Robert Devaney • January 23, 2012

A new year brings new schedules, new meetings and new officers at the Georgetown Business Association, which will meet Wednesday, Jan. 18, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at The Georgetown Club, 1530 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. With complimentary light fare and refreshments, the reception is free to GBA members; $25 for non-members. It is a good opportunity to meet old and new friends and business colleagues. RSVP to Karen Ohri at Karen@georgetownfloorcoverings.com

The Georgetown Business Association is a non-profit membership organization committed to maintaining and improving the climate for conducting business in Georgetown. Its prime goals are to connect Georgetown businesses with potential customers, other businesses and Georgetown and D.C. leadership and to advocate on behalf of the Georgetown businesses and professionals.

The GBA’s 2012 officers are

— Rokas Beresniovas, HSBC Bank USA, president

— Riyad Said, Wells Fargo Advisors, vice president

— Karen Ohri, Georgetown Floorcoverings, treasurer

— Janine Schoonover, Serendipidy3, secretary

Robert Devaney •

The Citizens Association of Georgetown will meet Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m., at the City Tavern Club (3206 M St., N.W.) to honor well-known Georgetowners who have been interviewed for CAG’s Oral History Project. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m.

These residents have recorded their recollections about life in Georgetown in one-on-one interviews with CAG’s oral history volunteers. The following will be honored for documenting the “living history” of Georgetown:

— Catherine Bowman, leader and unofficial historian of the black community

— Barry Deutschman, pharmacist at Morgan’s whose clients swear he knows everything

— Kay Evans, insider in the fabled Georgetown journalism world and widow of the syndicated columnist Roland Evans

— Georges Jacob, last surviving founder of the famous French Market on Wisconsin Avenue

— Margaret Oppenheimer, long-time resident, who along with husband Franz, raised three sons on O Street

— Frank Randolph, lifetime Georgetowner and renowned interior designer

— Don Shannon, 40-year Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent and 50-year Georgetown resident
Annie Lou Berman will introduce the program with a summary of the project. The interviewees will talk informally about their memories of growing up in or moving to Georgetown, pursuing careers here, raising families, building business, entertaining, renovating houses — and more.

The City Tavern Preservation Foundation, which recently marked its 50th anniversary of the purchase of the historic City Tavern by the City Tavern Association, is hosting the CAG meeting and reception. As the City Tavern Preservation Foundation is hosting this special meeting, please RSVP to cagmail@cagtown.org or 337-7313 if you plan to attend.
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Robert Devaney • January 17, 2012

A big, new restaurant requires a big ribbon cutting. The Hamilton got one with Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C council members and Clyde’s corporate officers Jan. 9. Flanked by D.C. Council chair Kwame Brown and Ward 2 council member Jack Evans, Mayor Gray held the big scissors at the center of the downstairs live music stage.

The Hamilton, Clyde’s Restaurant Group’s new 37,000-square-foot restaurant at 14th and F Streets, is making the scene in no small way. It is as big in space and in time as the ambition of the first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, whose federal department is but a block away with the White House nearby.

The same goes for the food and the music. Under the care of executive Brian Stickel, the menu is an expansive mix: steaks, seafood, salads, munchies, muffulettas and burgers, too. It changes for the time of day, there is a breakfast, brunch and lunch menu and more. There is an Eggs Hamilton on the late night menu. It will be the first Clyde’s joint (the original opened 1963 in Georgetown) ever to serve sushi. And, as in 24/7, the Hamilton which opened Dec. 18 never closes?

In keeping with the restaurant designers of Clyde’s, the artwork is custom, the woodwork perfection and the look and details contemporary but classic. Check out the Lady Liberty hanging lamps. The Hamilton is in the old Borders space, where before that was the flagship of Garfinkel’s department store. It is the 15th Clyde’s restaurant; Old Ebbitt Grill, owned by the group, is one block away on 15th Street.

A lot of patrons can show up: first floor restaurant areas, 400 seats; upstair Loft private dining room, 80 seated/100 standing; live music seating, 260 seats, 100 bar stools. Downstairs, the sound-proofed, high-tech music space has its own menu for “quiet food,” such as sliders, pizza or sushi. [gallery ids="100453,115393" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • January 13, 2012

The new year clean-up has begun. The Department of Public Works is now collecting Christmas trees and wreaths to be picked up curbside through Jan. 14. Remove all decorations and place the greenery in the treebox space or in front of your home now or by Jan. 9. Please do not put the trees in plastic or cloth bags. Trees collected between Jan. 3 and 14 will be recycled. Any trees not collected by Jan. 14 should be set out with your trash to be picked up as space in the trash trucks allows over the following weeks.

