The James Beard-honored chef hopes to export the concept to other cities.

Chef Michael Schlow and his restaurant group have cooked up what he touts as a new and improved version of Alta Strada, which opens Wednesday inside the Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Embassy Row, less than three months after abruptly shuttering an earlier version of the restaurant in Mount Vernon Triangle.

The new Alta Strada, debuting two decades after the original opened in Wellesley, Massachusetts, in 2005, has a more refined decor than the Mount Vernon Triangle location while the menu will offer fresh takes on older items, alongside new additions such as crudos and a raw bar.

"This is a new Alta Strada, and it's really Alta Strada 2.0," Schlow told me in an interview. Italian food, traditionally, is made with a rigid set of rules for what type of pasta should be prepared how, with what sauce, and served with what sides, the James Beard-honored Schlow said. The acclaimed restaurateur isn't planning any radical departures — like, say, topping tuna crudo with blue cheese — but neither is he doing things strictly by the book. Alta Strada is "still sticking to the Italian cuisine, but we're having a bit more creativity and a bit more fun with this," he said.

The move from 465 K St. NW to 1600 Rhode Island Ave. NW, aided by Tom Papadopoulos of Papadopoulos Properties, was the result of several factors coming together at the same time, Schlow said.

The Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood has come a long way over the over the past eight-plus years since Alta Strada first opened there, but business wasn't brisk enough to keep the restaurant's doors open. At the same time, the Bernstein Cos., which owns the 154-room Canopy, was seeking a new operator to replace its in-house restaurant, Truno, and retained Papadopoulos to help find a tenant. Papadopoulos then reached out Schlow, who he's known from prior deals including the Alta Strada at the Mosaic District in Northern Virginia, and a deal was struck.

Schlow said the move offers his Schlow Restaurant Group a chance to enhance, not just copy and paste, Alta Strada in a new location. The roughly 5,300-square-foot restaurant will still be heavily focused on Italian food, but with fresh takes like the Tortelli "Taverna del Cacciatore," served with wild mushrooms, crispy sage and parmesan cheese, and the Tagliatelle duck confit with broccoli rabe, hot chiles and pecorino cheese. The restaurant, being located in a hotel, will also be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast items will include Shakshuka, spicy duck confit hash, and lemon-ricotta pancakes, while lunch features items like the Schlow Burger, with cheddar cheese, crispy onions, and horseradish-black pepper sauce, and pork Milanese, and steak frites.

Kurt Boyea will serve as executive chef in the new restaurant, alongside Ben Kulp as general manager and Billy Yendall, a mixologist recruited from the Inn at Little Washington. The new restaurant's design, Schlow said, will be vastly different. Mount Vernon Triangle was more of what he calls an urban trattoria, with a minimalist decor, compared to a more luxurious setting at the Canopy, with plush seating, tablecloths, a lounge with a fireplace, and two private dining spaces. The interior was designed by Streetsense's Edit Lab.

Schlow liked several things about the space, its location being so close to embassies, hotels and other employers, and the team behind the Canopy. He felt it was the ideal location to roll out the newest iteration for Alta Strada, a concept he anticipates exporting to other locations depending on how things go with this one.

"If this works and people like it then this is absolutely something we would look to do more of," he said.

Winnie Harlow attended a Washington Wizards basketball game held at Capital One Arena on Jan. 12 in Washington D.C.

The model kept things cozy courtside, sporting a pair of calf-length Moon Boots in white. Retailing for $240 via Net-A-Porter, the chosen silhouette is crafted of white shell and paneled with light gray faux leather to reinforce its warmth. Non-slip rubber soles help to negotiate icy ground, while the drawstring cuffs ensure a snug fit.

The booties feature Moon Boot’s logo in graphic font across the uppers and on the heels. The style is lightweight and water-resistant, designed to keep the wearer’s feet toasty in impressive temperatures as low as -31°F. Dua Lipa, Mariah Carey, Heidi Klum, Lizzo, Katy Perry and Doja Cat have all worn the snow-ready silhouette in the past, aptly prepping for the winter weather each season in stylish fashions.

