Ding Dong 2024 is dead

Happy New Year!

We ended our year on a banger note thanks to all of you: We reached our goal of 2,000 paid subscribers, which means that we're now funded through the middle of the year! Considering this newsletter didn't even exist a few months ago, this coda to 2024 feels pretty monumental.

Still, the blank canvas of a new year is feeling more formidable than usual. We don't know what 2025 will bring for our city, but we do have big plans for our little newsroom. We’re hoping that with continued fundraising, we’ll be able to start working at this full time, ramping up the number of stories and newsletters we publish, and spending more time in the community connecting with you. (In case you missed it: George Kevin Jordan just joined the team as The 51st's first community connector. He'll be reaching out to neighbors in Ward 7 about what they want to see from local news.)

Whatever 2025 has in store, we're thrilled to be able to say we're here to face it with you. We hope to bring clarity, accountability, and some fun to what is likely to be, if nothing else, a very significant year.

To new beginnings, even the overwhelming ones.

Abigail Higgins

The saga of RFK Stadium, explained

In late December, Congress approved a bill transferring control of the site of the former Robert F. Kennedy Stadium to D.C. This long awaited development will finally allow the city to use the sprawling campus for housing, retail, parks — and yes, a new stadium for the Washington Commanders. Whether the stadium comes to pass remains to be seen, but either way, the transfer of the parcel — one of the biggest in the city’s history — will offer D.C. a rare opportunity to create a whole new neighborhood along the banks of the Anacostia River.

Meet the Washingtonians who've spent years mastering the National Cathedral's bells

A group of dedicated bell ringers has been practicing this old British art form in the central bell tower of the National Cathedral since the 1960s. We spent a Sunday learning (or, watching, rather) the ropes with them.

For its owners, Columbia Heights mainstay Pho Viet is a labor of love

Stepping into Pho Viet is like entering a botanical haven. The patio is draped in cascading ivy and lush ferns, shading a few tables during warmer months. Indoors, vibrant orchids adorn the counters, enlivening the restaurant with verdant touches. For owners Phi-Nhung Nguyen and Minh Chau, affectionately known to regulars as Nina and Mike, these displays are about more than beauty — they’re a labor of love, a reflection of tradition, and a gift to the community. 

ICYMI: We’re launching a Community Connectors program. First up, Ward 7

Like many transplant journalists, reading outlets like DCist, Washington City Paper, and the Washington Informer is how George Kevin Jordan discovered who D.C. residents are and what they want. So, when The 51st wanted to pilot a new program focused on building relationships with community members, he couldn’t raise his hand high enough.

We hope you got a chance to unplug over the holidays. Here's some of the news you might have missed.

• What D.C. read in 2024, thanks to public libraries. [DCPL]
• In 2024, DMV crank, the "cacophonous rap subgenre" crafted by D.C.-area musicians, was everywhere. [Hearing Things]
• The former head of MPD’s intelligence unit was convicted of feeding information to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio in the lead up to Jan. 6. [Informer]
• Southeast D.C. is getting a new hospital as part of efforts to address health disparities in Ward 7 and 8, where life expectancy is about 15 years lower than the rest of the city. [The Post]
• Washingtonians celebrate Kwanzaa, capping off a difficult year with culture and community. [Informer]
• Resolving to buy less in the new year? This guide to thrifting in the DC region might help. [City Cast]
• We need things to look forward to in 2025 — and D.C.’s top chefs delivered with these culinary predictions (except for rising prices and AI recipes). [WCP]
• Trump’s transition team eyes increased involvement in D.C. public safety. [WCP]
• Behold, the city’s “best, worst, and weirdest” political moments of this year. [WCP]
• With rising odds for a snowy Sunday evening, D.C. might have an actual winter after all. [WTOP]
• The end of 2024 also meant the end of the beloved Circulator; An ode to its final rotation. [The Post]
• A grim memorial: More than 120 homeless people died in D.C. in 2024. [The Post]
• It’s been a long year. Reflect on it through the eyes of City Paper’s longtime photographer Darrow Montgomery. [WCP]
• 2025 joys: A Trump rally set to precede inauguration. [WTOP]

Washrag

A place to highlight and discuss local gossip.

Meanwhile, this morning, the D.C. Council held its swearing in ceremony at the Convention Center. Ward 8's Trayon White, who has pleaded not guilty to federal bribery charges, apologized to D.C. after taking an oath of office for a third term. As we covered last month, his colleagues have made a recommendation to expel White from the council. An official vote is expected for February.

Your Civics Download

You’ll find this handy guide to public meetings at the bottom of every edition of The 51st. We’ll refine and improve along the way, so if you think we’re missing resources, please let us know!

It's a slow start to public meetings this year but there are still ways to plug in, and some handy things to know.

• On Thursday, Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. WMATA is hosting a public, in-person hearing about proposed changes to the vent shaft at the Gallery Place Metro stop. As a part of the major Capitol One Arena reno plans, WMATA has proposed moving the vent shaft to allow for construction activity over the existing sidewalk grate. The hearing will take place at the Henry Benson DC Gallery, or you can watch and testify online. You can also leave feedback in a survey.
• In with the old out with the new: It's time to turn your holiday cheer into mulch! From January 2-February 28 DPW will be collecting Christmas trees from the curb. Here's everything you need to know.
• Thanks to Alex Taliadoros on Twitter for this handy roundup of new D.C. laws now in effect.

We hope this newsletter helped start your 2025 off right. Take care of yourselves this week and see you next Thursday!

– Abigail Higgins