The Georgetowner: October 09, 2024 Issue

Throughout The Fitzgerald’s multiple dining venues, our chefs elevate breakfast, lunch, and dinner to highly anticipated daily dining experiences, allowing residents to connect with friends and family while enjoying thoughtfully planned seasonal menus. Following Forbes Travel Guide five-star standards, our associates deliver anticipatory service and create meaningful moments, one delicious meal at a time.

DISCOVERY CENTER

MACARTHUR

D.C.

TO THE PUBLIC MONDAY - FRIDAY, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM WEEKENDS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

The Fitzgerald of Palisades is currently under construction and is not licensed by the D.C. Department of Health. Upon completion of construction, The Fitzgerald of Palisades will apply to the D.C. Department of Health for a license to operate as an Assisted Living Residence. The anticipated opening for The Fitzgerald of Palisades is Late 2024.

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS · 6 - 10

ANC Report

Sternlieb to Exit BID

Georgetown Senior Center Closes

News Bytes

EDITORIAL & OPINION · 12

Georgetowner Endorsements

America Should Heal Its Divisions

Ranked Choice Voting

THE VILLAGE · 15

Catching up with Brooke Pinto

BUSINESS · 16

Ins and Outs

REAL ESTATE · 18 - 20

Sales

Auction Block

At Home: Ironmongery

COVER · 24 - 25

70 Years of The Georgetowner

IN COUNTRY · 26 - 27

FOOD & WINE · 28 - 29

Cocktail of the Month

The Latest Dish

ARTS · 30 - 31

Putnam County Spelling Bee

S&R Evermay Award Winners

BODY & SOUL · 33 - 33

SOCIAL SCENE · 34 - 36

CAG Party

Balls and Galas

Fall Parties

KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB · 46

“The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage”

ON THE COVER

Behold this collage of cover stars for The Georgetowner. Talented photographers and stylists have made politicians, philanthropists, artists, business leaders, educators, celebrities, chefs and, perhaps most importantly, everyday Georgetowners look good. Please see pages 22-23 for details and updates. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve been asked: “When will I be on the cover of The Georgetowner?” Thank you so much, and keep asking.

CORRECTION: In our September 11 issue, we had an incorrect caption for The Potomack Co. entry. It has since been corrected online and we apologize for the error.

PUBLISHER

Sonya Bernhardt

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT

SENIOR

Peggy Sands

FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR

Allyson Burkhardt Lauretta McCoy

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Troy Riemer

Phone: (202) 338-4833

Fax: (202) 338-4834

www.georgetowner.com

“The Newspaper Whose Influence Far Exceeds Its Size” — Pierre Cardin

The GeorGeTowner is published in print monthly with an online newsletter supplement posted twice per week — On Mondays we highlight news and on Thursdays goings on about town. The opinions of our writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect the editorial and corporate opinions of The GeorGeTowner newspaper. The GeorGeTowner accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. The GeorGeTowner reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions. Copyright 2024.

Please send submissions of opinions for consideration to:

editorial@georgetowner.com

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A MAGICAL EVENING AT ART ALL NIGHT BY LUCY CULLEN AND PHOTOS BY DAISY BATEMAN

Musicians at Georgetown Lutheran Church.

CONGRATS TO THE 39TH ANNUAL MAYOR’S ARTS AWARD WINNERS BY THE GEORGETOWNER

Mayor Muriel Bowser presented the Mayor’s Arts Awards at the historic Lincoln Theatre on Oct. 1. Courtesy EOM. ALL THAT JAZZ, GEORGETOWN BY MARK EDELMAN

Nicole Henry at Blues Alley.

HIGH TEA & CHOCOLATE IN HIGH STYLE BY PEGGY SANDS High tea at the Blue Duck Tavern. Courtesy Heather Freeman.

‘WHITE BIRD’ WITH HELEN MIRREN BY DINA GOLD

Helen Mirren in “White Bird.” Photo by Larry Horricks for Lionsgate.

and Joe Sternlieb, BID President and CEO Executive Director. Photo by Chris Chern.

ANC: Jelleff Center, Dumbarton Oaks, C&O Canal Bridge

BY LUCY CULLEN

ANC 2E, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission for Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale, met on Sept. 29 at Georgetown Visitation Prep. All commissioners were present, with Commissioner Kishan Putta participating via Zoom.

CRIME UPDATE

The meeting began with public safety updates from Lt. John Merzig of the Metropolitan Police Department. No violent crimes were reported in the Georgetown area in the last month; motor vehicle thefts have shown a slight decrease from last month; and MPD is working to enhance its visibility in retail corridors with mountain bike officers.

LEAF COLLECTION BEGINS

OCT. 28

The mayor’s office provided information on leaf collection season, which begins on Oct. 28 for Department of Public Works-serviced households. Leaf collection requests must be made through the 311 app, or individuals can bring their bags to trash facilities.

WHITHER JELLEFF’S PROGRAMS?

The renovation of Jelleff Community Center, the largest recreation center in the Georgetown area, was discussed. Demolition is expected to take six to nine months, with a year required for the construction work. That the center’s free after-school program will be paused for the duration of the renovation was worrisome. Commissioner Putta urged that alternative options be found for those who will be affected by the program’s temporary termination, saying, “If we can do anything for our community, it’s to bring them together, and we need to, fast.”

DUMBARTON OAKS’ R STREET DORM

The meeting’s most spirited conversation surrounded a zoning application by the Trustees for Harvard University, owner of Dumbarton Oaks, to use a building at 3100 R St. NW, just beyond the Dumbarton Oaks campus, as temporary housing for visiting

fellows. Since the nonprofit purchased the property in 2021, the immediate neighbors have expressed dissatisfaction with its maintenance. At the meeting, some community members shared their concerns about the lack of upkeep and that a home in their area would be used for temporary lodging. Others were glad that the property

House at 3100 R St. NW, purchased for use by Dumbarton Oaks as temporary lodging for its fellows.

Courtesy Bright MLS.

Renderings of the Jelleff Boys and Girls Club. Courtesy OGB.

would not remain unoccupied.

Conditions that the community is asking the applicant to meet will be specified in a memo of understanding that ANC 2E expects to sign this week, according to Commissioner Gwendolyn Lohse.

PINTO CHECKING 911 CENTER

Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto recently made an unannounced visit to the Office of Unified Communication’s 911 call center, aiming to increase the transparency of its day-to-day operations and foster improvements in D.C.’s emergency response system. She plans to make additional visits.

NEW BRIDGE OVER C&O CANAL

Another item was the National Park Service’s proposal for a pedestrian bridge at the junction of Rock Creek Park and the West Heating Plant Waterfront Park, at the end of the C&O Canal. In a resolution supporting the proposed bridge, Commissioner Mimsy Lindner said it will “serve as a connector for pedestrians, bikers and all who are enjoying the park path, especially those who wish to visit the C&O Canal zero mile marker.” The bridge

will simplify and secure travel along the Rock Creek Parkway path, moving those on the path away from the four lanes of traffic heading toward the Georgetown Waterfront.

The next ANC 2E meeting will take place on Monday, Nov. 4.

52 YEARS

1819 35th St NW Every Sunday 8AM to 4PM

Georgetown Waterfront Park. Courtesy National Park Service.

Sternlieb to Exit BID in 2025

BY PEGGY SANDS

Joe Sternlieb, CEO and president of the Georgetown Business Improvement District since 2012, will step down in the first quarter of 2025, becoming an executive fellow at the Federal City Council. Established in 1999, the Georgetown BID is one of several publicly chartered, private nonprofits in the District, with others in many other cities.

From the BID’s announcement: “During his 12 years at the BID, Sternlieb led the Georgetown 2028 strategic planning process and implementation of its action agenda — successfully working with the community

and city to eliminate the long-standing liquor license cap and moratorium; co-founding Georgetown Heritage and building a new canal boat while creating a long-term revitalization plan for the Georgetown section of the C&O Canal; completing preliminary planning for an urban gondola between Georgetown and the Rosslyn Metro Station; expanding sidewalks with outdoor dining; and leading the organization’s pandemic response and recovery plan. He leaves the BID in a strong position with the Georgetown neighborhood experiencing the strongest retail leasing renaissance in the Washington area.”

“The opportunity to lead the Georgetown BID has been one of the great privileges of my life,” said Sternlieb in a statement. “It has allowed me to pursue my passion for creatively improving the District’s economic and social development fortunes.”

At the Federal City Council, Sternlieb, a graduate of Connecticut College and MIT, will focus on improving and expanding public parks, also supporting the council’s work in the areas of transportation and infrastructure.

The BID’s board has appointed a search committee to work with a recruiter to identify and hire a new CEO.

After 40 Years, Georgetown Senior Center Serves Its Last Lunch

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

“It is with deep sadness that l am writing to let you know of the closing of the Georgetown Senior Center,” wrote Wendy Erlanger, the center’s president and secretary, to friends and supporters. “Despite our best efforts, rising costs and declining enrollment made continuing operations unsustainable. Specifically, repairing our van’s broken engine and recruiting seniors in a post-Covid environment were daunting and, ultimately, insurmountable obstacles.

“For more than 40 years, we were able to provide our community’s older adults with a warm, welcoming place to gather and enjoy home-cooked lunches, light exercise and engaging programs. Thanks to your unwavering and very generous support, we enriched the lives of countless seniors. We are grateful for your donations as well as in-kind contributions, whether they be meals, entertainment, electronic communications or transportation. In all these ways and more, you helped sustain us and enabled us to serve an often-neglected segment of our community.”

The Georgetowner was involved with the Georgetown Senior Center almost from the start. The center’s legendary founder, Virginia Allen, earned the affection and respect of David Roffman, former publisher of the newspaper.

In her closure announcement, Erlanger added a special note to Georgetowner Publisher Sonya Bernhardt and Editor-inChief Robert Devaney, writing: “Sonya & Robert, thanks so much for everything you have done for the Senior Center over the years — the free advertising, the wonderful articles (often with photos) and, of course, the holiday benefits, which involved so much planning and organization.

“The parties were so festive and always went smoothly, thanks to your efforts. I remember every single detail. Plus, the seniors really enjoyed being the focus of attention. We can’t thank you enough for being such stalwart supporters. All your hard work for us and the community is greatly appreciated.”

This stunning Georgetown custom semi-detached home blends the historic charm of its 1896 architecture with modern updates as highlighted in Home and Design Magazine. The open-concept main level includes light-filled living room, a sleek chef's kitchen and a sunken family room leading to the back terrace and large fenced yard, connecting to a generous side yard. Open risers and a steel-framed staircase, lead to the upper levels where a pair of charming bedrooms with a hall bathroom share the third level, and the owner's suite and library suite with floor to ceiling windows reside on the second. The master bedroom enjoys a private porch, and an en-suite bathroom that looks straight out of a spa. A finished one-bedroom apartment on the lower level with a separate entrance has its own washer and dryer. The homes' parking spot sits contiguous to the backyard.

This corner apartment at Watergate West features unobstructive views of Georgetown, Arlington with floor to ceiling windows. Completely renovated 2022, it has top-of-the-line finishes, solid wood floors, and a custom chef kitchen. 24 hr. front desk/doorman, rooftop common area and pool/fitness. Parking spot included and pre-paid for 2 yrs. W/D in unit.

