The Georgetowner February 10, 2010

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February 10 - 23 2010

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About our contributors

georgetown media group

Publisher Sonya Bernhardt Editor at Large David Roffman Feature Editors Garrett Faulkner Gary Tischler

Malek Naz Freidouni is a vibrant Washingtonian who came in early childhood from Tehran, Her accomplishments include graduating from the Corcoran College of Art + Design, and she has vast experience in everything from portraiture to fashion and architectural photography.

Naz is a jack-of-all-trades in photography, even able to repair photographic equipment.

Publisher’s Assistant Siobhan Catanzaro Contributors Andrew O’Neill Jack Evans Bill Starrels Jordan Wright Ari Post John Blee Jennifer Gray Donna Evers

Alexis Miller Patricia Lipe Linda Roth Mary Bird Claire Swift Pam Burns Michelle Galler Lauretta McCoy

Photographers Yvonne Taylor Tom Wolff Neshan Naltchayan Jeff Malet Malek Naz Freidouni Robert Devaney

Robert Sacheli is a writer and graphic designer who is a longtime Washington-area resident. He is a columnist for the men’s style site Dandyism.net, where his work has covered personalities from Fred Astaire to Lucius Beebe to Noel Coward. He has also written on Coward for the Shakespeare Theatre Company, where he was the Noel Coward scholar for the company’s 2009 production of “Design for Living.” He is a board member and founding staff member of Filmfest D.C. (the Washington, D.C. international film festival) and is a judge for the Helen Hayes Awards, the city’s professional theatre honors.

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.georgetowner.com Find us on Twitter (SonyaBernhardt) or Facebook (I Love The Georgetowner)

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, re-write, or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Copyright, 2009.

6-7 — Editorial/Opinion On Jelleff Issue, Start From Square One On the Storm of the Century Jack Evans Report Are Fenty & Rhee Getting Cornered?

Two Heavyweights Pass On Salinger & Zinn, One Book Wonders 8-9 — Kid’s Corner/All Things Media “The Lightning Thief” Ranit Mishori & John Donvan

12-13 — Real Estate Featured Property Mortgage Ask the Realtor 14 — Calendar 15 — Haute and Cool The Perfect Present 16-17 — Cover Story The Jet Set

Advertising Daniel Gray Jennifer Gray

Counsel Juan Chardiet, Attorney

4-5 — GT Observer Cupola Raised at Georgetown Library ANC Update

10-11 — Photo Spotlight Snow Storm of the Century

Advertising Director Charlie Louis

Graphic Design Alyssa Loope Jennifer Merino

contents

Our newest contributor Elisa Bayoumi is a prodigious reader and a lover of chocolate. Her interests include knitting, crochet, and drawing.

She does not have a favorite book or author, for her love of books is widely spread. One of her favorite authors is Rick Riordan. She has one little brother and a loving pair of parents. She is pictured herewith her Grandfather on her 10th birthday this past year.

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18-19 — Performance/Art Wrap “The Rivalry” Flamenco Festival 2010 Chester Dale at NGA 20-21 — In Country Hallowed Grounds, Or Something Like It 24-25 — Dining Cocktail of the Week The Latest Dish 28 — Body & Soul A Chocolate a Day? 29-31— Social Scene The Washington Ballet Celebrated Ritz Goes to the Dogs Innocents at Risk Sundance Film Festival 2010

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 3

GT Compiled by Garrett Faulkner

Observer

(Below) Construction workers sign the framework.

(Right) The cupola is lifted into place.

Cupola raised at Georgetown Library

T

here’s a little more bustle up on Book Hill these days.

Dozens of Georgetowners, a few students, reporters, cameramen, ANC commissioners and city councilmembers, even Mayor Fenty. The patio abutting the Georgetown library milled with citizens looking skyward on Jan. 27, all awaiting the symbol of a three-year rebuilding of what once was lost.

That symbol was the raising of the cupola, a belfry-like domed tower that soared above the original Georgetown Library, often considered the flagship of the District public library system, which was gutted by a catastrophic fire in 2007. The building itself endured substantial damage — the charred window frames are still boarded up — but even more heartbreaking was the devastating swath the blaze cut through the Peabody Room, a 140-year-old omnibus of Georgetown historical records, artwork, photographs and other memorabilia of a village rife with rich stories and larger-than-life characters.

Many remember it as a day of great loss, not of human life but of human heritage, an identity forged through times both brisk and troublesome, through turbulent decades that saw the town mature gracefully into a crossroads of history, politics, and neighborly bonds.

The pictures from that day still are starkly tragic. Firefighters dragged the singed and

blackened artifacts from the blaze, the photograph edges curling inward and the portrait faces muddied irreparably. The local CBS station captured the old cupola, spewing flame, toppling from the roof. Residents were enraged when they learned several nearby fire hydrants had malfunctioned, which later helped spawn an ongoing citywide inspection campaign for public hydrants.

Since then, the rebuilding has become somewhat of a pet project for many Georgetowners.

Fundraisers erupted soon after the fire, and the long, sometimes arduous cleanup process has been a closely watched item in the local news.

But they’re getting there, slow and steady. A few hours before the raising, neighbors, construction workers and the mayor respectfully

signed their names in magic marker on the cupola — now just a tube-steel framework stretching 14 feet above the roofline. Onlookers buzzed excitedly before the ceremony.

Mingling with them was Jerry McCoy, librarian and archivist of the Peabody Room (which will be rebuilt three times its original size), looking content and chatting easily with residents and reporters.

“This is a landmark historic event for the Georgetown neighborhood library,” he said.

He added that while he’s glad for this latest development, there’s still a long road ahead,

and that the $200,000 archive restoration effort is “lagging.” Only four out of 44 damaged artworks, for instance, have been adopted for conservation.

Still, much of the rebuilding process remains on track. The library building itself is scheduled for completion in October.

Jack Evans was also there, along with Jenny Cooper, who heads up the library system across the city. Cooper said the efforts of neighbors were instrumental in rebuilding.

“This community said, before the fire was out, ‘We’ll be back,’” she announced triumphantly.

After Fenty made a few remarks, the time had come. The mayor gave a signal, the construction workers on the roof a thumbs up, and the crane hoisted the cupola into place. It was aligned in seconds, and as sparks rained down from the welding points, the small crowd below exploded with cheers.

It’s been a long comeback since that May morning in 2007, but Georgetown will soon have its library again.

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Jelleff Fields are located just off Wisconsin Avenue and S Street.

ANC update: The tiff over Jelleff Fields

A

NC 2E Chairman Ron Lewis had the unenviable task of maintaining order during a Feb. 1 debate that threatened numerous times to spiral out of hand.   The prickly issue in question was not about abortion or marriage or firearms, but a crop of fields just north of town on S Street, which has served for years as a centerpoint for youth athletics within the northwest quadrant. A recent deal struck between the city’s Department of

Parks and Recreation and the Maret School (3000 Cathedral Ave.) has residents worried that Jelleff Fields will cease to be an accessible commodity for the public.   The controversy arose last month when the city announced it had purchased the fields from the adjacent Boys and Girls Club, after continued prodding from Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans. The Maret School, which had previously been in private purchase negotiations with the Boys and Girls Club, quickly realigned itself to be part of the agreement, which, in return for the school’s pledge to maintain and improve the grounds for 10 years, grants Maret exclu-

sive rights to the field for athletic practices after school hours Monday through Friday until sundown. Maret will also be granted access on 10 Saturdays of the school’s choice throughout the spring and fall seasons.   At the meeting, Maret’s Head of School Marjo Talbott presented an ambitious improvement plan for Jelleff, which includes the installation of artificial turf for the main field, renovation of the swimming pool, and full responsibility for the facilities’ maintenance over the next decade.

The project is budgeted at $2.5 million.   But Talbott’s remarks were met with nonetoo-subtle scoffs from the audience, which was packed with irate neighbors who claim the Jelleff deal was one of those shady, behind-closeddoors kind of arrangements, and that the community received, at best, a cursory litmus test to see if the deal was a favorable one. Marshall Bykofsky, who leads the Friends of Jelleff Park action group, spoke angrily before commissioners, saying he was “very disturbed� by the school’s bogarting of the field’s daylight hours, which were “taken for the privileged kids of Maret. The rest of us got the scraps.� He also criticized what he felt was a hush-hush bargain with the city to minimize the school’s competition for the restoration contract.   “This is not a legitimate process for a government contract,� he said.   Nick Keenan also expressed concern on behalf of Stoddert Soccer, a non-profit that spon-

sors over 5000 youth soccer players across the District, and which relies heavily on space at Jelleff Field. While Keenan praised the proposal for a high-caliber artificial turf field, he worried his organization would not have the necessary funding to foot the bill for lighting units required for practice after sundown.   Talbott argued the contract schedule was too tight to start over and include neighborhood input.   The general consensus among audience members was that the deal, in spirit, was a sound one, but somewhere along the line had become distinctly flawed. ANC commissioners agreed. Lewis lightly reprimanded Jesus Aguirre, DPR’s interim director, who did not occupy his post when the agreement was reached and even conceded that it perhaps could have been handled better.   “This process did not reach out to the community,� Lewis said.   Commissioner Charles Eason, whose district includes Jelleff Fields, offered a resolution that would condemn the current agreement and urge the city and Maret to begin their negotiations anew, this time with input from the community.

The resolution passed unanimously. While it is unclear whether it will have the necessary teeth to effect a change in the Jelleff deal, it may raise enough clamor to warrant a second look by the city council.

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Editorials/opinion

On Jelleff issue, start from square one

Are fenty and rhee getting cornered?

Y

istrict Mayor Adrian Fenty must be scratching his head, and D.C. School Chancellor Michelle Rhee is probably equally puzzled.

That is, if they care about such things. And they may not.

And that may be the problem.

Recent polls conducted by The Washington Post exposed a decidedly downward turn in public approval ratings for both the mayor and the chancellor.

Yet, at the same time, the polls seemed to show that people clearly liked some of the changes and progress that have been made in the district and in the schools.

Many people polled apparently liked and approved of the direction of school reform efforts made by Rhee and indicated that there have been significant improvements in the troubled schools, notably (some) higher test scores, and improvements in both enrollment and graduation rates.

Likewise, many of those polls seemed to think that the city had made significant improvement in the quality of living, citing especially the job done by D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier in combating crime, in economic improvement, deliveries of service, parks and recreation and so on.

If you looked at the numbers and some of the criticisms, what people appeared not to like was, well, Fenty and Rhee. Many people didn’t care for the style and the way the two leaders operated. They criticized the mayor for being arrogant, dismissive, high-handed and unresponsive and not playing well with others, especially the D.C. city council. They criticized the way Rhee had dealt with the teacher force, her inability to come to grips with contract negotiations with the teachers union, her handling of the massive firings of teacher in the fall and, most recently, some vitriolic comments about the fired teachers made to a national publication.

Clearly, there’s some style over substance issues here. What’s even more clear, though, is that there are fissures appearing in the body politic. Some of the strongest disapproval for both Fenty and Rhee comes from the poorer and majority black communities in the city.

Looked at politically, the poll shows that Fenty is trailing city council Chairman Vincent Gray in terms of a projected race for re-election by as many as six points. Gray, of course, has openly indicated that he may or might run.

But really, is there a serious challenger out there that could possibly topple Fenty?

He’s already got a considerable war chest for his re-election campaign in place, something no other likely challenger has. And time is a-wasting. People haven’t forgotten that Fenty, by famously knocking on every door in every ward of the city, won every precinct in the city in his run against then city council Chairperson Linda Cropp.

That campaign is instructive. It doesn’t pay to underestimate Adrian Fenty. Cropp and her handlers did it. Charlene Drew Jarvis, for years a mainstay as Ward 4 councilwoman did it and

ou’d have thought it was the show trial of the decade, so impassioned were the speeches, so venomous the tempers, so nervously did the commissioners labor to keep the tension hovering overhead from devolving into an outright shouting match. Intrigue was in the air, and the proceedings had all the airs of a lynching, in which the villains came forth to speak their piece before being skewered by neighbors, athletes and active citizens.

All this over a soccer field?

In truth, it’s not quite as dualistic as it sounds.

The “villains,” in fact, are no other than the D.C. government and the Maret School, who, far from having sinister motives, are simply trying to rehabilitate Burleith’s deteriorating Jelleff Fields. And though the Maret and parks and rec brass had to pitch their plan to a largely hostile crowd at last Monday’s ANC 2E meeting, they certainly brought their A game: a $2.5 million budget, Astroturf, full maintenance.

On paper — and posterboard — the proposal sounds ironclad.

But when Mayor Fenty recently made a passing reference to the city’s joint purchase of the fields with Maret, neighbors smelled a rat and soon discovered the deal had been hammered out with little to no public input, which, they allege, allowed Maret to cherry-pick the best field usage hours for itself (under the agreement, the school will have private rights to the field after classes Monday through Friday, and on 10 Saturdays during the spring and fall seasons). When Jesus Aguirre, who heads up the Department of Parks and Recreation, implied that the community had,

in fact, been reached out to, angry murmurs riffled through the crowd. Friends of Jelleff head Marshall Bykofsky even stood and blurted out, “That never happened!” to the chagrin of commissioners. He would go on to deliver a fiery invective against the agreement, accusing Maret of back-room dealing and monopolizing the improvement and maintenance of Jelleff’s facilities.

Bykofsky has a point. It’s not that the deal is ill intentioned. Nor could anyone seriously pooh-pooh Maret’s status as one of the District’s eminent schools, or DPR’s sterling efforts to revamp its public spaces. But the case that the city and Maret skipped a necessary huddle with the community has merit, and sets an ugly precedent for similar agreements farther on down. What school officials consider an open process was little more than a half-hearted call for contract bids after they had quietly entered a deal with the District government already. If the city is this opaque in its business arrangements, couldn’t there be much more at stake in the future?

We have little doubt Maret will serve as an excellent steward of Jelleff, and that the city is working hard to improve its image and standard of living. But transparency is the bedrock of the democratic process, and if we fail to insist upon it in all maneuverings of the government, we’ve given up much more than soccer practices before sunset.

