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The Nationals' home opener is Friday at 1:05pm vs. the two-time defending champion Dodgers — and Navy Yard is in full party mode all day.

State of play: Cheap drinks, food specials, DJs and giveaways are everywhere — no ticket required.

What's next: The party continues Saturday, when the Nationals and Budweiser celebrate the current franchise's 21st birthday with giveaways, live music, free cupcakes, a Clydesdale photo op and more around the park. 

🎸The Bullpen: The outdoor party hub by Center Field Gate starts at 10am with live bands before and after the game.

$7 drinks from the 3rd–7th inning (every home game).

🌮 Cantina El Rey: Back for the season with "$7 at Seven" — $7 frozen cocktails and nachos after the 7th inning.

Also: Strong 3–6pm happy hour (think $3 beers right at 3).

🍔 Dacha Beer Garden: Head over for a $15 game-day combo: burger, beer and fries.

A group-friendly splurge: a $75 mini keg (10 pints).

🥂 Mission Navy Yard: $27.99 bottomless brunch (2-hour limit) on Friday, by Center Field Gate.

DJs and multiple bars keep the party going postgame.

🌴 Royal Sands: Same brunch deal as sister spot Mission, plus patio views and free "Royal Transfusion" cocktails for the first 25 customers.

🦪 The Salt Line: Happy hour starts at 11am at the seafood spot behind Home Plate Gate.

Also: DJs (3–7pm) and drink specials ($9 Micheladas, $12 crushes).

🍻 Suzie Q's: Opens at noon. Look out for $1 beer vouchers at the stadium — and Easter eggs hidden around Navy Yard with free drinks and merch.

⚾ Walters: Opens at 10am with drink specials and giveaways at the pour-your-own beer bar by the park.

🍺 The Brig: A 15 min-ish walk away, pouring $4 house lagers until 4pm ($2 off everything else).

🌭 Bluejacket: The brewery hosts a season-long Hot Dog Showdown — D.C. half-smokes vs. visiting teams.

Up Friday: L.A.-style bacon-wrapped dog ($8, or two + fries for $18).

🚌 Atlas Brew Works: Baseball-themed beer and a weekend shuttle to the Park from the brewery's new Bridge District location nearby.

Where to eat, drink and party for the Nationals home opener

Cheap drinks, Friday bottomless brunches, DJs and more around the ballpark.

Back view of a person wearing a bright lime shirt and red cap carrying a blue crate labeled "COLD BEVERAGES" with Budweiser branding, filled with assorted soda cans, against a green blurred background.

Grab a cold one before, during and after the game with bars offering food and drink deals for the Nationals' home opener. Photo: G Fiume/Getty Images

The Nationals&#x27; home opener is Friday at 1:05pm vs. the two-time defending champion Dodgers — and Navy Yard is in full party mode all day.State of play: Cheap drinks, food specials, DJs and giveaways are everywhere — no ticket required.

Sports

Food and Drink

The Nationals' home opener is Friday — and there's plenty to show up for: new leadership and a young team on the rise, plus a ballpark experience that's getting better, faster and more fun.

Why it matters: Nats Park is still about the game, but the team is going bigger on the experience with quicker entry, tasty new eats, cheaper beer and more room for families to hang out.

State of play: The Nats open at home against the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers (1:05pm) with full pageantry: Budweiser Clydesdales, a military flyover and a ceremonial first pitch tied to America's 250th anniversary.

Gates open at 11am, with face painting, balloon artists and other family-friendly activities around the park.

The Nats are sticking with — and expanding — their affordability push. The team offers one of the most wallet-friendly experiences in D.C. sports if you play it right. Look for:

$5 District tickets for D.C. residents (now available online).

$5 Tuesdays are back with cheap concessions — including $5 beer! — plus tickets starting at $12.

Kids 12 and under eat free again this season.

Daily happy hour runs from gates open to first pitch with $5 beers and $6 hard seltzers.

Some of the biggest upgrades this season are about convenience:

Expanded Go-Ahead Entry lets fans walk into the stadium hands-free using facial recognition.

