Washington, D.C

Nine highlights of Washington DC most visitors miss

Published

1 year ago

September 20, 2024

Nine highlights of Washington DC most visitors miss

There is a smorgasboard of eating spots along District Wharf.

Two waterfront precincts – District Wharf (commonly known as The Wharf) and Navy Yard – have sprung up in the past six years, both with bars, restaurants and modern apartments. Stroll along District Wharf and make your choice from a smorgasbord of eating spots. My favourites? The casual Cuban-themed cafe, Colada Shop and Del Mar, an upmarket Spanish and seafood restaurant. Then check the packed schedule of The Anthem, where the likes of Foo Fighters and Bob Dylan have hit the stage. Further east, and occupying a recently refurbished shipbuilding and munitions port, is the slightly clinical grid of streets known as Navy Yard. It’s worth heading here for Albi, a Michelin-starred, Mediterranean-themed restaurant. Or down a few beers at Bluejacket Brewery after a baseball game at the Nationals Park stadium nearby.

Dupont Circle

The neighbourhood is crammed with colourful row houses.Credit: iStock

Dupont Circle is both a busy roundabout pinned by an attractive beaux-arts fountain, and a neighbourhood crammed with historic row houses. Of a Sunday, push your way past the dogs and strollers at Dupont Circle’s Farmers Market and join the queues for delicious, if pricey, fresh produce and a friendly chat with a stranger. Casual food spots dot the Circle’s boulevards. Climb a half-flight of wrought iron stairs to access Chiko that serves a blend of Chinese and Korean cuisine, and tuck into an “orange-ish chicken”, an elevated rendition of a sweet-sour takeaway favourite. For excellent third-wave coffee, join the digital nomads in Emissary, in the basement of a lovely Queen Anne-style mansion.

14th Street

‘Sneak’ into the bar of Chicken + Whiskey through a fridge door.

Gentrification occurred in 14th Street faster than the president’s motorcade that sometimes races through DC without warning. In two short decades, the strip between Logan Circle and just beyond U Street morphed from a seedy hotbed of car dealerships and “adult services” to DC’s liveliest social magnet. These days, a diverse crowd gathers in its overhauled spaces: LGBTQIA+ flags fly proudly in windows and smart, modern restaurants and sophisticated drinking dens are common. Faux speakeasy bars with quirky entrances are a trend: “sneak” into the bar of Chicken + Whiskey through a refrigerator door at the rear of the chicken joint. A cross-section of DC’s population gathers at Busboys and Poets for brunch, lunch or dinner. As a bonus, poets might be performing in its adjoining cultural space.

Adams Morgan

Warts and all are on display along this densely-packed section of 18th Street in Adams Morgan where tattoo parlours abut grungy take-out joints and empanada hole-in-the walls stand adjacent to upmarket bars. This largely nocturnal destination attracts a youthful bunch, who down cheap pints in basement dives, and compare various herb-infused concoctions in chic rooftop bars. Walk the strip and make your choice. If you’re after cocktails with creative Middle Eastern flavours, plus reggae music, popular haunt The Green Zone has you covered.

U Street And Shaw

Ben’s Chili Bowl is a landmark on U Street.

The centre of Black cultural and intellectual life since the 1860s, U Street became known as Black Broadway, such was its entertainment scene; the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington cut their jazz teeth here. It took decades to rebound after its destruction during the 1968 riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Music lovers should check out what’s on at the 9:30 Club, a long-standing music venue.

For cuisine, Ben’s Chili Bowl is a famous landmark, but don’t expect gourmet fare; former president Obama was known to enjoy its chili half smoke (similar to, though not, a hot dog). Nearby, the hip, yet edgy neighbourhood of Shaw is the cool kids’ domain. A good place to start is Blagden Alley, popular among Instagrammers for its colourful street art. Start at La Colombe (great coffee), have a breather at Lost & Found (a fun bar) or plan for dinner at Tiger Fork (fabulous Asian).

NoMa and Union Market district

The revamped NoMa district (named in the 1990s for “north of Massachusetts”) is a favourite for young professionals. Within NoMa is the popular Union Market, a restored, mid-century food hall where Australian Fiona Lewis runs The District Fishwife and prepares some of the freshest fish tacos around. The surrounding blocks that comprise former converted warehouses are worth poking around: pick up some stylish South American made handicrafts from La Cosecha; reserve dinner at St Anselm, a faux-old-school American tavern; and see the wee hours in at Last Call, an action-packed “cocktail dive bar” (meaning, it serves fancy drinks at good prices in a no-frills, converted cafeteria).