We urge Maret School and DPR to return to the drawing board as an act of good faith and open up the dialogue to a visibly engaged and opinionated community.

On the storm of the century

O

n Friday morning, an endless gray cloud silenced the outside world — the proverbial calm before the storm.

Inside the outlets and grocery stores, however, was the antithesis of tranquility. Our culture has no figure of speech for “bedlam preceding a hush,” but I would suggest “Christmas Syndrome.”

We bought eggs, ground beef, onions, milk, bananas, grabbing at whatever remaining scraps lay toppled on ravaged grocery shelves. We bought shovels and we bought ice scrapers. We bought flashlights, firewood, calcium chloride, smoke signals, life jackets. Those with snow blowers and SUVs were at long last vindicated, swelling with purpose and satisfaction of ownership.

Then it began to fall. It fell for 36 hours. It was a steady and uncompromising snow, the kind of snow that feels orchestrated by the ghosts of Frost and Thoreau. Turning our city a festive white, it left its mark on everything, down to the smallest branch of the smallest tree.

The snow fell in a way almost disconnected to its surroundings, not concerned with the way our world works, unfazed by our innumerable contentions, our work schedules. Unfettered by impending elections, energy crises or civil disobedience, the snow did something that many of us have forgotten how to do: it just came down.

Something in this snow, as I watched it cascade outside my window, spoke to me of

6 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

letting go. It demonstrated that sometimes all that’s left to be done is to fall for a little while.

And in this exhalation I saw the city revitalized. Neighborhood snowball fights broke out in all corners of Washington — Dupont Circle attracted some 2,000 warriors. Neighbors, who had studiously ignored each other for years, were suddenly helping each other clear their walkways, dig out cars, and commiserate over the overwhelming absurdity of this event.

This, above all else, has been good for us.

The underpinning of community interaction, growth, and development often seem to be the neglected cultivation of modern cities. But this is the forum in which the imperative sense of a collective experience can be fostered, where ideas can be shared, where community is created and becomes more than that which is necessitated by the proximity of dwellings. It is where we entertain discourse, learn to accept each other, make friends, build families.

So, we are amid a financial crisis, a war, jobs are tight, tensions are high. But that is what we are dealing with, not who we are. In these rare and precious moments, when the world stands still and we are all but forced to stand with it, we come together and let go for a while. The snow buried our roads, shut off our power, and closed the federal government.

What a beautiful disaster.

Have your own snow story? Tell us at editorial@georgetowner.com.

D

lost the second time Fenty challenged her for her council seat.

Gray is cautious and careful by nature, and taking on Fenty is risky business. As Council Chairman, he’s in a position to take on Fenty on policy and legislative matters, if he can ever get the mayor to cooperate more fully instead of finding unique ways to get around working with the council, as he did in the matter of parks and recreation contracts, which still rankles in the public eye. For Gray, running against Fenty is taking a big risk. He, too, is up for re-election and if he decides to run against Fenty, must give up his position as council chair. If he loses, he’s a private citizen again and maybe out of political life for good.

That’s also the case for Ward 5 Councilman Kwame Brown, also a man whose name is being tossed about as a potential challenger to Fenty. Brown is down-to-earth, personable, intense, smart and popular city-wide, but he too is up for re-election. Michael Brown, an independent and very vocal critic of the mayor and the chancellor at fall hearings — he called for “reforming the reform” — might take a shot.

He is not up for re-election.

Polls like The Washington Post’s clearly indicate there’s some dissatisfaction out there with both Fenty and Rhee, but so for they’ve shown no inclination to change their way of doing things or pursue making nice. While his staff sends out a blizzard of e-mail announcements about Fenty appearances — school renovation ribbon cuttings, ground-breakings, statistical achievement announcements, personnel announcements, crime scenes, snow removal efforts — getting Fenty to talk about policy is a lot harder.

Fenty and Rhee are tied at the hip politically, and Rhee’s strong-minded and often controversial tactics, efforts and public comments will continue as long as she knows, as she does, that the mayor has her back.

Still, as soon as the snow is cleared off, it will be interesting to see what effect, if any, the polls have had. Fenty is not a particularly introspective sort of guy, and both he and Rhee are doers, action figures, if you will, as opposed to explainers.

As always, stay tuned.

opinion

Two gop heavyweights pass on

By Gary Tischler

I

n Washington where we live, there are types of people, just like there are in San Francisco or Philadelphia or Paris.

In Washington, they’re actually called Washington types, as opposed to the rest of us who are merely Washingtonians or Redskins fans.

They come in from all over the country to run the country, or, weather and economics permitting, run the world. We are talking about the visitors, of course, those men (and some women) who walk about not only in $5,000and-above suits and pants suits, but with a matching gravitas that says they are serious people, from the president on down.

Our history is full of them, of course, a sub-set species of lawyers, retired generals, ex-spooks, friends to the friends called advisers, actual congressmen and senators, the supremes, the cabinet members, the secretaries of as opposed to secretaries to.

Very few leave an indelible mark, let alone statues, equestrian or pedestrian. But they have a look — on Capitol Hill you can spot a second term congressman pretty much by the way he acts, as if he should be recognized after four years on the Hill. Tom DeLay would scowl

at people. And Bill Clinton, if he hadn’t been told his terms were over, would still be getting seconds at a local diner.

The ones that leave a mark do it quietly — or not. In the case of former Secretary of Commerce Robert Mossbacher, he made an impression working for his friend, President George H.W. Bush. He was a Republican politician through and through but he was also not to be mistaken for a hanger-on or lightweight.

He had style and gravitas, and he made his money the old-fashioned way, coming out high enough in what’s always called the “oil bidness” in Texas to be dubbed a tycoon. He was a rich man who served and enjoyed his life, enough to have married several times. One of the wives was Georgette Mossbacher, who came to Washington with him. She was in the beauty business, herself as chief, red-headed example, and together, they cut quite a swath in Washington, making for a power couple par excellence. Nobody ever asked to see their invitations to anything.

He sailed yachts, he looked elegant, he was a fund-raiser without equal in his day, and as commerce secretary he helped to promote the American Free Trade Agreement . Mossbacher died of pancreatic cancer last month. In the old (Roman) days, he would have had a statue in

the city.

So would Charles “Mac” Mathias, a Washington type who, if you follow politics at all, is as rare as a rumor about unicorns. Matthias was a three-term Republican U.S. Senator from Maryland, and, when he ran for the last time, made silly putty of the now venerable liberal Democratic Senator Barbara Makulski. He was, by all accounts and descriptions, a so-called “liberal” Republican. Nowadays, of course, to be a liberal Republican would be to be a Democrat at best, and probably a grumpy independent at worst. But there were such political types in the U.S. Senate, once upon a time.

Mathias, who died at 87 last month, was a maverick who gave the word some real meaning before Senator John McCain took it for himself and made a campaign slogan out of it.

Matthias, who served three terms, was a champion for saving the Chesapeake Bay, he was pro-labor on many issues and even every now and then not quite the gung-ho hawk that seemed to be part of the GOP genetic makeup.

He also championed civil rights.

Looking at pictures of him, he looked like an imposing, standup guy — standing up for the rights of others. Here’s a man who probably would get up first to shake the preferred hand from across the aisle, no matter what the party and partisan line might be.

Salinger and zinn, one-book wonders

By Gary Tischler

A

s in rock ’n’ roll, literature has its one-hit wonders, writers that write a book that’s a singular sensation, something that bowls over critics or the great reading masses, sometimes both. The book remains important, memorable, it stamps individuals and generations who read it at the time, and moves forward in time and is read again, sometimes by the same type of people.

We forget that the people who wrote the book had lives before and after the writing, we forget sometimes who they are and were. Were is the operative word for J.D. Salinger and Howard Zinn, both of whom passed away last month.

Salinger wrote precious little in his long life (he was 91 when he died), but he did write the little book that could, “The Catcher in the Rye,” a thin novel whose narrator is a teenager named Holden Caulfield, disaffected, cynical, foulmouthed for his time, sex-addled, scared, wise and dumb at once and profoundly protective of his sister and other innocents (like himself).

That book came out in 1951 and it made Salinger, who had written a book of nine short stories, titled, oddly enough, “Nine Stories,” a literary obsession in a time when American literature, the pursuit of the great American novel, and other writerish pastimes where matters of concern in college life, among young men and women dreaming of becoming writers for real.

Salinger wrote three more books, short pieces

disguised as novels, called “Frannie and Zooey,” “Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters” and “Seymour: An Introduction,” all concerned with the antics of the fictional Glass family. A novella appeared in the New Yorker (a perfect home for Salinger) in 1965.

And that was that. The rest is persona, a defiant reclusivity, a mini-scandal involving a young woman. He persisted in being a recluse, and apparently writing every day, but not for publication — a style that perversely suits him, something on the order of what one Polish poet said of an unnamed writer: “what an amazing writer — he dotted the ‘i’ in an unwritten sentence.”

But “Rye” persists as a kind of anthem.

Generations discover the book, find themselves in it and what passes for life, share and commiserate and, it’s hoped, see the beauty of it.

Since part of its appeal is a furious sort of irony, it appeals strongly to today’s disaffected posthigh school intellectuals, allowing them not to

think things through or write too well.

If silence and solitude (and speculation on the part of others) were a hallmark of Salinger’s life, Zinn led a rich, active life swimming strongly in the currents of history. His 1980 book “The People’s History of the United States” was not the first book he ever wrote, nor the last, but it shot into the mainstream like a bomb and still goes off periodically.

Zinn, a political activist with a populist, leftist bent, changed or enriched the way folks looked at American history, by writing about what you might call outsiders, or those ignored in the telling of the story of the rich stream of inventive democracy. That is to say, Zinn wrote about slaves and slavery, the treatment of Native Americans, the dark side of capital, commerce and empire, the role of women, and workers, the battles for labor rights. In short, most of the stuff that’s given short shrift in textbooks and mainstream history. Not so much any more.

Holden Caulfield, if he grew up at all, probably would have ended up reading the book, and not have been surprised by what he learned: “People always think something’s all true,” he said in “The Catcher in the Rye.” That’s not what they remember. The irony is that they remember the line late in Chapter 26: “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.”

We’ll miss J.D. Salinger, but we’ll always have Holden Caulfield. We’ll miss Howard Zinn but we’ll have his people’s history, which is about the things that weren’t all true.

The Jack Evans Report

L

ast week the city council met at its annual retreat to review legislative priorities, receive briefings from various officials and make plans for the coming year.

Of particular interest to me as chair of the council’s Committee on Finance and Revenue was the briefing by Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi on the audit of the FY 2009 budget, known as the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The council will hold a hearing on the audit this Friday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. in the council chambers.

The good news from the FY 2009 CAFR is the District sustained its 13th annual balanced budget and unqualified “clean” audit. In short, our finances are a far cry from the desperate straits we faced in the mid-’90s. The audit also confirmed we have reduced “material weaknesses” from two in FY 2008 to zero this year, and “significant deficiencies” from four to three.

I am glad we have made progress on reducing these problems. Every year the District spends millions on various audit functions — not only the CAFR, but of course the operations of the D.C. Auditor and the Office of the Inspector General. Early last year we decided to pool all this information more systematically and bring in under-performing agencies to submit remediation plans to correct the deficiencies. This new approach has begun to pay off.

We finished FY 2009 with a surplus of nearly $140 million residing in various special accounts. Before we rush to spend this money, however, we have already received briefings on the status of the current FY 2010 budget and the upcoming FY 2011 budget submission

by Mayor Fenty, which is expected on April 1.

Clearly from the information we received, we will need that $140 million to address ongoing problems in FY 2010 and 2011. These problems, of course, are due largely to the overall state of the economy, although the District is in somewhat better shape than our neighbors to the north and south and I believe our revenue shortfalls are in the manageable range.

Every year, seemingly, we face “spending pressures” in the middle of the fiscal year, but since it is February we have the opportunity to review these problems and make corrective actions at the time so we end FY 2010 with a balanced budget. A more difficult challenge will be the work of the mayor and the council to balance the FY 2011 budget. We were told — if we do nothing else — the cost of continuing current operations of the D.C. government will increase by over $470 million from FY 2010 to FY 2011. That’s truly an astonishing figure!

With very flat revenue growth this will not be possible. Of this “automatic growth,” the big increases, both financially and statistically, are the Education cluster, which would increase by 11.8 percent and the Human Support Services cluster which would increase by 20.7 percent.

Other cluster area increases are far more modest. Clearly this spring we will have some very serious challenges facing us and many tough decisions to make.

Sincerely, Jack The author is a city councilmember representing District Ward 2.

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 7

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ave you ever been stuck without a book to read? Want to curl up on a winter evening with an adventure but don’t have one? I thought so. But here’s a book and an about-to-be movie that will leave you smiling.

In “The Lightning Thief,” Percy Jackson is just another troubled kid in New York. He has been kicked out of school every year, has ADHD, dyslexia and a missing dad. That is when things get weird. During the summer of his 12th year he gets attacked by a Minotaur and his mom mysteriously disappears. Suddenly, he discovers that the Greek gods are still alive and are still having kids with mortals. This is what he is: a half-blood. But things are worse at Camp Half Blood, where half-bloods are trained. His dad Poseidon and Zeus are fighting.

Percy and his friends, Annabeth and Grover (a satyr), have one week to return a stolen master bolt, save Percy’s mother and stop a gigantic god war from starting.

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This Valentine’s Day, Love is in the air, on the air

By Amanda Gokee

L

ots of kids in Washington can say they have a parent who works in journalism, and a few can even say that both their folks are members of the profession. But only a select minority can boast that each of their parents works for an acclaimed national publication or network program, and has a Twitter following that numbers in the millions.

That said, the children of John Donvan and Ranit Mishori have a lot to be proud of.

Donvan started out at Dartmouth and clawed his way up the notoriously cutthroat ladder of broadcast journalism to serve both as chief White House and “Nightline” correspondent — his current job — for ABC. His wife Ranit, raised in Israel, began a radio career before shipping off to medical school at Georgetown, where she now works as a family physician, professor and frequent health columnist for the Washington Post and Parade magazine. I had a chance to sit down with the pair to talk family, dating abroad and the future of the media, and like a good news story, our conversation swung from the personal to the professional and back again.

