The Georgetowner: December 8, 2021 Issue

SINCE 1954

VOLUME 68 NUMBER 3

GEORGETOWNER.COM

DECEMBER 8, 2021 - JANUARY 11, 2022

With Some Puck

Our Holidays Light Up B I D CR I T I CI SM OVE R S I D E WALKS GE ORGE TOWN E RS O F TH E YE AR ‘GE ORGE TOWN COO KS’ BOO K VI SUAL AR T S: JASPE R JO H N S NYC K I T T Y KE LLE Y: GR ANT & T WAI N

The future of cancer treatment is here today.

Proton therapy.

Proton therapy is one of today’s most advanced cancer-fighting treatments. More precise than traditional radiation, it targets tumors by matching their exact shape and size, sparing surrounding healthy tissue and resulting in fewer side effects. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is the first and most experienced in the Washington, D.C., region to offer proton therapy. This highly effective treatment can help you beat cancer, without disrupting your life.

Our research partner, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., region.

To learn more, visit MedStarGeorgetown.org/PTC or call 240-273-4336.

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Happy Holidays!

For the love of home.

TM

REAL ESTATE | MORTGAGE | SETTLEMENT | INSURANCE | PROPERTY MANAGEMENT | VACATION RENTALS | RELOCATION | DEVELOPMENT REAL ESTATE SERVICES | MOVING | INSPECTIONS

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DECEMBER 8, 2021

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IN THIS ISSUE

ABOUT THE COVER Chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck in the lobby of the Rosewood Hotel on 31st Street, home to his restaurant, Cut DC. Photo by Philip Bermingham.

NEWS · 6 - 8 Town Topics

PUBLISHER Sonya Bernhardt

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robert Devaney

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT Peggy Sands

MANAGING EDITOR Christopher Jones

FEATURE EDITOR Ari Post FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Lauretta McCoy GRAPHIC DESIGN Troy Riemer

BUSINESS · 9 In’s and Outs

PHOTOGRAPHERS Philip Bermingham Jeff Malet

EDITORIAL & OPINION · 10 Editorial Georgetowners of the Year

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT & ADVERTISING Kate Oczypok

REAL ESTATE · 12 - 13 Auction Block November 2021 Real Estate Sales

1050 30th Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (202) 338-4833 Fax: (202) 338-4834 www.georgetowner.com

COVER · 14 - 15 Interview with Wolfgang Puck

IN COUNTRY · 16

Seasons Greetings and a special thanks to our stakeholders listed below. We wouldn’t be here without you.

Thank you and Happy New Year everyone!

HERO

Rehoboth Beach

MK & Octavius Prince Ed Weidenfeld

ARTS · 17 - 18

EDITORIAL PARTNER

Jasper Johns NYC Winter Arts Preview

FOOD & WINE · 19 Latest Dish Georgetown Cooks Book Launch

CLASSIFIEDS · 20

CONTRIBUTORS Mary Bird Susan Bodiker Allyson Burkhardt Evan Caplan Didi Cutler Donna Evers Michelle Galler Amos Gelb Wally Greeves Christopher Jones Kitty Kelley Rebekah Kelley Jody Kurash Shelia Moses Kate Oczypok Linda Roth Alison Schafer Mary Ann Treger

Roger Carp Howard & Ellen Eisenberg Virginia Gerbasi Gertraud Hechl Coleman Jackson Lisa Paul Koches John & Kristen Lever Rick & Karen Murphy

SOCIAL SCENE · 21

BYLINER

Kennedy Center Honors DC Chamber Awards

Mimsy Lindner • Chris Putala • Ann Randolph • Lisa Rossi • Christopher Sheeron • Paige & Tim Shirk • Robert Alan Stowers

“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 2021.

Please send submissions of opinions for consideration to: editorial@georgetowner.com For advertising inquiries email advertising@georgetowner.com or call (202) 338-4833

BOOK CLUB · 22 Kitty Kelley Book Club

ADVOCATE Stephanie Bothwell • Marilyn Butler • Jackie & John Coombe • Paul & Diana Dennett • Diane Eames • Kelly Garrett • Peter Higgins • Skip Moosher • Jean Philibert • Antoinette Russin • Elizabeth Webster • Christopher Wolf

Become a Stakeholder at georgetowner.com in the Support tab

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tax, historically the norm).

Next year, Republicans will control all three branches of government. So perhaps we can finally test this 37-year-old theory by low-

Ten Truths of Wealth Creation,” is a registered principal of Cambridge Investment Research and an Investment Advisor Representative of Capital Investment Advisors in Bethesda, Maryland.

Visit Georgetowner.com and subscribe to our twice weekly online Georgetowner Newsletter — please place your email address in the box shown on the front page of the website to receive news in your inbox.

DAVE CHAPPELLE VS. DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS B Y K AT E OC ZYPOK Holding the Emmy that he donated to his alma mater, comedian Dave Chappelle speaks to students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in September 2017. Photo by Robert Devaney.

MAPPING GEORGETOWN: MEET THE REAL MCCOY OF THE PEABODY ROOM B Y M A R I LYN BU TL ER

SINCE 1954

VOLUME 68 NUMBER 3

GEORGETOWNER.COM

DECEMBER 8, 2021 - JANUARY 11, 2022

With Some Puck

Our Holidays Light Up B I D CR I T I CI SM OVE R S I D E WALKS GE ORGE TOWN E RS O F TH E YE AR ‘GE ORGE TOWN COO KS’ BOO K VI SUAL AR T S: JASPE R JO H N S NYC K I T T Y KE LLE Y: GR ANT & T WAI N

Jerry McCoy of Georgetown’s Peabody Room with 1822 portrait of Yarrow Mamout.

BEST FACE FORWARD: OR, HOW TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL WITHOUT THE KNIFE B Y S U S A N BOD IKER Getting ready for my close-up required pain blocks and needles. Lots and lots of needles. This miseen-place is at OVME. Photo by Susan Bodiker.

RECENT HIT ONLINE 1,534 VIEWS GEORGETOWN BID CRITICIZED FOR SIDEWALK EXPANSIONS, HIGH STAFF COSTS B Y P E G G Y SAN D S Too many sidewalk extensions have brought criticism to the Georgetown BID. Georgetown photo.

Melanie Hayes Vice President

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TOWN TOPICS

ANC 2E December Report: Greenheart Juice, BID Plan on Expanded Sidewalks

BY STE VE HOLTON

GREENHEART JUICE SHOP DENIED BZA SUPPORT DUE TO TRAFFIC CONCERNS Alicia Swanstrom, founder of Greenheart Juice Shop, spoke before the commission and requested support for a Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application for a special exception to add a juice shop in the corner of a building, also occupied by a yoga studio at 3343 Prospect Street NW. No construction or expansion plans will be needed to add the juice shop to the corner portion of the property.

All the items including smoothies and food items will be prepackaged in their Sterling, Virginia, location before being delivered to Prospect Street. The representative stated that there will be a storage area, and refrigeration and inside trash space. A delivery van will service the location between 7 and 8 a.m. and the establishment clientele will mostly be walkups which will mitigate the concerns for additional vehicles in the already congested area.

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The commission and residents weighed in on the topic and agreed that although they embrace the company’s concept, the additional disruption to traffic and parking concerns could prove to be disastrous. It is already a significant problem where traffic is bumper-to-bumper during rush hour for three blocks in the 34th and Prospect Streets area.

In addition, rodent activity around trash cans is already a problem and the city has not been responsive to the surrounding residents’ needs to have it emptied in a timelier manner. The commission is also concerned that this could open the door to more intense usage of the property which would not be in harmony with a residential zone.

The commission motioned to not support the BZA application by the count of 4-2. “I feel confident that you can manage any trash and noise issues but it is hard to see how there won’t be an adverse impact to traffic once you become successful,” said ANC 2E05 Commissioner Lisa Palmer.

MAYOR’S OFFICE UPDATE Anna Noakes joined the meeting and provided a few updates from the mayor’s office. The mask mandate was lifted on Nov. 22 due to not seeing an increase in infections to those who are vaccinated. The majority of Covid-related hospitalizations are with those who are unvaccinated. Booster shots are available to those who are 18 and older.

In conjunction with MPD, the Mayor’s Office will be conducting a traffic study campaign in school zones to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Officers will be monitoring school zones for speeding three hours before and after drop-off and pick-up times. A second round of leaf collection is scheduled between the dates of Dec. 21 and 27. Call 311 to open a service request.

COUNCIL MEMBER BROOKE PINTO’S OFFICE UPDATE Brian Romanowski attended the meeting and provided updates on Ward 2 mapping and snow removal. The DC Redistricting Subcommittee recently published a Ward 2 map on Nov. 18, and Romanowski noted that borders will change from the east to the south.

Current residents will not be mapped out but he said Council member Pinto welcomes the new residents who will be mapped in. A full

council vote on the matter will be taken on Dec. 7 and a final vote to close out the matter will be held on Dec. 21. For those who are interested in joining the ANC Boundary Task Force, email Council member Pinto’s Chief of Staff Genevieve Fugere Hulick at ghulick@ dccouncil.us.

Residents over 60 years-old can sign up to have someone shovel snow at their homes.

Volunteers will be provided a shovel by the city and are encouraged to visit the website linked here for more information.

FUNDRAISING FOR CANCER COOKBOOKS FROM GEORGETOWN COOKS “Georgetown Cooks” is a cookbook with a collection of 150 recipes from local Georgetowners. Expect to see an apple crisp recipe from Commissioner Palmer as well as a breakfast dish from ANC 2E02 Commissioner Jenny Mitchell. All proceeds from the purchased cookbooks will go towards the Georgetown Neighbors for Ewing Sarcoma Research. The research is led by Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky of the Lombardi Cancer Center who is serving as chief of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. He is an internationally recognized expert in sarcomas in children, adolescents, and young adults.