The fall leaf collection program continues through Jan. 14, and every neighborhood in the District will have its leaves collected. DPW will collect leaves at least twice from residential neighborhoods by “vacuuming” the leaves residents rake into their treebox spaces.

Also, DPW will collect bagged leaves from the treebox space or the alley in neighborhoods with rear trash and recycling collections. Bagged leaves will be placed in the landfill. By collecting leaves, DPW reduces potential accidents and injuries resulting from slipping on wet leaves and prevent catch basins (storm drains) from clogging and causing street flooding during heavy rains.

Robert Devaney •

Your sweet wait is over! On Thursday, Jan. 5, at 10 a.m., Pie Sisters of Georgetown will open its doors at 3423 M St., N.W.

With ovens, coolers and counter ready for action, Allison, Cat and Erin Blakely will feed the town’s new taste for pies, sweet, creamy and fruity — and a savory one, too. “People are excited,” Allison said. “They have been so nice.”

Flavors include apple caramel crunch, pecan, key lime and banana, coconut or chocolate cream. The shop will sell pies in three sizes: the $4-“cuppie,” seven-inch ($14 to $16) and nine-inch ($35) pies, but return the glass plate for $5 off next purchase — which appears irresistible. There are chairs and tables in front of the shop with a coffee counter as well.

Bakers, businesswomen and parishioners of St. John’s Church, the Blakely sisters hail from Great Falls, Va., two having gone to Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington and also played college basketball. Allison worked at the State Department and finance section of NBC in New York; Erin at BCBG Max Azria. Cat still works at the State Department.

Already known around town for their pies for weddings and social and charitable events, the Blakely trio said they chose the site because of its closeness to Georgetown University and its visibility — you can’t miss it turning off Key Bridge from Virginia — and that “the location is not too small and not too big.” Erin added: “We’ve had Georgetown students contact us for part-time jobs.”

Pie Sisters of Georgetown is at 3423 M St., N.W., one of the shops along Regency Row: 202-338-PIES (7437) — www.PieSisters.com

Robert Devaney •

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E — Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale — will meet tonight, Jan. 3, 6:30 p.m., at Georgetown Visitation Prep, 35th Street and Volta Place, Main Building, Heritage Room, 2nd floor. Among the updates, a discussion of the government property, the West Power Plant on 29th Street, and its future use.

Below is the agenda (from the ANC website):

Approval of the Agenda

• Approval of the January 3, 2012, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda
Administrative

• Approval of November 28, 2011 Meeting Minutes

• Public Safety and Police Report

• Financial Report

• Transportation Report – O & P Street update

• Public Works Report

• Officers and areas of particular interest in 2012

• 2012 meeting dates

• Standing resolutions

• Security Trust Fund

Community Comment

New Business

•West Power Plant update – GSA plans and procedures for disposition (This item will come up before 7:00 p.m.)

•Friends of Volta Park designated as the official community representative for Volta Park

•GU Campus plan update

•Safeway traffic issue

Old Georgetown Board

PRIVATE PROJECTS:

1.SMD 01, 1738 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-026 (HPA 12-053) Residence, 2-story rear addition, Concept – revised design

2.SMD 02, 1669 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-071 (HPA 12-124) Commercial, Alterations to window, awning and blade sign for Macaron Bee, Permit – revised design

3.SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 11-162 (HPA 11-255) Residence, Partial demolition, reconstruction of garage with enlarged footprint, Concept – revised design

4.SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 12-083 (HPA 12-137) Residence, Alterations to rear of main house, remove chimney, Concept

5.SMD 03, 1432 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-025 (HPA 12-041) Retail, Sign for “DC Jewelry Center”, rolling grille, Permit / Concept – revised design

6.SMD 03, 1510 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-082 (HPA 12-136) Commercial, Alterations to storefront, sign scheme for “Luigi Parasmo Salon,” Permit

7.SMD 05, 3288 M Street, NW, OG 12-073 (HPA 12-126) Retail, Deck, Permit

8.SMD 05, 2810-12 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-014 (HPA 12-014) Four Seasons Hotel – Eno Wine Bar, Rear addition with basement, window replacements, signs and awnings, Concept – revised design

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming November 3 agenda of the Old Georgetown Board, have not been added to the ANC meeting agenda for OGB-related design review and we do not propose to adopt a resolution on them at this time. If there are concerns about any of these projects, please contact the ANC office by Friday, December 30, 2010.

