Kristen Schwab

I'm Kristen Schwab.

Throughout the show, we've been checking in with small businesses to see how they've been doing lately.

Our final installment comes from Buffalo, New York, where Johanna Dominguez owns a plant store called Put a Plant on It.

That was Johanna Dominguez in Buffalo, New York, to round out our Retail Roundup.

If you're in Washington, D.C., or into the arts, or maybe at this point, even if you're not, you're probably aware of all the drama happening at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

There's the push to put President Trump's name on it, reports of poor ticket sales, and now plans to close the theater for two years for renovations.

Before the closing announcement was made, though, many performers had cut ties with the center, including the Washington National Opera.

Here to talk opera shop is Mark Skorka.

He is president emeritus of Opera America, a nonprofit that helps support artists and companies.

Mark, thanks for being here.

So I first want to get an understanding of the Washington National Opera's place in the arts and the opera scene.

Some people might not know that it's actually our national opera company designated by Congress.

And we know now that the Kennedy Center is going to close, so the opera won't be performing there, but they'd actually left before the venue made that announcement.

Why?

You're based in New York now, but you worked in D.C.

for a while, and I'm sure still have lots of connections there.

I do.

What is the mood and the art scene in Washington like right now?

You know, you took your final bow as the president of Opera America after, what, 35 years, is it, this fall?

What was it like to step down at a moment like this?