BID CEO and President Joe Sternlieb. Courtesy Georgetown Business Improvement District.

Mary Meyer was honored by Wendy Erlanger, Georgetown Senior Center, at St. John’s Church.

News Bytes

BY PAULINA INGLIMA

‘GEORGETOWN CUDDLER’ RAPIST ARRESTED

The Georgetown and College Park “Cuddler” — a man accused of sexually assaulting and raping women between 2006 and 2012 in Georgetown and Burleith, as well as in College Park, Maryland — has been arrested. New DNA evidence was used to catch Ernesto Ramon Mercado, 54, of Arlington, Virginia. Charged in five sexual assaults in D.C., Mercado is a suspect in others.

EX-PROF GRAY PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT

Retired professor Lawrence Gray, who has been accused of stealing millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry and art from the homes of wealthy Georgetown and New York socialites, pleaded guilty to fraud in New York on Sept. 24. Gray maintained his innocence despite his plea, saying he only accepted a plea bargain to retain his passport to travel to the U.S. for his daughter’s wedding. In Gray’s current case, he is accused of stealing

and auctioning off jewels from former U.S. Ambassador Frederick Vreeland. In 2022, he made headlines in Georgetown after the son of his deceased romantic partner, Georgetown socialite Jacqueline Quillen, accused Gray of stealing her jewelry, artwork and furniture.

HOYA, NBA STAR MUTOMBO DIES AT 58

Dikembe Mutombo, the seven-foot, twoinch GU and NBA center who became a philanthropist, died from a brain tumor on Sept. 30 at age 58. Mutombo — who came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Georgetown University in 1987 on an academic scholarship to play basketball — played for six NBA teams, retiring with the second-

most blocked shots in the league. Known for warning players off with his signature finger wave, Mutombo was to donate millions of his earnings to fund hospitals, schools and vaccine promotion in the Congo, including a 300-bed hospital named for his mother and a 420-student, tuition-free school named for his father.

WILL MEDICAL CANNABIS COME TO DIXIE?

Founded in 1934, Dixie Liquor — a Georgetown landmark at 3429 M St. NW, near the entrance to Georgetown University — may be transformed into a medical cannabis dispensary. JKEntity LLC has applied for a medical cannabis retailer license, with Rabbi James Kahn, executive director of Liberty Cannabis Cares, presenting the plan to Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E on Sept. 30. Residents can express their opinions until Oct. 15.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

BUS PRIORITY PROJECT POP-UP

Saturday, Oct. 12

The District Department of Transportation has scheduled pop-ups and open houses to share updated plans for the Georgia Avenue NW Bus Priority Project. The Oct. 12 popup will be at Uptown Farmers Market, 5500 Colorado Ave. NW, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional sessions will be held on Oct. 20, 24 and 26. For details, visit buspriorityddot. dc.gov. To provide feedback, email buspriority@dc.gov before Nov. 15.

COFFEE WITH A COP AT GRACE STREET COFFEE ROASTERS

Tuesday, Oct. 15

The Metropolitan Police Department and Grace Street Coffee Roasters will host a meet-and-greet with police officers from noon to 1 p.m. at the café, 3299 K St. NW, Suite 102. The event is free and open to the public.

GEORGETOWN FALL MARKET

Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20

Looking to (pumpkin) spice up your weekend? From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., autumnal festivities along Wisconsin Avenue —

coordinated by Georgetown Main Street and presented by Martin’s Tavern — will feature programming from businesses such as Ella-Rue, Lumen Salon, Carpe Librum and Patisserie Poupon.

PINSTRIPES TRICK OR TREATING

Saturday, Oct. 26, through Thursday, Oct. 31

From noon to 9 p.m. on the five days leading up to Halloween, and on Halloween night, area residents can celebrate the spooky season at Pinstripes, 1064 Wisconsin Ave. NW, by using Fishbowl code 184-466-004. Each child wearing a costume will receive a complimentary meal and a bounceback card redeemable for one hour of bowling.

ANC 2E MEETING

Monday, Nov. 4

Following an October hiatus, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, representing Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale, will hold its November meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Georgetown Visitation School, 1524 35th St. NW, and via Zoom. The agenda will be available seven days prior. Visit anc.dc.gov.

Retired professor John Gray and Georgetown socialite Jacqueline Quillen. Photo by Tony Powell.

Dikembe Mutombo was a Hoya basketball star in the ’90s. Courtesy Georgetown Athletics.

Founded in 1934, Dixie Liquor at 3429 M St. NW and at an entrance to Georgetown may become a medical cannabis dispensary. Georgetowner photo.

The Georgetowner Endorses …

If you’re voting in Georgetown/Ward 2, this year’s general election ballot is short and sweet — and almost feels like a repeat.

Regarding the top of the ballot, there’s former President Donald Trump, with visions of cats, dogs and stolen elections dancing in his head. There’s the raveled Robert Kennedy Jr., bunking with the Trump camp. And there’s Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee on July 21 and is now supported by Republican Liz Cheney, among others.

With less than a month to go, this campaign season has been a mind-numbing ride, complete with attempted assassinations, heartrending hurricanes and sequential scandals. Where to begin? How will it end?

Let us quote a previous editorial: “Voters are now indeed faced with the most important election in their — perhaps the nation’s — lifetime.”

As expected, The Georgetowner urges voters to vote for Kamala Harris for president. Don’t do it just as a vote against Trump. Harris, like anyone, has her shortcomings. She is perhaps too liberal for some. But we believe she will restore a unity that we thought was lost. With positivity and empathy, she will assemble an administration that reflects the talent, drive and diversity of America.

Locally, The Georgetowner endorses:

• At-large Council member Robert White for his work on returning citizens and

affordable housing. And he’s not done yet.

• At-large Council member Christina Henderson for her work on fair pay and mental health.

• Brooke Pinto for the Ward 2 Council seat. She has succeeded in her job beyond all expectations. Her work on the crime bill and for other common-sense solutions is to be applauded. Pinto is running unopposed because she’s going places.

• Ankit Jain for “shadow” Senator, “who will step into the light.”

• Oye Owolewa for “shadow” Representative, who favors science.

• For the Board of Education, well-regarded members Jacque Patterson (At-large) and Allister Chang (Ward 2) are running unopposed.

• Members of ANC 2E, the GeorgetownBurleith-Hillandale Advisory Neighborhood Commission, face no opposition. They work well and smartly together — and constitute D.C.’s best ANC.

Lastly, check our comments below on Initiative 83.

As a city, we know we should be in a better place. As a nation, we’re clearly not in a good place. There are other recoveries yet to happen.

Still, we vote … on Nov. 5 (or perhaps you already did). God Help — we mean, Bless — America!

It Is Time for America to Heal Its Divisions

BY FRED RYAN

Study after study confirms what we all already feel: America is deeply divided. Toxic partisanship rises as institutional trust craters. We trust our neighbors little and our leaders even less. Why?

The causes are many, but here are a few. Social media: It rewards incivility, emboldening us to say things online that we’d never say face-to-face. Outrage is the oxygen of social media, every bit as addictive as gambling or sugar. Many cable news outlets and websites fall into the same trap, deepening our divisions to promote their business model.

Another driver of polarization is our elected officials and the new incentives that motivate them. Political success can be gained by outrageous antics that drive social media traffic and bag cable news slots. Subject matter expertise and the ability to pass legislation are less important than ever; legislative staff have been replaced with social media managers. Most members of Congress no longer even reside in Washington, missing opportunities to socialize with members of the opposite party.

Our education system has failed us too, drastically cutting back the teaching of American history and our founding principles. Alarmingly, only 13 percent of eighth graders are proficient in U.S. history,

and fewer than half of Americans can identify all three branches of government. Without a solid understanding of our history of selfgovernance, we lose the foundation needed for respectful and informed civic engagement. Where do we go from here?

We need to go to news sources we can trust. We need politicians who are rewarded for legislating rather than stunting. We need to put down our phones and engage more with the world around us. We need organizations that bring people together for healthy debate and public discourse.

If there is to be a renewal of American unity, it will come from simple, timeless actions. We must get out of our bubble and chat with our neighbors. Go to church or join a club. Get involved in local politics. Attend a debate, hear both sides and talk to the panelists. Democracies are premised on face-to-face relationships. Without them, we’re beholden to algorithms and the addiction to outrage. Ultimately, it’s through engagement with neighbors, co-workers and our fellow citizens that we rekindle unity and civility in a troubled world.

Fred Ryan, former publisher and CEO of the Washington Post, is leading the Ronald Reagan Center on Civility and Democracy.

Ranked-Choice Voting Is on the Ballot. What to Do?

Ranked-choice voting — in which every voter has the option to rank up to five candidates for each office according to his or her preference — is on the Nov. 5 general election ballot as Initiative 83. If approved, it would apply to all voters, regardless of party registration. It would also allow anyone to vote for any party’s candidate in a primary, whether or not a voter is registered in that party.

With ranked-choice voting, any candidate topping 50 percent of the vote is a winner. In some cases, the candidate list for a particular office may need to be whittled down to the top-ranked candidates to declare a majority winner.

Initiation 83 is controversial. It made it onto the November ballot in September through a long process of petitions, legal overview and campaigning. D.C.’s political leadership — almost all Democrats — is divided, some opposing and some supporting ranked-choice voting.

Mayor Muriel Bowser refused to sign the petition. She is on public record saying, “It’s a bad idea and unnecessary.” Only registered Democrats should participate in a Democratic primary, opines Bowser and most of the

initiative’s other opponents. Many say that Initiative 83 violates party affiliates’ rights to freely associate with a political party. A recent slur: Ranked-choice voting will result in “a jungle primary.”

But supporters are convinced that it will give elected officials more accountability to their constituents. “They’ll only win if they garner more than 50 percent of the vote,” argues Lisa D. T. Rice, a Ward 7 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, who proposed the initiative. “Currently over 70,000 voters are disenfranchised from the primaries because they don’t want to affiliate as a Democrat nor a Republican while voting,” she says. Rice and others support the initiative even though it may take more time and a number of ballots to arrive at a majority winner.

How to vote then? There are still a few weeks before the election and lots of information to peruse, online and off. While leaning in favor of Initiation 83, The Georgetowner suggests that you learn more about the pros and cons of ranked-choice voting, informing yourself by reading and talking to people on both sides. Then, vote your conscience.

Catching Up with Ward 2 Council Member Brooke Pinto

BY ROBERT DEVANEY AND PEGGY SANDS

District Council member Brooke Pinto has been representing Georgetown and Ward 2 since June of 2020. A 2017 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, the 32-year-old Pinto is the youngest Council member in the city’s history.

As chair of the Council’s Public Safety and Judiciary Committee, Pinto has become a presence at hundreds of community meetings to argue for tightening up law enforcement in the District.

The Georgetowner caught up with the energetic Council member at Tatte Bakery on Wisconsin Avenue — just before she was off to Art All Night on Sept. 27 — for a 35-minute conversation, focusing on the District’s budget and strategic initiatives.

