ELECTION 2022

Pick 2 for the District Council

Ward 2 D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto — who represents Georgetown — is not up for re-election during this election cycle, but two of four At-large Council candidates will be decided on Nov. 8. Take the time to check out the eight candidates and let go of partisan prejudices for the moment. All eight have an interesting life story to tell and want to be your public servant. At-large Council candidates — in the order they appear on your ballot — are:

ELISSA SILVERMAN — INDEPENDENT

Journalist turned politician, this reliable progressive does not take “a dime from corporations or PACs.” elissafordc.com

KARIM D. MARSHALL — INDEPENDENT

Government lawyer turned candidate, Marshall says, “Our rising crime rate is a reflection of the lack of will to address the problem.” marshallfordc.com

FRED HILL — INDEPENDENT

Businessman, veteran, cancer survivor and “champion of the District’s mosaic of culture and thought,” Hill tells us he’s “the real deal.” And we believe him. fredhill4councilatlarge.com

KENYAN MCDUFFIE — INDEPENDENT

Former mailman and Ward 5 Council member, McDuffie is seen as a sensible urbanist and balanced advocate for small businesses. mcduffiefordc.com

ANITA BONDS — DEMOCRATIC

Council 10-year veteran and union-endorsed, Bonds chairs the Committee on Housing and Executive Administration and promotes the idea of “good government.” anitabonds2022.com

DAVID SCHWARTZMAN — DC STATEHOOD GREEN

Eco-socialist Schwartzman wants “to deliver a radical alternative to the trickle-down economic policies that have created shockingly high racial and economic disparities in our community.” dcstatehoodgreen.party/candidates/David-Schwartzman

GRAHAM MCLAUGHLIN — INDEPENDENT

Health services executive McLaughlin says, “Even though D.C. government spends more per citizen than any other city in the country, our elected officials have not been able to unleash our potential.” grahamfordc.com

GIUSEPPE NIOSI — REPUBLICAN

Third-generation Washingtonian and Navy reservist Niosi says, “I aim to connect with local Washington, D.C., to help facilitate a movement to bring diversity of thought to the Council.” niosi2022.com Jenny Mitchell. Both candidates Christopher (Topher) Mathews and Patrick Clawson are long time active Georgetown residents who often throughout many years have attended and participated in ANC meetings and discussions. For many years, Topher has also produced an almost daily one-or-twoitem online newsletter called Georgetown Metropolitan. For decades Clawson has served as chairperson of various Citizens Association of Georgetown project committees and the Georgetown Community Partnership.

The bios and basic campaign positions of Mathews and Clawson as well as that of Lindner were reported in The Georgetowner on May 5.

In update interviews on October 7, both Mathews and Clawson reiterated their basic concerns: Matthews’s focus would be on constituent services for various groups including seniors and pedestrians, especially children; safer streets that might include some reconfiguration of driving patterns, and commercial revitalization that has to focus on working together with businesses. Clawson would focus on public safety including hazardous driving conditions, bikes and scooters as well as law enforcement staffing; quality of life issues including the challenge of students and restaurants residing and doing business right next to family and senior residences; and commercial development including cutting through the complicated permitting and licensing processes.

Both Mathews and Clawson reiterated that there’s only so much an ANC can do. But they both are adamant about the power of listening to all community members to discover the best common ground for solutions. Each will be visiting neighborhoods and welcoming discussions with constituents during this next month’s campaign season.

ANC 2E Elections: One Competitive Race

BY PEGGY SANDS

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E (ANC 2E) is a highly active quasigovernmental advisory group that covers Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale. It meets monthly to update the community on District issues and make proposals in the area’s interests that are to be seriously considered by the D.C. Council and city agencies. ANC 2E has eight elected commissioners representing each of 8 distinct geographic areas. After the November 8 elections, there will be five new faces on ANC2E. So far, however, only one race is competitive. Two have candidates with no opponents, one has an active writein candidate and two have no candidates to date. The other three are being held by incumbent commissioners with no challengers.

