Michelle Goldchain

How Americans are rethinking travel in 2026 - WTOP News The post-pandemic travel frenzy is cooling off, but Americans aren’t staying home. Instead, travelers in 2026 are rethinking their vacations.

The end of "revenge travel," the rise of the "Whycation," the hotel industry's "rough patch," and more trends are identified in my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social! wtop.com/travel/2026/...

Things to do in the DC area: ‘Hamnet’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Irish celebrations … and more! - WTOP News WTOP has you covered every week with a comprehensive guide of events and things to do in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

From "Hamnet" (the play) to Ireland at The Wharf, here are some fun events to look forward to this weekend. My latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/things-to-do...

Celebrity chef Carla Hall opening new fried chicken restaurant on Capitol Hill - WTOP News A new chapter begins for celebrity chef Carla Hall, with a Southern restaurant soon to open in D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Celebrity chef Carla Hall is opening a new restaurant here in D.C.! Be sure to check out my article and video for @wtopnews.bsky.social for an inside look before it opens on Saturday. wtop.com/food-restaur...

Inside Maru San: Capitol Hill’s buzzy, bold, Japanese-Peruvian handroll bar - WTOP News Chef Carlos Delgado has opened Maru San. This Capitol Hill restaurant is D.C.’s only solely Nikkei style restaurant, fusing Peruvian and Japanese cuisine.

Maru San by chef Carlos Delgado (Causa/Amazonia) is on a roll! The Peruvian-Japanese tasting experience at the buzzy restaurant is already booked through July.

Why the hype? Learn more in my latest video and article for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/dc/2026/03/i...

Read the first pages of the third chapter of Ghoul Appétit! here: www.ghoulappetit.com/post/chapter...

Sign up for updates on Substack: substack.com/@ghoulappetit

#comicart #comicbook #webcomic

Things to do in the DC area: Holi Festival, Chefs’ Collaboration Night … and more! - WTOP News India’s most colorful holiday, the Holi Festival, is making a vibrant splash in Dupont Circle Park. Saturday, guests can expect colorful powder thrown around.

From colorful powder throwing at Dupont Circle's Holi Festival to tasting a variety of brews at Union Market's District Beer Fest, find a list of local events coming up this weekend and beyond in my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/things-to-do...

Malabar, DC’s new Contemporary southern Indian restaurant focused on seafood - WTOP News Contemporary Southern Indian cuisine is front and center at Malabar, a brand new dining destination headed by restaurateur Ashok Bajaj in D.C.’s Forest Hills neighborhood.

Contemporary southern Indian cuisine is front and center at Ashok Bajaj's new restaurant, Malabar. Take a look inside with my article and video for @wtopnews.bsky.social!
wtop.com/food-restaur...

Skip the box of chocolates. Instead, impress your sweetheart with D.C.'s best Valentine's Day takeout options. More in my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social here: wtop.com/food-restaur...

Don't hover on me!

Read the latest pages of the second chapter of Ghoul Appétit! www.ghoulappetit.com/post/chapter...

#comicart #comicbook #webcomic

Walking in Alexandria, Virginia's Del Ray neighborhood today #snow @capitalweather.bsky.social

A ‘Bitcoin bar’ opened in DC — but what does that mean? - WTOP News Now open in D.C.’s Penn Quarter neighborhood is what some have described as a “Bitcoin bar,” but for PubKey co-founder and CEO Thomas Pacchia, he said it’s much more than that.

A "Bitcoin bar" sounds like a gimmick, but PubKey is more than that: a podcast studio, events on crypto, and, of course, cocktails — one of which is reserved only for those with Bitcoin!

Dive into what to expect at PubKey in D.C. with my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/food-restaur...

These books are excellent!

I'd also like to shamelessly plug my book, "D.C. by Metro: A History & Guide," published by Arcadia Publishing.

Learn about the most notable historic sites near every Metro station in the D.C. area: share.google/rWxa8S3U5PaF...

Hi! I'm not Michelle Goldberg. Similar names, though! 🙂

Wonder opens 10th DC-area location as traditional food halls falter - WTOP News Wonder, a tech-driven food hall concept, uses a single kitchen to serve over 20 concepts. With plans to vastly grow by 2027, it seeks to reshape the dining experience with technology and scale.

For @wtopnews.bsky.social, I dive into Wonder, the self-described "new kind of food hall," that's been popping up all over the D.C. area. I got a look inside the latest location in Virginia, detail the tech backbone of the company, plus the real test: How is the food?
wtop.com/food-restaur...