Key points included the amendment to delay taxing bond interest until 2026; the “Secure DC” initiative reducing violent crime by 36 percent; and efforts to improve public safety, including hiring more police officers and raising the pay of 911 call takers. The discussion also covered downtown revitalization, tax abatements for building conversions and the importance of maintaining Georgetown’s unique character while attracting new businesses. Other topics: literacy, teacher retention and, given the loss of the DC Circulator, the need for better transportation solutions.

The following transcript has been edited for clarity.

The Georgetowner: Let’s begin with the amendment on the municipal bonds, and let’s talk about the budget.

Pinto: I think it’s really important that we recognize where we are as a city, and that we have to be really strategic about making sure that residents and businesses stay here, and that we’re being more proactive about attracting new residents and new businesses.

Pinto: I consider “Secure DC” one of my biggest accomplishments, primarily because I think about where we were this time last year — with crime being on the forefront of everyone’s mind across the city, on businesses. And it was national and international, where we were with crime, with the highest homicide rates in two decades. There were people feeling unsafe to walk around in broad daylight, kids feeling scared, seniors being scared, everyone in between. And police saying they hadn’t seen anything like this in years and years.

Look where we are now, with these interventions being passed and funded and implemented, to have reduction of violent crime by 36 percent. We have some of the lowest violent crime rates we’ve had in over a decade. These are pre-pandemic levels, and a much stronger sense, I hope, of security among residents.

I would say the work is not done. We still have far too much crime and violence in the city.

The Georgetowner: What about the loss of tax revenue in downtown?

The Georgetowner: How’s it going with replacing some of the Circulator routes?

Pinto: I am extremely disappointed. Our Circulator buses are such a jewel of our city and have a fantastic on-time reputation. Fortunately, the route from Union Station to Georgetown to Rosslyn will be picked up by WMATA starting in December.

The Georgetowner: We have to ask you about Georgetown.

Pinto: Georgetown is such a special place. It is such a beacon of hope, not only in D.C., but talked about across the world, as a place people want to visit. And I think that that electricity is really important to harness. I believe that we can do both, maintain the systems in Georgetown that people have grown accustomed to, around safety, around beauty, around standards and aesthetics, while also having an injection of energy and bringing more people here.

The Georgetowner: So, you’re off to Art All Night. Which places?

When I learned that Council member Kenyan McDuffie had moved an amendment in the Business and Economic Development Committee to tax everybody’s interest on bonds that they had anywhere around the country — and not only to do that, but to start taxing them this current year — I thought that that was not only fully unfair to people who had purchased these bonds on the assumption that they wouldn’t be taxed, but also just a bad strategy, as we are trying to make sure that this city is hospitable and that can maintain our residents. And our seniors can even have these bonds. So I worked with colleagues and we made some changes in the budget once it got to all of us, so that at least it would start next year, so we’re not taxing right away.

But I said, you know, that’s still not enough, but at least it wouldn’t change. The bill that I introduced this week would basically grandfather anyone in who already has one of these bonds to be exempt from taxation interest. And we have a short window of time: those taxes won’t be due until spring of 2026 for 2025 taxes. My hope is that we can get this bill passed and get it funded in this year’s budget.

The Georgetowner: What was your focus in the budget process?

Pinto: I have been focused throughout my first term on three primary goals. The first is around public safety, the second is around downtown and business revitalization and the third is around supporting District residents so they have more opportunities to thrive, especially more economic opportunities. So, with the budget in the Judiciary Committee, I was really focused first and foremost on making sure to fund security.

The Georgetowner: Is that one of your best accomplishments?

Pinto: We have put tax abatements from my bill into the budget to incentivize conversions to housing, but also conversions to any other productive use. We’re the leader of the country in this conversion space right now.

Pinto: I might get my face painted. AN EXPANED VERSION OF THIS INTERVIEW APPEARS AT

Council member Brooke Pinto.

INS & OUTS

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

IN: LUKE RUSSERT AT B&N’S GRAND REOPENING, OCT. 30

Gone from Georgetown since 2011, Barnes & Noble, the nation’s largest bookstore chain, will return to its original location at 3040 M St. NW, having signed a 33,754-square-foot lease for the same three floors last year, as previously reported. The serially postponed reopening date is now Oct. 30.

“Our team is excited to introduce our beautiful store to the community, and author Luke Russert will be here to celebrate the occasion by signing his book, ‘Look for Me There,’ and cutting the grand-opening ribbon,” said Barnes & Noble. The event will run from 10 to 11 a.m.

IN: OSTERIA MOZZA, STARR’S NEXT SUPER STAR, TO OPEN NEXT MONTH

The highly anticipated Osteria Mozza DC is due to debut in November. So, hang on, Georgetown, it’s coming.

Restaurateur Stephen Starr is partnering with Michelin-star chef Nancy Silverton of Los Angeles to bring the East Coast version of her Italian restaurant to the former Dean & DeLuca space at 3276 M St. NW. Starr told community leaders three years ago: “I am confident that what we create together will knock the socks off of D.C.”

Spanning more than 20,000 square feet within the historic Georgetown Market building — next to the C&O Canal — Osteria Mozza will include an Italian market, a mozzarella bar and a restaurant.

ANNOUNCED: JOSÉ ANDRÉS WILL OPEN FIRST HOTEL AT 30TH & M

More confirmation that Georgetown is the hot destination: José Andrés’s hospitality company announced that it will bring a luxury hotel called the Bazaar House to Georgetown in 2027.

With partner Thor Equities Group, Andrés plans to open his first hotel ever at 3000 M St. NW, according to the José Andrés Group, which operates 40 restaurants. The hotel will rise at the former location of the Latham Hotel and Michel Richard’s Citronelle.

The Bazaar House will feature 67 rooms, a private membership club, an events space, an expansive wellness center and multiple bars and restaurants from José Andrés Group, according to a press release.

“Although specific food and beverage concepts have yet to be announced, a penthouse club dubbed the Bazaar Club will have ‘exclusive’ benefits and venues for members, plus a signature restaurant with views of Georgetown,” reported Washingtonian.

IN: RM WELLNESS MINI SPA IN HAMILTON COURT

RM Wellness, a new mini spa specializing in massage therapy services, plans to open on Oct. 19 at 1228 1/2 31st St. NW. The company tells us: “RM Wellness will be the first woman-owned mini spa of its kind in D.C., offering traditional massages such as deep tissue, Swedish and prenatal, and manual lymphatic drainage services in Georgetown.”

IN: GEORGETOWN PANTRY OPENING THIS WEEK

Georgetown Pantry will open this week at 1515 Wisconsin Ave. NW, according to its owner, who says the shop is “your neighborhood destination for curated gourmet delights! … From artisanal cheeses to organic produce and specialty pantry items, every product is chosen for its exceptional flavor and quality.”

STILL SCHMEARING: CALL YOUR MOTHER AT 35TH & O

Oy vey! Last month, after yet another zoning hearing, a vote on Call Your Mother’s future is now expected in two weeks. The Board of Zoning Adjustment and Board of Zoning Appeals punted its decision to Oct. 23.

The dispute about the continuance of the popular bagel shop in the bright pink building on the corner of O and 35th Streets NW, two blocks from Georgetown University, drags on. The business needs two new permits — an okay to operate as a corner store and an exemption to continue to sell prepared

food. While some nearby residents support the zoning variances, others argue the place has a garbage problem and disturbs the neighborhood with long lines outside the store and customers eating their food on the steps of nearby homes.

COMING: MALBON GOLF … FOR ALL

Another hip brand is choosing Georgetown. Malbon golf apparel will open in the former Hobo Bags shop at 1265 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The company tells us: “Founded in 2017 by culture and golf enthusiasts Stephen and Erica Malbon, Malbon Golf is a lifestyle brand inspired by the game of golf. We provide quality products, tell stories and invite customers to take part in the community of like-minded thinkers that we have created.” Malbon’s other locations include New York’s Soho, LA’s Melrose, Carmel-by-theSea and Miami.

COMING: HUNTER & HUNTRESS

Another interior decorating company will be setting up shop at 1665 Wisconsin Ave. NW, where the Bean Counter coffee and sandwich place was.

COMING:

CREME TAVERN ON 33RD

A tavern — to be named Creme — is slated for 1660 33rd St. NW, near the spot where 33rd Street enters Wisconsin Avenue. Neighbors Micheline Klagsbrun, Samuel Freeman and Dawn Crafton protested the arrival of the drinking establishment, along with the Citizens Association of Georgetown and others, but later reached an agreement with the operator.

RENAMED: HOUSEBAR REPLACES GEORGETOWN WINE & SPIRITS

In 1934, Georgetown Wine & Spirits at 2701 P St. NW opened as a neighborhood market; it has been run as a liquor store since the 1950s. Nate Smith purchased the business in 2022 for about $400,000 and, after renovations over the summer, renamed it Housebar. Smith owns another liquor store by that name on First Street SE. Some oldtimers expressed confusion at the new name. The P Street store manager Pascal Valadier will remain.

OUT: MASON’S LOBSTER ROLLS

Opened in 2021, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls at 1078 Wisconsin Ave. NW has closed. The location previously boasted a Paul bakery,

OUT: JACO JUICE & TACO BAR

The cool juice bar at 1614 Wisconsin Ave. NW that served smoothies and health-minded breakfasts — along with tacos and burritos, of course — has closed.

Rendering of new Bazaar House by José Andrés.

In November, restaurateur Stephen Starr and Michelin star chef Nancy Silverton will open Osteria Mozza that “will knock the socks off of D.C.” Courtesy Starr Restaurants; courtesy U.S. Embassy.

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REAL ESTATE

Auction Block

BY KATE OCZYPOK

In this month’s report, a Surrealist painting by Gertrude Abercrombie sold for $469,900 at an auction by the merged Freeman’s and Hindman auction houses. Other noteworthy items sold included a 19th-century French painting, a Cartier pendant, white gold and diamond earrings and Jackie Kennedy’s dress from her wedding to Aristotle Onassis.

BONHAMS

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Valentino Wedding Ensemble

SOLD FOR: $24,320

This ensemble, from Valentino’s “Sfilata Bianca” collection, shown in Rome in 1968, was owned and worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at her wedding to Aristotle Onassis on Oct. 20, 1968, in Skorpios, Greece. It includes a pleated sleeveless dress of cream silk crepe and a chiffon and lace overlay shell. The overall condition was noted as very good, with no visible tearing and a working zipper.

DOYLE

Cartier Lighthouse Pendant

ESTIMATE: $1,000–$1,500

SOLD FOR: $19,200

This 14-carat gold pendant features heart-shaped oval and turquoise stones and a red and white enamel lighthouse. There are also nine round diamonds. It is signed: “Cartier, no. 11141.”

FREEMAN’S | HINDMAN

“The Magician” by Gertrude Abercrombie

ESTIMATE: $70,000–$90,000

SOLD FOR: $469,900

A Surrealist 1956 painting by the Chicago artist Gertrude Abercrombie (1909-1977) sold for nearly a half-million dollars, more than five times the high estimate. The winning bid was reportedly fueled by a bidding war via phone. The work, in its original frame, shows a pale woman in a pink gown levitating above a chaise lounge, with a black cat at lower left.

