Downtowner News Briefs, Nov. 8
By • November 8, 2021 0 1127
Uptown Theater Reopening
The popular moviegoing venue established in 1936, The Uptown Theater, has entered preliminary talks to reopen. When it closed in March last year, Cleveland Park (and citywide) residents were devastated. According to WTOP, Commissioner Sauleh Siddiqui of ANC 3C introduced a resolution at Monday’s meeting to see a Class D/X license for beer and wine to be sold and consumed at a multiuse facility (like a theater…) The ‘Cleveland Park’ Twitter account @CPITC tweeted Oct. 12 that the venue was coming back as a Landmark Theater. To get an idea of the type of theater opening, savvy movie-goers may have already visited the Landmark Bethesda Row cinema.
Health Code Violations Shut Down Local Popeyes Chicken
We hope you already ate lunch with this one. A Popeyes near the Eastern Market neighborhood was shut down due to a viral TikTok video showing rats all over its kitchen. A man who delivered raw chicken to D.C.-area locations of local Popeyes made the video when he entered the 409 8th St. SE store. When he gets to the kitchen and turns on a light over a dozen rats run up the wall into the ceiling while others dash across the floor. The man counted 15 in all. He jokingly asked his audience: “You still love that chicken from Popeyes?”
Rats! A viral TikTok video has put a D.C. Popeyes on the map, but not in a good way.
Conditions at DC Jail Exposed, Hundreds Transferred
Around 400 inmates out of a D.C. jail at 1901 D St. SE will be moved to a federal prison a few hundred miles from the city. A surprise inspection resulted in a finding of “systemic” mistreatment of detainees, unsanitary living conditions, denial of food and water and more, according to The Washington Post. A formal summary of the inspection is still being prepared.
Metro Introduces Possible Fare Cuts to Lure Riders Back
Metro is still feeling the effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The agency is proposing possibly lower late-night fares and weekly and monthly passes for riders. As many Washingtonians are working more from home, Metro is hyping leisure trips outside of the normal 9-to-5. Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld proposed a budget that assumes ridership will be slow to get back to normal and federal aid will continue to be a necessity. The budget draft included a $2 flat late-night fare and price cuts for passes for workers who telework more often now.
D.C. Metro is exploring how to win back riders. Georgetowner photo.
Somber Anniversary Remembered
In early October, the bells at the National Cathedral tolled 700 times, honoring the 700,000 people in the country who have died from Covid-19. The Bourdon bell began tolling at 5 p.m., once for every 1,000 people who passed away. It took over an hour to complete the whole remembrance. Today, the pandemic has taken more than 750,000 Americans.
D.C. Council Talks Student Vaccine Mandate
The D.C. Council is thinking about adding a new vaccine for students of every age, requiring all licensed child development facilities (including staff and students) to be fully immunized against Covid-19. According to DC City Paper, this bill would include all public, charter and private schools. The bill was introduced by At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson. The bill sets a deadline of Dec. 15 for staff and students to get fully vaccinated (except those with medical or religious exemptions). Currently, a little over 40 percent of D.C.’s 12 to 17-year-olds are vaccinated.
