Robert Devaney • August 28, 2014

The 200th anniversary of the capture and burning of Washington by British forces during the War of 1812, “America’s Second War of Independence,” was marked at several spots in D.C. on Sunday, Aug. 24.

Perhaps, one of the more poignant activities of the day was the flag lesson by the National Park Service at the White House Ellipse. With the south lawn and White House in the background, visitors and ordinary citizens got to learn about the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner, as they held and unfolded and re-folded a full-sized replica of the 30-foot by 42-foot U.S. flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write what became our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Dressed as Key, park ranger Vincent Vaise of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine explained the meaning of the flag and the importance of the War of 1812 in America’s growth to greatness.

Some persons walking by the huge flag stopped to hear the talk by Vaise and wound up helping to hold the flag. It was an unexpected history and civics lesson for several. The White House was burned by British troops 200 years ago to the day on Aug. 24.

Meanwhile, in Georgetown, it was Dolley Day at Dumbarton House, to where first lady Dolley Madison fled from the White House on Aug. 24, 1814. Children and parents enjoyed old-time games, crafts as well as Dolley cake and ice cream, which Mrs. Madison popularized.

Robert Devaney • August 25, 2014

Sunday marks the 200th anniversary of the Capture and Burning of Washington by British forces during the War of 1812, “America’s Second War of Independence.”

On Aug. 24, 1814, Gen. Robert Ross and his troops set fire to the U.S. Capitol, Treasury, White House and other public buildings. No private property was put to the torch. Nevertheless, many Washington residents fled to Georgetown, D.C., and then to the wilds of Virginia and Maryland. Days later, President James Madison and first lady Dolley Madison returned to Washington, D.C., only to see a burned-out Executive Mansion. The capital resolved to rebuild, and America began its drive to greatness as a nation.

To commemorate the bicentennial of this long-ago British invasion, events abound in D.C. and Maryland. They include a “Flee the British” 5K at Congressional Cemetery, Dolley Day at Dumbarton House in Georgetown, an unfurling of an original-size Star-Spangled Banner replica on the Ellipse, a 1812-style Sunday service at Christ Church on Capitol Hill and a dinner at Martin’s Tavern from the White House menu of Aug. 24, 1814 , “The Meal That Was Never Served.”

Aug. 23 to 24 — War of 1812 Family Festival & Dolley Day

Walking tours, ice cream making, Dolley cake, Federal period games, and crafts from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St., NW. Tickets are $10. For details, call 202-337-2288.

Aug. 23 to 24 — The Battle of Bladensburg Commemoration and Monument Unveiling

A day-long festival of events including a reenactment, musical performances, children’s village, Food Truck Rally, and fireworks at Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, Md., following the unveiling of the new Battle of Bladensburg Monument. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free. For details, call 301-887-0777.

Aug. 24 — Flee the British 5K at Congressional Cemetery

Commemorate the 200th anniversary of the British invasion of D.C. with a 5K run at 8 a.m. at the Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St., SE, among graves of many of the key players in the War of 1812 — www.CongressionalCemetery.org/flee-British-5k — 202-543-0539.

Aug. 23 — Meet Dolley Madison at the Ellipse

At President’s Park, the White House Ellipse, Washington, D.C.– 10 a.m. and noon. The United States Park Service will feature a park ranger dressed as Dolley Madison, with a 30-minute presentation about the first lady’s role in the War of 1812.

Aug. 24 — Full-Sized Star-Spangled Banner at the Ellipse

At President’s Park, White House Ellipse, visitors will get to hold — 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. — a full-sized replica of the 30-foot by 42-foot U.S. flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Chief of Interpretation Vincent Vaise will highlight the British capture of Washington, D.C., the burning of the White House and the successful Defense of Baltimore. Visitors will understand how the events of August and September 1814 shaped how many Americans currently see the flag as the symbol of the spirit of the American people and how that spirit of resilience led to the rebuilding of the Capitol and White House after the War of 1812.