How did you get started in your field? What led to your current job?

John: Well, I started out working at my college radio station at Dartmouth. After school I began working for some smaller radio stations as a reporter and news director. When I got involved in TV, it was really exciting, but I have always missed the lightness and nimbleness of radio.

In TV you have to worry about lighting, equipment, people who are camera shy. On radio, it was easier to just tell the story. People say a picture is worth a thousand words. In TV that’s not always true. I went on to be a foreign correspondent. I lived in London for some time, Moscow, Amman and Jerusalem as well. I was traveling about 85 percent of the time. When I was 39 I got married, and stopped wandering. Now, I mainly travel in the U.S. I might be gone for a night to film a story, where it used to be weeks.

Ranit: I was actually born and raised in Israel, so I was actually a radio producer for the Israeli Military radio station, as part of my military service. Only a small number were accepted, but I knew that I wanted to be working in the media initially. Later, I switched to TV and did a fair amount of traveling; I was in New York City for 10 years and lived in London for a while. But gradually I got sick of this life. I thought that news wasn’t the life for me. I actually went back to school, eventually at Georgetown, to be a doctor. I thought I would never go back, but I kept getting story ideas while I was going through [medical] training. I got my first piece in the Washington Post Health section as a second year medical student, and I’ve been freelancing for them since 2003. About three years ago I became contributing health editor for Parade Magazine, where I have a regular

column called “StayHealthy” and write healthrelated features. That’s in addition to practicing medicine and being full-time faculty at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Wow, it is really interesting to see the similarities in your careers, with both of you beginning in radio and then progressing to TV [both lived in London as well]. How did you meet each other?

many Twitter followers do you have?

One million?

John (nodding): 1.3.

Ranit: In terms of health news, medical news, I think there will always be room for doctors giving health advice. People will always be interested in their well-being. It is definitely going to be a challenge, with so many sources and many of them on the Internet are unreliable. People so often want their health to be black and white, but they don’t realize that there are shades of grey in medicine. The Internet creates many misconceptions. It is difficult to both straighten out these misconceptions in a

simple and clear way.

John: Right now it’s far from clear where the news business is going to land. But stories are still stories, just as they were when there were only three networks and we competed fiercely to get viewers away from the two other guys.

There are stories that are fun and stories that are important, and the trick then and now is to do the important, but in ways that really connect to people. There are a lot more “other guys” now, many more storytellers, but it’s the same principle. Just because it’s on Twitter doesn’t mean it can be boring.

Ranit: We were actually both in Brussels covering a NATO summit. It was ’87, right? (John nods, scratching their labradoodle puppy, five months old and the newest addition to the family. I may be in love.) But, it was later, during the first Gulf War that I approached him (she smiles).We dated for a year; but I knew of you long before you knew who I was (another smile).

How has being very much in the public eye shaped your relationship?

Ranit (looking at John): We are very private (he nods, agreeing).

John: We are not into the party circuit. For us, it is about being with our family, not out at parties.

With such hectic work schedules, how do you make time for your relationship and the family?

John: We live for the weekend! We really set that time aside for doing family activities, and being with the kids.

Ranit: Yeah, the weekdays get very filled up.

(She’s not kidding about a full schedule. To make time for exercise she wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to swim or go to boot camp (at Rose Park in Georgetown) on most weekdays. This woman walks her healthy talk). Sometimes, on weekdays we are just crossing paths so that makes the weekends an important time for family.

How do you view the changing nature of media, with all the news blogs and Internet sites for news?

Ranit: Well, John is actually very much ahead of the curve on the social media. [To John] How

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 9

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s we prepare for our annual pilgrimage to our accountant to prepare for the April 15 tax deadline, it is a good idea to remember how a mortgage can help lower our tax burden. The following are some items homeowners should consider taking advantage of while preparing the 2009 tax returns.

Mortgage interest on a primary home and a second home is tax deductible. This includes the first and secondary mortgages. A second mortgage can be in the form of a fixed rate second or a home equity line, often referred to as a HELOC. The limits are capped out at $1 million on the first mortgage and an additional $100,000 for a second mortgage.

Points on a mortgage are tax deductible. On a purchase loan the entire value of the points are deductible for that year. Even if the seller paid for the points on the loan, the buyer can still deduct the points.

On a refinance loan the points are treated differently. Initially the costs of the points are spread out over the amortization period of the loan. If a homeowner took a fixed rate or an adjustable rate mortgage that is amortized over 30 years, the deductibility of the points is spread out over 30 years. An example, if one paid a point on a $300,000 mortgage the cost of the point was $3,000. Next divide the $3,000 by 30 (the length of the loan). This equals $100. That means the taxpayer would only be able to deduct $100 to his or her taxes per year.

When the homeowner refinances, or pays off

the old mortgage, the remainder of the points is accelerated. If the same person refinanced after five years they would take the remaining value of the points ($2,500) and this is the amount that is accelerated for tax purposes and is deductible.

When you buy or refinance a house, save your HUD-I settlement statement. Make sure you know where you file the papers. You will need to use these when you do your taxes. If you refinance a loan you may need to find those papers a few years from now.

For first time homebuyers and current homeowners who buy new homes, they may qualify for the Federal tax credits. These are up to $8,000 for first time homebuyers, and up to $6,500 for “long-term resident” buyers. There are income limits and purchase price limitations. Martial status also is a factor. The taxpayer can claim this deduction either on their 2009 or 2010 tax returns. Consult tax form 4504 and your mortgage professional for more specific details. This program trumps the District of Columbia first time homebuyer program.

If you took out or paid off a mortgage in 2009, or bought a house in the first part of 2010, consult a tax professional. You may qualify for savings on your 2009 taxes.

Bill Starrels is a senior loan officer based in Georgetown. He can be reached at 703-6257355 or by e-mail at bill.starrels@gmail.com.

Estate

Ask the Realtor

By Darrell Parsons Dear Darrell: I lost out on a property the other day because there was a competing offer. I thought the buyers were calling the shots these days, and that sellers would be lucky to get even one offer. — Randall P. Dear Randall: It’s frustrating, isn’t it? There seems to be some cosmic law in real estate sales that if a property sits on the market for a long time with no offers, and then an offer finally does come in, a second one magically appears.

It seems counter-intuitive, but I have seen it happen with regularity. I don’t know for certain why it happens, but my theories are these: first, and most likely, is that for some time party A has been interested in the property but just can’t bring himself to write an offer. The seller is probably aware of the interest of A, and so when party B writes an offer, the seller tells A that an offer has come in, and if he is interested he needs to act now. The fact that B has written an offer is probably enough of a nudge to make A realize that he is not going to have a chance to buy this property unless he acts now. So A writes a competing offer. Standard practice among agents in this situation is that the details of both offers are known only to the listing agent and seller. A doesn’t know the details of B’s offer, and viceversa. A second possibility is that there has been some change in the real estate market which has caused more buyers to consider buying at a particular time. For example, if the property was on the market for two months while interest rates were at 7 percent, and suddenly the rates began to drop into the low 6 percent range, more buyers would qualify to buy that property, and thus there is a greater chance for competing offers.

In your case, whatever prompted you to make an offer at this time might be the same thing

which prompted a competing buyer to make an offer.

Dear Darrell: My friend recently met with a real estate agent about looking at houses. The agent insisted that my friend get a “pre-qualifying” letter from a lender. It seemed kind of pushy since all she wanted to do was look at some houses, and isn’t really ready to buy yet.

— Elizabeth D. Dear Elizabeth, I can understand why you might think that. But if you can put on a realtor hat for a moment, I think you will understand the logic of this request. Believe me, it’s not that the realtor wants something else to do!

The best realtors are good listeners and interpreters. They gather information from buyers which they use to help the buyer formulate the criteria for property searches. D.C. is a huge city with dozens of neighborhoods, and prices ranging from hundred thousands to millions. It would be a waste of your friend’s time to show her property which she doesn’t fit the extent of her financial resources (it’s also a waste of the realtor’s time!). She is much better served if she and the realtor have a good sense for how many liquid assets your friend has to invest in a real estate transaction, and how much she can reasonably spend on a monthly basis for the carrying costs. It might be annoying to have to wait to talk with a lender, but in the long run it makes the process much smoother, and will allow your friend to find what she wants for what she wants to afford.

Darrell Parsons is the managing broker of the Georgetown Long & Foster office. Have a real estate question? E-mail him at darrell@lnf. com. He blogs at georgetownrealestatenews. blogspot.com.

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Contact me to find out how to get started with the leading real estate firm in the mid-Atlantic area.

Darrell Parsons darrell@lnf.com

202.944.8400 Long & Foster Real Estate

Christie’s Great Estates Georgetown - 1680 Wisconsin Ave, NW

T

he city may have shut down for a few days, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything going on. Check out our event picks for the upcoming week: Feb. 13 (reschedule) Weschlers’ Fine Furniture and Decorations auction will now be held this Saturday, February 13 at 10 a.m., featuring European and American Furniture and decorations. It will be featuring property from the Estate of Elizabeth W. Dunn.

For more information visit www.weschlers. com. 909 E St. 202-628-1281.

Join us for this four-day celebration and sensory extravaganza. Savor every moment as you roam the festival’s convivial indoor street-festival setting, sampling 600+ wines from 100 wineries around the world and international foods prepared to complement the wines. For more information visit www.wineandfooddc.com.

Feb. 11-14 Washington, D.C. International Food & Wine Festival

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Feb. 18 “From Slavery to Freedom” and the Legacy of John Hope Franklin, 7 p.m.

The ninth edition of “From Slavery to Freedom” by John Hope Franklin and Evelyn Higginbotham has been revised to reflect the most current scholarship on African American history. Join Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, co-author of “From Slavery to Freedom,” Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and John Franklin, son of John Hope Franklin at the William G. McGowan Theater. A book signing will follow the program. For more information visit www.archives.gov.

Feb. 11 B.B. King and Buddy Guy will be performing at D.A.R. Constitutional Hall. Known as the King of Blues, B.B. King can still sing and still make Lucille, his Gibson electric, wail 12-bar blues. Performance begins at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $70.00. For more information visit www.bbking.com/events.

Feb. 13 “Don’t Look Now” By George Jenne, 6 p.m.

“Don’t Look Now” references movies and an abject nostalgia toward the artist’s own childhood to create a mixed media installation that is compellingly cinematic. A gifted sculptor and draftsman, George Jenne creates an environment similar to a movie set complete with a spectral pirate, exploding heads and a beastial Boy Scout. The exhibit is on view from 1 to 6 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more information visit www.civilianartprojects.com.

March 27-April 11 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival Washington, D.C.’s largest and signature springtime celebration. The festival is more than just a showcase for the beautiful flowering trees on the Tidal Basin. The two-week citywide schedule of events features diverse programming incorporating the best of Washington’s arts, culinary and recreational attractions, complemented by elements of Japanese culture and tradition.

For more information visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

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PLEASURE PLACE 14 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

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The

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It’s February, which means love is in the air and lingerie is on the mind. Lingerie is a sure fire way to inspire romance and make it a Valentine’s Day you and your partner will never forget. Here are a few styles to look and feel sexy on that special day. You are only as limited as your imagination.

Photography: Malek Naz Freidouni www.maleknaz.com Model: Alexandra Vasina Hair and Makeup: Margoux Le Roux All lingerie provided by Jaryam of Georgetown Sweetheart (Pictured Left) Sizzle in this Argentovivo pink and denim matching bra and culotte, covered by a hot Intenzioni lace jacket.

Sugar Plum (Pictured Right) Achieve this sophisticated, feminine and easy to wear look in a purple Parah slip and robe

Snow Bunny (Pictured Bottom Left) Thaw the winter chill with a bright red Parah bra and panties, seen here under a sheer cream Malicia slip dress.

Peaches ‘n’ Cream (Pictured Bottom Right) This embellished lace Argentovivo peach slip works on a variety of figures and is sweet, sexy and everything in between.

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 15

cover

story

The Jet Set Inside the world of private planes

By Ari Post t five in the morning you receive a phone call. A Fortune 100 executive needs a direct flight from New York City to Bolzano in northern Italy by noon. He requires a bottle of vintage 1985 Bouchaine Pinot Noir from Napa Valley aboard his flight. He will stay at a fivestar resort that specializes in French cuisine. A personal bodyguard must escort him through the city for the duration of his stay. He will be expecting pick-up at 11:30. Get on it.

These demands are nothing outside the ordinary for a private jet charter. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) calls them On Demand Charters. The idea is simple: provide first class travel arrangements and accommodation to those that require the privacy and convenience of personalized air service. However, when the clients you are juggling consist of Alist celebrities, major corporate CEOs and star athletes, the demands can be extravagant and the stakes are high.

A

“We run 24/7. And if you can imagine the logistics of flight planning to those parts of the world like the Galápagos and Tahiti, with several time zones, dealing with a lot of international flight rules, and never losing sight of convenience for the client,” Shye Gilad, President and CEO of ProJet Aviation, trails off with a laugh. Everything in Gilad’s line of work revolves around the principles of convenience and comfort for the client. “The client doesn’t want or need to know all of those things it takes to make that trip happen. They want you to take care of the noise. It’s pretty intense.”

Corporate jets are an exclusive industry.

They are all owned by individuals or private companies. Few can afford the luxury, and not all that use a jet can necessarily afford to own one. Furthermore, a jet requires regular maintenance by a number of expert mechanics, while flight attendants, pilots, and flight coordinators must be on hand around the clock. Enter charter

16 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

companies like ProJet Aviation, based out of Leesburg and Winchester, VA regional airports. “Try to think of us as property managers,” says Gilad, who defines his business in terms of aircraft management, aviation consulting and acquisitions, “except the property has wings.”

Companies like Gilad’s create a turnkey experience for the owner. They manage the aircraft, providing pilots and maintenance.