The new Nationals Wallet speeds up paying for food, merch and tickets in one place.

Grab-and-go marketplaces (including new frictionless locations) cut down concession lines.

Two cups of layered dessert with crumble toppings sit on a pink surface, beside a tall red-and-black waffle cone topped with white frosting and red sprinkles; a blurred stadium background.

Coneaocpia matches colorful waffle cones with soft serve. Photo: Courtesy Washington Nationals 

Over 40 local food and drink vendors fill the park, with everything from pupusas to Italian subs and boozy slushies. Newcomers this season:

Coneacopia (Section 136) - Gourmet waffle cones and soft serve.

Don Churro  (Sections 113, 308) - Sweet fritters with dunking sauces.

Eatopian Eats (Section 136) - Vegan and vegetarian Ethiopian food.

Fuzzies Burgers (Section 105) - Dry-aged smash burgers out of B'more.

Stuggy's Gourmet Hot Dogs (Section 105) - Dogs with fun toppings like crab mac.

Meanwhile, the Change-Up Food Hall added a foot-long, half-smoke and monument-themed chicken sandwich.

More grab-and-go beer options (including $9 domestics) aim to keep lines moving.

👨‍👩‍👧 A bigger focus on families

The ballpark is always kid-friendly, but the Nats are going the extra inning.

The Kids Zone is expanding with picnic tables, turf space and lawn games.

A new interactive scavenger hunt — "The Great President's Chase" — runs on weekends

On Sundays, kids can run the bases (starting April 19) and get autographs and giveaways.

Bearded bobblehead of Alex Ovechkin in a white Nationals-style jersey and a "CHAMPS" cap stands on a red base beside a red "Alex Ovechkin" box; a blue-uniform figure sits on the right on a wooden table.

Score an Alex Ovechkin bobblehead on May 16. Photo: Courtesy Washington Nationals 

🎁 Giveaways + theme nights get even bigger

Mark your cals for fun giveaways like the Alex Ovechkin bobblehead (May 16) and hot dog hat (May 15).

New theme nights include Margaritaville, NARUTO and Caribbean Heritage Day, joining faves like Pride and Pups in the Park.

📺 Bonus: Watching from home changes, too

For the first time, local games will stream directly through Nationals.TV, MLB's in-market service, with new broadcast tech like wire cams.

What's new at Nationals Park for the 2026 season

Think cheaper beer, shorter lines and more ways to hang out.

Wide view of Nationals Park with a large scoreboard, sponsor boards, and banners. Blue sky with clouds above the field; dirt infield and green outfield, Washington Nationals signage along the wall.

