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Mintwood team to open restaurant at CityMarket at O, Voltaggio heads to Loudoun, and more openings

By WTOP Staff

Looks like the Mintwood Place folks are the next D.C.-area restaurateurs to want in on the Shaw neighborhood. Restaurateur Saied Azali and chef Cedric Maupillier have signed a lease for a 5,000-square-foot space at the corner of Eighth and O streets NW, confirmed Jeff Edelstein of Roadside Development, which owns the building.

Mintwood opened in Adams Morgan in 2011 to rave reviews, and its principals are sticking to that model. The yet-to-be-named restaurant in the CityMarket at O development will keep a similar menu style to Mintwood Place, an American menu with French influences, but  with a lower price point, as the Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema first reported in his live chat Wednesday. 

The 120-seat restaurant will have ample outdoor seating. The goal is to open by late fall, Edelstein said. 

“We’re thrilled to have this really cool concept there,” Edelstein said. “We think it’ll be a great partnership.” 

The restaurant will join a Starbucks and a Dolci Gelati gelato shop and cafe at the site. Two more small retail spaces, each around 1,000 square feet, are still available. Roadside Development is looking for “cool and unique” tenants for those spaces that will serve as an amenity to residents of the neighborhood, Edelstein said. 

Meanwhile, in other new restaurant openings:

• Family Meal: After his success in the far-flung Maryland ‘burbs, chef Bryan Voltaggio has turned to a Virginia counterpart in Loudoun County. The “Top Chef” alum will open his more casual concept, Family Meal, at the One Loudoun development in Ashburn this fall, as the Post also reported and a rep confirms. 

Family Meal will join the Alamo Drafthouse, a Fresh Market, Elevation Burger,  Nando’s Peri-peri and Okada Japanese Steakhouse among the retail tenants in the mixed-use One Loudoun development.

• Willie T’s: Willie T’s, a New England-style seafood restaurant from Thompson Hospitality, opened Wednesday in Dupont Circle, replacing the former Marvelous Market at 1511 Connecticut Ave. NW. The restaurant features lobster, crab and shrimp rolls, homemade bread and whoopie pies for dessert. The decor is “rustic” and “fishing-themed,” according to a press release. 

• macon bistro & larder: This Southern-meets-French cuisine spot  from chef/owner Tony Brown will make its debut in Chevy Chase in Northwest D.C. May 10. The restaurant, at 5120 Connecticut Ave. NW in the Chevy Chase Arcade building, features menu items such as braised short ribs with shallot gravy, Macon fried chicken and prepared foods including caramels, pickles and heat-and-eat entrees. 

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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