They do the accounting for the assets —upwards of tens of millions of dollars, and as high as around $60 million — and organize scheduling. And of course, as any good property manager would do, they lease out the aircraft to other clients through charter to help reduce the cost of ownership.

In a service-driven industry as polished as private jet companies, you had better believe that the customer is going to be taken care of.

Regular clients for the industry are used to five-star hospitality level treatment, and that is not lost on these service providers.

Charter companies provide as much or as little as the client desires, often managing 100 percent of a customer’s trip. “They can literally just make a wish list,” boasts Mr. Gilad.

“Someone can simply call and say ‘I want to book a trip to Antigua and I want to stay at a really nice place, I want it to be secluded, and I want this kind of food, and this is exactly the kind of catering I want on the airplane on my way there’ and we can just take care of all of it.” Customers can have as much or as little involvement in the planning of the trip as they want. Just shut your eyes and describe the destination of your dreams, and these guys will do their best to make it happen.

Of course, corporate jets serve more purpose than whisking clients away to Polynesian cliff-side villas. A jet can be a legitimate business tool, and more and more people are turning to private aircrafts for exactly that reason. “Time is money,” submits Roberto Alvarez, a jet broker from Middleburg-based

cover

firm Corporate Jet Sales. According to him, business travel is in fact more prevalent than vacation travel.

“For example,” says Mr. Gilad, “we have a few law firms in D.C. that do business in all the major cities around the country. If you’re billing out six or seven of your best attorneys, you can’t have them wasting their time dealing with missed connections or getting to the airport two hours early to deal with security. We have planeside service, so they literally drive up on the ramp, get into the aircraft, fly right in to the closest possible airport.”

And on that flight, their time is their own.

Being afforded the opportunity to get real work done on a flight is an enormous perk for busy execs. A jetliner client can review a case or go over enclosed documents without some stranger looking over their shoulder. They can speak freely, for everything is confidential. And, of course, they can find themselves back home in time for dinner.

Another little trick up the sleeves of charter companies is the access to over 5,000 airports in this country that do not have commercial airline service. Frequently, smaller airports are closer to major cities than the larger airports. Being so much less congested, this gets the client in and out of a city without having to circumvent any major airline traffic.

Promptness and efficiency aside, there is still plenty to enjoy about the planes themselves.

Current upgrades include Direct TV and Wi-Fi service, now a popular standard among private jets. The interior design is an equally paramount factor, says Mr. Alvarez, as it affects mobility and spaciousness. Interiors are often remodeled to suit the owner’s tastes. If you were Donald Trump, for example, you might opt for gold plated sinks and bidets in the lavatory, and find it equally imperative to have two full bars equipped with a collection of crystal stemware.

The exterior of the plane can likewise be a grand canvas of self-expression. If you were, say, still Donald Trump, it might seem fitting for you to emblazon your last name across the

side of your plane in 23-carat gold leaf, 30 feet across and four feet high. “One wealthy Russian businessman,” Alvarez remembers, “had champagne bubbles painted on the fuselage.”

Naturally, the Caribbean and West Indies are eternally popular destinations for luxury getaways for jetsetters. This time of year, charter companies see an increase in ski destinations.

Colorado and Utah are good standards in the U.S. But according to Oxygen 4, a leading private air charter broker, the number one luxury ski destination is Courchevel in the French Alps. Many of their luxury hotels have been fully booked for six months, leading up to the peak ski season, which we are more or less in right now.

Among the rare and bizarre destinations, Fiji and the Galápagos Islands are rumored to be the most eye-popping and unique. Pearl farms stretch out miles into the ocean off the coast of Fijian islands, while the Galápagos Islands are legendary for their unparalleled ecology, having inspired a litany of treatises from Darwin’s On The Origin of Species, to Kurt Vonnegut’s slightly less known novel, Galápagos. Remembering his flight to Fiji, Gilad chuckles, “Taking off West from Hawaii…that’s kind of interesting.”

Super Bowl flights were extremely popular last year, and according to Alvarez, “there was a big increase in charter planes coming out to the Super Bowl this year.”

And if the destinations and aircrafts are this unique and extravagant, one can only imagine the clients. This is not your run-of-the-mill clientele. Unfortunately, given the confidentiality of charter companies, no specific names can be disclosed. Regularly transporting movie stars, music personalities, and major political figures can get interesting. “We transported someone considered on the shortlist of potential VP candidates from the last election cycle,” Gilad says.

“It was very close to the anticipation of someone being named. And the paparazzi…they’re surrounding your business with all their cameras and they bombard you with phone calls. You

story

would never believe the kinds of things they try to make up in order to get through to see these people.”

According to Gilad, that sort of thing is just the name of his game. It is exactly what one will experience working in this business. “It’s interesting when you come in contact with some of these high-profile folks. We flew a former secretary of state recently. You come into contact with these people that are legendary.”

All that aside, Mr. Gilad often finds himself struck by the down-to-earth nature of his high profile customers. Working on a daily basis with such a unique client base, he has learned to ignore the natural, human curiosity that lingers in the back of his mind. “You just gotta remember why you’re there. You go into autopilot. We are there to give them this great experience, and to make them feel comfortable and at home. So the last thing we want to do is ask them for autographs and things like that when they’re just trying to get somewhere.”

But admittedly, it isn’t always so easy. “Recently, we transported a very well-known running back in the NFL who holds several major records. And I’m a big NFL fan and this guy has been the mainstay of my fantasy team for the last four years,” he laughs. “It was all I could do not to ask him for an autograph.”

For price quotes and information, visit www. projetaviation.com.

Interior photos courtesy Roberto Alvarez

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 17

performance

“The Rivalry”

By Gary Tischler

I

t’s always true that a play in performance, seen one night, or of an afternoon, or on the last night, is always that play, that time, and not another. You can talk about it and write about it as if everyone — performers, audience, critics, stage hand — were together at the same time.

But clearly, this isn’t true. That half-truth and lie of a shared experience is what makes live theater so patently fresh and authentic. We’re not talking about excellence or its lack here, but the experience of it, in the time it happens.

So, seeing an opening night performance of “The Rivalry” by Norman Corwin, a littleknown play written in the 1950s and performed fleetingly then and since in the confines of the renovated but always-in-the-historic-moment Ford’s Theatre on the night when a beleaguered President Barack Obama was giving his first State of the Union speech could not help but be a unique experience.

We live in a city steeped in both the practice and atmosphere of politics, and the inescapable echoes of history. Theater-goers and critics are not immune to their surroundings: the Shakespeare quote from “Henry VI” — “First, let’s kill all the lawyers” — is a briskselling shirt at theaters here.

Timing aside, a play centering around the 1858 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in the Illinois Senate race between the two men that year, performed in the theater where Lincoln was assassinated by an actor, is bound to echo strongly on any night of the year.

But on State of the Union night, it’s a veritable bell-ringer.

What’s peculiar here is how fresh this play is, how good and loud the words are, how vivid the “characters”— real men and women, passionately engaged — are. At Ford’s, of course, Lincoln rules, he haunts the plays to unfair advantage over any other character, but Douglas, the “Little Giant” of his day, holds his own. We know him less well, except as a foil for Lincoln, who has, after all, the faces of Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Raymond Massey and other old and newer movie stars for us to remember.

In 1858, a beardless Abraham Lincoln, a practicing lawyer, a one-term former Congressman but a leading light in the new Republican party, challenged Douglas, the rotund, small-to-theground Democratic giant who had engineered the Kansas-Nebraska Act, a compromise which had allowed the white citizens of those territories to vote yea or nay on slavery. Lincoln, who was not then resoundingly abolitionist in his sentiments, was nevertheless morally opposed to slavery and its spread.

That’s the setting of those seven debates, held in front of big audiences all over Illinois, and what people heard, and supported or opposed vocally were the great themes and concepts of the times — big or “central” government, the

18 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

Photos courtesy of Ford’s Theatre

rights of states, freedom and liberty, for slaves, for states, for individuals, we hear Lincoln’s line about “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Liberty, freedom, states rights, the danger of federal power: haven’t we heard these themes at tea parties before all year long, not about slavery, but about health care?

And isn’t that an African American president delivering the State of the Union speech, even as Lincoln and Douglas debate on the stage?

I couldn’t help thinking about the occasion, both occasions. It was like being in two places at once, because there was so much immediacy

in this play, not because it was a great play, but because the setting and the actors made it so vivid, and thus pushed themselves out into the cold air of the here and now.

“The Rivalry” — and it was both a political and personal rivalry, with Abe and Stephen both courting Mary Todd Lincoln at one time — comes to us in the form of a memory play, as remembered by Adele Douglas, the wife of the senator, younger, appealing, bright and much wiser than her head-strong, self-enamored husband. Early on she cautions him not to debate on the grounds that Lincoln, little-known but liked, had nothing to lose and everything to lose

(Lincoln lost the Senate race but won the presidential race only two years later).

Sarah Zimmerman’s Adele is a charming guide here, because she has affection for both men.

Here’s the Lincoln, spookily and warmly performed by the gangly Robert Parsons, spinning stories and yarns like a whiskey salesman, then turning coldly passionate in his insistence that slaves, if not on plane with whites, are nonetheless humans and deserving of the same inalienable rights shared by all.

Rick Foucheux, built almost as low to the ground as Douglas, fleshes him out so that you cannot dismiss him as some lowgrade partisan villain, even when he shares with the audience his (to us) startlingly racist views of black people as less than human.

Like Lincoln, he insists on the sanctity of the Union.

Those loud echoes sometimes spill over: when Lincoln delivers a particularly stirring defense of individual rights for all, the canned applause is preceded by real applause from the audience.

All three of the actors — and the persons they are acting on this stage — appear always fully engaged, as if they were here and now. So that when all is done, Lincoln in his beard, Douglas dying of typhus, the greats struggle commenced, you step into a cab with a cab-driver from Ethiopia and you hear Obama talking about Afghanistan, or jobs, or that saying no was not enough, and you hear applause and here you are, and it seems for a moment that the past, too, is fully engaged, with the here and now.

art

Flamenco Festival 2010 Lisner Auditorium

wrap

French Feasting:

the Chester Dale Collection at the NGA

Flamenco - Javier Suarez

By Howard Kaplan

I

f there’s one antidote I can recommend for all the snow and cold that has defined D.C. for the past week or so and lulled us into a kind of couch potato-ness, it’s the ultra hot Flamenco Festival at the Lisner Auditorium, this year celebrating its remarkable 10th anniversary. I’ve covered a good many of the festivals over the past 10 years and they are, without a doubt, one of the highlights of the dance year. And if you’re trying to figure out what to get your significant other for Valentine’s Day, I recommend a pair of tickets to Flamenco X. In the past years I’ve seen incomparable talents such as Sara Baras, Farruquito, and Jose Serrano. This year’s festival features Compañía María Pagés (Feb. 11), Compañía Rocio Molina (Feb. 14), Marina Heredia and the Arab-Andalusian Chekara Orchestra of Tetouan (Feb. 21) and Compañía Israel Galván (Galván himself has been hailed as “revolutionary”) (Feb. 23). Galván’s company will perform “La Edad de Oro” (The Golden Age) and will be joined by the renowned vocalist Fernando Terremoto. My advice: try to get to as many of these performances as possible! Once you’ve had a taste you’ll be counting down the days till Flamenco XI.

By John Blee

G

Be an artist. Be yourself.

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eorge Gershwin was a friend of Chester Dale and admired a Cézanne in Dale’s collection. After looking at the picture Dale asked Gershwin to sit down at the piano and improvise a Cézanne piece. Wouldn’t we all like to have heard it? The next best thing is to go to the National Gallery and view the major pieces in the Chester Dale collection and perhaps indulge in the lunch at the adjacent Garden Café Français, where Michel Richard serves his own oeuvres (Il n’est pas trop chère).

The Dale collection, assembled by Chester and Maud Dale and encompassing the ’20s through the late ’50s, is most noteworthy for its French late 19th and early 20th century art.

After Maud Dale’s death in 1953, Chester married Mary Bullard, who had been Maud’s art secretary, and their relationship cemented around his passion for collecting.

Where else do you find 13 works

by Modigliani from the intensely erotic “Nude on a Blue Cushion” to the sweetly maternal “Gypsy Woman with Baby?” Or, for that matter, one of the most homoerotic pictures by Salvador Dali, “The Sacrament of the Last Supper,” with Jesus at his Nordic best with pretty-boy disciples. The latter was unveiled in Easter weekend in 1956, in clueless Washington, to “enormous crowds” at the National Gallery.

There are a few earlier artists in the Dale collection, including El Greco, with his splendidly austere “Saint Jerome,” and a wonderful Zurbarán.

However it is the great strength of the collection in the French school with its unrivaled sensuousness and inventiveness starting with Corot and Courbet that gave firm foundation to the National Gallery in that area. There are perhaps only two Manets as important as “The Old Musician,” few Cézanne still-lifes greater than “The Peppermint Bottle,” no Gauguin more amazing than his “Self-Portrait” with halo (!), no van Gogh portrait more rewarding than “La Mousmé,” and no Toulouse-Lautrec sadder on

Diego Rivera Chester Dale, 1945 oil on canvas Chester Dale Collection

the human condition than “Rue des Moulins.”

Also not to be missed are the series of portraits of Chester and Maud Dale by Rivera, an incredible Léger, Bellows and, of course, Dali.

Modern portraiture is usually a must-miss, but here it is not so.

Strongest of all the suits in the collection may be the Picassos, from the blue period a touching “Le Gourmet,” and the great early portrait of “Pedro Mañach” as well as the neo-classic “Madame Picasso” and “The Lovers.”

The greatest of all Picassos — with the exception of “Guernica” — is “Les Saltimbanques,”

Edgar Degas Four Dancers, c. 1899 oil on canvas Chester Dale Collection the jewel in the crown of the collection. It is a fascinating meditation on art, time, and life. It was Rilke, sitting in front of this picture in Munich at the beginning of the last century, who wrote in his “Fifth Elegy”: “But tell me, who are they, these wanderers, even more transient than we ourselves?”