Aug. 24 — The Key Story

At President’s Park, White House Ellipse, 1:30 p.m., meet Francis Scott Key, author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” as he is portrayed by a park ranger. Learn about Key’s life as a father and lawyer in Georgetown, Key’s role in defending Washington, the series of events that led to his writing the song that later becomes the national anthem and his active role in Washington politics after the War of 1812. A lively question and answer session will follow the formal presentation.

Museum Open Houses

Aug. 24 — Family Day at National Museum of the U.S. Navy

It is Family Day at the Washington Navy Yard on August 24, noon to 4 p.m. — and to commemorate two of the most important events of the War of 1812: the Battle of Bladensburg and the burning of the Washington Navy Yard, the National Museum of the United States Navy will open the new exhibit “Defeat to Victory: 1814-1815” — 202-433-6897 or 202-433-6826 — www.history.navy.mil/NMUSN.

Aug. 24 — Decatur House Open House

The White House Historical Association invites all to a War of 1812 Open House at Decatur House, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the burning of Washington — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Aug. 24 — Octagon House Open House

Visit the home where the Madisons lived, following the burning of the White House on Aug. 24, 1814. The museum, now a part of the American Institute of Architects, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. to the public.

Aug. 24 — Commemorative Services at Christ Church on Capitol Hill

Join worshippers at historic Christ Church on Capitol Hill to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Burning of Washington, D.C. on Aug. 24, 1814. At both its 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services on Aug. 24, Christ Church will be worshiping in the 1806 building in which its congregation would have worshiped in 1814, using the same Episcopal service that would have been used the Sunday after the Burning of Washington. The rector of Christ Church on that historic day, the Rev. Mr. McCormick, was involved in dealing with the British after they marched into the city and started the burning.

Historic Walking Tours

Aug. 24 — Washington Is Burning! 2-Part Walking Tour

The Aug. 24, 1814 conflagration ignited by British troops invading Washington, D.C. is the subject of a two-part walking tour offered by Washington Walks, a D.C.-based walking tour company. Guides will lead participants along the route British soldiers took as they marched through America’s capital city, setting ablaze key government buildings and military targets. Many of the sites are included on the “Star-Spangled Banner Trail,” a 560-mile land and water route that tells the story of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay region. Part one of the walking tour takes place in the morning, visiting the Sewall-Belmont House, U.S. Capitol, former sites of the U.S. Patent Office and Washington Daily National Intelligencer newspaper, amongst others. Following a break for lunch, the second half of the walk takes in War of 1812 history in the vicinity of the White House; the former site of Rhodes Tavern, U.S. Treasury building, Dolley Madison house, and the White House itself are a few of the featured stops. The tour concludes at the Octagon, one of the oldest houses in Washington, D.C., and site of the treaty signing that ratified the end of the war. Here tour participants will encounter first lady Dolley Madison, who became the Octagon’s most famous resident when it served as temporary home for President James Madison and his wife, following the destruction of the White House. Washington Walks has partnered with the History Warehouse, an organization that provides living history performers for commemorative events. History Warehouse founder and professional actor Leigh Jameson specializes in portraying Dolley Madison — www.washingtonwalks.com/tours/washington-is-burning-august-1814.

Aug. 24 — Georgetown During the War of 1812

Meet 10 a.m. at Dumbarton House’s East Garden at the corner of Q and 27th Streets, NW, for a two-hour walking tour of historic Georgetown devoted to the events of the War of 1812. Join Dwane Starlin, a member of the Guild of Professional Guides of Washington, D.C., for a tour de force of Georgetown during the “Second Revolutionary War,” Visit and view that areas of Georgetown that were part of the conflict, which finally established the United States as a country and not a just a former British colony. The tour ends at the Francis Scott Key Park.

Aug. 20 to 25 — Pride of Baltimore II Tall Ship at the Navy Yard

Tour and demonstrations of the Pride of Baltimore — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. — at the Washington Navy Yard in Southeast.

Aug. 24 — Wreath-Laying at Navy Memorial

To remember those who fought at the Battle of Bladensburg 200 years ago, there will be a wreath laying ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Navy Memorial Plaza, 701 Pennsylvannia Ave., NW. In attendance will be representatives from the U.S. Navy, United States Marine Corps, Great Britain, and Canada.