Georgetown

Incorporated into the city of Washington in 1871, Georgetown, DC’s leafiest and chicest district, draws both a youthful crowd (it’s home to an eponymous university) and elderly residents. Start with M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, two shopping strips that drip with flower baskets. Then meander through the pretty, green streets to Tudor Place, the mansion of George Washington’s grand-daughter, Martha. Other famous residents include former First Lady Jackie Kennedy (JFK proposed to her at Martin’s Tavern). At Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, DC’s historic canal, you can sit over a coffee and cupcake from the backstreet gem, Baked & Wired. For local souvenirs? Made in DC sells stylish pieces true to its name.

Happy hours in DC

George Washington distilled whisky. His successor, John Adams, swilled hard cider for breakfast. And sneaky distilling went on here during prohibition. After the Prohibition Act ended in 1933, DC’s own jazz artist Duke Ellington wrote the hit Cocktails for Two. The cocktail and drinking tradition continues, especially during advertised happy hours when everything from speakeasies to dive bars, hotel rooftops to craft breweries, offer decent reduced-price deals.

See washington.org; si.edu

Beyond the Monuments in Washington, DC: An insider’s guide to what to eat, drink and explore by Kate Armstrong is published by Hardie Grant, $34.99.

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Washington, D.C

Storm Team4 Forecast: Thick fog to clear before storms, rain Thursday night

Published

17 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Storm Team4 Forecast: Thick fog to clear before storms, rain Thursday night

4 things to know about the weather:

Grab the umbrella
Big temperature ranges
Thunder possible Thursday night
Warmer days on the way

Heads up commuters! For Thursday morning, there will be some thick fog in spots with some rain possible, especially around the Mason-Dixon line. The fog should clear out by 10 a.m.

Throughout the day, some sunshine should develop with highs warming into the low 60s. Those in Northern Maryland could see some showers throughout the day but those near the D.C. area will stay relatively dry except for a stray shower or two.

Some rain and evening storms by 8 p.m. will impact the area Thursday night. Although it’s a bit unusual for this time of year, don’t be surprised if you hear thunder Thursday evening.

Warmer temperatures coming this weekend

These next few days will come with some major forecast challenges.

Much, much warmer air is just to our south and cold, high pressure is moving into New England. The front separating the 40s from the 70s will be laying right across our region for the next two to three days.

So keep in mind, when you’re looking at the forecast highs in the text below, that it will be warmest in Fredericksburg, VA and coolest in northern Maryland.

Friday’s weather will be similar as a front system remains just over the area, separating chilly air to the north and warmer air to the south. There might be a stray shower or two, too.

For the weekend, Saturday looks to be the warmer of the two days with highs in the low to mid 70s. Some rain overnight Saturday will lead to cooler temperatures on Sunday.

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

QuickCast

THURSDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Stray Shower Possible
Big Temperature Range
Wind: Southeast 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 62° to 72°

THURSDAY NIGHT:
Cloudy And Chilly
Rain Likely
Some Thunder Possible
Wind: Northeast 5 mph
Chance Of Rain: 70%
LOWS: 44° to 54°

FRIDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler For Most
Isolated Shower Or Two
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 52° to 68°

SATURDAY:
Partly Sunny
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Shower
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 66° to 78°

SUNDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler
Few Showers Possible
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°

Sunrise: 6:35 Sunset: 6:05
Average High: 53° Average Low: 36°

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

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Washington, D.C

Tax expert explains DC filing season amid Congress-District dispute

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Tax expert explains DC filing season amid Congress-District dispute

WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. taxpayers may be confused by back-and-forth between the D.C. City Council and Congress over taxprovision. The city’s financial officer sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, that said the District’s tax laws will not change, despite recent actions by Congress.

7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy.

“The short answer is, nothing changes. Filing Season can continue as it has been, continue as planned, and according to the laws as we understood them in January,” said Husak.

“If you’ve already filed your taxes, you don’t have to change anything. And if you want to file your taxes, the rules are still the same as they were on the books before,” said Husak.

