SINCE 1954
VOLUME 65 NUMBER 8
GEORGETOWNER.COM
JANUARY 23-FEBRUARY 5, 2019
RULING O N HE ATI NG P LANT C O ND O S RAY KUK U LSK I — 1 9 4 2 - 2 0 1 9 CAG TA K ES A ST AND O N 5 G KITTY K ELLEY BO O K C LU B
IN THIS ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS · 3 - 5, 9
Up & Coming Events Town Topics Update: Deployment of ‘Small Cells’ in Georgetown
ABOUT THE COVER
Bradley Cooper, a graduate of Georgetown University, directed and stars in “A Star Is Born,” an Oscar nominee. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
DC SCENE · 6
Women March in D.C. to Protest Trump and His Policies
DOWNTOWNER · 7 Downtown News
EDITORIAL/OPINION · 8 Editorials Jack Evans Report Letters to the Editor
COVER STORY · 10 - 11 Why We Love The Movies
BUSINESS · 12
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY … AND EACH OTHER
Windsor Chairs: The Democratic Seat
REAL ESTATE · 13 ARTS · 14
“The Tête à Tête,” from “Marriage A-la-Mode,” c. 1743. William Hogarth. National Gallery, London.
MUSEUMS, THE SHUTDOWN AND AMBREEN BUTT AT NMWA BY AR I POST “Untitled (Woman/Dragon)” from “Daughters of the East,” 2008. Ambreen Butt. Photo by Stephen Petegorsky. Courtesy of the artist and NMWA.
Tim Nelson’s Vision for the In Series
FOOD & WINE · 15 Dining Guide DC Restaurants Are A Family Affair
CLASSIFIEDS · 16
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robert Devaney
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Charlene Louis
COPY EDITOR Richard Selden
FEATURES EDITORS Ari Post Gary Tischler
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT Peggy Sands
CONTRIBUTORS CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ Elisa Bayoumi GRAPHIC DESIGN Mary Bird Aidah Fontenot Allyson Burkhardt Evan Caplan FASHION & BEAUTY Jack Evans DIRECTOR Donna Evers Lauretta McCoy Michelle Galler Stephanie Green GRAPHIC DESIGN Amos Gelb Angie Myers Wally Greeves Troy Riemer Kitty Kelley Rebekah Kelley PHOTOGRAPHERS Selma Khenissi Philip Bermingham Jody Kurash Jeff Malet Travis Mitchell Neshan Naltchayan Shelia Moses Patrick G. Ryan Stacy Murphy Kate Oczypok ADVERTISING Linda Roth Evelyn Keyes Alison Schafer Richard Selden Kelly Sullivan
BY JOH N E. GIR OU AR D
Achtung, Baby: Ich Bin the Berliner Ins & Outs
ANTIQUE ATTIC · 13
PUBLISHER Sonya Bernhardt
OSCAR NOMINEES: A MIXED BAG BY GARY TISC H L ER The poster for “Roma.”
1050 30th Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (202) 338-4833 Fax: (202) 338-4834 www.georgetowner.com The Georgetowner is published every other Wednesday. The opinions of our writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect the editorial and corporate opinions of The Georgetowner newspaper. The Georgetowner accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. The Georgetowner reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions. Copyright 2018.
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Service Directory
GETAWAYS · 17
New Member for Ireland’s Blue Book
BOOK CLUB · 18
Photo of the Week
Kitty Kelley Book Club
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GOOD WORKS & GOOD TIMES · 19
Jan. 14 lunar eclipse above Georgetown. Photo by Ricardo Jimenez.
Social Scene Events
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UP & COMING
Events Calendar
JANUARY 26
JULIA NIXON SINGS BACHARACH-DAVID Rhythm and blues singer Julia Nixon and the Dave Ylvisaker Dozen will perform works by composer Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David, creators of such hits as “Walk On By” and “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” Tickets are $42 ($39 for seniors). For details, visit dumbartonconcerts.org. Dumbarton United Methodist Church, 3133 Dumbarton St. NW.
BUMPER JACKSONSAT THE BARNS Reimagining roots and Americana music by mixing in street jazz, early blues and country swing, the D.C.-based Bumper Jacksons bring audiences into the center of a party where the dancing never stops. Tickets are$22to $27. For details, visitwolftrap.org.Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia.
JANUARY27
GEORGETOWN BASKETBALL WATCH PARTY Church Hall —Georgetown’s leading beer hall, which works closely with local breweries— ishosting official away-game watch parties for Georgetown Athletics’ men’sbasketball in partnership with Fox Sports. On this date, the Hoyas are at St. John’s. For details, visit churchhalldc.com. 1070 Wisconsin Ave.NW.
JANUARY 30
WHITTLE’S APPROACH TO STEM Area residents are invited to a presentation on Whittle School & Studios’ approach to STEM learning. Whittle’s integrated design-thinking approach will help students develop a
Inspired by the fairy tale of a true love’s kiss and the triumph of good over evil.
personalized understanding of how they can participate in their local communities and the world. Register by emailing mydcadmission@ whittleschool.org. Whittle School & Studios Information Center, 5300 Wisconsin Ave.NW.
FEBRUARY 3TO 9
DATE NIGHTS FOR A YEAR CONTEST To enter this free contest, post a story to Instagram describing yourworst first date using the hashtag#MyNotSoGrahamtasticDate. The winner will be selected at random and contacted via Instagram to receive six date nights at the Alex Speakeasyin the Graham Georgetown,1075 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, as well as special access to events throughout the year.
FEBRUARY 9
30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY DINNER Christianne and Francesco Ricchi are celebrating “Trent’Anni” since they came to D.C. by creating a six-course Tuscan extravaganza—a communal feast of Ricchi family favorites of rustic Italian cooking. Tickets are $130. For details, visitiricchidc.com.Ristorante i Ricchi, 1220 19th St.NW.
FEBRUARY 9 AND 10
THE BALLET COMPANY OF THE NATION’S CAPITAL PRESENTS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ICONIC LOVE STORIES with soaring sounds from The Washington Ballet Orchestra
February 27—March 3, 2019 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Eisenhower Theater
ALEXANDRIA SYMPHONY This program,an exploration of the Classical-era symphony, features Mozart’s Symphony No. 38, “Prague”; Prokofiev’s Symphony No.1, “Classical”; Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 and Stravinsky’s “Dumbarton Oaks.”Tickets are $5 to $80. For details, visit alexsym.org. George Washington MasonicMemorial,101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, Virginia
washingtonballet.org
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE KENNEDY CENTER BOX OFFICE INSTANT-CHARGE AT 202.467.4600 AND KENNEDY-CENTER.ORG
VISIT GEORGETOWNER.COM TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO OUR ONLINE CALENDAR
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JANUARY 23, 2019
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TOWN TOPICS
NEWS
Mayor’s Agent OKs Partial Demolition of West Heating Plant DECISION OPENS CLEAR PATH TO BUILDING FOUR SEASONS RESIDENCES. BY R ICHARD S E L DE N In a decision dated Jan. 11, the Mayor’s Agent for Historic Preservation conditionally cleared the permit for Georgetown 29K Acquisition LLC to partially demolish the abandoned six-story, yellow-brick West Heating Plant at 1051-55 29th St. NW due to the “special merit” of the project proposed for the twoacre site, adjacent to the C&O Canal near the Georgetown waterfront. The decision removes an obstacle to the developer’s controversial plan to build a 10-story, high-end condominium building designed by David Adjaye, lead architect of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, overlooking a one-acre public park designed by distinguished landscape architect Laurie Olin. Of this major milestone, project partner Richard Levy said he was impressed by the “clarity and strength of the order.” It is so positive, he told The Georgetowner last week, and “what I thought an order would be like.” For Levy, the decision “surpassed” his hopes and appears “appeal-proof.” And now work
can proceed. “We don’t have to wait,” said Levy, thankful for all the community support. What’s next? There’s a map amendment and meeting with the Zoning Commission as well as DC Water and the District Department of Transportation. And, of course, teardown and construction. Levy said he expects the Four Seasons Residences to be delivered in three and a half to four years. The Mayor’s Agent also recommended that the State Historic Preservation Office accede to the developer’s request that one of the historic preservation covenants in the deed — specifying that alternations need to be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s preservation standards — be modified. The signatories on the decision were Mayor’s Agent Hearing Officer J. Peter Byrne and Mayor’s Agent’s Designee Malaika A. Scriven. The Art Moderne-style heating plant, designed by William Dewey Foster, was completed in 1948 and decommissioned in 2000. It is a designated landmark and contributing
Rendering of Four Seasons Residences on 29th Street. Courtesy Adjaye Associates. property to the Georgetown Historic District. The Georgetown 29K Acquisition entity — comprising the Georgetown-based Levy Group, headed by Richard Levy, Four Seasons Hotels and the Georgetown Company of New York — successfully bid $19.5 million for the property at a GSA auction in 2013. As part of the project, the developer has committed to providing public benefits including documentation of the site’s history, an interpretive exhibit on Georgetown’s industrial heritage, financial support of Georgetown Heritage (the nonprofit working with the National Park Service on restoration of the C&O Canal) and the rehabilitation of the historic Mt. Zion cemetery and a contribution of at least $2.8 million toward affordable housing. The Commission of Fine Arts recommended approval of the project’s design (the most recent of several iterations) in September of 2017. After reviewing the plans in November
of 2017 and April of 2018, the Historic Preservation Review Board, while finding the proposed demolition and design inconsistent with preservation standards, urged the Mayor’s Agent to allow design flexibility. The application to the Mayor’s Agent was supported by the Citizens Association of Georgetown and Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park and opposed by the D.C. Preservation League. The decision states: “In this case, it can hardly be contested that the project is one of special merit because of specific features of land planning and the profusion of important community benefits,” also noting that the West Heating Plant “today is dangerous, toxic, and inaccessible.” Further, “while there surely will be preservation losses from the partial demolition of the [West Heating Plant], they are not as great as they might be for a more significant landmark.”
