Robert Devaney • January 16, 2015

Construction is finishing up at the new ice skating rink at Washington Harbour. Once the ice is made and smoothed — expected to be just days before Thanksgiving next week, according to an ice rink spokesperson — skaters can begin to check out D.C.’s largest ice rink.

Here’s more from news releases from the ice rink group: The Washington Harbour will present “Winter on the Water,” a celebration of Washington, D.C.’s newest and largest outdoor ice skating rink, on Dec. 1, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Washington Harbour Ice Rink will be inaugurated with a fete of continuous strolling entertainers, ice skating performances, choral singers, a St. Lucia procession, and creative lighting effects, along with special food and beverages served outdoors by Washington Harbour restaurants, including the new Farmers Fishers Bakers. Special guests include radio personality Tommy McFly who will emcee the event from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., and will take the coveted opportunity to drive the ice resurfacing machine on the rink.

Winter on the Water complements the Swedish Christmas Bazaar being held at the neighboring House of Sweden from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 2900 K Street, NW, on Dec. 1. The Swedish choir will present a St. Lucia procession from the bazaar into the Washington Harbour plaza at 5:15 p.m. then perform carols at Winter on the Water.

At 11,800 square feet, the new Washington Harbour Ice Rink is D.C.’s largest outdoor ice skating venue and is also larger than New York City’s Rockefeller Center rink. The Washington Harbour Ice Rink will be open annually from November until March for recreational skating every day, including all holidays. Special programs scheduled for this year include Cartoon Skate from noon until 2 p.m. and Rock-N-Skate from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m., every Saturday; College Night every Thursday; Skate with Santa from noon to 2 pm on Saturday, December 22; plus skating lessons, birthday parties; family gatherings, fundraisers, charity events and private corporate events, all through the ice skating season. For hours, rates, and all other ice skating information, email skatewashingtonharbour@ gmail.com and visit www.thewashingtonharbour.com/skating.

Winter on the Water at the Washington Harbour is located on the Potomac River water- front in Georgetown at 3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC, on the lower plaza level. For more details, call (202) 295-5007, and visit www. thewashingtonharbour.com.

For more information about the Swedish Christmas Bazaar, call (703) 628-6517 and visit www.swea.org/washingtondc.

Robert Devaney •

A Georgetowner newspaper tradition for decades, the naming of Georgetowners of the Year for 2012 focuses on a citizen, business persons and a city institution. Each year may cite one person, several or an entire group. For 2012, we select Jennifer Altemus for her work at the Citizens Association of Georgetown; restaurateurs Tony Cibel and Greg Casten for their commitment to stay and rebuild at Washington Harbour; the chic Four Seasons Hotel, ever improving, as a Georgetown institution.

Jennifer Altemus
Since 2009, Jennifer Altemus has been president of the Citizens Association of Georgetown and headed the town’s premier neighborhood group, which endeavors to protect, preserve and beautify Georgetown on many levels.

Altemus, who lives in Georgetown and also graduated from Georgetown University, hails from Bethesda. An event management expert, she works at the Library of Congress. Her energy, intelligence and charisma has amped up the neighborhood group’s image as surely as those traits helped her deal with representatives of Georgetown University, which worked with CAG and other groups to find common ground and agreement on its campus plan, a huge years-old struggle.

Tracing its civic roots to 1878, CAG has a full range of services and programs that keep Georgetown functioning on a high level: an oral history project, a local artist gallery show, timely discussions on such subjects as real estate, social media, the CIA and the Redskins, concerts in Volta or Rose Park and other benefits — and who does not love dancing at its annual glitzy gala? CAG is also involved in public safety, zoning issues and tree planting. The list goes on. Altemus knows that all could not be done without the work of CAG executive director Betsy Cooley, its superlative board of directors and many volunteers.

Altemus’s drive and presence have taken CAG itself to a new level. For such accomplishments — above and beyond — Jennifer Altemus is Georgetowner of the Year for 2012.

Tony Cibel and Greg Casten
After the damaging April 2011 flood, when things looked bad, the anchor restaurants of Washington Harbour on the Potomac — Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place and Nick’s Riverside Grill — came back strong this fall. There were grand re-openings for both popular river-viewing spots and a 25th anniversary party for Tony & Joe’s, to boot, with many old fans in attendance, including the likes of Sonny Jurgensen and Marion Barry. The newly opened ice rink, is a smash hit.

