It’s Picnic Time for Seniors
• September 12, 2013

At St. John’s Church, June 12, members of the Georgetown Senior Center got a extra treat for their lunchtime meeting: a festive array of picnic items for lunch — and even some yoga action before the lunch. The special event was by the Georgetown office of Long & Foster as part of its community service day. [gallery ids="119089,119102,119096" nav="thumbs"]

Tudor Place Garden Party Gets More Youthful
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Tudor Place’s 21st annual Spring Garden Party on May 22 had a youthful feel to it. Of course, its longtime stalwarts were also there to help raise more $250,000 for the historic house and garden on 31st Street.

The party’s added zest was not doubt thanks to the work of event co-chairs, Page Evans and Colman Rackley Riddell, who kept things moving, drinks flowing and food abundant. The happy vibe mixed the serious purposes of preservation and philanthropy with a crowd of 450 simply glad to see each other.

The evening’s honoree was Phillips S. Peter, descendant of Major George Peter, brother of Thomas Peter who built Tudor Place. Ten years ago, Peter was president of Tudor Place’s board of trustee and is recognized for his extraordinary commitment to Georgetown’s national treasure. “I salute you for keeping Tudor Place alive and well,” Peter told the party-goers. “With your support, the best is yet to come.” Along with family and friends, Peter, who was a vice president General Electric, also brought his grandson, Phillips Peter III, who works for LinkedIn Corporation.

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Trees for Georgetown Fete on May 8
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You know Georgetown loves its trees. Here is your chance to share that love with the neighborhood. The Trees for Georgetown Spring Celebration takes place May 8 at the 29th Street home of Shelley and Bruce Ross-Larsen, a house once owned by Susan Mary Alsop.

The house and garden reception will launch “Georgetown Initiative for Family Trees,” a program to care for and sponsor trees, and it is also the main source of funds for tree that planted in Georgetown under the program.

The new program — aka GIFT — allows sponsors of each tree to tag it with a QR code that tells the story of the tree and its honoree, whether to remember a family member or mark a special milestone.

Founded in 1989 and an offshoot of the Citizens Association of Georgetown (pun intended), Trees for Georgetown has been partnering with the D.C. Urban Forestry Administration and Casey Trees in an innovative program to plant residential street trees. Species planted include honey locust, burr oak, chestnut oak, overcup oak, scarlet oak, northern red oak, swamp white oak, sweetgum, zelkova, hornbeam, and London plane.

Each tree costs approximately $800 to purchase and plant. Trees for Georgetown is a volunteer group funded entirely by gifts and grants. Please support the continuing effort to keep our neighborhood vibrant and green. Donations may be sent to Trees for Georgetown, c/o the Citizens Association of Georgetown. For more information, email Betsy Emes at Betsyemes@aol.com, or call the CAG office at 337-7313.

Tickets to the May 8 party are $150 for individuals; sponsorships range from $500 to $1,500. For more information about the GIFT program and the spring celebration, email GIFTtrees@gmail.com or call 202-345-2400.

Friends of Volta Park Raise Funds, Have Fun
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More than 160 neighbors and supporters attended the 18th annual Friends of Volta Park cocktail party June 7 — always a fun affair — raising more than $25,000 toward its annual goal of $50,000 to help with park expenses. Mayor Vincent Gray, Councilmember Jack Evans and Deputy Police Chief Patrick Burke were among the guests. The group will hold Volta Park Day in October; check VoltaPark.org. [gallery ids="101398,154117,154104,154113,154110" nav="thumbs"]

American Irish Fund: Irish PM Touts ‘Celtic Comeback’
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As per a Washington St. Patrick’s Day tradition, Irish Prime Minister (An Taoiseach) Edna Kenny was in town to meet President Barack Obama and others, especially those of Irish descent. The American Irish Fund met March 18 at the National Building Museum to honor Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Daniel Rooney and Irish Ambassador Michael Collins. Before a performance by flautist James Galway, Kenny touted a “celtic comeback” for Ireland. [gallery ids="119392,119365,119380,119386,119373" nav="thumbs"]

Lighting (and Skating) the Night to Cure Leukemia
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The Light The Night Awards Party celebrated the outstanding achievements of volunteers who raised more than $2.23 million dollars during 2012 Walks throughout the Washington metropolitan area for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which funds blood cancer research worldwide and provides free information and support services. Teams and sponsors met Jan. 31 at the House of Sweden and skated afterwards at Washington Harbour’s ice rink, one of Georgetown’s newest and most popular additions. [gallery ids="101176,142707,142691,142703,142698" nav="thumbs"]

A Taste of the Oscars: Partying in L.A. for D.C.
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Elizabeth Webster, staffer for At-large Councilman Vincent Orange, helps to look after business development in D.C., including persuading film crews to shoot here. So, her going to Los Angeles during Academy Awards week just seemed to be part of the job. The difference is that she believes so strongly in bringing more production work to D.C. that she funded the trip herself; no taxpayer money involved.