Basketball Only at Jelleff? What Do Georgetowners Really Want? THEY’RE GETTING $7 MILLION!
www.trinity.org/benefit
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Ever since July 23, 2018, when more than a hundred enthusiastic patrons of the Jelleff Recreation Center at 3265 S St. NW, managed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, met to hear about the $7 million budgeted for the center’s renovation by the District Department of Parks and Recreation, the underlying question has been: for what, exactly? Many ideas were offered that night. But, overwhelmingly, the most numerous and passionate were from the dozens of basketball clubs, leagues and groups that use the one court in the single all-purpose gym. They wanted, needed, could definitely use on a fulltime basis a second multipurpose (but mainly basketball) court. A larger budget should be negotiated for other programs, Since then, no other meetings have been held. The $7 million remains budgeted. “There has been very little community involvement,” wrote Elizabeth Miller, a new member of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E. “After reflection and conversations with my colleagues on ANC 2E, we feel it is important to take a more multi-dimensional
look at how to engage Georgetown-Burleith residents about this project,” Miller wrote The Georgetowner on Jan. 14. “As you know, the only community meeting was attended almost exclusively by a group set on advocating for a second basketball court. That may be what the broader Georgetown community also wants, but the point is that we aren’t sure since we haven’t heard from them. We would like to see the community center renovated with input from all stakeholders and certainly with input from the neighborhood.” The ANC recently organized a 10-question online survey that it “will be distributing broadly to all Jelleff Community Center stakeholders.” One of the questions is “What types of programs would you use if they were offered at Jelleff?” The responses to choose from are: Music; Soccer; Early Childhood Co-op; Basketball; Senior Programming; Computer Programming; Smart Phone/Tablet Classes; Language; Art and Photography; Fitness/Exercise; Yoga, Ballet, Martial Arts, Gymnastics, Fencing, Movement; Theater; Movie Screenings; Informal Clubs; Cooking; Camps; Theater; Roller Skating; and Other (please specify).
TOWN TOPICS
‘Town Crier’ Ray Kukulski Has Died BY PE GGY SA NDS The “town crier” of Georgetown, Ray Kukulski — the man that almost every resident of Georgetown paid attention to on a daily basis, due to his dozens of repostings on the Citizens Association of Georgetown’s Georgetown Forum listserv — has died. Kukulski collapsed suddenly at Sibley Hospital on Thursday, Jan. 10, apparently of an aneurysm or a brain hemorrhage. He had recently turned 77. “Doctors said there was no chance of recuperation or survival,” CAG Executive Director Leslie Maysak told The Georgetowner on Jan. 17. Kukulski’s next of kin had arrived earlier in the week to make a decision about the removal of life support. “He was a kind man with a warm heart and sweet smile,” wrote Elizabeth Miller, who was CAG’s executive director when Kukulski was president. “He had a passion for Georgetown and made it a better place for sure.” “Ray was a factor in Georgetown for over 50 years,” said Maysak. “He will be so very missed by everyone in Georgetown.” Kukulski’s sudden death seems almost impossible to believe to many Georgetown residents, who were used to seeing the vigorous 70-something walking from his townhouse at the harbor end of 30th Street. Almost daily he would go along the riverfront, the C&O Canal and M Street, then up Wisconsin Avenue to R Street, the parks and the library. He attended almost every meeting of various Georgetown community organizations, including CAG and Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E — both of which he had
served as chairman. He was especially concerned about construction on M and 30th Streets, often checking for posted permits and reporting his concerns to The Georgetowner and others. In 2009, CAG recorded and transcribed a long interview with Kukulski as part of its Georgetown Oral History Project, available at cagtown.org. In it, he describes moving to his house on 30th Street in 1967 with three fellow naval officers. “Georgetown was a different place then,” he relates. “Across the street from me, which is now Jefferson Court, and next door, which is now the Saudi Mission of Defense, was Geller’s Lumber Yard. The area south of K Street and to the east of 30th was just a big flat grassy area with a railroad siding to load and unload lumber. The townhouses north of K were the same, and what is now the Latham Hotel was a gas station which faced M Street.” Kukulski was in Georgetown off and on during the Vietnam War and the protests of the 1960s and ’70s; he was doing naval duty out of San Diego then. But in the 1980s, he was back. He was president of Georgetown’s ANC just as the south end of Georgetown gentrified and underwent one its biggest changes: the development of the Washington Harbour complex. “We were opposed to it,” Kukulski recalls on tape, “because we always wanted a full park down there. I remember testifying against it, because I’m an old sailor, and the developers had shown a little model with a sailboat inside of a little bridge. There was no way in hell you
CAG Hosts ‘The Future of Georgetown’ The Citizens Association of Georgetown’s first public meeting of 2019 was held at the Ritz-Carlton on South Street Jan. 15. CAG invited staffers of the Georgetown Business Improvement District to speak on planning for Georgetown’s retail and commercial environment and introduced the new lineup of Georgetown-Burleith advisory neighborhood commissioners (ANC 2E) to speak on a variety of quality of life issues, including schools, utilities, transportation, parking and more. Visit Georgetowner.com for the full story. Chart courtesy Georgetown BID.
Ray Kukulski, 1942-2019. Photo by Robert Devaney. were getting a sailboat in there. I said: ‘Come on guys! That’s not going to work at all.’ But the city felt the income would be necessary and, as you know, our department was wellconnected. That was how they finally got around what you could do — with a variance from Mayor Barry.” Kukulski had seen and been involved in a significant amount of Georgetown history. He had a lot to say about traffic (horrendous) and parks (great) and the new arrival of young families in Georgetown (even greater). He opposed the Whitehurst Freeway all his life. “It made sense in the ’40s when south of M Street was an industrial area and the street a diesel train railroad tracks shared with cars.
Crime & Safety 6-YEAR-OLD ESCAPES KIDNAPPING ATTEMPT ON DUMBARTON ST. POLICE ARRESTED 37-YEAR-OLD SUSANNE PURDY, OF NO FIXED ADDRESS, AND CHARGED HER WITH KIDNAPPING.
Capital One Cafe will be opening at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street.
A six-year-old girl escaped from a wouldbe kidnapper around 4:50 p.m. on Jan. 15. In a dramatic and bizarre scene, a young woman grabbed the girl from behind as the girl was being dropped from her usual afternoon carpool by a neighborhood nanny in front of her Georgetown home. A suspect was arrested two days later. The attempted kidnapping happened on the 2800 block of Dumbarton Street. As requested by the family, names will not be released. The women told the girl to stop resisting and said she had cotton candy for her. The girl struggled, got herself free and ran toward her home. The woman ran after her. The nanny in the car called out to the woman as the girl screamed. The nanny continued to yell at the woman, who then ran away, heading east on Dumbarton Street. The girl made it home, where her mother opened the door as she cried, “Never!
But now that K Street is an entertainment destination the freeway makes no sense,” he said. Georgetown’s town crier has now passed on, but his anti-Whitehurst Freeway sentiment continues. “It’s a dead issue for the moment,” Kukulski said on the CAG tape. “But eventually it’s going to fall down. You can only keep a bridge together so long. Now that the park is there, it makes so much more sense to not have it.” A funeral service for Ray Kukulski is planned at Oak Hill Cemetery at the end of January; date to be determined. A memorial service will also be held at Tudor Place April 6.
Never! I will never go!” The mother called 911 immediately and then ran down the street to look for the woman who tried to kidnap her daughter, but did not find her. Police quickly responded with several cruisers and SUVs and circled the nearby blocks. In an email, after telling the story of the attempted crime, the girl’s mother asked neighbors to check their home security cameras. She concluded: “We moved to Georgetown in part because it is such a wonderful neighborhood for small kids. This has been a sobering day, and we are so grateful that [our daughter] is alive and safe, now sleeping at my side.” The Metropolitan Police Department reported Jan. 17: “The person of interest is in custody. The case remains under investigation.” Later, it added that 37-yearold Susanne Purdy, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with kidnapping. In the initial report, the department described the suspect as “a white female who is approximately 30-40 years old, 5’7”5’8” in height and has blonde hair which is in a Mohawk hairstyle. She was last seen running eastbound on Dumbarton Street NW, wearing a white coat.” At that time, MPD provided an image of a person of interest, captured by a surveillance camera within Scheele’s Market at 29th and Dumbarton Streets. GMG, INC.
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DC SCENE
Women March in D.C. to Protest Trump and His Policies BY J EF F MA L ET The third annual Women’s March returned to Washington, D.C., as thousands of activists gathered on Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue NW and marched past the Trump International Hotel on Jan. 19, demanding respect for women and protesting against President Donald Trump and his policies — one of several such protests around the country marking the second anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration. This year’s march came against the backdrop of a partial government shutdown, which began on Dec. 22 after the president refused to back down on his demand for more than $5 billion in funding for “a wall” on the nation’s southern border.
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Artist Krista Suh at the Woman’s National Democratic Club. Photo by Peggy Sands.
Pussy Hats Becoming An American Ritual BY PEG GY SA NDS But the women’s marches in January are sparking something deeper and more significant nation and world wide” said Krista Suh, a California paper and textile craft artist and writer who created the pink hat with kitten ears that suddenly appeared on the heads of hundreds of thousands of Women March supporters in 2017 and on a majority of heads (male, female and child) at the Woman’s March on Saturday. “The marches are becoming a part of the American pattern of life, a ritual. Every January women put on their pink hats and go march”. “Our mission was to have the P-hats - as they have come to be known - become a symbol of resistence,” Suh told the Georgetowner at a breakfast at the Woman’s National Democratic Club before the Jan. 19 woman’s march. “But they’ve now become a significant symbol of women’s unity and diversty. They take up not only visual and actual space, but emotional space and time as well”. The Asian-American Southern Californian and Barnard College alum has gone on to write successful screen and TV pilots and has just published a book “DIY Rules for a WTF World”. “My message is not to be afraid of scrutiny,” Suh said as she prepared to leave for the march wearing a deep pink colored coat, her knit hat of course and a pink bag with “Pussy Grabs Back” in blinking lights on the front.