(Through July 31, 2011)

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 19

In

Country

hallowed grounds, or something like It

By Ari Post

A

stretch of road runs along the Appalachian Mountains from Gettysburg down to Monticello. That it is beautiful is a given. There would be few better places to absorb the wintry foreshadowing of alchemizing autumn leaves. It is a road that tells stories to those who pass through. From post-Emancipation black settlements to Civil War battle sites, nine presidents’ homes, 13 national parks and 20 historic Main Street communities, this 180mile scenic byway takes travelers on a journey through Hallowed Ground, a national heritage area with more American history than any other region in the nation.

The winding thoroughfare received its honorific designation

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as a National Scenic Byway on October 16, 2009, distinguished for its historical, cultural and environmental attributes. Generally overlapping the Old Carolina Road, this path was once the main travel way between the North and South, and the most important trading route during colonial times. Boots, saddles, and thread from the industrious North were regularly exchanged for the southern colonies’ raw goods, including cotton, tobacco, and indigo dye.

The uniqueness of Hallowed Ground and the byway is in their entwinement with one another. The road joins the historic sites together like a main river channel fed by its tributaries. Rarely do travelers have such a convenient and inclusive opportunity to see so much of this country’s rich history.

“One place that was a real surprise to me was Old Town Manassas,” admits John Jones, communications director for The Journey Through Hallowed Ground. “There’s a wonderful little historic area with historic stops, restaurants, an arts center. It’s a hidden gem.”

The Manassas Museum, says Jones, has a wealth of exhibits and educational opportunities. In honor of Black History Month, The Manassas Museum is currently hosting an exhibit, “Sites and Stories: African American History in Virginia,” organized by Dr. Lauranette Lee, founding curator of African American history at The Virginia Historical Society. The exhibit links together stories and

events surrounding black historic sites in Virginia, with artifacts and archives from the Virginia Historic Society.

Many of the sites featured in the Manassas Museum still exist today, and are open for visitors looking for a more palpable experience with Virginia’s African American roots. The Ashville Historic District in Fauquier County is a remarkably well preserved postEmancipation black settlement. With a church and schoolhouse dating from the mid- to late 1800s, this 100-acre settlement is telling of the struggle and determination of early black communities.

If in need of a more bucolic escape, Oatlands, an erstwhile wheat plantation in Leesburg, contains dozens of acres of lush flower gardens and a restored mansion from the turn of the 19th century. The garden consists of multi-layered terraces carved into the hillside, the steps and landings made from locally quarried stone. From flowering tobacco to ornamental onions, the garden is home to an extensive variety of local and regional plant life.

The Oatland mansion itself, a regular host of weddings and events, is a glimpse into the architectural druthers of the early American elite. A weave of Federal and Greek revival styles, symmetrical bays on either side of the house come together with a grand portico in the front, while octagonal stairways and stucco walls round out the vast interior.

In Rappahannock County, south of Interstate 66, there is a small village, five blocks long by two blocks wide. “In the Blue Ridge Mountains,” wrote a 17-year-old George Washington in his journal, “I laid off a town.”

George Washington was just a young surveyor when he and a pair of chainmen laid out this small village in July 1749. Today, the Washington Historic District, or Little Washington, serves as a cozy, nearby retreat for the metro area community, with a fivestar restaurant (some may have heard of a modest eatery called The Inn at Little Washington) and relaxing bed and breakfasts. A

throwback to the intimate nature of colonial communities, most of the streets are named after the families who owned the land back in the late 1700s.

A little further south, in Culpepper County, the community of Brandy Station is home to Graffiti House, a colonial shanty with a story as astounding as the history it unveiled.

In 1993, a young man was salvaging wood panels from a dilapidated house on the verge of demolition. Tearing away the top layers of wallpaper, he made a startling and unprecedented discovery: handwritten notes and drawings scrawled across the walls by Civil War soldiers.

Young men fighting for both the North and the South unwittingly turned this old home into a time capsule. It is believed that the Confederate army used Graffiti House as a hospital following the Battle of Brandy Station, while the Union Army may have used this house as a headquarters during the winter encampment of 1863-64. Both sides left their marks along the bedroom walls of this shelter, glimpsing at their fears, hopes, and unfinished conversations.

Now restored and preserved for the public, these American hieroglyphics, a looking glass into the front lines of battle, allow visitors to have a dialogue with soldiers fighting for the future of our nation. Rarely does such a remarkable opportunity arise to understand 1history Georgetowner.02.10.10:Layout 2/8/10

so personably from within its own time and place. These men were not the law makers and writers of their day. This is history as seen by the husbands, the laborers, the fathers, the brothers.

There are almost too many sites and events to choose from — a kid-in-a-candy-shop scenario for any history buff or eager traveler. There is the staging point for the Lewis and Clarke expedition at Hessian Barracks. The Red Fox Inn in Middleburg is a tavern once visited

by George Washington (just months before surveying Little Washington) that is still in operation today. Preserved Civil War battlefields lie peacefully in stretches scattered along the byway, ready for a picnic or a tranquil sit-down.

And if you haven’t been to Monticello, get on it.

“We call it ‘where America happened’ because so much of our history has taken place in this region,” says Jones. “The fabric of our history is tied together by all these different events and places.” With a path that begins at the home of Thomas Jefferson and ends in Gettysburg, the vast wealth of American history should seem no surprise.

One could easily take a weekend to explore the Hallowed Grounds North through Pennsylvania. But at the same time, it might be worth just jumping in the car for an afternoon to discover what historical treasures are just down the street.

4:04 PM Page 1

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Stunning all brick custom colonial with over 7,000 square feet of spectacular living space �5+ beautifully landscaped acres �Brazilian Cherry Floors on 2 levels �3 Fireplaces �2 Story Family Room �Gourmet sun-filled Kitchen with cherry cabinetry �Breakfast Room �9’ ceilings �Walk out level with terrace �Breathtaking views from every window. $1,099,000

Middleburg �Total gem in location, home and property �Circa 1900, 3 Bedroom converted stable in an exclusive area �Old pine floors, beams, and multiple French doors add light and charm �Enjoy the privacy of this 3 acre property with it’s beautiful mature trees �Multiple fenced areas surround the home and the heated pool $998,000 �Perfect location near Foxcroft School.

Beautiful 4 Bedroom Colonial on 5+ acres in gorgeous setting �Approximately 3,700 square feet (plus unfinished walkout level) �Harwood floors, high ceilings, lovely décor in pristine condition �Fabulous barn, paddocks and ride-out in excellent location �Located in a wonderful area of Waterford within minutes of Leesburg and the Toll Road �Fabulous price! $799,000

Exquisite custom built country French Manor on 8 acres in Middleburg Hunt �Features over 7,000 sq ft of spectacular living space �Extraordinary quality and decor �Marble Floors, 3 Fireplaces, a true chef ’s Kitchen and custom millwork �Fabulous pool �Gorgeous landscaping �Pristine condition. $1,450,000

Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdraw without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

THOMAS AND TALBOT REAL ESTATE LAND AND ESTATE AGENTS SINCE 1967 A STAUNCH ADVOCATE OF LAND EASEMENTS

Telephone (540) 687-6500 � Metro (703) 478-8180 P.O. Box 500 � 2 South Madison Street Middleburg �Virginia 20117

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 21

Your Dining Guide to Washington DC’s Finest

1789 RESTAURANT 1226 36th St, NW With the ambiance of an elegant country inn, 1789 features classically based American cuisine – the finest regional game, fish and produce available.

Open seven nights a week.

Jackets required.

Complimentary valet parking. www.1789restaurant.com

Bistro Francais

3000 K St NW

3124-28 M St NW

Come and enjoy contemporary Thai cuisine & Sushi bar deliciously prepared at Bangkok Bistro. The restaurant’s decor matches its peppery cuisine, vibrant in both color and flavor.

Enthusiasts say we offer professional, prompt and friendly service. Experience outdoor sidewalk dining in the heart of Georgetown.

(One block from Georgetown Lowe’s theatres)

A friendly French Bistro in the heart of historic Georgetown since 1975. Executive chef and owner Gerard Cabrol came to Washington, D.C. 32 years ago, bringing with him home recipes from southwestern France. Our specialties include our famous Poulet Bistro (tarragon rotisserie chicken); Minute steak Maitre d’Hotel (steak and pomme frit¬es); Steak Tartare, freshly pre¬pared seafood, veal, lamb and duck dishes; and the best Eggs Benedict in town. In addition to varying daily specials, www.bistrofrancaisdc.com

Open for lunch and dinner.

Sun.-Thurs.11:30am - 10:30pm Fri.-Sat. 11:30am - 11:30pm

Georgetown introduces Washington’s first “Dumpling Bar” featuring more than 12 varieties.

Come and enjoy the new exotic Thai cuisine inspired by French cooking techniques. Bangkok Joe’s is upscale, colorful and refined. Absolutely the perfect place for lunch or dinner or just a private gathering. www.bangkokjoes.com

www.bangkokbistrodc.com (202) 965-1789

(202) 337-2424

(202) 333-4422

CAFE BONAPARTE

Café La Ruche

CAFE MILANO

1522 Wisconsin Ave

www.cafebonaparte.com (202) 333-8830

One Washington Circle, NW Washington, DC 22037 Circle Bistro presents artful favorites that reflect our adventurous and sophisticated kitchen.

Featuring Happy Hour weekdays from 5pm-7pm, live music every Saturday from 8pm-12midnight, and an a la carte Sunday Brunch from 11:30am-2:30pm.

Open dailyfor breakfast, lunch and dinner.

1736 Wisconsin Ave., NW Come and see for yourself why Bistrot Lepic, with its classical, regional and contemporary cuisine, has been voted best bistro in D.C. by the Zagat Guide.

And now with its Wine bar, you can enjoy “appeteasers”, full bar service, complimentary wine tasting every Tuesday and a new Private Room. The regular menu is always available.

Open everyday.

Lunch & dinner.

Reservations suggested. www.bistrotlepic.com (202) 333-0111

CHADWICKS

HASHI RESTAURANT

3205 K St, NW (est.1967)

1073 Wisconsin Ave., NW Hashi Sushi Bar

Cafe Milano specializes in setting up your private party in our exclusive dining rooms. Our detail-oriented staff also will cater your corporate meetings & special events at your office, home or other locations. Check out our website for booking information or call 202-965-8990, ext. 135.

Cafe Milano is high on the restaurant critics’ charts with excellent Italian cuisine & attention to service. Fresh pastas, steaks, fish dishes, & authentic Italian specialties. Lunch & dinner. Late night dining & bar service.

A Georgetown tradition for over 40 years, this friendly neighborhood restaurant/saloon features fresh seafood, burgers, award-winning ribs, & specialty salads & sandwiches. Casual dining & a lively bar.

Daily lunch & dinner specials. Late night dining (until midnight Sun.Thu., 1A.M. Fri-Sat) Champagne brunch served Sat. & Sun. until 4P.M. Open Mon-Thu 11:30A.M.-2A.M. Fri-Sat 11:30A.M.-3A.M.Sun 11A.M.-2A.M.Kids’ Menu Available. Located ½ block from the Georgetown movie theatres, overlooking the new Georgetown Waterfront Park

(Georgetown Chopsticks)

www.CafeMilano.net

ChadwicksRestaurants.com

(202) 965-2684

(202) 333-6183

(202) 333.2565

CITRONELLE

CLYDE’S OF GEORGETOWN

“Outdoor Dining Available” www.cafelaruche.com

(The Latham Hotel) 3000 M St, NW Internationally renowned chef and restaurateur Michel Richard creates magic with fresh and innovative American-French Cuisine, an exceptional wine list and stylish ambiance.

3236 M St, NW This animated tavern, in the heart of Georgetown, popularized saloon food and practically invented Sunday brunch.

Open for Dinner.

Clyde’s is the People’s Choice for bacon cheeseburgers, steaks, fresh seafood, grilled chicken salads, fresh pastas and desserts.

Valet parking.

www.clydes.com

www.circlebistro.com

www.citronelledc.com

(202) 293-5390

(202) 625-2150

22 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

(202) 338-3830

BISTROT LEPIC & WINE BAR

3251 Prospect St. NW

1039 31st Street, NW

Captivating customers since 2003 Café Take a stroll down memory lane.

Bonaparte has been dubbed the “quintes- Serving Georgetown for more than 35 years - Since 1974 sential” European café featuring award winning crepes & arguably the “best” Chef Jean-Claude Cauderlier coffee in D.C! Located in sophisticated A bit of Paris on the Potomac.

Georgetown, our café brings a touch Great Selection of Fine Wines Fresh of Paris “je ne sais quoi” to the neighMeat, Seafood & Poultry Chicken borhood making it an ideal romantic destination. Other can’t miss attributes Cordon-Bleu *Duck Salmon, & Steaks Voted Best Dessert-Pastry in are; the famous weekend brunch every Sat and Sun until 3pm, our late night town, The Washingtonian Magazine weekend hours serving sweet & savory FULL BAR crepes until 1 am Fri-Sat evenings & the alluring sounds of the Syssi & Marc jazz Open Daily from 11:30 a.m. Open Late ‘til 1 am on Friday & duo every other Wed. at 7:30. We look Saturday night forward to calling you a “regular” soon!

CIRCLE BISTRO CONTACT DANIEL GRAY TO PLACE AN AD IN OUR DINING GUIDE. daniel@georgetowner.com 202.338.4833

BANGKOK JOE’S

3251Prospect St, NW

BANGKOK BISTRO

(202) 333-9180

DAILY GRILL

1310 Wisconsin Ave., NW Reminiscent of the classic American Grills, Daily Grill is best known for its large portions of fresh seasonal fare including Steaks & Chops, Cobb Salad, Meatloaf and Warm Berry Cobbler.

Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.Visit our other locations at 18th & M Sts NW and Tysons Corner. www.dailygrill.com

(202) 337-4900

Our Special 3 Rolls $10.95 Monday- Friday 12-5PM All rolls are seaweed outside! (any kind of combienation) Tuna Roll Salmon Roll Shrimp Roll Avocado Roll Cucumber Roll Asparagus Roll White Tuna Roll Kanikama Roll Spicy Tuna Roll Spicy Salmon Roll (No Substitution, togo, or extra sauce)

Mon-Thur & Sun noon-10:30PM Fri & Sat Noon-11:00PM (202) 338-6161

FILOMENA RISTORANTE 1063 Wisconsin Ave., NW One of Washington’s most celebrated restaurants, Filomena is a Georgetown landmark that has endured the test of time for almost a quarter of a century. Our oldworld cooking styles & recipes brought to America by the early Italian immigrants, alongside the culinary cutting edge creations of Italy’s foods of today, executed by our award winning Italian Chef. Try our spectacular Lunch buffet on Fri. & Saturdays or our Sunday Brunch, Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner. www.filomena.com (202) 338-8800

FAHRENHEIT Georgetown 3100 South St, NW Restaurant & Degrees Bar & Lounge The Ritz-Carlton, As featured on the cover of December 2007’s Washingtonian magazine, Degrees Bar and Lounge is Georgetown’s hidden hot spot. Warm up by the wood burning fireplace with our signature “Fahrenheit 5” cocktail, ignite your business lunch with a $25.00 four-course express lunch, or make your special occasion memorable with an epicurean delight with the fire inspired American regional cuisine. www.fahrenheitdc.com 202.912.4110

M | STREET BAR & GRILL & the 21 M Lounge 2033 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-3305 M Street Bar & Grill, in the St. Gregory Hotel has a new Brunch menu

by Chef Christopher Williams Featuring Live Jazz, Champagne, Mimosas and Bellini’s. For Entertaining, small groups of 12 to 25 people wishing a dining room experience we are featuring Prix Fixe Menus: $27.00 Lunch and $34.00 Dinner.

Lunch and dinner specials daily.

www.mstreetbarandgrill.com

(202) 530-3621

Garrett’s Georgetown 3003 M Street N.W., Washington, DC 20007

JETTIES

1609 Foxhall Road, Intersection Foxhall & Reservoir

Celebrating over 29 years of keeping bellies full with good food and thirsts quenched with tasty beverages.

Jetties serves freshly-made sandwiches, and houses a salad bar.

Indoor & outdoor seating. Open every day of the week, Jetties is a great for lunch and dinner.

· Fantastic Happy Hour · Free WiFi Internet · Golden Tee Game · Trivia Night Tuesdays

Jetties serves 25 flavors of ice cream. Freshly made coffee is served, too.

Including: Miller Lite bottles for $2.25 each

Parking Available on Foxhall Mon.-Fri. 11am-9pm.

Sat & Sun 9am-9pm.

www.garretsdc.com (202) 333-1033

Panache Restaurant 1725 DeSales St NW Tapas – Specialty Drinks Martini’s Citrus - Cosmopolitan - Sour Apple - Blue Berry Summer Patio – Open Now! Coming Soon.

“New” Tyson’s Corner Location Open NOW! Dining Room Monday - Friday: 11:30am-11:00pm Saturday: 5:00pm-11:00pm Bar Hours Mon.-Thursday: 11:30am-11:00pm Friday: 11:30am- 2:00am Saturday: 5:00pm- 2:00am (202) 293-7760

www.jettiesdc.com 965-3663 (202) 965-FOOD

La Chaumiere 2813 M St. Northwest, Washington, DC 20007 Whether it’s a romantic dinner or a business lunch, enjoy wonderful Boudin Blanc, Fresh Dover Sole Meunière, Cassoulet or Pike Quenelles by the fireplace in this unique “Country Inn”. Chef Patrick Orange serves his Award Winning Cuisine in a rustic atmosphere, where locals and celebrities alike gather. La Chaumiere also offers 2 private dining rooms with a prix-fixe menu and an affordable wine list.

Washingtonian’s Best 100 restaurant 28 years in a row. www.lachaumieredc.com (202) 338-1784

Peacock Cafe

SEA CATCH

Established in 1991, Peacock Cafe is a tradition in Georgetown life.

Lovers of history and seafood can always find something to tempt the palette at the Sea Catch Restaurant & Raw Bar. Sea Catch offers fresh seafood “simply prepared” in a relaxed atmosphere. Overlooking the historic C&O Canal, we offer seasonal fireside and outdoor dining. Private party space available for 15 - 300 Complimentary parking Lunch Monday - Saturday 11:30am - 3:00pm Dinner Monday - Saturday 5:30pm - 10:00pm Closed on Sunday Happy Hour Specials at the Bar Monday - Friday 5:00pm -7:00pm www.seacatchrestaurant.com

3251 Prospect St. NW

The tremendous popularity of The Peacock Happy Day Brunch in Washington DC is legendary. The breakfast and brunch selections offer wonderful variety and there is a new selection of fresh, spectacular desserts everyday. The Peacock Café in Georgetown, DC - a fabulous menu for the entire family.

Monday - Thursday: 11:30am - 10:30pm Friday: 11:30am - 12:00am Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00am Sunday: 9:00am - 10:30pm (202) 625-2740

1054 31st St, NW

(202) 337-8855

Sequoia

SMITH POINT

THE OCEANAIRE

TOWN HALL

3000 K St NW, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20007

1338 Wisconsin Ave., NW (corner of Wisconsin & O St.)

1201 F St, NW

2218 Wisconsin Ave NW

Eclectic American cuisine, Coupled with enchanting views of the Potomac River make Sequoia a one of a kind dining experience.

Smith Point has quickly become a favorite of Georgetowners. The Washington Post Magazine calls Smith Point “an underground success” with “unusually good cooking at fair prices.” Chef Francis Kane’s Nantucket style fare changes weekly, featuring fresh combinations of seafood, meats, and farmers market produce.

Ranked one of the most popular seafood restaurants in , DC, “this cosmopolitan”send-up of a vintage supper club that’s styled after a ‘40’s-era ocean liner is appointed with cherry wood and red leather booths, infused with a “clubby, old money” atmosphere. The menu showcases “intelligently” prepared fish dishes that “recall an earlier time of elegant” dining. What’s more, “nothing” is snobbish here.

Town Hall is a neighborhood favorite in the heart of Glover Park, offering a classic neighborhood restaurant and bar with contemporary charm. Whether its your 1st, 2nd or 99th time in the door, we’re committed to serving you a great meal and making you feel at home each and every time. Come try one of our seasonal offerings and find out for yourself what the Washington Post dubbed the “Talk of Glover Park”Make a reservation online today at www.townhalldc.com

Offering a dynamic atmosphere featuring a mesquite wood fire grill, sensational drinks, and renowned River Bar. No matter the occasion, Sequoia will provide an unforgettable dining experience. www.arkrestaurants.com /sequoia_dc.html (202) 944-4200

Open for dinner Thurs- Sat from 6:30 pm-11pm. www.smithpointdc.com (202) 333-9003

Lunch: Mon-Fri- 11:30am -5:00pm Dinner: Mon-Thur 5-10pm. Fri & Sat 5-11pm. Sun-5-9pm. www.theoceanaire.com (202) 347-2277

Serving Dinner Daily5PM-10:30pm Brunch Sat & Sun 11:30AM-5PM Free Parking available (202) 333-5640

MARTIN’S TAVERN Corner Wisconsin & N St, NW Since 1933, family owned and operated Martin’s Tavern has been popular with the local crowd, journalists, dignitaries and politicians who appreciate its top-notch food and welcoming atmosphere.People continue to return for the classic American fare of Prime steaks, chops, seafood, fresh pasta and shellfish and good old fashioned comfort food.Ask where LBJ, JFK and Nixon sat as regulars!

ServingLunch,Dinner & Brunch Daily. www.martins-tavern.com (202) 333-7370

SETTE OSTERIA 1666 Conn. Ave at R St. NW (Dupont Circle) Edgy. Witty. Casual.

THE patio near Dupont Circle for peoplewatching. Pizza masters bake delicious Neapolitan thincrust pizzas in a wood-fire oven.

Menu favorites include pastas, salads, lasagnas, Italian specialty meats and cheeses, and lowcarb choices.

Daily specials, Lunch & dinner. Late night dining & bar service. www.SetteOsteria.com

(202)483-3070

Zed’s 1201 28TH St, N.W. ETHIOPIAN IN GEORGETOWN Award Winning Seafood | Poultry | Beef Vegetarian Dishes also available 100 Very Best Restaurants Award 100 Very Best Bargains Award Also, visit Zed’s “New” Gainesville, Virginia location (571) 261-5993 At the Corner of M & 28th Streets 1201 28th Street, N.W. Email: zeds@zeds.net (202) 333-4710

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 23

C o c k ta i l o f t h e W e e k

The sweet and sour coffee kiss

By Miss Dixie

into,” he says with a sly grin. “These drinks really get you going. It turned into a long night.”

Nathan offers a few tips for making the drink. First, use high-quality vodka like Emperor’s, a French vodka that is distilled six times and is known for its distinctively clean taste. Secondly, keep the lime slices fairly thin (about 10 slices per medium-sized fruit) so the citrus does not overpower the other flavors. Finally, he recommends using only Colombian coffee that has been ground very fine into a powder-like consistency. “It’s pretty interesting,” he says. “The flavors do not meld until the end. Once you swallow you get the coffee aftertaste in your mouth. It’s unique.”

While the drink is simple enough prepare at home, it is also served at Georgetown’s Rugby Café. “Emperor Vodka is really taking off in Washington,” Nathan says “and we are happy to pair up with Rugby bar to create this signature drink.” Rugby General Manager Jami Freyer says the drink is catching on with customers.

Nathan’s concoction would make a great aperitif for couples to make and share on Valentine’s Day. In Colombia, Nathan says Valentine’s Day is celebrated much like it is in the States. It is called “La Dia del Amor y La Amistad” (Day of Love and Caring). He also notes that most of the roses given away on the special day are grown in Colombia. So why not add this sexy Latin drink to your holiday repertoire as well?

H

ow many different ways of kissing do you know? Passionate. Friendly. Romantic. A good smooch can jump-start a relationship or kiss it goodbye.

How about an intoxicating Sweet and Sour Coffee Kiss delivered by a handsome Colombian man with seductive accent?

Before we carried away, let’s set the record straight. The Sweet and Sour Coffee Kiss is a drink contrived by Nathan Picciotto, from Emperor’s brand vodka. Nathan hails from Bogota, Colombia, and the tipple is based on a drink he enjoyed at home in South America.

The concept is simple. Chop some limes into wedges. Coat one side of the slice with sugar and the other with ground coffee. Take a shot of chilled Emperor’s vodka then bite the sugar- and coffee-coated lime. The result is a rush of sweet and tart, followed by a rich coffee finish. The powerful array of flavors will make your tastebuds tango inside your mouth.

Nathan says he first tried the drink several years ago at a friend’s graduation party. “In Colombia there is a lot of coffee and a lot of sugar cane. And we happened to have some vodka on hand.” While Nathan came up with the drink’s charming moniker, it was his friend who created the combination.

“We didn’t really know what we were getting

The Sweet and Sour Coffee Kiss Chill a bottle of Emperor’s brand vodka. Slice limes. Prepare two plates, one with sugar the other with coffee. Coat one side of the lime with sugar, the other with coffee. Take a shot of chilled Emperor’s vodka then bite the sugar-and-coffee coated lime. Repeat.

Nathan Picciotto enjoys a Sweet and Sour Coffee Kiss at Rugby Cafe.

Readers may try the Sweet and Sour Coffee Kiss at Rugby Café at 1065 Wisconsin Ave. Mention Miss Dixie for $1 off. Emperor Vodka may be purchased at Dixie Liquor at 3429 M St.

Now Serving Breakfast Daily

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starting at 10am

Gatsby’s Night Promotion Wednesday & Thursday Nights Enjoy 8oz Black Angus Strip Loin Steak & Grilled Half Maine Lobster $24.95 Half price off selected bottles of Champagne!!

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3251 Prospect St. NW. Washington, DC 20007 :: Phone: 202-625-2740 24 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

Georgetown’s Little Corner of Italy

1425 28t h S t N W

W a sh i n g t o n D C , 20007

dining

The latest Dish

By Linda Roth Conte

M

atchbox is getting bigger. Not a contradiction in terms. Owner operators Ty Neal, Perry Smith and Andrew Kim have paced their growth with incredible timing, catching the real estate wave before it becomes trendy and expensive: Chinatown and Capitol Hill are their next targets. Next is Ted’s Bulletin — look out for Barracks Row. But their biggest project yet (300 seats) will be a new Matchbox in Rockville’s Congressional Plaza where PGA Tour Grill used to be. Their Palm Springs location (did you even know they had a Matchbox in Palm Springs?) is 260 seats, so big restaurants are not foreign to them. Chinatown expanded to 250 seats (counting outdoors) in 2006. The little Matchbox ain’t so small after all.

Puro Café, a new venture from owner Roberto Sablayrolles, recently opened its doors in the 1500 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown. The European-inspired café menu serves up Mediterranean-style panini, Parisian pastries, weekend small plates and fun, fresh coffee blends. Puro Café is also the area’s exclusive provider of Nespresso coffee beverages. The décor is mainly white, and yes, it took quite a few coats of paint to cover up the pink exterior: Puro Café is located where Pink November used to be.

Sâuçá is a mobile restaurant that combines great food, travel, music, design, technology and fun, according to owner and D.C. resident Farhad Assari. The Sâuçá concept is about discovering and enjoying healthy, global foods in a non-traditional way. Food will be served from a high-tech kitchen on wheels loaded with Wi-Fi, an LCD flat screen monitor, a sound system, gobo projector and even a pay phone to chat with friends around the world.

The Organic To Go locations are undergoing renovations, transitioning to Mixt Greens, a West Coast chain that was purchased by OM Holdings, Organic To Go’s parent company. First store to be renovated is downtown at 19th and M Streets. Three more locations, slated for Downtown and the Golden Triangle, are slated to open this spring.

From seafood to Mexican food: Caliente Mex-Sea Kitchen & Bar will open in Ashburn, VA at Brambleton Town Center. The owner is Doug Palley, who also owns and operates Hooked. Jason Tepper of Hooked is the executive chef.

