Everyone wants to open up a restaurant! It looks soooo easy — but there’s a reason that the restaurant failure rate is so high an estimated 30% failure rate. Profit margins are notoriously low, staff turnover is incredibly high, and the financial and operational challenges ushered in by the pandemic aren’t going away any time soon. The needs of the DC restaurant and hospitality industry are large. Enter the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and Executive Director, Kathy Hollinger for the latest status of our industry. What is happening locally - staff shortages, service fees & tipped wage — there’s a lot for the layperson to know and take in to be a truly educated diner! AND! The RAMMY’s are back. All that and more on the next Industry Night with Nycci Nellis, on Real Frun DC.

I used to have a black thumb and because of an Imperial Palm, I began a slow descent into plant parent mania. I have no idea what I am doing, it is truly by a hope and a prayer that my plants not just survive but thrive. Lucky for all of us — there are incredible plant shops with passionate experts in the DC area and I have three of them here with me today

-Matthew Roberts (Store Manager and Horticulturist, Gingko Gardens

-Mollie Lee (Little Leaf Shop Director)

-Mignon Hemsley and Danielle Doswell (co-founders of Grounded)

On the next Industry Night, we talk plants, plant care, plant love, plant obsessives — why did that plant die?! — and DC Plant week. That’s Industry Night, Tuesdays at 7pm on Real Fun DC.

In March 2011, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and then a massive tsunami struck Japan’s Tohoku region along the northeast coast. Near-total devastation and more than 20,000 deaths, Wiping out most of its food production it had forced the Japanese to reimagine the framework of the local economy, and it’s responding with surprising economic vigor thanks to new approaches to farming and fishing. Here in the US, the Japanese Embassy works to connect & educate US chefs and consumers on Tohoku’s farmers and fishermen. On the next Industry Night, Ryo Tsuzukihashi, Agriculture attaché at the Embassy of Japan, and Misaki Tanida, of Horaiya Honten Join Nycci to discuss how the region literally is rising from ashes. Tuesdays at 7pm on Real Fun DC.

While we all may be behaving as if the pandemic is over, it isn’t. And the residual effects of the last two years will clearly be felt for some time to come. Nobody knows that more than people in the hospitality community. A few weeks back, Greg Engert & Michael Babin of Neighborhood Restaurant Group reopened their flagship Churchkey to much well-deserved fanfare. It’s been a minute since the three of us have had a chance to catch up. Tune into Industry Night with Nycci Nellis on Real Fun DC.

Nina Oduro, Co-Founder of Dine Diaspora launched her Black-women owned agency with an eye toward culinary, community, and commerce. A connection of people and brands to African diaspora food culture. Dine Diaspora launched their 2022 “Black Women in Food” awards honoring 31 women. Don’t you want to know who they are? Find out on Industry Night with Nycci Nellis on Real Fun DC

Farmers Markets don’t just miraculously happen it takes a village to find an area with a need, identify the right location, get the right players together, all the permits, and then you have to curate the vendors and then, finally ring the opening bell! Deb Moser and Mitch Berliner have done just that. The new Half Street Market has opened right at Nat’s Ball Park — and on tonight's Industry Night Deb & Mitch brought their village: Michael Stevens President of The Capitol Riverfront BID, Mark Hannan Investment Associate Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners and Robert Giaimo, CEO and Co-founder, Silver Diner. But first The Friends Experience is in town and Jamaal Orr has the 411 on how you can hang with Joey, Monica, Rachel and the Gang. Industry Night every Tuesday at 7pm n Real Fun DC.

Buildings Are Alive! Don’t believe me? On the next Industry Night, I chat with Cathy Frankel, Vice President for Exhibitions and Collections, of the National Building Museum and Bruno de Sa Moreira, CEO for Histovery, the team behind Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition. But before we all chat Emily Schildt, CEO & Founder of Pop Up Grocer, now at Union Market takes through her curated aisles. That’s Industry Night with Nycci Nellis on Real Fun DC.

Let’s go on a field trip to Richmond with Robey Martin. Robey is an incredible mover and shaker in Richmond’s hospitality scene and nobody knows the ins and out quite like her. Robey is a food journalist, on air personality for CBS 6, hosts the Eat It Virginia podcast and she joins Nycci Nellis on Industry Night on Real Fun DC

In case you didn’t get the memo — events are back in DC. And bringing back one of the area’s most beloved events — New Kitchens on The Block — creators Al Goldberg and Nevin Martell catch us up on what April 30th 2022 will look like and brought with them several notables who's doors you will be entering soon: Blake King of ToriSumi Yakitori + Marcelle Afram, Shababi Diner + Margaux Riccio of Cenzo’s Upper West Side. Industry Night with Nycci Nellis on RealFunDC

We are so lucky to have a thriving theatre community in the DC Area. The Launch of Grace, The musical is an incredible example of the talent here. On Industry Night, Nycci chats with Composer and creator of Grace, Nolan Williams, Jr & Chef Tiffany Derry the owner, operator, founder of Roots Chicken Shak franchise and the Roots Southern Table restaurant and who is an advocate for the show. We should all say Grace, 7pm on Real Fun DC.