The Downtowner 121510 Issue

Volume 7, Number 20 All the News you can use!

Elvis at 21

at the National

Portrait Gallery

december 14 2010 - January 11 2011

It's a

Wonderful Life

New Year’s Fashion

Jaylee Mead

The Player

AWinter's

Night with Ris Food & Wine

Gift

Guide:

Top Culinary Picks

THE

DOWNTOWNER

Vol. 7, No. 21

Managing Editor Ari Post Feature Editor Gary Tischler Publisher’s Assistant Siobhan Catanzaro Contributors Linda Roth Conte Mary Bird Stacey Murphy Robert Devaney Renee Garfinkel Dave Nyczepir Rebekah Richards Robert Devaney Katherine Tallmadge

Photographers Yvonne Taylor Neshan Naltchayan Malek Naz Freidouni

“All The News You Can Use”

Contents

ABOUT THE COVER

Publisher Sonya Bernhardt

Jack Evans Margaret Loewith Bill Starrels Jordan Wright Kathy Corrigall John Blee Donna Evers Veena Trehan Jody Kurash

Serving Washington, DC Since 2003

Tom Wolff Jeff Malet Robert Devaney

Advertising Charlie Louis Justin Shine Elle Fergusson

Graphic Design Alyssa Loope Jen Merino Counsel Juan Chardiet, Attorney

Published by Georgetown Media Group, Inc. 1054 Potomac St., N.W. Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (202) 338-4833 Fax: (202) 338-3292 editorial@georgetowner.com www.downtowner.org The Downtowner is published every other Wednesday. The opinions of our writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect the editorial and corporate opinions of The Downtowner newspaper. The Downtowner accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. The Downtowner reserves the right to edit, re-write, or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Copyright, 2009.

Yvonne Taylor, Photographer www.yvonnetaylorphoto.com Lauretta McCoy, Makeup and Styling www.laurettjmccoy.com

4 — DC Scenes

5 — Up and Coming 6-7 — Downtowner Observer

Multi sequin cocktail dress by Joanne at Pheonix Bridal2 Feather chain necklace by Titi Wreh at Pheonix

8 — Editorial/Opinion 10-—Business Will Tax Cuts for Top Tier Create Jobs?

11-—Feature Story The Making of a Museum

Bridal2 Bracelet and Earrings at Ella Rue

12 — Real Estate Featured Property Mortgage 13 — Georgetown Real Estate Sales 14-Performance Carmen Cusack Brings It Home In “South Pacific”

SIOBHAN CATANZARO PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT

Siobhan Catanzaro, publisher’s assistant at The Georgetowner, has been an invaluable resource and a source of great joy for all of us here the paper. As she goes to pursue her masters degree, she will be sorely missed by all, but we are excited for what her future has in store. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Upon leaving the Georgetowner and the city, Siobhan says: “It has been an amazing learning experience and an absolute pleasure working at The Georgetowner the past two years. This is a truly unique community and I feel lucky to have been a small part of it. Sonya, thank you for this opportunity. I will always look back at my time here with a smile!”

SUBSCRIBE ENJOY THE DOWNTOWNER IN YOUR HOME FOR ONLY $36 PER YEAR! The Downtowner brings you the latest news from one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Washington. Now you can subscribe to The Downtowner – 26 issues for $36 per year – sent right to your mailbox. We promise to continue to entertain you with exciting downtown news about society, dining, fashion and more. You won’t want to miss a word. Join our remarkable subscribers, “the most influential audience in the world” and support a unique community newspaper today!