Moon Boots‘ founder Giancarlo Zanatta was inspired to create the brand’s signature model after witnessing the lunar landing and seeing the shape and technology of the astronauts’ boots. Zanatta drew sketches and brought the Moon Boot we know today to life, registering a worldwide trademark in 1978.

Sitting snug, Harlow also opted for a long-sleeve bedazzled Juicy Couture zip-up in white paired with ultra-baggy and tattered jeans. The runway regular also sported a white faux-fur bucket hat partnered with a coordinating white pillbox-inspired Chrome Hearts bag and 90s-inspired sunglasses.

Harlow is a mainstay in the fashion industry. The fashion figure appeared on Cycle 21 of “America’s Next Top Model” in 2014 and although she didn’t win, she turned her appearance into a lucrative modeling career.

Since then, Harlow has appeared in campaigns and walked in runway shows for the likes of Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Sports Illustrated, Desigual, Diesel, Swarovski, Steve Madden, Nike, Puma, MAC and Victoria’s Secret among others.

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Washington, D.C., is experiencing "significantly" colder temperatures than the historical average this January, according to meteorological data.

Why It Matters

The drastic drop in temperature highlights a pattern of fluctuating winter extremes in the region. This colder-than-average spell is notable given Washington's relatively temperate winters in recent years. However, conditions can strain energy systems and create challenges for residents unaccustomed to sustained cold weather.

According to historical trends from the National Weather Service (NWS), similar cold waves have often coincided with high-pressure systems that funnel Arctic air into the mid-Atlantic region. This pattern has historically brought severe cold, as seen during the 1977 Bicentennial Winter and the record-breaking chill of January 1912, when temperatures in nearby areas plunged to record lows.

What To Know

On Tuesday, the average temperature in the nation's capital was 28 degrees Fahrenheit, a sharp 9.2 degrees colder than the five-year historical average for the same date. This 24.73 percent deviation marks one of the most dramatic drops in recent years, reflecting a broader cold spell gripping the region.

The NWS reports that wind chills have sometimes dropped temperatures into the single digits, with gusts reaching up to 30 miles per hour. Scattered flurries were expected later in the day, but overall precipitation remained low, with a maximum probability of 13 percent over the next 24 hours​.

On Tuesday, weather conditions in Washington, D.C., saw high temperatures as it was forecast to peak at 33 degrees, with lows dipping to 22 degrees. Winds will gust at 20 to 30 mph speeds, intensifying the cold.

Forecast for the Week

Read more Washington D.C.

Conditions are expected to remain cold through Wednesday, with sunny skies and highs in the low 30s. The weekend brings a chance of rain, transitioning to snow showers on Sunday evening as another Arctic blast arrives​.

Historical Comparison

This cold snap contrasts sharply with Washington's average January highs of 44 degrees and lows of 30 degrees. The current deviation from the average highlights a significant meteorological event.

What People Are Saying

Jason Samenow, chief meteorologist for The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang: "This kind of persistent cold wave is unusual but not unprecedented."

He noted that the region's dry, cold air and gusting winds could intensify the effects of the chill.

What's Next

The cold trend is expected to persist into the weekend, with temperatures climbing slightly into the mid-30s. A mix of rain and snow is forecast for Sunday evening as a new Arctic front moves through the region. These conditions may disrupt travel and outdoor activities, particularly with icy roads and walkways.

Residents are urged to take precautions, including dressing in layers, checking heating systems, and avoiding prolonged outdoor exposure. As the cold weather continues, emergency services and meteorologists will closely monitor the situation to provide timely updates.

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Washington D.C. hotels are offering a series of lavish exclusive VIP packages ahead of the second inauguration of Donald Trump.

