Several restaurants and chefs in Washington DC were named finalists for the coveted James Beard Awards, given annually to the top names shaping the nation’s dining scene.

Finalists were announced Tuesday, March 31, with winners to be revealed June 15 at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony in Chicago.

Here’s which DMV restaurants are in the running for awards.

James Beard Best New Restaurant

Maison Bar à Vins, a French-inspired wine bar that opened in September, is one of 10 destinations up for Best New Restaurant.

“This recognition belongs to every single person who pours themselves into this place: the chefs who obsess over every detail before a plate ever leaves the kitchen, the front of house who make every guest feel like they’re coming home, and the dishwashers, prep cooks, and managers who hold it all together behind the scenes,” the restaurant said in a social media post. “Maison isn’t a concept. It’s a feeling, and that feeling is built by people.”

Maison Bar à Vins, located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of DC, is “more than a great wine bar,” according to a Washington Post review, which referred to the restaurant “dazzling dinner destination.”

James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

Susan Bae, executive pastry chef and partner of Moon Rabbit in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of DC, is up for the title of Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker for the third straight year.

Bae was named North America’s Best Pastry Chef in a separate award last year.

“We couldn’t be more proud to have her leading our pastry program at Moon Rabbit—this recognition is so well deserved,” the restaurant said in an Instagram post. “Honored, grateful, and cheering her on every step of the way.”

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

Brent Kroll, owner of the Maxwell Park wine bar in DC, is one of five finalists for the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service award.

After more than a decade, the experiment that was DC Streetcar is over.

The District Department of Transportation says the 2.2-mile electric trolley line that served Northeast D.C. on H Street and Benning Road was too expensive to maintain.

With yearly operating costs of $10 million, the streetcar that traveled from Union Station to the intersection of Oklahoma Avenue and Benning Road had 2,600 daily riders.

It was not only Washingtonians who wanted to take one more ride; some traveled a great distance to have their first.

“Originally, I wanted to visit Washington, but I’m interested in public transportation,” German tourist Ulf said. “I read they would close it down, so I had to come.”

Over the last couple days, Ulf rode the DC Streetcar several times and said he enjoyed it, but understands why it’s closing.

“Eight stations … it’s too short,” Ulf said.

Avis Brock might not be a transportation enthusiast like Ulf, but the Washingtonian who lives off H Street agreed.

“If we had extended that car, it would be so easy for people to come in and not have to park in zoned neighborhoods, visit a restaurant and leave,” Brock said. “I will miss the people on the streetcars.”

Brock was joined at the Oklahoma Avenue stop by Mary Bakota, who she struck up a friendship with on the DC Streetcar.

“We met on the streetcar. We just talk and there’s a lot of conversation among us riders,” Brock said.

The two ladies spent time saying goodbye to the streetcar driver, who said he would be working for Metro soon.

Not only is Bakota going to miss her rides on the streetcar, but she also said the closure has taken money out of her purse.

“I have a B&B. And the people would come to Union Station from the airports, and they would go on the streetcar,” Bakota said. “I actually got some cancellations due to no more streetcar.”

As the ladies looked around inside the streetcar for one last time, there was a teenager outside taking pictures.

“I’ve been riding it since it came out,” Jacob Adams said. “When I was in first grade, I went to school at Two Rivers (Middle School) right here, so I used to ride it all the time.”

The DC Streetcar was rolled out when Adams was only 6 years old, so for him, it’s always been a free ride in the city.

“I’m going to miss it. It’s definitely a staple of the H Street Corridor,” he said.

If you think your driveway could use the ultimate conversation piece, the streetcar’s last ride will be to the auction block. D.C. officials told Axios that they plan to auction off the streetcars.

DDOT suggests to those who used DC Streetcar to check out the WMATA’s D20 bus route and use Capital Bikeshare in its place.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The RV Industry Association recently joined forces with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) Business Council for a high-impact legislative fly-in in Washington, D.C., according to an RVIA News & Insights post. The two-day event brought together a diverse coalition of outdoor industry leaders to advocate for the continued growth and stability of the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy (see: Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Members Convene in D.C. for previous reporting).

Advancing Key Industry Priorities

The primary objective of the fly-in was to deliver a unified message to federal agencies and congressional leadership regarding the vital role outdoor recreation plays in national economic health and community well-being. Representatives from the RV industry met with a bipartisan slate of influential offices, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

Central to the discussions was the implementation of the EXPLORE Act and the ongoing importance of the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). These initiatives are critical for maintaining and modernizing infrastructure on public lands – the very places where RVers seek high-quality outdoor experiences.

High-Level Engagement

The itinerary featured deep-dive sessions with the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR) and the Department of the Interior. A cornerstone of the event was a meeting at the White House with the Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council, where industry leaders emphasized the need for sustained investment in outdoor access.

Winnebago Vice President of Industry and Government Relations and Chair of the RV Industry Association Government Affairs Committee Chad Reece was among the key industry figures participating in the advocacy efforts.

“I was very pleased with the fly-in and the opportunity to engage with offices outside our usual purview,” said Reece. “It was a valuable chance to share the RV industry’s perspective on the positive economic influence the Legacy Restoration Fund has had, particularly in supporting the vitality of rural and gateway communities.”

Looking Ahead

By speaking with a collective voice alongside partners in boating, fishing, and powersports, the RV Industry Association reinforced that outdoor recreation is not just a pastime, but a massive economic driver. The momentum gained from these meetings will be essential as the industry continues to push for policies that ensure public lands remain accessible and well-maintained for generations of RVers to come.