Now the famed spot has come back yet again, and it’s more exclusive than ever. The public can’t go there at all, in fact: The new Jockey Club has been quietly operating at its original location, which has been converted from a high-end hotel into a luxury assisted living facility for seniors called Inspīr. Only the residents and their guests are invited to dine there.

Chef Richard McCreadie, who oversaw the second iteration of the Jockey Club, is back in the kitchen. Coincidentally, McCreadie had left the restaurant to oversee dining operations at a luxury senior living residence in Bethesda called Fox Hill. Then a few years ago, McCreadie and his wife were visiting the nearby Phillips Collection when he noticed the building that had housed the Jockey Club was under construction. He’d never heard of Inspīr, but went online and looked it up. “And it’s like, I can’t believe this. This is going to be a high-end retirement community,” McCreadie says. An inquiry turned into a job offer to oversee their food. Given McCreadie’s history with the Jockey Club, the company decided to bring it back.

The new dining room looks nothing like the original; The red leather banquettes and cherry wood paneling have been replaced with white marble and plush, velvety aqua-blue dining chairs, plus a new six-seat chef’s counter overlooking an open kitchen.

Some things haven’t changed. The restaurant is still serving its famed Senegalese lemon soup with curry chicken and golden raisins, as well as Tournedos Rossini, and, of course, Nancy Reagan’s chicken salad. The chef plans to bring back tableside Caesar salads and Dover sole soon.

“A lot of retirement homes use a cafeteria style, where everything’s cooked ahead of time,” McCreadie says. “We wanted this to be like a regular restaurant.”

McCreadie has modernized some recipes and added new dishes, like a butternut squash schnitzel. But the biggest difference in the food? “We don’t use as much salt,” he says. Also, some residents require their food to be cut up for them.

The captive audience means the Jockey Club can count on being packed every night, and regulars are truly regulars. Instead of Yelp, residents have a culinary committee to give feedback on the menu. And unlike most restaurants, the place clears out by 8:30 PM. “The hours are saner,” McCreadie says. “That’s the difference: There’s no late nights.”

The post DC’s Famed Jockey Club Is Back—Inside a Luxury Assisted Living Facility first appeared on Washingtonian.

Can I nominate someone?

The 500 Most Influential People in Policy list is an editorial project, done by journalist David Catanese, who interviews people throughout DC to determine the most important and influential people in policy work at that time. The list is not compiled by counting votes or nominations. That said, we do accept nominations. Click here to find out how to submit a nomination for the 2027 Most Influential People in Policy list, and to read the submission guidelines.

What is the deadline for nominations?

All nominations for the 2027 list are due by Friday, December 4, 2026, at noon.

Is there a charge to be on the list?

No, this is an editorial project, not advertising. You cannot buy your way onto the list.

What are the criteria for making the list?

We look for people who have deep subject-matter expertise and significant understanding of how the nation’s capital works, with the goal of getting action. We want those who understand the nuances and complexities of a particular issue area. And we focus on policy subjects we believe are of special relevance right now to our slate of elected officials.

We avoid big-name “hired guns” whose influence often derives more from their communication skills and network than from their expertise in a particular area. We also don’t include elected officials and Capitol Hill or administration staffers—the influencees, so to speak.

For more submission guidelines, click here.

The post Nominations Are Now Open for 500 Most Influential People List first appeared on Washingtonian.

Two years later, they hosted a water-themed wedding in Maryland, decorated in shades of white, blue, and beige. After the ceremony, officiated by a friend of the groom’s family, guests found their tables at an escort wall that held jars of Old Bay—a take-home treat—with each guests’ name and table number. At the tables, seats were designated by hand-painted oysters with guests’ names.

Dinner included Maryland-style crab cakes with petite filets; dessert was a strawberry shortcake wedding cake and macarons; and for signature cocktails, orange crushes for him and margaritas for her. Other meaningful details included the custom-made welcome bags, each embroidered with guests’ last name and a crab emblem (by the mother of the bride, who runs an embroidery company); monogrammed napkins; the bride’s great-grandfather’s old boat which Peyton refurbished to serve as a bookshelf for the “generations of love” display; and sunset photos with their dog Murphy, whom Megan arranged to have there as a surprise to Peyton. 