President-elect Trump is set to be sworn in on the Speaker’s Balcony on January 20 overlooking the National Mall. It’ll be the start of his presidential term and a week of inaugural festivities across the city.

To prepare for the event, hotels are offering exclusive and expensive packages totaling tens of thousands of dollars to VIP guests flying in for the occasion.

The stays include room service for pets, 24-hour butlers, helicopter rides and shopping sprees.

One of the most expensive is the Salamander DC package totaling a whopping $244,700 for four nights. The hotel, which is located a short walk from the Washington Monument, has launched a pet-friendly inauguration package including round-trip rides to and from the airport for a maximum of six guests, according to Washingtonian.

The package also includes a 24-hour butler, food and drinks, and a hotel spa day.

The Watergate Hotel, the site of significant presidential history, is offering an inauguration package at a steep discount compared to the Salamander. The hotel is hoping to lure guests in with its three-night $73,500 package + tax.

The luxury stay, dubbed the “Head of State” package, includes round-trip transportation to and from New York City on a Blade helicopter and a daily executive chauffeur in an armored Maybach.

Guests will be given a private whiskey tasting with the hotel’s “Whisky Consul,” stationery, a custom wax seal and keepsake Watergate crystal. A tour of the “Scandal Suite” where the break-in was conducted, is also on the itinerary.

In June 1972, five men broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel and office complex. The scandal would result in President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974.

The most lavish package is the Fairmont in Washington, located in the city’s affluent Georgetown neighborhood. The four-day itinerary costs $350,000 and includes roundtrip airfare for four people and their pet from anywhere in the US, a stay in the new presidential suite, two butlers, transportation to inaugural events and meals, including some for any pets brought into the hotel, the outlet reported.

Guests will be treated to a $25,000 shopping spree at Saks 5th Avenue. Hair and makeup are also available on-site. A professional photographer will accompany guests throughout their stay to ensure they have high-quality memories of their stay.

Details of Trump’s inauguration have been emerging this week. Stars including singer Carrie Underwood and Christopher Macchio will be performing, while faith leaders will perform a benediction.

Residents in a Northwest D.C. neighborhood say they're frustrated over plans to make changes to a street plagued with traffic problems.

The 2800 block of Davenport Street NW is a windy road with many blind curves in the Forest Hills neighborhood near Rock Creek Park.

"People just go down the street with no restraint,” neighbor Henrik Iyvanzan said.

The street and its traffic have been a concern for residents like Hermine Dreyfuss for years. She believes too many drivers use it as a shortcut.

"It's difficult to get in and out of the driveways,” Dreyfuss said. “Parking is very limited."

'What we wanted was to divert traffic so that we didn't get all the cut-throughs,' a resident said. 'GPS tells people to cut through'

After hearing years of complaints, the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) suggested a solution in November, but the plan didn't sit well with neighbors. The agency proposed making the street one way only and adding a walkway for pedestrians, as well as new signs and speed humps.

Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information

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"We feel making this one way and narrowing the street is going to make things more dangerous,” Iyvanzan said.

After getting feedback, DDOT representatives unveiled a revised plan at a virtual Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) meeting Tuesday night. The second proposal eliminates the one-way rule and walking space, leaving the signs and speed humps — but neighbors still don't believe that addresses the real issue.

"We think this is a step in the right direction; it's just not a very big step,” a resident said during the meeting.

Neighbors told News4 they would rather see signs installed at each end of the street, asking drivers not to drive through at certain times during the day to help alleviate traffic.

"What we wanted was to divert traffic so that we didn't get all the cut throughs,” Dreyfuss said. “GPS tells people to cut through."

During the ANC meeting, DDOT officials said diverting traffic wouldn't be possible, because drivers could get confused.

Discussion on the topic ended without a clear next step.

While residents wait to see what happens next, Dreyfuss says they will continue to monitor the plan, hoping a better solution comes along.

“Pay attention to what we're asking for,” she said. “We're only asking for a bunch in signs."