October 8, 2025
Updates from Adams Morgan
Click Here
to see previous updates in our newsletter archive
Check
ObviouslyDC.com
for the latest in DC government funding and grant opportunities for businesses.
Be prepared. Visit to
Ready.DC.gov
for preparedness information for a
variety of hazards including manmade and natural disasters.
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Adams Morgan Apple Festival: October 18
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The Annual
Adams Morgan Apple Pie Baking Contest
and the Annual Licking Creek Bend Farm Heirloom Apple Tasting returns on Saturday, October 18! The highly-anticipated community event will take place in front of The Line Hotel and directly across the street from the farmer’s market in Unity Park at Euclid and Champlain Streets NW.
The event will run from 10am - 1pm and will feature Heirloom Apple Tasting. Slices of contestants' pies will be sold for $6 each with all proceeds going to
The Sitar Center for the Arts
.
Our distinguished panel of judges this year include Phil Mendelson (
Chair, DC Council
), Eun Yang (
NBC4
), Tom Sherwood (
WAMU
), Peter Wood (
ANC1C
), Alex Schroeder (
@devourdc
), Alexis Grea (
pastry chef
), and Maureen Dwyer (
Sitar Arts Center
).
All of the apple pie baking contestant slots have been filled.
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Adams Morgan PorchFest: November 1
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The 15th edition of
Adams Morgan PorchFest
is coming up on Saturday, November 1 and we're in the midst of planning for another great event. The
event website
has been updated with the performers and locations, but schedules are subject to change.
Official PorchFest T-shirts will be on sale soon and they'll be available at
ACE Hardware
,
Because Science
,
Smash Records
, and
Urban Dwell
.
We're still looking for Volunteers
. We have a very small staff and this is a very large event that we can't put on without volunteers. Volunteers will get a PorchFest t-shirt, access to the green room with food & drinks during the event, and more! To sign up to volunteer,
please click here
.
Adams Morgan Businesses:
The
form to submit your wristband discount specials
is live and there are already a
bunch of specials
on the site that have been submitted.
The deadline to have your special included on the printed map is Friday, October 24.
Special thanks to our sponsors
who help make this event possible:
Aetna
,
Pepco
,
Devil's Backbone Brewing Company
,
Jubilee Housing
,
Colonial Parking
,
Lars Etzkorn Law PLLC
, and
DC Fray
.
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Together We Dine: October 1st - 31st
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This October, you’re invited to the table for
Together We Dine
— a month-long celebration of the power of shared meals and the DMV restaurants that make them possible. It’s the perfect time to remember that dining is about more than food — it’s about connection, community, and care. So whether you’re breaking bread, sharing sushi, trading tacos, or passing pasta, join RAMW and DMPED in supporting the places and people that nourish our stomachs and souls.
Adams Morgan restaurants:
To post an event to the Together We Dine calendar,
click this link
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Adams Morgan Farmers Market
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The Adams Morgan Farmers Market is open for the season on
Saturdays
from
8:30am - 12:30pm
featuring
Licking Creek Bend Farm
and
Ravenhook Bakehouse. Remie's Flowers and Plants
are back as well.
Ravenhook will be featuring: Pumpkin Spice Cake; Spinach, Onion, Feta, and Mozzarella Focaccia; Apple Crumble Pie; Whole Wheat Sourdough
Come to the Adams Morgan Farmers Market for fresh picked, chemical-free (and tariff-free) produce. We're entering the fall season. Our amazing, hard working staff tells us the fall will produce:
a wide variety of Winter Squashes, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Melons, Chicory Root, Apples, Hot peppers, Herbs, Basil, Pears, Amaranth, String Beans Snap Peas, Garlic and Collard Greens, Jerusalem (also called) Sun Chokes
...and other fall goodies and they say some surprises along with seasonal fruits from our partner orchard.
And don't forget to mark your calendars for the Annual Apple Festival, Saturday, October 18 from 10:00am - 1:00pm.
Plastic bags are no longer available from the market, so please remember your own bags!
2025 CSA Season Membership is now open.
Click here
for more information, including the membership form.
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Preserving Latino Cultural Heritage Through Street Art
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October 9; 6:00 PM ET
Hola Cultura and the DC Preservation League invite the community to celebrate the Unity Mural and the legacy of Latino muralism in D.C.
The evening begins with a mural meet-up at 6 PM at
2119 Champlain St NW
, followed by a 6:30 PM panel and reception at the Festival Center (
1640 Columbia Rd NW
). Hear stories of community resilience and the enduring power of public art.
RSVP here
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You’re Invited! MPD’s Halloween Safe Haven Event
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🎃👻 Looking for a safe and fun way to celebrate Halloween? MPD’s Halloween Safe Havens are the place to be!
Join MPD for treats, games, and spooky fun and make this Halloween memorable, for all the right reasons!
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Champlain Substation Construction Update
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From Travoris Culpepper, External Affairs Manager, Pepco:
I hope this message finds you well. We appreciate the opportunity to hear from you at our last meeting on September 11, 2025. Since that time, Clark Construction has started breaking down outside equipment and removing some of the large pieces of equipment from inside the substation.