See the photos of their big day below. 

The Details

The post Old Bay Was the Main Ingredient in This Waterfront Wedding Design first appeared on Washingtonian.

Popping open a little cardboard window for a piece of generic chocolate is a beloved way for small kids to count down the days before Christmas—but it’s a tradition most generally grow out of. These days though, more brands are drawing adults back to the advent calendar concept with 12- to 25-day decadent or otherwise adult-centric calendars for grownups to enjoy. From beauty products to fancy edible treats, here are TK advent calendars that will have you counting down the days in December.

Drinks and Edible Treats

Beauty

More Grown-up Favorites

The post 19 Advent Calendars for Grownups That Will Have You Counting Down the Days This December first appeared on Washingtonian.

Good morning. Cloudy this morning, then clearing with a high around 72. A low near 46 overnight.

How well do you know the District? Play our new geography game and test your local knowledge. You can find me on Bluesky, I’m @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there’s a link to my email address below. This roundup is available as a morning email newsletter. Sign up here.

I can’t stop listening to

Sylvan Esso, “Coffee.” The North Carolina duo will play play 9:30 tonight with GRRL. That show is sold out, but you can still get tickets for tomorrow’s show. 

Take Washingtonian Today with you! I keep ridiculously long playlists on Apple Music and on Spotify of this year’s music recommendations. Here are 2025’s songs (Apple, Spotify), too.

Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out:

The war

The US rapidly withdrew B-1 bombers from an RAF base in Britain yesterday following threats of an Iranian plot against the facility. (NYT) The unusual move followed, by a week, the arrest of six people who a US official says plotted an attack on the base. (WSJ) Meanwhile, the war between the US and Iran widened as Yemen’s Saudi-backed government took strategic positions on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is currently held by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. (Reuters) The Houthis took an important town in southern Yemen. (AP) Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, said the country would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the US met conditions it set forth in a memorandum of understanding President Trump signed in June. Trump recently rejected an Iranian attempt to reconstitute that peace agreement. (Reuters) Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Trump was aware that the war he launched in February would cause energy prices to shoot up. (CBS News) Americans say those prices are top of mind as the midterm elections approach. (WSJ)

Here’s something fresh to worry about

The US “is monitoring reports of a suspected plague case and related quarantines in Russia.” (Axios) A 28-year-old worker at a research facility in Siberia “died after being diagnosed with a pneumonia of ‘unknown’ origin.” (CNN)

Administration perambulation

The US Supreme Court opens a new term today. Here’s a look at what’s ahead. (NPR) Trump promised a $90 check for millions of US seniors and reiterated his pledge to issue $5,000 checks to American adults if Republicans triumph in next month’s midterms. (WSJ) Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem directed  her agency to buy airplanes from a political donor “at a substantial markup” hours before she left office. (NYT) An inspector general’s report says IRS employees looked up celebs’ tax records. (WSJ) Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department won’t reopen a Trump-prompted criminal investigation of former Fed Chair Jerome Powell. A report by the Fed’s inspector general last week “found no grounds for a criminal referral” regarding an HQ renovation project. (Bloomberg) Trump posted US Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas’ cell phone number in an attempt to pressure him to make daylight saving time permanent. (AP) FBI Director Kash Patel got engaged to his girlfriend, the country singer Alexis Wilkins. (New York Post)

The Best Thing I Ate Last Week, by Ann Limpert:

Georgetown is made for sunny fall days—the sidewalk cafes are packed, and the heirloom pumpkin displays are strong. Plus, few patios are prettier than the narrow, cosseted outdoor space at Chez Billy Sud (which long timers might remember as the former Cafe La Ruche). The French restaurant is doing many things well these days: tall stacks of Bibb lettuce with lots of herbs and vinaigrette, a caramel-streaked rice pudding, a lush potted chicken liver mousse. Best of all, though, was an artful take on Niçoise salad starring perfectly seared and spiced yellowfin tuna against an elegant backdrop of piquillo peppers, fingerling potatoes, and blanched green beans.

