Robert Devaney • February 3, 2014

As The Georgetowner newspaper closes in on its 60th Anniversary, it seems fitting that your town crier will be relocating to new digs, of course, in Georgetown. Unlike other newspapers that call Georgetown theirs, this is the only newspaper that makes its home in Georgetown — and has for six decades, albeit now at 14 different locations in the community.

The Georgetowner’s new address is 2801 M St., NW. Its longtime main telephone number remains the same: 202-338-4833. Besides staffer emails, please use Editorial@Georgetowner.com for story ideas, pitches and news tips. For business inquiries and prime advertising placement, please use Advertising@Georgetowner.com.

Come on by, say hello and see our new office. As one staffer observed, “It’s our 14th location, and it’s 2014.”

Robert Devaney • January 30, 2014

With “céad míle fáilte,” an extended Irish family celebrated the grand opening of Ri Ra, the
newly opened Irish pub and restaurant on M Street, with staff members, happy locals, ample drinks
and tastes of lamb, fried macaroni and cheese and other goodies. Amid the food and original wall
posters and art, the band American Diddly Idols entertained the party-goers. [gallery ids="101613,146773,146780,146777,146767" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • January 29, 2014

The year’s first monthly meeting for the
Citizens Association of Georgetown at Evermay
Jan. 15 drew one of its biggest crowds, as the
S&R Foundation’s Kate Goodall spoke to the
crowd about the foundation’s goals as social
incubator and its Illuminate seminars at Halcyon
House. Its Overtures Series of musical performances
begins March 11. Artist-in-residence
Ryo Yanagitani serenaded the audience with
Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” written in
1801, the same year that Evermay was built.

Robert Devaney •

Nancy Taylor Bubes, Georgetowner and
real agent rockstar at Washington Fine
Properties, organized a festive thankyou
with Marc and Nancy Duber at
their newly redone N Street home for
the officers of the Metropolitan Police
Department Jan. 16. A great mix of
neighbors and police officers enjoyed
the party so much they round up singing
“Amazing Grace” at the end of the
evening. [gallery ids="101618,146744,146741" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • January 23, 2014

The Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Georgetown Business Association are sponsoring a mayoral debate — 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, at Dumbarton House.

This exchange of views on issues about the District of Columbia is open to all on a first-come, first-serve basis per seating arrangements; doors open 6 p.m. The debate is expected to run two hours.

The debate is for candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor. Confirmed Monday by GBA to attend are Mayor Vincent Gray and Council members Jack Evans, Vincent Orange, Muriel Bowser and Tommy Wells as well as State Department official Reta Jo Lewis and restaurateur Andy Shallal. Other candidates, seeking to win the Democratic primary, include: musician Carlos Allen and contractor Christian Carter. Current Newspapers publisher Davis Kennedy will moderate the program.

In Washington, D.C., general elections are usually won by Democratic candidates. According to the D.C. Democratic State Committee, 75 percent of registered voters in Washington, D.C., are Democrats, with 17 percent independent and 7 percent Republican.

For more information, call Dumbarton House — 2715 Q St., NW — at 202-337-2288.

Robert Devaney •

If you are a local visual artist, you have until the end of Monday, Jan. 13, to email or phone the Citizens Association of Georgetown to be a displayed artist in its February arts show, “Visions of Georgetown,” at the House of Sweden.
The popular show — now in its fifth year and chaired by Laura-Anne Tiscornia– is open to those who live or work in Georgetown.

“We have larger space this year in the Nobel Room at the House of Sweden,” said curator Jennie Buehler. “It also has dramatic lighting for us to showcase the art” — from some regulars to new talent. Also, expect larger pieces, she said.

Below are the requirements, as specified by CAG:

? The show is open to artists, who either are current residents of Georgetown or who have studios in Georgetown.

? The show will take place from Thursday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 9, and will feature a reception on Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. and midday special events and “art talks” featured on the Saturday and Sunday.

? Work may be for sale or for display only, as the artist wishes. CAG will process sales and pay artists at the end of the sale. CAG will receive 20 percent commission on all art sales.

? Artists pay a $50 entry fee to CAG to defray the cost of the show. In addition, each participating artist must complete a three-hour volunteer shift during the show.

? The show is open to artists working in the following media: painting, photography, sculpture, prints, two-dimensional and three-dimensional mixed media. We cannot accept jewelry or anything requiring electricity. Pieces accepted into the show should be of a suitable nature to be viewed by families with children.

? There is no jury. Entry is first-come, first-served. Please get your application and payment in promptly to secure your space in the show.

Artists may submit up to three pieces for inclusion in the show. The final number displayed will depend on space available.

(Maximum size per piece is 48 inches in the largest dimension, including frame.) All two-dimensional work must be properly framed and wired for hanging, or it will not be accepted. The Georgetown ARTS 2014 Hanging Committee will select pieces to be displayed based on space and composition.

? To enter, submit three jpegs — and titles, size, year and price — of your artwork to CAGtownART@gmail.com. Additionally, send a printed copy of your application and check for $50 (made out to CAG/Art Show) to Citizens Association of Georgetown, 1365 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 by Jan. 13 — or call 202-337-7313. See details at CAGtown.org.

Robert Devaney •

Expected to attend — and advertised as such — incumbent Mayor Vincent Gray will not be at tonight’s mayoral debate, sponsored by the Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Georgetown Business Association at Dumbarton House. No explanation of Gray’s absence was given.

The mayor will hold a campaign kick-off rally on Saturday. Yesterday, he was interviewed by WUSA9’s Bruce Johnson and said he was sorry for his 2010 campaign’s illegalities.

