#white-house-state-dinner

#white-house-state-dinner

Food has been used as more than a form of sustenance. Food trade melds cultures and stimulates economies, religious traditions almost always involve some aspect of food, and, most importantly, food brings people together.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US will occur in late April, marking the king's first visit as monarch.

America's 16th president didn't have an especially large appetite. Although he stood at 6 feet 4 inches tall, Abraham Lincoln was characterized by a decidedly gaunt frame, not betraying any penchant for food (even though he inspired the name for the Log Cabin maple syrup brand). For a truly good meal, by his standards, Lincoln named humble corn cakes as his all-time favorite food, and was also known to favor simple, Southern home-cooking classics like corned beef and cabbage and chicken fricassee.

Last month, I found myself at a friend's dinner table, surrounded by strangers. What started as polite small talk about the weather quickly evolved into a fascinating discussion about urban development, the role of art in society, and how different countries approach healthcare. Three hours flew by. Walking home that night, I realized something. The people who seemed most at ease weren't necessarily the ones with the most degrees or the fanciest job titles.

Grenell, long known for his hyper-aggressive confrontations with journalists and political rivals on Twitter and then X, served as US ambassador to Germany and then acting director of national intelligence during Trump's first term. He was appointed despite no prior arts experience. Grenell was a central player in Trump's push to dramatically overhaul the Kennedy Center following the president's return to office.

1250 Ninth St., NW The original Shaw location of this Jersey-style pizza spot is offering $40 dinners and $35 brunches through February 1 (the Navy Yard offshoot is closed for the winter). Go for focaccia breadsticks with truffle fondue, the olive-and-mozz'-laden house salad, and pies such as the white Sedgewick or spicy Godfather.

In 2024, DC got a slew of thrilling, genre-busting restaurants, from Dōgon to Pascual to La' Shukran to Moon Rabbit. This past year was different: more safe, less boundary-pushing. Major openings included copies and spinoffs of existing restaurants (Chai Pani, Lucky Danger) and Stephen Starr's revamp of the century-old Occidental. And 2025 closed out with two flashy new steak spots from big restaurant groups. Not exactly groundbreaking.

Alison Luchs, a National Gallery of Art curator, has recently gone viral through funny Instagram videos. Dan Kolko is the new play-by-play announcer for the Washington Nationals, replacing the now-retired Bob Carpenter. Doni Crawford has been appointed to fill Kenyan McDuffie's seat on the DC Council.

American diplomats are supposed to represent the nation, advocate for the interests and policies of the U.S. government, and stay on generally good terms with the country to which they're assigned. Even when they are sent to places that have an adversarial relationship with the United States, they are expected to maintain decorum while conveying messages these regimes may not want to hear.

We wanted the day to reflect the city we love-elegant, timeless, and full of character-while giving our guests a formal and unforgettable experience in the heart of the nation's capital.

Through Friday, January 30 Through Saturday, January 31 Through Sunday, February 1 Ala (Levantine; Bethesda) Dinner only.

This Sunday brings three capital-B Bowls: Super, Puppy and Benito. See below for our recommendations for where to spend your favorite one. Bad Bunny fans who want to get the halftime show started early have several dance party options Saturday night, and area bars (including Atlas Brew Works) are hosting events for the Winter Olympics from Opening Ceremonies onward. In addition to early Valentine's Day celebrations, this week has cozy crafting nights, another "Heated Rivalry" party and the kickoff of the D.C. Independent Film Festival.

The president shared the 62-second video on Thursday, just before midnight, which pushes a conspiracy about manipulated vote-counting machines but concludes by cutting to an AI clip that shows the faces of the Obamas superimposed on apes' bodies for roughly a second, accompanied by the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight. The video carries a watermark linked to a pro-Trump account on X with tens of thousands of followers.