3 Murders at Evermay Estate?
• February 27, 2014

Night Nouveau was presented by the S&R Foundation at historic Evermay Estate Nov. 2. Guests
could solve a three-murder mystery or just enjoy the house and gardens and sample whiskey and
specialty cocktails and along with great food. The evening ended with a silent disco in the ballroom
to music provided by Heist deejay, Chuck Koch. The mystery was planned by Joshua Morgan of No
Rules Theater. [gallery ids="101529,150194,150189,150198,150213,150211,150203,150206" nav="thumbs"]

Bank of Georgetown Branch Named for Co-founder Curtin Winsor
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Bank of Georgetown announced last week the relocation of its corporate headquarters and the opening of an adjoining branch at 1115 30th St., NW, just south of M Street. The bank’s 11th location in the Washington metropolitan area will be named “The Winsor Branch” in honor of its co-founder and late chairman, Curtin Winsor III, who died in December 2012.

“Curt poured his heart and soul into the creation and success of Bank of Georgetown,” said Mike Fitzgerald, chairman, president, and CEO of Bank of Georgetown. “We miss him greatly but know he would be proud of the path on which we are progressing. We hope to honor his legacy with our newest branch and through our unwavering commitment to the bank’s mission of providing highly personalized relationship banking service to local businesses and residents.”

After 10 years and multiple expansions at its original location on 31st Street, nearly 50 employees moved into the 17,400 square-foot facility, which features multiple conference rooms, a boardroom and more space for day-to-day lending and deposit operations. Bank executives felt strongly that leaving their original headquarters did not require moving out of Georgetown.

“It is important for us to invest in the resources necessary to support our consistent growth in assets and customers. This move reflects our commitment to building a premier Washington D.C.-based community bank,” Fitzgerald said. “We are excited about our new home and look forward to serving a larger portion of the Georgetown community, while continuing to listen and cater to the needs of businesses throughout the District, Maryland and Virginia.”

The full-service adjoining branch is the bank’s second in the neighborhood. Its first facility opened in 2005 at the corner of Wisconsin and K Street.

D.C. Digs Out of Biggest Snow Storm in Years
• February 18, 2014

The Washington, D.C., area was hit with a winter storm that dropped heavy amounts of snow in the early hours of Feb. 13 and shut down the region.

Between six and 11 inches fell throughout the District; parts of Maryland and Virginia got as much as 18 inches.

More snow was expected the evening of Feb. 13.

A “Snow Emergency” was declared by Mayor Vincent Gray, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 12. The last such emergency for D.C. was called in 2010.

The federal government, the District government and other local jurisdictions shut down for the day. Even Metrobus service was suspended, but it was expected to resume for some main routes around 2 p.m. today. Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport were closed Thursday morning — with flights cancelled across much of the East Coast.

For Georgetown, almost all businesses were closed. Those that opened on Thursday included several restaurants, such as Peacock Cafe, Cafe Milano, Martin’s Tavern, Clyde’s, El Centro and Cafe Bonaparte.

Also, open “as a community service,” said proprietor Sean Clark, was Dixie Liquors at Key Bridge and M Street. Among those manning the snow shift was Carlos Arredondo, who works at the U.S. Senate and whose office was closed. He walked from the Farragut North Metro to the store to help for the day. [gallery ids="101635,146052,146056,146061,146065,146069,146071" nav="thumbs"]

Pinstripes: Strikes Open
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Pinstripes, the Italian-American restaurant and bowling alley-bocce court at the Georgetown Park
shopping complex, opened Feb. 8. Next to the C&O Canal at Wisconsin Avenue, Pinstripes takes
up 34,000 square feet on a first and second floor. It has 14 bowling lanes, six bocce courts, a bistro
and wine cellar, outdoor patios and event space. It can accommodate up to 600 people. There is
even an outdoor fireplace with blankets available. [gallery ids="101627,146180,146176,146183" nav="thumbs"]

J. Paul’s Founder Paul Cohn Bids Farewell to His Restaurant Group
• February 17, 2014

Paul Cohn, who started J. Paul’s Dining Saloon at M Street in 1983, is departing Capital Restaurant Concepts, a company he co-founded with Bechara Nammour in 1984 that grew to include J. Paul’s, Paolo’s, Neyla, Old Glory and Georgia Brown’s as well as the since-closed River Club and Club Zei. The group also runs the Paul Bakeries in D.C.

Friends, fellow workers, politicians and food industry lobbyists held a surprise farewell party Dec. 30 on Cohn’s next-to-last day as senior executive officer of Capital Restaurant Concepts at — what else? — the back room of J. Paul’s.

Cohn, originally from Baltimore, started out as a manager for singers Peaches and Herb in the 1970s. With his restaurants in Georgetown and downtown D.C., he became influential in local politics as well as instrumental in establishing the Georgetown Business Improvement District and other business and non-profit initiatives.

There were some toasts and a little bit of ribbing from admirers. “Paul put the ‘Paul’ in J. Paul’s and the ‘Paul’ in Paolo’s,” said Leonard Hellebuyck, area director for Capital Restaurant Concepts. “And the ‘old’ in Old Glory.”