The cookbooks are 100 percent tax deductible and can be purchased at at www.louloubaker.com..

TOWN TOPICS

ANC 2E DECEMBER REPORT CONTINUED...

LITERACY RATE HELP IS ON THE WAY Allister Chang, Ward 2 Member on the DC State Board of Education, joined the meeting and gave insight on matters pertaining to education in the District. Only 30 percent of fourth-graders in Ward 2 public and charter schools are performing at an acceptable level based on their National Association of Education Progress (NAEP) scores, prompting an immediate need for literacy improvement. A $16 million funded proposal for a five-year plan to improve literacy is in the works. The Board of Education is currently consulting with stakeholders across the city and looking at other states who have successfully implemented literacy plans with successful results. The pandemic has increased the urgency for teacher retention.

Covid has made it difficult for volunteers to step forward and has subsequently created a massive shortage of substitute teachers. Chang noted that the Board of Education appreciates ANC 2E’s advocacy to properly staff schools.

It was also noted that although businesses are no longer enforcing a mask mandate it is still in effect in the D.C. school system. Chang can be reached at allister.chang1@dc.gov and 202-735-7062.

ANC 2E QUICK HITS Chairman Phil Mendelson’s Office Update: Declan Falls, Constituent Services Representative of Chairman Mendelson’s office, spoke at the meeting and encouraged anyone with a concern to contact him at dfalls@dccouncil.us or 312-292-0022.

A Request for Crime Data: A resolution passed unanimously to request Council member Pinto’s office to collaborate with various federal and city offices to provide a biannual summary to the ANCs of arrests and sentencing for armed robberies, assaults, and burglaries. ANC 2E06 Commissioner Gwendolyn Lohse said that the gathered community data is valuable and will increase safety in the city.

Public Service Announcement: Lt. John Merzig of the MPD Second District reported 25 percent fewer robberies/muggings this month compared to last due in most part to the colder weather causing people to stay inside. However, theft in retail spaces has gone up which has enhanced a law enforcement presence along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue NW.

ANC 2E opposes more time for sidewalk extensions

by BID. Georgetown photo.

ABC Related Votes: The commission voted to drop a protest vote of a liquor license request before the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board by Bozzelli’s Italian Deli, planning to open at Washington Harbour. A request to allow patrons to transport alcoholic beverages from Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place (3000 K St. NW) to Nick’s Riverside Grill (3050 K St. NW) on New Year’s Eve was passed.

Recognizing Kindness and Generosity: The commission passed a resolution commending the S&R Foundation for maintaining and improving an adjacent “Tot Lot” playground on its own initiative for the betterment of the community. The S&R Foundation oversees the Halcyon Arts Lab at 1801 35th St. NW.

ANC OPPOSES MORE TIME FOR SIDEWALK EXTENSIONS In the Old Georgetown Board approval part of the meeting, ANC2E reiterated its opposition to the Georgetown BID’s request to extend the time its sidewalk decking is allowed on public property.

The commission wrote to the OGB: With regard to OG 22-017 (HPA 21-172) Curb Lane of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, NW: ANC 2E opposes the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s pending application for an extension of the temporary public space permit issued by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to facilitate the installation of platforms in the curb lanes of Wisconsin Avenue NW and M Street NW beyond its current expiration date of December 31, 2021.

send more season’s greetings Holiday gifting Done Right Greeting Cards Stationery Custom Gift Boxes Hostess Gifts

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DECEMBER 8, 2021

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TOWN TOPICS

Georgetown BID Criticized for Sidewalk Expansions, High Staff Costs

BY PEG GY SA NDS The Georgetown Business Improvement District – a non-profit organization originally dedicated to “a cleaner, safer, more accessible Georgetown” and supported by some $5.2 million of annual mandated supplemental taxes on businesses within its boundaries – has come under fire.

In a Nov. 27 Washington Post story, the conflict was reported as stemming from years-long bubbling unhappiness over the required tax payments and the high sixfigure salaries of some of the organization’s professional, mainly academically-trained, urban planning staff, as well as some of the BID’s less-than-popular projects (e.g., an imagined aerial gondola between Georgetown and Arlington). The money should go directly to businesses, a two-year-old petition was quoted as demanding.

These old issues, however, have been heated up by seething perceptions of disconnect during the difficult pandemic lock down, masking, social distancing and supply challenges facing many small Georgetown businesses.

Many have had to reduce staff, access

savings and face closing for good just as the BID staff has grown from 12 to 15 in the past years, along with Georgetown BID CEO Joe Sternlieb’s reported annual salary of $245,000.

But the real heart of the unease with the BID is the fate of the tens of thousands of feet of extended sidewalks and platforms for expanded pedestrian commerce and outdoor dining in front of almost all of Georgetown’s eateries on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue NW and from K to S Street NW. The project was planned, implemented and managed as a year-long pilot by the Georgetown BID, which has now submitted an application to the Old Georgetown Board (OGB) to extend the pilot through December 2022.

Many businesses say that the sidewalk project has “saved Georgetown” by giving welcome additional space and livening up Georgetown’s evening commerce. But the expansion of sidewalks into parking and loading areas also took away more than 100 parking places that day businesses depended on for quick drop-ins and spontaneous shopping.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR DECEMBER 9

DECEMBER 11

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at CAG headquarters, 1058 30th St. NW. For more info go to cagtown.org

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For info go to Georgetownmainstreet.com.

DECEMBER 10

GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY COOKBOOK RELEASE PARTY

CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGETOWN (CAG): HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

GRACE STREET BONFIRE 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Grace Street Lot, 1044 Wisconsin Ave.

THROUGH JAN. 6, 2022 GEORGETOWN BID: D.C. HOLIDAY LIGHTS

5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in Georgetown’s Commercial District.

DECEMBER 11

DUMBARTON HOUSE: TEA WITH SANTA 1:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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GEORGETOWN MAIN STREET: INAUGURAL GEORGETOWN COOKIE TOUR

DECEMBER 11

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Sid and Ann Mashburn, N St. NW. Over 150 Georgetown residents contributed to “Georgetown Cooks.”

DECEMBER 16

CULTURAL LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST With Aileen Fuchs, President and Executive Dir. of the National Building Museum, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at The Tabard Inn, 1739 N St. NW. Hosted by The Georgetowner.

Over the year, the BID has conducted some half a dozen town hall meetings, surveys and open calls for comment about whether or not the project should be extended and which sidewalks should remain expanded or not. The Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 2E) has spent hours of time discussing the impact of expanded sidewalks and reduced parking – a discussion actually going back several terms of commissioners. A consensus seemed to have been building: “yes” to expanded areas for dining in front of eating establishments – the streateries; but “no” to most, if not all, of the expanded sidewalks, especially in front of long stretches of retail and some closed storefronts.

Decisions have been made apparently… but not everyone has gotten the message.

“BID will be removing tons of expanded sidewalks by January – some 1,400 feet of them,” Sternlieb told The Georgetowner on Nov. 29. “We will be presenting the plan, a list of expanded sidewalks that will be removed and a map at the ANC2E meeting tonight,” he added.

ANC 2E-07 Commissioner Elizabeth Miller takes issue with Sternlieb’s position on sidewalk extensions. “I don’t support any extended sidewalks,” she told The

Georgetowner. “I haven’t seen plans to remove ‘tons’ of it but our definition of tons may not align. For me, it’s an aesthetics issue …

I find them horribly unsightly and not at all fitting with the historic qualities of our quaint village.”

The plan will be reviewed by the OGB on Dec. 2. Various community organizations have requested community residents and businesses sign a petition.

The Georgetown BID has submitted its final Wider Sidewalk application to both the OGB and DDOT’s Public Space. This application would extend the BID’s wider sidewalk pilot (concrete barriers and plastic sidewalks along parts of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue) until December 2022, according to the petition.

The Citizens Association of Georgetown and ANC 2E formally asked the BID to focus the second year of the pilot to only businesses with outside dining as with streateries.

However, the BID wants to maintain several of the wider sidewalks that are not used for outside dining, the petition argues.

VISIT GEORGETOWNER.COM FOR THE FULL ARTICLE.

BUSINESS

I mix these pieces with beautiful fabrics and furniture pieces from various design showrooms, furniture shows, favorite websites and big home retailers.”

MOVED: TOWNE WINE AND LIQUOR, ONE BLOCK UP

Physical therapist and yoga instructor Svetlana L. Sidilkovskaia. Georgetowner photo.

Business Ins & Outs

BY RO B E RT DEVA NEY

IN: YO! YOGA, NO JUDGING Yo Yoga opened at 2805 M St. NW, in the former Georgetown Yoga space, above Freshbee’s American Grill & Cafe.

Mind & Body Studies at Yo Yoga is a tranquil, light-filled, quintessential Georgetown studio.

Group classes are capped at 10 participants to allow plenty of space. Offerings are dogma and judgment free, suitable for participants of all levels, offered at 6 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m. (book your class at www.yoyogadc.com).

Schedules will evolve with additional times and special events. The studio is curated by Svetlana Leonidovna Sidilkovskaia (www. movetoheal.org), Doctor of Physical Therapy (VCU 2014), trained in yoga studies and therapies in India, Maui, Kripalu and with Diego del Sol. She has been practicing in Washington, D.C., for the last seven years and is delighted to deliver innovative programming that will include all eight limbs of yoga, plus aerial yoga, strength training, rehabilitation and opportunities for private, 1:1, and small group lessons.

IN: GORJANA, GEMS ON M The specialty jewelry store Gorjana — started in Laguna Beach by former models Gorjana Reidel and Jason Griffin Reidel in 2004 —opened at 3029 M St. NW in a 1,675-square-foot space. Says the company: “Inspired by the natural beauty of Southern California, gorjana jewelry

incorporates subtle shimmer, colorful gemstones and a signature gold finish.”

