Robert Devaney • January 29, 2015

Georgetown University’s 13th annual Let Freedom Ring Celebration Jan. 19 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and — with Natalie Cole as the shining star — brought the full house to its feet, singing “Oh Happy Day.”

At the event, Georgetown presented the John Thompson, Jr., Legacy of a Dream Award to George Jones, chief executive officer of Bread for the City, which assists residents with food, clothing, medical care and legal and social services.

Music director Nolan Williams, Jr., led the Let Freedom Ring Choir, made up mostly Georgetown University students, in introducing his original piece for this Martin Luther King, Jr., Day: “I’ve Got a Right (to Vote).” The song included quotations from actors as historical figures, such as Frederick Douglas, President Lyndon Johnson and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Greeting the guests in the concert hall, the Kennedy Center’s new president Deborah Rutter noted how Washington, D.C., President John Kennedy and King come today on MLK Day with this “living memorial to a fallen president” that hosts the tribute each year. She also said she had just met Georgetown University President John DeGioia for the first time.

In his salute to awardee George Jones of Break for the City, DeGioia looked up to retired basketball coach John Thompson, Jr., and Jones in their box seats and spoke of his friendship with Thompson and Jones’s “spirit of love” that was “fueled by King.”
With that, Cole took the stage — with red roses on the piano — and never let go. Her songs included “Mr. Melody,” “Inseparable,” “What a Difference a Day Makes,” the still moving “Unforgettable” (with video clips of her and her father Nat King Cole) and “Miss You Like Crazy,” a tribute to “those we lost and the legacy of King.” Finishing up, Cole said, “Everyone knows this one,” and belted out “Everlasting Love.”

As an encore, it was hard to top Cole’s and the celebration’s version of “Oh Happy Day.” Suddenly, dancers dressed in white rushed back and forth along the aisles to the startled delight of everyone. “When Jesus washed . . . my sins away, yeah . . . He taught me how to watch . . . fight and pray, fight and pray . . . and living rejoicing every, everyday.” Yeah, pretty hard to top that this day. I think I saw Martin smiling. [gallery ids="101972,135617,135614,135610,135601,135606" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

As Vincent Gray ends his time as Mayor of Washington, D.C., he has been on a kind of farewell tour of the city which he served for four years as chief executive and earlier as District Council Chairman.

Moving from Georgetown to Shaw and beyond, whether at evening receptions, radio talk shows or ribbon-cutting ceremonies, Gray is saying good-bye with a hearty handshake to friends and acknowledging his achievements — and the bittersweet tug that he would have liked to serve four more years.

Gray was seen at the Dec. 19 Duke Ellington School groundbreaking, even though construction work on the school has been underway for some time. On hand, of course, were notables, including D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson and Ellington School co-founder Peggy Cafritz.

On Dec. 22, Gray was given a high-spirited tribute by the entire D.C. Hospitality Alliance at Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place. The heavy-hitter group is composed of Events D.C., Destination D.C., Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington and the Hotel Association of Washington, D.C., and hosted the event at the 25-year-old restaurant on the Georgetown waterfront.

Officials, politicians and well-wishers applauded Gray for his years of service, as they focused on his support of projects that built up downtown and benefitted neighborhoods, increasing residents, visitors and the tax base.

With jokes and friendly banter all around, Gray, a happy warrior for his city, took the microphone at Tony and Joe’s. He mentioned his official farewell speech on Dec. 17 on Dunbar High School. “I got carried away,” he said. “It was the longest speech I’ve ever given.” The mayor went on to say that D.C. was the hottest commodity in the nation, and those in the convention, hotel and restaurant business agreed.

On his third to last day, Gray was seen in Shaw for a round of 17 ribbon cuttings — some for new businesses, others for renovated storefronts. His last full day as mayor is on New Year’s Day.

Muriel Bowser becomes D.C.’s seventh popularly elected mayor Jan. 2. [gallery ids="101961,135757,135734,135761,135754,135740,135744,135748" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

A good neighbor, classic Georgetown gentleman and friend of The Georgetowner, Philip Mayhew died of cancer Jan. 9.

Born in San Francisco Dec. 1, 1934, Mayhew lived around the world: in the Philippines as a boy, Washington state, Pennsylvania and, then, as a foreign service officer with the State Department, in Laos, Congo, Jordan, Vietnam and Thailand.

A 1956 graduate of Princeton University, Mayhew served in the military and worked for the Washington Post briefly. He also worked with the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the Defense Department. The King of Thailand presented Mayhew with the Order of the White Elephant for his diplomatic service.

