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Due South Dockside is now open on the Capitol Riverfront Boardwalk behind the flagship restaurant.  Along with incredible waterfront views, the venue offers an extensive bar along with a wide variety of classic Due South dishes.

Dockside’s grand opening on Thursday, April 5 was a huge success, attracting dozens of Nationals fans before, during and after the game. Fans without tickets were thrilled to find an oasis in Dockside, serving as a relaxing place to watch the game on the venue’s outdoor television and sound system. Navy Yard locals also stopped by, eager to try their neighborhood’s newest outdoor bar and grill.

On Opening Day, Chef Rusty Holman crafted a delicious menu featuring dishes such as Pulled Pork Nachos, Smokehouse Chili, BBQ Sliders, Hot Dogs, Chili Dogs and the Summer House Sandwich. The restaurant plans to expand upon the menu as the warmer weather approaches this spring and summer.

Dockside’s bar features beers on tap, including Pacifico, Due South Lager and Devil’s Backbone Earned Run Ale. In addition to beer, wine and spirits, Dockside also offers Frosé, the perfect accompaniment to a warm summer day in Navy Yard.

The growing number of fur-parents in Navy Yard will be pleased to know that Dockside is dog-friendly. It will be the perfect spot for two- and four-legged friends to stop and grab drinks after long strolls down the boardwalk this summer.

Dockside will be open at least two hours before and after each Nationals home game throughout April. Beginning May 1, Dockside plans to be open at 11 a.m. daily, weather permitting. Until then, guests can visit https://duesouthdc.com/events/ or follow @duesouthdc on Instagram for the latest hours of operation.

Located less than a quarter-mile from Nats Park, Due South Dockside is the perfect locale for upcoming Nationals pre- and post-game celebrations, along with MLB All Star gatherings, up to 100 people. To learn more or to book, call the Georgetown Events catering team at 202-660-2165 or email [email protected].

Film Credits: Ben Carver and Tass Mimikos

By criminal defense attorney Thomas Soldan, who is barred and practices in the state of Virginia, with Price Benowitz LLP. Soldan has focused his practice on reckless driving, DUI/DWI, traffic, and personal injury litigation.

Insurance companies are now tracking how their insured are using their cell phones and will either penalize them or reward them based on their findings.

Using technology based on the phone’s accelerometer, which measures its forward motion, and gyroscope, which tracks its navigation, companies such as Allstate can discover whether the driver is moving, whether the phone is unlocked, and whether they were using an app. This information can be tracked only if the driver downloads the app and keeps the phone off airplane mode.

Allstate is considering whether this information on a driver’s phone usage should determine what their insurance rates should be. Arity, a subsidiary of Allstate, determined, based on an analysis of data of hundreds of thousands of Allstate customers and 160 million trips, that drivers who drive while using their phones are indeed more dangerous.

Using this research, they found that distracted drivers get in more accidents and those accidents are more severe. In addition, these drivers cost insurance companies up to 160 percent more than those drivers who are not distracted. Before this technology goes into effect it will need approval from state insurance offices.

Technology already exists to help prevent distracted driving. For instance, the Cellcontrol app begins working as soon as the driver sits in the driver’s seat. It uses a black box a person puts in the center of the car’s windshield and using Bluetooth, blocks the driver’s cell phone from working.

It splits the car’s seats into different areas and recognizes the driver’s area, while allowing phones to work in all other spaces, where passengers sit. In addition, it sends an immediate response if the blocked phone gets a call or a text, explaining why the call or text is not being answered.

“This new technology could be a great tool for insurance companies to promote safe driving,” said Thomas Soldan, a personal injury lawyer. “It could really help promote safe driving and help determine fault after an accident. Working with lawyer who is experienced with dealing with insurance companies is invaluable to protecting the rights of drivers.”

By immigration lawyer Natalia Segermeister, who is barred and practices in the state of New York, with The Visa Firm.

