The Downtowner (July 2015)

Volume 12 Number 5

All the News you can use

JUly 2015

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Summer Gear Guide New in Shaw Restaurants #LoveWins

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Food & Wine

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Town Topics 6 Business News 8 Editorial/Opinion 9 Marriage Equality

Real Es tate 10

News Roundup 11 Zippy Shell Profile 12 June Sales 13 Featured Property

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PERFORMANCE 28

Keegan Theatre

So cial Sc ene Fig & Olive opening at

CityCenter, Vital Voices and more.

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On the cover

In this photo by Jonatha O’Reilly (@vileinist on Instagram), a slacklining man balances in a side plank in Meridian Hill Park, one of the spaces featured in our “Great Urban Outdoors” cover story, as the setting sun illuminates his outline.

The Downtowner is published every month.

The opinions of our writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect the editorial and corporate opinions of The Downtowner newspaper. The Downtowner accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. The Downtowner reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Copyright 2015.

town topics

NEWS

By M ar c P itares s i w i t h P e t e r M u r r ay

Bodies Wash Up in Rock Creek, the Potomac and the Tidal Basin

The Metropolitan Police Department discovered three dead bodies in Washington waterways this week, and attributed the discovery of those bodies to recent heavy rain.

The first body was found June 22 in the rear of the Swedish Embassy at the 2900 block of K Street NW. Officers appeared on the scene to investigate a “body floating in the water” and “discovered a deceased male,” according to an email from the department. Police said the body was in the water for an “undetermined amount of time” and they do not know the cause, or the location, of the man’s death. The department has scheduled an autopsy. Officials also said the deceased man “carried identification” indicating North Carolina residency.

On June 24 police retrieved two more bodies, from the Tidal Basin and the Potomac River.

U.S. Park Police called MPD to the scene when they discovered a partially submerged, “unconscious and unresponsive” adult male in the Tidal Basin around 6:30 a.m. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Meanwhile, MPD is treating the death as a homicide and asks anyone with information about the body to call the department at 202727-9099.

The second body was found around noon in the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center. In a statement, MPD said their K-9 Unit was first on the scene and that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner transported the body to their facilities for further investigation.

Photo courtesy Echostage.

D.C. Legislation Could Give Women Access to a Year’s Worth of Birth Control at Once

The D.C. Council has approved legislation that would require health plans to authorize dispensing of up to a year’s worth of birth control at one time, up from the previous threemonth limit. It remains unclear if Congress will attempt to prevent the law from taking effect.

Mass Overdose on Synthetic Marijuana

At least seven people staying at the District’s largest homeless center overdosed on K2 synthetic marijuana in early June. Those who used the drug appeared lethargic, unresponsive or incoherent afterwards. They were all listed as being in serious condition, but expected to survive. Stick to the real stuff, people.

D.C. Council Approves Restrictions on Pop-Ups

The District’s Zoning Commission has given final approval to new regulations governing pop-ups in certain neighborhoods (Capitol Hill, Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights), reducing the maximum height of single-family row houses to 35 feet from 40 feet.

Bike Advocates Push for Connected Track Near Union Station & Capitol

DanceSafe Surveys Echostage After Death

After the drug-related death of Victoria Callahan, 19, at a Flume concert at Echostage, national public health organization DanceSafe has launched a six-question survey to determine the level of crowding at Echostage shows. The organization says it is dedicated to reducing drug misuse and improving safety at concert venues nationwide.

Google Updates Maps of D.C. Area

As it regularly does, Google again updated the images it uses for Google Maps and Google Earth in the D.C. area. Given the amount of construction in the District at any given time, it makes sense to update fairly often. Check out the progress.

Capitol Hill’s community leaders have formally requested a two-way cycle track on Louisiana Avenue, between Columbus Circle NE and Constitution Avenue NW. The lanes are meant to connect Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes with the 1st Street NE cycle track that is under construction. Considered a significant safety measure, DDOT would need the approval of the Architect of the Capitol to build the lanes.

Mural Discovered at 13th & U

This mural at right was uncovered during a demolition at 13th and U Street NW. It’s a pretty cool reminder of the District’s past amid all the new construction in town.

Police found a body in the Tidal Basin (pictured above) June 24.

Demolition reveals a mural on U Street NW.

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town topics

A panoramic view of Nationals Park. Photo by Rudi Riet.

Signs Are Up for 24-Hour Olivia’s Diner

Nationals Park is not your father’s ballpark. The team planted a rooftop garden overlooking left field that has produced 180 plants, including tomatoes, zucchini, squash and herbs. The team has indicated the garden program will be expanded next season if it is a success.

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Who doesn’t like an all-night diner? Signage is up at Olivia’s Diner, at 1120 19th St. NW, which should open very soon.

Rooftop Garden at Nats Park

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Rito Loco Open All Night on Weekends

Rito Loco’s brick-and-mortar location is now open in Shaw. The 26-seat restaurant will serve burritos (including breakfast burritos and a burrito of the week), tacos, something they call “fit bowls,” as well as seafood options. Owners Louie Hankins and Daniel Diaz plan to keep the place open 24 hours on weekends, citing a dearth of late-night options for food industry people and partiers alike.

D.C.’s First Cat Café Opens in Georgetown

Cat lovers, rejoice! Crumbs and Whiskers, Washington, D.C.’s first cat café, officially opened its Georgetown doors June 20 after months of anticipation.

For $12 on weekends, $10 weekdays and a signed waiver, customers can spend an hour cuddling and mingling with furry friends in the mellow, yet modern, dwelling located at 3211 O St. NW. The three-story site houses 20 vetted and vaccinated felines, all of which are up for adoption through a partnership with the Washington Humane Society.

Crumbs and Whiskers caters to keeping both kitties and customers comfortable: by supplying an array of throw pillows and cushions among the cat houses to allow for easier interaction between the two, and stocking the café with as many mouse toys as there are lint rollers.

Patrons can enjoy a selection of light refreshments, from coffee and tea to shakes and cookies, prepared by Gtown Bites, across O Street, and delivered to Crumbs and Whiskers upon ordering.

Owner Kanchan Singh believes her business will be successful finding forever homes for the cats that roam the café. The 24-year-old began her initiative as a Kickstarter campaign, which raised more than $35,000 from 700 backers.

Crumbs and Whiskers is open daily and online reservations are encouraged.

Sally’s Middle Name Opens With No-Tipping Policy

One of the latest in H Street’s ever expanding food scene, this American small-plates spot takes over the former Parts & Service space.

In lieu of tipping, an 18 percent service charge will be added to each bill (any other tips will benefit a local charity). Sally’s Middle Name now serves beer and wine, as well as housemade ice cream.

Eat Some Blue Catfish, Save the Bay

Looking for a tasty piece of environmentalism? District restaurants are starting to feature blue catfish, an invasive species prevalent in the Chesapeake Bay. Pearl Dive offers unlimited fried blue catfish every Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pop’s SeaBar offers blue catfish fried, grilled or deviled; while Zaytina has placed the troublesome fish on its spring menu.

The interior of Rito Loco in Shaw.

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5 Chefs Vie for Union Market Stall

An assortment of popsicles from Pleasant Pops.

The Twisted Horn Popping-Up at Hanks Oyster Bar

Every Wednesday in July, the second floor bar area of Hank’s Oyster Bar will host The Twisted Horn Pop-Up, where guests can try craft drinks — like the Saboteur Sling, a Singapore Sling with Jalapeno & Ramp Gin — and snacks. The Twisted Horn is slated to open this fall in Petworth.

Garrison Coming to Barracks Row

Chef Rob Weland will open Garrison in the former Tash House of Kabob space, on Barracks Row. According to a press release, “Garrison will exemplify Chef Weland’s signature cooking style of simple, clean flavors using high quality, sustainably grown ingredients whenever possible, served in a comfortable neighborhood setting. Opening is planned for mid to late summer.” Garrison will open for dinner service initially, and eventually expand to weekend brunch.

Dew Drop Inn Opens Above Chocolate City Brewing

Wonderland owners Rose Donna and Matthew McGovern finally opened Dew Drop Inn. Occupying an old industrial building, Dew Drop Inn will eventually expand into the

space previously occupied by Chocolate City Brewing. It’s a bit out of the way for most, at 2801 8th St. NE, but it looks absolutely worth the trip.

By kel ly Byr n es Five food entrepreneurs are in the running to take over a stall at Union Market, courtesy of the Market’s Launch Pad competition. The finalists’ cuisine ranges from Asian and American to Venezuelan and Italian, and it’s anyone’s game. The winner will be decided July 12 at Union Market’s Dock 5. Read more about the finalists online.

Retreat Into Nature

U Scoot Scooters Opens on U Street

By peter murray Love reading about Moab in this issue (page 25)? Check out our coverage of other natural retreats, like the pristine beach at Bald Head Island, NC and treehouse accommodations at the Primland Resort in southwestern Virginia online.

In what can only be seen as an obvious sign of gentrification, U Scoot Scooters opened a dealership on Vermont Avenue and U Street NW. They sells scooters, motorbikes, apparel and safety gear.

Baked & Wired Opens New, Unnamed Location

The owners of Baked & Wired opened an as-yet unnamed new project at 440 K St. NW, offering baked goods and espresso, but also an open kitchen offering freshly baked bread, booze and sandwiches.

Pleasant Pops 2 Open Downtown

Pleasant Pops 2 has opened downtown at 731 15th St. NW. Pops 2 is not big enough to offer lunch and dinner like the flagship location, but does serve espresso, fresh pastries, treats from local producers, and of course, pops.

Weekend Agenda

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out The Downtowner’s Facebook and Twitter accounts Thursdays for our weekend agenda, a list of the best things going on in D.C. nightlife — and day life — so that you can make the most of your time off.

A Mugging on H Street

Writer Marc Pitaressi recounts a harrowing tale of getting mugged at the end of a good night on the H Street corridor. But he won’t be taking refuge in a safer neighborhood in NW any time soon. Read his story online.

U Scoot, a scooter dealership, is now open on U Street.

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Editorial/opinion

The Times They Are A-Changin’

W

riting and singing in 1963, Bob Dylan gave us an anthem for the 1960s in “The Times They Are A-Changin’”: Vietnam, the counter culture, civil rights tragedies and triumphs and assassinations.

Dylan, who remains with us as a crusty, gravelly sage, may himself be astonished by how change dances through the street these days, multitasking at will. Last week, change was a daily dancer, the kind we’ve hardly ever seen before. In a week marked in red by the prior week’s murder of nine parishioners at a historic black church in Charleston, change charged into our lives — especially here, but everywhere else, too — with an almost brusque confidence.

It was an especially good and transformative week for President Barack Obama, who suddenly had a legacy in hand as, first, Congress handed him a hardfought victory on his trade deal, then the Supreme Court (now and forever SCOTUS in this acronym-favoring and acrimonious society) upheld the president’s health-care program by a convincing 6-3 vote. On the following historic day, the court ruled 5-4 that same-sex couples were allowed to marry nationwide, with Justice Anthony M. Kennedy providing the key vote and an eloquent, moving rationale.

Suddenly — President Obama called the gay-marriage decision a thunderbolt — it seemed we had witnessed something transformative. A cultural earthquake had shaken the body politic, resulting in tremors of jubilation and, for shocked opponents, tremors of fear.

Time to Invest in Our Roads and Alleys

Republicans were said to have a hard time of it, which did not prevent every single so-far-announced candidate, from Bush to what’s-his-or-her-name, from announcing the old bromide: we will fight for repeal of Obamacare. It’s as if they were wearing their old hand-me-downs, still lamely saying what they were against and failing to articulate what they were for.

This was a remarkable difference from the GOP response to the shootings by a self-proclaimed white supremacist in South Carolina. Many Southern GOP officials, governors and presidential candidates called for getting rid of the Confederate flags on public display, in one way or another.