“Frankly, the things that happened in my campaign, you know, they were painful, they were embarrassing to me,” Gray told Johnson. “There were things that I wish hadn’t happened, and I’m very sorry that those things happened. . . . I didn’t do anything. At the same time I want to apologize to people about the campaign.” . . . “I can’t apologize for what other people did, but it was the Vincent Gray campaign. I understand that.”

Nevertheless, the debate remains set — 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9. This exchange of views on issues about the District of Columbia is open to all on a first-come, first-serve basis per seating arrangements; doors open 6 p.m.

The debate is for candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor. While Mayor Vincent Gray has dropped out of tonight’s debate, four Council members Jack Evans, Vincent Orange, Muriel Bowser and Tommy Wells, who are seeking to win the Democratic primary, plan to be there — as well as State Department official Reta Jo Lewis and restaurateur Andy Shallal. Other candidates include: musician Carlos Allen and contractor Christian Carter. Current Newspapers publisher Davis Kennedy will moderate the program.

For more information, call Dumbarton House — 2715 Q St., NW — at 202-337-2288.

Robert Devaney •

While objected to by some neighbors, the convenience store 7-Eleven at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street erected its low-key signage and moved closer to completion. It is expected to open in March.

It will be Georgetown’s second 7-Eleven and will be located in the historically significant building, which housed clothing or antique stores in recent years.

The 1344 Wisconsin Ave., NW, location is best known as the place owned by Harry “Doc” Dalinsky who ran the Georgetown Pharmacy. After more than century in operation, the pharmacy closed in 1988. Dalinsky died in 1992.

The Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission sought to keep store designs low-key and appropriate to the neighborhood, and the Old Georgetown Board agreed. Nearby architect Robert Bell — who purchased the Georgetown Theater property across the street — found the original designs for the store “degrading to the historic character of the building.”

The other Georgetown shop is at 2617 P St., NW.

Robert Devaney • January 21, 2014

The tragic story about a double stabbing on Sunday morning in a Q Street home has gotten worse.

Fifty-six-year-old Bradford Nelson Elliott suffered a heart attack and died at a hospital Jan. 20, according to the Metropolitan Police Department, before being formally charged with homicide.

Bradford Elliott was the only suspect in the stabbing death of his 88-year-old father, Le Roi Elliott, Jan. 19. The 81-year-old mother, Vaughn Elliott, was also injured during the same attack, which took place at the Elliotts’ home in the 3300 block of Q Street, NW, across from Volta Park. They had lived there since the mid-1980s.

Bradford Elliott was reportedly mentally ill and lived in the Q Street home with his parents. It was Vaughan Elliott, who called 9-1-1 around 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning and remains in stable condition. Bradford Elliott answered the door with blood-soaked hands when police arrived and was arrested, MPD told the Washington Post. He was being treated at a hospital, while in custody, and a Jan. 22 court appearance had been scheduled.

Robert Devaney • January 17, 2014

The OSS Society honored Adm. William H. McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations, the mastermind behind the raid to get Osama bin Laden, at its annual William J. Donovan Award Dinner Oct. 26 at the Ritz-Carlton in the West End.

The OSS gala is a unique Washington event, where old spies and young silent warriors gather to tell stories and recognize today’s achievers — and where national intelligence and covert actions are seen as high service to the nation.

The OSS Society is dedicated to those who served during World War II in the Office of Strategic Services, predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Special Operations, and honors the memory of legendary Gen. “Wild Bill” Donovan, OSS founder.

Where else do you have nine toasts at the beginning of dinner? To the commander-in-chief, our allies — and the last, being “to the ladies.” How about applause for Ernest Hemingway who drove into Paris with OSS forces in 1944 and his love of martinis? Or for Marlene Dietrich, whose recordings were broadcast by the OSS during World War II? Even closer to home, why not have a menu inspired by Julia Child who worked for the OSS and lived briefly in Georgetown?

Retired Maj. Gen. Victor J. Hugo, Jr., master of ceremonies for the dinner, told attendees at one point to sit down or they’d be shot — the program was long but full of gratitude and history. Among the awards, the 99-year-old Fisher Howe toasted Julia Child and her “genuineness.”

Marlene Dietrich was honored for our work during World War II, recording melancholic songs to demoralize German troops. It was fine for her international fame, she said, to be used “as a weapon against evil.” Her only child Maria Riva was on hand to salute her as did the entire ballroom and a swing band. In a heartfelt speech, Riva recalled preparing to leave France before the growing Nazi threat: “America’s freedom is never more apparent than when you flee and need her to house you.”

CIA Director John Brennan said that he was “humbled” to give the keynote speech. He noted that he and McRaven were both longhorns from the University of Texas. It is a time of “greater need for intelligence,” Brennan said, as he looked out at “the excellence and professionalism in this room.” Intelligence and special operations are back together “like the OSS.”

Brennan spoke of McRaven, whose dissertation was on special ops and who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism, leaving pre-med and accounting behind — and then chose the “comfort and ease” of being a Navy SEAL. McRaven, Brennan said, called the Osama mission “sporty.” It was the integrity of McRaven — “We can get the job done.” — that convinced President Obama to proceed with the raid, he said. McRaven is a decent as he seems, Brennan said, “not just a hero but a good guy.”

After video tributes by Leon Panetta, Robert Gates and Obama, the presentation of the Donovan Award by retired Major Gen. John Singlaub, McRaven launched into a well-prepared speech. “The OSS is back,” he said. Not since World War II have intelligence and special operations meshed so well, he said, especially since the attacks of September 11 and the aftermath. He gave a long list of the different talents required for special ops, the different devices and different languages involved. Harking back to previous threats, such as fascism and communism, McRaven said, “Today, we are fighting extremism of another type, a medieval mindset that doesn’t recognize any civility. It is international, and it is a threat to our global humanity.”
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