15-17 — Cover Story It’s a Wonderful Life: New Year’s Fashion 18 -19 — In Country The Fox’s Den Tavern 18 -19 —Dining Guide 22-23 — Food & Wine A Winter’s Night with Ris Cocktail of the Week 24 — Gift Guide 25 — Art Wrap ‘Elvis at 21’ at the National Portrait Gallery 26— Classifieds/ Service Directory 27—Body & Soul Succesful Resolutions 28-29—Social Scene Alex Ovechkin Celebrates One Lounge Anniversary Georgetown University Holiday Party Ann Hand Fetes Innocents At Risk Jamaican Women of Washington Foxhall Gallery Showcases 30—The Player Jaylee Mead

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1 GMG, Inc. December 15, 2010 3

C

s Photos by Jeff Malet

ene

Rear Adm. Patrick Lorge, U.S. Navy, Commandant of Naval District Washington, and Rear Adm. Kleber Masterson, USN (Ret.) laid a wreath at the foot of The Lone Sailor statue in remembrance of those who died on December 7, 1941. Rear Admiral Masterson’s late father was a Pearl Harbor survivor. The ceremony took place at the US Navy Memorial in Washington DC. on Dec. 7, 2010.

1 2

From left, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey Jr., Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz,, and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp Jr., testify on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on Dec. 3, 2010, before the Senate Armed Service Committee. The chiefs of the Army, Marines and Air Force warned Friday that implementing a repeal of the policy banning gays from serving openly in the military would be more difficult than a Pentagon study has suggested, challenging the assessments of other top military officials in the administration.

Protestors wave signs from gallery in favor of repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” law. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen and Defense Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee to discuss the Defense Department’s report on the effect of repealing the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that bans gays from serving openly in the military. On Capitol Hill in Washington DC, Dec. 2, 2010.

4 December 15, 2010 GMG, Inc. 1

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1. & 2. In one of her last official roles as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) lights the US Capitol’s Christmas tree during a 5 PM ceremony on the West Front lawn on December 7, 2010 in Washington DC. The 67-foot Engelmann spruce came from Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest and was

decorated with thousands of ornaments made by Wyoming residents.

3. Members of the Cheyenne All City Children’s Choir entertain with a medley of carols during the 2010 Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.

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Facebook Moves to Penn Quarter

Metro Assault Leaves Passengers Questioning Protocol

n December 7, Douglas Development announced that Facebook leased 8,600 square feet in its newly renovated property at 1155 F Street. The plan being to improve Facebook’s presence in D.C., the move from Dupont Circle, to a larger space in Penn Quarter, is a definite upgrade.

The building’s exposed brick interior is strikingly modern, reflective of the forward-looking company that will soon occupy it. Facebook’s fellow tenants include Intel, Home Depot, and Guess.

In a press release, Douglas Jemal commented, “Retailers want to re-locate to the Penn Quarter neighborhood, consumers want to shop there, and naturally, companies want to work in an area that is easily accessible and offers the best amenities.

We are really pleased Facebook clicked the ‘like’ button on 1155 F Street.”

Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes has acknowledged that Facebook is preparing to move into, “a long-term location that will fit our growing business needs.”

The office, itself, can hold 30 to 40 people comfortably. This would mark a significant increase from its current six-employee staff.

However, just how large Facebook intends to grow its government relations office remains to be seen.

TBD has reported that, on the night of Tuesday, December 7, an elderly man was assaulted

by a group of rowdy teenagers on the metro. As the Red Line train came to a halt at the Union Station stop, one of the teens turned and threw a gallon jug of Arizona Iced Tea, from which he’d been sipping, into the older gentleman’s face.

While the kids exited the train celebrating, onlookers attempted to help the victim, who was covered in tea and bleeding from his nose.

However, matters only became worse as the

man’s fellow passengers attempted to use the train’s emergency call box to report the assault.

Convinced that the passengers were pressing the button unnecessarily, the train operator warned them to quit fooling around.

At the next stop, an employee the passengers managed to flag down claimed there was nothing he could do. Only at the next station did the metro employees appear sympathetic, admitting that the train operator had handled the situation poorly.

According to an eyewitness report, Metro Transit Police officers were able to tend to the victim at the Takoma Park stop, the train itself not allowed to stop for any reason. Proper protocol dictates that train operators report the incident and await further instructions from MTP. Only, in this case, passengers were doubtful the train operator had followed procedure. Lending credence to this claim — a metro spokesman had no knowledge of the incident.

removed when conservative groups began protesting a brief segment of the film, in which ants are seen crawling over an image of Jesus.