Nats Park: come for the baseball, stay for the $5 beers and dogs — just one of the many perks and experiences on tap. Photo: Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nationals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mlb.com/nationals" data-vars-content-id="931ce4bc-59ad-4b41-aff7-0ffd34ef5f84" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s new at Nationals Park for the 2026 season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals" target="_blank">Nationals</a>&#x27; home opener is Friday — and there&#x27;s plenty to show up for: new leadership and a young team on the rise, plus a ballpark experience that&#x27;s getting better, faster and more fun.Why it matters: Nats Park is still about the game, but the team is going bigger on the experience with quicker entry, tasty new eats, cheaper beer and more room for families to hang out.State of play: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nats open at home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/single-game-tickets" data-vars-content-id="931ce4bc-59ad-4b41-aff7-0ffd34ef5f84" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s new at Nationals Park for the 2026 season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/single-game-tickets" target="_blank">Nats open at home</a> against the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers (1:05pm) with full pageantry: Budweiser Clydesdales, a military flyover and a ceremonial first pitch tied to America&#x27;s 250th anniversary.<ul><li>Gates open at 11am, with face painting, balloon artists and other family-friendly activities around the park.</li></ul><h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">What&#x27;s fun and new</h2>💰 Deals!The Nats are sticking with — and expanding — their affordability push. The team offers one of the most wallet-friendly experiences in D.C. sports if you play it right. Look for:<ul><li>$5 District tickets for D.C. residents (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="now available online" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/specials/district" data-vars-content-id="931ce4bc-59ad-4b41-aff7-0ffd34ef5f84" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s new at Nationals Park for the 2026 season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/specials/district" target="_blank">now available online</a>).</li><li>$5 Tuesdays are back with cheap concessions — including $5 beer! — plus tickets starting at $12.</li><li>Kids 12 and under eat free again this season.</li><li>Daily happy hour runs from gates open to first pitch with $5 beers and $6 hard seltzers.</li></ul>⚡Getting in (and around) is fasterSome of the biggest upgrades this season are about convenience:<ul><li>Expanded <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Go-Ahead Entry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark/information/go-ahead-entry" data-vars-content-id="931ce4bc-59ad-4b41-aff7-0ffd34ef5f84" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s new at Nationals Park for the 2026 season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark/information/go-ahead-entry" target="_blank">Go-Ahead Entry</a> lets fans walk into the stadium hands-free using facial recognition.</li><li>The new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nationals Wallet" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark/information/nationals-wallet" data-vars-content-id="931ce4bc-59ad-4b41-aff7-0ffd34ef5f84" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s new at Nationals Park for the 2026 season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark/information/nationals-wallet" target="_blank">Nationals Wallet</a> speeds up paying for food, merch and tickets in one place.</li><li>Grab-and-go marketplaces (including new frictionless locations) cut down concession lines.</li></ul><figure><img alt="Two cups of layered dessert with crumble toppings sit on a pink surface, beside a tall red-and-black waffle cone topped with white frosting and red sprinkles; a blurred stadium background." height="3200" id="003d94eb-8a22-4ff1-b3be-c72b0f81a9d6" src="https://images.axios.com/6xEd-olMXVFdRhpRBBwb9JrpgNM=/2026/04/01/1775072075008.jpeg" width="4800"/><figcaption>Coneaocpia matches colorful waffle cones with soft serve. Photo: Courtesy Washington Nationals </figcaption></figure>😋 New eats Over 40 local food and drink vendors fill the park, with everything from pupusas to Italian subs and boozy slushies. Newcomers this season:<ul><li>Coneacopia (Section 136) - Gourmet waffle cones and soft serve.</li><li>Don Churro (Sections 113, 308) - Sweet fritters with dunking sauces.</li><li>Eatopian Eats (Section 136) - Vegan and vegetarian Ethiopian food.</li></ul><ul><li>Fuzzies Burgers (Section 105) - Dry-aged smash burgers out of B&#x27;more.</li><li>Stuggy&#x27;s Gourmet Hot Dogs (Section 105) - Dogs with fun toppings like crab mac.</li></ul>Meanwhile, the Change-Up Food Hall added a foot-long, half-smoke and monument-themed chicken sandwich.<ul><li>More grab-and-go beer options (including $9 domestics) aim to keep lines moving.</li></ul>👨‍👩‍👧 A bigger focus on familiesThe ballpark is always kid-friendly, but the Nats are going the extra inning.<ul><li>The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kids Zone" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark/park-experiences" data-vars-content-id="931ce4bc-59ad-4b41-aff7-0ffd34ef5f84" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s new at Nationals Park for the 2026 season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark/park-experiences" target="_blank">Kids Zone</a> is expanding with picnic tables, turf space and lawn games.</li><li>A new interactive scavenger hunt — &quot;The Great President&#x27;s Chase&quot; — runs on weekends</li><li>On Sundays, kids can run the bases (starting April 19) and get autographs and giveaways.</li></ul><figure><img alt="Bearded bobblehead of Alex Ovechkin in a white Nationals-style jersey and a &quot;CHAMPS&quot; cap stands on a red base beside a red &quot;Alex Ovechkin&quot; box; a blue-uniform figure sits on the right on a wooden table." height="3200" id="0bcf8c75-f087-4557-a199-ff18652e1ce6" src="https://images.axios.com/cKrAAsA2SnZTCVcrNvdY1uCiDKs=/2026/04/01/1775072129993.jpeg" width="4800"/><figcaption>Score an Alex Ovechkin bobblehead on May 16. Photo: Courtesy Washington Nationals </figcaption></figure>🎁 Giveaways + theme nights get even bigger<ul><li>Mark your cals for fun giveaways like the Alex Ovechkin bobblehead (May 16) and hot dog hat (May 15).</li><li>New theme nights include Margaritaville, NARUTO and Caribbean Heritage Day, joining faves like Pride and Pups in the Park.</li></ul>📺 Bonus: Watching from home changes, tooFor the first time, local games will stream directly through <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nationals.TV" data-vars-click-url="http://nationals.tv/" data-vars-content-id="931ce4bc-59ad-4b41-aff7-0ffd34ef5f84" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s new at Nationals Park for the 2026 season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://nationals.tv/" target="_blank">Nationals.TV</a>, MLB&#x27;s in-market service, with new broadcast tech like wire cams.