Birmingham, AL-based Zoe’s Kitchen will open its first location in this region in Woodbridge, VA in February. They have big plans to expand, and will open a second location in Potomac, MD this spring. The food is made-from-scratch, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in a fast casual atmosphere of Southern hospitality.

The owners of Meze restaurant plan to open Ezme in Dupont Circle, serving Turkish food similar to that at the original location. Estimated time to open is March/April.

Starlight, a quick-service concept similar to Panera, will open in downtown D.C. at 21st and L Streets. The owners are successful French business owners who have studied similar operations in the States.

The new Fro Yo spot that opened within Booeymongers in Chevy Chase is doing so well that a second location — more of a flagship — will open on F Street between 10th and 11th Streets. This new concept offers self-serve frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors with a variety of toppings. Owners are Chuck Rendleman, who sold Up Against The Wall and Commander Salamander, Bruce Kogod and Brian Samuels.

Los Angeles-based Sprinkles cupcakes looking to open in late spring in Georgetown at 3015 M Street, NW where Mon Cheri Café used to be. Adnan Hamadi recently opened Alexandria Cupcake at 1022 King Street in Old Town.

The Mussel Bar by RW will be Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s newest addition to his restaurant empire (Marcel’s, Brasserie Beck, Brabo).

This will make him a tri-state restaurateur, as it opens in on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, where Levante used to be.

Midtown Café will open in Georgetown where District Fine Arts used to be. The new owner is Mohammad Yeganeh, a restaurateur who decided to come out of retirement. Must have been a really good deal.

Roberto Donna’s Galileo III is now looking at a March opening on 14th Street, where Butterfield 9 used to be. London-based uberpopular quick-service restaurant Pret A Manger is slated to open in downtown D.C. at 1155 F Street this spring.

Valentine’s Day A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

We will be featuring 2 distinctive 4 course menus including wine.

Choose from:

a contemporary Thai experience or

a sushi inspired menu

$25.00 PER PERSON 3251 Prospect St., NW Washington, DC 20007

202-337-2424

www.bangkokbistrodc.com

Michel Richard. Photo by Jeff Malet

Chef Update: Michel Richard announced that Arthur Cavaliere is Central’s new executive chef. He is a veteran of Stephen Starr’s restaurants in Philadelphia, most recently at Parc, a French brasserie. Mark Hellyar was named executive chef of Hook and Tackle Box restaurants in Georgetown. Most recently, he served as chef de cuisine at the Oak Door at the Grand Hyatt, Tokyo, and before that, he was chef de cuisine at D.C.’s Blue Duck Tavern.

3301 m street nw

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 25

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202-4585959.

rd

6

cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal an Please Call 703 549. 15

ANCC Board Certified Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Josette Millman,APRN,BC-NP Psychotherapy and Psychiatric medication management.

Office Convenient to Foggy Bottom Metro Please Call: 703.855.0396

(202) 338-4676

And Other Pet Care Services

Luxury 1 Bedroom, Bamboo Floors, over 900 sq. ft.

Insured and Bonded

OFFERED FOR RENT AT ONLY: $2,500.00 202.277.2566 OncePER andmONTH! for all, find out what it is all about - doing it.

MISCELLANEOUS Firewood

J ULE’S Petsitting Services, Inc.

Serving the

LearningArea to take control of your movements, discoverCall Dan Walsh at: (202) 237-8488 Metro –DCoffice Cell: (202) 285-6124 ingover your body’s strength, efficiance and grace. for

Seasoned & Split. Over stacked pickup Truck load SERVICE DIRECTORY -delivery & stacked $300 • PaulChef (202) 413-3900 Private

18 Years Thomas D. Walsh, Inc. Realtor (Est. 1908) www.thosdwalsh.com lady chefthosdwalsh@aol.com is availablejule@julespetsitting.com FT/ PT to prepare gour- www.julespetsitting.com email:

HOME IMPROVEMENT Professional REMODELING PLUMBING & HEATING met, healthful, family-friendly meals in your home with daily ALL PHASES OF INTERIOR DESIGN PAINTING, S TAINING, AND I specialize Local Nerds grocery INTERIOR shopping and menu planning included.

WE BRING EVERYTHING TO YOU! Wto ALL PAPER REMO Vand AL French, Italian, Mediterranean, American We come your home or office to fix Regional ROOMS & WINDOWS WITH A VIEW your computer.

Free estimates and in home consultation.

References available. cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal 1427 and 27th organic Street,products.

NW Washington, DC 20007 100's of Fabrics, Silks, Cottons, Embroideries, Satins, Hourly866 rates90available.

Contact Elmer ( 240) 462-3760 202.338.4676 Please • Call 703 549. 1548.

NERDS www.localnerds.com Decorative Sheers and Velvets GORGEOUS Fringes, Tassels, Bandings and Bedazzled Beads PERSONALLY DESIGNED AND METICULOUSLY INSTALLED We Do EVERYTHING From The Floors To The Windows.

26 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

We Can Also Assist You With Staging Your Home To $ell Ask about Our 50% Off Custom Labor $ale 9th Green Landscaping Call Us TodayThe For an Appointment @ 202-445-8445

9

Gutter Cleaning and REMODELING Leaf Removal

Tasabru's Cleaning

Firewood

Always doing the very Best for You! Seasoned & Split.MD-DC-VA Over stacked pickup Truck load Cleans Houses, Apartments, and offices.

-delivery & stacked $300 • Paul (202) 413-3900 Call Ana: (301) 518 3790

WWW.GEORGETOWNER.COM

CLASSIFIEDS

202-338-4833

catering/events

for lease

health & beauty

moving

MHA EVENTS

OFFICES & SUITES WITH POTOMAC RIVER VIEWS!

INVISALIGN

GULLIVER’S MOVING & STORAGE

Catering and event management consultants available to help make your holiday party unforgettable without breaking the bank. Book your event today and stay stress-free this season! Save 25% on your party drinks or beverage service when you place a catering order from Dec.9-Jan.9! Call 202-342-2935 or email mhaevents1@gmail.com.

cleaning services REMEMBER CLEAN? Maid to Clean® does. We get on our hands and knees, roll up our sleeves, and scrub until it sparkles. Everywhere. Every time.

Call 202-270-2967 or visit www.maidtoclean.com today!

Large suite with balcony overlooking C&O canal also available. Conference rooms, telephone answering, garage parking & more.

Emma Dingle: 202-625-8300 www.dccenters.com

FOR LEASE IN GEORGETOWN 3210 Grace Street Retail Suites ranging from 1,000 to 2,000sf.

Office Suites from 3,600 to 9,500sf.

Call Jamie Connelly, Lincoln Property 210-491-5300

education/tutor LEARN THE “LANGUAGE OF MATH”

3307 M St, NW 2 offices, 4 cubicles for lease.

LPC Commercial Services Adam Biberaj: 202-513-6736

LANGUAGEONE 202-328-0099 Free Language Evaluation Class Offering onversatonal English and foreign language instruction and speacializing in Advanced Discussion Groups, Private, Semi-Private and Small Group Language instruction Including: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese. No Registration Fee. Classes forming all of the time.

Email us at classes@languageone.com

for sale 2009 FORD MUSTANG Torch Red Clearcoat exterior, with a light graphite interior color. Priced to sell at: $16,999.00 ONLY 23K Miles-WOW! Automatic Transmission VIN: 1ZVHT80N095103078- And the best news of all- STILL COVERED UNDER FORD NEW CAR WARRANTY!!

One owner CLEAN carfax. NON-SMOKER car. Call: Daniel at 703-362-0165

2009 DODGE CALIBER Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Coat Price: $13,995.00 – with only 11,000 mile VIN: 1B3HB48A79D112500

EDUCATION Train for a New Job! CDL in 3 weeks. Class A (3 weeks) Class B (1 week).

Montgomery College.

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Accounting Clerk Part-Time Flexible Position Temp to possible Perm National trade association has a flexible part-time position for an accounting clerk. 20 Hours per week, $20 hour, sweet Georgetown office on 30th Street between M and the Canal.

Will train, but some experience helpful. Please contact: Linda Jamie 202-534-1456.

Call Now: 240-567-4118

home improvement Renovations, Remodeling, Painting, Concrete, Masonry, Waterproofing, Excavation, Demolition. All work guaranteed. Licensed, bonded and insured. Member BBB and Member of Angie’s List. DC License #3044.

John Himchak 202-528-2877.

insurance

Beginners to advance-level classes, and conversation classes. Enthusiastic and very patient.

Years of teaching, Washington, DC. Contact: 202-270-2098 or getfrench@gmail.com

Supportive Language Arts Tutoring Tailored to your Child’s Needs, Grades K-9 Aileen M. Solomon, M.Ed. Reading Specialist for over 25 years in public/ independent schools reading (decoding, comprehension, literature study, note-taking, phonics, fluency), enrichment reading, writing (early writing through essays), word study (spelling), vocabulary, study/organizational skills, homework support.

Excellant references Amsolomo@gmail.com 202-368-7670

GRAND OPENING at 1624 Wisconsin Ave, NW in Georgetown. Professional Massage Therapy. Full Body Acupressure, Relaxation, and Relief of Your Stress and Tension.

Incall/Outcall 703-237-6666

JHI CONTRACTING

FRENCH LANGUAGE TEACHER

TOPS IN TUTORING

ORIENTAL PERFECT TOUCH

help wanted SHARED OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE!

Get OUTSTANDING Mathematic Tutoring from a well-respected coach with M.ed and over 20+ years of experience as a classroom teacher and tutor.

Contact BG-7 MATHEMATICS TUTORING, LLC: 240-601-6677 or BG-7@live.com.

Wireless braces! Have the great smile you always wanted without the painful and unsightly metal. Very affordable - Financing available. Call NOW for FREE Consultation.

Dr. Tirdad Fattahi: 202-338-7499 MacArthur Blvd., NW, 1st Floor Washington, DC 20007

CAR INSURANCE WITH PERSONAL SERVICE NO EXTRA CHARGE GEORGETOWN GARAGE Rare opportunity to own a seprately deeded GARAGE in the heart of the Village. Single Car Space...Brick/Frame Construction...

Excellent condition. Located in alley of 33rd St. between P St. & O St. NEW PRICE $85,000. Call John Taylor ,Chatel Real Estate 202-258-7485.

MT. PLEASANT/ QUIET RETREAT Yet close to everything. 1/1, small building, courtyard view, wood floors, great closets, storage, low fee, pets ok. $299K 1615 Kenyon St, NW; Apt. 22 Bill Panici 202-277-4675 Weichert, Realtors 202-326-1300

State Farm Insurance Michele A. Conely, Agent, 4401 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20008 Please Call for a quote 24/7: 202-966-6677

limousine SUNRISE LIMOUSINE SERVICE Luxury Limo / Sedan Service. Serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Airport Transportation, Business Meeting, Weddings and other Occasions.

Get 10% Discount on all Online Reservations. www.sunriselimousines.com Phone: 301-260-1069 email: info@sunriselimousines.com

Licensed & Insured Local/Long distance, packing, pianos, & antiques.

Swift and gentle relocations.

202-483-9579 or 703-838-7645 www.gulliversmovers.com

MUSIC Patient Piano Teacher Enjoy teaching children and adults, beginners or those returning to the piano. Parking at NW DC Studio for students. Near Metro.

202-234-1837

organization CHERYL’S ORGANIZING CONCEPTS LLC. Home and Small Business Organizing Including Senior Move Management and Paperwork Assistance. Serving Washington Metro Area since 2002. Member NAPO, NSGCD, AADMM. www.cherylsorganizing.com 301-916-9022

ENERGY WORK-SPACE CLEARING Release and clear attachments, blockages, negative energies both metaphysical and physical in homes, work enviroment, land and personal.

Contact Juliette at JulietteTahar@earthlink.net or 202-337-0362

OFFICE ORGANIZATION What does disorganization cost you? Time?

Energy? Hundreds or thousands of dollars?

Take back control today with Profound Impact, LLC, THE home and small business resource for your productivity and organizing needs. Call Julie at 703-517-2449 and visit www.profound-impact.com

personal shopper STYLE CONSULTANT/ PERSONAL SHOPPER Now back from Manhattan, Sarah Pauley is here to help you develop the image you’ve always desired. Contact Sarah Pauley for a complimentary consultation at 646-382-0116 or visit www.sarahpauley.com

professional PRESERVE YOUR LIFE STORY (Or that of a loved one) as an attractive hardcover book - without writing a word! All you have to do is talk! Call Vitagraph®, 410-666-8632 or go to www.myvitagraph.com Vitagraph® Quality preservation of priceless memories.

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 27

BODY

and

SOUL

A Chocolate A Day?

By Katherine Tallmadge, M.A., R.D.

N

ew research is showing our dreams may have come true.

Chocolate may actually be good for you! The past five years have brought us great discoveries about cocoa’s health benefits.

Flavanols, the beneficial plant compounds scientists believe impart most of cocoa’s benefits, help maintain a healthy vascular system, relax blood vessels, reduce blood clotting — an aspirin-like affect — reduce oxidative damage, inflammation and improve blood flow. All of which reduce hypertension and heart disease risk.

There has been some suggestion that flavanols can be used to treat vascular diseases like dementia, pre-eclampsia in pregnant women and anything related to blood flow. Emerging research suggests they may be beneficial in preventing certain cancers.

But what about that chocolate bar in your vending machine? Are there any health benefits there? Probably not.

Most research about chocolate’s health benefits have used unsweetened cocoa or specially formulated high-flavanol chocolate. Unfortunately, these compounds are rarely in the chocolate we eat in 21st century America.

The numbers: Type of Chocolate Mg Flavonols 1.3 ounce Dark Chocolate Bars, Average*: 82 mg 1.3 ounce Milk Chocolate Bars, Average*: 42 mg 1 teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Average*: 25 mg

Most of the flavanols are in the cocoa beans and the level decreases with each processing step when it goes from the bean, to the cocoa powder and ultimately a finished chocolate product.