Since the video was taken out of the exhibit, Transformer Gallery installed a four-minute clip from it in their storefront and arranged for a silent march to the National Portrait Gallery December 2.

Complicating matters further, local artists Matt Blasenstein and Michael Dax Iacovone were detained at the National Portrait Gallery this weekend, after screening the video on an iPad in front of the exhibit entrance. Currently, the two are attempting to procure a permit that will enable them to play the video through February, in a temporary structure directly outside the gallery.

The National Portrait Gallery’s commission functions as a board of directors, making Bartlett’s resignation the most consequential protest of the gallery’s decision to date.

National Portrait Gallery Commissioner Resigns

Vince Gray Attends “One City”

National Portrait Gallery Commissioner James T. Bartlett resigned Thursday, December 9, in protest of the museum’s censorship of a 30minute video, “A Fire in My Belly,” by David Wajnarowicz. The piece was initially a part of the gallery’s “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” exhibit, but was

Mayor-elect Vince Gray attended Washington National Cathedral’s Sunday Forum on December 12. The forum took place at 10:10 a.m. in the Cathedral nave. Lasting approximately 50 minutes, the forum featured an interview with Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III and was followed by a Q&A for those in attendance, as well as an online audience. Lloyd and Gray tackled the topic of uniting D.C., in light of

Gray’s recent electoral victory.

Washington National Cathedral’s Sunday Forum series explores the convergence of faith and public life and, this year in particular, has placed emphasis on civility in the realm of public discourse. December 12’s forum, “One City,” was free and open to the public. A webcast is available at www.nationalcathedral.org.

9th Street Bridge Opens Monday, December 13, northbound traffic opened on the new 9th Street Bridge. This is welcome news for commuters who pass through upper northeast D.C. While southbound traffic opened several weeks prior, work continued on the other portion of the bridge. Now, DDOT is allowing access to the bridge north of the Gallaudet campus, connecting New York and Rhode Island Avenue. Drivers using this route will now have access to the Brentwood business district. According to an estimate cited by WTOP, that’s 26,000 commuters.

While over a year’s worth of work on the new bridge has come to an end, crews are still responsible for demolishing portions of the old bridge that pass over New York Avenue and the railroad tracks. Built in 1941, removal of these segments will not be completed until May 2011.

Metro Introduces New Bus Route among Other Changes

Placing a greater emphasis on cost-effectiveness, D.C. Metro has announced a new Metrobus route, the X9. The expedited, limited-stop route will run from Capitol Heights Metrorail station to 13th and H Streets NW in downtown D.C. Beginning December 20, X9 will operate east and west every 15 minutes during morning and evening rush periods.

This is the most notable of several new routes being implemented, all of which are designed to improve time of travel. Route H6 will be rerouted in Fort Lincoln so as to service the Wesley House Senior Apartments. Route 32 will gain an additional weekday, westbound trip between the Southern Avenue and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations. Finally, three weekday, southbound trips will be added to the L2 (7:27, 7:57, and 8:27 a.m.), which travels between Chevy Chase Circle and Van Ness-UDC Metrorail. The hope is that this will eliminate issues of overcrowding.

All of these route changes were managed by redirecting service during times and on routes that are underused to areas where demand is greater. Additionally, two new, direct bus routes are being implemented from Virginia to the District, and service between Silver Spring and Bethesda, Maryland will be more frequent.

Ultimately, Metro hopes to increase bus ridership with these modifications, which were developed based upon customer and Metro staff feedback. Metro is doing its best to get the word out using a variety of advertising and online mediums.

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It's a

Wonderful Life

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Magnificent Georgian

Chevy Chase Village. Brilliant designer colonial on beautiful lot with pool and patio, large elegant rooms throughout, 6 Brs, 7.5 + .5 baths. $3,350,000

Pat Lore- 301-908-1242; Ted Beverley- 301-728-4338

Tour de Force

Cleveland Park. Dramatic contemporary renovation features open living room and dining room with gallery walls for displaying art, Euro-style kitchen, library, 6 Brs, art studio, exercise room, music room, patio and decks, large back yard. $2,175,000

Updated Gem

Glover Park. Newly renovated one BR apt with fabulous bath, gourmet kitchen.