After faithfully representing the U.S., Mayhew returned to his Georgetown townhouse on 35th Street hill. He is one of the last of a generation of neighbors that included Emerson Duncan and Paul Hartstall. There, Mayhew personified the lesson of Voltaire’s “Candide”: after all your adventures, tend your own garden.

Neighbors on 35th Street and Prospect Street are planning a celebration of Mayhew’s life; time to be determined. Call The Georgetowner for details at 202-338-4833.

Robert Devaney •

The Fillmore School property, located at 1801 35th St. NW, has been listed for $14 million with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty by seller George Washington University, it was announced last week.

The university acquired the historic schoolhouse and its more than one acre of land last year as part of a deal with the National Gallery of Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, when GW took possession of all Corcoran real estate. The Fillmore space has been used by the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design since it purchased the former D.C. public school in 1998.

In April, TTR Sotheby’s and GW will begin reviewing purchase offers. The Corcoran School will hold classes in the Fillmore building until the end of the spring semester

Here’s what TTR Sotheby’s International Realty writes in its listing for the 35th Street property: “The Fillmore School is a landmark opportunity in Georgetown. Built circa 1893 and named after President Millard Fillmore, the school served as an architectural and educational anchor for the community for more than a century. The all-brick, fully detached structure encompasses nearly 23,000 square feet of finished space on four levels. Notable features include soaring ceilings, double hung windows, a modern elevator and two staircases. The existing building holds tremendous conversion potential, ranging from condominiums or apartments to office or institutional use. The 1.25-acre site offers parking for 100 cars and frontage on 34th and 35th Streets NW. For more information, visit www.Fillmore-School.com.” The listing agent is Michael Brennan, Jr., vice president of TTR Sotheby’s.

Money from the sale of the 35th Street property will go toward renovation — estimated at about $80 million — of the former Corcoran Gallery’s 17th Street building, which will continue to hold classroom and studio spaces for the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design.

Robert Devaney •

Some people just aren’t the retiring type. Linda Greenan is known around town for her work, before she retired, as a vice president for community relations at Georgetown University. She continues to be involved in D.C. politics and has been on boards of local groups.

“I decided to go back to work again because, after two years of retirement, I was beginning to get a little bored,” Greenan wrote to us. “I came out of retirement and began working at Cardinal Bank as vice president and client relations officer. . . . My role will be to serve as a resource for Cardinal’s clients (non-profits and associations, property management firms, medical groups, title companies and other local businesses) and to identify new business lending, deposit and investment opportunities.”

Cardinal is a regional community bank with approximately $3.5 billion in assets and 32 branches in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Robert Devaney • January 25, 2015

You know it is turning out to be a great day, when . . .

You learn an easier way to FedEx Field from Georgetown by driving straight out Pennsylvania Avenue, moving past the Jericho City of Praise Church — “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season” — and parking close to the stadium entrance.

You get to shake hands with former Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley, known as the “Secretary of Defense,” who still has quite the grip and still signs autographs.

You chat with the team owner’s wife, Tanya Snyder, who stopped by the NFL Fan Style Tour before entering the stadium with her children and friends. Noting the fashion, NFL or otherwise, “I’m wearing Celine,” she said. Asked about any possible name change for the Redskins, she said, “There will be a funeral before that ever happens.” Snyder was certainly charming to all and was sure to give presents to the marines outside the stadium for “Toys for Tots.”

Oh, and best of all — we almost forgot (not really). You know it is turning out to be a great day, when the Washington Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-24, with an interception in the last minutes of the game, just about smashing the Eagles’ chance for a play-off berth.

The hometown team may be up or down, but fans are always happy to check out new merchandise and play some games. So, that was why the NFL Fan Style Tour stopped at FedEx Field Dec. 20 — and maybe brought the Redskins some good luck — after traveling to different stadiums throughout the 2014 season. That was one of the reasons we went to FedEx Field in the first place.

Setting up next to the FedExField Hall of Fame Store, the NFL Fan Style Tour’s 2,000-square-foot truck showed off this year’s top fashion pieces from NFL Men’s, Women’s and Tweens/Junior’s apparel, as well as NFL Homegating products. The truck included NFL Auction items, a Virtual Dressing Room, a Photo Mosaic, NFL Trivia and EA Madden Gaming Stations, giveaways and special appearances.

Meanwhile, so much more happened. Now, that’s a great Saturday.
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