D.C. could soon open the door to cannabis-infused, alcohol-free drinks under a new bill from Mayor Bowser that would let local breweries and distilleries team up with medical marijuana producers.

Why it matters: The bill connects two big trends — people drinking less and using more cannabis — opening new doors for businesses and consumers.

Driving the news: Bowser introduced the measure Thursday, creating a legal pathway for cannabis-infused, nonalcoholic beverages.

Breweries and distilleries could partner with licensed cannabis manufacturers.

They'd need new license endorsements to produce the drinks.

Yes, but: You won't find these at your local bar.

The proposal limits sales to licensed dispensaries — no sales at breweries/distilleries, restaurants or grocery stores.

Like for other marijuana products in D.C., buyers would have to be registered for medical marijuana.

The intrigue: The bill tries to solve a practical problem — cannabis companies often lack bottling and large-scale beverage production capacity.

D.C.'s craft beverage industry already has that infrastructure, and the legislation essentially connects the dots.

Zoom in: D.C.'s once-booming craft alcohol scene has cooled. One reason: producers say younger consumers are drinking less — or swapping booze for bud.

A wave of distilleries closed last year, while many breweries have already pivoted to seltzers and nonalcoholic options.

Cannabis drinks could be the next evolution: Meet consumers where they are.

Between the lines: Bowser in her last term is bullish on boosting local beverage producers.

Another recent proposal, the D.C. Hospitality Act, would allow distillery collaborations, permit existing breweries to open new pubs in several neighborhoods and Downtown, and increase the variety of D.C.-made products — malt beverages, alcohol-infused sweets — to be sold for on-premise consumption.

The big picture: Cannabis beverages are having a moment nationwide — but the rules are all over the map.

Drinks containing THC — the "fun" ingredient in marijuana — are restricted to dispensaries in 24 states where pot is legal, according to Reuters. D.C. could join them.

Meanwhile, low-dose hemp THC drinks are popping up everywhere — from gas stations to grocery stores — as beer sales slide and big alcohol companies look to capitalize.

What's next: The legislation heads to the D.C. Council for review.

Exclusive: D.C. could greenlight cannabis drinks made by local breweries and distilleries

A new bill would let local breweries and distilleries make THC-infused beverages

Illustration of a green drink in a glass with a marijuana leaf on the rim

D.C. could soon open the door to cannabis-infused, alcohol-free drinks under a new bill from Mayor Bowser that would let local breweries and distilleries team up with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="medical marijuana" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/03/04/illegal-weed-cannabis-shops-dc-shut-down" data-vars-content-id="9c73c29e-2237-43d0-99df-11fe0340d361" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: D.C. could greenlight cannabis drinks made by local breweries and distilleries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/03/04/illegal-weed-cannabis-shops-dc-shut-down" target="_self">medical marijuana</a> producers.Why it matters: The bill connects two big trends — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="people drinking less" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/13/alcohol-drinking-rate-low-health" data-vars-content-id="9c73c29e-2237-43d0-99df-11fe0340d361" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: D.C. could greenlight cannabis drinks made by local breweries and distilleries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/13/alcohol-drinking-rate-low-health" target="_self">people drinking less</a> and using more cannabis — opening new doors for businesses and consumers.