FRANKLIN PARK REHAB PLAN ADVANCES
FARE EVASION BILL VETOED BY MAYOR
A new package from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) contains a bill from Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) clarifying that D.C. and the National Park Service can enter into cooperative management agreements for NPS properties in the District. In particular, the bill pertains to Franklin Park, the rehabilitation of which would be funded jointly by the Park Service, D.C. government and the Downtown Business Improvement District.
Mayor Bowser vetoed a bill decriminalizing fare evasion on the Metro system that was approved by the D.C. Council in December. The vetoed bill would have made fare evasion a civil offense with fines up to $50. It is currently a criminal offense, resulting in arrest, jail time and a higher fine. Metro expressed support for the veto, which the Council can override with nine votes.
MAYOR ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICES
Use of the powerful — and powerfully addictive — opioid fentanyl is rising in the area. Overdose deaths are up almost 25 percent in Maryland and 10 percent in Virginia. The District has fared the worst, with the percentage of fentanyl-related overdoses rising a whopping 81 percent. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, more than eight in 10 opioid overdoses in the District in the first nine months of 2018 were due to fentanyl.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser gave her secondterm outlook address at Gallaudet University on Jan. 14. The mayor announced several organizational changes in D.C. government, including the creation of an Office of East of the River Coordination, an Office of the Deputy Mayor of Operations and Infrastructure, an Internal Services office, a Mayor’s Office of Policy and a Thrive by Five Coordinating Council, working on initiatives to help mothers and babies.
FENTANYL DEATHS RISE IN D.C.
RESPONDING TO HUNGER: BREADCOIN Its name inspired by cryptocurrency Bitcoin, Breadcoin is making the rounds in the D.C. homeless community. Inscribed with “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread,” breadcoins are roughly the size of a quarter and worth $2.20 at participating food vendors. The coins have been around since 2016, but many D.C.-area residents remain unfamiliar with this cashless way to help those in need. Coins may be purchased at breadcoin.org.
DIRTY MARTINI OUT, PEOPLE KITCHEN IN Mayor Bowser gave her second-term outlook speech earlier this month.
45th Year
Dupont Circle restaurant Dirty Martini is on its way out. PopVille reported that the contemporary American eatery, which opened in 2011 at 1223 Connecticut Ave. NW, will become People Kitchen & Lounge. Not much is out yet on the new restaurant, but there’s a Valentine’s Day speed-dating event already scheduled.
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EDITORIAL
OPINION JACK EVANS REPORT
Send Your Feedback, Questions or Concerns, Tips and Suggestions to editorial@georgetowner.com or call 202-338-4833
How Did We Get to 12 Homicides in 20 Days? The very first homicide in the District of Columbia in 2019 occurred on the very first day of the year. The latest happened on January 19. That brought the total of homicides to 12 as of Jan. 20, a disquieting and shocking number and rate. This followed an alarming number of homicides, most of them in shootings, during the course of 2018, totaling 160, up from 116 in 2017. In addition, statistics from the Washington Post showed that 534 people were shot in the District, 23 percent of whom died. The homicide statistics are startling when you consider that the number had reached a low of 88 in 2012. It’s easy to point fingers—have more police officers in the ranks, make more arrests, get more convictions, and so on. Obviously, there is a serious problem festering and growing in the streets of Washington, D.C. There seems a disconnect about crime and dealing with crime. But is it more than that? Mayor Muriel Bowser offered a potential answer to the rise of shooting deaths and murders. Mind you, it’s not a cure-all, nor is any single proposal, but in a Second Term Outlook Address, the mayor said that the Metropolitan Police Department would continue to try to achieve a strength size of 4,000 officers and that there would be specially dedicated officers for community policing assignments deployed on foot, on bicycles, segways and scooters. (That 4,000 number is not a new idea. It has been advocated by several in authority for years.) Of course, we need a serious attempt to bring police officers more closely connected to the communities they serve, and vice versa, in ways that may not and probably was not achieved by the use of police cruisers and vehicle policing alone. But is that enough? Policing a community out of the vehicle has the possibilities and the goal of achieving positive results, trust and solving crimes, not to mention getting rid of guns. Somewhere along the road from here to there, that trust in which community members work alongside police officers seems to have been loosened. Close and personal face-to-face contact could strengthen those ties and trust. But is there a deeper problem? The mayor said, “We know that reducing violence in our city requires an approach that
Photo by Tony Hisgett. includes police involvement, human services involvement, and community involvement. We also know how important it is to have a police force that is resourced, trained and that reflects the values of Washington, D.C.” She continued: “As we continue our focus on recruiting and retaining more talent from within our community, we’re also going to focus on ensuring we have more officers out and visible in the community—on foot on bike and on Segways.” Sounds logical, especially in the light of rapid changes—economically, population wise, technologically, and in new thinking in law enforcement approaches—within our burgeoning city. Law enforcement officers not only have a duty to enforce the law and protect the people, but also have a daily contact stake in the communities will assure improving outcomes in the containment of crime and violence. Still, police need help from the courts to lock up the repeat offenders. Police are also dealing with a society divided in needless ways and with neighborhoods low on the hope of opportunity, missing their own steps for upward mobility. Our city says it wants to do more to help. But can it? More cops on the beat may not be enough.
Council Bills: Property Tax, Bikes, Trash, Noise BY JAC K EVAN S The District Council held the first legislative meeting of Council Period 23 on Jan. 8. The new Council period provides an opportunity for Council members to reintroduce legislative priorities and set new goals for the next two years. I introduced multiple bills which cover a variety of issues that I hope to address. The first bill I introduced was the Residential Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2019. This legislation would cap the yearly property tax increase at five percent instead of the current 10 percent. Many of our residents live on pensions or fixed incomes and the price of property continues to climb in the District. This legislation would help keep the District affordable for our longtime residents, who have contributed to the economic resurgence of our city. I have introduced this legislation several times during previous Council periods and I hope my colleagues will finally make this a priority and get this important piece of legislation passed. Bicycling continues to be a popular way to commute through the city. The Bike Valet Grant Program Act of 2019 would establish a grant program to assist local festivals and events in providing bike valet service, conveniently located at the event. The District is one of the most bikefriendly cities in the country. This legislation would help bicyclists take advantage of the numerous events across the city by giving them a secure and convenient option for storing their bikes. I also introduced the Foreign Missions
Letter to the Editor POST OFFICE DISRESPECTS AMERICAN FLAG I know you are documenting service problems at the Georgetown post office, and there are many of those. I would like to draw your attention to the disrespect shown to the flag. The current post office staff does not believe it is its responsibility to care for our nation’s flag or they are physically unable to do so. If the flag is not illuminated at night, it should be lowered at dusk and stored until morning. Currently, the flag hangs battered and worn at something like half-staff. This sorry state reflects badly on our community. It would be best if the flag is taken down and not replaced. — Mary Ellen Connell, 32nd Street NW
What is your solution to end the government shutdown? YOUR OPINION MATTERS. Post your response. Facebook.com/TheGeorgetowner 8 JANUARY 23, 2019
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Trash Collection Amendment Act of 2019. This bill would allow embassies to request that the District government provide trash collection services for a reasonable fee. One of the ongoing issues with foreign missions is trash removal. Sometimes it’s difficult for the embassies to find trash companies that will collect a relatively small amount of trash. This legislation would allow the District to pick up trash from foreign missions for a fee. This would benefit not only the embassies, but nearby residents, who have to contend with issues that come from non-regular pickups, such as rats. Finally, I introduced the Amplified Noise Amendment Act of 2019. This bill would regulate noise generated from electronically amplified sound devices in public spaces, requiring that it not exceed 80 decibels inside the nearest occupied residence. I strongly support common-sense limits on loud music in public spaces. The bill also prohibits the use of gas generators in public spaces without a permit. Cities like Chicago have addressed buskers by instituting a permitting system. I believe it is possible to have common-sense legislation that allows buskers to thrive while protecting our residents, workers and hospitals from amplified noise. The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole and I look forward to working with Chairman Mendelson to create a solution. I intend to introduce more pieces of legislation throughout Council Period 23 and to continue fighting for the priorities of Georgetown and Ward 2. Feel free to contact my office to let me know what’s important to you.
