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It’s been a rough week of unforced errors for Greg Harris, the owner of Canna Coffee in Adams Morgan.
First, a video of Harris berating a Venezuelan delivery driver went viral. Harris is seen yelling at Gregorio Amundarain Lavate to “learn English!” and telling him, “This ain’t yo fuckin’ country!” Harris shoves a bag of food into Amundarain Lavate’s chest and then follows him out of the cafe located on Florida Avenue NW to continue threatening him. D.C. police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
The video sparked outrage online and the story was picked up by several local TV news stations. Harris told WUSA9 reporter Rafael Sanchez-Cruz earlier this week that he would only speak about the incident if they sent a Black reporter and if the station paid him. He also told Sanchez-Cruz that, instead of reporting on the racist tirade, the reporter’s time would be better spent teaching Amundarain Lavate to speak English.
Uber Eats and DoorDash have banned Harris’ eatery from their platform, and his Yelp rating is in the toilet. On Thursday, D.C. temporarily shut down Canna Coffee due to health concerns. The specific violations are unclear, but Harris has posted videos on social media of himself preparing food without a shirt. Harris remained open despite DC Health’s Sept. 11 order to close; the agency issued another order on Sept. 18.
The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration also reportedly issued Harris warnings about illegal cannabis sales earlier this summer.
Through it all, Harris has continued posting on social media. His Instagram bio now says he’s “the guy who went viral for telling the truth in a #mean way,” and he appears to have hired a videographer to produce a series of bizarre non-apology videos. He also announced that he intends to hold a press conference Monday “for the exclusive scoop on how I turned the #world upside down!” So stay tuned.
—Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Credit: Darrow Montgomery
Page Three, 2024
Page Three is our regular column from staff photographer Darrow Montgomery.
Several crimes—including two homicides—at the Ivy City Hotel have led to a settlement with the Office of the Attorney General that requires the hotel to improve security. The settlement requires the hotel to hire security officers overnight and to link their surveillance cameras to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center. [WJLA, WUSA9]
Stephon Nelson is the third man who was sentenced in the 2020 death of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes. Nelson was convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting, which was one of several that occurred over about a week and stemmed from rivalries between feuding crews, according to prosecutors. Nelson received more than 108 years. The other two men, Tyiion Freeman and Koran Jackson, each received more than 100 years as well. [WJLA]
Even the robots are hating on D.C.’s “style.” [Axios]
By City Paper Staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Over the past two years, scammers have stolen roughly $6.5 million from people receiving SNAP benefits and other public assistance. D.C. Department of Human Services Director Laura Zeilinger blames problems with federal law for the persistent fraud. [NBC Washington]
The Rev. Graylan Hagler says he’s been able to work with the District to get mortgage loans forgiven for most of the owners of the condemned condos on Talbert Street SE, which the city financed and helped the owners purchase. But Hagler, whose Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America has worked on home-abuying programs for many years, says he has still faced resistance from city officials in getting the issue resolved. [Informer]
The ACLU’s D.C. chapter sent a letter to federal and local law enforcement officials urging them to respect the rights of protesters as the November election draws near. The ACLU cites several high-profile incidents where demonstrators were arrested in questionable circumstances. [WTOP]
By Alex Koma (tips? akoma@washingtoncitypaper.com)
More and more fancy restaurants and bars around D.C. are offering stools or hooks for your bags. [Eater]
Forget the pumpkin spice, apple cider doughnuts are the best fall treat. Here’s where you can find them, while supplies last. [Washingtonian]
Philadelphia restaurateur Ellen Yin is expanding her domain to D.C. The James Beard Award winner is opening the second location of her French-inspired, wine-centric a.kitchen + bar in Foggy Bottom’s Hotel AKA Washington Circle. Executive chef Eli Collins has led Philly’s a.kitchen + bar for seven years and will now oversee the D.C. outpost as well. [Washingtonian]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Louis Jacobson’s Must-See Fall Photography Exhibits
WCP’s photography critic shares his thoughts on the season’s most thought-provoking, intriguing, and dramatic photo exhibits.
Yesterday, the National Gallery of Art announced a new cultural partnership with Australia’s National Gallery of Victoria with the goal of making art exchanges between both institutions’ permanent collections more accessible. The first fruit of this collaboration that Washingtonians will witness opens next fall: The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art will feature more than 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works—many of which have never left Australia. [NGA]
Rachel Chinouriri, the British singer-songwriter scheduled to perform next Saturday at All Things Go, has canceled her U.S. shows (including I.M.P.’s music fest) due to the “financial strain of touring,” she shared on social media. She specifically noted the cost of visas required to perform in the U.S. Before rules changed in April, the visa fee was $460. Now, “the new prices vary based on factors … but can be more than $1,000,” the BBC reports. [BBC]
By Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)
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