Native Washingtonian Tony Cibel, patriarch of the family business which has included the Dancing Crab, Nick’s Riverside Grille, Kaufmanns Tavern, Cabanas and the Rockfish, committed to a $4-million reconstruction with nephew partner Greg Casten, who always seems to be on the job, as well as Dean Cibel and Nick Cibel. Casten also heads up ProFish, one of D.C.’s largest seafood wholesalers.

With its great re-design, Tony & Joes has set the culinary bar higher with its new executive chef David Stein. They stayed the course and made their eateries shine anew for newer fans. For such accomplishments — above and beyond — Tony Cibel and Greg Casten are Georgetowners of the Year for 2012

The Four Seasons Hotel
Since 1979, the Four Seasons, an AAA 5-star luxury hotel, has stood at the eastern gateway of Georgetown. Its very name evokes cool chic and the possibility of seeing a head of state, actor or rock star. The 222-room hotel was refurbished in 2005 at a cost of $40 million and again in 2009 for $40 million — and just last year renovated its famed breakfast and lunch-only restaurant for a cool million. For 2013, a $2-million renovation is underway for the spa rooms and event space, and the Eno Wine Bar is under construction. The Bourbon Steak restaurant under award-winning chef Michael Mina hosted for the Obamas for their wedding anniversary dinner last year.

The Four Seasons hosts three major fundraisers for cancer research: Drive Fore the Cure golf tournament, Sprint Four the Cure run and Georgetown Jingle Christmas parties. These events have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hotel general manager Dirk Burghartz, hotel manager Yvette Thomas-Henry and chief concierge Javier Loureiro, along with the hotel’s entire staff deserves praise for its work and its commitment to Georgetown and the Washington community. For such accomplishments — above and beyond — the Four Seasons Hotel is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2012 [gallery ids="101122,139567,139562,139558" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

The Fours Seasons Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue was especially full of Christmas cheer Dec. 16, as the seventh annual Georgetown Jingle — a benefit for Medstar Georgetown University Hospital’s pediatric oncology programs — expanded its festivities for two parties in Seasons restaurant. The hotel lobby already held Christmas trees, created by a designer for a special patient at the hospital.

Hosted by Fours Seasons and Washington’s interior design community, Jingle rang out for the children first in the afternoon with “Winter Wonderland” and then for the adults with “Pamala Live!” after 7 p.m.

Children met the likes of Ironman and Captain America, enjoyed sweets from Georgetown Cupcake, Dolci Gelati and Paul Bakery. Of course, the star of the day was Santa Claus, who arrived courtesy of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.

With tasting from such restaurants as Bourbon Steak, Rouge 24, Proof, Bibiana Osteria Enoteca, Taco Bamba, Banolero, Katsuya Fukishima, the Source and the Blue Moon, the evening’s fun was highlighted by chanteuse Pamala Stanley with her versions of disco and current pop hits — along with a wide-ranging silent auction that included jewelry, a wine collection, artwork and autographed football helmets.

Washington-area Toyota dealers, courtesy of Darcars Automotive Group, donated a Toyota Prius c as the grand prize for the raffle drawing.

Georgetown Jingle benefits the pediatric programs at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. The funds raised by the 2011 Jingle have established a pediatric bone marrow transplant unit in collaboration with Duke University Hospital, funded unique patient rooms that inspire and support the healing process and funded the special initiatives for the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program.

The funds raised by the 2012 Georgetown Jingle will continue to support the operational and training facilities for the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. This year, the event expands its support to include the growth of social worker and educator support in the pediatric palliative care program to provide the highest quality of life for children and families throughout the course of illness. The programs are directed by Aziza Shad, M.D., one of the region’s most respected oncologists.

Over the past six years, Georgetown Jingle has raised $1.5 million for these pediatric programs. The charitable event helps spotlight childhood cancer, the leading cause of death among American children between infancy and age 15. The 2012 event chair was Donna Shank, the mother of Daniel Shank-Rowe, a Medstar Georgetown University Hospital patient ambassador and cancer survivor.

Each year, Washington’s interior designers festoon a total of 17 holiday-themed trees and vignettes in the lobby of the Four Seasons. Arlington-based designer Michael Roberson was the 2012 design chair. Sandi Hoffman of Sandi R. Hoffman Special Events created the majestic centre tree in the Hotel lobby. The theme for her centre tree is “The Shaker Abecedarious” based on the 1880s children’s alphabet book, “A Peaceable Kingdom,” by Alice Provensen.