IN: AVOCADO GREEN MATTRESS IN CADY’S ALLEY Avocado Green Mattress, makers of organic and eco-luxury sleep and lifestyle products, opened its first Washington, D.C., location at 3336 M St. NW in Georgetown. In addition to organically made mattresses, bedding and bath linens, the 4,946-square-foot store features the company’s newly-launched beauty and apparel lines, Reed and Gwen and Hass. Launched in 2016, designed in Hoboken and handmade in sunny California, Avocado mattresses are made with certified organic, natural and nontoxic materials.

Towne Wine and Liquor, formerly next to the Georgetown Inn, has moved to 1438 Wisconsin Ave. NW because of a rent dispute.

“The landlord wanted to increase the rent, and at that time, because of Covid, school was closed, everybody was at home and we were closed for three months, and my rent was almost ending,” Towne Wine and Liquor owner Joey Chen told The Hoya, a student newspaper at Georgetown University. “They wanted to sign a new lease to increase the rent to $10,000, and we can’t afford it. So, we just found a new place.”

OUT: LA JOLIE BLEUE La Jolie Bleue, the sweet and savory bakery at 1560 Wisconsin Ave. NW closed Nov. 18.

The popular dine-in and takeout spot, run by Tahar and Djamila Slimani, is looking for a new home in Georgetown. We wish them a Happy New Year — and hope to see them soon in the neighborhood, where they have been for years.

OUT: BUDD & CO. Budd & Co., a concept house of British brands, bespoke suiting and fine leather accessories, which opened May 6 at 2824 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, near the Four Seasons Hotel, has closed. Budd & Co. Washington, the brand’s first foray into the U.S. market, an extension of Budd Shirtmakers in London’s Piccadilly Arcade, had replaced Sterling & Burke, a luxe British clothing and gift store that was at the same address for eight years.

The World Famous

48th Year

1819 35th St NW Washington DC between S & T Sts at Hardy Middle School (Across from the social Safeway)

manager@georgetownfleamarket.com

antiques, collectibles, furniture, jewelry, vintage furnishings & accessories

IN: MASALA STREET INDIAN EATERY ON O Masala Street Indian Eatery — “an authentic Indian restaurant with a modern twist” — opened at 3206 O St. NW last month in the former Georgetown Dinette space.

IN: ALLY BANKS ON BOOK HILL Ally Banks Interiors opened at 1661 Wisconsin Ave. NW — in the former Egg store — a few weeks ago. Banks, who specializes in business interior design consultations and products, tells us: “While I am very focused on having one-of-a-kind pieces in my projects,

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EDITORIAL

Georgetowners of the Year

Send Your Feedback, Questions or Concerns, Tips and Suggestions to editorial@georgetowner.com or call 202-338-4833.

The naming of Georgetowners of the Year has been a tradition of The Georgetowner newspaper for decades. This year’s group, selected by the editorial board, includes a church, a congregation and pastor, a devoted story-seeker and a Georgetown couple who left a big bequest to their town.

On a simple 8 ½ by 12-inch folded flyer with an outline map of Georgetown and a page for responses, Butler invites participants–– young and old –– to “reach for your pen, markers, crayons and imaginations!” and to “have fun [decorating] your map to your heart’s content.”

Feel free, she adds, to “use words, pictures, vignettes, doodles and anecdotes” and visit mappinggeorgetown.com.

Cause for Optimism on Retail and Restaurants?

Last year during the height of the pandemic, retail closures in Georgetown hit a high of 63, twice that of the previous year. Places like Baker Furniture, Brooks Brothers, Le Pain Quotidien, Paul Bakery departed.

In 2021, things began to improve as lockdowns lessened, vaccinations increased and outdoor dining blossomed. For some, the so-called streateries and expanded sidewalks with their decking are too much of an okay thing, to say the least. This month and next, we’ll be figuring out the extent of the curbside decking and lost parking — and arriving at a decision. We must.

For now, let’s celebrate what we gained versus what we’ve lost this year.

Out are La Jolie Bleue, Budd & Co, DCG-District Chicken & Gyro, M&T Bank, AllSaints Spitalfields, Lou Lou, Café Tu-O-Tu among a few others.

On the longer what’s in list and in no particular order, we have Everlane, Yo Yoga, Gorjana, Petite Soeur, Masala Street Indian

Eatery, Ally Banks, Avocado Green Mattress, Sarah Flint, Noosh, 280 Eatery, L. Priori Jewelry, FP Movement, Faherty, Green Almond Pantry, Mini Me Boutique, Donahue Lounge, Spicez, Duly Noted, Foxtrot, Roll by Goodyear, Freshbee’s American Grill & Cafe, Amigo Mio and various pop-ups at Concept 31/M. Coming in 2022 are Buck Mason, Afghania, Bitty & Beau’s, along with others — with the heightened anticipations of Whole Foods on Wisconsin Avenue and a new restaurant and food market by Le Diplomate’s Stephen Starr in the former Dean & DeLuca building on M Street.

After the boarded-up storefronts of 2020, along with the looting, and the fits and starts of 2021, there is cause for optimism about retail businesses and restaurants in Georgetown.

We need to remain innovative, of course. But let’s make 2022 a time to get the streets and sidewalks orderly as well as add something that some say we’re desperately missing: aesthetics and beauty.

This Season, Try Being a Griswold “In a world full of grinches, be a Griswold.”

That’s a recently discovered T-Shirt quote that really resonates as this year draws to a close. Reflecting on The Grinch on Mount Crumpet, angry with the world, versus Clark Griswold of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, it’s easy to identify with The Grinch.

He always has something to complain about and the happy cheer of the Whos disgusts him. On the other hand, Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold loves all things holiday — he wants the biggest tree possible; a glowing light display you can see from space and a “fun, old-fashioned family Christmas.”

It’s that positive thinking a la Clark Griswold that could really benefit us as we move into 2022. According to The Stillness Project, a movement to bring more peace and tranquility into our lives, optimists tend to be more successful and earn more at their jobs.

Optimistic salespeople sold 88 percent more than pessimists. Who would want to buy into something that’s all gloom and doom? People want to work with others who are passionate, determined and hopeful about the future.

We’re all under so much stress, whether 10 DECEMBER 8, 2021

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you’re a CEO, a sales person, a retiree, a stay-at-home mom or a college student. Going into the new year with more positive thinking doesn’t necessarily mean you have to ignore life’s unpleasantries. It just means you’re approaching the bad stuff in a more positive, dynamic way.

Start this coming year with self-talk — so often it can be negative. Take that self-talk and turn it into positivity — I can do this, I will do this. Easier said than done right? Good thing there are lots of health benefits to positive thinking like an increased lifespan, lower rates of depression and distress, better heart health and coping skills and so much more.

Think about it, even the Grinch ended up giving into the holiday cheer in Whoville.

By surrounding himself with positive people, he too realized the joys of the season and is a great example of the fact that people can indeed change their ways of thinking.

So, while you’re having the “hap-haphappiest Christmas” a la Clark Griswold, try to carry that spirit of kindness, generosity and positivity – the kind even The Grinch came around to -- into the new year. Happy 2022!

MT. ZION CHURCH AND PASTOR SELENA JOHNSON: HISTORY AND RACIAL JUSTICE

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church on 29th Street NW is the oldest African-American congregation in Washington, D.C. Last month, the National Fund for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announced that Mt. Zion is one of 15 historic congregations that will receive a grant of up to $250,000 each.

The church does need some repairs, no doubt.

As luck — or God — would have it, Mt. Zion is led by Rev. Selena M. Johnson, formerly an architect for 20 years. Pastor Selena’s resume is impressive: MIT, Berkeley, and later Wesley Theological Seminary. Author of “The Sin of Racism: How to Be Set Free,” she entered the ministry later in life. Her husband, Rev. Dr. Paul Johnson serves as Senior Pastor at Hughes Memorial UMC. Georgetown’s Mt. Zion keeps up the call for teaching Black history — and restoration of the Mount Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemeteries.

Mt. Zion’s pastor describes herself as “biblically conservative, but socially liberal.”

She believes that “faith goes hand-in-hand with compassionate, grace-filled action. Jesus saves!” For such accomplishments — above and beyond — Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and Rev. Selena M. Johnson are Georgetowners of the Year for 2021.

MARILYN BUTLER: LOVE STORIES FOR AND BY GEORGETOWN

As The Georgetowner previously wrote: “Imagine falling in love with your local town.

Then, dedicating all of your creative efforts to cultivating and preserving its unique culture and heritage. Georgetown resident Marilyn Butler has done –– and is doing –– exactly that with her Mapping Georgetown project.”

Since 2019, Butler has captured and conveyed memories, impressions, family stories and details of life in Washington’s oldest neighborhood, a place she “absolutely loves.”

A retired AT&T executive from Cleveland, Ohio, Butler moved to Georgetown to be near her sons who lived in D.C. and fell in love with her new neighborhood. Her devotion to story-seeking and story-telling is her gift to us. For such accomplishments — above and beyond — Marilyn Butler is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2021.

A. MICHAEL SULLIVAN AND BEVERLY SULLIVAN: A LASTING LEGACY

Arthur Michael Sullivan Jr. and Beverly Bissell Sullivan were happily married for 27 years. She died in 1999; he, in 2020. Their love of Georgetown is forever. And one of the beneficiaries of that love is the Citizens Association of Georgetown, which received its biggest donation ever. Because of a legacy gift of more than $1 million — from the Trust of A. Michael Sullivan, Jr. — that required it purchase a building in Georgetown, the nonprofit set up its headquarters at 1058 30th St. NW, adjacent to the C&O Canal National Park.

The Sullivans were active in their communities, which also included Newport, Key West and Palm Beach. Michael last worked at Washington Fine Properties.

According to his obituary, his last words were: “We won!” Georgetown is a winner for having the Sullivans.