News

President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that the military "is building a massive complex" under the White House ballroom that's under construction — adding fresh intrigue to an already controversial renovation.

Why it matters: Major changes to the White House are rare — but Trump is rapidly reshaping the complex in his second term, often sidestepping traditional approval processes.

Driving the news: Trump said the $400 million ballroom "actually becomes a shed for what's being built" underneath by the military.

Outfitted with bulletproof windows, "drone-proof roofs" and his favored Corinthian columns, the ballroom is weeks "ahead of schedule and under budget," with "not one dime of government money going into the ballroom."

A closed porch will have views of the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial.

What he's saying: "I'm so busy that I don't have time to do this," Trump said. "I'm fighting wars and other things. But this is very important, because this is gonna be with us for a long time … I think it'll be the greatest ballroom anywhere in the world."

Donald Trump in a dark suit and red tie leans over, holding a large print of a white neoclassical government building with American flags, set against a blue sky.

The East Wing modernization project faces a final vote — and possible court decision — this week. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

The intrigue: White House officials told reporters that the underground complex is a matter of national security and declined to offer further details.

Context: Subterranean White House facilities aren't new. The Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) was created during WWII to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt in case of an attack.

It's been used during crises like 9/11 and in times of unrest, including the 2020 George Floyd protests, when Trump was moved to the bunker.

CNN reported in January that the existing PEOC had been "dismantled" during Trump's East Wing demolition and that a new, modernized facility was in the works.

More intrigue: Officials have suggested the classified underground work is why White House construction moved ahead without National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approval.

White House official Joshua Fisher told the NCPC that the overall project would boost "mission-critical functionality," make "necessary security enhancements," and create "resilient, adaptive infrastructure" for future needs, according to CNN.

In a court filing to stop the East Wing demolition, officials warned that halting the work would "endanger national security."

Between the lines: In a city where it's difficult to build up, the Trump administration is going underground. Earlier this month, it sent a proposal to the NCPC for a 33,000-square-foot screening facility for White House visitors below Sherman Park.

After the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush met with this National Security Council in the East Wing bunker, which was reportedly dismantled in the East Wing demo. Photo by Eric Draper, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library

After the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush met with this National Security Council in the East Wing bunker, which was reportedly dismantled in the East Wing demolition. Photo: Eric Draper, courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library

Friction point: The ballroom design got more than 9,000 pages of negative public comments, but the NCPC, chaired by a top Trump official, is expected to vote to approve the project at its Thursday meeting.

Local officials like D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, a member of the NCPC, are still voicing concerns about the addition overwhelming the White House: "I am disturbed about the height," he told reporters Monday.

Meanwhile, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to halt the project, arguing that the president skipped over congressional approval.

What's next: In addition to the Thursday vote, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who's expressed skepticism over the project and its private donor funding, signaled that a ruling on the National Trust's lawsuit will come early this week — potentially halting the ballroom construction that's set to start in April.

Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump's White House project faces a pivotal week

President Trump holds a rendering of the East Wing modernization as he speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One. Photo: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