The tragedy also turned out to be a triumph for the president. It was as if the old Obama, the rhetorically gifted and inspiring young candidate of 2008, had reappeared in a stirring eulogy for the Rev. Clementa Pinckney. With an act of amazing grace, he led four thousand parishioners in the singing of “Amazing Grace.”

It seemed to many that these were watershed days, when a rainbow flag of love seemed to replace a flag that inspired hate, when progressives moved from being seen as knee-jerk, PC liberals to the grand masters of inclusion and tolerance, injected by a fresh spirit. Their friends on the other side of the aisle seemed suddenly old, entranced by the past.

But, before the next thing happens, let’s listen again to Mr. Dylan’s words: “As the present now/Will later be past/The order is rapidly fadin’/And the first one now will later be last/For the times they are a-changin’.”

The Jeb and Hillary Show

W

ith Jeb Bush now solidly and officially in the field of presidential candidates, the two front-runners are solidly and officially on board.

It’s the Hillary and Jeb show, Clinton II and Bush III. Bush, the former Republican governor of Florida, announced his candidacy for the presidency Monday, promising to erase dysfunction in Washington, making him yet another Washington insider who’s an outsider.

He promised to be “on the side of free enterprise,” “to fix this thing, because I’ve done it,” “to get things moving our way in the world.”

“I will run with heart and I will run to win,” he said.

What with Clinton emphatically saying the other day, “If there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a quitter,” it could be quite the shoving match among the two clear favorites.

Except maybe it’s not all that clear that they’re favorites.

Bush is bidding to be the third Bush to become president — father and brother preceded, if you hadn’t noticed — and Hilary is still trying to be the second Clinton, after husband Bill, and the first woman.

They’re odd front-runners. Clinton was in the same position eight years ago, when a very junior senator from Illinois, named Barack Obama, entered the race.

She is already running a cautious campaign, although, looking over her shoulder, she might not see much competition — at least not for the Democratic nomination. (Sorry, Bernie, Martin and the other guy.)

Bush, on the other hand, can’t even look over his shoulder. He can barely cross the street without running into a Republican rival, some of whom I’m sure he’s never heard of.

He is a man among many, plus one woman.

The response to the Clinton and Bush candidacies has so far been underwhelming.

It’s true, folks. Familiarity does indeed sometimes breed, if not contempt, then disinterest.

Publisher

Sonya Bernhardt Editor-in-chief

Please send all submissions of opinions for consideration to: peter@downtownerdc.com

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By Jack Evans

I like to use this column to provide helpful information that you might not otherwise hear about. Information about the budget, our credit rating or legislation I’m proposing.

This time, I’m writing about something I know almost all of you are familiar with ... the poor condition of our roads.

Last week, a transportation research organization called TRIP ranked the District as having the worst roads in the country compared to the 50 states. The study deemed 92 percent of our major roadways in “poor” condition. A story about the rankings appeared in the Washington Post.

Obviously, our frequently used city roads are going to receive much more wear-and-tear than a mileslong straightaway in Montana, but that’s no excuse to accept our roadways in the poor condition we all too often find them.

I was shocked when the District Council voted to transfer funds away from street and alley repair with this year’s budget. I introduced an amendment to restore the higher funding level that the Mayor had initially proposed, but my colleagues voted against it.

Since the beginning of my time on the Council, I’ve championed investments in our streets, alleys and sidewalks. These kinds of public infrastructure investments not only make our city more livable, but

pay for themselves with increased residential and commercial activity, improved public safety, and higher tax revenues.

In the budget that the Council just passed, we earmarked $113 million for the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT). This budget includes funding for streets, alley, and sidewalks, along with several major bridge repair projects. It is a huge sum of money to be sure, and now we need to make sure that we are getting our money’s worth.

We can’t spend money to repave a street and then tear it up a month later for utility work. I introduced a bill several years ago that forbids the city from tearing up a street that has been repaved for five years. We need to coordinate across agencies to get utility or other underground work done before we repave a street. While I’m pleased to say that bill passed, I’ve had to step in at least once to make sure it’s followed.

I’ve driven through streets all across the Ward with our new DDOT Director, Leif Dormsjo. I believe Director Dormsjo has already taken important steps to improve his agency and begun the necessary work to better maintain our public assets. I’ll continue to work with him to make sure this happens.

And I hope to be able to write to you again soon with praise for the improvements in our streets and alleys.

Jack Evans is the District Council member for Ward 2, representing Georgetown and other neighborhoods since 1991.

Denny Hastert and the ‘Others’

By M ar k Pl otkin

After the terrible event in Charleston, there was a press conference where an AfricanAmerican minister called for taking down the Confederate battle flag that flies on the state capitol grounds in Columbia, South Carolina. The minister was explaining his vehement opposition to this symbol and stated that the flag was directed at what he described as “others.” He then went on to say that he viewed himself as one of the “others.”

The choice of the word “others” brought back my one and only conversation with the now disgraced former Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert. As we all know, Hastert is under federal indictment and awaiting trial on a variety of felony charges. I am telling this story because I believe it clearly shows what kind of person Hastert is.

One very early morning, I was in the U.S. Capitol building. I looked up and saw Hastert walking down the corridors of power surrounded by aides and security personnel. It just so happens that I had, at that time, written a series of commentaries for WAMU advocating for a statue for D.C. to be placed in the U.S. Capitol.

Every state has at least one statue of a prominent individual to represent that state.

D.C. had no such representation, just as it has no vote on the floor of House of Representatives. The District Web & Social Media

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Michael Corrigan Evelyn Keyes Joe Russo Kelly Sullivan Richard Selden

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was further insulted by its exclusion from even having a block of granite signifying its existence. I approached Hastert and asked for his support. The then Speaker was visibly annoyed. He looked at me with disdain and then uttered, or I should say mumbled, his disapproval by saying with a dismissive and contemptuous tone, “Then, the others will want one.”

Hastert’s use of the word, “others,” referred to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas. I didn’t feel it was necessary to inform Hastert that all the “others” were American citizens. All of these places had residents who had served in our Armed Forces, and some had died in service to our country.

“Others” is a way to look down at, to imply they don’t belong, that they are inferior. Hastert was not being sloppy with his language. He was sending a clear message. He was voicing his core philosophy of exclusion.

D.C. does have a statue in the U.S. Capitol today. It is of Frederick Douglass. It stands proudly in the visitor’s center of the Capitol. The statue was beautifully created by sculptor Steven Weitzman, whom D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton neglected to mention during the opening ceremony. When you walk by it and admire it, just remember Dennis Hastert had nothing to do with it.

To him, it and we were just one of the “others.”

Mark Plotkin is a political analyst and contributor to BBC News on American politics, contributor to TheHill. com and columnist for The Georgetowner.

Contributors

Mary Bird Pamela Burns Jack Evans Donna Evers John Fenzel Amos Gelb Wally Greeves Jody Kurash Sallie Lewis

Stacy Notaras Murphy Mark Plotkin David Post Linda Roth Alison Schafer Bill Starrels Intern

Kelly Byrnes

feature

In a landmark decision for both gay rights and equality in general, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states cannot ban same-sex marriage. In his majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote:

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family.

In forming a marital union, two people become something greater

“

than they once were.

As beautiful and eloquent as Kennedy’s words are, this is the type of occasion where words simply fail.

The true gravity of today’s decision is best understood through the reactions of the hundreds of marriageequality supporters that mobbed the steps of the Supreme Court to hear the ruling and celebrated outside a rainbow-tinted White House. — Marc Pitarresi

Clockwise from top: President Obama reacts to the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, photo by Pete Souza; photo by suzrsym on Instagram; photo

by Jeff Malet; photo by suzrsym on Instagram; photo by @hrc on Twitter; photo by revans131 on Instagram; photo by Ted Eytan; photo by Jeff Malet; photo by suzrsym on Instagram; photo by suzrsym on Instagram; photo by @hrc on Twitter; photo by Jeff Malet.

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real estate

Real Estate Roundup

By Kelly By rne s

An early rendering of the Antunovich Associates design for the Hecht Warehouse redevelopment.

Hecht Warehouse Redevelopment Update

Douglas Development plans to add to their project fronting the Hecht Warehouse, pending approval of an application filed with the Zoning Commission. The proposed 8,000 square-foot space would be used for retail, potentially as a restaurant or coffee shop, and would sit in front of the main warehouse.

D.C. Housing Market Higher, and Hotter, Than Ever

Homes in D.C. are selling rapidly, with many owners finding buyers in fewer than ten days of being on the market. The quick sales coincide with record-setting prices for homes, as the median cost of property climbed to $560,000 for the month of May, an increase of 5.7 percent over last year.

Former Secor Group Headquarters to Be Redeveloped

The Adams Morgan building, which headquartered Secor Group moving company, will face a future redevelopment. Boundary Companies acquired the building for $18.6 million last month, and while no plans are set, residential use of the space is possible.

The View at Waterfront Project Approved by Zoning Commission

The Zoning Commission approved plans to develop residential buildings at 6th and M streets SW. The buildings will add 260 units, giving the view at Waterfront complex area a total of 516 residential spaces.

Metro Passengers Reminded of Affordable Housing Crisis

A new public service announcement, issued by the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers and Department of Housing and Community Development, emphasizes the high cost of housing in D.C. The aim is to create awareness of the unreasonable cost of housing for average area workers, who spend over 30 percent of income on housing.

Condo for Sale, Complete With Free Sandwiches

Taylor Gourmet founder Casey Patten is looking to sell his Penn Quarter one-bedroom condo, with a catch. For a reported asking price of $489,000, Patten is throwing in five years of free sandwiches from his restaurant chain.

Dupont Circle Townhouse That Killed 2 in Fire Had No Rental License

A house on the 1600 block of Riggs Place in Dupont Circle that caught fire June 3, killing two tenants, was not licensed for renting rooms.

Licensed homes require a certificate of inspection to check for smoke detectors and other safety precautions or hazards.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Buys Occupied Space

The 30,000 square-foot Penn Quarter space at 610 D St. NW that has been occupied by the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company since 2005 has officially been purchased by the company.

The selling price is being kept under wraps.

Massive Residential Development Planned for Eckington

Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Penn Quarter.

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A 691-unit development is in the works near the intersection of New York Avenue and Florida Avenue NE. The project consists of four residential buildings, aimed at mostly singles and couples, though larger units are included for families.

A rendering of the View at Waterfront. Courtesy of Mill Creek Residential.

real estate

No Slowing Down for Zippy Shell

By Kelly By rne s

Z

ippy Shell Incorporated is in for its biggest move yet. Calling itself the fastest growing moving-and-storage company in the nation, the Washington Harbour-based business has partnered with Virgo Investment Group to accelerate its already flourishing business with a $25-million investment plan.

The capital infusion comes not only at the start of summer, peak moving season, but at a critical time for Zippy Shell, which launched in 2010.

Zippy Shell CEO Rick Del Sontro is enthusiastic about the partnership. “The Virgo team has been great to work with and has already provided significant strategic relationships to move our brand, and business, to the next level,” he said. “The idea behind the investment is to accelerate growth.”

Del Sontro expects this growth to stem from the company’s service concept. Zippy Shell offers a system in which storage containers are delivered directly to the customer’s home, with pick-up arranged by a simple phone call.

“Zippy Shell bridges the gap of convenience and price,” Del Sontro said.

While building Zippy Shell into a national brand never seemed out of the question to Del Sontro, he acknowledges that the effort was quite costly, and difficult to achieve in the enterprise’s first few years. But now, any-

thing is possible.

Following the announcement of their partnership with Virgo, Zippy Shell appointed James S. Simpson to the company’s board of directors. Simpson served under former President George W. Bush as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.

Simpson, who also served as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and was a commissioner of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, appears to be the perfect fit for the position.

“James has been around the industry for quite a long time. He obviously knows the transportation industry well,” said Del Sontro.

He added that Simpson is “a practical businessman.”

Simpson is equally excited about the venture. “Zippy Shell’s business model is a game-changer, and will certainly disrupt the storage and moving industry for the better.

Zippy Shell is the definition of storage-andmoving 2.0,” he said in a statement.