For such accomplishments — above and beyond — A. Michael Sullivan Jr. and Beverly Bissell Sullivan are Georgetowners of the Year for 2021.

GMG, INC.

DECEMBER 8, 2021

11

REAL ESTATE

DOYLE

The Auction Block

A white gold, diamond, cabochon ruby, sapphire and black onyx bracelet sold for $21,420 after being estimated at $6,000 to $8,000. The colorful piece depicts birds and urns made with rectangular and fancy-shaped buff-topped jewels. Ruby cabochons have a smooth, polished and dome-shaped surface and appearance and are typically round and oval-shaped.

BY KAT E OCZ Y P OK This month’s auction block includes a bejeweled bracelet from Doyle, a seasonally appropriate Norman Rockwell from Weschler’s, a Picasso original at Sotheby’s and signed items from Ben Franklin and the Beatles.

HINDMAN

BONHAM’S

SOTHEBY’S

A document signed “B. Franklin” as President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, 6 August 1787 sold for $17,500.

The historical piece was estimated to be worth $12,000 - $16,000. The record is a land document granting a parcel of land to John Bolseley, a private in the late army of the U.S. Some of Franklin’s titles included Postmaster General and Speaker of the House.

Fresh on the heels of the Disney+ documentary “The Beatles: Get Back,” Bonhams auctioned off a signed record of the Fab Four’s 1962 single “Love Me Do.” Signed on the A-side label in blue ballpoint pen, the 45” sold for $20,312. The item includes signatures from the band: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Sotheby’s sold a Picasso original “Terre de faience” pitcher, circa 1954 for $47,880 (originally estimated at $25,000 to $35,000).

Signed in black paint the item was numbered 32/50. There were Empreinte Originale de Picasso and Madoura stamps on the item as well. The ceramic was in good condition with a bit of soiling throughout, mostly on the handle.

ADDRESS

See the full list at georgetowner.com. Listed from highest to lowest sold.

PROVIDED BY WASHINGTON FINE PROPERTIES

NOV. 2021 REAL ESTATE SALES

1155 23rd St NW #PRESP2 4934 Indian Ln NW 2443 Kalorama Rd NW 2507 Massachusetts Ave NW 2230 Massachusetts Ave NW 2302 Kalorama Rd NW 3401 N St NW 3113 Arizona Ave NW 1071 Thomas Jefferson St NW 3432 Ashley Ter NW 2411 Tracy Pl NW 5030 Linnean Ave NW 2019 Q St NW 3113 Woodley Rd NW 2900 K St NW #606 2905 32nd St NW 3630 Prospect St NW 4229 Albemarle St NW 3846 Cathedral Ave NW 3518 Newark St NW 2810 Ellicott St NW 1858 Kalorama Rd NW 1211 28th St NW 3100 N St NW #9 1700 13th St NW 1820 13th St NW 2029 Connecticut Ave NW #32 2660 Connecticut Ave NW #6C 3921 Huntington St NW 2501 M St NW #502 5 Logan Cir NW 4015 28th Pl NW 3406 Lowell St NW 12 DECEMBER 3021 8, 2021 GMG, INC. O St NW 3112 Woodley Rd NW 4712 Yuma St NW 3765 Northampton St NW

SUBDIVISION/NEIGHBORHOOD WEST END SPRING VALLEY KALORAMA KALORAMA KALORAMA KALORAMA GEORGETOWN KENT GEORGETOWN CLEVELAND PARK KALORAMA FOREST HILLS DUPONT CIRCLE GARFIELD GEORGETOWN WOODLEY PARK GEORGETOWN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS CLEVELAND PARK FOREST HILLS KALORAMA GEORGETOWN GEORGETOWN LOGAN CIRCLE LOGAN CIRCLE KALORAMA WOODLEY PARK CHEVY CHASE WEST END LOGAN CIRCLE FOREST HILLS CLEVELAND PARK GEORGETOWN WOODLEY AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK CHEVY CHASE

WESCHLER’S Weschler’s sold a Norman Rockwell oil and graphite on board, measuring 16 x 18 inches.

The piece portrays a Santa figure and sold for $135,000 (originally estimated $80,000 $120,000). The art includes correspondence between Norman Rockwell himself and the original owner circa October 1973.

BEDS

FULL BATH

HALF BATH

LIST PRICE

CLOSE PRICE

3 8 7 5 5 6 7 6 2 6 4 7 4 5 3 5 4 6 6 6 5 7 4 2 7 5 4 3 5 2 4 6 5 3 4 5 4

5 6 5 5 6 6 4 6 2 3 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 6 3 4 5 4 2 4 5 3 3 5 2 4 4 3 3 3 4 3

3 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

$9,500,000 $6,695,000 $5,990,000 $5,500,000 $4,995,000 $4,895,000 $4,495,000 $3,695,000 $3,750,000 $3,750,000 $3,595,000 $3,595,000 $3,495,000 $3,195,000 $3,695,000 $2,595,000 $3,250,000 $2,999,950 $2,990,000 $2,995,000 $2,875,000 $2,995,000 $2,750,000 $2,895,000 $2,695,000 $2,700,000 $2,599,000 $2,795,000 $2,595,000 $2,599,000 $2,500,000 $2,595,000 $2,395,000 $2,295,000 $1,995,000 $2,300,000 $2,000,000

$9,150,000 $6,400,000 $5,150,000 $5,000,000 $4,995,000 $4,850,000 $3,950,000 $3,695,000 $3,600,000 $3,600,000 $3,595,000 $3,300,000 $3,250,000 $3,200,000 $3,150,000 $3,070,000 $3,000,000 $2,999,950 $2,920,000 $2,900,000 $2,875,000 $2,825,000 $2,750,000 $2,750,000 $2,695,000 $2,650,000 $2,600,000 $2,550,000 $2,545,000 $2,500,000 $2,500,000 $2,495,000 $2,400,000 $2,360,000 $2,270,000 $2,250,000 $2,250,000

NATIVE CONTENT

Balfour at Palisades: A New Standard in Senior Living

BY G EO RGETOW N ME D I A G R O U P A successful career as CEO of National Jewish Hospital and government nursing home regulator didn’t come close to preparing Michael Schonbrun for the challenges of relocating his then recently widowed mother Madeline from the family’s NYC apartment to senior living. The lessons learned from that journey is the “origin story” behind the soonto-be-built Balfour at Palisades.

“Quality is our standard” says Schonbrun, CEO of Balfour Senior Living, a collection of boutique senior living communities.

“My mother’s joie de vivre and life-long

Michael Schonbrun and Susan Juroe

appreciation for the finer things in life have inspired us to meet her high standards in creating beautiful communities and a lifestyle that fulfills and delights our residents.”

Founded 23 years ago, Balfour Senior Living is a Colorado-based company that started small by design and is now expanding its luxury boutique footprint to East Coast markets. It currently has 11 locations -ten in Colorado and one in Michigan and its Washington, D.C. and Brookline, MA communities are expected to deliver in 2023.

“We’re not looking to be the biggest,” explains Susan Juroe, the company’s Co-founder, and General Counsel. “Our goal is to be the best and most admired in our category by creating unique environments that enrich the lives of the people who live and work there. We also feel strongly about offering our residents a beautiful and compelling destination where their friends and families can also enjoy Balfour’s amenities and hospitality.”

The architecture of Balfour at Palisades was informed by local art deco landmarks -- the neighborhood’s Glen Echo Amusement Park, MacArthur Theater, and the glamourous residential buildings of that era such as the Kennedy-Warren.

Balfour partnered with the local developer Trammell Crow, awardwinning architecture firm Perkins Eastman which brought the stylized art deco design to life, and NYC design firm Pembrooke and Ives who brought best-in-class residential design

The Balfour at Palisades community spaces feature exceptional quality architecture, décor and art where future residents can proudly welcome their families and friends. The bar evokes the mood of some of D.C.’s iconic clubs and restaurants.

The Great Room has immediate access to a lushly landscaped outdoor courtyard.

NYC design firm Pembrooke & Ives and local developer Trammel Crow collaborated with Balfour on the 138-unit building featuring penthouses, a swimming pool, theatre and no large buy-in fees.

experience and made them ideal collaborators for this project.

Balfour at Palisades will feature 138 apartment homes with a variety of floor plans, including studios, one- and two-bedrooms, one bedroom with dens and one- and twobedroom penthouse apartments. Of these, ten units are part of D.C.’s Inclusionary Zoning program and are income restricted. Residents will have the convenience of a range of services centered around their lifestyle and needs from independent living to assisted living, and memory care. The amenities include seasonally inspired culinary offerings at breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week in three dining venues, indoor saltwater pool, sauna, fitness center and yoga studio, hair salon, theatre, a library, bar, housekeeping and home maintenance services, valet parking for residents and their guests, reserved covered parking, rooftop access and a Tesla fleet staffed with Balfour drivers to meet scheduled or spontaneous local transportation needs.

Balfour’s model does not have a large “buyin” fee, instead charging monthly rent plus a la carte levels of care when or if needed. It’s a model that requires Balfour to “earn your trust every day” and allow for flexibility should a relocation or changed life circumstances arise. Additionally, couples can stay together with care brought into their apartment home if needed.

For Michael Schonbrun and his partner Susan Juroe, a Georgetown resident for 20 years, Balfour represents a personal calling.

“We wanted to create places where residents can welcome their friends and families and enjoy wonderful experiences together. The Palisades is designed for ease of living and engagement within and beyond our

community. Residents can enjoy all that the Palisades neighborhood offers -- only steps away from their front door -- and all that the Washington, D.C. area has to offer.” Another plus: Balfour is pet friendly. Residents can move in with their pets and it’s common for some “pet-less” residents to adopt pets after they’ve settled in. Balfour at Palisades will feature an indoor off-leash pet park and a pet grooming station.