The Supreme Court overturned a Ninth Circuit ruling from 2015 that held that immigrants held in custody awaiting a removal hearing were entitled to a bond hearing after six months of detention, and then every six months after that, finding instead that no such right existed, and remanded the decision back to the Ninth Circuit for a ruling consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision.

Currently, immigrants who are detained by immigration enforcement officials can be detained indefinitely while awaiting a hearing to determine whether they should be removed.

There is no consistency in determining who is released while awaiting hearings and who is detained. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of numerous detained individuals seeking to ensure that those detained had a bond hearing.

“What this means is that all immigrants should be aware of their current status, and know that arrest for even minor violations could result in long-term detention,” said Natalia Segermeister, an immigration law attorney with The Visa Firm in Washington, DC. “No final decision has been made, but the Supreme Court has made it clear that they believe the Constitution does not provide a right to a regular bond hearing. This creates serious jeopardy for any immigrant that is detained. The current administration’s approach to immigrants only increases their anxiety.”

The ACLU estimates that 10 to 20 percent of the 36,000 immigrants currently detained and awaiting hearing have been detained longer than six months. (more…)

This column is written and sponsored by D.C. real estate agent and Edgewood resident Jessica Evans. Email her questions at  [email protected].

We’re flying through the steps of the home-buying process with just a few more to go. If you have missed any or want to start at the beginning, you can do that here.

Now that you’ve made it through the home inspection, and have a ratified contract on a home, we’re on to part 2 of the financing process. Financing part 1 was choosing a lender and pre-approval. Now that you have a home lined up to purchase, it’s time for part 2, the loan application and other steps needed to receive your financing on the settlement day.

The loan approval process is in many ways very similar to the loan pre-approval process. In addition to filling out a loan application you will be requested to submit documents. Depending on your financial situation this may be the same documents requested for pre-approval or many more.

Expect your entire financial (and tax) situation to be examined under a microscope with numerous requests for documentation. During this time it is important that there are no substantial changes to your financial situation, in particular:

• Don’t move any funds without discussing with your lender.
• Don’t make any large deposits unless you are able to document the source of the funds.
• Receiving gift funds? These need to be properly documented. Do not accept or deposit gift funds without speaking to your lender.
• Do not apply for new debt of any kind. This includes credit cards, car loans, or refinancing any of your existing loans (unless recommended by your lender).
• Consider credit monitoring (during your search and through settlement) to make sure that there are no unauthorized changes to your credit score.

While the the information that you provide your lender will confirm that you qualify for your loan, the other part of the equation is making sure that the property that you are purchasing qualifies.

Since the property you are purchasing will be collateral for your loan, the bank wants to make sure that your loan is based on the market value and that there are no conditions that would have a substantial impact on their ability to sell the property in the event of foreclosure.

How does a bank know what the home your buying is worth? This is where the appraisal comes in. Your lender will order your appraisal, and it will be conducted by a third party service provider. The appraiser will have a copy of the sale contract. They will visit the home to take measurements, document the size and condition, and note any adverse conditions. (more…)

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If you’re craving a meal that spans the globe, Taste of 8th is where you need to be on Saturday, April 28 from 1-4 p.m.

Your culinary journey begins near Eastern Market Metro station on Barracks Row (8th Street, SE). The event will feature 24 nearby restaurants serving up tapas sized samples of everything from Greek and Korean to Belgian and Serbian.

Past participants include Ambar, Cava, Matchbox, Souk, Pineapple and Pearls, Nooshi Sushi, Medium Rare, Lavagna, and many more.

Guests need not pick just one cuisine! By purchasing a 5 Pack of tasting tickets you can curate your own international lunch, course by course. Early bird pricing of $15 for 5 tickets ends on April 20. The price then increases to $20 until midnight April 27. Tickets are available to buy at the event for $5.00.

The annual event is sponsored by Barracks Row Main Street, which celebrates the area’s historic buildings and businesses, including over 30 restaurants. Tickets sales will benefit the group’s year-round work to maintain a clean and safe community.

This is guaranteed to be your best lunch deal in D.C. that day — don’t miss it.