Aug. 23 and 24 — National Park Service Freedom Plaza Programs

Walking tours and re-enactments, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th Street, NW.

Aug. 24 — White House Dinner at Billy Martin’s Tavern

Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown (1264 Wisconsin Ave., NW) will be serving “The Dinner That Was Never Served” (at the White House on Aug. 24, 1814, when British troops burned the Capitol and White House) 200 years later, on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014. The menu consists of what the 40 guests might have been served, as President James Madison’s cabinet and military officers intended to toast what they assumed would be a victory at the Battle of Bladensburg on Aug. 24, 1814.

Robert Devaney •

For those who love rum and love those who love rum, National Rum Day brought a nice mix of people and mixed drinks. First up was media day Aug. 11, catered by the Mason Dixie Biscuit Company, at Project 4 Gallery on U Street. The 4th Annual Rum Day D.C. hosted a three-day celebration for rum lovers with a Rooftop Rum & Smoke Soiree Aug. 14 atop the Graham Hotel, with the multi-destination Rum Runner Party Bus on Aug. 15 and concluded Aug. 16 with the Rum-B-Que at Jack Rose.

Robert Devaney • August 11, 2014

Renowned restaurateur Richard J. McCooey — founder of the 1789 Restaurant, the Tombs and F. Scott’s — died Aug. 6 at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. He was 83 years old and suffered from cancer.

McCooey and his wife Karen lived in Washington, D.C.

McCooey graduated from Georgetown University in 1952 and had the idea of a formal restaurant and student rathskeller for the school, while he was a college student. In 1962, that dream was realized when 1789 and the Tombs opened. “I always wanted to open a restaurant near Georgetown University since my freshman year there,” McCooey told the Georgetowner a few years ago.

At the corner of 36th and Prospect Streets, the iconic Georgetown restaurants are also next to F. Scott’s, which McCooey opened in 1976, after operating the 89 Market briefly in that space. F. Scott’s remains open for private parties only. McCooey sold his restaurants to Clyde’s Restaurant Group in 1985.

McCooey collected art since college and worked with Clyde’s John Laytham in art and collectibles for many of Clyde’s restaurants. Opening Persona Studios after selling 1789, Inc., McCooey and his wife Karen helped to design restaurants — including several Clyde’s around the area as well as Union Street Cafe in Alexandria, Va., the Polo Club at the Marriott Grand Aurora Hotel in Moscow, Russia, and others.

Born Oct. 14, 1930, in New York City, McCooey was the third of four brothers, the fourth being his twin. After his father died and his mother later remarried, the family moved from Brooklyn to Bronxville, N.Y. McCooey attended Brooklyn Prep and then Iona Prep. After Georgetown University, he was a lieutenant in the Air Force. After his service, McCooey worked in the advertising world. It was then that he decided to sink almost all his money into creating and maintaining 1789 and the Tombs, when he received support from the university which owns the land. In 1990, he married Karen Magnier McCooey at Holy Trinity Church, which stands one block from 1789 on 36th Street.

By the way, if anyone asks, why the name “1789”? That was the year the federal government was established, Georgetown University founded and Georgetown, Md., incorporated. And “The Tombs”? Inspired by T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.” In it, “Bustopher Jones, The Cat About Town” likes to lunch at the tomb. (It is a reference to McCooey’s nickname in the Air Force: “Bustopher Cat.”) As for the now private club, F. Scott’s, it is named after author F. Scott Fitzgerald, a distant cousin of Francis Scott Key, a Georgetowner who authored the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Before McCooey made his archetypes of a student pub and faculty club a reality, he had to convince Georgetown residents that his plan made sense for the community as well. At first, there was opposition to his proposals. When the Georgetowner’s founder and publisher Ami Stewart stood up at a citizen’s meeting to back McCooey, the tide turned. Two restaurants that epitomize Georgetown were born — one portrayed in film and the other visited by President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in June 2011. McCooey never forgot Stewart’s support and towards the end of her life would regularly send waiters to her home with meals from his restaurant.

A funeral mass for Richard McCooey will be held in September at Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown.