Walk through the Four Seasons’s lobby and delight to the work of the other 2012 participating designers with these themes:

1. Barry Dixon Interiors (Barry Dixon) — Holiday Punch, a Taste of the Holidays

2. Sandra Meyers Interior Design (Sandra Meyers) — Bells Will Be Ringing

3. Darlene Solutions (Diane Darling) — Martini Tree

4. JDS Designs (David Herchik and Richard Looman) — Santa’s Candy Land

5. Samantha Friedman Interior Design (Samantha Friedman) — Lego Tree

6. Chistopher Patric Interiors (Christopher Patrick & Kaitlyn Andrews-Rice) — Season’s First Snow

7. Alter Urban, LLC (John Coplen) — Winter Wonderland Dollhouse

8. Case Design (Allie Mann) — Suess-tacular

9. Patrick J. Baglino Jr. Interior Design (Patrick J. Baglino, Jr.) — Journey to Oz and Back

10. The Velvet Frog (Debbie Henry) — Believe

11. Dolci Gelati & JDS Designs, Inc. (Nick Beck Anastasia Kessler) — La Dolce Vida

12. Corcoran College of Art & Design ASID ( Kate Roberson and Whitney Osterhout) — Deconstructed Textile Tree

13. Barnes Vanze Architects (Miriam Dillon and Evelyn Smith) — Festival of Italian Torches

14. Darlene Molnar LLC & ETSK Design (Darlene Molnar and Sara Knowles) — Storybook Tree

15. The Queen Bee (Allison Priebe Brooks, Paul Baldwin and Don Patron) — 12 Days of Christmas

16. Housework Interiors (Dee Thornton) — Paint the Holidays
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Robert Devaney •

Eno Wine Bar, next at the Four Seasons Hotel, at 2810 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, opened Oct. 18.

Robert Devaney •

After years of work, design, discussion and delays, Salamander Resorts and Spa in Middleburg, Va., formally opened the morning of Aug. 29 with snips of golden scissors at the entrance to “Sheila Johnson’s house.”

An hour’s drive from D.C., the 168-room luxury resort sits on 340 acres and is filled with Johnson’s idea of the Middleburg experience and mystique with finely detailed rooms, spas and pools, a library and club bar, cooking studio, wine bar, a stable-inspired restaurant, a stable and paddock, conference rooms, ballroom and terraces. It is the “only new luxury destination resort in the United States to open in 2013,” according to Salamander Resort & Spa.

Prem Devadas, president of Salamander Resorts, greeted the opening-day guests at the front entrance: “Welcome to the house that Sheila Johnson built.” He thanked officials from Middleburg and Loudoun County and introduced the speakers.

Middleburg Mayor Betsy Davis recalled that — after contentious debates on the project and its approval — Salamander founder Johnson told Middleburg officials seven years ago, “I won’t let you down.” Davis said that she admired Johnson’s way of “paying it forward” and added, “Sheila, we will let you down.”

Scott York, chairman-at-large of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, crumbled up his speech and said everyone was waiting to see Salamander’s interior as quickly as he praised the resort’s economic benefits. (Salamander has 2,000 employees.)
Rita McClenny, head of Virginia Tourism, tagged Salamander “a crown jewel” for the state and recalled that Jackie Kennedy put Middleburg on the map in a big way 50 years ago.

David Gergen of CNN also touched at the history of Middleburg with its connection to the Kennedys and the Harrimans. Gergen mentioned that the resort’s opening was during the week of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Gergen said he found it “fitting that … we come to celebrate Sheila’s dream” and noted that Johnson is a co-producer of the film, “The Butler.”

As she thanked the many involved in the project, Johnson — businesswoman, philanthropist and second richest black women in the U.S. — spoke of feeling “so many emotions.” “Look at what we have accomplished.” When she moved to Middleburg years ago, “Middleburg was my refuge,” she said. “I found friendships. I felt at home.” With the vision of her resort fulfilled, she said, “There is love in every single detail.”

And so, with the ribbon-cutting, Salamander was open — and guests eagerly entered “Sheila’s house” to have some champagne and a very fine lunch under the supervision of chef Todd Gray. They could see and taste the love in every detail. [gallery ids="101437,153974,153956,153951,153948,153944,153976,153961,153966,153970" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

The three days of services and tributes to former Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr., ended Saturday, Nov. 6, at Congressional Cemetery, where many other significant local and national figures have been laid to rest. During this time for Barry, it was written: “A Life Ends. The Legacy Begins.”

Barry was mayor from 1979 to 1991 and 1995 to 1999. He died Nov. 23 at 78.

On Thursday, his casket was officially received by the District government at the Wilson Building on Pennsylvania Avenue and was in repose for more than a day. On Friday, a procession took the casket to the Temple of Praise Church on Southern Avenue.