The “silver tsunami” is nowhere close to cresting according to AARP and other senior advocacy groups. Baby Boomers (sorry, Millennials!) are still making their influence known in all sorts of ways. “To be honest, we designed Balfour for ourselves. And for Madeline, of course!” Michael admits. “We thought seriously of what we would like and need to feel comfortable, what it meant to feel at home and have that pride of place -- that’s something we’re always working on.” Susan adds, “We’re also mindful of the challenges people are facing as they age. Loneliness, depression, and lack of physical, mental, and emotional stimulation are real health hazards.

At Balfour, we’re creating communities where everyone can feel valued and welcome and are free to discover new interests and friendships.”

Balfour at Palisades will be located at 4865 MacArthur Blvd NW, D.C. 20007 and is expected to open in 2023. The leasing center address is 4418 MacArthur Blvd., NW. For more details or to schedule a meeting at their leasing center contact Eileen Alexander, Executive Director, ealexander@balfourcare. com, 202.845.4856 or Cynthia McKee, Preleasing Director, cmckee@balfourcare. com, 202.941.4617. For more information about Balfour Senior Living, visit balfourcare. com or call 844.354.8877.

GMG, INC.

DECEMBER 8, 2021

13

With Some Puck, Our Holidays Light Up

Wolfpuck Puck and his wife, Gelila Assefa, at Cut restaurant at the Rosewood Hotel in Georgetown last month. Photo by Robert Devaney.

BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY “If we want the neighborhood to be interested in us, we have to be interested in the neighborhood,” says Wolfgang Puck, the celebrity chef name behind Cut, the restaurant in the luxe Rosewood Hotel on 31st Street next to the C&O Canal. “I like that it’s small, intimate.”

That’s coming from the 72-year-old charismatic chef, whose family name evokes a merry sprite and whose restaurant and catering empire, cofounded with then-wife Barbara Lazaroff, has 5,000 employees. With an estimated net worth of $90-120 million, according to reports, Puck ranks number six on the richest celebrity chef list. But who’s counting?

Georgetown’s Cut is the fifth location of Puck’s more-than-a-steakhouse concept that also features fish and vegetable dishes. Here, his positivity and personality are on display, where we met him for another interview.

Puck is one of the first celebrity chefs — known around the world for his nouvelle California and fusion culinary innovations — whose life began in a small village in Austria.

With his mother Maria as a baker, he began cooking at 14. Puck says he didn’t have a great childhood. Still, he stuck it out and followed his dream, which “may have been more like an escape,” he adds. “The tough part was that my stepfather was totally crazy and always told 14 DECEMBER 8, 2021

GMG, INC.

me I was good for nothing. He beat up me and my sister. The first 18 years were the hardest.

After that, it started to get better.”

At 19, Puck found his mentor — Raymond Thuilier at L’Oustau de Baumanière in Les Baux-de-Provence. “It changed my life,” Puck says. “There I found my mentor … the way they cooked, took care of the customer, their hospitality.” He also got a sense of the celebrity restaurant — Marcello Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve — but for Puck, it was the way they cooked. “For me, it was elevation … I got passionate,” he recalls. Thuilier acknowledged he was doing a good job. “He was the first one to make me feel good about what I was doing.”

At 20, he was working a one-star kitchen restaurant. After Hôtel de Paris in Monaco, and Maxim’s Paris, Puck moved to the United States in 1973 at age 24.

Those early years are covered in the Disney documentary, “Wolfgang,” released this summer. His is truly a rags-to-riches story for this persevering Austrian-American. “If Wolf can do it, you can, too.”

In Los Angeles, Puck says, “I started at Ma Maison — my first paycheck bounced.”

He made a deal with the owner to get eight percent of the business with less money.

Guests included Orson Welles, Billy Wilder and Joan Collins. “It was an amazing place.

Jack Nicholson and Roman Polanski hung out

all the time. Orson came for lunch every day.”

In 1982, Puck opened Spago — its apt meaning, a string with no beginning or end — and attracted a similar celebrity clientele.

“I knew lot of those people,” he says. It was one of the first with an open kitchen — then a Spago in Tokyo and Chinois in Santa Monica.

Now, the Wolf Puck company boasts more than 25 restaurants, several lounges and many Kitchens at airports, even at a few hospitals.

Last month, Puck catered the wedding of Paris Hilton and Carter Reum.

During our interview, we met Puck’s wife, Gelila Assefa, a fashion designer who also works on the company’s creative branding — from the grocery store line to fine dining.

(They married in 2007 in Capri and have two sons together.)

She had been out being a tourist in D.C. “I like the Capitol and more of the political history,” Assefa says. “Last night, we went to the French ambassador’s residence.” They also went to lunch at Fiola Mare. “I like to take walks down at the water,” Puck adds. It’s particularly nice when the leaves are changing.”

And favorite activities during the holidays?

“I love to ski during Christmastime,” Puck says.

His wife, who grew up in Ethiopia, tried it but adds she would “rather be in the spa area.” For her, the best Christmas is quiet time at home.

“Christmas Eve dinner I like that a lot,” Assefa

says. “I think Christmas is where the family is.”

“For me, Christmas was the most important holiday,” Puck says. “My mother used to bake cookies and hide them. The whole house smelled of cookies … And then, someone from the church walked through the village with incense.” Along with that, images of snow and candles linger.

“This year, the celebrations will be bigger.

Restaurants are doing better than in 2019,” says Puck who worked on a president’s council last year advocating for policy changes in business interruption insurance. “The pandemic was a hard time because we didn’t know when it would end.”

At Georgetown’s Cut, the going was even tougher. The restaurant opened in 2019, and then a fire in the kitchen closed it for nine months — and then the pandemic. Today, the place is doing a brisk business. “I have a lot of people with me for many years,” says Puck, who praises Cut’s executive chef, Andrew Skala. “I love to challenge the chefs. I want them to be creative. They have to be excited.

It’s important to be inspired.”

At Cut, the most popular cut is “the dry-aged, boney New York,” Puck says. “And a lot of tomahawk steak — we try to get people to share.

It is a better dining experience if you share.”

As for Puck’s management style, he says: “I treat people the way I like to be treated.

Checking in with Chef Andrew Skala

BY OL GA BOIKESS “What’s new?” Wolfgang Puck asks Cut’s Executive Chef Andrew Skala during his frequent calls. Skala explains that Wolf is always “pushing our thinking.” Right now, what’s new on DC Cut’s raw bar is a dish based on hard-tosource Maryland crab. “Wolfgang was recently in Paris,” says Skala, and Puck raved about a celeriac remoulade he had there. Skala’s riff on this classic is a crab salad made with celery root that he punctuates with persimmon – adding a complex “sweetness” and tang Also, on the raw bar menu is another “new” dish that riffs on a “modern classic” – tuna tartare. “Now is the season for the Atlantic blue fin tuna” that Skala prizes for its “winter mix of fatty and lean.” He contrasts the tuna meat with a maitake mushroom topping and finishes with a touch of pine nuts pureed with horseradish.

Vegetables are very important to Puck who

was one of the pioneering California chefs driving miles to seek out farmers. Skala, also, “did a lot of visiting farms” in the mid-Atlantic when he first came to the region. This winter he is featuring an appetizer based on locally sourced cauliflower. The floret is seared and then roasted in a wood-burning oven. It is accented with chili and honey, along with a labneh made with dill, and topped with toasted pumpkin or sesame seeds.

Grilled Virginia rockfish, the basis of another featured dish, also pays tribute to the mid-Atlantic region. It also exemplifies what Skala describes as Puck’s “global cuisine – pulling flavors from different parts of the world.” In this dish, the fresh fish and sweet delicate squash contrast with an Indonesianinspired sambal. Skala finds this cross-culinary approach “a way of learning about cultures.”

Executive Chef Andrew Skala of Cut DC. Georgetowner photo

A table setting with tomahawk steak at Cut DC. Photo by Nico Schinco.

Dishwasher or chef — guest or whoever, no difference — everyone is important. I treat everybody the same. Deep down, we are all human beings — we all want to be treated well.”

His go-to Christmas dinner? Appetizers — oysters, smoked salmon and caviar (sometimes, foie gras), luxury oeuvres … good champagne (but not everything on the table at once).

For the main course, Peking duck, served Austrian-style with lingonberry, grape cabbage, chestnuts and mashed potatoes — and make a good sauce. Good wine at the table, of course.

Puck wears a wristband that reads, “Allergic to Stupidity.” Is it about politics? “Now, it’s us against them,” he says. “They should do what’s good for the country. I think politicians are so paranoid. Where is the middle ground?

The country got paralyzed — it’s supposed to be the United States of America, not the divided states of America.”

For the new year, Puck has a resolution he could not fulfill last year: “When I travel to different places, whether Bahrain or Budapest, I will work three days and then take two days to explore and learn the local scene.”

As for the future of the Wolfgang Puck company, its co-founder looks to his four sons — Byron Puck already manages restaurants — and told L.A. Magazine last year: “I was approached many times to sell the business. I really don’t want to do that. Ideally, it will stay a family business. My dream is to look down from heaven and say, ‘Oh my God, the kids are doing much better than I did.’ ”

Rockfish with clams. Courtesy Cut DC. GMG, INC.

DECEMBER 8, 2021

15

IN COUNTRY

Rehoboth: Splendid OffSeason Get-Away

BY M ARY ANN T RE GE R When we heard an unruly plane passenger had been duct taped to his seat and days later a flight attendant lost two teeth in yet another air altercation, we opted to make our annual fall getaway a calming drive-to destination.

These days, the friendly skies just don’t feel very friendly anymore.

We replaced crowded airports and the risk of air rage with an off-season trip to Rehoboth Beach. Cruising across the scenic Bay Bridge and moseying down Route 404 through farmlands dotted with fruit and vegetable stands made getting there simply nirvana.

