Signs of spring are back in D.C. with one major omission: the city's once-plentiful streateries.

Why it matters: Nearly half have vanished since last year as new regulations kick in. Restaurant owners say the rules are confusing and expensive, raising questions about the future of D.C.'s outdoor dining.

Catch up quick: The city launched streateries in June 2020 to keep restaurants afloat — free, flexible and often elaborate.

• The permanent program, rolled out late last year, flips that model.

🔨 Now: Stricter design rules favor open-air setups (safer, but less usable year-round) — and the costs for construction and city fees add up fast.

• Many face estimates in the tens of thousands — high for small businesses, especially in a tough operating environment.
• The city says the tighter rules are meant to fix safety and accessibility issues from the pandemic-era free-for-all — while standardizing design, and clearing out some eyesores.

By the numbers: 140+ streateries existed last year.

• 83 have applied for the new program.
• 52 have been removed by the city (others came down voluntarily).

🚗 Zoom out: Patios and rooftops still buzz — but across neighborhoods from Capitol Hill to Adams Morgan, curbside dining is often replaced by parked cars.

• For restaurants, this isn't cosmetic. Many built their business models around streateries. Now, they're stuck: too valuable to lose, too costly to keep.

Zoom in: At Mount Pleasant's Martha Dear, owner Tara Smith did the math.

• Her new streatery now seats 13, down from 20, under the new rules. Changes she estimated would cost $13,000 are now closer to $25,000 all-in. Could she scrap it?
• "Absolutely not," Smith tells Axios. "It's extremely important to our bottom line, and it's also beloved by our community."

Instead, she's getting creative to help cover streatery costs — launching a Saturday artisan market starting May 16, with vintage vendors, florists and dog rescues.

• Free for participants, but they'll make some money on pizza slices and cult-favorite cookies.
• A win for the neighborhood, but not without frustration.

What they're saying: "Restaurants work with slim margins, and you have to have cash flow to fund these renovations — and so much time," Smith says. Five months. Half a dozen agencies. Endless paperwork.

• "I'm still feeling very frustrated by the cost — and what we're ultimately getting out of it."

The ripple effects: Some restaurants are losing revenue — and outdoor-loving regulars.

• Others are holding off on seasonal hires or have cut staff.
• Even designers are feeling it. The firm //3877, behind spots like Mi Vida, says streatery requests have dropped to zero.

⬇️ Keep reading for what's next

D.C. is late to set streatery standards compared to other cities. New York made new rules years ago, including seasonal use — sparking a market for rentable streateries.

Why it matters: At least one is coming here.

The intrigue: Shaw's The Royal is debuting one of D.C.'s first new compliant streateries next week — built by Brooklyn company Re-Ply.

• The company rents sleek, modular structures to popular NYC restaurants like Don Angie — handling setup, removal and compliance, from a few hundred dollars to thousands.

Zoom in: Owner Paul Carlson says he spotted the model in New York, and had been saving for years. He's buying one — not renting — but it marks Re-Ply's entry into the D.C. market.

• It's not cheap — their largest model is $14,800 annually to rent — plus custom touches like a tiled roof, lighting and furniture.
• "The curb appeal is really important; we didn't want to stick a shack on the side," Carlson says. "It's a long-term investment."

What we're watching: As the streatery scene continues to evolve, their existence has jumped from neighborhood debate to the campaign trail.

• Mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George has been the most outspoken, campaigning for small businesses. At a recent visit to La Tejana — which drew hundreds for its streatery farewell party — she put it plainly: "We want to bring back streateries."

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🤧 Achoooo — is this allergy season worse than before? Pollen counts are going up every year, experts say. "Even patients who were able to manage their symptoms in the past are now seeking professional help," allergist Sally Joo Bailey tells Washingtonian.

• We're in for sneezy, itchy year.

🏀 John Wall's back in D.C. — becoming head of basketball operations at Howard University. The former Wizards star retired from the NBA last August. (ESPN)

🌇 North of Old Town, a splashy waterfront development is gaining traction. The project proposes turning a long-dormant energy plant along the Potomac into several towers and community space. If green-lit this summer, it'll be one of the region's biggest projects by the river. (UrbanTurf)

🍺 Spring alert: The Metropolitan Beer Trail is back as of today, with 14 participating locations like Metrobar and Dew Drop Inn.

Labor unions and advocacy groups are organizing for May Day today, urging people across the country to protest the Trump administration.

Driving the news: A rally and march will begin at the Washington Monument at noon, and organizers are urging people to skip work and school to attend.

• "The Trump regime is gutting union jobs in the DC region," says the event's description, backed by groups on the left like Free DC.
• CODEPINK says it'll join the antiwar contingent, meeting between 17th and Constitution Avenue.

At 5pm, a concert will take place outside the AFL-CIO HQ on 16th Street near the White House, featuring go-go and punk bands.

Between the lines: Organizers are planning activations in the morning, too, but those plans are under wraps and "by invitation only."

Flashback: Thousands of people turned out for May Day protests in D.C. last year.

The King and Queen spent the final day of their U.S. tour in Virginia — Shenandoah scenery, a Front Royal block party and a horse farm.

👀 Meanwhile, advance teams had already lined up a throne.

The intrigue: A gas station restroom made the cut for a "comfort break" if needed, per Politico. The manager? Overcome and in tears "at the prospect of a royal visit."

• Nearly 250 years later, we're still royalists at heart.