Kristin Sørumshagen • May 3, 2012

After some delay, the construction of The Capella luxury hotel can begin, funded by a joint venture, Castleton Hotel Partners, according to a press release from Capella Hotels and Resorts in early September.

Construction of The Capella Georgetown has been on the agenda for quite some time; the original plan was to open by Jan. 2012, according to a press release from Capella Hotels and Resorts in March 2010. “The developer experienced some difficulties with the funding,” said John Drake, vice president of marketing at Capella Hotels and Resorts, “but now we have secured funding and we would love to open by the end of 2012.” Castleton Holdings and ICG Properties is partnering with Point Ford Management Limited, a South Asian based investment firm, to secure funding for construction as well as management of the luxury hotel, according to the latest press release.

Robert Warman, executive vice president of West Paces Hotels, told USA Today that the Capella Georgetown will compete with Georgetown’s other luxury hotels, the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. Drake, however, is not afraid that this will be difficult for the Capella Georgetown. “I don’t want to sound arrogant but our hotel is a notch above the other hotels in the area,” Drake said, explaining that the Capella Hotels and Resorts offer personal service and assistance to their guests and adapts to their guests’ needs.

The Capella Georgetown, situated at 1050 31st Street, will feature 49 rooms and suites with “unmatched levels of customer service and room finishes,” according to a press release which says that the hotel will offer the pre-arrival services of personal assistants, luxury car service, 24 hour room service and a guest only spa and fitness center. The Capella Georgetown also entices guests with immediate access to the upscale shops and restaurants of Wisconsin Avenue and M Streets.

There will also be a restaurant and bar with outdoor seating along the C&O Canal, a private rooftop lounge and a rooftop indoor and outdoor pool overlooking the Potomac River and several Washington landmarks. The rooftop, however, might be “wishful thinking” as the Advisory Neighborhood Commission and the Old Georgetown Board previously have hesitated on similar matters, according to the Georgetown Patch.

Regardless, there is no question whether the Capella Georgetown will be a high-end place. “The hotel is purposely very small in number of rooms,” says Drake, “and we will cater to top corporate managers, CEOs, diplomats and heads of state among others.” And the caliber of the hotel certainly matches that of the event that serves as an unspoken deadline for the project, the next presidential inauguration, Jan. 2013.

Kristin Sørumshagen • November 28, 2011

On Nov. 13, the 3rd Annual Hilly Awards were presented at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, and the National Capital Bank was honored with a top Hilly Award for Professional Service.

The Annual Hilly Awards is produced by Capitol Hill’s Chamber of Commerce. The organization works to “connect Hill businesses with the greater community,” according to their website, ChampsDC.Org.

The Hilly Award for Professional Service was one of 12 categories of awards presented. With over 2,100 initial nominations for the awards, the winners were popularly voted on by Capitol Hill residents.

“We’re honored to receive this recognition,” said Richard A. Didden, chairman and CEO of the bank, in a press release. “A Hilly Award epitomizes our corporate philosophy because it is based on votes from the individuals we serve on Capitol Hill.”

According to the release, this is the second consecutive year that NCB has been recognized as a leader in the community. In 2010 the Bank was voted best Community Services organization, also a Hilly Award. The bank has been recognized over the last decade with numerous accolades for its safety and soundness, confirmed by a long list of awards and distinctions on NationalCapitalBanc.Com.

In July 2011, the CHAMPS Hilly Awards received the D.C. Economic Partnership’s citywide award for Small Business Initiative of the Year, according to the event invitation on AtlasArts.Org. This year’s event was kicked of with a Red Carpet Reception before the winners were announced, followed by a celebration in Atlas’ Sprenger Theatre.

NCB’s headquarters are located on Capitol Hill with and a second branch in Friendship Heights. They’re Washington’s oldest bank, founded in 1889, and have been managed by the Didden family for 122 years. It has been recognized for its “exceptional performance, and for being the best bank in DC for small business loans,” according to the press release.

Kristin Sørumshagen • October 31, 2011

The purple wall next to True Religion Brand Jeans and Saloun in Georgetown that has made you curious for the past weeks is hiding a brand new athletic store, Athleta, which opens Nov. 10, according to Athleta.Gap.Com. This will be one of four stores Athleta is opening throughout the country this fall, according to the website.

Athleta, a part of Gap Incorporation, sells women’s sportswear. Whether you’re into yoga, swimming, running or hiking, this might be a place for you. “If it’s a matter of performance over beauty, we’ll take both,” the Athleta site says.