DC WATER SHUTS ALLEY DURING FRIGID WEEKS It’s January. It’s 14 degrees outside right now. Last week, we were notified that on Jan. 14 our alleyway would be “reclaimed” by DC Water and given over to Fort Myer Construction
Company. They are going to dig up the entire alley, make a huge mess and put down a new pipe that will redirect rainwater to be processed by Blue Plains instead of running into the river. In the meantime, no one can park in their garage — snowstorms or not. Parking spots on the street are at a minimum due to all the construction people taking up the spots. Convenient for them. All garbage cans from the alley have to be moved to the front yard. This first week, the recycle garbage men forgot to pick up the recycling. Asked how long it would take to complete this torture in the middle of winter, the answer ranged from one week to four months. As of today, one week is the absolute wrong answer. They don’t work in rain or snow. And today it might be too cold. This time of year, they would be better off using their resources to fill in the potholes. Some are so deep you can see China if you look in them. — Name withheld upon request, Burleith
THE VILLAGE
Update: Deployment of ‘Small Cells’ in Georgetown BY ELS A S A NTOYO
Lately, Georgetown residents have been hearing a lot about “5G” and “small cells.” The following is meant to explain these terms and related concerns. First, exactly what are “small cells”? Small cells are cellular service transmission nodes being proposed by Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile/Sprint and Crown Castle (not a carrier, but a real estate investment trust or REIT). They are being proposed to make the current generation of cellular service faster and more reliable by increasing capacity of our current fourth generation — 4G — telecommunications technology. Many carriers are marketing this as next-generation, that is, 5G service; only Verizon has fessed up that this is actually improved 4G service. Industry standards for 5G do not yet exist. But, so what? Improved service sounds beneficial. What’s the big deal? The “big deal” is the size of the small cells. The ones being proposed consist of new metal poles, erected on our sidewalks in the zone already occupied by tree boxes and streetlights (and, in some instances, alleys). The diameter and height of the poles, radios and antennas vary by carrier. The designs presented in mid-2018 and after depict metal poles with a height in the range of 20 to 30 feet above grade, with a diameter of 8 to 26 inches. The bases will house radios that range from 20 to 28 inches in diameter by 18 to 60 inches in height. Antennas and radio transmitters will be mounted on them. The 4G antennas depicted in renderings have been doughnut- and cylindershaped, in the range of 18 to 24 inches in diameter by 31 to 56 inches in height. 5G
antennas are purportedly larger. The design of small cells is not uniform. The reason for the range of dimensions described above is that the shape and size of the antenna and radio equipment varies by carrier. The District Department of Transportation is developing guidelines that establish parameters for design, which so far have been limited to pole heights and color. When 5G does arrive, sometime in 2020 according to forecasts, it will not work on any existing radios or antennas. And our current devices, compatible with 4G, will not work with real 5G either. The carriers realize that many people are not going to ditch their current phones, so they are planning to continue to offer both 4G and 5G, at least for a while. The specialized 5G radios and antennas will be added to the 4G-equipped small cells, the quantities and locations of which have not been communicated. The carriers have contracts to lease public space from DDOT for a one-time fee of $270, good for 10 years. So these small cells potentially could add a lot of unsightly clutter to our sidewalks and may impact the views out our windows. That is why the Citizens Association of Georgetown has become a small cells activist. We first began informing CAG members about small cells and the challenges they pose last summer. Additional information was shared in our fall newsletter and at a very well-attended town hall meeting sponsored by CAG, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E and the Georgetown Business Improvement District. Since that time, I and my CAG colleagues Richard deC. Hinds and Betsy Emes, along with ANC 2E Chair Joe Gibbons and Commissioner Jim Wilcox, attended and provided testimony at DDOT’s public space meeting and at a citywide roundtable organized by Council member
Mary Cheh. We continue to stay in touch with representatives from the Commission of Fine Arts, Council members and other interested organizations in the city, as well as telecom company representatives. Our objectives are to reduce the potential visual clutter on our lovely historic streetscape, yet allow our fellow residents to reap benefits from the promised improved service. As such we have recommended that carriers: 1. Explore alternative means of providing 4G and 5G service, such as rooftop-based antennas and antennas beneath manhole covers. Vodafone UK is installing small antennas below street level, under manhole covers, to help improve its 4G LTE mobile network coverage in
TEL: 202-455-4645 ● GEORGETOWN
busy urban areas and prepare for 5G. 2. Mitigate visual clutter by reducing the number of small cells to a minimum. If the coverage area of small cells is as wide-ranging as has been touted by Verizon’s chairman, that would result in lessening the number of small cells per block. 3. Develop a single pole design that all carriers must use uniformly throughout our historic district. 4. Agree not to place poles close to tree roots or trim our tree canopy. Elsa Santoyo is chair of Historic Preservation & Zoning for the Citizens Association of Georgetown.
EMAIL: SALES@STMKAB.COM ● WEBSITE: WWW.STMKAB.COM CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
COMMUNITY CALENDAR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 GLØGG PARTY
Hosted by Linda Brooks, Burleith’s 8th annual Winter Gløgg Party — a traditional Scandinavian celebration featuring mulled wine — will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Brooks home on T Street. To RSVP, call 202-333-2826 or email lbrookslb@gmail.com by Jan. 30. All Burleith residents and Burleith Citizens Association members are welcome.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4 ANC 2E
The Georgetown-Burleith-Hillandale Advisory Neighborhood Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Georgetown Visitation School, 1524 35th St. NW, second-floor Heritage Room. For details, visit anc2e.com.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
The D.C. Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss Georgetowners’ concerns about natural gas leaks and solicit comments about the dissemination of information about leaks to the public. The hearing will follow the commission’s 2 p.m. open meeting at 1325 G St. NW, Suite 800. For details, visit dcpsc.org.
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JANUARY 23, 2019
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COVER
BY GARY T IS CHL E R Actress Gal Gadot runs along Pennsylvania Avenue during filming of “Wonder Woman 1984.” Photo by Jeff Malet. Let’s talk about marches and shutdowns and “life-threatening” temperatures and scuffles and bigots and presidents and politicians. Let’s not. Let’s talk about Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow and the Wizard and the Wicked Witch (oh, my!). Let’s talk about the movies. It’s Oscar time again. Nominations are out this week. Now and forever, at the first mention of “Shallow,” you will not think it’s the title of a movie about the Hollywood state of mind, but rather an emotionally fine-tuned romantic song that Lady Gaga will eventually ride to the presidency (in the not-so-distant future in a galaxy only one or two red carpets away). Let’s talk about the movies — new movies, old movies, what they mean and have meant to us, all of us. First and foremost, movies are an invention, a French one, technically, but one invested in our minds as an American vehicle for escape, for fun, for dreams and dreaming. “We have no troubles here,” says Joel Grey, winner of an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor playing the Kit Kat Klub host in “Cabaret.” Ours are movie times, for sure. So were the Depression years in Hollywood and America. There were breadlines and good, honest men dressing up every morning as if to go to jobs. But the movies and Hollywood were telling a different story — about showgirls, dancers, deeds of daring and heroes who swung from trees (Errol Flynn as Robin in Sherwood Forest, swimmer Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan). 10 JANUARY 23, 2019
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There were Broadway Melodies and Busby Berkeley spectaculars in which chorus girls strutted down and up a stairway to paradise, and Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced sublimely in glittering settings in movies like “Top Hat,” “Flying Down to Rio” and “Swing Time.” “Heaven, I’m in heaven,” Astaire sang, and so were we while Ginger danced, backwards in high heels. Standing at the side of a road to a dusty town somewhere, a rifle slung over his shoulder, was John Wayne as the Ringo Kid in “Stagecoach,” directed by John Ford, the curmudgeon Irishman who had his finger squarely on the pulse of American mythmaking. A lot of what many of us think and feel we know about American history we experienced on Saturday afternoon in a movie theater. What we learned at the movies somehow stuck in our minds more than what we read in our history books. To this day, some of us think that Abraham Lincoln was: (a) affable, lanky, log-splitting Henry Fonda in “Young Mr. Lincoln,” (b) Raymond Massey in “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” (c) Gregory Peck, because he impersonated (and won an Oscar playing) the Lincolnesque Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” or (d) Daniel Day-Lewis in Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” (Day-Lewis won for Best Actor and Spielberg for Best Picture). Ford recognized this in many, if not most, of his movies. In the classic western “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” a reporter tells a senator: “This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” Americans, among others, have long been fugitives from our daily strivings. These days,
amid the 24-hour news cycle, our escape route leads through comic books come to life, the fabulous world of Marvel and DC superhero movies, in which conglomerates make billions from the adventures of Thor, Spider-Man, Superman, Batman and, hello, Wonder Woman. Even more hello, here’s to Black Panther, which changed the landscape altogether. We love our stars — so glamorous, so endearing, so brave, so sexy, so funny — so much that they imprinted themselves in our dreams, our conversation, our real-life memories. We think back to when we met them on-screen in movie theaters and greet them once again like old friends on Turner Movie Classics. Today, stars tend to be creatures of the celebrity world, denizens of the red carpet, which cannot fly. They talk a good deal about politics and social justice and gender and boys and girls not together on the same page. The Oscars, like everything else in Hollywood, are different now. Can you imagine Seth MacFarlane singing “We Saw Your Boobs,” as he did in 2013, without suffering serious bodily harm? Old movies get old, and sometimes suffer for it, like us, but some have a way of seeming fresh and new. We come back to John Wayne standing in the dust with the rifle over his shoulder, playing the part over and over again in “Hondo,” “The Searchers,” “Rio Bravo,” “El Dorado,” “True Grit,” “The Cowboys,” “Rooster Cogburn” (for which he won his sole Best Actor Oscar) and, lastly, “The Shootist.”
It is, of course, unwise to be too nostalgic, as they don‘t make them like that anymore. And they shouldn’t. Every movie is a product of the time it was made and lasts the lifespan of its viewers (rarely more than that). But thanks to the films we have seen, some repeatedly, we each have a mental warehouse of plotlines based on concepts we believe in as much as we do in motherhood, apple pie, football, the idea that chocolate is good for you, true love and goodwill toward all men. Why? Because we saw Marlon Brando take a beating for the right reasons in “On the Waterfront” and, a few years later, send his son Kal-El (Superman) to Earth. We believe that the earth was once a dangerous place because we saw Victor Mature rescue Carole Landis from burning lava in “One Million B.C.” (or was that Raquel Welch?). We believe that if your heart is tolerant, your decency basic and your honesty dearly held, you will triumph — because we saw Jimmy Stewart triumph in the end, courtesy of director Frank Capra, in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “You Can’t Take It With You.” We believe that a fat guy and a thin guy can make you laugh anytime, especially when they’re named Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel (see the movie about them that’s just come out). Most of all, we believe that anything can happen, that the good guys and gals always win — usually in the last minute or two — and that love conquers all. Why? Because we saw it in the movies.