WESCHLER’S

18-Karat White Gold and Diamond Earrings

ESTIMATE: $1,200–$1,500

SOLD FOR: $1,800

This pair of white gold, blue zircon and diamond pendant earrings went for more than the high estimate. The zircon measures 9.3 by 7.5mm and the total carat weight of the diamonds is approximately 1.50.

THE POTOMACK COMPANY

Shepherd Boy with Dog “Mercure et Argus”

ESTIMATE: $1,500–$3,000

SOLD FOR: $19,000

This oil on canvas by Alexandre-Eugène Castelnau (1827-1894), an artist from Montpellier, France, is signed and dated in the lower right corner: “E. Castelnau 1869.” Castelnau’s works can be found in several French museums, including the Musée Paul Valery, Sète; the Musée des Beaux-arts, Rennes; and the Musée Fabre, Montpellier. The painting sold for over six times the high estimate.

AT HOME: The Art of Ironmongery

BY MICHELLE GALLER

The doorknob is the ultimate object of design that encapsulates the architecture of an entire building; it is where someone first physically touches a building. Although doorknobs were not yet common in the early days of America, a variety of iron hardware, including door latches, hinges, wagon wheels and plows, were important in all aspects of colonial life.

The first settlers knew that extractable metals were the key to prosperity, but soon understood there was not much extractable metal here. Then, they discovered that iron ore from “bog iron” deposits could be scooped up from the mucky bog bottom with longhandled rakes into flat-bottomed boats, then dried and reduced to pure, molten iron.

An uprising by the local Native Americans in 1619, set back an attempt by investors to establish an ironworks in Virginia, causing iron production in the southern colonies to lag behind the north until the Civil War. However, by 1646, the first successful American iron works was established in Saugus, Massachusetts, producing two kinds of iron — cast iron — poured directly into molds to produce the end product, and pig iron — large lumps or “pigs” —that could later be remelted and then reforged to be made

into wrought iron. By 1799, iron manufacturers moved down the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania and Maryland and set up furnaces, such as Redwell Furnace and Isabella Furnace, where they found the combination of good iron ore, limestone, waterpower, and abundant timber for charcoal. Although this early iron ore was mainly used for artillery, a patented method for casting iron made it possible to make what became a very useful item: the Dutch oven, a heavy pot on three legs with a handled lid that was used for outdoors cooking. As indoor wood stoves became more widespread in the 18th and early 19th centuries, iron cookware evolved into flat-bottomed, cast-iron skillets, which became essential pieces of cookware.

Through the 18th century, almost all the colonies began developing their local iron smelting skills and the iron industry blossomed in early America. During those early days of American hardware, the predecessors to doorknobs were made of wood, together with hand-forged cast-iron latches. Window hardware consisted of handforged wrought iron mechanisms like basic pivot hinges and latch systems on wooden casement windows, the most common window style in the early American colonies. Each

piece of hardware was individually created by the local blacksmith, hand hammered and then fired to give the piece its distinctive appearance and designs that were flat and heavy. As technology progressed, the “doublehung” window with sliding sashes became popular, featuring counterweights and more sophisticated hardware like metal pulleys and brass or bronze decorative elements.

In 1840, the first patented cast-iron thumb latch marked the end of handcrafted locks and enabled mass production of these latches. This period was generally recognized as the very beginning of the Industrial Revolution and of the economics of scale — the larger the operation, the more profitable it could be

After the mid-1800s, innovations in massproduced and mass-marketed hardware enabled building and furniture hardware to be more stylistically thematic. What is known as the Victorian era, between 1880 to about 1915, represents the peak of the mass-produced American decorative hardware industry. More affordable cast iron and pressed brass were used to create the intricate designs of Victorian era hardware. The pleasing simplicity and functionality of the unembellished knobs, rim locks, thumb latches, strap hinges and iron butt hinges used in both door and furniture hardware were replaced by lavish, complicated, swirling, floral patterns in relief.

The early 20th century saw the rise of Art Nouveau, which broke away from the heavy ornamentation of the Victorian era and was a time of tremendous experimentation in design and materials. This period marked the great transition from Eastlake in 1880 to 1900, with its geometric, natural designs, to Art Nouveau in 1895 to 1910, known for its flowing, organic lines and asymmetrical designs. Art Nouveau had a significant impact on decorative hardware. Handles, hinges, and knobs were created with sinuous forms and often incorporated motifs inspired by plants and flowers.

As a countercultural response to mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement

from 1900 to 1920 emerged and sought to revive hand craftsmanship, rejecting the aesthetics of the “machine-made.” The use of brass and other metals also became popular during this time, as they were more durable and resistant to rust than iron. Then, from 1925 to 1940, Art Deco design became popular, with its streamlined aerodynamic curves and bold, geometric shapes. This “modern era” saw the use of more streamlined and simple hardware designs, often made from stainless steel or aluminum.

After the end of World War II, the adoption of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade created increased demand for American products, benefitting hardware manufacturers. This period of prosperity lasted through the 1950s, reflecting the need to inexpensively mass-produce hardware items for a post-war society that was constructing thousands of new homes a year. Then in the 1970s, lowcost global producers and manufacturing conglomerates aligned with respected brands and made themselves more attractive to key retailers, marking the end of the golden age of American innovation in decorative hardware.

From colonial America to the modern era, hardware has played an important role in making furniture and building parts more durable, functional and aesthetically pleasing. Contemporary hardware is available in a wide range of materials, finishes and styles — sleek and modern hardware or ornate and decorative pieces. Although much contemporary hardware is not made of iron, bronze or brass, and is not domestically manufactured anymore, many Americans are again appreciating substance, quality and endurance in handcrafted workmanship design and are again using more “organic” materials. Together with a desire to reduce our footprint on this planet, we are salvaging older homes and revaluing antique architectural hardware.

Michelle Galler is an antiques dealer, painter and columnist residing both Maryland and Virginia.

Courtesy of Rocky Mountain Hardware.

GEORGETOWNER COVERS

Where are they today?

We can’t tell you how many times we’ve been asked: “When will I be on the cover of The Georgetowner?” It’s a good question.

For decades now, the 70-year-old newspaper has sported a full-photo front page. It was not always like that. The Georgetowners during the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s looked like your old standard papers with a few photos and homespun artwork. Of course, famous folks made the pages like the Kennedys, local politicians too, as well as ambassadors and royalty — along with scenes of the canal towpath or Potomac River. Images of buildings, maps and charts finished off the layout. Nothing too showy, but our neighbors Averell and Pamela Harriman didn’t mind.

Now in our splashier era, thanks to the talents of photographers Philip Bermingham, Greg Blakey, David Kennerly, Fred Maroon, Lauretta McCoy, Neshan Naltchayan, Mary Noble Ours, Tony Powell, Patrick Ryan, Yvonne Taylor and a few staffers, The Georgetowner spends extra time on its graphics and it shows.

The results are always worth it — and sometimes even spectacular.

The Georgetowner’s covers have highlighted politicians, philanthropists, artists, business leaders, educators, celebrities, chefs and, perhaps most importantly, everyday Georgetowners.

You may have glimpsed Jack & Jackie, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, Marion Barry, Muriel Bowser, Vince Gray, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, RBG, Kitty Kelley, Tony

Dr. Fauci – Lucky G.U. students to learn from one of best.

Claire Wilder & Liz Baker – Exciting times for Georgetown! There are a few new businesses and many more coming, including Osteria Mozza by the Starr Restaurant Group (of Le Diplomat) in the former Dean & Deluca space opening in November.

efforts. Have you supported the Third Annual BellRinger Bike Ride coming Oct. 25-26?

Fashion Santa – According to his Instagram profile, Fashion Santa, aka Paul Mason, still strives to embody the values of the real Santa: compassion, kindness and giving.

Philip Bermingham – A newlywed, grandfather, and his photo of RBG inspired

Fauci, the Exorcist, Wolfgang Puck, Santa Claus, Madeleine Albright, Christian Zapatka, Avery Miller, Nefertiti, Bradley Cooper, Fred Ryan, Billy Martin, Michael Saylor, Mark Ein, Vincent De Paul, John and Kristin Cecchi, Colman Riddell, Michelle Korsmo, Amy Porter Stroh, Amy Baier, Jamie Dories, Cindy Jones, Robert Bell, Alexander Graham Bell, Michael Kahn, Sachiko Kuno, Kate Goodall, Scott and Jill Altman, Natalie Portman, Sid and Ann Mashburn, Anthony Lanier, Jim Kimsey, Antonial Atkins, Abraham Lincoln, Alyson Burkhardt, Frank Sinatra, Tom Davidson, Ralph Lauren, Jack and Theresa DeGioia, Amy Manitas and Martin Gammon, Zubair and Shamin Popal, Jack Davies and Kay Kendall, Tom Anderson and Marc Schappell, Jennifer Romm, Tara Parker, Annie Liebovitz, Mickey Berra, George Stevens, Maziar and Shahab Farivar, Christie Brinkley, Charlize Theron — and the Nationals, too And we’re not even mentioning those cool modeling photos on the cover that catch your eye. And as for that first question, let us just say: “If you have to ask …”

The following are updates on just a few of the many individuals who have graced Georgetowner covers over the years.

Links to our cover stars are all available online in this issue, and in our archive are all issues dating back to 2010. We are working on digitizing all Georgetowner issues since 1954.

specializing in Georgetown renovations and is currently enjoying his new office on P Street NW, where he works with his brothers.

Sunny Sumter – Sumter, the president and CEO of the D.C. Jazz Fest, just celebrated the festival’s 25th anniversary.

Billy Martin – Martin’s Tavern is on the cover celebrating their 85th anniversary as

Angel Gil Ordonez – Maestro Gil-Ordóñez is still going strong with the PostClassical Ensemble and serves as Director of Georgetown University’s Orchestra and Adjunct Professor of the Practice among many more things.

Ian Myers, Azali Kassum & Family – The Georgetown House Tour has been a staple for Georgetown and our cover story every April for as long as we can remember. Next year, she is chairing the tour or the patron’s party. They bought the former home of Sen. Robert Taft (R-OH) and are renovating it—we are eagerly awaiting a future Georgetown House Tour Patrons Party there ... ha-ha.

Emily Sower, Kathryn Minor, Donna Leanos, Patrons Party Co-Chairs – Kudos to another great Georgetown House Tour Patrons Party with these lovely co-chairs.

Dr. Samir Khleif – Fortunately for all of us, he still works for Georgetown University’s Medical Center as an immunologist and immune therapist researcher and professor. The cure is sure to come with all the efforts through G.U.’s fundraising and research

an official USA postage stamp. He has photographed more than 45 covers for The Georgetowner.

President Joe Biden – President Biden, we thank you for your service and 50-plus years in public life.

Dr. Eleni Tousimis – Has moved to Florida and is still a board-certified general surgeon who is a nationally renowned specialist in breast cancer surgery.

they enter 91 years in business, and we’re looking forward to 100!

Bill Dean – Dean, third-generation CEO of the family business, MC Dean, a designbuild and systems integration corporation. He is a philanthropist and fun fixture in the community.

Tycely Williams – I n July she graced our cover as head of the Junior League of Washington and the first African American in that position. She’s now based in South Carolina.

venues since it opened in December 2017.

Mayor Muriel Bowser – Is she our mayor for life? What about a fourth term?

Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. - He was on the cover as publisher of the Washington Post after Bezos purchased it. He is now chair of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute and is leading the launch of the new Center on Civility and Democracy. See his guest opinion on page 13.

Dr. Sachiko Kuno – Dr. Kuno is the steward of Evermay and Halcyon House and has been featured twice on the cover for her incredible contributions to Georgetown through her foundations.

Scott & Jill Altman – Our favorite Georgetown astronaut and his wife, who is very active in the community.

Rebecca Clerget – After helping found Dog Tag Bakery, which is still helping our vets and working with Georgetown University today, Clergent took over Cafe Triskele in Lee, Massachusetts.

Dale Overmyer – Along with his wife Melissa, the duo recovered from arson of their home and are enjoying their new home and gorgeous renovations. Dale’s architecture business is thriving in Georgetown and beyond.

Christian Zapatka – Zapatka winner of the prestigious Rome Award for Architecture has spent over two decades in business

Brindley Bros. – The brothers, who own Union Stage and Jammin Java, have welcomed big name acts to their Wharf and Vienna

Kitty Kelley – In addition to her popular book club column in this newspaper, she gave $1 million to Biographers International.

Kelley is also a philanthropist for many great causes, including the Georgetown Citizens Association.

Mark Ein – A venture capitalist and success story, founded the Washington Kastles tennis team in 2008, has chaired the DC Open since 2019, is a limited partner of the Washington Commanders, owns the Washington City Paper and owns the famed Katharine Graham House (aka the Beall-Washington House).

Nancy Taylor Bubes – Nancy is still one of the top real estate agents in Georgetown and a big contributor to the community

Salvatore Ferragamo, Jr. – Ferragamo, Jr. living the good life, calling himself a “winemaker by passion” in his Instagram profile (@salvatore_ferragamo_jr).

Outerbridge Horsey – Horsey continues to work as a talented architect in Georgetown.

Placido Domingo – After women accused him of harassment in 2020, Domingo resigned from the U.S. union that represents opera singers. He contributed $500,000 to sexual harassment eradication programs, as well as a fund that helps opera employees who are in crisis.

Franco Nuschese – The co-founder of Café

“little brother,” has owned Georgetown Tobacco for 60 years. He is like family to us.

Stephanie Bothwell & Frank Babb

Randolph – Frank is a retired designer, and Stephanie is still going strong with volunteer work including Citizens Association of Georgetown and her landscape design business.

Jack Evans – Former councilmember for 30 years, Ward 2, left his position after facing multiple ethics investigations. Remains active in D.C.

him here: DeGioia Family, c/o Georgetown University President’s Office, 207 Healy Hall, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, D.C. 20057

Kristin & John Cecchi – The Cecchis are prominent in the D.C. social scene as well as home designers and philanthropists.

Barry and Marla Beck – These amazing entrepreneurs are just two of many to start their retail cosmetics business model in Georgetown. They sold BlueMercury to Macy’s for $210 million in cash.

Madeleine Albright – who immigrated to the U.S. in 1948 and in the 1990s become United Nations ambassador, then the first woman to serve as secretary of state — died on March 23, 2022, at age 84. She taught at Georgetown University starting in 1982.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Nicknamed “Notorious RBG” for her fierce dissents, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve as a Supreme Court associate justice — and the first Jewish woman — died in Sept. 18 2020

Barack & Michelle Obama – Still an inspiration, the former president and first lady have a home in Kalorama neighborhood.

Marc Schappell & Tom Anderson –Schappell and Anderson, co-owners of Washington Fine Properties along with Dana Landry and Bill Moody, celebrated 25 years of WFP in June of this year.

Scott & Patty Ivey – Patty, now a cancer survivor, lives in Massachusetts on the ocean and still owns Down Dog Yoga on 34th Street.

Karen Ohri, Samantha Hays, and Hope Solomon – Karen Ohri, owner of Georgetown Floor Coverings, is still running the family business (which just turned 70 too!) while her father Ron enjoys living the retired life. In our

Milano is still running the 30-plus year-old Georgetown institution.

Louis Everard – Owner of Everard’s Clothing on Wisconsin Avenue with his wife, Jennifer Nygard; they maintain a classic clothing boutique.

David Berkebile – Dave, considered our

Maria & Fabio Trabocchi – Now divorced, Maria is living in Spain in her mother country with her daughter, while Chef Fabio is still running Fiola Mare and the restaurant empire.

Jack DeGioia – Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack DeGioia as he recovers from a stroke. You can send your well wishes to

cover story, her son Jayson was just 2 years old. He is now 15, playing lacrosse, and his siblings are 21 and 26, both GMU grads.

Wes & Betty Foster - In 1968, Paul Wesley “Wes” Foster, co-founder of Long & Foster Real Estate, which became the country’s largest independent real estate brokerage by sales volume, died on March 17, 2023, at the age of 89.

at age 87. Earlier, from 1980 to 1993, she was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and lived at the Watergate.

Michel Richard – Born and raised in France, chef-restaurateur Michel Richard — who died of complications of a stroke on Aug. 13, 2016, at age 68 — found fame in the nation’s capital in 1993 when he opened Citronelle on M Street NW in Georgetown’s Latham Hotel.

Buzz Beler – Constantine “Buzz” Beler, founder of the Prime Rib Restaurant on K Street died in Oct. 23, 2019. The legendary restaurateur once went after patrons who skipped out on a big bill, and he caught them at Cafe Milano.

Pierre Salinger – Press secretary to President Kennedy, Salinger wrote a column for The Georgetowner from 1998 to 2002. He left the U.S. after President George W. Bush’s election and died on Oct. 16, 2004, in France.

John F. Kennedy – The 35th president lived in Georgetown for many years before moving to the White House. Our town has been called Kennedyland.

Years in Print

THE GEORGETOWNER 1950s

October 1954 -- The Georgetowner Newspaper makes its debut, after being assembled on the second floor of Little Caledonia on Wisconsin Avenue by founder Ami Stewart, with help from the Randolph sisters. Stewart writes on the front page: “Sufficient encouragement has already been given to us in our undertaking to make us feel that our interest in Georgetown and our labors will meet with the approval of a kindly and interested public.”

January 1957 -- For President Dwight Eisenhower’s second inauguration, Judy Waldrop Frank writes, “Presidents’ Ladies, Inaugural Ball -- What the Cynosures Wore.”

April 1958 -- The Georgetowner asks, “Senator John F. Kennedy -- Will He Be Georgetown’s First President?” Three years later, Georgetown resident John Kennedy was elected president and prepared to move out of 3307 N St., NW, to the White House.

and Jack Kennedy at their Dent Place home in the 1950s.

1960s

October 1960 -- The Washington Senators move to Minnesota to became the Twins. Baseball returrns to D.C. in 2005, with the Nationals.

March 1961 -- Ratified by the states, the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution allows, for the first time, D.C. citizens the right to vote in a presidential election.

July 1962 -- Richard McCooey opens 1789 Restaurant and the Tombs, with public support from Georgetowner publisher Ami Stewart.

January 1962 -- Streetcars make their last run in D.C. Only the 3200 through 3600 blocks of O and P streets in Georgetown show the tracks and conduits of the old system.

1963 -- Clyde’s of Georgetown opens. It was the first restaurant to offer brunch in D.C. and the first to hire women as part of its wait staff.

1963 -- The Georgetown Citizens Association and the Progressive Citizens Association merge to form the Citizens Association of Georgetown. Initial talks about a proposed merger ran on the Jan. 16, 1958, front page of The Georgetowner with extensive coverage.

October 1962 -- The Cuban Missile Crisis begins: Kennedy blockades Cuba, gets Soviets to remove missiles -- the closest the two Super Powers came to all-out war.

November 1963 -- President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. Stories about the Kennedys and the effects of Camelot still occasionally make the pages of the Georgetowner to this day.

February 1964 -- The Beatles hold their first U.S. concert in the Washington Coliseum.

1965 -- Blues Alley opens: it is the oldest operating jazz supper club in D.C. The Georgetowner comments on the club: “When you knock, to be let in, just say The Georgetowner sent you.”

April 1968 -- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., is assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. In the aftermath, more than 100 U.S. cities

experience rioting. The worst riot in the U.S. breaks out in Washington, D.C.; 20,000 rioters set 30 new fires each hour. To help D.C. police, 14,000 troops enter the city. Arrests numbered 7,600 with 1,200 buildings burned. Parts of downtown D.C. take years to recover.

June 1968 -- Presidential candidate, Sen. Robert Kennedy, who lived in Georgetown in the 1950s, is fatally shot in Los Angeles.

1968 -- 23-year-old David Roffman goes to work at The Georgetowner; he stays for the next 42 years.

1970s

September 1971 -- The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is established to protect one of Georgetown’s greatest treasures.

September 1971 -- The Kennedy Center opens.

May 1971 -- Mayday student protests against the Vietnam War expand into Georgetown. Georgetown University allows protestors to stay on campus and cancels classes; D.C. police fire tear gas onto university property. National Guardsmen shout to writer Dave Roffman, looking out the Georgetowner office’s window to get back inside and stop taking pictures.

1972 -- The Georgetown Business Association is formed with Rick Hinden of Britches as its president and Georgetowner Newspaper as a Member. June 1972 -- Four men are arrested

Jacqueline

Typical Ford

Georgetowner staff at their offices on 30th Street, Georgetown. Photo by Tony Powell.

The Georgetowner founder Ami Stewart and editor Carol Stuart in 1955.

for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office building. Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein get assigned to check out the break-in, beginning an investigation that would force President Richard Nixon to resign. Later that year, Attorney General John Mitchell is linked to a secret fund that paid for the burglary. After prison, Mitchell lived in Georgetown with Mary Gore Dean — co-owner of the Jockey Club and mother of Deborah Gore Dean, who worked for The Georgetowner.

President Richard Nixon resigns. President Richard Nixon resigns.

September 1972 -- “The Exorcist,” is filmed partly in Georgetown. In its climax, a priest hurls himself down the outside stairs between the house and the Car Barn at 36th Street, NW, connecting Prospect and M streets.

1974 -- Western High School becomes the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

September 1975 -- Michael O’Harro opens Tramp’s Discotheque, holds adult Halloween parties on the street and creates a Georgetown tradition. (In October 1983, O’Harro opens Champions Sports Bar.) Publisher Dave Roffman is a regular judge in many beauty and sports contests.

June 1976 -- Georgetowner founder Ami Stewart dies; she is succeeded by Dave Roffman as owner and publisher.

March 1976 -- Metrorail opens. A stop in Georgetown is planned for 2040.

1980s

1980 -- Gary Tischler joins The Georgetowner staff.

January 1983

The Washington Redskins win their first Super Bowl with a dramatic win over Miami. The ultimate victory party is held at Wisconsin Avenue and M Street and gridlocks

Georgetown traffic with revelry, as Georgetowner staffers take it all in. The Redskins are champs again in 1988 and 1992, all three times under coach Joe Gibbs.

April 1984 -- Georgetown University’s men’s basketball team defeats University of Houston, 84-75, in the NCAA final for the Hoyas’ first national championship. The team is coached by John Thompson and led by Patrick Ewing (shown on right with President Reagan).