Commissioners staying on without opponents are Kishan Putta (01), Elizabeth Miller (07) and Gwendolyn Lohse (06). Mimsey Lindner is running unopposed to take the seat of Lisa Palmer (05). The write-in candidate to replace retiring ANC Chairperson Rick Murphy (05) is Paul Maysak, who decided to run too late to be on the ballot but has no opponents of his write-in campaign. The two seats representing Georgetown University (04 and 08) and surrounding residential and commercial areas, as yet have no candidates. “Usually, the two seats have been filled by ongoing students, some of whom become very active ANC commissioners,” Murphy told The Georgetowner. “Often recruitment is an informal process encouraged by the Georgetown Campus Outreach Center. But a candidate does not have to be a student.” If the seats are vacant after the election Murphy confirmed there was a (“wonderfully complicated”) process put in place by the D.C. government to fill them.

The competitive ANC election race is for the 02 district currently represented by

Patrick Clawson Topher Mathews

GO TO GEORGETOWNER.COM TO SEE OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH REPUBLICAN MAYORAL CANDIDATE STACIA HALL

INS & OUTS

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

CONGRATS! NYT LAUDS LUTÈCE

Toutes nos félicitations! A terrific culinary shout-out — and well deserved for owner Zubair Popal and family — for the bistro at 1522 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Last month, the New York Times named Lutèce one of “50 Places in America we’re most excited about right now.”

The Times wrote: “At this charming Georgetown bistro, the chef Matt Conroy’s approach to French cooking is influenced not only by the progressive Parisian neo-bistros, but also at times by the cuisines of Mexico, the birthplace of his wife and collaborator, the pastry chef Isabel Coss.… You can leave your fate entirely up to the couple, who offer a surprisingly affordable four-course tasting menu.”

STREETS MARKET MAY MOVE INTO 7-ELEVEN SPACE ON P STREET

Oh, thank heaven. Georgetown’s east side neighbors will be happy to learn that Streets Market — a local chain of small grocery stores that operate in such neighborhoods as Adams Morgan, Cleveland Park, NoMa and West End — appears to be taking over the empty 7-Eleven space at 2617 P St. NW, according to sources familiar with the property.

Closed in May, the 7-Eleven convenience store was a favorite of residents, visitors and cops since 1964 — with longtime franchise owner Girma Hailu departing to run another 7-Eleven near NoMa.

Streets Market says it is “a local grocery store that offers a wide variety of organic, conventional, local, international and everyday practical goods all under one roof.” Word on the street: Expect a November debut.

50 YEARS

Sundays 8 - 4

Pastry Chef Isabel Coss of Lutèce.

DENT PLACE MARKET SEEKS TO TAKE OVER SARA’S MARKET

Dent Place Market, which opened in 2019, is bringing its vibe to 3008 Q St. NW and plans to reopen Sara’s Market, if the paperwork finally checks out. Renovations have already begun by John Kushner.

COMING: DIG, UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Long awaited at the old Paolo’s side space at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and N Streets, Dig is on a mission of mindful sourcing for its ingredients — with salads as well as chicken or meatballs with names like the Autumn Harvest or Lime Leaf Salmon. Adam Eskin opened the first Dig Inn restaurant in New York City In 2011. Among Dig’s investors is restauranteur Danny Meyer.

COMING: ZZZZZ … SLEEP NUMBER

Minnesota-based Sleep Number, which makes the Sleep Number and Comfortaire beds, is setting up shop at 1239 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The adjustable bed company had revenues of $1.856 billion last year — and, as of 2018, employed 4,220 persons across the U.S. The building once housed the Loft and, before that, Ann Taylor.

COMING: SHOUK, TEL AVIV STREET FOOD

Shouk Food is coming to 1426 Wisconsin Ave. NW, the former space of Tugooh Toys, which moved only a few doors up the avenue. Shouk tells us it offers “chef-crafted street food made from plants and Middle-Eastern spices. Plant-based, earth-friendly food inspired by the markets of Israel. Kosher-certified.” Other locations include Mount Vernon Square, Union Market, Bethesda and Rockville.