COVER Actor John Krasinski during filming of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” in downtown D.C. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Oscar Nominees in Home-Stretch Spotlight BY GARY T IS CHLE R
After various awards ceremonies, the homestretch spotlight has fallen upon the win-orlose finalists for the 91st Academy Awards, the Oscars. The just-released list of nominees is a mixed and eclectic bag of snubs, the deserving, moneymakers and critics’ favorites, old-timers and newcomers. There’s something for everybody. Bradley Cooper is up for Best Actor but not Best Director — a snub, sort of. Melissa McCarthy is up for Best Actress, but Mary Poppins is not. The epic “First Man” about space heroes is not going to be first. “Black Panther,” a winner in the most-money category (if there were one) locked up a Best Picture nomination for Marvel Comics with a black superhero. And among real people portrayed on-screen, it could be a battle between Freddie Mercury and Dick Cheney. “Roma” and “The Favourite” led all others with 10 nominations each. A roundup of nominations in the top categories follows. The winners will be announced on Feb. 24. •
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Best Picture: “Black Panther,” “BlacKkKlansman,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Favourite,” “Green Book,” “Roma,” “A Star Is Born,” “Vice” Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma”; Yorgos Lantimos, “The Favourite”; Spike Lee, “BlacKkKlansman”; Adam McKay, “Vice”; Pawel Pawlikowski, “Cold War” Best Actress: Yalitza Aparicio, “Roma”; Glenn Close, “The Wife”; Olivia Colman, “The Favourite”; Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born”; Melissa McCarthy, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” Best Actor: Christian Bale, “Vice”; Bradley Cooper, “A Star is Born”; Willem Dafoe, “At Eternity’s Gate”; Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody”; VIggo Mortensen, “Green Book” Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, “Vice”; Marina de Tavira, “Roma”; Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk”; Emma Stone, “The Favourite”; Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite” Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, “Green Book”; Adam Driver, “BlacKkKlansman”; Sam Elliott, “A Star is Born”; Richard E. Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”; Sam Rockwell, “Vice” Best Original Song: “All the Stars” from “Black Panther”; “I’ll Fight” from “R.B.G.”; “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from “Mary Poppins Returns”; “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born”; “When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings” from “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” Best Documentary Feature: “Free Solo,” “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” “Minding the Gap,” “Of Fathers and Sons,” “R.B.G.”
BY R OBERT D EVAN EY While most films centered on Washington, D.C., or Georgetown involve the government, politics, Capitol Hill and the White House — not to mention the military, the CIA or the NSA — one film in Georgetown featured none of these: “The Exorcist.” The 1973 horror classic used a Prospect Street house and many locales at Georgetown University. Nearby, along Prospect Street, are two grand houses visited by film crews: Halcyon House for the 2007 “Transformers” and Prospect House for 1998’s “Deep Impact,” the production people for which received copies of The Georgetowner newspaper for use in the living room shots. (Neither scene made the final cut.)
The following is a selection of Georgetown houses that have appeared on the big screen. There will be no mention of the Tombs and the Third Edition being used in “St. Elmo’s Fire,” Tom Cruise driving on Wisconsin Avenue in “Minority Report” or George Clooney running up 35th Street hill in “Burn After Reading.” • 3600 Prospect St. NW. “The Exorcist,” 1973. Possibly the most famous Georgetown home in a movie, this house got an addition to its east that extended to the steps at the Car Barn so the priest could hurl himself out the window and tumble to his death on M Street. • 1503 35th St. NW. “Pelican Brief,” 1993. A Supreme Court justice is assassinated in this house.
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3343 P St. NW. “American President,” 1995. This is the sister’s place, where Annette Bening, love interest for POTUS Michael Douglas, lived for a while. It is also the former home of Sen. Max Baucus (D-Montana), U.S. ambassador to China until 2017. 3410 P St. NW. “Chances Are,” 1989. Home of Cybill Shepherd, who gets to meet her resurrected husband, Robert Downey. 3331 O St. NW. “The Man with One Red Shoe,” 1985. Nice place where Tom Hanks lived. 1503 30th St. NW. “No Way Out,” 1987. Mistress to the secretary of defense and girlfriend to Kevin Costner, Sean Young’s character was killed in an apartment here. The film is locally noteworthy for showing Costner running from the Whitehurst Freeway into the Georgetown Metrorail Station [sic].
A FEW MORE LOCATIONS … • • •
3000 block of Dent Place NW. “A Few Good Men,” 1992. Street near St. John’s and Hyde School. “Enemy of the State,” 1998. While renovating a townhouse in “Heartburn,” 1986, Meryl Streep was seen at the old Neam’s Market, whose owners appeared in the film.
A movie, in post-production, is “Wonder Woman 1984,” which took over parts of Georgetown, downtown and Watergate during film shooting. “WW84” is scheduled for release in June 2020. 3331 O St. NW. Georgetowner photo.
David Roffman contributed to this report. GMG, INC.
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BUSINESS
Achtung, Baby: Ich Bin the Berliner BY STE PHANIE GREE N The Berliner — the new German restaurant at 34th and Water (K) Streets NW at the Georgetown waterfront — had me at pretzels and beer cheese, one of the many hearty selections on its menu. In fact, heartiness seems to be a theme that runs through the beer hall, with its massive bar and long tables, creating the perfect warm oasis on a cold winter’s night. “German cuisine and beer are two things I enjoy very much,” says chef Mike O’Brien, seated by the ping-pong area, another Berliner antidote to the winter blahs. There are also televisions for sports enthusiasts. While classically trained in French culinary schools, O’Brien was attracted to “sausages and charcuterie right off the bat.” He explains: “And if you work with sausages, you’re going to appreciate German culture.” The Berliner opened in mid-December, replacing the former Malmaison and becoming
the only German restaurant in Georgetown. Unlike Old Europe, farther up Wisconsin Avenue, the Berliner, according to O’Brien, will focus on “German street food” at “street” prices. A small plate of that pretzel and beer cheese that enticed me is only $6. The Berliner Brat is $9. “We are close to two major universities. We want to appeal to them and the people who work in the neighborhood,” says O’Brien. Few people do the concept “neighborhood bistro” better than Popal Group President Zubair Popal, who runs the Berliner with O’Brien. Popal’s first and most enduring hit is Café Bonaparte at 1522 Wisconsin Ave. NW. It has been going strong since 2003. He opened a similar eatery in Adams Morgan, initially called Napoleon Bistro and now known as Lapis, which serves Afghan food. In 2013, Popal wanted to expand on the success of Bonaparte by creating Malmaison, a bigger version with an event space, but the location (coupled with two construction projects in the area) didn’t work out. Having other restaurants serving French cuisine within a few blocks, such as Chez Billy Sud, didn’t help. When Popal needed to make a pivot, a German beer hall seemed right on target.
The Berliner’s chef Mike O’Brien shows off a fan favorite — hot pretzels. Photo by Patrick G. Ryan. “We’d always seen these German beer gardens and had in the back of our minds that we’d try to open one,” says Popal. A native of Afghanistan, his international travels frequently take him to Berlin and Cologne to visit family. Popal started in the hotel business in New York in the early 1970s, shortly after finishing a student-exchange program. He worked for the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, but the political chaos in his country eventually brought him to America. O’Brien has been in the restaurant business for 20 years, including stints in New York,
Boston and San Francisco. “D.C. restaurants are becoming more like the markets in New York and California,” says O’Brien. “You see more major chefs coming to the area.” Popal and O’Brien agreed that Georgetown is still the best place to be if you’re in the dining industry, forgoing offers to launch the Berliner at the Wharf. The Berliner opens at 4 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and is open for lunch Friday through Sunday. A brunch menu is in development.
OUT: MAKOTO, LONGTIME FAVE The Berliner owner Zubair Popal with chef Mike O’Brien in the new eatery at 34th & K (Water) Streets NW. Photo by Patrick G. Ryan.
INS & OUTS BY STEP HANIE GREE N
After more than two decades in business, Japanese eatery Sakedokoro Makoto in the Palisades at 4822 MacArthur Boulevard NW closed Dec. 29. Posted on the restaurant’s website: “Thank you for all the support and goodwill over the years. It has been an absolute honor serving our customers.”
OUT: 701, TOO
REHABBED: ARC THE.HOTEL The boutique hotel branded as ARC THE. HOTEL at 824 New Hampshire Ave. NW, just a short distance from the Kennedy Center, is where all the cool cats were Jan. 17, when it celebrated its final renovations. The hotel boasts state-of-the-art technology along with Frette bathrobes. Its redesigned farm-totable restaurant, Notti 824, will offer “simple dining” with a “curated wine list.” Maybe this could be a new — and badly needed — pretheater or -opera spot?
Similarly, power-lunch favorite 701 closed late last year. Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj had to shutter the Penn Quarter hot spot at 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW after the rent went to a staggering level and an agreement could not be reached. Fortunately, Bajaj was able to save most of his staff. His Bindaas at 2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, featuring Indian street cuisine, was buzzing with customers during Restaurant Week.
TASTY: TAÏM Taïm, the Tel Aviv-style vegetarian chain from chef Einat Admony, known for its falafel, will open this summer at 1065 Wisconsin Ave. NW, next to Italian classic Filomena. In addition to its famous falafel, Taïm (“tasty” in Hebrew) has been delighting New Yorkers with its hummus and salads for years. As we say in American: “Yum!” Can’t wait to try it. A tasty falafel from Taïm. Courtesy Taïm.
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Coming in March to M Street: The Kitten Lounge (not a cocktail bar) from the cat lovers at Crumbs & Whiskers. Courtesy Kitten Lounge.
COZY: KITTEN LOUNGE ON M
GROOVY: FLOWER CHILD
If your fireplace isn’t keeping you warm and cozy enough, you can cuddle a kitten this winter at the Kitten Lounge, a pop-up opening in early March at 3109 M St. NW. With the goal of encouraging 500 adoptions, the lounge — from the team behind Crumbs & Whiskers Cat Cafe on O Street, now with a location in L.A. — will allow guests to hang out with some purr-fect new friends in partnership with Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, which sees an influx of stray cats this time of year. Annually, one million cats are euthanized in shelters due to lack of space. Georgetowners tend to be dog persons, but we always have room in our hearts for animals in need.
On Feb. 4, Flower Child, a “wellness centric, fast casual” eatery, will open at 2112 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in Foggy Bottom, catering to George Washington University students and staff. We hear the avocado toast, wraps, salads and, yes, even healthy varieties of beer are light on calories and heavy on yumminess. The eatery, which plans to employ about 80 persons, is holding a job fair through Jan. 26.