President Trump holds a rendering of the East Wing modernization as he speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One about plans for a military bunker below. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told reporters" data-vars-click-url="https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-press-gaggle-air-force-one-march-29-2026/" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-press-gaggle-air-force-one-march-29-2026/" target="_blank">told reporters</a> aboard Air Force One on Sunday that the military &quot;is building a massive complex&quot; under <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the White House ballroom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/03/02/9000-pages-public-comments-slam-white-house-ballroom" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/03/02/9000-pages-public-comments-slam-white-house-ballroom" target="_self">the White House ballroom</a> that&#x27;s under construction — adding fresh intrigue to an already controversial renovation.Why it matters: Major <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="changes to the White House" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/white-house-trump-changes-photos" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/white-house-trump-changes-photos" target="_self">changes to the White House</a> are rare — but Trump is rapidly reshaping the complex in his second term, often sidestepping traditional approval processes.Driving the news: Trump said the $400 million ballroom &quot;actually becomes a shed for what&#x27;s being built&quot; underneath by the military.<ul><li>Outfitted with bulletproof windows, &quot;drone-proof roofs&quot; and his favored <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Corinthian columns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/15/white-house-columns-ionic-corinthian/" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/15/white-house-columns-ionic-corinthian/" target="_blank">Corinthian columns</a>, the ballroom is weeks &quot;ahead of schedule and under budget,&quot; with &quot;not one dime of government money going into the ballroom.&quot;</li><li>A closed porch will have views of the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial.</li></ul>What he&#x27;s saying: &quot;I&#x27;m so busy that I don&#x27;t have time to do this,&quot; Trump said. &quot;I&#x27;m fighting wars and other things. But this is very important, because this is gonna be with us for a long time … I think it&#x27;ll be the greatest ballroom anywhere in the world.&quot;<figure><img alt="Donald Trump in a dark suit and red tie leans over, holding a large print of a white neoclassical government building with American flags, set against a blue sky." height="1409" id="a8a1fa15-647b-433a-80f5-910fb45d32ca" src="https://images.axios.com/dba4u91VFdoP1iLkqoHraYMCL3A=/2026/03/30/1774895014223.jpeg" width="2000"/><figcaption>The East Wing modernization project faces a final vote — and possible court decision — this week. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The intrigue: White House officials told reporters that the underground complex is a matter of national security and declined to offer further details.Context: Subterranean White House facilities aren&#x27;t new. The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Presidential Emergency Operations Center" data-vars-click-url="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/a-look-inside-the-us-presidents-top-secret-white-house-bunker" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/a-look-inside-the-us-presidents-top-secret-white-house-bunker" target="_blank">Presidential Emergency Operations Center</a> (PEOC) was created during WWII to protect <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Franklin D. Roosevelt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/secret-spaces-at-the-white-house" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/secret-spaces-at-the-white-house" target="_blank">President Franklin D. Roosevelt</a> in case of an attack.<ul><li>It&#x27;s been used during crises like 9/11 and in times of unrest, including the 2020 George Floyd protests, when Trump was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="moved" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-violence-b3817623ef861818803b5676d43741ea" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-violence-b3817623ef861818803b5676d43741ea" target="_blank">moved</a> to the bunker.</li><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CNN reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/19/politics/east-wing-secret-bunker-construction-details" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/19/politics/east-wing-secret-bunker-construction-details" target="_blank">CNN reported</a> in January that the existing PEOC had been &quot;dismantled&quot; during Trump&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="East Wing demolition" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/10/21/trump-white-house-east-wing-renovation-backlash" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/10/21/trump-white-house-east-wing-renovation-backlash" target="_self">East Wing demolition</a> and that a new, modernized facility was in the works.</li></ul>More intrigue: Officials have suggested the classified underground work is why White House construction moved ahead without National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approval.<ul><li>White House official Joshua Fisher told the NCPC that the overall project would boost &quot;mission-critical functionality,&quot; make &quot;necessary security enhancements,&quot; and create &quot;resilient, adaptive infrastructure&quot; for future needs, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CNN" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/19/politics/east-wing-secret-bunker-construction-details" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/19/politics/east-wing-secret-bunker-construction-details" target="_blank">CNN</a>.</li><li>In a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="court filing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/politics/judge-white-house-ballroom-trump.html" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/politics/judge-white-house-ballroom-trump.html" target="_blank">court filing</a> to stop the East Wing demolition, officials warned that halting the work would &quot;endanger national security.&quot;</li></ul>Between the lines: In a city where it&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="difficult to build up" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/03/05/trump-height-act-dc-legalize-skyscrapers" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/03/05/trump-height-act-dc-legalize-skyscrapers" target="_self">difficult to build up</a>, the Trump administration is going underground. Earlier this month, it sent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a proposal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects/2026/8763_White_House_Visitor_Screening_Facility_Submission_Materials_Apr2026.pdf" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects/2026/8763_White_House_Visitor_Screening_Facility_Submission_Materials_Apr2026.pdf" target="_blank">a proposal</a> to the NCPC for a 33,000-square-foot screening facility for White House visitors below Sherman Park.<figure><img alt="After the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush met with this National Security Council in the East Wing bunker, which was reportedly dismantled in the East Wing demo. Photo by Eric Draper, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library" height="2048" id="4a41f4d2-e8d4-4c18-9775-476bbecc0a48" src="https://images.axios.com/q8FE_boHRGDKkfpyWfvthBHyBos=/2026/03/30/1774895233562.jpeg" width="3072"/><figcaption>After the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush met with this National Security Council in the East Wing bunker, which was reportedly dismantled in the East Wing demolition. Photo: Eric Draper, courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library</figcaption></figure>Friction point: The ballroom design got more than 9,000 pages of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="negative public comments" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/03/02/9000-pages-public-comments-slam-white-house-ballroom" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/03/02/9000-pages-public-comments-slam-white-house-ballroom" target="_self">negative public comments</a>, but the NCPC, chaired by a top Trump official, is expected to vote to approve the project at its<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Thursday meeting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncpc.gov/review/agenda/" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncpc.gov/review/agenda/" target="_blank"> Thursday meeting</a>.<ul><li>Local officials like D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, a member of the NCPC, are still voicing concerns about the addition overwhelming the White House: &quot;I am disturbed about the height,&quot; he told reporters Monday.</li></ul>Meanwhile, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Trust for Historic Preservation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/12/trump-ballroom-white-house-lawsuit" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/12/trump-ballroom-white-house-lawsuit" target="_self">National Trust for Historic Preservation</a> has sued to halt the project, arguing that the president skipped over congressional approval.What&#x27;s next: In addition to the Thursday vote, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expressed skepticism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/22/trump-ballroom-approval-lawsuit/" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/22/trump-ballroom-approval-lawsuit/" target="_blank">expressed skepticism</a> over the project and its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="private donor funding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/16/trump-white-house-ballroom-ethics-donors" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/16/trump-white-house-ballroom-ethics-donors" target="_self">private donor funding</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="signaled" data-vars-click-url="https://www.courthousenews.com/federal-judge-likely-to-block-brazen-white-house-ballroom-construction/" data-vars-content-id="aa0d77ad-3581-4749-b5ce-234ba0178e80" data-vars-headline="Ballroom above, bunker below: Trump&#x27;s White House project faces a pivotal week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.courthousenews.com/federal-judge-likely-to-block-brazen-white-house-ballroom-construction/" target="_blank">signaled</a> that a ruling on the National Trust&#x27;s lawsuit will come early this week — potentially halting the ballroom construction that&#x27;s set to start in April.