Having been ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 for two consecutive years, Zippy Shell is a force to be reckoned with.

The company’s first priority, according to Del Sontro, is a tremendous U.S. expansion over the next three to five years. The next step? Transforming Zippy Shell into an international business, which, Del Sontro claimed, is “logical and

likely to happen.”

Yet no matter how far the Zippy Shell franchise goes, it will always be rooted in Georgetown. Zippy Shell caters its business model to the fast-paced lives of the residents of its head-

quarters city. With permits allowing their trailers to be parked anywhere in the District, Zippy Shell is redefining what it means to live in a mobile world.

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Subdivision

Bedrooms

Baths Full

Baths Half

Days on the Market

List Price

Close Price

3939 FORDHAM RD NW

SPRING VALLEY

5

6

2

121

$3,275,000

$3,050,000

2005 48TH ST NW

BERKELEY

6

5

1

71

$2,495,000

$2,400,000

905 M ST NW

SHAW/CONVENTION CENTER

4

4

1

0

$2,395,000

$2,350,000

3612 MACOMB ST NW

CLEVELAND PARK

6

4

1

8

$2,250,000

$2,195,000

4650 GARFIELD ST NW

WESLEY HEIGHTS

5

3

1

59

$1,999,000

$1,900,000

4614 LAVEROCK PL NW

PALISADES

4

3

1

34

$1,899,000

$1,899,000

4107 FORDHAM RD NW

SPRING VALLEY

4

3

1

5

$1,725,000

$1,801,000

3422 36TH ST NW

CLEVELAND PARK

5

3

1

206

$1,970,000

$1,735,000

1111 23RD ST NW #2F

WEST END

2

2

1

21

$1,695,000

$1,650,000

1012 22ND ST NW

CENTRAL

3

3

0

0

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

5215 WATSON ST NW

KENT

5

3

1

3

$1,489,000

$1,489,000

2231 48TH ST NW

BERKLEY

5

3

2

6

$1,495,000

$1,450,000

3912 GEORGETOWN CT NW

BURLEITH

5

3

1

6

$1,400,000

$1,400,000

925 H ST NW #908

RESIDENCES AT CITYCENTER

2

2

1

86

$1,423,000

$1,400,000

2030 8TH ST NW #PH10

U STREET CORRIDOR

2

2

0

0

$1,349,900

$1,349,900

4832 HUTCHINS PL NW

PALISADES

4

2

1

38

$1,300,000

$1,300,000

2617 WISCONSIN AVE NW

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE

5

6

1

31

$1,299,900

$1,260,000

4446 TINDALL ST NW

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK

4

3

0

6

$1,225,000

$1,250,000

27 LOGAN CIR NW #12

OLD CITY #2

4

2

1

0

$1,250,000

$1,250,000

1858 3RD ST NW

LEDROIT PARK

4

3

0

6

$949,900

$1,234,000

925 H ST NW #502

RESIDENCES AT CITYCENTER

2

2

0

56

$1,237,000

$1,222,000

4563 MACARTHUR BLVD NW

PALISADES

4

3

1

17

$1,299,000

$1,210,000

3915 47TH ST NW

SPRING VALLEY

3

3

1

24

$1,249,995

$1,210,000

4225 45TH ST NW

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK

3

3

1

4

$1,095,000

$1,208,000

1601 5TH ST NW #D

SHAW

4

4

1

51

$1,475,000

$1,450,000

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July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

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Real Estate

Featured Property 1126 25th Street NW, #1 Located in the trendy West End, this spacious condo has two bedrooms and two baths. It is an easy walk to Dupont Circle, George Washington University and Georgetown; Metro bus and rail are “at your doorstep”; and Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are nearby. The home is at ground level with a large patio. Other features include a washer-dryer, three closets and two wall-mounted televisions.

Offered at $579,000 Stages Premier Real Estate Jesse Sutton 202-997-4361

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GMG, INC. July 1, 2015

13

COVER story

By Carolyn Landes and Gary Tischler with Peter Murray and Alex Schulte

Left: The fountain at Meridian Hill Park.

Below: Couple walk under the fountain at Georgetown Waterfront Park Fountain. Photo by Robert Devaney.

T

he lack of power to take joy in outdoor nature is as real a misfortune as the lack of power to take joy in books," said Theodore Roosevelt. Our 26th president — probably the most well-rounded in our nation’s history — was fond of leading long cross-country walks, which TR called “scrambles.” One of his favorites places to do so was Rock Creek Park, where he spent many Sundays with his family.

Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, Rock Creek Park is a prime example of “the great urban outdoors,” which at first sounds like a jarring contradiction: cement meets gardens, high rises and traffic meet bucolic expanses, nightlife and noise meet the stillness of nature.

But here in Washington, and in other progressive-minded cities, the contradiction evaporates. According to a current trend in urban planning, city life at its best is not only livable but walkable. The pleasures of being outdoors, both active and contemplative, can still be had in the fast-paced, helter-skelter environment of a great American city.

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July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

All the qualities of city life, pluses and minuses, are tempered by nature and the natural. Parks let us forget about parking woes; the peaceful gurgling of creeks, rivers and fountains slow us in our hurries; the great cemeteries provide quiet contemplation of our history and ourselves.

Because of its historic nature, neighborhood life, and extensive parkland and treescapes, the District of Columbia is at the forefront of this green urban vision. It is a city where nature and urban energy meet without conflict, an engagement full of opportunities for everyone, from the most urbane to the least, residents and visitors alike.

More than ever, this is a city for the energetic.

Runners are everywhere. Charity marathons and races have become part of the landscape. And spurred by Capital Bikeshare, the emergent bicycle culture is spreading across the city.

For the second year in a row, Washington was named the fittest city in the country by the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual American Fitness Index report. (Teddy would

be proud.) For residents of the District and the surrounding metropolitan areas, the title can be taken in stride, quite literally. Home to countless parks and recreation centers, the nation’s capital is an outdoor enthusiast’s ideal dwelling place, bursting with opportunities for its inhabitants to walk, run, bike, hike, swim, boat, paddle and play.

Compiled below is a short list of D.C.’s outdoor gems. Some may be familiar; others you may wish to explore for the very first time.

Meridian Hill Park

Meridian Hill Park pops off during the sweltering summer months. On weekends, head to Meridian Hill and leave your cares behind, tossing a Frisbee, walking the dog, kicking a soccer ball around, slacklining between trees, picnicking, and dancing to the steady beat of

the drums. An epic drum circle on Sunday afternoons attracts local drummers of all levels of expertise. It’s one of the park’s main attractions.

The park features 12 acres of statues, the only memorial to U.S. President James Buchanan in the city, and the largest cascading fountain in North America. Bordered by 16th, 15th, W and Euclid streets, near the neighborhoods of Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan, the park’s beautiful landscape depicts an aristocratic Italian garden.

It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994, as “an outstanding accomplishment of early 20th-century neoclassicist parkdesign in the United States.” Wayside exhibits are located throughout the park to interpret its unique story and history. A cell phone tour is also available to download, via the National Park Service website.

COVER story Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park celebrates its quasquicentennial anniversary — that’s 125th for the rest of us — this year. With more than 32 miles of trails, the possibilities are virtually endless in this city treasure, a favorite of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

If you plan on hiking, strap on a pair of comfortable shoes, grab your water bottle, and start with one of the two primary trails: the green-blazed Western Ridge Trail, which parallels the western side of the park; or the blueblazed Valley Trail, which parallels Rock Creek and Beach Drive.

If biking is more your speed, a popular paved path begins just north of Peirce Mill and follows the creek all the way to the Lincoln Memorial. For the horseback rider, 13 miles of dirt and gravel bridle paths crisscross the park.

Riding lessons and guided trail-rides are available at the Rock Creek Park Horse Center.

Prefer tennis, golf or boating? Rock Creek Park has something for everyone — Rock Creek Tennis Center, located at 16th and Kennedy Street NW, has over two dozen courts and is open year-round. The Thompson Boat center rents kayaks, canoes, small sailboats, rowing shells and bicycles, while Rock Creek Park Golf Course, an 18-hole public course with clubhouse, can be reached from 16th Street and Rittenhouse Street NW. Round out 9 holes with an Arnold Palmer — that’s a split of lemonade and iced tea — and a picnic. Perhaps not the most “active” activity, it’s a fine leisurely way to enjoy Rock Creek Park’s lush, green surroundings. Picnic grove reservations are required and visitors may choose between full- and half-day rentals.

Rock Creek Park also boasts the National Park Service’s only planetarium, located at the Nature Center. Rangers lead you on a journey, exploring the solar system, the galaxy and beyond, projected onto the large, dome-shaped ceiling. Tickets are free, available at the Nature Center’s front desk, up to half an hour prior to show times.

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

Nestled along the Anacostia River in a part of town you probably haven’t been to, though it is Metro accessible, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens offer stunning views of wildlife not found elsewhere in the D.C. area. The park is marked prominently by massive water lilies and lotuses, and July is the month to check them out. The lilies and lotuses bloom in early July and stay open through August. The National Park Service, which runs the park, suggests seeing the blooms early in the morning as the

flowers close up later in the day to avoid the heat. There’s even a festival, the Lotus and Water Lily Festival, to celebrate their majestic beauty, on July 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The park is best experienced from the boardwalk, which loops around the dotted ponds that make up the aquatic gardens, providing stunning views of a verdant wilderness that feels distinctly separate from the bustling city.

The area has a rich history that spans over 4,000 years, sustaining Native American life before being cleared by the English for farm-

land in the early 1600s. Civil War veteran Walter Shaw and his daughter Helen took a liking to the area and bought a large plot of the land in 1880, launching a mission to maintain the landscape’s natural beauty. She kept it up after her father’s death but was dismayed when the land was condemned for the dredging of the Anacostia River in the 1930s. So she took her fight to Congress, and the area was added to Anacostia Park in 1938. It has been under the care of the National Park Service, and Washingtonians, ever since.

Clockwise from top: The photographer's daughters cross a tributary of Rock Creek in Dumbarton Oaks Park. Photo by Charles Baldwin. Entrance of Crispus Attucks Park. Photo by Peter Murray.

A view of lotuses at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

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COVER story

Through Sept. 2 Sunset Fitness in the Park

Now through summer’s end, local fitness studios are offering outdoor fitness classes, including yoga, Crossfit, running, barre and cycling. Georgetown Waterfront Park is hosting the summer series, with the twice-weekly classes meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. The sessions are free, though registration is required. Classes are limited to 50 participants.

Through Aug. 29 Yoga Gathering: Stop & Smell the Roses

The U.S. Botanic Garden is hosting weekly yoga sessions in the outdoor National Garden, creating a peaceful atmosphere for participants.

The classes, held Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m., are free though space is limited with a first come, first served basis. Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mat to the hour-long class.

July 1 to Sept. 3 D.C. Outdoor Movies

Crispus Attucks Park

As the weather heats up (ugh), social schedules will undoubtedly follow suit.

With that in mind, make time to explore one of D.C.’s most beautiful hidden gems, Crispus Attucks Park in Bloomingdale.

To access the park, situated between First and North Capitol streets and U and V streets, pop through one of Bloomingdale’s charming alleys. Inside is a unique space stretching the length of a city block and the width of a half-dozen row houses.

Sink into a book, tuck into a picnic, or toss a Frisbee with a pal — Crispus Attucks is a must-stop in this part of town. Stroll the length of the orderly plot and check out the manicured flowers and sitting areas the Crispus Attucks Development Corporation works hard to maintain for the neighborhood. And make sure to check out

“Memory Garden.” It honors the residents that worked to turn the area into the beautiful park it is today. The park sits right behind many of the neighbors’ backyards, so be respectful and keep the noise and ruckus to a minimum.

Now a neighborhood charm, the land had an unruly history. From 1910 to 1976 the property belonged to the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company, and was used as a switching station and cable yard. The plot sat abandoned for nearly 20 years, until 1978 when the neighborhood campaigned to use the land for a community center. After successfully obtaining the land, the center operated until far-reaching budget cuts in the 1990s, and an overrun homeless population, sent the property into disrepair once again.