1989 -- Georgetown University, the nation’s oldest Catholic institution of higher learning, celebrates its bicentennial with outgoing President Timothy Healy, S.J., and incoming President Leo O’Donovan, S.J. Already working on campus is its current head, John DeGioia, the university’s first lay president and its longest-serving since 2001. (DeGioia was the subject of a May7, 2014, Georgetowner cover story.)

1990s

January 1990 -- The subject of many Georgetowner editorials, Mayor Marion Barry is arrested in an FBI sting on drug possession and sentenced to prison. He is succeeded by Sharon Pratt Dixon, the first black woman to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city.

1991 -- Robert Devaney joins the Georgetowner staff.

November 1991 -- Jack Evans is first elected to the District Council, replacing John Wilson who becomes Council Chairman. Evans, who lives with his wife Michele and family on P Street, is the council’s longest-serving lawmaker.

November 1992 -- Georgetown University graduate Bill Clinton is elected president over incumbent President George H.W. Bush.

1996 -- Sonya Bernhardt joins The Georgetowner staff.

December 1998 -- The Bayou has its final show on New Year’s Eve, as reported by writer Patrick Butters who also celebrates at Nathans Restaurant.

2000s

July 2000 -- Manhole cover explosions rattle M Street businesses. Aging conduits and wires packed too closely near gas lines are seen as the culprits.

November 2000 -- George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore appear tied in the presidential election. The Supreme Court rules in favor of Bush concerning disputed votes in Florida. The Georgetowner prints its splitimage front page of Bush and Gore.

May 2001 -- Georgetown celebrates its 250th birthday, and The Georgetowner staff is part of the parade.

September 2001 -- America is attacked by terrorists: the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center collapse, the Pentagon is damaged and an airliner over Pennsylvania is taken down; nearly 3,000 people are killed. The Georgetowner reports with a cover with no text except its logo at half its size and a photo of the smoking Pentagon.

November 2001 -- The Georgetowner office moves to 1054 Potomac St., NW, where it will remain until Feb. 1, 2014 -- its longest time in one place -- before moving to 2801 M St., NW.

October 2002 -- The Beltway Snipers stalk and terrify the Washington area; 10 are killed. Newspaper distributors express their concern about driving a white van.

March 2003 -- The Georgetowner creates The Downtowner newspaper and forms the Georgetown Media Group.

July 2004 -- Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry, picks Sen. John Edwards as his running mate. Kerry lives on the 3300 block of O Street, NW, and Edwards on the 3300 block of P St., NW, one block north. For Georgetown, it is “a hometown ticket,” writes The Georgetowner.

April 2007 -- Fires devastate the Georgetown Public Library -- its Peabody Room contains all past copies of The Georgetowner -- and

Eastern Market within hours of each other. (On October 18, 2010, the Georgetown Public Library reopened after a $17.9 million dollar renovation).

2010s

August 2011 -- An earthquake in Virginia is felt in The Georgetowner’s Washington, D.C. office. The quake significantly damages the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral.

May 2011 -- Osama Bin Laden, mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, is killed by Navy SEALS in Pakistan. The Georgetowner is on the scene in front of the White House and reports on the capacity crowd -- mostly Georgetown and George Washington University students -- celebrating that night.

November 2011 -- Georgetown Waterfront Park opens to the delight of the entire community.

October 2014 -- The Georgetowner turns 60 years old.

January 2017 -- Donald Trump inaugurated as president 2017.

Georgetown Main Street comes to life. June 2018 – The Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup, bring it to Georgetown, where they partied with the cup and fans. October 2019

The Washington Nationals win the World Series.

2020s

January 2020 -- Georgetown Business Association dies.

February 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic spreads globally.

May 2020 -- The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police prompted riots and looting across the country, including in Georgetown. 2021 -- Riots at the Capitol Building on January 6.

President Biden inaugurated as the 46th president.

June 2022 -- The Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion.

2024 -- The Georgetowner turns 70 years old.

July 2024 -- President Joe Biden withdraws from presidential race; Vice President Kamala Harris becomes Democratic nominee.

Club owner Michael O’Harro poses with his Rolls-Royce. The poster was a best seller.

Peacock Cafe’s Maziar and Shahab Farivar flank Bill and Hillary Clinton.

The Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

IN COUNTRY CALENDAR

If you’re looking for a great weekend getaway, there are plenty of great options in Maryland and Virginia. In fact, October is Virginia Wine Month. Mark your calendars for events like the 14th Annual Chesapeake Wine Festival or the Montpelier Hunt Races.

THURSDAY, OCT. 11-MONDAY, OCT. 14

ANNAPOLIS SAILBOAT SHOW

Annapolis, Maryland

Sailors from around the globe gather in downtown Annapolis for the annual event.

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

THE ANNUAL VIRGINIA FALL RACES

12:30 p.m., Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Virginia

The fall races have been a must-attend event since 1955.

THE 14TH ANNUAL CHESAPEAKE WINE FESTIVAL

October 12, 12-6 p.m.

Listen to live music, eat great food, shop, and of course, drink wine at this event that helps local charities. Proceeds will benefit the community charities of the Rotary Club of Cheseapeake.

THE 52ND ANNUAL CHINCOTEAGUE OYSTER FESTIVAL

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tom’s Cove Park, 8128 Beebe Road, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336

The Chincoteague Oyster Festival is held every year to promote the seafood industry and mark the arrival of the oyster season. Expect lots of shrimp, clam fritters, clam chowder, boardwalk fries and more.

THURSDAY, OCT. 17 - SUNDAY, OCT. 20

2024 MIDDLEBURG FILM FESTIVAL

Middleburg, Virginia

Narrative and documentary films — festival favorites, world and regional premieres,

foreign films and Oscar contenders — will be screened in intimate theater environments and followed by conversations with filmmakers, actors and other guests.

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

LOS NOQUES VINEYARD WINE DINNER

6-9 p.m., Middleburg

Indulge in an evening of fine wine and delicious food. Call 540-592-3900.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19 AND SUNDAY, OCT. 20

FALL TOWN POINT VIRGINIA WINE FESTIVAL

11 a.m.-6 p.m., Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk Waterfront

One of Hampton Roads’ most looked forward to events, The Fall Town Point Virginia Wine Festival includes samplings from over 25 of Virginia’s top wines (with 200+ wines available for samplings and sales!).

Fall Town Point Virginia Wine Festival.

MONDAY, OCT. 21, THROUGH SUNDAY, OCT. 27

THE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW

Prince George’s Equestrian Center, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

The famed show will be held over seven days and nights in the Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center.

THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL GOLD CUP RACES

10 a.m., Glenwood Park, Middleburg

The venue and date for the event was changed due to The National Steeplechase Association deeming the original spot, Great Meadow, as “in disrepair and unsafe.”

SATURDAY, NOV. 2

MONTPELIER HUNT RACES

11350 Constitution Highway, Montpelier Station, VA 22957

Family and friends are invited for a day of horseracing, tailgating, children’s activities and more.

SATURDAY, NOV. 9

THOMAS JEFFERSON WINE FESTIVAL

11 a.m.-5 p.m., Poplar Forest, 1776

Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg, VA

Sample wines, enjoy live music, foods from local vendors, and shop an artisan market.

MacMahon (540) 454-1930

Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

Montpelier Hunt Races. Courtesy Montpelier.

Urbana Oyster Festival. Courtesy Virginia.org.

Cocktail of the Month

The Crack Baby

BY JODY KURASH

September finally brought some good news from across the pond about the royal family. In a heartwarming and deeply personal video, Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced that she had finished the chemotherapy portion of her cancer battle. It featured images of Kate, Prince William and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, sharing hugs and laughs. While she is still not cancer-free, and her journey is ongoing, I think we should all raise a toast to honor the brave and well-loved princess.

Princess Kate, like other members of Britain’s royal family, has been known to imbibe a drink or two to celebrate or to relax. In 2023, Kate and her husband both enjoyed a pint of Guinness during an official visit to the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. That same year, when she attended the Houghton Festival with friends, she reportedly indulged in several of those tequila-based

classics, margaritas.

As reported previously in this column, during their college years at St Andrews, both William and Kate favored a punchlike cocktail named Treasure Chest. This combination of peach liqueur, brandy and Champagne was served in a wooden chest for £135 a pop at Mahiki, a nowclosed London tiki bar.

According to the Daily Express, Kate also enjoys a nice gin and tonic. The article said that William apparently brings his wife one after putting their three children to bed. Now that’s a real Prince Charming! But her top cocktail might just be the one she chose to serve at her wedding in 2011: the unroyally named Crack Baby. While its moniker sounds like it may have come from the slums, the ingredients are posh, including Champagne and Chambord — the French raspberry liqueur that comes in a bulbous bottle with a crown on top. The other components are vodka,

passion fruit juice and one of Britain’s favorite treats, strawberries.

Kate is said to have discovered the drink at the Boujis bar in London’s upscale Kensington, where it was invented. The glitterati hotspot, known for its strict door policy, was a favorite haunt of the young royals.

This light, sweet and dangerously drinkable combination quickly earned its reputation for being “moreish” — meaning it’s so nice that you want to keep drinking more. Originally, the drink was served in a syringe, a far cry from the sophisticated image associated with the polished princess.

Boujis eventually closed, in 2016. There were incidents of fighting, but perhaps the most shocking accusation was that staff members were filling bottles of Dom Pérignon with a much cheaper £10 alternative, ripping off their well-heeled customer base.

According to makemeacocktail.com: “Rather than shutting down permanently, the venue reinvented itself as a private members-only club, shifting focus from late-night revelry to a more refined dining experience. It’s likely that Kate still enjoys her favorite cocktail there, away from prying eyes.”

Despite the Boujis shutdown, the Crack Baby cocktail lives on in other trendy bars eager to give their customers the

royal treatment. And if you have a blender, it’s easy to whip up a batch at home. Combining the tart passion fruit with the sweet strawberries and raspberry liqueur makes for a nice flavor balance, and the Champagne on top gives it a refreshing and bubbly edge.

So let’s all lift our glasses to Princess Kate and wish her well on her recovery!

THE CRACK BABY

INGREDIENTS

• 1 LITER PASSION FRUIT JUICE

• 375ML VODKA

• 280ML CHAMBORD

• 15 STRAWBERRIES, HULLED AND CHOPPED, WITH MORE FOR GARNISH

• 750ML BRUT CHAMPAGNE

INSTRUCTIONS

Put ice, passion fruit juice, vodka, chopped strawberries and Chambord in a blender and mix well. Pour into a martini glass until half full, then top with Champagne. Stir lightly and serve with a strawberry garnish.

The Crack Baby was the cocktail served at Prince William and Princess Kate’s wedding in 2011.

THE LATEST DISH

Fall Into a Delicious Election Season

BY LINDA ROTH

Matt Baker’s 101 Hospitality (Gravitas, Michele’s, Baker’s Daughter) is slated to open Lucille’s Modern Chophouse in the Kimpton George Hotel at 15 E St. NW on Capitol Hill, where Jeff Buben’s Bistro Bis catered to power brokers for 26 years. An opening late in the fourth quarter is targeted.