Move over, fast-casuals. "Fine-casual" is D.C.'s hottest restaurant trend, and one of the most anticipated openings lands Thursday: Rye Bunny.

Why it matters: Chef Jon Sybert and Jill Tyler are replacing their beloved Adams Morgan spot, Tail Up Goat, with a more laid-back sibling serving cheffy comfort food — still built to wow.

The big picture: As costs climb and diners pull back, restaurants in D.C. and beyond are going more casual, embracing models that are cheaper — and less labor-intensive — to run.

When the Tail Up Goat team mapped out their next move, they looked to friends at Birdie's in Austin for inspiration.

Like the award-winning counter-service prix fixe, Rye Bunny aims for high-caliber food and high-touch hospitality — minus the full-service overhead.

Top-down view of a table with three dishes: center yellow-sauce ravioli with shaved cheese, bottom-left croquette on a gold leaf plate, and herb-topped meat on a white plate; glassware and cutlery.

Cheffy comfort dishes (clockwise left): wild greens ravioli, sardine toasts, roasted parsnips and frico (crispy, cheesy potatoes) with trout roe. Photo: Courtesy Scott Suchman

How it works: In the cozy, quilt-lined space, diners order at the counter (with drinks offered if there's a line). Staff circulate for refills, extra orders and anything else guests need.