OUT: RICCARDI FINALLY MOVES

Yes, they finally did it — really moved, as a storefront sign had warned for months. Founded in 1983, Riccardi Clothier at 1363 Wisconsin Ave. NW, a men’s clothing shop with Italian suits and more has closed. But, fear not, part of the retail business and inventory has moved across the street to 1404 Wisconsin Ave. NW, which also houses GT Vapes & More. Chef Matt Conroy of Lutèce.

OUT: ERNESTO SANTALLA

The office of Ernesto Santalla PLLC has departed 3144 Dumbarton St. NW. The firm, which specializes in architecture and interior design as well as furniture and graphics, was founded by and named after architect and interior designer Ernesto Santalla. The address formerly held the Dumbarton Pharmacy.

COMING: LUGANO DIAMONDS TO TAKE OVER ENO SPACE

Who knew that wine, cheese and charcuterie could lead to diamonds? Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry, designer and manufacturer of highend, one-of-a-kind jewelry, will be taking over the space once held by the popular Eno Wine Bar — with its wine flights paired with cheese, charcuterie or chocolate — closed since the pandemic hit. Next to the Four Seasons Hotel, the two-level building at 2810 Pennsylvania Ave. NW is under renovation for the luxe jeweler, founded in 2004 and purchased by investment holding company Compass Diversified last year for $256 million.

COMING: VILLA YARA IN FORMER LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN

They’re in the planning stages at 2815 M St. NW. The liquor license placard for Villa Yara reads: “New Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant serving Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine. Seating Capacity of 102, Total Occupancy Load of 119, Summer Garden with 38 seats. The Licensee is also requesting to provide live Entertainment and Cover Charge inside the premises and for the outdoor Summer Garden.”

OUT: BERLINER GONE BY OCT. 23

The Berliner, the German beer hall at 3401 Water St. NW, will close Oct. 23, according to co-owner Zubair Popal, who also runs bistro, Lutèce, at 1522 Wisconsin Ave. NW and Lapis on Columbia Road.

The news was not unexpected. Plans call for the construction of hotel CitizenM at the property. The popular Georgetown waterfront spot opened in 2018, after operating as Malmaison, and will remain October-festive. “While it’s too soon to know when we will reopen after construction, we want to spend our final days celebrating everything this space has meant to our family, our team and our guests,” said Popal in a statement. Check the Berliner’s Instagram page for updates.

IN: HOBO ‘THRILLED’ TO OPEN IN GEORGETOWN

The leather accessories brand, Hobo, announced it is “thrilled to expand into Washington, D.C., with the opening of a Georgetown store, which is its second retail location in the U.S.” The female-founded, family-run company opened Sept. 30 at 1265 Wisconsin Ave. NW in the former John Fluevog space.

“Georgetown holds a special place in my heart,” says Koren Ray, Hobo’s co-founder and chief visionary officer. “My lifelong love of craft was born in my mom’s iconic sandal shop in Georgetown in the 1970s. The new store will embody our brand’s ethos, creating an inviting environment that showcases our signature colors, textures and styles and celebrates our unwavering commitment to creating quality leather goods made to last. We are proud to be putting down retail roots in the heart of Georgetown.”

Hobo bags began in 1991 in Annapolis. In the ’70s and ’80s, Toni Ray worked at Georgetown Leather Design.

Koren Ray of Hobo.

COMING: LITTLE WORDS PROJECT

Ask your kids about this business. Little Words Project, a pricey bracelet shop opening at 1246 Wisconsin Ave. NW, “aims to inspire and encourage people to be kind to themselves and to pay that kindness forward, one bracelet at a time.…” It’s under construction now.

OUT: PETIT SOEUR SHOP

Pâtissier Ashleigh Pearson’s Wisconsin Avenue boutique, Petite Soeur, which opened in October, has closed. Pearson’s bonbons can be ordered online but are no longer available at 1332 Wisconsin Ave. NW.