Michael Mina’s San Francisco-based Mina Group is targeting the first quarter of 2025 to open Italian-themed Lunara in City Ridge

at 14 Ridge Square NW. The group will also operate a Ridge rooftop space. On the Mina roster in this area: Bourbon Steak, Mina Brasserie and Wit & Wisdom

Dany Abi-Najm (Lebanese Taverna Restaurant Group), Nasr El Hage (Ritz Banc Group) and Nellie Elana Gebrail (private equity) plan to open Barbouzard, a FrenchMediterranean restaurant at 1700 K St. NW, where Kellari Taverna used to be. “Barbouzard” translates to “secret agent.”

An opening in the second quarter of 2025 is targeted.

Dog Daze Social Club, a dog-friendly restaurant garden, will open later this month in Logan Circle at 1100 Rhode Island Ave. NW, offering a place for dogs and their pet parents to dine, drink and hang out. It will serve coffee and breakfast items in the morning, then pizza, sandwiches and desserts, as well as adult beverages, for lunch and dinner.

Chef Update: Jeffrey Williams, formerly of NOÉ Restaurant & Bar at the Omni Los Angeles, will reign over the kitchen at the InterContinental Washington D.C. at The Wharf, taking the helm where Moon

Rabbit and Kith/Kin used to be. Daniel Perron (Charlie Palmer Steak, Trummer’s) and Luca Giovannini (Fiola Mare, Donahue Lounge in Georgetown) plan to open Divino Ristorante Enoteca, a northern Italian restaurant, at 2505 Wisconsin Ave. NW at the Glover Park Hotel, where Casolare used to be, early in the fourth quarter. A 60-seat patio will become a casual wine garden offering snacks and wines by the glass. Divino means “divine” or “of wine,” depending on what language you are speaking.

Quick Hits: Chef Pepe Moncayo will open Arrels, a modern Spanish restaurant, in the fourth quarter in the Arlo hotel at 333 G St. NW. Arrels means “roots” in Catalan … Also in the fourth quarter, La Tingeria will open its third location at Port City Brewing Co., 3950 Wheeler Ave. in Alexandria, Virginia, aiming to create a natural pairing between tacos and craft beer… One more in the fourth quarter, also in Virginia: Sisters Thai will open its fifth metro-area location at 7730 Capital One Tower Road in Tysons.

Just Opened: Michael Rafidi opened La’ Shukran, “a retro-modern late-night” bar, bistro and rooftop terrace at Union Market. Radovan Jankovic leads the beverage program and sommelier William Simons orchestrates

the wine program … Now owned by Jonathan Wells, who also owns nearby Club Timehri, a Caribbean-themed night club, Grand Central Restaurant & Bar is about to reopen at 2447 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan … Also in Adams Morgan, Brazilian caipirinha and record bar Cana opened at 2412 18th St. NW. Ch-CH-Changes: Green Pig Bistro in Clarendon, Virginia, will relocate to the ground floor at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and N. Fillmore, the location of Buena Vida Gastrolounge and its rooftop deck. Both are owned by Fitzgerald Lewis, who also owns Barley Mac in Rosslyn, Crafthouse franchises in Fairfax and Reston, Don Luis in Centerville, Dudley’s Sport and Ale in Shirlington, The Harbour Grille in Woodbridge and Stan’s in D.C., as well as a few Denny’s franchises. Chef Laurence Cohen (formerly of Seamore’s and Truluck’s) oversees the food operations for all of Lewis’s restaurant operations.

Linda Roth is the founder and CEO of Linda Roth Associates, a D.C.-based public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the food service and hospitality industries. Follow her at: @LindaRothPR, #LindaRothPR or lindarothpr.com.

CONGRATULATIONS to THE GEORGETOWNER

Daniel Perron and Luca Giovannini plan to open Divino Ristorante Enoteca, a northern Italian restaurant, at 2505 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Courtesy DivinoDC.com.

At the Kennedy Center: Broadway’s ‘Spelling Bee’ Is Generating Buzz

BY HAILEY WHARRAM

With a cast jam-packed with stars from the stage and silver screen alike, the Kennedy Center’s upcoming production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is already generating considerable buzz ahead of its opening night, Oct. 11.

Loquacious and laugh-out-loud funny in equal measure, thanks to the jaunty musical stylings of William Finn — the Tony Awardwinning composer of “Falsettos” — “Spelling Bee” tells the charming story of six middleschool wordsmiths battling it out for the coveted title of Spelling Bee Champion.

As the members of this ragtag crew bear their souls to the audience one by one, sharing their feelings of inadequacy and earnest affection for the English language (among other musings), viewers cannot help but fall in love with every one of them.

When the show first premiered on Broadway in 2005, seven of the nine cast members — including Jesse Tyler Ferguson before his “Modern Family” days — made their Broadway debut. However, this time around at The Kennedy Center, director Danny Mefford’s cast is chock-full of familiar faces.

For starters, Tony Award-winning Bonnie Milligan, Mefford’s fellow “Kimberly Akimbo” alum, will portray Rona Lisa Peretti, winner of Putnam’s third Spelling Bee and moderator of its 25th. Further, “Booksmart” stars Beanie Feldstein and Noah Galvin have been cast as competitors Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre and Leaf Coneybear, respectively.

Kevin McHale, best known for playing Artie Abrams on the television musical comedy “Glee,” will be playing William Barfée — a contestant with a highly-effective strategy of spelling each word on the ground with his “magic foot.”

In an interview with The Georgetowner, McHale shared his fondness for Finn’s nowclassic musical and his enthusiasm to bring Barfée to life on the Kennedy Center stage.

“I love the show,” said McHale. “It’s wonderful, it’s kooky, its music is great, it’s hilarious. So I’m just so excited to do it, and I’m so excited to get to play Will Barfée — probably the most fun character I’ve ever gotten to play.”

In addition to championing everything the

stellar script of “Spelling Bee” has to offer, McHale is also looking forward to performing the show alongside such an accomplished and talented cast.

“I’m excited to get to hear some of my favorite voices and see some of my favorite performers do some of my favorite roles. And get to be in the room and watch it,” McHale said. “You know, I’m familiar with being part of an ensemble that takes place in a school, and so I feel comfortable.”

Though, the premise of “Spelling Bee,” which involves watching a group of 30-something actors play overly anxious tweens with advanced vocabularies, might sound a little niche, rest assured that the musical’s target audience is anything but.

“There’s no way nobody doesn’t like this,” McHale said. “I feel like it’s like a quick show. It’s easy, it’s funny, there’s great music. It has a bit of everything. And I feel like there’s a surprise element that you don’t normally get to see in theater — a little crowd participation.”

One of the unique hallmarks of “Spelling Bee” is its incorporation of the audience into the show. At one point during the performance, four attendees are called on stage to try their hands — or “magic feet?” — at spelling a few words.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be presented in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater from Oct. 11 through Oct. 20. Tickets for the production can be

Kevin McHale and the cast of Spelling Bee in rehearsal. Photo by Daniel Rader

Congratulations to the S&R Evermay Award Winners

BY THE GEORGETOWNER

EVERMAY VISIONARIES

Evermay Visionaries is a year-long professional development and grant program that gives $50,000 in funding to an organization to support early career stage women. The program helps the women gain an opportunity to be the primary investigator and author on a research project and to break into the next stage of their careers.

Senior Policy Analyst for Immigration at the Center American Progress

Domestic Climate Policy Analyst for the Energy and Environment team at the Center for American Progress

THE WASHINGTON AWARDS

China expert and Research Associate for the Stimson Center’s Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program

The Washington Awards recognizes artists in D.C. whose work focuses on making a social impact or inspiring social change in new, innovative ways.

ROSA BARRIENTOSFERRER

MACKENNA RAWLINS

JAMIE FRIEDMAN

HOLLY BASS Interdisciplinary Practice

ALANNA FIELDS Visual Artist

ANGELA GLADUE Dance KOKAYI Music

This Month: Nourish Your Soul, Care for Your Body

BY KATE OCZYPOK

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a good time to make a screening appointment (in line with U.S. guidelines). And Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day. With work stress at an alltime high, this year’s theme is mental health in the workplace. Finally, to help end cancer, don’t miss BellRinger weekend: a bike ride and related programming on Oct. 25 and 26.

recommendations

OCTOBER: BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women, regardless of race or ethnicity? The renovated, spa-like Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at MedStar Georgetown, nestled within the new Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the ideal place to explore treatment options, obtain a second opinion or get your mammogram. Current guidelines advise women between the ages of 40 and 74 to be screened for breast cancer every other year.

ACE WINDOW

OCT. 25 AND 26: BELLRINGER 2024

There’s still time to sign up for BellRinger, an effort that brings together a community of people dedicated to ending cancer. Founded in 2022, the organization works with Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive

Cancer Center. Participants can ride 25, 50 or 100 miles, or help volunteer at the opening ceremony, rest stops or finish lines. You can even take a virtual ride. More information can be found at bellringer.org.

outside. Family owned and operated for

We also offer glass, screen, and sash cord repair service • Ask about our no

CASH FOR ESTATES

Jewelry to furniture, antiques, art, collections, accumulations

Gary Roman (301)520-0755 theatticllc.com

THE POWER OF LOCAL.

The Georgetowner is mailed to all 7,700 RESIDENTS & BUSINESSES in Georgetown. Visit georgetowner. com to learn more

Mammogram

have changed to skew younger in recent years. Courtesy MedStar Health.

BellRinger 2024 will be on Oct. 25 and 26. Courtesy Lombardi Center.

OCT. 10: WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

This year’s World Mental Health Day theme: “It’s Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace.” You can support mental health at work by expressing gratitude, practicing kind email etiquette and making a few no-meetings or no-phone-calls days each month. It’s always important to take time out of your day to ask someone, “How are you?” Be mindful, considerate and, of course, prioritize your own mental health first and foremost by utilizing tools like mindfulness, therapy and exercise.

CINK Center Opens in Old Town, Alexandria

This article is sponsored content. Linda and Havilah are both classically trained ballet dancers as well as master Pilates Instructors. They are experts with all kinds of bodies: from the hypermobile to those suffering from gripping patterns and chronic pain; from novices to advanced athletes/dancers; and structural issues resulting from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, pectus excavatum/ carinatum, scoliosis and more.

BENEFITS OF CORRECTIVE INTEGRATED NEURO-KINETIC PROGRAMS

• CINK Changes the Body’s Structure: CINK’s deeper focus on the nerves and integrative physics allows it to change the actual structure of the body, improving posture, kyphosis, scoliosis, ribcage malformations, and even bunions while also enhancing muscle tone.

• CINK Relieves Pain: Beyond improving the body’s structural appearance, CINK treats disorders created by nerve and structural imbalances. CINK has been shown to successfully treat: chronic pain, various degenerative diseases of the spine and joints, nerve damage, and hEDS (hypermobility) while improving respiration, cardiovascular function, and lymphedema.

• CINK helps you Perform activities Better: CINK teaches the body to balance the strain of gravity and impact reducing overuse pain and injury while improving strength, flexibility, balance, and agility. The results show in a greater ability to perform simple movements such as prolonged sitting, standing, and walking to enhanced performance in complex movements required for professional dance and sports.

Visit www.cinkcenter.com for more information.

Linda and Havilah offer private lessons in CINK as well as Pilates. Call 703-966-4733 or email cinkcenter@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary evaluation/ assessment.