Robert Devaney • August 7, 2014

With Georgetown toddlers and youngsters at the ready, the Citizens Association of Georgetown celebrated this year’s finale to Concerts in the Park July 13 with a patriotic celebration and parade at Rose Park at 26th and O Streets, NW.

Singer Laura Tsaggaris and her band belted out some lively country-pop tunes, as the little ones — along with the grown-ups — sampled free ce cream cones from Haagen Daz, snow cones or hot dogs from TTR Sotheby’s, which also handed out its blue balloons. Long & Foster had a photographer for special shoots and a prize give-away. Nancy Taylor Bubes of Washington Fine Properties gave out frisbees for coloring and other crafting. Sprinkles cupcakes handed out red velvet or vanilla cupcakes. Also, parked next to the park was Glover Park’s Surfside food truck.

Children kept the July 4th theme going with red, white and blue streamers, glasses, pinwheels and tried to march in front of the stage in a straight line.
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Robert Devaney •

The British were coming. Again. On the night of Aug. 24, 1814 — 200 years ago — the Battle of Bladensburg was a rout by British invaders against American soldiers and local militia. First lady Dolley Madison had overseen a victory dinner preparation at the President’s Mansion on Pennsylvania Avenue, expecting about 40 guests, and all was ready for the table. No one arrived but the British.

News came to the popular and politically savvy first lady of the catastrophe for the Americans: their capital city was in direct peril from Gen. Robert Ross and his troops. A carriage arrived at the White House from the owner of Bellevue in Georgetown — later known as Dumbarton House. Charles Carroll was the cousin of signer of the Declaration of Independence Charles Carroll of Carrollton and a close friend of President James Madison and James Monroe. He was also a cousin of Archbishop John Carroll, founder of Georgetown College, the only higher school of learning in the capital in 1814. He convinced Dolley to leave.

You see, as in our time to a lesser extent, everyone knows everyone in Washington — and many were related by family and marriage. With protestors nearby cursing “Mr. Madison’s War,” the carriage pulled away from the White House toward the west and up to the hillside home in Georgetown. Dolley had saved items from the James Hoban-designed building — including the famous portrait of President George Washington.

The White House would soon be set alight by disciplined troops — veterans of the Napoleonic Wars and a few of whom disagreed with what they would do. Still amazing to consider: British soldiers walked through the empty White House, enjoyed the wine and prepared food before setting the fire. They gathered furniture in center spots, broke the windows and threw oil-soaked, rag-wrapped poles through them — and let it roar. Take nothing but leave it a smoldering heap.

Scorch marks remain on the restored building, now so magnificent and such a symbol of power. During a 2012 visit, President Barack Obama said to British Prime Minister David Cameron of foreign troops at the White House in 1814: “They made quite an impression . . . They really lit up the place.” In the fear and confusion of that night 200 years ago, nothing so jocular assured America’s future greatness. Dolley with other families arrived at Dumbarton House, which had been owned by Register of the Treasury Joseph Nourse, whose son married the daughter of Anthony Morris, a lifelong friend of Dolley.

Living in Philadelphia and widowed, Dolley had been intro- duced to the bachelor James Madison by Morris and Aaron Burr. Later, Dolley would attempt to match her son Payne Todd with the delightful Phoebe Morris — who also knew the family at Tudor Place — to no avail. That hot and stormy August night, Dolley did not know where her husband, the President of the uncertain United States, was.

Carroll and other Georgetowners met with British troops to beseech them not to advance past Rock Creek. The troops’ instructions were always only to damage the small amount of gov- ernment buildings the young republic had — because Americans had vandalized the capital of Canada. Georgetown was safe, as it looked at the flames in Washington City. Looking too were Major George Peter of Tudor Place, head of the Georgetown Artillery, and another under his command, Francis Scott Key, whose family house was on Bridge (M) Street. Already the Key children had been taken to Frederick, Md., and wife Polly stayed behind for her beloved Frank, who would still have another mission to perform in this war. All Washingtonians — and soon enough of all America — were ashamed. Shaken but resolute, Dolley, the Carrolls and oth- ers pushed on to Virginia. She stayed two nights around McLean at Rokeby Farm and Salona near what would become — yes, that’s right — Dolley Madison Boulevard. She saw her husband at Wiley’s Tavern near Great Falls and also stopped at Minor Hill in Arlington. Finally, she and the president were back in Washington after four days and later made the Octagon House at 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW, their temporary home.