In 1995 the Embassy of Australia selected the area for its annual “Clean Up the World” project and sent 50 embassy employees to work alongside neighbors to make the area safe again.

The park is named in honor of Crispus Attucks, the former African American slave

There are plenty of outdoor movie screenings throughout the area to satisfy anyone’s cinematic tastes. Notable summer film series are NoMa’s Summer Screen, which will play hits like Grease, Flashdance and Singing in the Rain on Wednesday nights at Storey Park, and Capitol Riverfront’s program, which will feature “Independence Day,” “Pitch Perfect,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and “The Sound of Music” among others. Movies air every Thursday at sundown at 200 M St. SE.

D.C. Bike Party will celebrate its third birthday July 10 with a bike ride around the city followed by an after party with music, crafts, and dancing. The organization participates in free monthly rides around the District, each month offering a new route and playlist to follow. The July 10 ride kicks off from Dupont Circle at 7:30 p.m.

From top: A view of kataks and Adirondack chairs on the Potomac River, courtesy of ChelseaEatsTreats.com; a yoga class held outside; and a father holds his child at NoMa Summer Screen., courtesy NoMa BID.

July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

Georgetown Waterfront Park

Perhaps the quintessential outdoor spot in the summer, Georgetown Waterfront Park curves along 10 acres of the Potomac River offering expansive views of the Key Bridge, Kennedy Center, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in the distance. Joggers, cyclists, skaters and walkers flock to this fitness mecca when it’s sunny.

Whether you’re after a bite of seafood with a view, at one of the waterfront restaurants, or people-watching from one of the numerous park benches, or hitting one of the free outdoor community-fitness-classes that are offered by the Georgetown Business Improvement District, the park has something for everyone.

The tubular water fountain is a hotspot for children, and occasionally adults, providing revelers with a rubber surface to run through rainbow-shaped waterspouts — putting the old-school backyard sprinkler to shame.

Key Bridge Boathouse

July 10 D.C. Bike Party Birthday Ride

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and the first person to lose his life in the Boston Massacre. To learn more, and check out the complete history of Crispus Attucks Park, visit their website at CrispusAttucksParkDC.org.

While not technically a park in and of itself, we had to include this friendly neighborhood gem located at the end of Water Street on the edge of the Potomac River.

Boasting “all paddling, no politics,” the Key Bridge Boathouse offers canoeing; kayaking; stand-up paddleboarding; and yoga, both on the paddleboards — yes, yoga on a paddleboard — and on the dock. Take to the river in your watercraft of choice, and paddle toward the Kennedy Center, Theodore Roosevelt Island or Fletcher’s Cove. Classes are offered for all activities — and having taken a plunge into the Potomac from atop a paddleboard herself, this reporter highly recommends taking an introductory class for those activities you haven’t tried before.

Luckily, life vests are required, so you can enjoy your activities safely and worry-free.

Insider tip: for early risers, the Boathouse offers free, community paddle-sessions on Fridays at 7 a.m.

COVER story

Summer Gear Guide

By Pet er Murray

GoPro Hero 4 $370

Take full advantage of summer by getting outside to explore this beautiful city. And if you’re going to be out there moving around, you might as well do it in style. So we’ve compiled some must-have items for all of your summer fun. Whether you are trying to beat the heat, keep safe or document some good times, we’ve got you covered with our summer gear guide.

The Boobypack Anna Tankini $60

The Filson Angler Shirt $98

The Bern Brentwood Helmet $80

Camelbak Scout $60

The Filson Journeyman Chrono Watch $850

Four Steps to Your Best Stair Workout Ever

by Jose f B rande nb u r g

A woman runs the Watergate Steps along the Potomac River. Photo by Tim Evanson.

With longer days and warmer weather, getting outside to run the stairs can be a great change of pace. Here are four steps to spare your joints while getting the best results: 1. Warm up. People skip this step because it doesn’t “feel” important, but nothing is further from the truth. Five to 10 minutes of dynamic warm-up will give you a safer and more effective workout. Nothing derails fitness like an injury.

2. Train smart. For fat loss, knee health and improved cardiovascular fitness, continuously running up and down stairs is actually not the best choice. This continuous work pace is inefficient for fat loss and fitness, and running down is very stressful on your knees and feet.

Using the stairs for interval training, however, will spare your joints and boost results.

Example: Find a length of stairs you can sprint up in about 30 seconds. Walk down slowly and catch your breath at the bottom.

Try 10 repetitions at this pace. If you push the intensity, this will be plenty. When you start slowing down to about 40 seconds, you either need longer rest breaks or your body is done for the day. To progress, you can add reps, going up to 15 or 20, cover more ground in the same 30-second time frame or take shorter breaks.

3. Focus on technique and breathing.

To run faster and safer, focus on three things: pushing the ground away harder, getting your knees and toes up and moving your arms faster.

The faster you move your arms, the faster you’ll be able to move your legs. Breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth at a steady pace. While it may feel like panting gives you energy, the opposite is true — it’s actually an energy-expensive (exhausting) way to breathe.

4. Cool down. Going straight from an intense workout to a sitting state places unnecessary stress on your cardiovascular system.

This is because your heart needs the assistance of your leg muscles pumping to get the extra blood from your legs back “home.” Sitting makes your leg muscles dormant and places your body weight on your blood vessels, which makes the blood’s return very stressful. Cooling down is simple: just walk around for five minutes or until your heart slows down to its near-resting rate.

A best-selling author and fitness expert, Josef Brandenburg owns True 180 Fitness in Georgetown. Information about his 14-Day Personal Training Experience may be found at true180.fitness.

GMG, INC. July 1, 2015

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By g ary t ischl er a n d R o b e rt D e va n e y

“True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence” — President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

F

DR could have been speaking about you hang one there too.

Dog Tag Bakery, located on the perThe program — which also features a lecfectly named Grace Street, just past the ture series and opportunities for wounded vetC&O Canal below Wisconsin Avenue erans to tell their own stories — is the first of and M Street. its kind, a pilot program which its founders and It’s an airy place, busy, with room enough operators hope to see duplicated in other cities. to sit in style and ponder the world, take in reDog Tag has gotten a lot of attention from ally good cup of coffee, order up sandwiches, media, local and national, from the get-go. Its scones, sweets and soups, all while supporting goals and the stories of the veterans are compelveterans. You can see the bakers, the cooks, ling. Retired Army Ranger Sedrick Banks, who the people manning the cash register, the had his neck broken in Iraq, told CBS News: kitchen itself.

“Dog Tag was my first major step back into the Here, the baguettes are exceptional, the working mindset. Before the program, I didn’t chocolate cake great, the ginger pear torte exhave confidence. I didn’t feel like I had the abilquisite and the soups super. This place is among the best in the city.

Yet this is more than your neighborhood coffee shop.

When you step into Dog Tag Bakery — with its wide entrance for easy wheelchair access — you become a part of something larger than the time of the day, the aroma of coffee, the pleasantries, and stories shared around a table. Becoming a customer at Dog Tag Bakery lets you see the results of a unique program in action.

One of its slogans is “Baking a Difference.”

Dog Tag Bakery is part of Dog Tag Inc., which operates a six- Dog Tag Bakery co-founders Connie Milstein and Father Rick Curry. Photo by Brooks Kraft. month training program aimed squarely at “driven, entrepreneuriality. Now, I’m confident in myself, you know?” minded wounded veterans and their spouses.”

The mission of Dog Tag has also earned The program, through Georgetown University’s the confidence and support from the likes of School of Continuing Studies, concludes with Mark and Sally Ein, Steve and Jean Case, a group of fellows — all wounded veterans, or Tammy Haddad, Roy and Kelley Schwartz, their spouses, and other professionals who have just to name a few. served in combat zones — well on their way to Among the many human ingredients that perhaps owning their own businesses or finding go into Dog Tag’s operation are co-founders sustainable slots in the workplace. Its inaugural Rev. Richard Curry, S.J., and Constance Milgroup of fellows has already graduated, and a stein; Chief Operating Officer Meghan Ogilsecond group started last month. vie; General Manager Justin Ford; Head Baker Dog Tag Bakery is a kind of physical, Rebecca Clerget; and Director of Developpractical and workaday manifestation of the ment Simone Borisov. program, where veterans put their new busiYet the most critical human ingredients are ness skills into practice: managing, keeping the the fellows, the wounded veterans themselves, kitchen running, preparing food, handling the seeking doorways to enter the workforce, learn counter. A chandelier of 3,456 dog tags is both new skills, become entrepreneurs, become a a reminder of purpose and an additional way for part of the American mainstream. And that’s customers to get involved. A $125 donation lets where the 72-year-old Father Curry comes in.

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“He is the Jesuit father, and I am the Jewish godmother,” Milstein, one of Washington’s — and the country’s — leading philanthropists, told the crowd at the bakery’s grand opening in December. The attorney and real estate developer said she considers their partnership “a match made in heaven.” She is committed to helping veterans — her involvement with Blue Star Families is one example — and has also set up nonprofit bakeries in New York.

“It is because of my father, friends I lost in Vietnam, and those who continue to defend our freedom today that I am dedicated to our military and to helping empower and care for our military families,” Milstein has said.

It is Curry — a Jesuit brother who was ordained a priest at age 66 — who brings with him just what is needed to help disabled, wounded veterans. If there were degrees and medals in empathy, affinity, the ability to listen to and tell stories, Curry would have a fistful of them.

Curry founded, and headed for three decades, the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped, a nonprofit theater-arts training institution for persons with physical disabilities. Reaching out to disabled combat veterans, especially amputees, he began the Writers’ Program for Wounded Warriors, which encourages wounded veterans to tell their stories.

And, not to put too fine a point on it, he is technically disabled himself, having no right forearm. “I was born this way,” he told us in an interview at Dog Tag Bakery. He laughed.

“I’m still wrestling with that. It still hurts.” But it also lets him understand with deep feeling, intellect and sometimes humor the plight of wounded veterans.

“Many people faced with a loss of a limb or internal organ internalize things. They can’t let it out,” he said. “And they think they won’t be able to do anything in life, all the things they could have done, all the tools to provide for a family. And that’s not true.”

“I don’t think of myself in terms of my disability,” Curry said. “And it’s important that our wounded warriors not be defined by their dis-

T

here are 18 staffers and 11 fellows — 31 in total. The non-profit bakery, which opened at 3206 Grace St. NW in late 2014, receives no funding from the government but does work with federal agencies that provide resources for service members and families.

Co-founders Rev. Richard Curry, S.J., of Georgetown University, and Constance Milstein, of New York City, Washington, D.C. and Georgetown, began their labor of love eight years ago.

For Dog Tag’s very first employee, Chief Operating Officer Meghan Ogilvie, who worked in finance in New York, her meeting with Curry recounted a similar tale experienced by many involved with the non-profit bakery.

“My college roommate called me one day and told me about a family friend, Father Richard Curry, who was looking to start a nonprofit for veterans,” Ogilvie recalled.

“She knew I’d be interested as I’m from a Marine Corps family, with my father who served 26 years and my sister who served for eight.” Ogilvie sent her resume but got no response. Her friend was getting married, Ogilvie was a bridesmaid — and the officiant at her wedding was none other than Curry. “I found him at the rehearsal dinner and began my pitch — by the end of the weekend I had a job offer.” She started April 2012.

For Ogilvie, Dog Tag Bakery means opportunity and empowerment. “One percent of the country voluntarily signed up to protect the other 99 percent. Our organization provides quality opportunities for our veterans and spouses to take advantage of and empower their lives moving forward. It’s on the fellows to take charge of their lives, and we are here to be a support for the transition into the civilian workforce,” she said.

Are there other Dog Tag Bakeries to come? “Once we perfect the program at our Georgetown location, we look forward to opening up in cities across the country,” Ogilvie said.

Job applicants can visit DogTagInc.org.

