DC restaurant fined $2,000 for maskless patrons

By Matt Small
November 15, 2020 | 3:47 PM

Harry’s Restaurant, a downtown D.C. pub, received a pair of $1,000 fines after city officials noted patrons violating coronavirus-related regulations.

D.C’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration said one of its investigators issued the first $1,000 citation for “several observed Phase Two violations including patrons without facial coverings, patrons standing while consuming alcohol, and insufficient table spacing” on Friday, Nov. 13.

The establishment was issued a second $1,000 citation the following day for “patrons without facial coverings and more than six (6) patrons being seated at a table.”

The city agency said it had previously issued a “verbal and written warning for similar Phase Two violations” on Oct. 7 and Oct. 10.

Harry’s Restaurant, when reached by phone, told WTOP “no statement.”

WTOP’s Sae Robinson contributed to this report.

National Museum of the American Latino to be housed in historic Smithsonian building

By Neal Augenstein
September 1, 2026 | 10:36 AM

The Smithsonian Institution has decided to put the National Museum of the American Latino into an existing, historic building, rather than constructing a new one. The Smithsonian Board of Regents on Monday designated the Arts and Industries Building, a 145-year-old redbrick Victorian structure located between the Smithsonian Castle and the Hirshhorn Museum, as the permanent site of the National Museum of the American Latino, which Congress authorized in 2020. In 2022, the Smithsonian narrowed its survey for permanent locations for the National Museum of the American Latino and the American Women's History Museum to four locations near the National Mall on land owned by the National Park Service. The Arts and Industries Building, located at 900 Jefferson St. SW, was one of the four sites. New construction on National Park Service land would require congressional approval. However, since the Smithsonian already owns the Arts and Industries Building, the institution can place the National Museum of the American Latino in the existing building without additional legislation.

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