The idea of a Delaware beach town getaway when temps are dropping may seem a little odd but the perks outweigh the need for a sweatshirt. Cooler temperatures are ideal for a brisk morning boardwalk stroll or bike ride along the coastline where you just might spot a dolphin frolicking in the Atlantic. Fewer tourists mean there aren’t queues at the best restaurants and thanks to off-peak rates there

are savings at the best places to stay. And, you can embrace your inner child sans long lines for popcorn at Dolly’s, saltwater taffy at Candy Kitchen or Thrasher’s French Fries.

For the uninitiated, Rehoboth Beach isn’t your usual run-of-the-mill honky tonk beach town. Of course it has its share of Tee shirt and henna tattoo shops but this quirky mix of imaginative cottages, fine restaurants, bars, art galleries and unique shops attracts an eclectic mix of families, couples, singles, gay and straight visitors who all seamlessly blend together in one beautiful square mile.

STAY Just two blocks from the Atlantic, the fivestar Bellmoor Inn and Spa exudes comfort. A bright sun room adjacent to the lobby offers a serene space for endless contemplation and is a welcoming sight after a three-hour drive. Nearby, a massive fireplace in the game room and library is a cozy retreat après exploring town. Awarded Best Designed Hotel in Delaware by House Beautiful, the plush property boasts 78 recently reimagined rooms and suites with every detail addressed including fine imported toiletries. A full complimentary breakfast with freshlybaked pastries and made-to-order omelets is served each morning and a lobby bar

Interior of the Bellmoor Inn and Spa ideal for lingering is a beckoning place for an impromptu nightcap. A well-equipped fitness center plus full-service spa has enough indulgences to sway even spa skeptics. Other niceties include complimentary charging stations for electric autos and an indoor hot tub ideal for a chilly fall/winter night.

DINE A hearty breakfast on the boardwalk at Victoria’s offers the serenity of an ocean view while reminiscing over morning coffee. Or, savor a glass of wine (or two) at dusk while listening to the roar of the mighty Atlantic.

Check out the quirky mix of Queen Victoria memorabilia and delightful teapot collection high up on a shelf.

Dining at Henlopen City Oyster House is worth the entire trip to Rehoboth. The food is that good! Menu offers imaginative

combinations of locally grown fruits and vegetables plus meats and seafood from regional markets. While the restaurant has a casual vibe, menu is a mix of expertise and playfulness. Choices range from Lobster Mac and Cheese to elegantly presented Florida Grouper. And, when was the last time you saw Beluga Caviar with house made potato chips on a beach town dinner menu?

SHOP No sales tax is another Delaware attraction.

Pop into massive outdoor outlet shopping malls for bargains galore on dozens of name brands. Or, check out The Shops at Baltimore Avenue and Rehoboth Mews for fun boutiques with merchandise you won’t see coming and going. Home furnishing shoppers head to J. Conn Scott and Hunt & Lane. For unusual women’s clothes, Boutique W just may fit.

FAR FROM ORDINARY

Close to Everything Else Ingleside at Rock Creek is bursting with colorful opportunities this season. Experience the community’s natural splendor or take advantage of all the historical and cultural attraction of the nation’s capital. Enjoy daily programs, speakers, and entertainment, plus all the amazing amenities from the clubinspired fitness center to bistro-style dining. It’s all right outside your door, come see it for yourself.

LIVING AT ITS BEST.

MODERN. INSPIRED. ALWAYS ENGAGING.

INDEPENDENT LIVING // ASSISTED LIVING // MEMORY SUPPORT LONG-TERM CARE // SHORT-TERM REHAB A NOT-FOR-PROFIT LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY

16 DECEMBER 8, 2021

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WWW.IRCDC.ORG // 202-933-5347

ARTS

JASPER JOHNS AT THE WHITNEY

BY R ICHARD S E L DE N Thanks to Andy Warhol, Campbell’s soup and Brillo pads hold an honored place in art history. Two years younger, Jasper Johns got there first with Ballantine ale and Savarin coffee, pointing the way to Pop Art as he had to Conceptual Art and Minimalism.

Like holy relics, Johns’s painted bronze casts of Ballantine and Savarin cans are centerpieces of the New York half of “Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror,” on view through Feb. 13 at the Whitney Museum of American Art. (The retrospective’s other half is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.) Dating to 1960, these sculptures of a notquite-identical pair of ale cans and a coffee tin crammed with paintbrushes shook the art scene the way Johns’s ironing-board-flat American flag paintings, on the walls of the Castelli Gallery, shook it in 1958. Wasn’t contemporary art supposed to be abstract yet expressive, the paint slathered over, poured onto or soaked into the canvas? Were the flags patriotic or anti-American? Were the cans some kind of a joke?

Johns’s revelation, it is said, came in 1954, when he dreamed of painting an American flag with 48 stars (the number at the time) and, the following day, did so. He soon started

A L L’ S W E L L FA R M

Marshall, Virginia • $7,500,000

depicting other “things the mind already knows,” familiar symbolic objects such as targets (his frequently reproduced “Target with Four Faces” of 1955 is here) and maps. While he made variation after variation, including drawings and prints — a large number of which are displayed — his signature medium was wax-based encaustic paint over collaged newspaper scraps.

Inspired by the Dada creations of Marcel Duchamp, philosopher of art and manipulator of the mass-produced, Johns and his older co-conspirators — artist Robert Rauschenberg, composer John Cage and choreographer Merce Cunningham — sought to redefine art, music and dance. Rauschenberg, Cage and Cunningham had begun to do so at Black Mountain College in North Carolina in the late 1940s, around the time the Georgia-born Johns arrived in New York from South Carolina.

After Korean War service in Japan, Johns returned and, in 1954, met Rauschenberg.

Rauschenberg and Johns, who became lovers, designed store-window displays to pay the bills. In adjacent Lower Manhattan studios, they explored the border between painting and sculpture, toying with found objects and pop-culture material. Following their lead, Warhol painted his “Campbell’s Soup Cans” (32 in number) and silkscreened his stack of wooden “Brillo Boxes” in the early 1960s.

One gallery is devoted to Johns’s wonderfully Rauschenbergian “According

R U T L E D G E FA R M

Middleburg, Virginia • $7,000,000

to What” of 1964, a six-panel assemblage (the hinged panel at lower left hangs open, revealing Duchamp’s profile) accompanied by preparatory and related works. To the canvas surface, painted with rectangles of primary colors, Abstract Expressionist patches, a column of graduated gray and a traffic-light pillar of colored circles, he has attached a coat hanger from which a spoon extends on a wire, part of an upside-down chair and threedimensional letters reading (vertically): RED YELLOW BLUE. Although in this work Johns shows a playful side, his mode is most often deadpan irony. The bitterness of the gray pieces he made when Rauschenberg left him in 1961 is therefore startling. On view from that year are the murky “Liar” (the word is stenciled under a flap), the smeared “Good Time Charley” (with an attached yardstick and inverted tin cup, on which the title is stamped) and the muddy “Painting Bitten by a Man” (defaced by a horrid tongue impression).

Johns’s friendship with Cunningham, Cage’s collaborator and lover, was a lasting one. He designed sets and costumes for Cunningham’s path-breaking dance company as artistic advisor from 1967 to 1980. His “Dancers on a Plane” of 1979, with a symmetric pattern of red, yellow and blue crosshatches (another Johns motif) and white plastic forks, knives and spoons embedded in the frame, is an homage to the choreographer.

H A L F W AY FA R M

Middleburg, Virginia • $3,975,000

Jasper Johns, Moratorium, 1969. Offset lithograph, sheet: 22 1/2 × 28 11/16in. (57.2 × 72.9 cm).

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from Scott Rothkopf in honor of Leonard A. Lauder 2020.98. © Jasper Johns / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

“Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror” runs through Feb. 13 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St., NY, NY 10014.

VISIT GEORGETOWNER.COM FOR THE FULL ARTICLE AND IMAGES

DEERFIELD

Upperville, Virginia • $3,300,000

Prime Fauquier County location on the Atoka Road |88.34 acres w/ bold Blue Ridge views | Neoclassical brick home w/ state roof completely updated & expanded | 5 BR, 5 full, 2 half baths, 5 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen |10 stall barn with attached indoor arena | Pool, pool house, tenant house |Beautiful gardens | Superb condition.

circa 1740 w/addition in 1820 | 6 BR, 5 fireplaces | 113 lush acres, 5 barns | Derby field | 218 x 80 indoor arena | 250 x 150 all-weather outdoor arena | 80’ lunging arena | Polo field (or 2 grand prix fields) | 4 board, double fencing | Guest house | Farm office /3 BR house | Machine shed | Carriage house w/apartment | Stone spring house/office | 3 BR apartment | Pond

Privacy and 107 acres between Middleburg and The Plains | Residential enclave of great character within a rich array of natural resources | Classic Virginia stone and stucco c.

1820 | 4 bedrooms, antique floors and rich pine paneling Two guest houses, stone cottage, farm managers house, 2 stables, machine shed and work shop| Extensive Little River frontage and 2 ponds | Tremendous views.

Stately brick manor house c.1844 | 4 bedrooms, lovely kitchen, multiple porches, pine floors, 7 fireplaces, original mantels, large windows and detailed millwork throughout | c. 1810 log cabin used as the pool house & a converted barn now serves as a guest house | 2 ponds, miles of trails, 129 acres | Separate workshop and 5 car garage

Paul MacMahon

Paul MacMahon

Helen MacMahon

Helen MacMahon

(703) 609-1905

F OX H O L L O W

Middleburg, Virginia • $2,950,000

(703) 609-1905

LO N G B R A N C H

The Plains, Virginia • $1,950,000

(540) 454-1930

T WO S P R I N G S

Middleburg, Virginia • $1,750,000

(540) 454-1930

1 CHINN LANE

Middleburg, Virginia • $975,000

Stone and stucco home built in 2000 | 7 potential bedrooms, 7 full baths 2 half baths, 3 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen, attached 3-car garage | High ceilings, detailed workmanship | Improvements include 6 stall barn with heated tack room | Board fence, sand riding ring, heated pool | 25.2 very private acres east of Middleburg with frontage on Little River| Private yet close to everything.

