{What’s in that empty storefront? Which favorite chef is opening up where, and when? All those details and more in Coming Soon.

ACTIVATE

PROJECTED OPENING: Late July 2025 20964 Southbank Street, Sterling, VA Activate, the world’s first active gaming facility and viral social media sensation, will open its first Virginia location in Sterling’s Cascade Marketplace this July. The 9,212-square-foot location will deliver a mix of action-packed fun designed for players of all ages. Activate transforms group entertainment into an interactive, adrenaline-fueled experience. The Sterling location will feature 11 high-tech game rooms – including the TikTok viral Mega Grid, Laser, Scan and Control, to name a few – designed to react in real time, keeping players engaged at every turn. For more information, click here.
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{Keeping you up to date on the absolute latest in restaurant openings in the DC Metro area.

SELVA

1223 Connecticut Avenue NW Antonis Karagounis and Chef Giovanni Orellana have opened a new restaurant, Selva, in Dupont Circle. Selva is a union between Karagoinis’ Mediterranean heritage and Orellana’s Latin American roots. Menu highlights include Ceviche del Pescado, Arroz Chaufa, Pollo Loco, and more. Tropical cocktails are curated by industry bar veteran, Dennis Garcia. Selva’s jungle-inspired interior is paired with an electric Latin nightlife energy that accentuates the thread between dinner and party. The atmosphere is both intimate and lively, with 53 seats inside and 15 on the outdoor patio. Selva aims to be more than a restaurant—it’s a celebration of Latin American culture, resilience, and creativity, all seen through a globally-inspired lens. For more information, click here.
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All the food news that you can use.

Vive La France! Bastille Day 2025

Bastille Day, La Fête Nationale,  is July 14, and whether you're French or just fluent in Champagne there's plenty to celebrate. This historic holiday marks the storming of the Bastille and the spark of the French Revolution, but around the DC Metro area, it also means bubbly toasts, and très magnifique soirées. So don your best bleu-blanc-rouge and click through TheListAreYouOnIt.com for all the Bastille Day fêtes and feasts. Santé! 
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Where is Nycci? Here, there, and everywhere in media outlets across the city.

Eater: Moon Rabbit hosts top female pastry...

This Sellout Collab Pizza in D.C. Is Here to Stay; Plus, a Mount Pleasant mainstay celebrates seven years, Moon Rabbit hosts top female pastry chefs (featuring mini interviews by Nycci Nellis), and more intel from Emily Venezky for Eater DC, here.Photo: Maria Rebrikova for Slice & Pie 
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Take a deep dive into the Industry and beyond.

Industry Night: The Cocktail Culture with...

Hey there, Nycci Nellis here, and welcome to another episode of Industry Night!Today’s show is a special one. I’m coming to you from the gorgeous, sun-dappled patio of a.kitchen+bar in the West End of DC. Seriously, it’s a little oasis right in the middle of the city, so chic.Later in the show, I am joined by two of DC’s biggest hospitality stars,  Chad Spangler and Glendon Hartley. You know them from the award-winning Service Bar, Causa, and Amazonia, and we dive into their journey, their evolution, and what’s next for their ever-growing culinary empire.But first, I kick things off with the a.kitchen+bar team. Big thanks to Ellen Yin and crew for hosting us. Ellen, as many of you know, is a James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur and a powerhouse in the industry.I catch up with Ellen and Diana Kendrick about what’s happening her at a.kitchen+bar, including a BBQ series that’s bringing top chefs, and a whole lot of heat.To all my Industry Night listeners, thank you. Whether you’re tuning in on your favorite podcast platform or watching on YouTube, I’m so grateful for your support.Be sure to subscribe, never miss a morsel, and I’ll see you next time on Industry Night!Listen to the full episode here or watch it here.  
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