A vibrant mix of Washington, DC restaurant operators and industry professionals came together for a recent “Accelerate” networking event hosted by What Now Media Group at Sixty Vines – Foggy Bottom. Held on July 22, 2025, the event served as a platform for conversation, collaboration, and community building among some of the most dynamic restaurateurs in the DC metro area.
Sixty Vines – Foggy Bottom, a sustainability-driven restaurant concept inspired by wine country, located at 2850 Riverby Road, Suite 110, hosted the free event, bringing together dozens of representatives from businesses featured on What Now DC. Attendees, including local entrepreneurs and representatives from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners, connected over shared plates and drinks while exploring key topics related to growing and sustaining hospitality ventures in a competitive environment.
The event was led by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, and welcomed a diverse group of passionate restaurateurs and business owners. Among the attendees was Kris Farmer, general manager of Sixty Vines – Foggy Bottom, who helped bring the evening to life alongside fellow DC-area operators.
Several notable brands joined the conversation, including the team from Bird’s Eye Thai, an emerging Thai concept with upcoming locations in Fairfax and Chevy Chase. Representing the brand were Porntipa “Pat” Pattanamekar, Toonlaya “Zoe” Rogers, Kenya Rogers, Jeremy Ross, and Bank Ruangsangwattana Jr., who discussed the group’s growth strategy under the Pattana Restaurant Group.
Also in attendance was Kumar KC, owner of Masti Indian Restaurant and Indochen, two eateries that blend traditional Indian flavors with modern presentation, as well as Ram Thapa and Dina Pandey from the same team, who shared insights into their latest plans for opening in Reston.
Via Roma Pizzeria co-owner Biagio Cepolla discussed bringing authentic Italian flavors back to the DMV with his anticipated relaunch, while Anthony Dale, owner of Père Wine Bar, highlighted his mission to offer an intimate, approachable wine experience to the DC community.
Additional restaurateurs included Skyler Kelley of Brij Coffee, a coffee shop focused on empowering young entrepreneurs; Sol Schott, founder of Acme Pie Co.; Tony Davis of BKD Bagels; and Mustafa Durran, owner of Ravenna, who is preparing to open a Roman-style pizza concept in Rosslyn.
Several representatives from What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners were also present, offering guidance and support tailored to the local restaurant’s needs. Scott Sawyer from A Head For Profits discussed how his team supports the installation and maintenance of draft systems to ensure high-quality beverage service.
Howard Joseph, senior payroll advisor at Heartland, shared insights into streamlining payroll operations for growing restaurants. Meanwhile, Stephen Berry and Bill Wang of Genius POS spoke with guests about point-of-sale technology that enhances efficiency and customer experience.
Representing SpotOn, Matt Cruz and Josh Wiggins discussed the company’s full-suite POS and restaurant tech solutions built for independent operators. These preferred partners, alongside others, played a key role in making the evening informative and productive.
The restaurant owners and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners shared valuable insights, operational highlights, and expert advice, creating an engaging and informative evening that was both enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Mariah to carry the conversation even deeper by discussing critical business points, such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Mariah and the guests shared their tips, knowledge, and concerns, everyone became quickly interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could help one another.
This event provided a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and establish new connections. It’s clear that the DC restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations to take place.
What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 33 cities across North America, breaking news, and provides timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 33 cities annually.
The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.
Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2025. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