Gorgeous 71 acre parcel in a wonderful location between Middleburg and The Plains | Rolling land with stone walls and 2 ponds | Enchanting property | Property is in conservation easement and may not be divided further

c.1890 charming stucco home on 10 acres | 4/5 bedrooms, copper roof, beautiful original floors, 4 fireplaces, large swimming pool, spring house, two small ponds, large pastures, completely fenced | Multiple outbuildings for storage and a studio space for guests, office, pool house etc | Located at the end of a quiet gravel road surrounded by large farms | Great weekend retreat

Elegant and manageable home in the village of Middleburg | Living room has a large fireplace and french doors opening to enclosed porch/sunroom | Second floor offers 2 charming guest bedrooms | Privacy wall encloses the garden area and provides an additional parking, detached heated garage with attached greenhouse

Paul MacMahon

Helen MacMahon

Helen MacMahon

Helen MacMahon

(703) 609-1905

info@sheridanmacmahon.com www.sheridanmacmahon.com

(540) 454-1930

(540) 687-5588

(540) 454-1930

(540) 454-1930

110 East Washington Street Middleburg, Virginia 20117

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DECEMBER 8, 2021

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ARTS

Winter Arts Preview NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART

The Wall/El Muro: What Is A Border Wall?

Through November 2022

Prehistoric Spirals: Earthenware from Thailand Opening Late December or Early January (TBD)

This exhibition examines the U.S./ Mexico border wall from the perspective of architecture and design. By focusing on the built environment, visitors will understand that a border wall makes real — and internationally consequential -- something otherwise intended to be symbolic. Addressing the myriad ways the architecture and landscape of security surround us the show challenges how we imagine America at its limits. The border is a place, but it also looms large as a symbol of both America’s vulnerability and state power.

The show deploys photography, video, artifacts and immersive experiences to help illuminate the role of design, architecture, planning and engineering in the realm of national security and geopolitics. The exhibition situates the wall in the wider, international context of shifting border lines, the early construction of border fences, and old and new border walls throughout the world, encouraging audiences to engage in this international conversation.

Red painted spirals swirl in distinct patterns across the surfaces of prehistoric vessels, testifying to the sophisticated material and aesthetic cultures of northeastern Thailand more than two thousand years ago. Their makers belonged to a loose network of settlements specializing in bronze and ceramic production. Tragically, the region has been heavily looted in recent history.

The pots, once ritually buried in gravesites as objects of prestige and remembrance, were unearthed recklessly and stripped of their historical context. As a result, little is known about these vessels and the people who made them. Recent research into their materials, techniques and designs opens new lines of inquiry into the region’s heritage and helps celebrate Thailand’s profound cultural and material legacy.

Earthenware vessel on a pedestal foot, Ban Chiang culture, 300 BCE-200 CE, National Museum of Asian Art

AMERICAN ART MUSEUM Sargent, Whistler, and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano Through May 2022 For Sargent, Whistler, and many of their patrons, Venetian glassware was irresistibly beautiful, and collecting these exquisite vessels expressed respect for both history and innovation. By recreating their transatlantic journey — from the furnaces of Murano to American parlors and museums — this exhibition brings to life the Venetian glass revival of the late nineteenth century and the artistic experimentation the city inspired for visiting artists. It is the first comprehensive examination of American tourism, artmaking, and art collecting in Venice, revealing the glass furnaces and their new creative boom as a vibrant facet of the city’s allure.

Between 1860 and 1915, Murano glassmakers began specializing in delicate and complex hand-blown vessels, dazzling the world with brilliant colors and virtuoso sculptural flourishes. This glass revival coincided with a surge in Venice’s popularity as a destination for tourists, leading to frequent depictions of Italian glassmakers and glass objects by artists from abroad.

Moreover, the inventions of Murano’s master glassmakers established Venice as a center for artistic experimentation. Sojourns in 18 DECEMBER 8, 2021

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Venice were turning points for John Singer Sargent, James McNeill Whistler, and scores of artists who followed in their footsteps, often referencing the glass industry in their works. Featuring more than 140 objects, this exhibition presents a choice selection of glass vessels in conversation with artworks by the many talented American artists who found inspiration in Venice.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART James Van Der Zee’s Photographs: A Portrait of Harlem Through May 2022 Photographer James Van Der Zee created an extraordinary chronicle of life in Harlem during the 1920s and 1930s and beyond.

Residents of this majority Black neighborhood in New York City turned to Van Der Zee and his camera to mark special occasions.

His carefully composed, cosmopolitan photographs conveyed the personalities, aspirations and spirit of his sitters. Some 40 works from the National Gallery’s collection feature Van Der Zee’s studio portraits, along with his photographs of Harlem nightclubs and storefronts as well as religious, social, political and athletic community groups. Together they provide a glimpse into Harlem’s rich social life as it became an influential center of American culture during the Harlem Renaissance.

FOOD & WINE

Book Launch Eats Its Own, Fabulously

BY PEGGY SAN D S

THE LATEST DISH

BY LINDA ROT H Owner K.J. Hughes will officially open Manifest on Dec. 8 at 1807 Florida Ave NW in Adams Morgan where Salon XYZ used to be. Not everything has changed since its salon days, as it’s a three-fer: barber shop, coffee bar and speakeasy. The intimate upstairs speakeasy is referred to as: Out of Office. NYC-based Tacombi also opens on Dec. 8 at 1550 Crystal Drive in Crystal City (aka National Landing), Arlington. The retro design is meant to look like a well-worn 1970s taqueria. More are planned at 14th Street in D.C. and in Bethesda, which complements their 11 stores open in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, NY. It-Runs-In-The-Family: St James restaurant featuring Caribbean cuisine, from siblings Peter and Jeanine Prime, who brought you Cane, is slated to open in D.C.’s U Street Corridor by end of Q4 2021….. Siblings Ken and Aki Ballogdajan will open Kema

by Kenaki at 11325 Seven Locks Rd. in Potomac’s Cabin John Village in Q1 2022.

Rob Sonderman of Federalist Pig in Adams Morgan, and Steve Salis plan to open Honeymoon Chicken at 4201 Georgia Ave, NW in Petworth where Slim’s Diner used to be. Federalist Pig Hyattsville is now targeting the end of Q2 2022 to open.

Just Opened: Mike & Lois’s Late Night Grill in the Highroad Hostel at 1800 Belmont Rd. NW... Dolce Vita opened at 1610 14th Street, NW in Logan Circle where Ghibellina used to be, featuring foods from countries surrounding the Mediterranean. Owner Med Lahlou also has Lupo Verde, nearby on 14th Street, and in the Palisades and at the Wharf.

Kiki plans to be a friendly new place to go for the LGBTQ community when it opens at 915 U Street NW where the iconic Velvet Lounge used to be. Brought to you by Keaton

Fedak, former general manager of Dirty Goose, it features dance floors, a drag show stage, bars, and, eventually, a beer garden in back. By Q2 2022, the plan is to expand into the old Dodge City space next door.

Quick Hits: Look for Spike Mendelsohn’s Santa Rosa Taqueria to re-open in the same block as its old location, at 301 Pennsylvania Ave SE where Pret-A-Manger used to be, in 2022…. George Rodrigues, former chef de cuisine at Boqueria in Penn Quarter, plans to open El Mercat Bar De Tapas Rockville Town Square where Gumbo Ya Ya used to be…. Italian Bar opens next to I’m Eddie Cano, at 5008 Connecticut Ave, NW with espresso, cappuccinos, gelato and pastries, to be enjoyed standing, as they do in Italy. No seats.…. Jimmy Khan reopened his Pines of Florence in Arlington’s Cherrydale neighborhood where Portobellos used to be, at 2109 North Pollard Street, just off Langston Blvd. (formerly Lee Hwy).

As You Are Bar (think Nirvana) will open on Barracks Row where District Soul Food and Banana Cafe used to be at 500 8th Street, SE. Jo McDaniel and Rach Pike are alumni of A League of Her Own in Adams Morgan.

The plan is to have a daytime cafe and nighttime lounge on the first floor and a place to dance upstairs, along with a back room with video games. They asked Nina Love to develop the food menu and kitchen operations.

Now, that was a book launch! A stack of cookbooks with a charming illustrated cover — along with matching wrapping paper and bookplates — greeted invited guests at a classic Q Street home, filled with assertive black-and-white modern art. Succulent samples of some of the book’s recipes were served for lunch.

“Georgetown Cooks” – the Georgetown community cook book put together over the past year by Elizabeth Hague, Carrington Tarr and Elizabeth Miller, a Georgetown Neighborhood Advisory Commissioner – was launched Nov. 19 at a luncheon at Miller’s home. The launch lunch was held in honor of the some 150 Georgetowners, who contributed recipes, as well as the sponsor of the book, philanthropist and real estate agent Nancy Taylor Bubes. LouLou Baker designed the cover art.

Self-written recipes, instructions and tips, often along with a short story of family memories attached to the dish, fill the more than 160 pages of tried and true cocktails, small bites and starters, soups and stews, salad, vegetables and sides, sauces, seafoods,

Artist Sidney Lawrence with book party host and co-author Elizabeth Miller.

Georgetowner photo. pasta, meat, breads and desserts. They include entries, such as Christi Cline’s “One Pot Wonder,” Carol Joynt’s “Howard’s Eggnog,” Jennifer Romm’s “Sformato di Spinaci,” Lorraine Cole’s “Stuffed Peaches with Amaretto” and Tom Birch’s “Wine Jello.”