Recently on Washingtonian dot com:

• “Wind phones” have appeared around the region; the disconnected kiosks encourage people to voice thoughts they have for loved ones who have died.

• The chef Tracy O’Grady sells surprising spins on chili crisp at the Falls Church Farmers Market—her business Travelers Chili Crisp makes Greek, Thai, even Chesapeake varieties of the popular condiment.

• Photos from our Top Real Estate Agents reception.

Local news links:

Commanders

Marcus Mariota was injured early during the Commanders’ miserable outing in London. Led by third-string QB Athan Kaliakmanis, the team lost to Indianapolis 30-13. (Washington Post) Jayden Daniels could return to the injury-plagued team this week. (Washington Sun) The team plans to make its “spear” logo permanent. (Athletic)

Other local news

• Bruce Springsteen opened his set at this weekend’s Power to the People concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion with a song about the administration’s deadly immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Tom Morello and Dave Matthews played; Jack Smith was spotted wearing a “No Kings” shirt. (AP)

• The Kennedy Center said its Honors will be held at Capital One Arena this year. (Washington Post)

• Southbound lanes on the George Washington Parkway south of Old Town will close between 9:30 AM and 2 PM today through Thursday. (NPS)

• Will the statues Trump had installed at Freedom Plaza come down soon? Perhaps? How can we, mere humans for whom existence is but a hole in the universe, know the future? (Axios D.C.)

• US Park Police stopped a National Guard member from Oklahoma for driving with an expired license plate and charged him with carrying an unlicensed firearm. (AP)

• DC tour guides say their business is crumbling under Trump. (Washington Post)

• Metro will retain colored stripes atop its pylons outside subway stations as battles over its graphic design refresh continue. (Washington Sun)

• Finally, DC has a $30 loaf of bread. (City Cast DC)

The post Commanders’ Season Somehow Gets More Miserable, Jack Smith Spotted in “No Kings” Shirt at Springsteen Show, Pricey Bread Now Available in DC first appeared on Washingtonian.

Guests gathered along the waterfront for an evening of bites, drinks, and conversation while celebrating this year’s honorees and connecting with fellow members of the local real estate community.

Throughout the evening, guests could stop by dedicated lounges from Rate and Chubb, offering spaces to mingle, relax, and connect with fellow attendees. Honorees also had the opportunity to pose with their own signature Washingtonian faux covers, a favorite tradition and staple of Washingtonian events.

Thank you to our sponsors, Rate, Chubb, and Titan Title, for helping make the evening possible.

Thanks also to our venue and event partners for bringing the celebration to life: Fish Shop DC, Lee’s Flowers, Mixing Maryland, Sweet Almond, and Washington Talent Agency.

Photography by Stacey Salter/IC Image Works and Evy Mages.

The post Photos From Washingtonian’s 2026 Top Real Estate Agents Reception first appeared on Washingtonian.

After touring the homes, find a quick meal 15 minutes away at the smash-burger spot Jon’s Joint. The relaxed eatery stacks halal patties onto potato buns; we recommend the jalapeño burger. You can also drive half an hour to Old Town to enjoy a lovely waterfront meal at restaurants such as Ada’s on the River and Barca Pier and Wine Bar. Afterward, spend some time exploring the charming streets, popping in and out of shops.

Looking for more day trip ideas? Check out our Perfect Saturdays series.

The post Tour a Frank Lloyd Wright House in Northern Virginia on This Day Trip first appeared on Washingtonian.

Tariq decided to visit the wind phone, which is housed in a structure that resembles a Little Free Library. A plaque offers instructions: “Pick up the phone, and dial their number, let the wind carry your words.” He was moved by the experience. “It was great to have that outlet in a place surrounded by nature, a quiet place to find some solace,” he says. “I found that very cathartic, and I would love for it to be something we can dedicate to Sean.”