ANTIQUES ADDICT
Windsor Chairs: The Democratic Seat BY M ICHEL L E GA L L E R Wherever the first Windsor chair came from, in the 18th-century American colonies it became known as the “democratic chair” of the independent American nation. The legend about its beginnings has it that King George II, seeking shelter from a storm, arrived at a peasant cottage and was given a multi-spindled chair to sit on. Its comfort and simplicity impressed him so much that he had his own furniture maker copy it for Windsor Castle. Early English Windsors were used principally outdoors, on the grounds of country estates. When introduced to the colonies in the mid-1720s, blue-green was the predominant paint color for these chairs, since it was thought to camouflage the furniture in the landscape. Although it was designed in England, the Windsor chair was perfected through Yankee ingenuity. Since timber was plentiful in the colonies and bulky furniture would have been expensive to ship, furniture making became an essential trade. It was likely a Philadelphia maker who made the first American Windsor. Colonial craftsmen eliminated a central splat featured in the original chair’s back and the front legs were socketed farther from the seat edge. They also designed thinner
A pair antique splat tapered back windsor chairs
splats, legs and bent parts. These alterations simultaneously strengthened the chair while giving it a light, airy appearance. The American model was primarily an indoor chair, made of a combination of cheaper woods: hickory for the spindles, pine for the seat and maple, ash or oak for other components. To disguise the mix of timber, the chairs were painted; green, brown and black were the colors of choice. The popularity of Windsor chairs was derived partly from their association with the Founding Fathers — Jefferson, Washington, Adams and Franklin all owned them — and partly because the chairs were easy to manufacture. Windsors are considered to be the first mass-produced furniture design in the United States. Beginning around the turn of the 19th century, furniture makers began turning out separate components: spindles, legs, etc. Because the parts were interchangeable, they could easily be sold and shipped around the country for assembly by local craftsmen. Furniture historians cite 1725 to 1860 as the golden age of the Windsor chair, with various styles readily available. The low-back chair is the least common of the early 18th-century Windsors. In addition to general use, it served as a desk chair because the rail was low enough for the seat to be drawn under a desk. High-back Windsors, introduced around the same time, featured a lightweight bent arm rail, adequate because the sitter’s weight was distributed along the entire length of the tall back. Later, during the early 1760s, Philadelphia chairmakers introduced a sack-back Windsor, which enclosed the spindle tops within a bent bow above the arm rail. In the 1770s, Philadelphia artisans crafted the first fanback Windsor. The fan-back chair flourished in the postwar economy in response to rising demand by the middle class for affordable yet stylish seating. Smaller than its predecessors with arms, the fan-back chair was usually purchased in sets of six, becoming a popular seat for dining.
Habersham Sack Back Windsor Chairs An Orange Moon.
18th Century Connecticut Knuckle Arm.
Antique 18th Century Ash and Elm Windsor Chair.
Regarded today as a classic in Windsor design, the continuous-bow chair was developed in New York City around 1790. This was the only 18th-century Windsor pattern based on a non-English prototype and the only one introduced to the American market prior to 1810 in a place other than Philadelphia. The pattern was never produced in Pennsylvania, where the bow-back armchair was the pattern of choice.
The versatile Windsor chair — which replaced slat-back and banister-back chairs as the premier vernacular seat in the American home — continues to be produced today by fine furniture makers, as it has been for more than 300 years. It is also widely massproduced. A collector who wants to determine the age of an antique Windsor chair should begin by doing some homework. Checking the chair’s construction will give some clues, starting with the chair’s composition. Since early chairs were constructed from mixed types of wood, look for hickory, pine and birch. Mahogany can date a chair to the 19th century, since it was difficult to obtain before then. Early Windsors will have turned sticks driven through the plank seat to form leads; they have no stretchers or nails. Also, the legs of an early American Windsor will be angled, as opposed to the straight English legs. Older chairs have thicker seats and more spindles. Windsor chairs remain a staple in country furniture and enjoy regular bouts of renewed interest. Today, authenticated 18th- and early 19th-century Windsor chairs can fetch prices in the four figures. Those in mint condition, with their original paint, can easily bring five figures.
REAL ESTATE
Wilks Joins Washington Fine Properties Kathleen Wilks is the new chief marketing officer of Washington Fine Properties, departing Compass after joining it through its November acquisition of Wydler Brothers, where she was president and CMO. “I’ve lived in D.C. nearly my entire life and have known and always respected the WFP brand,” Wilks said of Washington Fine Properties, a luxury residential real estate brokerage in the nation’s capital. Before joining Wydler Brothers in 2014, Wilks spent most of her career running Rosenthal Partners — now RP3 Agency — a Washington-based advertising firm. With a degree in marketing from Georgetown University, she also had a brief stint at CNN. After Wilks joined Wydler Brothers and implemented a rebranding effort, Wydler
Brothers broke off from Long & Foster to become an independent brokerage. Shortly thereafter, she was named president and CMO, the position she served in until the recent acquisition by Compass. Said Wilks of her new firm: “WFP, except for its sales performance charts, which are pretty impressive, has always kept a more discreet profile. For instance, people might not know that their ‘open architecture’ technology platform is second to none, offering amazing client and agent tools. A number of firms are touting technology today almost to the exclusion of their agents, but what I like about WFP is that they will always first and foremost be a relational firm. With that said, technology will always drive their business model and create new efficiencies.”
Michelle Galler is a realtor and an antiques dealer in both Washington, D.C., and Washington, Virginia.
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ARTS
Tim Nelson’s Vision for the In Series BY G ARY T IS CHL ER The just-ended production of “From U Street to the Cotton Club” at the Source Theatre marks the middle of the In Series’ first season under Artistic Director Timothy Nelson, who has taken over following the retirement, after 36 years, of founder Carla Hubner. “I am gratified and excited to have the opportunity at the In Series,” Nelson says. “It’s unique in Washington, and in the country, in its approach to both theater and music, and finding ways to put them together.” For the 2018-19 season, Nelson and Hubner put together an array of eclectic offerings that speak as a package to the traditions contained in the history of the In Series, the here and now and the future. Nelson wants to connect “music, opera and performance to the community in direct ways.” “That’s the way people will feel a part of what they’re experiencing,” he says. That means different venues, different genres, different kinds of music, creating events that echo in the lives of the audience. Nelson is a native of West Virginia, where, growing up, he recounts: “You recognize that you’re a little different, not necessarily in the social mainstream. Being gay, you’re drawn to creating your own visions inside your head, creating worlds you feel that are your own.”
In terms of his career as a director, being chosen to helm the In Series marks a kind of homecoming. He’s a graduate of Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute and spent 10 years as artistic director of the now defunct American Opera Theater in Baltimore. Then, in Europe, he directed, headed institutions and traveled, exploring his interests and creating stirring productions of rarely produced works, drawing praise as a force in the future of classical music and opera. In Baltimore, he directed works that are resonant of the intriguing aspects of the musical road less taken, staging American premieres of baroque operas “La Didone” and “David et Jonathas” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and a “circus” production of Handel’s “Acis and Galatea” that toured nationally. Among many European productions, Nelson directed “Les Pêcheurs de Perles” for Nationale Riesopera in the Netherlands, “The Lighthouse” for the Armel Opera Festival in Budapest and “Giulio Cesare” for Opera London. He was artistic director of the Netherlands Opera Studio and the Accademia Europea dell’Opera and a regular guest director at the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy. The credits — and the list is large, luminous — are rich with classical themes and an
Tim Nelson and Carla Hubner. Courtesy In Series.
adventuresome explorer’s heart, taste and spirit. That trait can be seen in this season’s offering at the In Series, ambitiously and bravely titled “R(E)VOLUTION!” It began with “Viva V.E.R.D.I. – The Promised End,” an exploration of Verdi’s music putting Shakespeare’s “King Lear” next to Verdi’s “Requiem” and imagining Verdi’s death, his own “Lear” unfinished. It was followed by another mashup, of Mozart “The Marriage of Figaro” with poet T. S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets.” Coming up in March, there’s an adaptation of Ricardo de la Vega and Tomás Bretón’s
zarzuela “La Verbena de la Paloma,” set on both sides of the seaside border-wall between Tijuana and San Diego, at GALA Hispanic Theatre. The season ends in June at the Atlas Performing Arts Center with a return to a classical theme and subject, Handel’s “Serse,” with a new narration crafted from the Sufi poetry of Rumi and featuring the debut of the In Series orchestra Innovātiō, performing on period instruments. It’s a season that seems at once classic — and classical — as well as brand new and, well, revolutionary.
FOLGER
CONSORT THEFOOD OF LOVE
Romantic Music of the Renaissance With vocal ensemble Les Canards Chantants
February 8 & 9 At Washington National Cathedral
TICKETS 202.544.7077 | folger.edu/consort 14 JANUARY 23, 2019
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FOOD & WINE
Dining Guide
WASHINGTON DC’S FINEST RESTAURANTS
CLYDE’S OF GEORGETOWN 3236 M ST., NW 202-333-9180 | clydes.com
At Thai Chef Street Food: Pornnapa Pongpornprot with daughter Chalisa.
This animated tavern, in the heart of Georgetown, popularized saloon food and practically invented Sunday brunch. Clyde’s is the People’s Choice for bacon cheeseburgers, steaks, fresh seafood, grilled chicken salads, fresh pastas and desserts.
DC Restaurants Are A Family Affair
ENO WINE BAR
2810 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., NW 202–295–2826 | enowinerooms.com HAPPY HOUR: Offered nightly Tuesday - Thursday from 5 - 7 PM & Sunday from 4 - 7 PM. Enjoy select $7 wines on tap. Join us on Wednesday’s for College Nights from 9 - 11 PM and Sunday’s for 30% off bottles. Our delightful wines are best enjoyed with local charcuterie, cheese and small plates.