All proceeds from the sale of the cookbook to be donated to Ewing’s sarcoma research at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

A community-wide book party for “Georgetown Cooks” will be held Dec. 11 at the Sid and Ann Mashburn shop on N Street.

Books are also available for purchase at www. louloubaker.com or by emailing Elizabeth Miller at elizabethhayesmiller@gmail.com.

Linda Roth is Founder & CEO of Linda Roth Associates (LRA), a D.C.-based public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the foodservice and hospitality industries.

Follow her at: @LindaRothPR @LRAPR #LindaRothPR or www.lindarothpr.com.

Call our catering office at 703-778-8000 for all your holiday party needs, or stop by our store just up the street at 2418 Wisconsin Ave! Your Hometown Barbeque Since 1990! www.rocklands.com GMG, INC.

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

ACE WINDOW CLEANING, CO. Residential specialists inside and outside. Family owned and operated for over 30 years. (202) 363-2897 Chevy Chase, MD • We also offer glass, screen, and sash cord repair service • Ask about our no damage, low pressure Powerwashing.

HANDYMAN SERVICES Carpentry • Plaster & Drywall Doors/Windows • Cabinets/Shelves Counter Tops • Painting/Finishing And much more Over 30 years our craftsmen do quality work: remodeling building or restoring

CHEVY CHASE FLOOR WAXING SERVICE Polishing, buffing, and waxing to preserve and protect your fine wood floors, using old-fashioned paste wax.

Family owned and operated for 30 years. Licensed Bonded Insured (301) 656-1810, Chevy Chase, MD

CONTINENTAL MOVERS Moving & Hauling deliveries 25 Years In Business 202-438-1489 301-340-0602 Cmora52607@msn.com www.continentalmovees.net

Joel Truitt Builders, Inc. 734 7th St. S.E. (202) 547-2707 QUALITY SINCE 1972

AIRPORT TOWNCAR SERVICE Potomac Limo 1-800-POTOMAC or 703-593-7509

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POWER OF LOCAL The Georgetowner is mailed to all 7,700 RESIDENTS & BUSINESSES in Georgetown.

202-338-4833 advertising@georgetowner.com

SOCIAL SCENE

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff and 44th Kennedy Center Honorees. Photo by Michael Butcher.

The Great Return: Kennedy Center Honors Sparkles

BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY “How did I get here?” asked honoree Bette Midler a la David Byrne. She along with operatic bass-baritone Justino Díaz, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels and singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell were the 44th honorees for lifetime artistic achievements, bestowed by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 5. The president and first lady were back to make a magical evening complete.

2021 Kennedy Center Honors Class Photo: Justino Díaz, Lorne Michaels, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler and Berry Gordy. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Tonya Vidal Kinlow, DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Vice President of Community Engagement, Advocacy & Government Affairs at Children’s National Hospital, Kurt Newman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s National Hospital, Heather Ness, Principal, Robert Bobb Group, and Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio. Photo by Imagine Photography.

DC Chamber’s Awards: ’Stronger Together’

BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY After a challenging year, Angela Franco, President and CEO, DC Chamber of Commerce, welcomed 600 guests Nov. 19 to an in-person event at the Omni Shoreham Hotel that honored Chamber Choice Awardees — Gelberg Signs, Rudy Seikaly, CEO of MCN Build, The Shop Salon, Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt, Children’s National Hospital.

Dr. Carolyn Rudd, President and CEO of CRP Inc., DC Chamber of Commerce Board Chair, Shawn Yancy, NBC4, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Angela Franco, DC Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. Photo by Imagine Photography.

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DECEMBER 8, 2021

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KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB

A Fateful Friendship MARK PERRY’S 2004 BIOGRAPHY EXPERTLY CAPTURES THE BOND BETWEEN TWO AMERICAN ICONS. REVIEW ED BY KIT T Y K E LLE Y Readers who appreciate Civil War memoirs and enjoy biographies will treasure Mark Perry’s 2004 double-barreled book, “Grant and Twain: The Story of a Friendship that Changed America.” With a respectful nod to Pulitzer Prize winners Ron Chernow (“Grant”) and Justin Kaplan (“Mr. Clemens and Mark Twain”), one salutes Perry for creating a hybrid work focused on 18 months in the lives of two American giants at a time that produced their greatest triumphs.

By abandoning the cradle-to-grave story in favor of constructing a small keystone in the lives of these greats, Perry, who succumbed to cancer in August 2021, crafts a new kind of biography that blends the relationship between two 19th-century individuals who represented their culture and tradition yet still speak to us generations later.

From May 1884 to July 1885, Ulysses S. Grant, wracked with terminal throat cancer, wrote his memoirs, which Mark Twain helped publish to acclaim and profit while finishing his own masterpiece, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” a novel seven years in the making.

“This is the story of a friendship,” Perry writes in his introduction about Grant, “America’s greatest general,” and Twain, the country’s “most esteemed writer.” The relationship between these two men at the end of Grant’s life brought out the best in both, enhancing their history and enriching literature forever.

Grant, from Ohio, became an abolitionist years before Twain, from Missouri, saw the light. “In my schoolboy days I had no aversion to slavery,” Twain recalled after he published

“Huck Finn.” He started the book in 1876 and had written 400 pages but could go no further. Seven years later, he returned to the manuscript, “when,” as Perry writes, “in the midst of his friendship with Ulysses S. Grant he finally realized what ‘Huck Finn’ was really all about…It is unlikely that he could have finished it at all were it not for Grant.”

What a godforsaken world it would have been without Twain’s fictional raft trip down the Mississippi with a poor scamp and a runaway slave, and how bereft history would be without “The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant,” the general who won the Civil War and saved the U.S. from slavery.

Geniuses in their own right, neither man excelled at business, but both, according to Perry, “felt the irresistible pull of wealth,” living in the era known as the Gilded Age. They aspired to be men of means and hold their own with the financial barons of their time, but both became too familiar with debt and fell into the abyss of bankruptcy.

Grant’s financial debacle dogged him with scandal at the end of his life. As he was dying, he was desperate to redeem his good name while providing for his wife and children.

Twain, who revered Grant “as the greatest American since Washington,” was determined to help him by publishing Grant’s memoirs.

In June 1884, the two men joined forces and within a year and a half realized their greatest financial successes while transforming the world of American literature. Fighting 22 DECEMBER 8, 2021

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through piercing pain with dollops of cocaine, Grant summoned the courage that had led to his victories at Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Gettysburg, and later to two terms in the White House. Days before he died, he finished his memoirs, which were later published to profit and acclaim.

At the same time, Twain published his own masterpiece on the evils of slavery, which Ernest Hemingway praised for its excellence: “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ Hemingway wrote in 1935. “All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since.”

Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain represent the heart and soul of America, which Perry captures in his enchanting book. He applauds their friendship, a kind of relationship he, too, had mastered, as was evident at his recent memorial service. Mark Perry died too soon at the age of 70, but he left us with a book that will live forever.

Georgetown resident Kitty Kelley has written several number-one New York Times best-sellers, including “The Family: The Real Story Behind the Bush Dynasty.” kittykelleywriter.com

Nancy Taylor Bubes

Serving Georgetown the Past 35 years.

The NTB Group is grateful to support the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University Hospital with our sponsorship of the Georgetown Community Cookbook. Thank you as always to our valued customers for their business.

Happy 67th Anniversary to The Georgetowner!

Call or email Nancy, Matt, Liz, Ethan, Cailin, Kathleen, Brittany, Anne, Annie, or Marion anytime — 202-386-7813 — ntbgroup@wfp.com GMG, INC.

DECEMBER 8, 2021

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202.944.5000

WFP.COM

MASS AVE HEIGHTS $10,995,000 2860 Woodland Dr NW, Washington, DC Robert Hryniewicki 202-243-1620 HRL Partners 202-243-1620

GEORGETOWN $6,500,000 3303 Water St NW PH #8H, Washington, DC Nancy Itteilag 202-905-7762 Chris Itteilag 301-633-8182

CAPITOL HILL $4,995,000 212 A Street NE, Washington, DC Cailin Monahan 804-874-1847 Nancy Taylor Bubes Group

WESLEY HEIGHTS $3,995,000 4707 Fulton Street NW, Washington, DC Ben Roth 202-465-9636 Sassy Jacobs 202-276-5449

GEORGETOWN $3,250,000 3222 Scott Place NW, Washington, DC Theresa Burt 202-258-2600 Jamie Peva 202-258-5050

GEORGETOWN $3,200,000 3345 Q Street NW, Washington, DC Ted Gossett 703-625-5656 Joe Kotula 571-331-5886

GEORGETOWN $2,995,000 1415 33rd Street NW, Washington, DC Nancy Taylor Bubes 202-386-7813

GEORGETOWN $2,595,000 3040 O Street NW, Washington, DC Nancy Taylor Bubes 202-386-7813

WEST END $2,495,000 1111 23rd Street NW #5B, Washington, DC Ben Roth 202-465-9636 Lucy Blundon 301-661-7808

DOWNTOWN $2,399,000 920 I Street #715, Washington, DC Matt Ackland 202-320-5227 Nancy Taylor Bubes Group

PALISADES $2,295,000 1616 Foxhall Road NW, Washington, DC Lee Murphy 202-277-7477

U STREET $1,895,00 1911 13th Street NW, Washington, DC Saundra Giannini 703-307-6096

GEORGETOWN $1,225,000 1239 30th Street NW, Washington, DC Cailin Monahan 804-874-1847 Nancy Taylor Bubes Group

GEORGETOWN $1,099,000 1244 28th Street NW, Washington, DC Shaye Zakotnik 301-775-1874

CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS $559,000 3831 Rodman St NW #E29, Washington, DC Robert Hryniewicki 202-243-1620 HRL Partners 202-243-1620

UNDER CONTRACT GEORGETOWN $1,795,000 1652 29th Street NW, Washington, DC Margot Wilson 202-549-2100

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