RELATED | DC Council Chairman talks taxes, budget, bodycams, federal surge

Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee’s revenue estimate issued Friday does not include an estimated $180 million expected this fiscal year from the city’s decoupling law, “due to the uncertainty of the associated revenue as a result of Joint Resolution 142,” according to a released letter.

“The CFO was in a tough spot here. If he agreed with Congress, then businesses and overtime workers will get bigger refunds. But if he agreed with the Mayor and the Attorney General, then families with children and lower income workers would get bigger tax cuts,” said Husak.

SEE MORE | Development of new Commanders stadium scrutinized at DC oversight hearing

“We as District residents can’t control, you know what happens in the courts, what happens in, you know, what Congress does in the future,” said Husak. “But for now, the CFO has said, you know this is, this is a law as it stands, and the law that I’m going to enforce so, you know, file your legally obligated taxes, and maybe in the future, there’ll be a surprise.”

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW

7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy (7News).{ }

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Washington, D.C

CHERRY BLOSSOM COUNTDOWN: Peak Bloom prediction drops Thursday

Published

2 days ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

CHERRY BLOSSOM COUNTDOWN: Peak Bloom prediction drops Thursday

WASHINGTON (7News) — The nation’s capital is just about ready to be transformed into a breathtaking pastel landscape of cherry trees in bloom. The famed blossoms around the Tidal Basin are not only a symbol of spring’s arrival, but also of a long-standing friendship — a gift of more than 3,000 trees from Tokyo, Japan, to the United States in 1912.

So what is considered “Peak Bloom”?

The National Park Service (NPS) defines peak bloom as the time when at least 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin have opened their blossoms. This is the period when the blossoms appear most full and spectacular and most ideal for photos, and soaking up spring’s beauty here in DC.

Because cherry trees respond to the cumulative effects of winter and spring weather, especially daily temperatures, it’s very difficult to predict peak bloom more than about 10 days in advance. Warm spells accelerate blooming; cold snaps slow it down.

Average Timing — What History Shows

Since 1921 overall, national data indicate peak bloom typically fell around early April (April 4), based on historical averages.

Average date peak bloom – cherry blossom trees Washington DC Tidal Basin

Since 1990, the average has kept shifting earlier and earlier. In fact, the last 6 years our peak has occurred in late March.

These shifts reflect how warmer springs have nudged peak bloom earlier over the decades.

Earliest & Latest Blooms on Record

Earliest peak bloom: March 15 — recorded in 1990.

Latest peak bloom: April 18 — recorded in 1958.

Of course, most years fall between those dates, with the last week of March to the first week of April historically being the most consistent window for peak bloom.

Earliest Peak Bloom Washington DC

Recent peak blooms show how variable and climate-dependent the timing can be:

2025: The National Park Service predicted peak bloom between March 28–31 (and confirmed the official peak around March 28).

2024: Peak bloom arrived very early, on March 17, several days ahead of NPS projections — tied for one of the earliest peaks in decades.

These examples demonstrate not only how much each season can differ, but also a trend toward earlier spring blossoms in recent years.

What to Expect for Spring 2026

As of early March 2026, the cherry trees are still dormant. The buds haven’t begun significant growth yet. The weather will become more critical in the weeks leading up to the bloom will be the biggest factor in determining when peak bloom happens in 2026.

Heavy winter cold, as experienced this year, tends to delay bloom compared with recent early springs. In contrast, an early warm stretch could push peak bloom earlier — as long as it doesn’t come with subsequent frost.

Look for the green bud stage first. This is when the buds are small, tight, and green, with no sign of petals yet. Trees are still several weeks from blooming.

Tips for Cherry Blossom Visitors

Plan in the “sweet spot” — peak bloom often lasts a few days to about a week, but weather (rain, wind, heat) can shorten that window.

Visit slightly before or after the predicted peak dates for smaller crowds and extended color. Blossoms can be gorgeous even before 70% bloom or as petals begin falling.

Check NPS updates and First Alert Weather forecasts in late March for tweaked peak bloom dates.

The cherry blossoms of Washington, D.C. remain one of the most iconic harbingers of spring in the U.S., and while exact bloom dates vary year-to-year, history and natural patterns point to late March through early April as your best bet for seeing the Tidal Basin in full floral glory.

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