A cross walk has been installed near the corner of Ontario Road NW and Old Morgan School Place NW to ensure pedestrian safety. Construction has also started on 18th Street NW near the soccer field, and another crew will begin work on 17th Street NW near the third district police station the week of October 15th.
Click here
to download a week's look ahead which should provided a forward-looking snapshot of activities at the site.
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200+ Witnesses Testify on DC Bottle Deposit Bill
Thanks to all who testified at last week's marathon DC Council hearing on the proposed Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Act.
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Industry Makes Its Case:
More than 200 witnesses – including environmental advocates, restaurant operators, beverage distributors, and local brewers –
testified on the proposal
, which would add a 10-cent deposit to most beverage containers sold in DC, refundable when returned to redemption centers, participating retailers, or reverse vending machines.
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RAMW Testifies:
“While restaurants are appropriately excluded from serving as redemption centers in this legislation, we must respectfully oppose the proposal because of its far-reaching impacts on our entire industry. Environmental progress depends on maintaining a vibrant local business ecosystem with the resources to invest in sustainable practices.”
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Mayor Weighs In:
Mayor Muriel Bowser opposes the measure, calling it “bad for business” at Tuesday's press conference. The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development echoed those concerns, warning that “administrative burdens are making it more difficult to operate and that adding new ones can be life-or-death.”
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Possible Amendment:
During the hearing, Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, who introduced the bill in January, suggested it could be amended to provide restaurants a handling fee despite not being redemption centers.
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What’s Next:
The bill has been co-referred to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, where it could receive a second hearing or proceed to markup. If advanced, it would require two full Council votes before reaching the Mayor's desk.
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Stay Engaged:
Contact
Che
to learn more about how this legislation affects your restaurant and more opportunities to voice your concerns.
Immigration: Legal Guidance and Resources
As federal immigration enforcement continues to affect District restaurants, RAMW remains your hub for critical resources.
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Legal Guidance:
To speak with a lawyer on immigration matters, contact RAMW Allied Member Grossman Young & Hammond. Schedule an appointment with an attorney by contacting Danny Serrano Padilla at 301-917-6900 or
dpadilla@grossmanyoung.com
.
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More Resources:
Visit
RAMW.org/Immigration
for comprehensive guidance including I-9 audit checklists, enforcement response protocols, and your rights during workplace visits.
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Know Your Rights and Responsibilities:
Federal agents require proper documentation before entering non-public areas of your restaurant. While you must provide I-9 forms after receiving a Notice of Inspection, you have the right to consult with legal counsel.
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Stay Connected:
Continue sharing your experiences with RAMW — this real-time intelligence helps us advocate effectively with policymakers and ensures accurate information reaches all members.
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Small & Accessible Sustainability (SAS) Subgrants Program
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The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Center for Nonprofit Advancement have launched the SAS Subgrants Program, offering $110,000 in total funding—$55,000 each for Donation & Reuse and Urban Agriculture projects.
Local organizations interested in waste reduction or urban farming are encouraged to apply.
Applications open:
October 3
Deadline:
November 15 at 11:59 PM ET
Questions?
Contact:
grants@nonprofitadvancement.org
More information here
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Last Chance to Register: Tomorrow's FREE Sustainability 201 Workshop
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Join business leaders for
Sustainability 201
, a hands-on session exploring how to advance ESG strategies. Learn how to embed sustainability into operations, track impact with tools like KPIs and EMS, and build accountability into your policies.
Participants will leave with practical tools to strengthen commitments and drive sustainable growth. Spots are limited—register now!
Reserve your spot
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The first steps to rebuilding your business after a disaster
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October 21; 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET
Rebooting Your Business After a Crisis: Internal Recovery & Rebuilding
Part of the
Crisis to Continuity
series, this free webinar focuses on internal business recovery after a disaster—covering insurance claims, funding, employee support, and stabilizing operations.
Hear from Gwendolyn Dare Hageman, founder of Darë Vegan Cheese, on how she rebuilt after Hurricane Helene.
Register now
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Attend a DC 2050 Community Workshop
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Join the DC Office of Planning for an in-person community workshop on the District’s next Comprehensive Plan:
DC 2050
. Attendees can learn about land use policy, growth needs, and the new “place types” framework. Participate in breakout discussions or drop in for the open house portion.
📍
899 North Capitol St. NE (1st floor event space)
🗓
Thursday, November 6; 6–8 PM
🗓
Saturday, November 15; 11 AM–1 PM
Registration is encouraged for planning purposes, but not required. To request ADA or language accommodations, please note it in the registration form.
🔗 RSVP to
DC2050.com
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DOEE Benchmarking Feedback Program
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DOEE has a
benchmarking requirement
for buildings to report full-year energy and water data on an annual basis. Currently this has only applied to buildings over 25,000 sqft, but starting next year buildings between 10,000-24,999 sqft are required to begin reporting data to DOEE for the first time.
