City Cast DC logo
August 3, 2026

D.C.’s Streateries Are Closing, But Are They Gone For Good?

City Cast DC

D.C.’s Streateries Are Closing, But Are They Gone For Good?

00:00:00
View all City Cast DC episodes

Have you walked by Wonderland Ballroom in Columbia Heights recently? The familiar picnic table streatery is gone! A string of high-profile closures of DC’s streateries has reignited the debate over outdoor dining, parking, public space, and what kind of city Washington wants to be. City Cast's Alyssa Fowers and Kaela Cote-Stemmermann have been following the issue. They're here to explain how we got here, why this debate has flared up, and what comes next for restaurants and the future of our streets.


Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 3rd episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey DC

Get smart about D.C. with our news roundup and analysis.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
August 2

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast DC

Do you know how zoning laws affect DC’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made it phys...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 31

Luxury Digs for the National Guard, Bowser Ditches the Budget, and Wild New Plans for Dulles

We’re talking about the National Guard in D.C., how Muriel Bowser isn’t signing the DC budget, and the goofy plans for Dulles. Plus in a...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 30

Your Guide to August 2026 in D.C.

Whether it’s chomping on an apple with strangers in Malcolm X Park or vibing to local music at a summer concert series, our August Guide...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 29

No Roommates, In-Unit Laundry – A Look At The National Guard’s Expensive New D.C. Digs

The National Guard is sticking around — and, like a lot of people who decide to stay in D.C., they’re about to pay through the nose for r...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 28

D.C. Workers' Ample Leave Is Costing You Millions

D.C. taxpayers — you — spent $220 million last year on overtime for public-safety agencies in D.C. How did this happen? According to a ne...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 27

The People Who Date AI

Our co-host Bridget has just published an audiobook that starts with her own journey into an AI relationship — and then examines the phen...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 26

‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast DC

It’s not a given that every Washingtonian will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with wri...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 24

D.C. Boycotts DoorDash, Why the Forrestal Building Must Die, and D.C.'s Best Screens for The Odyssey

We’re talking about D.C. versus DoorDash, the D.C. building everyone wants to demolish, and the best way to see The Odyssey. Plus, in a m...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 22

The D.C. Housing Authority Cyberattack That Went Under the Radar

To get public housing in DC, you need to cough up a lot of data about yourself. Which makes it a particular problem when the public housi...

City Cast DC podcast episode art
July 21

Forty Years of Heavy Metal Parking Lot

The movie Heavy Metal Parking Lot turns 40 this year — and feels weirdly contemporary. The basic setup is this: A couple of guys showed u...

City Cast DC podcast episode art