That’s what brought Tariq to Olivia Chao Delfert, founder of the Little Wind Phone Project, which has so far set up wind phones in Silver Spring and Gaithersburg and is looking to expand throughout the DC area. Tariq reached out to her to ask about the possibility of building a wind phone in Falls Church to honor his late friend.

Delfert didn’t invent the wind-phone concept—she came across it while caring for her ailing parents. As she sought ways to channel her emotions, she learned more about the first wind phone, which was built in Japan in 2010. Delfert—who lives in Rockville and works for FEMA—was so drawn to the idea that she experimented with talking into a toy phone of her daughter’s. Sharing her feelings in that way felt “profoundly healing,” she says.

So Delfert launched the Little Wind Phone Project in 2025 and is now teaming up with community members like Tariq who are seeking to honor loved ones and give others a different way to grieve. The Falls Church project is just one of many in the works. Tariq says they’re in the early stages of narrowing down lo-cations and getting the necessary approvals. “I hope we can build that place not just for Sean’s loved ones but anyone who has anything to say to a person they have lost,” he says. “I think it would serve as a great tool for folks who are grieving not just a recent loss but, years later, making sure you continue to have a space to reflect and say your piece.”

The post “Wind Phones” Let People Say Things to Lost Loved Ones first appeared on Washingtonian.

O’Grady says it all started when Hank’s Oyster Bar chef-owner Jamie Leeds, a longtime friend, asked her to help with the initial development of Hank’s Pasta Bar’s build-your-own pasta menu. In the process of brainstorming pasta toppings, O’Grady made a Calabrian chili crisp with garlic, onion, shallots, fennel, oregano, porcini, red pepper, smoked paprika, and of course a lot of Calabrian chili flakes.

“Then I thought, ‘Well, no other cultures are represented in this condiment. It’s only Asian,'” O’Grady says. “‘Well, why stop with Calabrian? Let’s keep going.'”

O’Grady now has a lineup of 11 chili crisps (and counting). She’s named the brand Travelers Chili Crisp for its globe-spanning flavors. Most of them aren’t as spicy as Asian chili crisps. O’Grady says she wanted to focus on flavor development instead.

A “Lower East Side” chili crisp incorporates everything-bagel seasonings and pops of caraway, dill, and coriander. A Greek version channels the flavors of Greek diner-style vinaigrettes. And then there’s the “steak” chili crisp—O’Grady’s answer to Stachowski’s Market owner Jamie Stachowski inquiring about a steak sauce. She went heavy on the black pepper, then added crispy potato bits (a nod to steakhouse potatoes) and molasses, which clumps into another textural goody. She describes the flavor as somewhere between A1, Heinz 57, and au poivre.

Garlic, dehydrated onion, and shallots are in almost all the recipes. O’Grady tries to add culturally appropriate crunchies too, whether its crispy tortilla bits in a Mexican chili crisp or crispy lentils in an Aleppo version.

All the condiments are mixed with sunflower oil and olive oil, but some use clarified butter too. The idea to add the butter came while she was developing an Old Bay-infused Chesapeake crisp, which is meant to be paired with seafood. Her husband Maxwell Brian Wolken, also a former chef, pointed out that if you’re eating crabs, you’re dipping them in butter. O’Grady has also used clarified butter for a schmaltz-like richness in the Lower East Side crisp.

Her newest flavor is the only Asian one: a Thai peanut chili crisp inspired by a peanut dipping sauce from her days working at Kinkead’s. Her version is sweet, sour, and spicy with Thai chilies, lime, coconut, and puffed rice. Indian, Moroccan, and Provencal-inspired crisps are coming later this year.

O’Grady has teamed up with her former business partner from Willow, Kate Jansen, to sell the chili crisps at the year-round Falls Church Farmers Market (300 Park Ave., Falls Church) on Saturdays. The jars cost $12 to $14 each. She’s currently working on getting the approvals to sell the chili crisps for retail across state lines. In the meantime, you can also find the Calabrian chili crisp on the menu at Hank’s Pasta Bar, whose kitchen O’Grady uses for her production. (The brand does not yet have a website.)