It was there that Carroll’s eldest son, Henry Carroll, who served as Henry Clay’s private secretary during peace treaty discussions at Ghent, Belgium, arrived to tell the Madisons and their guests that the War of 1812 was over. Applause erupted, and a nightlong celebration began for all. And quite a few had already met one night or another — as many of us do today — at one of Georgetown’s crown jewels, Dumbarton House. The country and city rose out of the ashes to become itself.

Robert Devaney • August 6, 2014

Another agreement between a big school and its neighbors was signed Aug. 1 on the lawn of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts with Mayor Vincent Gray in attendance.

“A creative, collegial agreement has been reached between the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the neighboring community toward harmonizing the needs and uses of a renovated school with the legitimate interests of the surrounding residential neighborhood,” reported the Mayor’s office.

The agreement, which creates a new Ellington Community Partnership, addresses uses of a proposed rooftop space at the renovated Ellington High School and other issues of mutual concern for the community and the school.

Parties to the agreement are the school, through its board of directors; the D.C. government, through the D.C. Department of General Services; the Burleith Citizens Association; the Citizens Association of Georgetown; the two homeowners associations at the Cloisters townhouses on Reservoir Road near the school; and Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E.

The agreement covers use of a designated rooftop space to be constructed as part of Ellington’s renovation for some teaching and possibly other activities, under agreed-upon conditions including sound limitations (no audible sound beyond the Ellington property line) and the maximum number of participants (45 students plus teachers for rooftop teaching).

By creating the Ellington Community Partnership, the agreement provides a forum to address rooftop and other possible issues, such as parking during performances. The ECP members will be from Duke Ellington and the neighboring community. The co-chairs will be the head of school and a community member selected by ANC 2E. The agreement is available on the dgs.dc.gov website.

Robert Devaney • August 4, 2014

The newest Capital Bikeshare station is now open at 34th and K (Water) Streets, NW. Located across from Malmaison Restaurant and near the entrance to the Capital Crescent trail, the new station offers another means of transportation for residents, commuters and visitors in Georgetown.

“With the addition of this station, District Department of Transportation adds another station to the Western side of the District that greatly improves connections between D.C. and Maryland’s Capital Bikeshare networks, as well as providing crucial capacity expansion for the system in Georgetown,” said Will Handsfield, transportation director at the Georgetown Business Improvement District. “With this expansion, residents and employees of the growing Canal District can have confidence that they’ll be able to find a bike or open dock when they need it.”

As a part of the Georgetown 2028 initiative, the Georgetown BID is working with DDOT to alleviate increased automobile traffic by making Georgetown a more bicycle-friendly neighborhood.

With the opening of the new Bikeshare station, Georgetown now has six access stations at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street, NW; 37th and O Streets, NW; Wisconsin Avenue and South Street, NW; 34th and K (Water) Streets, NW; 30th and K Streets, NW; 28th and M Streets, NW. There is also a Bikeshare station, just north of town, at Wisconsin Avenue and Whitehaven Street, NW, in front of the British School and near the Georgetown Safeway.

Robert Devaney •

The first phase of Metrorail’s Silver Line opened to riders July 26 after an opening ceremony with politicians from Virginia and Washington, D.C. The new Metro links for Tysons Corner and Reston represent the first major addition to the Metrorail system in more than 20 years.

The nearly $3-billion project connects new stations — McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill and Wiehle-Reston East to the Orange Line and to downtown D.C. and Maryland.

The nearly 12-mile length of the first phase of Metrorail’s Silver Line — which will connect D.C. to Washington Dulles International Airport by 2018 — is the first new line since 1991 when the Green Line opened. Metrorail first opened in 1976.

The Silver Line’s inaugural day drew nearly 10,000 riders, according to Metro. The line will likely transport 25,000 riders a day. As an example, Metro indicates that a typical ride from the Wiehle-Reston East Station to Federal Triangle will be 42 minutes and cost $5.90 (peak) and $3.60 (off-peak).