*USDA’s Nutrient Data Laboratory

Since flavanols and their health benefits are a new discovery, chocolate companies are just beginning to see if there are ways to keep flavanols consistently high, but still have a tasty, popular product.

Heat in microwave for 2 – 3 minutes and stir to blend the chocolate.

Cocoa version: Contains approximately 13 mg flavanols and 110 calories

Some History

If you’re eating chocolate for health benefits, you’ll need to be very discriminating in your selections.

The cacao bean, grown mainly in Latin America, Africa and Asia, is loaded with beneficial compounds. In fact, its early uses, dating back 3,000 years were mainly medicinal. They have ranged from curing fatigue, angina, constipation, dental problems (tartar removal), dysentery, gout, an “overheated” heart, skin eruptions, fevers, and seizures. One doctor in the 1500s found it made people “extraordinarily fat” if used frequently and so it was prescribed for the thin and weak, according to an article in The Journal of Nutrition. It has been highly prized for centuries, which is reflected in its scientific name, Theobroma cacao, meaning “Food of the Gods.”

The one company which publicizes the flavanol content of its chocolate, is Mars, and only in its Dove Dark. In fact, Mars has provided most of the chocolate and cocoa used in the studies. The other analyses below come from averages of various chocolate products collected by the USDA labs, which has collaborated with Mars on flavanol analysis technology.

28 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

Katherine’s Hot Cocoa: 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa 1 teaspoon honey 1 cup Skim Milk

Chocolate for Health Tips:

You’ll get more flavanols, and health benefits, with less processing. The first choice is cocoa, which isn’t Dutch processed — as when cocoa is “Dutch processed with alkali” the flavanols are reduced. Look for chocolate which has the highest percentage of cocoa as possible and to save calories, look for chocolate with lower fat and sugar levels. In general, cocoa is your best first choice. Second choice is a semisweet or bittersweet chocolate with a high cocoa percentage.

Some chocolates go as high as 85 percent cocoa, but legally can be as low as 35 percent. I recommend no more than an ounce a day, which may be about 110 to 150 calories, depending on the chocolate. Any more than that and you’re probably going to take in too many calories for weight control.

Calories 187 198 4

Eurpoeans discovered cocoa in the 1500s and over the next few centuries, chocolate, which we know and love so well was born. In this century, chocolate (processed cocoa with added fat, milk and sugar) has been enjoyed for its melt-inyour mouth texture and flavor, with its health giving properties largely forgotten by the civilized world, until recently.

In 1997, Harvard professor Norman K. Hollenberg published a landmark epidemiological study focused on cocoa.

He found that high blood pressure was a rarity among Panama’s Kuna Indians who also didn’t experience the typical age-related increases. He at first attributed it to genetic protection. But, when the Kunas migrated to Panama City, their blood pressure increased, pointing to an environmental cause. Upon examination, Hollenberg found the Kunas drank large amounts of indigenous, unprocessed cocoa. Subsequent experiments conducted

by Hollenberg and others, have found that cocoa, if high in flavanols, the beneficial plant compounds scientists believe impart most of cocoa’s benefits, relaxes the blood vessels, an important protection against hypertension and heart disease.

Katherine Tallmadge, M.A., R.D. of Georgetown custom-designs holistic nutrition, weight loss and wellness programs for individuals and companies.

She is the author of “Diet Simple: 192 Mental Tricks, Substitutions, Habits & Inspirations.” Contact her at 202-8330353, www.KatherineTallmadge.com, www.PersonalizedNutrition.com or www.DietSimple.info

social

scene

The Washington Ballet Celebrated

O

n Jan. 29, Anna and Robert Trone opened their stunning home at Avenal to delight supporters of The Washington Ballet with an elegant dinner buffet accompanied by the hosts’ celebrated wines.

The hostess welcomed her guests and said that daughter Sophia, who made a brief fetching appearance, is now in her second year of classes at the ballet. Board Chair Silvia de Leon hailed the Trones as “a part of the Washington Ballet family.� Artistic Director Septime Webre said he loved the sunken living room, which afforded the best view of some great legs. He spoke of the upcoming production of The Great Gatsby as a “charmed project� with songs from the 1920s plus new compositions and introduced his brother Phillip. The Ballet’s Women’s Committee’s Sixth Annual Wine Tasting will take place at Meridian International Center on March 12. — Mary Bird Robert and Anna Trone

Leander and Stephanie McCormick-Goodheart, Michael Hill

Joyce Hagel-Silverman, Artistic Dir. Septime Webre, Jennifer Streaks

Linda Awkard, Dan Snyder

Women’s Committee Pres. Beth Kohlhoss, Amber Hsu

GEORGETOWN DERMATOLOGY We invite you to an informational session March 16 and March 23 from 4:00PM to 6:00PM Learn about the latest in cosmetic dermatology, and skin care products from the experts.

Reserve your space at one of our free sessions (202.363.9600) Individual cosmetic consultations and refreshments will be provided.

3301 New Mexico Ave NW Suite 210, Washington D.C., 20016

Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology

CHILD, ADOLESCENT, & ADULT PSYCHIATRY

),567 $1' 21/< ,1 '& Introducing High Speed LightSheerÂŽ DUETâ&#x201E;˘ Finally, Hair Removal thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Painless to Your Skin AND Your Wallet. Â&#x2021; $ 5HYROXWLRQ LQ /DVHU +DLU 5HPRYDO Â&#x2021; 7UHDWPHQW 7LPH 5HGXFHG XS WR Â&#x2021; $OO RI WKH 5HVXOWV 1RQH RI WKH 'LVFRPIRUW +LJK 6SHHG 3HUPDQHQW +DLU 5HGXFWLRQ ZLWK &XVWRPL]HG &RPIRUW Legs and backs can be treated comfortably in only 20 minutes, without anesthetics or gels. )'$ FOHDUHG IRU DOO VNLQ W\SHV

Clifford Sussman, MD provides psychotherapy and medications as indicated, often in combination. Dr. Sussman will also be running an OCD group for ages 12-18 that uses the CBT method of exposure with response prevention.

Call 202.248.4346 5410 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 112 Washington, DC 20015 202.248.4346 cliffordsussmanmd@gmail.com www.cliffordsussmanmd.com

Therapies Offered: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical-Behavioral therapy (DBT) Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Other Supportive Therapies Psychopharmacology Problems Treated Include: Anxiety Disorders (Including OCD) ADHD Learning Disabilities Mood Disorders Autism Spectrum Disorders Personality Disorders Self-improvement

ASK ABOUT OUR NEW LOW RATES! ,QWURGXFWRU\ 3ULFH 50% Off Your )LUVW 7UHDWPHQW

Dr. Dale Isaacson & Dr. Marilyn Berzin 1828 L Street NW Suite 850 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 822-9591

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 29

Social

Scene

Innocents at Risk photos by Neshan H. Naltchayan

Jonathan Corkery, David Kane, Deborah Sigmund & Katerina Karousos

Amarie Kappaz, George Kappaz, & Deborah Sigmund

Wright Sigmund.and Courtney Caldwell

Cherie Short, Alexandra Robinson and Preston Smith

Sundance Film Festival 2010

All photographs by Adam Roffman

Jon Hamm was having a good time at the “Howl” premiere party

Sundance filmmakers Katie Aselton (“The Freebie”) and Mark Duplass (“Cyrus”) are all smiles as they arrive at Sundance headquarters

The lovely Amy Ryan, at Sundance for the film “Jack Goes Boating,” Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut

Chris Cooper arrives at the Eccles Theater for the World Premiere of “The Company Men”

Rosamarie Dewitt is all smiles at THE COMPANY MEN World Premiere

Jonah Hill before the World Premiere of the Duplass Brothers’ “Cyrus”

Katie Aselton appears in “Cyrus” and her directorial debut, “The Freebie”

Filmmakers Sean Flynn and Jesse Epstein at the Canada! party at Sundance

30 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

Catherine Keener, is one of the stars of “Cyrus”

Social

Scene

Ritz Goes to the Dogs Photos by Robert Devaney

T

he Ninth Annual Sugar & Champagne Affair came to the Ritz-Carlton on New Hampshire Avenue, Jan. 27, with lucky dogs and their owners and admirers filling the ballroom. The puppy-loving event, hosted by Todd and Ellen Gray of Equinox Restaurant and Salamander Hospitality, showed off the pastry chefs of local restaurants along with sparkling wines, champagne and other libations — all to benefit the Washington Humane Society. Uniformed officers, who routinely save dogs, cats and other animals from neglect or abuse, were there to be honored for the tireless work with grateful canines looking on — and looking for more treats.

Richard Bahar with Leo and Stacey Alysson-Nordheimer with Chloe

Hostess Ellen Gray of Equinox Restaurant with her German Shepherds

Jennifer Landgraff with Brodie and Jennifer Murawski holding Ginnie

Moira Bagley, opinion editor of The Daily Caller, and Lindsey Mask, communications director for Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.)

Miriam Warren of DCI Group and Susie Coggin of the GWU Law School

Daily Caller SOTU party Photos by Robert Devaney

he new Web site, Daily Caller, headed by Tucker Carlson, celebrated the viewing of President Obama’s State of the Union with drinks and shouts, Jan. 27, at George inside Georgetown Court on Prospect Street. There will also rules of engagement for viewing the speech — as to drinking when Obama might say “Wall Street” or “I’m on your side.”

T

Daily Caller’s Tucker Carlson (center) with Emperor Vodka spokeswomen Crystal Sinclaire and Lilian Bilbao

gmg, Inc. February 10, 2010 31

WASHINGTON, DC GEORGETOWN BETHESDA/CHEVY CHASE POTOMAC NORTHERN VIRGINIA WFP.COM

202.944.5000 202.333.3320 301.222.0050 301.983.6400 703.317.7000

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

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INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

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GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

FOREST HILLS, WASHINGTON, DC

PHILLIPS PARK, WASHINGTON, DC

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

William F. X. Moody Robert Hryniewicki 202-243-1620

William F. X. Moody Robert Hryniewicki 202-243-1620

Kim Gibson Susie Maguire

William F. X. Moody Robert Hryniewicki 202-243-1620

Authentic Federal located on Historic Smith’s Row. Impressive home with gracious entertaining spaces and principal rooms including double parlor & extensive multi-level terraces with fountains. 3-car garage parking. $5,188,000

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

NEW PRICE! One of a kind Georgian Estate featuring a large family home set on 1.29 acres minutes from Downtown DC. Gracious principal rooms & spectacular grounds with pool & tennis court. 6 bedrooms, 7.5 baths. $5,100,000

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GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

Ellen Morrell 202-728-9500 Matthew B. McCormick 202-728-9500 Nancy Taylor Bubes 202-256-2164

Linda Rogers

Luxury penthouses on the waterfront! 1-4 bedroom floor plans with 1,800-4,100 square feet of interior space, plus terraces and garage parking!

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

One Light to Georgetown and easy commute to DC. Elegant custom home built in 2005 backing to parkland, exceptional details, elevator access to 3 floors, fabulous master suite with 3 large walk-in closets, 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 2 car garage. Motivated Seller. $1,840,000

Linda Rogers

703-627-6776

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS - Stunning new home with open floor-plan offers 10’ ceilings, elevator access to 3 floors, gourmet kitchen, main level master. 4/5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and a generator.

2 blocks to Washington Golf & Country Club golf course. $2,250,000

703-627-6776

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

NEW LISTING! BROYHILL FOREST - Outstanding home built in 2008 with exceptional details, gourmet kitchen open to family room, near parks, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths. Minutes to Washington Golf & Country Club. One light to Chain Bridge! $1,649,000

Linda Rogers

703-627-6776

Washington’s finest new custom home neighborhood, moments from Georgetown & surrounded by 200 acres of parkland. Homes from $3,000,000. Lots from $1,200,000.

202-333-4760

Unmatched suburban floor plan and setting in sought after urban location. New England Colonial with gracious principal rooms, 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. Large absolutely private .25 +/- acre lot with pool & terrace. $3,199,000

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

WEST END, RITZ RESIDENCES

WESLEY HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON, DC

Ellen Morrell Matthew B. McCormick 202-728-9500

W. Ted Gossett 703-625-5656 Matthew B. McCormick 202-728-9500

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

Saundra J. Giannini

Nancy Taylor Bubes

Luxurious living at the Ritz Residences! Onethree bedroom floor plans available with 1,0003,400 square feet of living space all perfect for downtown living and entertaining!

NEW PRICE! $120,000 Price Adjustment! Beautiful Federal style with 3 level addition & complete renovation. Each level has wall of French doors viewing beautiful deep garden, 1 car garage, 2 fireplaces, 3BR up including 2 generous suites w/ walk-in closet, 2.5 BA. $1,575,000

202-333-3023

Stunning white-washed brick colonial with elegant formal rooms, classic architectural details, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2-car garage, multi-tiered deck, landscaped. $1,849,500

Quintessential 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath East Village Victorian with period details throughout. Features spacious and sun-filled living room, beautifully renovated kitchen, separate dining room, and private rear patio. $1,550,000

202-256-2164

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

WEST END, WASHINGTON, DC

WEST END, RITZ RESIDENCES

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

Nancy Taylor Bubes

Ellen Morrell Matthew B. McCormick 202-728-9500

Patrick Chauvin

Eileen McGrath

Pristine 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath plus 1 bedroom, 1 bath lower level in-law suite, beautifully renovated kitchen leading to private rear patio and beyond to two-car garage. $1,375,000

202-256-2164

Fantastic 2 bedroom, 2 bath 22 West Residence with 1,200+ sf of interior living space, open floor plan, gourmet kitchen, light-filled living room, hardwood floors throughout, balcony & garage parking. $1,145,000

NEW LISTING! Affordable 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment at the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, with parking and all the amenities of the RitzCarlton. $734,900

202-256-9595

INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS • LOCAL AFFILIATE

32 February 10, 2010 gmg, Inc.

UNDER CONTRACT! On the market for 1 day! Renovated federal gem on quiet side street with fabulous kitchen + bath, new roof, garden, fireplace, W/D, CAC, 2 bedrooms, antique pine floors, 2 blocks to Metro!

202-253-2226