Customers can go to the bakery, or visit DogTagBakery.com.

Right: co-founder Father Rick Curry and head baker Rebecca Clerget.

Below: Father Rick Curry, Steve and Jean Case with honoree “American Sniper” widow Taya Kyle at the Annual Garden Brunch, held April 25 to benefit Dog Tag Bakery and Blue Star Families.

Photo by Robert Devaney

The front counter of Dog Tag Bakery at 3206 Grace St. NW. The lucky location previously housed Grace & Bamboo restaurant, a French restaurant and a bakery, Pâtisserie-Cafe Didier. Photo by Charles Baldwin.

Dog Tag fellows and former Iraqi linguists for the U.S. Army Ayad Ahmed and Sham Hasan, who has worked at the bakery but formally joined the program. Photo by Robert Devaney

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A chandelier of 3,456 dog tags hangs over a small stage, used by customers during the day, next to one of the remaining, working dog tag printing machine. Photo by Charles Baldwin

abilities. This program is about confidence.”

Curry himself is a lot about building confidence — he exudes not so much strength as a kind of viability. He has that air of Irish The display case of Dog Tag Bakery on Grace Street presents sweet and savory baked goods. curiosity about him, a conviviality that comes naturally, a love of the human race and its individual spirits. and maimed, and just as much psychologically, to one story, a veteran asked him why In many ways, he is the heart of the Dog Tag couldn’t tell their stories. Nobody wanted to he wasn’t a priest and Curry said he felt enterprise, or at least its warmest cheerleader. hear them. he had not been called. “Well, I’m callThe veterans themselves are the real stories, of “This is about their stories as much as ing you,” the man said to him. course, and over the years Curry has managed to learning how to run a business, how to be part Beyond his ability to administer get them to tell their stories, time and again, in of a business,” he said. “So many buried their the sacraments, Curry has written two school and on stage; the stage at Dog Tag is one stories in silence and they have made us realize books, “The Secrets of Jesuit Breadof his innovations. that war has its price.” making” and “The Secrets of Jesuit “That was one of the reasons I started the The need is obvious. Nearly 120 veterans Soupmaking.” wounded veterans’ writing program. There is applied for spots in the first group of fellows.

At Dog Tag Bakery, he’s already this need for them to tell and write their stoTen were chosen. sharing his finely tuned Jesuit gift for ries,” Curry said. “Look what happened during Curry decided to enter the priesthood after compassion, hitched to intellectual cuthe course and aftermath of the Vietnam War. many of the wounded veterans he dealt with riosity and empathy, linked to worldly The veterans, many of them badly wounded R asked him to hear their confessions. According action.

hat fellow at Dog Tag Bakery just might be a veteran who has quite the story to tell. Some are more intense than others.

Lizandro Mateo-Ortiz and his wife Milena were part of the inaugural class of Dog Tag fellows. Army veteran Mateo-Ortiz barely survived being pulled under a Humvee in Iraq in 2007 and required many surgeries. He still walks with a brace and works with his wife of nearly 25 years. They have been in stories about the bakery.

Another story recalls the days of “Shock and Awe.” The newest Dog Tag fellow is 32-yearold Ayad Ahmed, who got swept up during the Battle of Baghdad in April 2003 . . . actually and harshly. His life changed forever. A bunker-busting bomb hit his street in the Mansour district, looking for Saddam Hussein on incorrect intelligence. The shock bombing killed his girlfriend and left his mother bleeding and grandfather in a coma. Eleven were killed. Ahmed was the only local who could speak English. Tough special operations soldiers grabbed Ahmed, tossed him in a Bradley fighting vehicle, threw a bullet-proof vest at him and told him to translate.

None of the Americans spoke Arabic. Ahmed thought to himself: “You came all this way with no translator? What is Saddam doing in my garden, dude?”

His language skills saved the lives of some of his neighbors, whom he never saw again.

“Everyone in the neighborhood hated me,” he said. There remains a bounty on his head, and he has never returned to Iraq. He lived with U.S. forces from 2003 until June 2009, when he left for Fort Riley, Kansas, for five years. “I was stuck with them.”

Ahmed became a U.S. citizen in November and wanted something more, he said, perhaps in Washington, D.C. While visiting the Pentagon, he stood in first of the office of Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pondering his future. In a moment, Ahmed’s life would change again, when he was urged to contact Dog Tag, Inc. He began working at the bakery last week.

GMG, INC. July 1, 2015

19

food & wine

A New Concept in a Familiar Place: BKK Cookshop

By Ale xa nde r Schu lt e

B

loomingdale and Shaw residents lost a go-to spot with the departure of the original Beau Thai last fall. The New Jersey Avenue and R Street NW joint opened back in 2010, long before there were many options to choose from in that part of town. But Thai food lovers can rejoice once again — and stop eating their noodles strictly at Aroi (though they are oh-so-good). The owners of Beau Thai held on to the space with plans to open the much-anticipated BKK Cookshop.

The name “BKK” is derived from Bangkok’s airport code. And according to their Facebook page, “BKK is a nod to the fact that we're a Thai restaurant and that some of the dishes reflect an international influence on Thai cooking.” When visiting, take notice that their menu is a bit different than your ordinary Thai cuisine, and step out of your comfort zone.

I was on a very tight schedule last Wednesday night when I paid my first visit to BKK, entering through their engaging outdoor seating area, which was teeming with folks.

As I walked inside, the deep-sax house vibes were undoubtedly “chill” to go along with the revamped décor. I asked, and they delivered on my request, to get me in and out within twenty minutes.

The staff was both eager and attentive, making sure I had an enjoyable dining experience in my short time there. I asked my waiter what he liked most from the kitchen, and took one of each — their take on a traditional

Chinese treat, steamed buns, filled independently with panang chicken, spicy pork and black bean — as well as an order of fried tofu and a Singha to wash it down. I opted out of the seasonally rotating cocktail, on draught, but will check it out in the future. It is currently a spritzer of Dolin Blanc, lime juice and aperol which you can have neat, over ice, or as recommended, with vino verde (a 1.5 oz. pour of Green Hat Gin).

The food was easy and simple. The steamed buns were tasty, with the black bean bun being the best, and the tofu was crispy and tender. Next time I will certainly try a noodle bowl or pork shoulder as one of their larger plate offerings.

Sure enough, I had the check in my hand within 20 minutes. Check out BKK Cookshop the next time you are in the neighborhood.

Hours are Monday through Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.

Top: Tom yum noodle bowl and pork jerky.

Photo courtesy BKK Cookshop.

Bottom: The interior of BKK Cookshop.

Photo by Alexander Schulte.

Left: Fried tofu. Photo courtesy BKK Cookshop.

Back to Their Roots: Lapis Restaurant

By Ch a rl e ne L ouis

F

or the last dozen years, the Popal name has been synonymous with French-style cuisine in D.C. With Malmasion and Café Bonaparte, both in Georgetown, and a flood of other French bistros, it was time for something different.

In April of this year, Zubair and Shamim Popal, and their three children, Omar, Mustafa and Fatima, decided to “return home,” converting Napoleon Bistro and Lounge, located in Adams Morgan, into Lapis. Billed as “A Modern Afghan Bistro,” Lapis, named after Afghanistan’s deep-blue national gemstone, features homemade Afghan recipes prepared by the

Popal family’s most prized culinary asset: mom (Shamim Popal, that is).

Popal personally created the menu with family recipes, including tapas-style small plates of traditional Afghani food and some not-sotraditional dishes, such as shrimp ashak (dumplings), a favorite of Omar.

Upon walking into Lapis, one gets a feeling of home and comfort. With the hand-carved doors and the tongue-in-cheek descriptions in the menu, it’s very clear that Lapis is a restaurant designed to show off the family’s style of enjoyment around the dinner table.

Famous for its kabobs and meat dishes,

Ground beef dumplings topped with yellow split pea tomato sauce and strained yogurt. Photo by Meg Kelly.

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July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

Afghan cuisine pulls many of its influences from Persian, Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean cultures (hence the dumplings and chutneys). With all the traditional options available, what was most surprising was the number of vegetarian and vegan options.

Who knew Afghanis ate so many vegetables? Lapis offers many delectable stewed-vegetable dishes that can easily be converted to vegan without losing their essence and flavor.

Though the idea of tapas-style dining puts some people off (for being overpriced and not very filling), the portions at Lapis are large and shareable, allowing for the true experience of Afghan cuisine.

The only difficulty one might have is deciding between the baked eggplant with sautéed tomatoes, topped with garlic, yogurt and dry mint, or the ground-beef meatballs, mixed with carrots, herbed tomato sauce, cilantro, shallots, garlic, ginger and coriander. Personal recommendation: just get both.

To top it off, Lapis offers inventive cocktails and a brunch menu that blends modern and traditional Afghani styles.

Lapis is located at 1847 Columbia Rd. NW.

Baked eggplant with sautéed tomatoes, topped with garlic, yogurt and dry mint.

Photo by Meg Kelly.

The interior of Lapis. Photo by Meg Kelly.

food & wine

Shaw Welcomes the Royal

By G le ndon Ha rt l e y

T

he Royal, the newest of the freshly opened bars in the gentrified Shaw neighborhood in Northwest, is a well-lit and lively mix: hipster coffee shop meets craft-cocktail bar. The sister establishment to Vinoteca — the neighborhood’s wine-focused powerhouse — the Royal, to the contrary, sports a 16-drink craft-cocktail menu split between liquid innovations and American classics.

To talk about the drinks, we have to begin at the focal point of the bar: a large, vintage copper fire hydrant that serves as a draft tower for two of the drinks. One of those drinks is a house-made seasonal vermouth aged in Virginia-distilled Copper Fox Whiskey barrels. A little known fact about vermouth is that it was originally made as an individual house blend of wine, herbs and spices — a recipe known locally to Italian café owners — along with the main ingredient (of which few people are aware), wormwood. Its namesake is of German origin. The brainchild behind the seasonal vermouth program is Horus Alvarez, a vermouth aficionado and educator who just happens to be the beverage director for the whole group.

The Virginia whiskey barrels are not happenstance, by any means. The food served in the restaurant is based on seasonal ingredients from surrounding farms, but with a twist. The ingredients are seasonal, but the flavor is much more. Lonnie Zoeller is behind some of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted — and yet to taste — but he especially shines at the Royal, taking local produce and adding a Columbian flavor via Columbian recipes, spices and influence. Try the arepas.

Back to the booze: Horus and his assistant general manager, Lee Carrell, have put together a cocktail program brimming with creativity, stemming from the modern American cocktail movement, but paired with influences from Columbia and Mexico. Check out the “Passion of the Spice” if you want something full of intense flavor. Served in a coupe glass, this

cocktail features tequila, jalapeño, passion fruit, lime and cilantro. Then there’s the “Royal Cup,” a blend of cucumber, strawberry, gin and ginger beer; it’s a drink that can please the palate over and over again.

If you’re up early, stop by for breakfast and try the coffee, prepared by in-house brew specialist Alex Shinko, who puts together some great cups for the caffeine deficient. The Royal serves Counter Culture coffee and make expresso drinks from 7 a.m. until closing. Some specialties include coconut milk, for the lactose intolerant, and — soon to be added to the menu — vanilla cold-brew slushies. The bar opens at 11 a.m. for the day drinker in all of us. It’s a good place to go for a local Irish or Mexican coffee.

Through and through, the Royal is a new neighborhood watering hole that is sure to please the masses, whether they’re stopping in for a cup of coffee or a well-made cocktail.

Readers can follow Glendon on Instagram (@Cocktailery_Tomfoolery) and Twitter (@ CocktailFoolery) for more cocktail insights and suggestions.

The Royal facade at the corner of 5th Street and Florida Avenue NW. Photo courtesy of Instagram account @spoolia.

From top to left: The Passion of the Spice, the Cortado and a 1912 fire extinguisher acting as a draft tower.

Photos by Glendon Hartley.