To set these buildings up for success, DOEE is offering small-group workshops to review and improve our benchmarking guidance. Participants will sign up for 3-4 personalized check-ins with a DOEE representative who will help them establish and populate ESPM profiles to achieve benchmarking compliance in 2026. Users must be able to work with building ownership and management to obtain energy bill copies and other property use details.
DOEE is looking for 10-15 representatives from buildings 10-25k to sign up for the Feedback Program.
Users must be able to coordinate with building ownership and management to obtain energy bill copies and other property use details (while we appreciate enthusiastic volunteers, unless a tenant can get access to the energy bills of their entire apartment complex and all their neighbors, they would not be a good fit for this program.) Users should be able to commit 3-4 hours/month to meeting with DOEE, looking up energy bills, and building details. Preference will be given to houses of worship, non-profits, and small-business owners. Pending the response of this first group, we may be able to take on additional cohorts or otherwise scale up the program.
Interested representatives should fill out a
Benchmark Feedback Program form
by October 31st, 2025. DOEE will respond to users by November 7th and set up an introductory meeting by November 24th.
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Small Business Anti-Displacement Network Conference
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The 2025 Small Business Anti-Displacement Network (SBAN) Conference,
Fostering Resilience
, convenes
November 12–14
at The Hotel at the University of Maryland, near Washington, D.C. Attendees will explore strategies to support resilient small businesses and advance anti-displacement work.
Early-bird registration ends October 15
.
Keynotes, panels, and workshops will provide tools for supporting BIPOC and immigrant entrepreneurs, navigating funding gaps, shaping policy, and implementing strategies like commercial tenant protections and community ownership. Mobile workshops will take place in local neighborhoods, offering hands-on learning. SBAN unites 175+ organizations worldwide to prevent displacement of small businesses in gentrifying areas.
Register now
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Keynotes
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Full agenda
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WACIF Partners with Capital One and LEDC to Launch The Pivot Project
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Big news for DMV entrepreneurs: Capital One, LEDC, and Wacif have launched The Pivot Project to help local residents transition into full-time entrepreneurship or grow existing businesses. Backed by nearly $1 million in new funding, the initiative expands access to flexible capital, tailored technical assistance, and wraparound support—ensuring entrepreneurs at every stage have the resources to succeed in a changing economy.
Read the full press release
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Learn more
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Small Business Resource Hub: DCSmallBizHelp.com
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DCSmallBizHelp
is the one-stop hub for Washington, D.C. small business and entrepreneurs looking for valuable resources, support organizations, lenders, events and trainings. DCSmallBizHelp is owned and maintained by
The Coalition
(formerly CNHED) as part of their Small Business Ecosystem Building work.
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Indigenous Peoples' Day Extended Hours, Office Closure
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Office Closure
In observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day, ABCA’s office will be closed on Monday, October 13, 2025, and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Extended Holiday Hours
For Indigenous Peoples' Day Weekend, alcohol licensed establishments enrolled in the
Extended Holiday Hours Program
may sell, serve, and allow on-premises consumption of alcohol until 4:00 a.m. and operate 24-hours starting the
evening of Friday, October 10, and ending at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, October 13.
Licensees may confirm enrollment by locating their establishment’s name on the
2025 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Extended Hours roster
. If you believe your establishment was omitted by error, email ABCA.AlcoholLicensing@dc.gov.
To Register
There is no fee to register for the Extended Holiday Hours Program. Registrations are accepted on a rolling basis, and once approved, venues are eligible to participate in all permitted holidays. Board Orders and Settlement Agreements apply to enrolled and prospective registrants. Registration must be received 30 days before the first holiday a licensee would like to extend their hours. The next eligible holiday is:
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Veterans Day Weekend:
Friday, November 7 - Sunday, November 9; and Tuesday, November 11 - Wednesday, November 12. Registration Deadline—Tuesday, October 14
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Small Business Resource Center
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DC APEX Accelerators help businesses
DC APEX Accelerator
offers personalized business counseling and competitive insights for navigating the government contracting process successfully.
If you already have experience working on government contracts and are looking for help to secure other contracts, we are available to help. At the DC APEX Accelerator, businesses get help with strategies to pursue state, local, and federal government contracts.
The full calendar of upcoming events can be found
here
.
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💸Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Application
Amount: Free Business Training
Deadline: Rolling
Learn more here
We look for applicants who are passionate about growing their business and creating jobs in their communities who generally meet these criteria: - Small business owner or co-owner - Business revenues over $75,000 in the most recent fiscal year - Business in operation for 2+ years -Business with 2+ employees (including the owner).
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Additional Funding Opportunities:
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Sponsor one of our community events! Partner with our community while reaching some of the city's most desirable demographics. For details, contact
Kristen Barden
at
202-997-0783.
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BOARD MEETINGS
The Board of Directors of the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District meets on the second Tuesday of every month (except August, October, and December).
Meetings are currently being held online and begin at 5pm.
Our Annual Meeting is held in March. Contact
Brian Barrie
for information about attending board meetings.
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©
Adams Morgan Partnership
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