BY LIBY P. T UMBNER Upon stepping into Thai Chef Street Food, diners are transported across the globe to a bright, neon-lit restaurant inspired by dishes and designs iconic to lively night markets in Bangkok. The whimsical eatery at 1712 Connecticut Ave. NW, which turned one year old in June, is run by Bangkok natives Pornnapa Pongpornprot and her oldest daughter, Chalisa. An ornate metal sculpture, featuring a clock surrounded by Thai-inspired trinkets and artifacts, welcomes guests upon arrival. In addition to telling time, the handmade piece by a New York designer from Bangkok doubles as one of the top Instagrammed elements across the soaring two-story space, splashed in orange and turquoise tones. Chalisa just got back from a trip to her homeland, her first visit in five years. The 20-hour plane ride had a productive purpose: to do “research” for her menu in D.C. by eating her way through the bustling capital’s endless stream of day and night street markets. She had some pretty solid tour guides — her grandma, aunt and uncle, who are based there. During her eight-day stint, she snapped a ton of pictures and made mental notes of what she ate that will serve as inspiration for several incoming dishes at Thai Chef. One is a tamarind fried prawn dish served atop white rice that will soon swim onto the menu. Another is a deconstructed wrap featuring a platter of lettuce, thin noodle squares, ground pork and a garnish that diners can assemble themselves at the table. Since opening last year, Thai Chef’s bestsellers are its Crying Tiger steak entrée and beef and noodle soup; Chalisa tasted various versions of the hit soup while walking around the sea of stalls in Bangkok. She’s prepared to sell even more in the new few months. “Noodle soups are our best-sellers throughout the winter,” she says. Quaint 50-seat bistro Chez Billy Sud has commanded large crowds since opening up inside the former Café La Ruche space at 1035 31st St. NW in 2014. Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema soon put it on even more radars, crowing that the romantic French eatery was a welcome addition to Georgetown’s dining scene.
But not many know the bistro has become a mother-son affair. Chef Brendan L’Etoile, who got his culinary start by washing dishes during high school for the catering company of his mom, Lilienne Conklin, helped recruit her as pastry chef about two years ago. She was one of his first harsh critics, suggesting he play around with the sautéed trout. He decided to keep the buttery skin in place, and it’s been a best-seller ever since. Conklin’s own innovative sweets stray from typical French endings such as crème brûlée. Her champagne panna cotta (with blood orange, passion fruit, pain d’épices and vanilla meringue) stayed on menus since its appearance on a former New Year’s Eve menu. Another longtime menu item under L’Etoiles’s watch is the hit confit de canard (crispy mulard duck leg, spinach, pomme rösti and shiitakes). His mom has expanded her reach to the Hilton brothers’ family of restaurants; she also makes desserts such as an ice cream brownie sandwich and a parsnip cake with cream cheese frosting at Shaw’s Gaslight Tavern. Patriotic deli Bub and Pop’s at 1815 M St. NW, owned by star chef Jonathan Taub and his mom Arlene Wagner, draws steady lines for its affordable deli fare. A graduate of the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Taub has worked with Michelinstarred chefs Jean-Marie Lacroix and Alain Ducasse. At Bub, he’s created a dressed-down menu of hit sandwiches that have lured the likes of Guy Fieri. Taub’s brother, Air Force Staff Sgt. Peter Taub, who was tragically killed in 2015 in Afghanistan, is celebrated via a sandwich called the Hebrew Hammer (corned beef, Swiss cheese, spicy mustard, Thousand Island dressing and cole slaw). The family is from Philly, and a roast pork sandwich naturally pays homage to the Super Bowl-winning Eagles. The porchetta creation, with broccoli rabe sautéed with hot cherry peppers, is now dubbed the Philly Special. Late last year, they brought back a fan favorite: handmade sea salt and black pepper potato chips. It’s also easy to eat and drink for cheap; happy hour is 3 p.m. until closing on weekdays and beer runs $3 with a sandwich.
THE OCEANAIRE SEAFOOD ROOM 1201 F ST., NW 202–347–2277 | theoceanaire.com
The Oceanaire blends a sophisticated atmosphere with simple, seasonal and regionally-inspired cuisine – the result is “the ultra-fresh seafood experience”. From our wines and cocktails to our seafood, steak and desserts, our commitment to sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients is apparent in everything we do. Reserve your table today for an extraordinary dining experience.
FILOMENA RISTORANTE
1063 WISCONSIN AVE., NW 202–338–8800 | filomena.com A Georgetown landmark for over 30 years featuring styles and recipes passed through generations. Balanced cutting-edge culinary creations of modern Italy using the fresh ingredients and made-from-scratch sauces and pastas. Seen on The Travel Channel, Award-winning Filomena is a favorite of U.S. Presidents, celebrities, sports legends, political leaders. “Don’t miss their bakery’s incredible desserts” - Best in D.C.
ROCKLANDS BARBEQUE
2418 WISCONSIN AVE., NW 202-333-2558 | rocklands.com This original location has served barbecue since 1990. We now have more space for you to sit down with family and friends at our new dining room Driving or walking up Wisconsin Avenue, you ask “mmmm, what’s that aroma??” That’s pork, beef and chicken coming out of our wood-only smoker, falling off the bone and ready for a dousing with our Original Barbeque Sauce.
CAFE BONAPARTE
1522 WISCONSIN AVE., NW 202–333–8830 | cafebonaparte.com Captivating customers since 2003, Cafe Bonaparte has been dubbed the “quintessential” European café, featuring awardwinning crepes and arguably the “best” coffee in D.C.! Other can't-miss attractions are the famous weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday until 3 p.m. and our late-night weekend hours serving sweet and savory crepes until 1 a.m.
MARTIN’S TAVERN
1264 WISCONSIN AVE., NW 202-333-7370 | martinstavern.com Fifth generation Lauren Martin learns the family business from her dad, Billy Martin, Jr. Since 1933, the warm atmosphere of Martin’s Tavern has welcomed neighbors and travelers looking for great food, service and years of history within it’s walls. Fourth generation owner Billy Martin. Jr. continues the tradition of Washington’s oldest family-owned restaurant.
JOIN THE DINING GUIDE! Email advertise@ georgetowner.com or call 202-338-4833
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THOMAS & TALBOT REAL ESTATE
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GETAWAYS
New Member for Ireland’s Blue Book: Cahernane House BY STE PHANIE GREE N
The Ring of Kerry boasts some of the most magical vistas in Ireland. Beginning this year, there’s a new reason to visit this part of the Emerald Isle. Since 1974, Ireland’s Blue Book has invited the country’s best country houses, castles, boutique hotels and restaurants to be a part of its collection, curated for its exquisite luxury. In 2019, the Blue Book publishes its 45th anniversary edition, with six new properties. I had the pleasure of staying in one of its latest members, Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney, County Kerry. The hotel is just a stone’s throw from the Killarney train station. (The trip from Dublin is only about three hours.) Built in 1877, Cahernane assails you with its Victorian charm straight away. The ivy-covered entrance opens to the grand Queen Anne fireplace, churning right inside the doorway. A cherry-oak staircase led me to the Herbert Suite, named for the house’s original family. The Victorian theme continues into the rooms. No cold, modern austerity in this place: large armoires instead of closets, four-poster beds and windows opening up to Instagram-ready scenes of sheep grazing on the edge of Killarney National Park. Even on a foggy day, Cahernane’s “backyard” will never cease to amaze.
Although the house has a formal dining area for breakfast and dinner, I preferred to take my evening meals in the downstairs pub-style area known as the Cellar, as this was the Herbert family’s wine cellar back in the day. I recommend the leek soup with the homemade scone plate, perfect for a (typically Irish) damp day. Wash it down with the Cellar’s good selection of locally produced beers. Besides its stunning beauty and grounds, Cahernane’s other selling point is its proximity to everything in Killarney. You can walk to the town center to pick up chocolates at Lir Cafe, my favorite sweet shop in Kerry, or to dine at any number of modest and elegant restaurants. If you’re up for a bigger hike, take a jaunt to Ross Castle, a 15th-century tower house overlooking Lough Leane. Keep your eyes peeled for the swans. Less than five miles away is the Torc Waterfall, one of the most popular destinations on the Ring of Kerry, the circular tourist route that stretches 111 miles around County Kerry. The area’s prized red deer can be seen there if you’re lucky. To make your Instagram friends green with travel envy, venture farther to Ladies View, one of the most photographed places in Ireland, named for the “view” afforded the
Majestic beauty of Killarney, about a three hour train
ladies-in-waiting of Queen Victoria on her visit to the island in 1861. The rivers, lakes and mountains you’ll see are truly heavenly. You may even encounter a mountain goat as I did. Cahernane House Hotel is making itself even better by closing for some renovations through March 8, but it will be ready for you just in time for your spring and summer vacations. Among the other new Blue Book properties is Butler House in Kilkenny, another ivycovered mansion straight out of a fairy tale. This Georgian house is very near Kilkenny Castle, built in 1195. Kilkenny has special significance for Washingtonians, as it’s the home town of James Hoban, the architect of the White House and supervisor of the building of the Capitol. Before you depart back through Dublin
ride from Dublin. Photo by Stephanie Green.
Airport, stop by EPIC The Irish Migration Museum, which opened in 2016 in Dublin’s Docklands. It tells the story of the Irish diaspora with a thoroughly immersive experience for all ages. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the museum when they were in Dublin last year. If you can stay a night in the Dublin area, you’ll want to check out the King Sitric, in the seaside village of Howth. Also a Blue Book member, this hotel only has a few rooms — modestly decorated, but with stunning views of the Irish Sea — but probably the best seafood restaurant in Ireland. At sunrise, walk out onto the pier and take in the majestic uninhabited island known as Ireland’s Eye. You’ll wonder why you ever booked that return flight back home.