GMG, INC. July 1, 2015

21

In Country

The Tastes of Summer

By Sal l ie Lewis

CLOVERLAND, MARSHALL - 149

acres

in

Orange County Hunt. Exquisite stone home of the highest quality & finishes. Grand foyer, mahogany library, conservatory, chefs kitchen, 5 ensuite bedrooms. Caretaker apartment, indoor pool, tennis court & views of mtns!

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DELAPLANE, VA Stunning custom colonial on approx. 25 acres in a gorgeous setting.

Beautifully decorated and landscaped. High ceilings, sun-filled rooms - wood floors & fabulous windows capture magnificent views from every room. Ideal for horses or a gracious country lifestyle. Located in Piedmont Hunt. $1,525,000 Peter Pejascevich 540-270-3835 • Scott Buzzelli 540-454-1399

COLONIAL HWY, HAMILTON- Spectacular period home w/ new kitchen, master bath/garage and mudroom addition. Gorgeous setting. Stunning sunroom w/ deck that over looks 3 acres of beautiful trees, gardens, pond, lovely stable & fenced pastures. A MUST SEE! ON THE MARKET...WITH SAM REES

$685,000 703-408-4261

PURCELLVILLE, VA Stunning custom home in the heart of Loudoun County's Wine Country next-door to Hillsborough Vineyards. Beau tiful sunset views! The grand foyer with hardwood floors opens into the living room and formal dining room. Enjoy the views from the gourmet kitchen! $1,299,000 Peter Pejascevich 540-270-3835 • Scott Buzzelli 540-454-1399

PAEONIAN SPRINGS, VA - ONE OF A KIND!!

Privacy, elegance and serene comfort! Classic home w/ high ceilings & old world moldings spectacular kitchen & new metal roof. Glorious 25 acres w/ great ride our yet 7 minutes from down town Leesburg. Fabulous barn w/ tack, water & riding ring. Back veranda holds 30 guests comfortably! $1,495,000 On the Market...with Sam Rees 703-408-4261

PURCELLVILLE, VA - Stunning, completely custom colonial w/ no detail missed from hand rubbed floors, exquisite moldings,casements & a proper center hall, this home will not disappoint the most discerning eye. Home boast a magnificent Chiefs kitchen which leads you into a grand coffered family room built for entertaining.One must see to appreciate. $1,299,000

Peter Pejascevich 540-270-3835 • Scott Buzzelli 540-454-1399

MIDDLEBURG - Beautiful stone home on 40+ acres just minutes from the town of Middleburg.

Goose creek runs through the property. Bright, spacious 4 BR 5 BA house is perfect for entertaining. Open floor w/ light-filled dining room & living room that open up to decks and views of Goose Creek. Exquisite 8-stall stone horse barn w/ tack room. $2,800,000

Peter Pejascevich 540-270-3835 • Scott Buzzelli 540-454-1399

MELMORE, MIDDLEBURG, VA - 4 BR, 3+ bath, 4100SQ FT, custom kitchen cabinets, 3 FPs, finished basement, Pine Floors, 2 car carriage house w/ 2nd floor, 2 car garage, pond, pool, gazeebo, full trex deck, orchard, professional landscaping.

$1,175,000

Peter Pejascevich 540-270-3835 • Scott Buzzelli 540-454-1399

LEESBURG, VA Custom-built stone, brick, and cedar estate on 3.54 acres w/ amenities ideal for life style full of entertaining, leisure, & enjoyment.

Features include heated indoor pool, a sports pub, a reg. racquetball court w/ hoop, audio/video system w/ 2 home theaters, rooftop deck, picnic pavilion w/ gas barbecue, potting shed, 2+ 2-car garages, & caretaker apartment. $1,665,000 Peter Pejascevich 540-270-3835 • Scott Buzzelli 540-454-1399

WWW.MIDDLEBURGREALESTATE.COM

Middleburg 540-687-6321 | Purcellville 540-338-7770 | Leesburg 703-777-1170

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July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

NOLA Swingers from David Guas's cookbook, "Grill Nation: 200 Surefire Recipes, Tips, and Techniques to Grill Like a Pro."

T

he tastes of summer reveal themselves in a number of ways, from the sugary juices of a watermelon to the berry-colored stains on a farmer’s fingertips. Here in Washington, chefs around the District are taking full advantage of summer’s bounty — and, even better, much of it is local.

Robert Wiedmaier of RW Restaurant Group (Marcel’s, Brasserie Beck, Mussel Bar and Grille, Wildwood Kitchen, etc.) believes in the importance of putting faces to food, knowing the people behind certain products and, ultimately, being able to buy with confidence.

“I’d much rather talk with the farmer or the cheese maker or the guy who caught my striped bass on the Chesapeake,” he said, as opposed to buying from a commercial, faceless source.

“The romance goes away when you buy in a package.”

Wiedmaier buys from roughly 15 different vendors from surrounding states, including Congressional Seafood for blue catfish and striped bass from Chesapeake Bay. For the best

local mushrooms, he frequents the Irwin Mushroom Company, a second-generation familyrun business in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (known as “Mushroom Capital of the World”).

Indeed, there is something sensual about indulging in a local product, a richness of flavor and color. “Normally it’s a better product if it’s local,” Wiedmaier said, adding, “That’s not always true, but we try to buy as much locally as we can.”

This philosophy is put into practice at the Chapel Hill Farm in Berryville, Virginia, where Wiedmaier sources whole Randall Linebacks, the oldest and rarest cattle breed in America.

The farm — a registered Virginia Landmark and National Historic Landmark — is situated in the Shenandoah Valley; conservation and tradition are at the heart of the program.

Another chef who’s incorporating local products into his menu is David Guas of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar and Eatery, with locations in Arlington and Capitol Hill. Chances are you’ve seen chef Guas on the “Today Show” or

In Country the Food Network, or even as a co-judge on the Travel Channel’s “American Grilled” program.

The New Orleans native is a big proponent of using local foods at Bayou Bakery, where he is working to cultivate a culture and invigorate a taste for Southern style.

At Toigo Orchards in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Guas finds a rainbow assortment of fresh produce: apples, pears, sweet nectarines, watermelons and award-winning peaches, among other stone fruits. The farm has over 21,000 trees solely for fresh-market apple pro-

duction, and the orchard uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) growing methods, which eliminate chemical residue.

While Toigo Orchards has Guas covered with the best in local fruits, Potomac Vegetable Farms fulfills his vegetable needs. Cabbages, spinach and radishes; collard, mustard and turnip greens; bell, chili, jalapeño and shishito peppers — these are just a few of the goods he and his team pick up from the Saturday farmer’s markets. “Everything they do is top-notch,” he said, adding that Bayou Bakery also buys

their okra there (which they then pickle for their bloody Marys).

The Bayou bloody Mary was recently mentioned in Washingtonian, and for good reason.

Served in a 16-ounce Mason jar with a creoleseasoned rim, it’s loaded with pickled vegetables, green olives and fresh lime.

Venturing into farmer’s markets and stocking up on seasonal fruits and vegetables give Guas and Wiedmaier an opportunity to color their menus in creative ways. However, this practice also fosters friendly, trusting relationships, one of the great gifts of doing business locally. And just as foods have their own flair and personality, so do the people who grow, harvest and sell them.

“I love doing business with good people,” said Guas. “It starts with that.” And good people he has found, including Five Spice Bison Short Rib, Potato Puree. Photo by ScottSuchman

Robert Wiedmaier. Photo by Scott Suchman T & T_Georgetowner_7.2015_Layout 1 6/26/15 11:04 AM Page 1

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LigHtning Road

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Guest home, pool, 8 stall barn, 4 bay machine shed.

Property is in a VOF easement. $7,200,000

Extraordinary 10+acre property with 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths was totally rebuilt in 2002. Antique heart pine flooring throughout; main level master suite with dressing room; gourmet kitchen; large family room with fireplace; formal living and dining rooms; library, sun room and fully finished walk out basement. French doors lead to the flagstone terrace overlooking mature gardens and stonewalls.

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Magnificent 19 room country estate on over 18 acres with breathtaking mountain views. Custom built in 2003 with extraordinary quaility & design, this 3 level Colonial features 5 bedrooms, 6 baths and 3 half baths, over 11,000 sq. ft. of spectacular living space, beautifully decorated, impeccably maintained. Features stone fireplaces, gleaming cherry & limestone floors, Media room, fabulous Gourmet Kitchen.

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Surrounded by 34 park-like acres, custom built colonial, 7000+ sq. Ft. , richly appointed, custom decorator touches. 5 BD, 5½ BA, cathedral foyer, large gourmet kitchen, adjacent family room, large deck, 3 fireplaces, swimming pool and tennis court.

Lower level has large game room and full gym.

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Privileged location close to town. $1,749,000

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Flint Hill ~ Beautiful Williamsburg 3 Bedroom, 4 Bath home on 73.49 acres. Quality design & construction inside & out. New family room with fireplace and separate studio/office, guest quarters with full bath over 4 car garage designed in Williamsburg style to blend in. Extensive gardens surrounds the home & pool. Grazing land currently leased for cattle. VOF Easement. $1,495,000

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Immaculate Colonial on 2.7 acres betweenMiddleburg & Upperville. Renovated & enlarged. Gourmet Kitchen w/high-end appls & granite, B-fast Rm, Formal Din Rm & Liv Rm, Family Rm w/fplce, Den, 1st flr Mstr wing w/lux Bath w/steam shwr & walk-in closet. Hardwood Flrs. 3 BRs +2 Full BAs up. Exten. landscaping, large yard, stone walls, porch, rear Trex deck, stone patio w/fpl., 2-car det. garage w/room above. $649,000

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In Country rosemary. The jalapeño, sourced from Potomac Vegetable Farms, adds a nice heat. The honey used is lovingly called “Holly’s Honey,” named after a grade-school student (she and her father bring it to Guas from Ashburn, Virginia). In addition to the NOLA Backyard Swinger, this honey is also available at the chef’s “Sticky Station,” which features an array of honeys for guests to sample by stirring it into their

Bayou's bloody Mary.

tea, folding it into their oatmeal or spreading it through the insides of a hot, flaky biscuit.

Washingtonians are lucky to be surrounded by such strong agricultural communities. Artisans and farmers from Pennsylvania to Virginia and Maryland are passionate about their products, and chefs in the District are increasingly interested in sourcing the best ingredients they can. “That’s what we do as chefs,” said Wiedmaier, “we source.” For the rest of us, all that’s left to do is eat and enjoy.

Guas’s “Sticky Station” at Bayou Bakery,

Jamie Stachowski of Stachowski Market and Deli on 28th and P in Georgetown, who makes all kinds of sausages for him, including boudin and andouille. Tom and Susan Hunt of Westmoreland Berry Farm in Oak Grove, Virginia, are another example. Guas waits in long lines at farmer’s markets to get his week’s worth of their fresh asparagus and berries,

OAKFIELD Upperville, Virginia • $4,795,000

Stone manor house in spectacular setting • 86.81 acres • Highly protected area in prime Piedmont Hunt • Gourmet kitchen • Wonderful detail throughout • 5 BR • 5 BA • 3 half BA • 3 fireplaces, classic pine paneled library • Tenant house • Stable • Riding ring • Heated saltwater pool • Pergola • Full house generator.

Paul MacMahon

(703) 609-1905

STONEWOOD Middleburg, Virginia • $930,000

Charming stucco, log and frame home • 10 acres • 3-4 bedrooms • 3 1/2 baths • 2 fireplaces (one in the kitchen with antique brick floor) • Beautiful reclaimed pine flooring • Bright and sunny family room opens to bluestone terrace • Master bedroom opens to private balcony • 2 car garage • 4 stall barn with tack room with 2 paddocks • 2 recorded lots.

Paul MacMahon

(703) 609-1905

including their award-winning strawberries.