Citizens Celebrate Georgetown and The Georgetowner

BY THE GEORGETOWNER

The Citizens Association of Georgetown hosted its “Celebration of Georgetown” annual fundraiser — to celebrate The Georgetowner’s 70th anniversary on Sept. 20, at Coolidge House on Prospect Street. Co-chaired by Ami Aronson and Luke Russert, the elegant and end-ofsummer reception welcomed more than 250 persons.

With an after party at B&B Italia on M Street, the spirited event was a homecoming of sorts with many guests happy to see their neighbors — and brought together the longest-running civic association in the country, the town’s newspaper and the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, which occupies the former home of Sen. Claiborne Pell.

Sophia Hall, Alison Bernstein Shulman, Ami Becker Aronson, Mauree Jane Perry and Richard Bernstein. Photo by Dan Swartz.

The Georgetowner’s Publisher Sonya Bernhardt with her family Susan, Stefan, Elisa and Tam Bayoumi

CAG Board of Directors: Past President Tara Sakraida Parker, President Paul K. Williams, Gerald Musarra, Tamim Bayoumi, Stephanie Bothwell, Kate Hasty, Amy A. Titus, Mark Martinkov, and Leslie Zemnick. Photo by Dan Swartz.

Ami Aronson and Brittany Sawyer at the B&B Italia after party

The Georgetowner’s Editor Robert Devaney and Publisher Sonya Bernhardt. Co-chairs Ami Becker Aronson and Luke Russert. Photo by Dan Swartz.

GALA GUIDE

Fall Balls and Galas

COMPILED BY KATE OCZYPOK

Here are the top balls and galas happening between Oct. 9 and Nov. 13, when The Georgetowner’s next print issue will be published.

OCTOBER 2024

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10

A WIDE CIRCLE PRESENTS

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR NIGHT

2024: A NIGHT OF INTRIGUE AND IMPACT

6-9 p.m., International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW

The event will honor Tonia Wellons, president and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

THE 48TH ANNUAL LETELIER-MOFFITT HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS

5:30 p.m., Friends Meeting of Washington, D.C., 2111 Decatur Pl. NW

Honor three outstanding champions of human rights.

2024 CHILD HEALTH ADVOCATE AND NOW YOUTH LEADERS AWARDS CELEBRATION

5-9 p.m., La Vie, 88 District Sq. SW #Floor 4.6

The event is open to all members of the children’s environmental health community.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

2024 CHAMBER’S CHOICE AWARDS & GALA

6-11:30 p.m., National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW

Celebrates leaders who are contributing to the businesses and neighborhoods of and around D.C.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16

ROCK CREEK CONSERVANCY GALA

6 p.m., Rock Creek Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road NW

The gala celebrates progress in restoring Rock Creek’s forests, building community around the Carter Barron Amphitheater and nurturing current and future Rock Creek stewards.

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

WASHINGTON AREA WOMEN’S FOUNDATION STAND TOGETHER RECEPTION

6-9 p.m., The National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 NY Ave. NW

The event gathers leaders to celebrate the work of those empowering women and girls of color in the D.C. area.

THE 10TH ANNUAL SMITHSONIAN FOOD HISTORY GALA

6:30 p.m., The National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW

The gala celebrates the role the Food History Project plays in what we eat.

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

OAK HILL CEMETERY’S 175TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

6 p.m., Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St. NW

Celebrate the honored history and bright future of D.C.’s oldest rural-style cemetery.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

BREAK THE CYCLE: SOME’S ANNUAL GALA

6 p.m., Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW

Break the Cycle celebrates the successes of So Others Might Eat, the triumphs of its clients and the recipients of its highest honors.

MONDAY, OCT. 21

CHEFS FOR EQUALITY 2024

6 p.m., National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW

The annual event brings together over 150 of the area’s chefs and mixologists.

THE 2024 RECORDS OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD CEREMONY & GALA

The National Archives, 701 Constitution Ave. NW

This year’s event honors David Grann, Martin Scorsese and Lily Gladstone.

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

GOING PLACES 2024

MLK, Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW

Jay Epstein will be honored this year.

SIBLEY SOIREE

7-11 p.m., The National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 NY Ave. NW

The event will help support the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley hospital.

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

ARTS FAIRFAX AWARDS

11:15 a.m.-2 p.m., Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons

The event supports the services and resources from Arts Fairfax.

2024 FAIR CHANCE BUTTERFLY BASH

7 p.m., National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW

The Butterfly Bash supports Fair Chance’s vision of a world where every child succeeds.

Parties!

Wolf Trap: No Dimming These Lights

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts hosted its annual Wolf Trap Ball on Sept. 21 where attendees, corporate sponsors, board members and donors contributed $2.2 million to support the foundation’s arts and education programs. At the black-tie event with a Studio 54, disco-era twist, Wolf Trap Ball Co-Chairs AJ and Chris Andreas and Kevin and Beth Smithson thanked attendees and sponsors for contributing, breaking prior records for the sold-out ball. Held on stage at the iconic Filene Center, 800 guests gathered to celebrate the close of Wolf

Washington Ballet at Dupont Underground

Oct. 5 “Dance for All” media reception and performance at the new-ish Dupont Underground stepped into an immersive world of dance choreographed by Edwaard Liang with the evocative music composed by Emmy Award winning Blake Neelly. Max Mara is the exclusive fashion partner.

Trap’s summer season.

“This past Saturday we celebrated the culmination of a fantastic summer season as we entered a new era at Wolf Trap,” said Arvind Manocha, President & CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. “This new period brings unparalleled growth and energy to the foundation, and is defined by strength, joy, and the promise of an even brighter future.”

Max Mara presents the Fall/Winter Icons Collection

Tuesday, October 1st, the collection was presented at Georgetown’s historic LXIV Residence. Kristin Cecci & Ashley Bronczek hosted the event with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Washington Ballet. The Collection is known for its curated assortment of luxury outerwear, knits and accessories. A flower bar adorned the exclusive fashion experience and allowed for personalized bouquets among attendees.

Wolf Trap Foundation Board Chairman Dan D’Aniello, Governor Glenn Youngkin with First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, and Wolf Trap President & CEO Arvind Manocha. Photo by Tony Powell.

Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) and wife Megan. Photo by Tony Powell.

The Gupta Family and friends. Photo by Tony Powell.

Dancers Samara Rittinger and Jessy Dick.

Photo by Allyson Burkhardt.

Zack Hooper and Becki Marchand.

Photo by Allyson Burkhardt.

Kristin Cecchi and Jessica Glass host Max Mara/Winter Icons Collection.

Photo by Kate O’Brian. Shoppers at the historic LXIV Residence in Georgetown.

ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

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Your Best Life Begins Here.

Schedule a meeting at our leasing gallery today.

www.InspirSeniorLiving.com

*InspĪr Embassy Row is currently under construction and is not licensed by the D.C. Department of Health. Upon completion of construction, InspĪr Embassy Row will apply to the D.C. Department of Health for a license to operate as an Assisted Living Residence. The anticipated opening for Inspir Embassy Row is January 2025.

‘The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage’

A TRUMP APOLOGIST VALUES AT LEAST SOME OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

BY KITTY KELLEY

Jonathan Turley road-tested an idea last year with a 45-page article entitled “The Right to Rage: Free Speech and Rage Rhetoric in American Discourse” for the Georgetown Journal of Law & Public Policy. Now, Turley, the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University Law School, has expanded his “rage” thesis into “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”

He garnered blurbs for his new book from friends like former Attorney General William P. Barr (“a robust reexamination and defense of free speech as a right”), conservative columnist George F. Will (“This efficient volume is packed with indispensable information”) and CNN host Michael Smerconish (“a master class on the unvarnished history of free speech in America”).

The professor posits that we’re living in one of the most anti-free-speech periods in history; as examples, he cites the divisiveness of racial discrimination, police abuse, climate change and gender equality. “Any and all of these

issues can provoke public anger and mob rage,” he writes.

Turley’s book promises “a timely, revelatory look at freedom of speech.” Unfortunately, he doesn’t deliver on that promise and breaks no new ground in exploring the most basic right of all Americans. He concedes as much in his acknowledgements: “This is not the first book on free speech. It is not even the hundredth,” adding that there “are masterful prior works.”

Here, he cites the books of three professors like himself, but omits the gold standards of the genre: “The Soul of the First Amendment” and “Speaking Freely: Trials of the First Amendment” by Floyd Abrams and “Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment” by Anthony Lewis, who also wrote “Gideon’s Trumpet” and “Make No Law: the Sullivan Case and the First Amendment.”

There’s always room on the shelf for a riveting new tome on the First Amendment, for it is the fundamental right that protects all others. Yet while Turley climbs the tower, he

doesn’t ring the bell. Rather, the professor seems to have summoned “the many law students … who have assisted me in decades of research and writing on the theories and cases discussed in this book,” then cedes control to the inmates. In other words, the orchestra conductor drops his baton and lets the timbales and tom-toms take over. The concert makes noise but hardly inspires.

Turley credits Justice Louis Brandeis for “the indispensable right” of his title, but claims subtitle credit for himself and his students, who march readers through all the ages of fury in sections that include, among many others: “The Boston Tea Party and America’s Birth in Rage”; “The Whiskey Rebellion and ‘Hamilton’s Insurrection’”; “Adams and the Return of ‘The Monster’”; “Jefferson and The Wasp”; “Jackson and the ‘Lurking Traitors’ Among Us”; “Lincoln and the Copperheads”; “Comstock and the Obscenity of Dissent”; “The Bund and the Biddle: Sedition in World War II”; “Days of Rage: Race, Rhetoric, and Rebellion in the 1960s”; “Antifa, MAGA, and the Age of Rage”; and “January 6th and the Revival of American Sedition.”

Turley has evolved from a liberal Democrat who voted for Bill Clinton in 1992, Ralph Nader in 1996 and Barack Obama in 2008 to an unbending critic of Obama and his “sin eater,” Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. Turley went on to support Neil Gorsuch for confirmation to the Supreme Court and publicly promote his friend Bill Barr as Donald Trump’s attorney general, while bashing the Bidens for alleged influence-peddling. In 2022, Slate took notice of this political evolution, asking: “What Happened to Jonathan Turley, Really?”

The online magazine concluded that the man who “was once a serious and respected legal scholar” has devolved into a paid contributor for Fox News who presents “himself as a kind of Alan Dershowitz with table manners.”

Turley is not immune to such slights. At the end of “The Indispensable Right,” he writes, “I hope that this book will explain my own long and at times unpopular fight for free speech rights.” That plaintive wish calls to mind the Oval Office address Aaron Sorkin penned for Michael Douglas in “The American President”: “We’ve got serious problems, and we need serious people … If you want to talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I’ll show up.”

One hopes that Jonathan Turley would show up, too, if only to defend his treatise on free speech.

Georgetown resident Kitty Kelley has written several number-one New York Times best-sellers, including “The Family: The Real Story Behind the Bush Dynasty.” Her most recent books include “Capturing Camelot: Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the Kennedys” and “Let Freedom Ring: Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the March on Washington.” She serves on the board of BIO (Biographers International Organization) and Washington Independent Review of Books, where this review originally appeared.

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