Have you heard? The Queen of England died!
People around the world are reflecting on Queen Elizabeth II’s complicated legacy, and while the United Kingdom’s history of colonialism is, at the very least, troubling, the queen did play a role in shaping parts of D.C. more than 200 years after the United States formally declared its independence from the monarchy.
The queen visited D.C. in 1991 as part of a whirlwind U.S. tour that included stops at the White House and an affordable housing development in Marshall Heights. There, she was embraced by a resident, Alice Frazier. The moment made for an awkward photo, but left a lasting impression on former mayor Sharon Pratt, who accompanied the queen on her visit. A street in the development, formerly known as Drake Place SE, was renamed Queen’s Stroll Place SE, a name that remains in place today.
Visiting the British Embassy yesterday, staff photographer Darrow Montgomery found visitors honoring the late royal with flowers and photos.
We also bid farewell to another shaper of D.C. this week. Arthur Cotton Moore, the architect behind iconic landmarks like Georgetown’s Washington Harbour, the modernized Old Post Office, and the renovated Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress, died on Sept. 4. He’s credited with preserving pieces of historic Washington while also railing against downtown D.C.’s less beautiful office buildings. (They were “short, fat, and sexless,” he told Washingtonian in 1966.)
Sure, the aesthetic appeal of Washington Harbour can be debated, but it does bring people to the waterfront. In a city that can often feel landlocked, the effort is appreciated.
—Caroline Jones (tips? cjones@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- To see today’s COVID-19 data, visit our coronavirus tracker.
- It was another bad morning for Metro: A fire on a train seat temporarily suspended service between Federal Center Southwest and Stadium/Armory and sent one WMATA employee to the hospital. Of course, WMATA GM Randy Clarke kept everyone informed online. [Post, Twitter]
- Cue the Neil Young and look up to the sky: The harvest moon rises tonight at 7:29 p.m. [WJLA]
- D.C.-based Industrial Bank received $82 million in federal funding through a U.S. Treasury program. That amount of capital will allow the bank to nearly double in size. [NBC Washington]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Mayor Muriel Bowser is finally acting to set up a local government response to migrants being bused to the city from Texas and Arizona, declaring a public emergency and setting aside $10 million to establish a new “Office of Migrant Services.” Activists who have been on the ground are cautiously awaiting her plans, though some feel she’s simply “five months too late.” [DCist, Post]
- The D.C. Court of Appeals rejected a last-ditch effort by opponents of Initiative 82 to keep the tipped wage measure off the November ballot. This should mark the end of the legal wrangling over I-82 ahead of the election. [Twitter]
- Some of the political newcomers in the at-large Council race charge that sitting lawmakers (including current contenders Kenyan McDuffie and Elissa Silverman) haven’t done enough to come up with solutions to violent crime. [Post]
By Alex Koma (tips? akoma@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- Congratulations to the teams at Daru in Northeast D.C. and Z&Z Manoushe Bakery in Rockville. Both spots were included on Bon Appétit’s list of best new restaurants. [Bon Appétit]
- Expect the new Eighteenth Street Lounge to be quite different from the original. For one thing, it’s now on 9th Street NW. It’s also serving food. [Eater]
- Chef Ryan Ratino is bringing European elegance to his new, nameless restaurant opening soon at The Wharf. [Washingtonian]
- Tom Sietsema still has high praise for The Tombs’ upscale bar food, so put on your boat shoes and head to Georgetown. [Post]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
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By Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)
- We’ve got Frances Fever and the only cure is more tennis. Frances Tiafoe, currently the region’s most popular athlete, plays in the semifinals of the U.S. Open today at 7 p.m. and The Brighton is hosting a happy hour watch party. [Instagram]
- Former City Paper sports editor Kelyn Soong reflects on a match he, a 24-year-old, lost to a 13-year-old Tiafoe. [Post]
- It’s the NFL’s opening weekend but one formerly devoted Commanders fan won’t be watching. [Washingtonian]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
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