Back at Bayou Bakery, Guas’s accumulation of local ingredients shines through in many of the menu items, including beverages. One of the most popular cocktails at Bayou Bakery (aside from the bloody Mary) is the NOLA Backyard Swinger, a grapefruit-based beverage with bourbon, local honey, jalapeño and fresh

FARAWAY FARM

GREYSTONE

Middleburg Area • $2,975,000

The Plains, Virginia • $2,200,000

Solid stone home with copper roof on 70 acres • Original portions dating from the 1700’s • First floor bedroom & 3 additional suites • Original floors • 8 fireplaces • Formal living room • Gourmet kitchen • 2 ponds • Mountain views • Stone walls • Mature gardens • Pool • Log cabin • Piedmont Hunt.

Helen MacMahon (540) 454-1930 Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905 Ann MacMahon (540) 687-5588

PALMER’S MILL

Bluemont, Virginia • $875,000

circa 1860 Virginia Farm house of stucco, stone & frame construction • House updated & enlarged in 2004 • 3 to 4 bedrooms • 2 1/2 baths • hardwood floors • 3 fireplaces • exposed beams & gourmet kitchen • 10 acres • fenced & cross fenced • 2 stall barn with tack & hay storage • spring house & smoke house • Protected with mountain views • Piedmont Hunt Territory.

Paul MacMahon Helen MacMahon

info@sheridanmacmahon.com www.sheridanmacmahon.com

24

July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

David Guas. Photo by Scott Suchman.

(703) 609-1905 (540) 454-1930

(540) 687-5588

Circa 1807 • 33 acres ideally located between Middleburg & The Plains • Rare quarried stone exterior, 10-foot ceilings • Period mantels, original wood floors, two-story front porch • 3 bedrooms/3 baths, each a private suite • Historic stone barn includes one bedroom/bath apt, heated tack room, 6 stalls • Carriage barn • 3 paddocks, large turnout field, run-in sheds, auto waterers • Whole farm generator • Pond • Orange County Hunt.

Helen MacMahon

(540) 454-1930

THE CORNER GARDEN

Middleburg, Virginia • $650,000

Classic old Middleburg fixture • Zoned C-2 • Lovely large front porch and old stone walls - nice visibility one block south of the main street • Extensive plantings, room for expansion and full of charm • Approximately 2,300 sf building on .11 acre lot • Front portion dates from 1870’s.

Helen MacMahon

WESTWOOD Marshall, Virginia • $1,200,000

21 acres of mostly open land • Classic fieldstone home with a portion circa 1835 • Renovations include open kitchen, screened-in porch, new windows, new siding, updated bathrooms & metal roof • Original floors throughout most of the house • Lots of charm & an unusual amount of natural light for an old house • Grand oak trees & a lovely setting.

Helen MacMahon

(540) 454-1930

COBBLER LANE Delaplane, Virginia • $545,000

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(703) 609-1905

In Country

Moab: In the Land of Extremes By peter murray

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Delicate Arch at Arches National Park in Utah.

oab is hard to get to. But hauling it from a distant airport — Las Vegas, in my case — is worthwhile, not only because of the destination’s otherworldly beauty, but also for the geological diversity that haunts and amazes during the drive: mammoth mountains, precipitous canyons and rivers plunging through gorges.

The town itself isn’t much — T-shirt stores here, Mexican restaurants there, motels marking the main drag — but it’s sandwiched between two of our country’s preserved treasures, Arches

A mountain biker traverses slick rock outside Moab.

National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

These two parks offer some of the best hiking trails and most spectacular views of nature in the world.

Delicate Arch, in Arches National Park, is a must-see for visitors of any experience level. The hike is short (two miles), but steep, so get ready to work those calves. The view of Delicate Arch, at the end of the hike, is breathtaking, making any scrambling up the trail’s slick sandstone well worth it.

Experienced hikers, on the other hand, should head to the Syncline Loop at Canyonlands.

Why the park is called Canyonlands becomes when you’re riding up and down, up and down, obvious a few hours into the hike, as sharp with unending hard slopes under your wheels. red walls rise above the trail and one canyon But that’s Moab for you. leads to the next, on and on. Sometimes you’ll hike through massive round boulders; other times you’ll need to be on the lookout for sharp crags jutting into the trail.

About halfway through the eightmile hike, you’ll be greeted with the Island in the Sky, a brilliant geological feature offering many photo ops. But no matter what, pay attention to pylons guiding the path and bring lots of water on this trip. (You can thank me later for the water tip, as you make your way to the top of false peak after false peak, trying to get out of the canyons.)

Moab Adventures is a one-stop shop for other extreme activities, including rock climbing, rappelling, canyoneering and rafting on the Colorado River. Trip leaders will bring you to hidden local gems like Corona Arch in your search for outdoor thrills.

The store also rents mountain bikes to ride on nearby Slickrock Trail, a mountain biker’s paradise, hailed as some of the best terrain anywhere for off-road cycling. To call it a trail, though, is a bit deceiving. It’s more like round-topped sandstone hills that grip a mountain bike’s tires. Riding can be Rappeller descends from Corona Arch outside Moab, Utah. strenuous, not to mention dangerous, Photo by Peter Murray.

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BODY & SOUL

Le Décor: Red, White and BBQ

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BY C AR OLYN L A NDE S What better place than the nation’s capital to host a patriotic picnic — or a red-white-and-booze-filled holiday feast — on the 4th of July? From table settings to outdoor décor, these summer-inspired products will delight your guests this celebratory weekend and on every outdoor occasion, right into fall.

1. You put mint in your cocktail — why not in your candle? This soy wax Mint Produce Candle makes an aromatic addition to any patio picnic table this summer. $24.95, Paper Source

6. Whether it’s hot dogs and hamburgers or haute-cuisine hors d’oeuvres, this beautifully crafted Resin Tray with leather handles is perfect for all your hosting needs. $325, Calypso St. Barth

2. An icy pitcher of lemonade — or, if you prefer, Pimm’s — is all the more delectable in this opalescent glass Miruna Pitcher. $36, Anthropologie

7. Without tunes you don’t have a party.

This Turquoise Beach Radio, an AM/FM smartphone speaker, lets you play DJ no matter where the party takes you. $49.95, Paper Source

3. With plenty of farmer’s markets to choose from in the D.C. area, this adorable ceramic Farmer’s Market Basket lets you serve the fruits of your — or someone’s — labor in a most original way. $20 (large basket), Anthropologie

8. With these nostalgic Hot Dog Trays, you’ll think you’re standing in line for the rollercoaster at the county fair. $5.95 (set of 8), Paper Source

4. Fresh-squeezed juice and homemade sweet tea taste better when sipped from a Mason jar.

These red Jam Jar Juice Glasses will have you coming back for seconds. $19.95 (set of four), Paper Source 5. Keep your drinks and food chilled in style with the wood-coated Castine Cooler. $449, Ballard Designs

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9. Replace your worn-out picnic-table cover with Gingham Plates. Serve your guests on these outdoor-friendly plates, made of sturdy melamine. $26.95 (set of 4), Paper Source 10. Adding to the light of the evening fireflies, the glow cast by this beautiful trio of Mineral Tealight Holders will inspire your guests to enjoy their sparkle all summer night long. $50, Calypso St. Barth

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BODY & SOUL

Murphy’s Love: Breaking Through to Real Female Friendships

By Sta cy notaras M u r p h y

Dear Stacy: I am a 20-something professional woman and have a hard time making female friends. I work in an office with a strong female happyhour culture and am always invited to these events, but find myself annoyed by how the women interact with each other. There is nothing interesting about their conversations and everyone seems so negative about their lives (and about other people’s lives: gossipy).

I just don’t want to engage. But I know it keeps me on the outside and I actually think some of the women are pretty great when I spend time with them one-on-one. Is there something I can do to make this kind of conversation more palatable?

—Not in the In Crowd

workplace that includes a clique of people who are building and deepening their friendships — why wouldn’t you want to be included?

So now we turn to how you define an interesting conversation and being negative. If you

tell me these women are great in one-on-one interactions, I have to wonder if what you see from their Happy-Hour Selves is simply the classic, female process of connecting through complaint. Women bond over negative conver-

sation. We’ve been conditioned to believe that the opposite — being positive self-advocates — is bragging and shameful. I’m not saying this is a good thing about women today, but it’s a thing. (Just watch basically all of the most recent season of “Inside Amy Schumer.”)

You don’t have to participate, but maybe you could empathize with the way they are seeking to get close to one another. If you hang out more, you might feel comfortable enough to change the subject or — gasp — point out the inconsistencies when Associate Director Susanna calls herself “stupid” or Media Manager Meredith says she doesn’t know anything about anything.

You might just break through to the real female friendships you desire Stacy Notaras Murphy (www.stacymurphyLPC. com) is a licensed professional counselor and certified Imago Relationship therapist practicing in Georgetown. This column is meant for entertainment only, and should not be considered a substitute for professional counseling.

Send your confidential question to stacymurphyLPC@gmail.com.

Dear In Crowd: My first reaction to your letter is: Why do you want to spend time with these gossipy women? But when I step back, I actually think I get it. There is gossip in any environment. That doesn’t mean these potential friends are proverbial “gossips.” It just may be the only way they know how to connect. You are part of a

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What’s Wrong With Skipping a Workout?

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By Jos e f Brande nb u r g

ave you ever wondered what difference it makes if you a skip a workout — or a week or even a month’s worth? The facts are surprising and motivating: Day 2: Your mood and your energy head south because your body’s endorphin and adrenalin levels have also started to drop. These chemicals are natural appetite suppressants, so your appetite begins to increase.

Day 3: Your heart and lungs are five percent less fit. Your muscles are noticeably stiffer.

Day 7: Your metabolism has declined some 10 percent, matching the shrinkage in your ability to use oxygen. Your body needs oxygen to burn calories. Energy levels are even lower than on Day 2.

Day 14: Your body has begun “negative recomposition,” the process of simultaneously

losing muscle and gaining fat. By now, your heart and lungs are 15 percent less fit.

Day 21: Your metabolism is down sharply because your body’s ability to use oxygen has declined by 20 percent. Along with making weight and fat gain more likely, this also lowers your energy levels.

Day 25: You’ve lost 10 to 15 percent of your muscle mass. If the scale reads the same, this means that you’ve replaced your muscle with an equal weight of fat (and fat occupies more space than muscle).

Day 29: Your strength levels have dropped by up to 30 percent.

As you can see, a lot can change in just a month. Here’s a simple yet powerful strategy to help you be more consistent with your fitness: Be specific. Instead of saying, “I’ll work out three times this week,” try, “I’m going to work

out at my studio on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 a.m.” Research shows that doing it this way makes you 220 percent more likely to follow through. You’ve given your brain a specific target and made a decision instead of putting it off.

Putting off making a decision, such as when and where you will exercise, induces something called “decision fatigue,” which depletes your willpower and makes exercise far more difficult than it needs to be.

A best-selling author and fitness expert with 16 years of experience, Josef Brandenburg owns The Body You Want club in Georgetown. Information about his 14-Day Personal Training Experience may be found at TheBodyYouWant.com.

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Performance

Keegan Theatre Comes Full (Dupont) Circle

By G ary T ischl er

The exterior of the Keegan Theatre.

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arring unforeseen circumstances, by the time anyone reads this, the folks at the Keegan Theatre — which is to say, founders Mark A. Rhea and Susan Marie Rhea — will have come full circle.

Keegan will have settled into its newly and finally renovated theater on Church Street just off Dupont Circle, giving both a climax and new beginning to a story that had its start in the 1990s, when Keegan was a fledgling, nomadic enterprise with a not-always-certain future.

Their 2015-2016 season will have opened with a production of Tennessee Williams’s classic play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which resonates in American theater history, but also in a highly personal way both for the Rheas, who are co-directing, and the company.

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” is famous on a larger stage as one of the great playwright’s bigger Broadway hits, and as a gaudy 1958 MGM film starring Elizabeth Taylor at her zenith, as Maggie the Cat in a negligee; Paul Newman as Brick, her boozing, haunted husband; and Burl Ives as the formidable (and dying) Big Daddy. The play won a Pulitzer Prize for Williams. The original 1955 production was directed by Elia Kazan and starred Barbara Bel Geddes as Maggie and Ben Gazzara as Brick; a 1974 revival, directed by Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Kahn, starred Elizabeth Ashley as Maggie and Keir Dullea as Brick, with Fred “Munster” Gwynne as Big Daddy.

