheld at the request of her family.
They said she was “a bright star in all our lives”. Ms Lobach served as a White House military social aide and was pictured alongside President Joe Biden and Ralph Lauren during the awarding of the fashion designer’s Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier this year.
Army officials have said the helicopter crew was highly experienced and familiar with the congested skies around Washington DC.
‘They still want answers’
In an emotional news conference, Mr Inman said he has spent hours with the victims’ families since the crash.
“I don’t want to have to meet with those parents like that again.”
The families, he said, are struggling. “Some wanted to give us hugs. Some are just mad and angry,” Mr Inman said.
“They are just all hurt. And they still want answers, and we want to give them answers.”
Read more: What do we know about the victims of the Washington air crash?
Mr Inman became frustrated at points during the news conference, noting that the NTSB has made “several hundred” recommendations to improve aviation that have not been acted upon.
“From tragedy, we draw knowledge to improve the safety for us all. That’s what we’re doing right now, we’re dealing with tragedy, but we need to improve safety,” he said.
“You want to do something about it? Adopt the recommendations of the NTSB. You’ll save lives.”
The recovery operation is continuing in Washington DC, with the remains of 42 people retrieved from the river so far.
As many Americans remained shocked by the deadly crash, a second aviation accident took place on Friday night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
An air ambulance slammed into a busy junction, killing all six people on board, including a child who had just undergone treatment at a hospital, and at least one person on the ground.
Washington, D.C
Army helicopter involved in DC plane crash was on a ‘continuity of government’ drill
Top US officials have said the military helicopter that collided with a passenger jet over the Potomac River on Wednesday was on a training mission for evacuating members of government in the event of a catastrophe or attack.
The US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, told Fox News that the helicopter was performing a “continuity of government” drill designed to help pilots “rehearse in ways that would reflect a real world scenario”. Hegseth declined to go further, saying he didn’t want to get “into anything that’s classified”.
The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter’s unit, the 12th aviation battalion, is assigned a mission to evacuate top US officials from Washington DC to secure locations in the event of an emergency.
Those locations include Raven Rock Mountain, a facility in Pennsylvania constructed in the 1950s for use as a command center in the event of a nuclear war.
Hegseth’s comments correlates with comments by Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for the army’s aviation directorate, who told reporters on Thursday that “some of their mission is to support the Department of Defense if something really bad happens in this area, and we need to move our senior leaders.
“They do need to be able to understand the environment, the air traffic, the routes, to ensure the safe travel of our senior leaders throughout our government,” Koziol added.
A preliminary FAA report into the midair collision has found that responsibility for handling air traffic control for helicopters and incoming planes at Reagan National airport had been combined earlier than usual on Wednesday night when the American Airlines flight crashed into the army’s Black Hawk helicopter.
All 67 aboard the aircraft involved were killed, marking the deadliest American aviation crash in 16 years.
Typically, responsibility for handling helicopters and planes are separated in the busy airspace from 10am to 9.30pm, the New York Times reported. After 9.30pm, when traffic slows down, the duties can be combined. The collision occurred soon before 9pm.
The FAA preliminary safety report found that staffing at the airport was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic”, the Associated Press reported. Staffing targets set by the FAA and the controllers’ union call for 30 air traffic controllers at the airport but as of September 2023 it had 19.
President Trump signed a presidential memorandum on aviation safety on Thursday which he said will undo “damage” done to federal agencies by the Biden administration. Trump has said “incompetence” may have played a role in the crash.
Less than 30 seconds before the helicopter and plane collided, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the plane in sight: “PAT-25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” The controller makes another radio call to PAT25 moments later: “PAT-25 pass behind the CRJ”, referring to the Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700.
But there is mounting speculation that the helicopter’s pilots may have been looking at a plane following behind the American Airlines flight in the landing queue. Questions are also being asked about the altitude of the helicopter. It was cleared to fly at 200ft but appears to have ascended to 400ft, and into the path of the airliner.
As of Friday afternoon, rescue crews had recovered 41 bodies and 28 had been positively identified, the DC fire chief, John Donnelly Sr, said at a news conference. He said 18 families have been told their loved ones died.
Among the passengers on the plane were members of the Skating Club of Boston returning from a development camp that followed the 2025 US figure skating championship in Wichita, Kansas.
The victims also included a group of hunters returning from a guided trip in Kansas, nine students and parents from Fairfax county, Virginia, schools, four members of a steamfitters’ local in suburban Maryland and two Chinese nationals
The army has identified two of the three soldiers on the helicopter – Staff Sgt Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland. The third soldier’s name was not being released at the family’s request, the army said.
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