15 superb soups and stews worth slurping in the DC area this winter - WTOP News Here are 15 soups and stews from local restaurants in the D.C. area that should appeal to spoon-clutching diners in need of something warm and comforting.

Warm up this winter with these 15 craveable, slurpable soups and stews, found in the D.C. area! My latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social:
wtop.com/food-restaur...

Things to do in the DC area: Winter Skate Spectacular, Holiday Record Swap … and more! - WTOP News From Dec. 27 through Feb. 9, the National Building Museum is hosting an indoor synthetic ice-skating experience to keep the holiday spirit going into the new year.

Wondering what you should do this weekend? Find out about D.C.-area events in my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/things-to-do...

Where to party on New Year’s Eve in the DC area - WTOP News Whether you’re looking to dance, dine or see skyline views, WTOP has rounded up a variety of options worth considering.

From a pajama brunch party to a honky tonk night of dancing to some of the best sky-high views in the region, here is where you should party this New Year's Eve in the D.C. area. My latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/things-to-do...

Things to do in the DC area: Step Afrika’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show … and more! - WTOP News For its fourth year, the Step Afrika! dance troupe is hosting a fantastically festive performance, called “Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show.” See what else is happening in the D.C. are...

It's a snow day! But if you're open to bundling up and going out into the D.C. area, here are some fun events worth considering. My latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/things-to-do...

Things to do in the DC area: Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park, film festival … and more! - WTOP News Those looking for a holiday paradise should keep an eye on this winter carnival that is on its way to D.C. The inaugural Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park opens Friday and runs on select dates throu...

Happy Friday! Looking for things to do this weekend? In my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social, find my weekly "Things to do in the D.C. area" guide below ...
wtop.com/things-to-do...

New pages up for my webcomic, Ghoul Appétit!

My zine, Whisk Takers, has a new Q&A!!!

As a Gregg head, I appreciate this question in an @alamodrafthouse.bsky.social audience survey. @timheidecker.bsky.social @oncinema.bsky.social

Check out @wtopnews.bsky.social for my guide on memorable Thanksgiving take-out specials at a variety of price points. More info below ...

Things to do in the DC area: Four Seasons DC Wine & Dine, Mezcal With Friends … and more! - WTOP News Explore some of the D.C. area’s top events this week, including the Four Seasons Wine & Dine for cancer research, Alison Roman at Sixth & I and more.

What events you should consider this weekend and beyond:
• Pottery on the Hill
• Five Minute Horror Film Fest
• DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival
• And more!

Check out my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social:
wtop.com/things-to-do...

My webcomic, @ghoulappetit.bsky.social, just updated! See below ...

Things to do in the DC area: Fright Fête, Día de los Muertos … and more! - WTOP News Lovers of indie bookstores and spine-chilling festivities should head to Fright Fête at Lost City Books in D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood this Friday.

Things to do in the D.C. area:
• D.C. Zinefest
• Nightmare on U Street
• Taylor-Ween at The State Theatre
• Fright Fête at Lost City Books
• And more!

Learn about these and other local events in my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/things-to-do...

a cartoon cat singing into a microphone on a stage ALT: a cartoon cat singing into a microphone on a stage

Anyone know of D.C.-area karaoke places that have private rooms?

Comment with your recommendations for @wtopnews.bsky.social and why they're your favorite.

You can also email me at michelle.goldchain@wtop.com.

Tom Sietsema’s impact on the DC dining culture, according to the chefs, owners he reviewed - WTOP News For 26 years now, Tom Sietsema has been a faceless name that struck a chord throughout the entirety of the D.C. area’s food and beverage industry.

As a follow-up to yesterday's interview with Tom Sietsema, I interviewed six chefs and restaurant owners about how his reviews impacted them.

Find out what they had to say in my latest for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/food-restaur...

Q&A: Tom Sietsema on his 26-year career as a food critic and what’s next - WTOP News Tom Sietsema’s surprise announcement that he’s stepping down as The Washington Post’s longtime food critic and revealing his identity landed like a thunderclap across D.C.’s dining scene.

I got to interview The Washington Post's food critic Tom Sietsema on the challenges of being a critic, how he got the job, and what's next. Tom announced earlier this week that he is stepping down, but he's not retiring. Read my Q&A for @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/food-restaur...

Michelin-star DC restaurant wants you to eat your veggies - WTOP News A Michelin-star restaurant based in D.C. is plant-based and rooted in Latin American culture.

Excited to share my feature on Mita, a plant-forward Latin American restaurant in D.C. that’s reimagining what vegetables can do. I had the pleasure of interviewing owners Miguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora.

Watch my video and read more in my latest on @wtopnews.bsky.social: wtop.com/food-restaur...