Longtime friend and former D.C. council member Charlene Drew Jarvis spoke of how Cohn is a friend for forever and how she would probably see him more in this new chapter of his life. One realizes, Jarvis said, “There’s a whole other life after what you’ve been doing.”

Advisory neighborhood commissioner Bill Starrels, who worked with Cohn on liquor license agreements and the community, joked that during their discussions Cohn could be “more nuanced than Bill Clinton.” Commissioner Ed Solomon cited Cohn as “critical to the BID” and “a voice of reason.”

As for Cohn, he is not quite retiring. He wants to devote his time to creating another new restaurant — and to working on Cohn’s Kitchen, a non-profit that teaches underprivileged students culinary skills.

“I know what I’m leaving behind,” Cohn said. “I want to do it again.”

Cohn has started a new company called — close enough? — Creative Restaurant Concepts, which will launch a new restaurant, Boss Shepherd’s, in the Warner Theater building at 13th Street, NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue in April 2014. Alexander Robey Shepherd was the governor of the District of Columbia in 1873 and is widely seen as the father of modern Washington, D.C.

Cohn will remain with his former company as an advisor and on the board of the Georgetown BID. [gallery ids="101584,147541,147523,147540,147536,147528,147532" nav="thumbs"]

Amina Rubinacci Boutique to Open March 1
• February 13, 2014

The Amina Rubinacci Boutique plans to open March 1, at 2822 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. The luxury designer label was founded in 1967.

“Over the past several years, I have developed a deep admiration for one refined brand in particular: Amina Rubinacci of Napoli. I could not be more thrilled to bring Amina’s sophisticated styling to the women of Washington. … We are proud to open with a stunning Spring/Summer 2014 Collection,” wrote owner Merribel Ayres.

Wisconsin Avenue Traffic: 2 Lanes Return to Glover Park; 35th at Wisconsin to Go Two-Way
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As expected and previously reported, it’s back to the way it was for the traffic lanes on Wisconsin Avenue between Calvert Street and 34th Street. The District Department of Transportation plans to complete the changes in late March.

The dedicated left-turn lanes will be erased. Two lanes in each direction will return to the avenue, as existed before the DDOT re-do two years ago.

The DDOT attempted to slow down traffic along the Glover Park corridor of Wisconsin Avenue, but the changes led to major traffic slowdowns in the area. The community complaints were heard, and the change back was approved. There will still be some traffic calming signs at Garfield Street.

Part of the changes that continue for Wisconsin Avenue is the plan for a traffic light at 35th Street and Wisconsin — as well as traffic going both ways on that one block of 35th. As it has been for years, 35th at Wisconsin is open in southbound traffic. One cannot drive north from 35th Street onto Wisconsin Avenue.

That configuration will change. It will be a two-phase job with the traffic light being set up first — which will allow time for construction. There will also be time for community comment. Crosswalks will be changed or moved. One of the two lights at Whitehaven and Wisconsin will be eliminated.

Calypso St. Barth Opens
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The Georgetown shop of Calypso St. Barth — a “women’s & home store” — opened Feb. 7 at 3307 M St., NW. Calypso St. Barth was founded in 1992 as a modest resort-wear luxury brand. Since then, the boutique has grown into a luxury lifestyle brand. The high-end clothing store features pieces with rich textures, exotic colors and embellishments that appeal to modern women consumers.

Pinstripes, Restaurant and Bowling Alley, to Open Feb. 8
• February 6, 2014

Pinstripes, the unique restaurant and bowling alley-bocce court at the Georgetown Park shopping complex, will open to the public Feb. 8.

Next to the C&O Canal at Wisconsin Avenue, Pinstripes takes up 34,000 square feet on a first and second floor. It “will include 14 bowling lanes, six bocce courts, a bistro and wine cellar, outdoor patios and event space, accommodating 20 to 600 people,” according to the restaurant group, and “offers a unique dining and entertainment experience, featuring Italian and American cuisine, combined with bowling and bocce.” There will also be an outdoor fireplace.

“It is quite a nice venue,” said advisory neighborhood commissioner Bill Starrels, who toured the new restaurant last week. “A lot of people will be surprised at the scale of the place. It’s beautiful and tastefully done.”

Having living through the complex’s demolition and reconstruction, nearby residents in the Georgetown Park condos were concerned about noise from the restaurant and bowling alley. “Pinstripes has gone to great lengths to work with the residents,” Starrels said. “Any sound and noise should not be a problem.”

The Georgetown spot will be the fifth location for Pinstripes, along with its other locations in Northbrook, South Barrington and Oak Brook, Ill., and Edina, Minn. Pinstripes plans to open another spot in Overland Park, Kan., in May and a downtown Chicago location in September.

Pinstripes is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and is taking reservations for private events and parties, such as wedding receptions and bar mitzvahs.

A grand opening party is planned for the evening Feb. 7. On Feb. 22, the Citizens Association of Georgetown will host a benefit for its 2014 Concerts in the Parks program with an adults-only evening.

Welcome to 2801 M St NW
• 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.”