At the Washington Convention Center on a rainy Saturday, speakers moved along the stage with Barry’s casket front and center in the upstair exhibit hall for a nearly day-long tribute to the former mayor and councilmember. Each noted on how Barry’s life touched them and how it changed the life of the nation’s capital and its residents. Here he was with his friends and people.

After the invocation, the former mayor’s son Christopher Barry addressed his father’s past and present. Another speaker wondered if the young Barry should go for the now vacant Ward 8 seat.

Later on, Barry’s wife Cora Masters Barry spoke of her husband, from whom she was separated, as someone who talked to everyone and gave away money.

Watching the clock because of the need for burial before sunset, master of ceremonies Rev. Willie Wilson kept the speakers moving on. Those included Mayor Vincent Gray with former mayors Sharon Pratt and Anthony Williams standing behind him, along with Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark, N.J. Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser cited Barry’s summer jobs program, which so many Washingtonians have said gave them their first job.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, gave a heart-felt eulogy, recalling his time with Barry as “blood brothers” in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam gave the fiery speech of the day at the convention center. He equated Barry’s sins of marital infidelity and drug use to those of President John F. Kennedy. Farrakhan also called for activists to be “lions” instead of “pussycats,” knowing that sometimes the elders do not make it to the promised land but that their children do.
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Robert Devaney •

The wait is over, CAPaddicts. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop will open Monday, Dec. 15. The first 50 persons in line will earn free subs for a year, and the second 50 persons will get a free nine-inch sub on opening day, the company posted on its Capriotti’s Georgetown Facebook page. Of course, there is also an app.

The Delaware-based sandwich shop will make its debut at 34th and M Streets, NW, in the vacant building that housed Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory and before that the famed Cellar Door music joint. On the west side of town, the shop is a few blocks from Georgetown University and its student population.

Capriotti’s is already downtown at 18th and M Streets, NW, and in Roslyn, Va., on Wilson Boulevard.

Established in 1976 in Wilmington, Del., Capriotti’s is named for the grandfather of founders Lois Margolet and her brother Alan and distinguished itself from other sandwich shops with its turkey sandwiches. It is often touted as a favorite spot of Vice President Joe Biden, formerly a senator from Delaware.

The restaurant serves a large selection of salads, cold and hot subs and sandwiches and a variety of vegetarian options. Since its first shop opened 38 years ago, Capriotti’s has expanded to more than 100 locations in 15 states and the District of Columbia.

The Georgetown Capriotti’s is at 3347 M St., NW, and owned by franchisee George Vincent Jr. It opens daily at 11 a.m.; its phone number is 202-659-3354.

Robert Devaney •

Someone stole the hands of the clock, facing east, on Georgetown University’s Healy Tower last week, prompting an online posting of a picture of the hands-free clock with the accompanying words, “Timeless Tradition.” Of late, this dangerous prank occurs almost every year after a break that began in the 1990s.

Yet, within two days, the hands were back on the clock after university workers put replacement hands on it. This time, it seems the university was ready.

“We secured a set of hands in 2012,” the university’s spokesperson Rachel Pugh told the student newspaper, the Hoya. “The condition of the clock facing Healy Lawn permitted us to install new hands today while the scheduled repair was underway.” Pugh declined to reveal the cost of the clock fix. The Hoya added: “In addition to replacing the hands of the clock facing Healy Lawn, the university had the hands of the side of the clock facing Dahlgren Quad removed today as part of scheduled maintenance.”

The investigation into the theft continues by the campus police.

No word on whether or not the thieves plan to mail the lifted hands to the Vatican, as others threatened in the past. In 1989, the year of the university’s bicentennial, student mischief led to the hands being delivered to the White House. The Secret Service returned them.

Robert Devaney •

Yes, the whispers about its closing have been confirmed: the popular Glover Park Hardware Store, at 2251 Wisconsin Ave. NW for almost 10 years, will close its door Jan. 15.

“We had a deal and the landlord decided at the last minute to lease to someone else,” owner Gina Schaefer told the Current Newspapers in an email. “It felt like the worst part of business.” . . . “We like to think of ourselves as members of the community and a desirable tenant. We are easy to negotiate with. None of that worked in our favor this time.”

Schaefer said that lease renewal talks with property owner Chesapeake Realty Partners stopped about a month ago and that she would like to reopen Glover Park Hardware in the neighborhood. There will be a clearance sale in January before the hardware store closes.

Other small hardware stores nearby include Bredice Brothers Hardware and Shoe Repair at 1305 35th St. NW, District Hardware and Bike Shop at 1108 24th St. NW and Schaefer’s other Ace Hardware store in Tenleytown.