Popular building has 24-hour desk, pool, parking. Close to everything. $274,900

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Lynn Bulmer- 202-257-2410

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Legendary Style

Chevy Chase. Beautiful frame Georgian colonial with luxurious appointments, 8000 sf living space, 5 Brs, 5.5 Bas, library, chef’s kitchen/ fam rm opening to lg deck and back yard; 2-car garage. $1,689,000

Dupont. Spectacular renovated townhouse with open liv rm/ din rm/ chef’s kitchen; 3 Brs, 2.5 Bas, roofdeck, family rm, spacious in-law suite; 2 parking spaces $1,599,000

Ellen Abrams202-255-8219

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Nestled in the Trees

Kent. Perfectly sited colonial w/ gracious 1st flr, 4 Brs, 3 Bas, updated kitchen/ family room; finished lower lvl. $1,200,000

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Arlington/ Rosslyn.

Terrific 4 lvl TH w/ 3 Brs, 2.5 Bas incl 2 MBRs, 2 frpls, renov kitchen, landscaped patio, sep ofc, parking, views. $685,000

Rachel Burns- 202-384-5140; Martha Williams- 202-271-8138

32 December 15, 2010 gmg, Inc. 1

Modern Luxury

Luxury New Homes Division, Town of Chevy Chase. This brilliant home offers comfort, luxury and fine finishes from awardwinning Chase Builders- large dramatic rooms, it will take your breath away! $1,899,000

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True Craftsmanship

Fabulous townhome c. 2003,by Gibson Builders w/ 4,400 sqft and 4 flrs of living space has 5 Brs, 4.5 Bas, designer kitchen w/ island, family room with 10’ coffered ceilings & fieldstone frpl, gorgeous MBR suite; 2-car garage. $1,395,000

Georgetown/ Hillandale.

Spacious 3 Br, 3.5 Bath w/ elevator to all 4 flrs; 2-story LR w/frpl, dramatic MBR, kitchen w/ bkfst rm, lovely patio; comm. tennis & pool. $1,350,000

John Nemeyer202-276-6351

Delia McCormick- 301-977-7273

Tudor Treasure

Chevy Chase. Handsome stone and stucco colonial with elegant entry foyer, lg liv rm, din rm, kitchen w/ island, butler’s pantry; 5 Brs, 3.5 Bas, rec rm, deck and play yard. Walk to Metro and Somerset Elementary. $1,049,000

Grand Dame

Chevy Chase. Grand 1920’s colonial on large crnr lot: high ceilings, large rooms, LR w/ frpl, DR, study, eat-in kitchen, side porch, 5 Brs, 3.5 Bas; garage and OSP. $895,000

Laura McCaffrey- 301-641-4456

Ellen Sandler- 202-255-5007

Urban Gem

Brightwood. Totally renovated classic TH. Open 1st floor; LR w.gas f/p,DR, Kit. w. granite counters, 3 BRs, 2 BAs, finished LL w. rec rm, office, garage. Walk to Metro. Owner is licensed agent. $399,000

Shawn Goldstein- 202-329-1493

Woodley Wonder

Art Deco style 1 Br apt has renovated kit. w. granite and s.s., built-ins, large closets, hdwd floors. Pets OK. Walk to Metro. $349,000

Melissa Chen- 202-744-1235; Andrea Evers 202-550-8934

Sleek & Sassy

Capitol Hill. Chic renovation of 2 vintage buildings: 4 super apartments with 1 Br + den, 1 Ba; French drs, hardwood flrs, sparkling kitchen and baths. $179,000-$209,000

Courtney Abrams- 202-253-0109; Denny Horner- 703-629-8455

Sunny & Bright

The Westchester. Impressive renovation.

1 BR, 1 BA,solarium w. lawn view. Sleek granite and s.s. kitchen. LR with built-ins. spacious entry. Full service bldg. Great location. $304,900

Martha Williams- 202-271-8138; Rachel Burns- 202-384-5140