18th and M Street, NW

BIG SHOES to fill here…

Thanks to Kim and Marianne for sending from “18th and M Street, NW… former vapiano spot.”

Sorella’s IG says: “Coming Fall 2026

Note: Balos opened at 1900 N Street, NW back in 2023: “Greek restaurant inspired by island of Crete opens in Dupont Circle”.

Vapiano closed here back in 2021. RIP Vapiano forever but hopefully this a worthy replacement…

Lots more photos: (more…)


On a chilly winter evening, players at a DC Fray soccer league did a double-take when an unexpected new teammate wandered out of the zoo and right onto the pitch: a polar bear! Towering over defenders, surprisingly light on its feet, and clearly loving the game, the bear blended right in, trading passes, chasing goals, and proving that even the wildest creatures can’t resist the joy of social sports. Spectators rubbed their eyes, teammates laughed in disbelief, and for a moment, it seemed like DC had just witnessed the world’s first ever animal soccer prodigy.

Okay…so maybe there wasn’t actually a polar bear playing soccer. But the fun, friendships, and unforgettable moments are very real, and you can sign up now through Tuesday, January 20th for any of our 120+ DC Fray winter social sports leagues happening all across the DMV!

If your 2026 resolution is to meet more people, do more fun stuff, and look forward to Tuesdays (or Wednesdays…or any day of the week), DC Fray’s sports leagues, events, and Fraylife+ membership are the place to be.

👟 Get in the Game

Kick off the year with 120+ DC Fray social sports leagues across the DMV including soccer, cornhole, pickleball, flag football, and much more. No tryouts, no pressure, just good vibes and a fun addition to your week. On cold winter evenings in the city, it’s the perfect excuse to get out of the house and give your week a spark of fun. Whether you’re meeting new people, strengthening old friendships, or finally convincing your longtime group chat to become an actual team, DC Fray’s leagues give you something to look forward to and reminds you that play still belongs in adult life.

Registration is open through Tuesday, January 20th, so register soon before spots fill up! Register solo or with a group to get added to a team, or create your own team. However you want to roll into 2026, we’ve got you.

🎟️ Join the Club

Our Fraylife+ social club is designed for players, socializers, and community-lovers across the DMV. Think of it as your year-round ticket to a more fun 2026 with perks like discounted event tickets, giveaways, free select DC Fray sports leagues and 25% off all other leagues, substituting into any individual league game for free with Sub-Squad, and much more!

💡 New Year, New Experiences

Check out our events calendar for a stacked lineup of exciting new events across the DMV happening this winter. Your new year starts here.

This winter, don’t wait for fun. Start your new year with it. Join DC Fray and spice up your week with play, energy, and community all season long. ❄️🔥



via google maps

Ed. Note: Alert DC did report an OUC outage at 1:19am last night: “DC 911 is experiencing an intermittent telephone service disruption. If your 911 call does not go through, please text 911. We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”

2:02am Update: “The service issue is resolved. Please call 911 if you are experiencing an emergency.”

“Dear PoPville,

At least 7 shots were fired immediately in a row at/around 13 & shepherd last night. 911, after 5 minutes, still didn’t pick up – if someone was dying they were dead by then. (more…)


Thanks to Payton for sending this super cool “Fox outside Audi Field, for the most part darting between the rain gardens.”

If you spot a hawk, any interesting wildlife or celebrity skateboarder Tony Hawk, and get a good photo please send in an email where you spotted them to [email protected]. Thanks! Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.



photo by Adam Fagen

You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have. But please no personal attacks and no need to correct people’s grammar. This is a place to vent and/or celebrate things about daily life in D.C.

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Photo by angela n.

From the office of Councilmember Charles Allen:

“The following statement is from DC Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6), as the country marks the five-year anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol to prevent the democratic certification of the 2020 US Presidential Election:

“Five years ago today, Ward 6 neighbors, DC residents, and Americans lived through a traumatic attack that shook this country’s very foundations. A mob, rallied by President Trump, attacked the US Capitol to disrupt Congress’ duty to certify the Presidential election results, assaulting the men and women of DC’s Metropolitan Police Department who were the first to answer the call from the US Capitol Police. During the insurrection, more than 100 law enforcement officers were injured, and President Trump notably refused to activate the National Guard. One US Capitol Police officer died from injuries they sustained, and three responding MPD officers and one US Capitol Police officer died by suicide in the months after. The violence placed thousands more in harm’s way. President Trump then granted more than 1,500 pardons to the insurrectionists at the start of his second term. The President’s message is clear: If you support me, the law does not apply to you. (more…)


Thanks to Becca for sending this happy guy from “the corner of Penn NW and 7th NW. Quite a few folks stopped to see him but he kept munching unbothered.”

Friends of the White Whale Society is brought to you by the team behind Hawks*** around Town. You can email your sightings to [email protected]

If you spot a hawk, any interesting wildlife or celebrity skateboarder Tony Hawk, and get a good photo please send in an email where you spotted them to [email protected]. Thanks! Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.

From the White Squirrel Institute(!!?!!):

What is a white squirrel? (more…)


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