Sporting a Sue Wong wardrobe, Webster and friends made the scene at several parties throughout the weekend, all revolving around the Feb. 24 awards ceremony in the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. She met with actresses, celebrities and other notables, chatting up D.C. as a great film locale and staying out during Oscars night until 4:30 a.m., Pacific time. Webster was back in D.C. Tuesday morning for an all-day District Council hearing.
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Washington Harbour Preps Fountain for First-Ever Ice Rink
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After inaugurating and showing off its newly re-worked fountains with water spouts, Washington Harbour has shut it down and begun the seasonal conversion of the elliptical space into an ice rink—to be ready for skaters before Nov. 22.

According to Washington Harbour’s owner MRP Realty, “The 11,800-square-foot Washington Harbour Ice Rink—larger than the rinks at Rockefeller Center in New York City or the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden in Washington—will be ready to welcome its first skaters before Thanksgiving. In addition to offering open skating, discounts to college students and the opportunity to skate with Santa Claus, the rink will accommodate parties and special events, such as birthdays, family gatherings and corporate events.”

“The ice rink is another new amenity to Washington Harbour which will continue to become one of the premier recreational destinations in the District,” said Bob Murphy, managing principal of MRP Realty. “We look forward to expanding the waterfront experience here to more families, visitors and residents from across the D.C. metro area, seeking a lively, safe and sophisticated skating experience throughout this winter.”

Hours of operation for the ice rink will be noon to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; noon to 10 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults, or $7 for children, seniors and military. Skate rental is $5, and skating lessons are available. The ice rink will end its season on or around March 1, when the facility will be seasonally converted into a fountain.

To view updates on the conversion process and be notified of upcoming offers and events at the Washington Harbour Ice Rink, connect via Facebook (facebook.com/TheWashHarbour) or Twitter (twitter.com/TheWashHarbour).
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Welcome-Back News Edition
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Water Taxi Connects Georgetown to National Mall, National Harbor

A new water taxi route — which began Aug. 31 — connects Georgetown to the National Mall. Part of the Potomac Riverboat Co. service which already connects Alexandria to National Harbor, the extended route will take the 49-passenger boat, Miss Sophie, to Washington Harbour.

From Georgetown, passengers can disembark at Ohio Drive at Potomac Park in Southwest or continue on to National Harbor. The service operates five times a day, Tuesday through Sunday, March through December. Depending on the trip ticket, prices range from $5 to $30.

El Centro Opens This Week

The Mexican restaurant, El Centro, will be open by the weekend. There will be soft opening nights mid-week, according to Greg Talcott, who is re-opening the new restaurant in the old Third Edition space under a new management arrangement with Richard Sandoval Restaurants. “We signed a 20-year lease four years ago,” Talcott told the Georgetowner in April. “I hope we continue as a Georgetown institution.”
El Centro touts its Mexican bona fides and adds that “Georgetown has a new hot spot.”
And it seems ready to please with a Sunday brunch as well as early-week specials: “Sangria Sundays: Half-priced sangria, 5 p.m. to close; Nacho Mondays: $5.95 nachos, 5 p.m. to close;Taco Tuesdays: $2 tacos, all night long; Margarita Wednesdays: $5 Margaritas, all night long.”

Italian Restaurant, Rialto, Coming to M Street

Another famous space — once the home of the legendary Guards restaurant which closed last summer — at 2915 M St., NW, is getting a new occupant: Rialto, an Italian eatery, owned by those who own Thunder Burger across the street, as first reported by Washingtonian. The chef will be Thunder Burger’s Ryan Fichter. A mid-September opening is planned.

Key Bridge Exxon Food Shop Shut Down

You know the D.C. Board of Health is really doing its job, when it shuts down a gas station convenience store. The Key Bridge Exxon’s food store was closed over the weekend by the District government. The gas station staff was cleaning the interior of the place Aug. 29, as the business — at Canal Road (M Street) and 36th Street — continued to sell gasoline and other non-food items, such as cigarettes.

T.J. Maxx Opens on Sunday

As previously reported, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods, a new combo store at the Shops at Georgetown Park, will have a grand opening Sept. 8. At 3222 M St., NW., the clothing and housewares businesses will join the vibrant retail mix of commercial Georgetown. The opening day will run 8 a.m until 8 p.m.

Tugooh Toys Moves

Tugooh Toy, the eco-friendly toy shop, moved to 1319 Wisconsin Ave., NW, over the weekend. The educational toy store occupies its former Chic space.

Linen Store Opens on Book Hill

Sabun Home, a bedding and bathroom accessories shop, has opened at 1631 Wisconsin Ave., NW. Along with soaps and toiletries, most of the items are imported from Turkey, where the owners lived.

Cannon’s Fish Market Temporarily Closed

Cannon Fish Market — “purveyors of quality seafood since 1937” — closed Aug. 12. A window notice by the business at 1065 31st St., NW, read in part that Cannon’s “is closing for the next few months . . . for medical reasons.” Calls to the business have not yet been returned.
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Police Boat Shows Off on Potomac, Hits 2 Boats
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While you were at the beach, etc., things still happened in the old town during the last couple of weeks. Welcome to September. Here’s an update.

Some people like to show up or show off at Washington Harbour, but this is ridiculous. A Metropolitan Police Department harbor patrol boat pulled a “Miami Vice” turn on the Potomac River in front of the dock at Washington Harbour Aug. 30. In the U-turn maneuver, the police boat hit two boats docked on the Georgetown waterfront and partially sunk one. No was injured. The Coast Guard and MPD are investigating the incident.