“I love the restaurant industry. But given the economics of it, it’s so stressful. I really didn’t think things could get more difficult after Covid, but somehow it seemed to manage that,” O’Grady says. “This gives me the ability to use what I’ve learned through all my years, have a creative outlet, and I get to stand at a farmer’s market and talk to people about food. It’s kind of a chef’s dream job.”

The post Chesapeake Chili Crisp? A DC-Area Chef Is Putting Unexpected Spins on the Condiment. first appeared on Washingtonian.

Sports this weekend: The Washington Capitals open their regular season with a visit to Carolina tonight and another away game against Tampa Bay Saturday. Loudoun United FC host the Indy Eleven at Segra Field Saturday. The Washington Commanders play the Indianapolis Colts in London on Sunday. The Washington Spirit visit the Houston Dash Sunday.

How well do you know the District? Play our new geography game and test your local knowledge. You can find me on Bluesky, I’m @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there’s a link to my email address below. This roundup is available as a morning email newsletter. Sign up here.

I can’t stop listening to:

Medium Build, “In My Room.” Nicholas Carpenter is one of the more quirky frontpeople working today, but he quickly won over the crowd when I saw him open for Tyler Childers at Jiffy Lube Live last year. Medium Build plays the 9:30 Sunday with Ken Yates.

Take Washingtonian Today with you! I keep ridiculously long playlists on Apple Music and on Spotify of this year’s music recommendations. Here are 2025’s songs (Apple, Spotify), too.

Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out:

The war: The US plans to send as many as 10,000 fresh troops and a third aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf as the war President Trump started with Iran in February is now in its eighth month. (WSJ) Trump threatened to hit Iran “very hard” if the US learns it had anything to do with the attack on a flight to Israel from Dubai on Wednesday. (AP) Members of the European Union will consider a plan to “release diesel stocks in response ​to US pressure to help cool surging fuel prices.” (Reuters) Meanwhile, the administration plans to defy Congress and divert military assistance for European and Middle Eastern countries to conservative-led governments in Latin America. (Washington Post)

The ads: The administration took money from border security efforts to pay for campaign-style ads it’s been running on TV with taxpayer funds. (Washington Post) Customs and Border Protection officials “were cut out of the decision to use their agency’s funds.” (NBC News)

Huh: In a wide-ranging interview with Time, Trump said he wanted the Oval Office to be “declared a federal landmark so no one can take down the gilded accents he’s affixed to the walls.” (Washington Sun) Using the familiar technique of telling a difficult-to-verify story that begins with someone calling him “sir,” the President also claimed the Secret Service suggested he knock down the Oval Office. (Washington Post)

Administration perambulation: The Justice Department will review “whether the special prosecutor’s office that investigated the famed Watergate break-in committed misconduct.” Some Republicans view parallels between Trump and President Nixon and feel the latter may have been treated unfairly. (WSJ) A federal judge in Seattle overruled Trump’s firing of a court-appointed US Attorney in Washington state. The administration plans to appeal. (Politico) Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director who has encouraged prosecutions of Trump’s perceived enemies, “moved this week to slash the inspector general’s office that scrutinizes his actions.” (NYT) Jay Clayton, the director of national intelligence, is likely to be Trump’s “AI czar.” (CBS News) FBI agents arrested a Massachusetts man and charged him with stalking former White House adviser Katie Miller. (NBC News) The family of Renee Good sued the US government and the ICE officer who shot and killed her in Minneapolis in January. (AP) The TSA banned its officers from sitting down while on the job. (Washington Post) Major League Baseball gave up on an idea to hold a game in Grand Teton National Park, saying that subsequent feedback from the public made it reconsider. (Washington Post)

It’s almost time for holiday markets (believe it or not):