What they're saying: Tyler admits she was initially "worried about the hospitality piece, because that's my favorite part" (she's got a Michelin service award to back it up). But the model supports a smaller team with competitive pay, benefits and PTO.

Now, instead of back-and-forth at the table, "you're having all those conversations with amazing team members [at the counter] — who know the wine list and food, who're excited to be there."

Cozy, eclectic restaurant interior with wooden tables and mixed chairs, amber glassware, warm string lights, large round lights, patchwork quilts on maroon walls, and a colorful tiled floor.

The cozy dining room is set with string lights, paper lanterns and quilts. Photo: Courtesy Scott Suchman

Dig in: Sybert is leaning into ambitious, seasonal comfort food — the kind that earned him acclaim at TUG and Reveler's Hour.

There's no set cuisine — "just dishes that I would want to order every time I go out to a restaurant," says Sybert.

😋 Think: fennel focaccia with housemade ricotta and honey-poached beets; tagliatelle bolognese or wild greens–stuffed ravioli; plus shareable mains like fried chicken or chermoula-sauced rockfish.

Two pieces of crispy fried chicken glazed in dark sauce, topped with sesame seeds, lemon wheels, and dill sprigs, served on a white plate with a beige napkin, alongside a wine glass and cutlery.

Half-fried chicken with sumac-aleppo honey and crispy lemon. Photo: courtesy Scott Suchman

To drink: Fun wines and beers, personalized martinis and plenty of zero-proof options.

Wine starts at $12 a glass and around $50 a bottle (or BYO for $35).

The intrigue: Two nightly reservations are held for "people who love a sure thing" — with a local giveback twist.

Each $25 OpenTable booking goes entirely to Dreaming Out Loud and the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights.

Sustainability was core to building Rye Bunny — from local sourcing to creating a resilient business, team and community.

A lit white candle in an ornate metal holder sits beside a crystal dessert bowl filled with caramel-drizzled ice cream scoops and toffee crumbs on a wooden table.

For dessert: fun sundaes! Like this one with brown butter-parsnip gelato, black sesame gelato and tahini caramel. Photo: Courtesy Scott Suchman

The bottom line: "The moments for hospitality and taking care of people still exist," says Tyler of the restaurant's new model. "I'm excited to get people who might be a little skeptical over to our side."

If you go: Rye Bunny. 1827 Adams Mill Road, Northwest. Open for dinner, April 2. 

Tail Up Goat's next act: Rye Bunny brings "fine-casual" to Adams Morgan

Rye Bunny, from the Tail Up Goat team, swaps full service for counter-order.

A person holds a white plate with a yellow rim, presenting a thick, golden-brown loaf topped with dark crispy bits. Beside it, a dollop of whipped cheese is topped with tomato slices and dill.

Delicious carbs continue at Rye Bunny, which replaces Tail Up Goat (pictured: fennel focaccia with homemade ricotta and honey-poached beets). Photo: Courtesy Scott Suchman

Move over, fast-casuals. &quot;Fine-casual&quot; is D.C.&#x27;s hottest restaurant trend, and one of the most anticipated openings lands Thursday: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rye Bunny" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/02/06/dc-restaurant-bar-trends-2026" data-vars-content-id="ae37fd61-4dff-49aa-aa5a-9950068baaf3" data-vars-headline="Tail Up Goat&#x27;s next act: Rye Bunny brings &quot;fine-casual&quot; to Adams Morgan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/02/06/dc-restaurant-bar-trends-2026" target="_self">Rye Bunny</a>.Why it matters: Chef Jon Sybert and Jill Tyler are replacing their beloved Adams Morgan spot, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tail Up Goat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/04/24/tail-up-goat-closing-adams-morgan" data-vars-content-id="ae37fd61-4dff-49aa-aa5a-9950068baaf3" data-vars-headline="Tail Up Goat&#x27;s next act: Rye Bunny brings &quot;fine-casual&quot; to Adams Morgan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/04/24/tail-up-goat-closing-adams-morgan" target="_self">Tail Up Goat</a>, with a more laid-back sibling serving cheffy comfort food — still built to wow.

Anna Spiegel

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