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” was the first play Keegan staged, in 1997-1998. Not only that, but the last time the company took on the play, during its 2001-2002 season, Mark was Brick to Susan Marie’s Maggie the Cat. “Oh, God, yes,” Susan Marie said. “This production, with all that’s going on, is so special to us. We’re opening the season with a play that began our history. We’re directing actors in roles that we played. All of this while the finishing touches to the renovations are still being done. And, of course, it means something very special on a personal level.”

We’re talking as the smell of fresh wood, long planks of wood on the side of the lobby, still lingers in the new theater.

“We had known each other, and worked

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July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

The exterior of the Keegan Theatre. Photo by Richard Selden.

together before [in the “The Taming of the Shrew”], but something happened during the course of the ‘Cat’ production,” she said.

“Our relationship deepened,” Mark said.

“I mean, this play asks so much of you, you have to really dig deep and expose some parts of yourselves which under normal conditions

Susan and Mark Rhea.

people might never get to see. We fell in love, deeply.”

“He proposed and, I think perhaps a year later, we were married. We’ve been together ever since,” said Susan Marie.

So part of the story of Keegan — actors falling in love while acting in a searing, emo-

tionally draining play — is a love story. A love story that includes the building of a company, regular tours in Ireland (Galway, County Killarney, Cork), staging plays and making theater in a certain way, with each bringing particular gifts to the process.

Mark, whose background is Irish, has a deep passion for Irish theater, plays and playwrights. “They’re dark and funny, and character driven,” he says.

“We’ve almost always done the Irish tour,” says Susan Marie. “We take American classics — Tennessee Williams, Miller, Mamet, Albee — and bring them to Ireland. In Europe, and for sure in Ireland, that’s what people really want to see and experience — that is, our classic plays — and, of course, many people have seen the ‘filums,’ as they say it.”

In the Washington area, “We’ve been everywhere,” she says. “Arlington, Northern Virginia, in churches and schools. It was something of a vagabond existence, but we built an audience over the years, and we have an audience now.”

The theater on bucolic Church Street, which used to be a private school, has attracted an eclectic set of companies over the years: outliers from the suburbs like the award-rich Synetic Theatre, theaters without homes, and New Playwrights. Keegan had been there off and on until, a year or so ago, in the midst of a full and successful season, the opportunity arose to buy the theater for over $2 million, accomplished with a special fund drive.

Renovation proceeded apace, though not necessarily with ease. Even as the opening approached, there were still things to be done, permits to finalize and agonizing details to finish off. But the new theater, with more open air and glass-enclosed views of the leafy setting — not to mention enough bathrooms for everyone — is a big improvement on the past, without losing the most important thing Keegan offered as a theater environment: intimacy.

“Cat” will run through July 25. Other shows in the 10-play season include a new musical, “Dogfight,” in August; “The Dealer of Ballynafeigh”; “An Irish Carol”; and Green Day’s “American Idiot.”

Social Scene

Polish National Ballet Debuts in Washington

By Ma ry B ird

Under the sponsorship of the Laurel Fund for the Performing Arts, the Polish National Ballet made its D.C. debut at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater on June 23. Elvi Moore, founder/president of the Laurel Fund and former general director of the Washington Ballet, met director Krzysztof Pastor when he was TWB’s resident choreographer. She was determined to bring the company to D.C. The program included Pastor’s "Adagio & Scherzo" and "Moving Rooms."

At a post-performance reception hosted by the Ambassador of Poland at the embassy, Moore told the troupe “you captured the hearts of both New York and Washington dance audiences.”

Debbie Clark with Washington Ballet former dancer and instructor Aaron Jackson.

Patricia Berrend, director of Berrend Dance Centre, with Royal and Julie Dellinger.

Paul Stuart Celebrates Jazz and Will on the Hill Offers Its D.C. Opening Summer Madness

By D ominique Ston e Pho tos b y Daniel S wa rt z Top-drawer clothier Paul Stuart threw a grand opening party June 2 for its CityCenterDC location, at the corner of 9th and I Streets NW. At almost 10,000 square feet, this store is a two-level plethora of menswear elegance. The night started off with delicate hors d'oeuvres and drinks, while D.C.'s elite shopped and socialized. The night proceeded with a Salute to Smithsonian Jazz, which features a reproduction of LeRoy Neiman’s "Big Band" from the museum’s Jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli. jazz collection.

By Mary Bir d

Now in its 13th year, on June 15 Will on the Hill raised over $500,000 for the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Education Programs. The performance at Sidney Harman Hall opened with students from West Springfield High School presenting their concept of a scene from "As You like It." Professional actors Edward Gero, Brandon Uranowitz and Samira Wiley led members of Congress and media personalities in "Summer Madness," in which two lobbyists vie for a job at the lobbying firm Stratford, Avon and Bard. Shakespeare’s heroes and heroines soon join the fray.

Following the hilarity, guests enjoyed a buffet prepared by Design Cuisine.

Mary-Frances Wain and husband Sean Staples.

Gina and Mike House.

Megumi and Motomu Takahashi, CEO of Mitsui USA, which bought Paul Stuart two years ago, with Gail and Michael Ostrove, president and CEO of Paul Stuart.

Cristian Becker, Timothy Lowery, Whitney Burns and Ryan Newcomb.

Ed McAllister, Christine Warnke and John McNerney.

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Social Scene

Fig & Olive Impresses

By Mary Bird Photos By Dan Swartz

On June 26, Fig & Olive extended an olive branch to Washington, D.C., with the public opening of its flagship D.C. outpost at CityCenterDC, the vibrant downtown retail destination. The restaurant embodies a passion for the best olive oils, flavors and cuisine from the Riviera and coastal regions of the south of France, Italy and Spain. The menu – crafted by executive chef Frederic Guerin – highlights the region’s unique olive oils, which are individually paired with each dish and used in place of butter.

Fig & Olive’s 10,000-square-foot space accommodates up to 330 guests and encompasses a variety of seating options.

NewsBabes Transformed to NewsBash on Roof

Chamber Dance Project Launches Its Season Text and photos by Mary Bird The Chamber Dance Project celebrated its 2015 season with an opening-night performance at the Lansburgh Theatre on June 24. Artistic Director Diane Coburn Bruning founded the company in New York and then moved to D.C., working with local dancers including the Washington Ballet’s Luis Torres, Francesca Dugarte and Morgann Rose. A splendid evening of dance continued as balletgoers went to Poste at the Hotel Monaco for revelry and to cheer on the dancers.

Photos by Neshan H. Naltchayan The event, formerly known as Newsbabes, pulled it back this year to become a bash at the Warner Building Rooftop June 16, benefitting Celebremos La Vida, a nonprofit with programs on breast and cervical cancer for Hispanic women.

Gregory Galy, president of Fig & Olive, and his father, Richard, mayor of Mougins, France.

Miss D.C. USA 2015 Lizzy Olsen with NBC News weatherman Doug Kammerer.

Jamie Howes with ballet master and dancer Louis Torres.

Morning anchors, all: Autria Godfrey and Jummy Olabanji of ABC 7 News, Steve Chenevey of Fox 5 News, Andrea Roane of WUSA 9 News and Eun Yang of NBC4 News.

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July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

Fred Schwartz and Jill Nevis.

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S e l l i ng Masterwork

Martins Addition. Dramatic floorplan & grand proportions on three finished levels. Gorgeous 13,000+ sq ft lot w/garden views. Walk to shops on Brookville Road.

Easy access to downtown Bethesda & DC. $2,700,000

Eric Murtagh

301-652-8971

Fine traditions

Wesley Heights. Delightful expanded & renov. Colonial.

Magnificent interior offers 5 BRs, 4.5 BAs. Stunning black & white kit & brkfst rm. Elegant entertaining spaces, 4 frps, family rm opens to patio & garden. Pkg for 5 cars. $1,595,000

Susan Berger Ellen Sandler

202-255-5006 202-255-5007

penthouse ChiC

Spectacular penthouse w/ open flr plan, floor-to-ceiling windows, sustainable features, chef’s kit w/Carrera Marble, 3 BR, 2.5 BA & WIC. City views from al fresco terrace & private roof deck. One secured pking space. $999,000

Leslie Suarez

202-246-6402

downtown disCovery

H St Corridor. This fully renovated 2 level townhome w/ open floorplan has 1500+ sq ft including 3 BR, 2.5 BA, & secure roller gate parking. Just a short walk to exciting H St, new light rail, shops & restaurants. $599,000

John Coplen

a sight to BehoLd

Town of Chevy Chase. Impressive 1920s manor w/ dramatic spaces has been renovated from top to bottom.

Formal LR & DR, 5 BR, 6.5 BA, dazzling Kit, 3-car garage, and inviting deck. $2,695,000

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Chevy Chase Terrace. Gorgeous home has 4 finished levels, 6 BR, 3.5 BA, & separate 1 BR apartment w/ certificate of occupancy. Walk to parks, trails & country club. $1,549,000

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Martha Williams Rachel Burns

202-271-8138 202-384-5140

styLe, spaCe & sunLight

Spacious 1700 sf unit has 3BR, 2BA, walk-in pantry off breakfast room, balcony & windows on 3 sides. Walk to AU & Tenley Metro. Small pet friendly. $570,000

Pat Kennedy

BETHESDA

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exQuisite oFFering

Martins Addition. Glorious home w/ high-end finishes, top-of-the-line appliances, gourmet kitchen, 5 BR, 5.5 BA, attached easy access garage and potential for a future elevator. Near Bethesda & DC. $2,069,000

Eric Murtagh Drew Gibbons

301-652-8971 301-538-0477

rooMs with a view

Brookmont. Enjoy scenic Potomac Valley from nearly every window. Beautiful Dutch Colonial has 5 BR, 4BA, enchanting garden and decks. $1,489,000

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301-728-4338 301-908-1242

City CLassiC

Barnaby Woods. Super Charming, 3 BR, 3.5 BA Colonial w/ large extra room off updated kit plus year-round sunroom, LL FR w/ 2nd FP. Walk up attic. Large deck overlooking beautifully landscaped yard. $999,900

DUPONT

July 1, 2015 GMG, INC.

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202-549-5167

Dupont/Logan. Stunning three level condo has 1500+ sq ft w/ 2 BR, den, 2 1/2 baths, open kitchen, and parking.

This extraordinary building is a short walk to Metro, 14th St shops and Dupont Circle. $929,000

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Living green

Columbia Heights. Condo w/ open floor plan, 2 BR, 1.5 BA, private balcony, 9’ ceilings, 5” HDWDs, oak staircases, Kit w/ soft close cabs, SS, & granite counters.

Green/Sustainable features throughout! $475,000

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Living in Luxury

Landon Woods. Stunning new home w/ all the bells & whistles. 4 finished levels w/ 7 BR, 5.5 BA, chef’s kit, FR, office, LL w/ sep entrance, 2 car garage. $1,945,000

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uLtraModern FLair

Bethesda. Stunning contemporary architecture w/ soaring spaces & glorious, light-filled rooms. 5 BR, 3 FB, 2 HB. Fabulous pool, patio, large landscaped & wooded lot. $1,345,000

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star QuaLity

Chevy Chase, MD. Gorgeous views from the long private balcony in this 1 BR, 1.5 BA unit at the Somerset featuring an eat-in kitchen, formal LR w/custom built-ins, WIC, 2 pkg spaces. Deluxe amenities include 24 desk, gym, party room, sauna and more. $725,000

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City’s Best

Cleveland Park. Totally renovated top floor 2 BR/1BA corner unit is flooded with sunlight & charm. Move-in ready. Stroll to Conn Ave & enjoy shops, restaurants, & nearby Metro. $379,000

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