Despite summerlike conditions, we’ve made it to October. You may be just starting to think about Halloween costumes, but others are looking ahead to the winter holidays. At a press conference this week, Downtown DC Holiday Market announced that the annual shopping event will run for 40 days this year, from November 13 through December 23. The 2026 market will also feature 17 new vendors, selling everything from intricately-designed press-on nails (Nailluxe) to honey in fun flavors such as raspberry blossom and ghost pepper (Laura’s Raw Honey). Opening weekend coincides with the tree lighting at CityCenterDC, so you can plan an evening of holiday spirit in downtown DC before the Thanksgiving turkey even hits the table. —Helena Getahun-Hawkins

Recently on Washingtonian dot com:

• The elaborate Turkish breakfasts at the Manassas restaurant My Cravingz draw fans from all over—one family even bought a house nearby to be closer.

• It’s just about pumpkin-picking season. You can also make plans to hit a fall festival.

• Laugh it up at a comedy show this fall.

• Area designers talk about the latest kitchen trends.

• The guest list for our imaginary dinner party this month.

• A “Mariachi Disco”–themed wedding in Virginia.

Local news links:

Canoe Guy victorious: A federal judge dismissed the feds’ vandalism case against Olympic canoeist David Hearn with prejudice, saying Trump’s statements about the case raised the possibility of “a meritless, politically driven prosecution in the future.” (You should give the decision a read if you can.)  (Washington Post) Hearn is scheduled to headline a demonstration about Trump’s plans for East Potomac Park this weekend. (Washingtonian) Related: The Interior Department will pay a Maryland company more than $3 million to repair turf on the National Mall damaged by still-unknown person or persons who etched the numbers “86” and “47” into the grass. Trump also had a stage built on that spot for his July 4 fiesta. (Washington Sun)

• The Right Reverend Mariann Budde announced that she’ll step down as the Episcopal bishop of Washington in June 2028. Budde, who’s become known for confronting Trump, plans to return to Minnesota. The diocese will elect a new leader in January 2028. (Religion News Service)

• DoorDash apologized for supporting a Republican bill that would have limited the District’s ability to impose taxes. Blowback to the decision in DC was fierce, and DoorDash still seems to have a little trouble with local ways—its statement refers to something called the “D.C. City Council.” (Washington Sun)

• The Department of Justice sued the state of Maryland and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties over bans on federal officials wearing masks. (NBC4 Washington)

• Amazon agreed to pay more than $8 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Brian Schwalb. The suit alleged Amazon excluded two Zip codes in DC—which happen to have a lot of Black residents—from speedy deliveries. (City Cast DC)

• Charles Rucker pleaded guilty to killing three-year-old Honesty Cheadle in DC last July. Trump cited the toddler’s death when he declared a crime emergency in the District. Rucker will be sentenced in December. (Washington Post)

• US Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia, who’s pondering a return to his old job as the state’s governor, sold a “massive stake” in the Greenbrier Resort to a New York hedge fund. (Washington Sun)

• The Prince George’s County Council has awarded grants worth millions of dollars to an organization run by the best friend of Council Chair Krystal Oriadha. (NBC4 Washington)

• OMG the flyovers. All these flyovers! Trump’s fascination with airborne displays of military might has landed hard on Washingtonians’ ears. (Mother Jones)

• Prince Edward laid a wreath at George Washington‘s tomb at Mount Vernon yesterday. (Alexandria Living)

• Police in Arlington charged an Annandale man with firing a gun while he was drunk and fishing on the Potomac. Whatever happened to freedom? (ARLnow)

Weekend event picks:

Friday: The Washington West Film Festival opens in Reston.

Saturday: Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Tom Morello, and many more artists play the first-ever Power to the People festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Sunday: Take a whiskey walking tour in Mount Pleasant.

See more lots more picks for the weekend from Briana Thomas, who writes our great Things to Do newsletter.

The post Canoe Guy Vindicated, DoorDash Apologizes for Ticking Off DC Residents, and Holiday Market Season—Really!—Approaches first appeared on Washingtonian.