PROPERTIES IN HUNT COUNTRY
THOMAS & TALBOT REAL ESTATE Middleburg, Virginia 20118 (540) 687-6500
CLEREMONT
Upperville ~ The impressive, historic & award winning 1511 Acre Estate & Cattle Farm of Cleremont offers a healthy environment for all of its inhabitants from the forest & land on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the 33 verdant pastures & abundant natural water resources. Prime Piedmont Hunt territory with riding trails on the property. Residences include a historic manor house, a second manor house, the original patent house & 3 tenant houses. $15,000,000
GONE AWAY FARM
The Plains ~ Set on a knoll with views of the Blue Ridge Mtns, this 83 acre farm is well designed offering every amenity. The main house has 4 BR, 7 BA, 4 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen & gracious entertaining spaces inside and out. 3 BR, 1½ BA tenant house; charming guest house; swimming pool; covered terrace; outdoor kitchen; 4 ponds; fruit trees and mature gardens. Newer 4 stall barn with heated tack, feed and wash stall; 2 - 2 stall shed row barns; 3 run in sheds. In Orange County Hunt territory. $4,495,000
RANDLESTON FARM
Beautifully sited on the western slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Randleston Farm encompasses 70 acres of lush pastures, flowering trees and English gardens. An exquisite 10,000 square foot stone manor is meticulously restored, with incredible views & borders the Shenandoah River. 20 stall stone and stucco stable, run-in sheds, all create a fabulous equestrian facility. Additional acreage or parcels available. $5,995,000
THE GRANGE
Stunning 2012 addition and complete restoration created a classic and elegant Virginia manor house. Attention to detail throughout including a custom designed kitchen open to the family room. Property also includes pool, guest house, 4 stall barn on 18 acres located in the Orange County Hunt Territory. Convenient access to I- 66, Rt. 50 and Dulles International Airport. $2,675,000
ED
C DU
RE
MOUNT AIRY
Millwood ~ 120 acres - 2 parcels. 3 Story Manor built around older (c.1850s) home of “Carter Hall’s” estate manager c.1885. Elegant interior detailing includes 3-story curving staircase. The stable, 2 cottages & a kennel housing the Snickersville Hounds are leased separately for $5000+/mo. Pastoral views toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cattle, horses & alfalfa hay share the property. $2,750,000
FOX FORD FARM
Jeffersonton ~ Unique 4 BR country house with pool and outbuildings. One and 1/2 miles of Rappahannock river frontage. Open, rolling fields. Investment, horse farm, brewery, B&B, farming or winery potential. All around views, flowering gardens, privacy and peace. 15 minutes to Warrenton. Division potential. $1,991,000 on 239+acres or $1,443,000 on 142 acres
LIBERTY HALL
Paris ~ Circa 1770, Lovely Stone and Stucco Farmhouse sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 20+ acres surrounded by Protected Lands, Spectacular protected views of Paris valley. Meticulous exterior renovations include Re-Pointed Stonework, Metal Roof, 2 Large additions, Covered Porch, Basement, Buried Electric, Well and Septic, Fully Fenced, Mature Trees, Boxwoods, Ready for all your interior finishes. $1,300,000
OLD BARN ROAD
Rixeyville ~ 23 acre horse property with new center aisle stable, rubber tiles in center aisle & 4 matted stalls, wash stall & tack room. Big new arena. Two Story 4 BR colonial with new kitchen appliances, new HVAC & waterfall feature at swimming pool. Stone flooring in First Floor master suite. Hardwood thru out Living room, Dining room & Kitchen. $875,000
See more fine estates and exclusive properties in hunt country by visiting THOMAS-TALBOT.com Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed. 01-21_GTowner_TTRE_HalfPg.indd 1
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KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB
‘All In’ for the Georgetown Book Club REVIEWED BY KITTY KELLEY
At the Georgetown Book Club — top row: Cathy Alter, Judith Beermann, Jenny Shtipelman, Zena Polin, Kelly Collis; bottom row: Tricia Huntley, Jennifer Romm, Kitty Kelley, Valerie Greene, Ada Polla. Photo by Robert Devaney. Editor’s note: Usually in this space, The Georgetowner runs book reviews by author Kitty Kelley. In this issue, we switch it up and find Kelley joining a group of Georgetown women to discuss one of her own biographies, “Oprah.”
I
’ve got a girl crush on the Georgetown Book Club. To a woman, they are attractive, professionally accomplished and whip-smart. They love to laugh and they definitely know their way around a few bottles of wine. They share a wonderful bond that has seen them through divorces and remarriages and pregnancies and everything else that life has thrown their way. The club members have been meeting monthly for the last eight years to discuss fiction or nonfiction books that are either locally based or locally authored. “There must be a D.C. connection,” said one. Since I’m a local, I got lucky a few nights ago and was invited to discuss my biography “Oprah.” When I arrived, they all had the book in hand and, with wine glasses filled, wasted no time
getting started. “If Oprah paid $43.5 million for 10 percent of Weight Watchers, why is she still so heavy?” “She’s got issues,” said one, sympathetically. “She’s also got a new pizza company,” said another. “I saw her on television doing a commercial.” “Maybe she’s like an alcoholic who buys a distillery... to... you know... keep the stuff close at hand.” Uproarious laughter all around. Then the women addressed themselves to me and how I wrote the book. I showed them the 100-page chronology compiled of Oprah’s life that I took to all my interviews, conducted over three years with a total of more than 800 people. “How did you find out that Oprah had had a baby that died at birth when she was in high school? I didn’t know that, and I thought I knew everything about Oprah.” “How did you find the baby’s birth certificate?” “Why did her father give you so many interviews?” “Did she really eat two pecan pies by herself?” “My favorite story was her telling Steven Spielberg after he gave her the role of Sophia in ‘The Color Purple’ that he should put her name on the movie poster
because she was going to be reallllly famous.” This drew different reactions. “Ugh,” said one, “so arrogant.” Another said, “Well, she was right, wasn’t she? She did become reallllly famous.” Discussion then ricocheted to Oprah’s undeniable charisma and her immense selfconfidence—also the fact that she disowned the poor family into which she was born to make a better family for herself, with Maya Angelou as her mother-mentor, Gayle King as her sister and Stedman Graham as her everlasting live-in partner, whom she refuses to marry. “Can you imagine what that pre-nupt would be like?” More laughter followed by more wine. Then, prompted by their questions, I careened into war stories about writing other biographies. I recall telling them about my interview with Frank Sinatra Jr. for “His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra,” and how the son of a man connected to organized crime was going to tell me what happened to Jimmy Hoffa when the photographer accompanying me dropped his cameras to the floor in disbelief, disrupting the interview and sending Sinatra Jr.
running out of the room. At one point, I think I remember answering a question by quoting JFK, who said: “What makes journalism so fascinating and biography so interesting is the struggle to answer that single question: ‘What’s he like?’” By the end of the evening, the wine bottles were almost empty, but the room remained divided on Oprah. All agreed that she personified the bootstrap success of the American dream, but, as one said: “Oprah is like the Grateful Dead—you’re eitherall in or you’re not.” For me, there’s no “either-or” on the Georgetown Book Club. I’m all in. Georgetown resident Kitty Kelley has written several number-one New York Times bestsellers, including “The Family: The Real Story Behind the Bush Dynasty.” Her most recent books include “Capturing Camelot: Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the Kennedys” and “Let Freedom Ring: Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the March on Washington.”
All That’s Guilded: (Re) Launch Party B Y R O BERT D EVAN EY
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If this was a relaunch party, what was the launch like? There were lots of friends, food and fun Jan. 17 at the Showroom at 14th and L. Think sushi, doughnut Monte Cristos, pretzels, hot dogs, shrimp and dumpling —not necessarily in that order. The now former Brand Link celebrated its own rebranding as Brand Guild. The Georgetownbased publicity, marketing and event firm —founded in 2010.
Brand Guild’s co-founders and co-CEOs Barbara Martin and Jayne Sandman. RobertDevaney
Photo by
Winter Show Is Elegant Start to New Year BY M ARY BIRD “Elegant Entertaining” was the theme of this year’s Washington Winter Show, now firmly ensconced in American University’s Katzen Arts Center. The loan exhibition—“The Pleasure of Your Company: Elegant Entertaining with George and Martha Washington”—was presented by George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The Jan. 10 preview night allowed guests an exclusive first look into the collection of more than 40 exhibitors, plus an open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres by Susan Gage Catering. The following day’s lecture and luncheon featured witty event planner Bronson van Wyck, who started his career at the top with Pamela Harriman and has not stopped since. He has a book coming out this fall. The multi day event benefits the Founders Board of St. John’s Community Services, the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys and THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus).
GOOD WORKS & GOOD TIMES
4th Annual Vettys Packs the Watergate BY C H R ISTIN E WAR N KE
Veterans supporters gathered at the Watergate Hotel Jan. 20 to pay tribute to America’s outstanding veteran heroes as well as those who demonstrate advocacy efforts and unselfish service to the veteran community. The Annual Vettys Awards —presented by the Academy of United States Veterans and its partner organizations —that honor public servants began in 2015 has drawn support from media and entertainment personalities, including CNN’s Jake Tapper, actor Casey Affleck, Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly and Mark Rockefeller of StreetShares. Along with a salute to Sen. John McCain and a tribute to President George H.W. Bush, this year’s Vettys highlighted employment, leadership, mental health, lifetime achievement, women veterans, veterans’ homelessness —andVeterans Choice.
Winter Show co-chair Johanna Howe with husband Barclay Howe, Conner Herman and Anthony Barnes with wife Fran Barnes. Courtesy Washington Winter Show.
AUSV founder Assal Ravandi with presenter, actor and director Casey Affleck. Photo by Patrick G. Ryan
Michelle Korsmo and friends. Courtesy Washington Winter Show.
Guestswere entertained by George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Courtesy Washington Winter Show.
Cpt Victor Farrar and Lt. Marsalie MacKenzie. Photo by Patrick G. Ryan.
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