1.SMD 02, 1522 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-068 (HPA 12-121) Residence, Replacement rear fence, Permit

2.SMD 02, 1615 34th Street, NW, OG 12-058 (HPA 12-097) Residence, Replace rear fence, Permit

3.SMD 02, 1675 35th Street, NW, OG 12-081 (HPA 12-135) Residence, Rear additions and alterations to side, new window wells on front, Permit – revised design

4.SMD 03, 1513 33rd Street, NW, OG 11-285 (HPA 11-495) Residence, Alterations, dormers, partial demolition, Permit

5.SMD 03, 1525 34th Street, NW, OG 12-079 (HPA 12-133) Residence, Relocation of front door to side, alterations, Permit

6.SMD 03, 1408, -10, -12 36th Street, NW, OG 12—85 (HPA 12-139) Residences, Door surround, transom, window casing, Permit

7.SMD 03, 3240 P Street, NW, OG 12-061 (HPA 12-106) Commercial, Alterations to glass roof at rear yard, Permit / concept

8.SMD 05, 1050 31st Street, NW, OG 12-076 (HPA 12-130) Office building to hotel, Alterations, Permit

9.SMD 05, 1037 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-074 (HPA 12-127) Commercial, Sign scheme for “Flor,” Concept – options

10.SMD 05, 3067 M Street, NW, OG 12-072 (HPA 12-125) Alterations to storefront, sign and banner for “Rag & Bone,” Permit – revised design

11.SMD 05, 1059 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, OG 12-078 (HPA 12-132) Residence, Alterations to front and rear, deck, fence, Permit – revised design

12.SMD 06, 1248 30th Street, NW, OG 12-069 (HPA 12-122) Residence, Alterations to garage, Permit

13.SMD 06, 1235 31st Street, NW (also known as 1231-35 31st St, NW), OG 12-080 (HPA 12-134) Residence, Alterations and conservatory addition at rear, Permit

14.SMD 06, 3043 N Street, NW, OG 12-055 (HPA 12-093) Residence, Replacement brick garden wall at rear, Permit

15.SMD 06, 3130 O Street, NW, OG 12-056 (HPA 12-094) Church Parsonage, Replacement tin roof, Permit

16.SMD 06, 3127 P Street, NW, OG 12-077 (HPA 12-131) Residence, Alterations to front yard and light fixtures on side, Permit – revised design

17.SMD 06, 2624 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-062 (HPA 12-107) Church, Handicapped access ramp, Concept

18.SMD 06, 2908 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-084 (HPA 12-138) Residence, 2-story rear addition, Permit

19.SMD 06, 1329 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-054 (HPA 12-??) Retail, Sign scheme for “Comfort One Shoes” and “Mephisto”, awnings, Permit

20.SMD 07, 1601 28th Street, NW, OG 12-057 (HPA 12-096) Residence, New opening for garage door at basement of historic house, Permit

21.SMD 07, 2823 Q Street, NW, OG 12-075 (HPA 12-128) Residence, Rear alterations, Permit

22.SMD 07, 2516 East Place, NW, OG 12-067 (HPA 12-120) Residence, Alterations to rear, retractable awning, shutters, Permit

Robert Devaney •

Georgetown’s and Burleith’s advisory neighborhood commission (ANC2E) met Jan. 3 at Georgetown Visitation Prep. Among other updates, here are the main headlines:

Tim Sheckler of the General Services Administration explained the process of the impending sale of the West Heating Plant on 29th Street, just south of the C&O Canal. Future bidders, such as those from the Levy Group and EastBanc, and a Fox5 News camera were also in the room. As it is designated Federal property, the plant and its land will be sold to the highest bidder “as is, where it is” in an online auction. The future buyer must contend with any cleanup, and the land is unzoned. GSA will simply sell the property without regard to its future use. There is no federal transfer to consider, Sheckler said, and there is no “financial angel” to pass the land to D.C. and its community for greater future control. Developers already have plans for the site which include condos in the plant building and parkland to the south at K Street and Rock Creek. (The Levy Group with partners which include the Fours Seasons Hotel Corporation has a comprehensive plan for such redevelopment.)
A Jan. 26 public scoping meeting is planned for the community. The property will be marketed in the spring with an approved sale expected by August.

Safeway’s Craig Muckle talked to the group about traffic concerns at its south entry on Wisconsin Avenue. The light for cars leaving the store get a left-turn green and then a right-turn green. The sequence leaves some cars waiting a little longer for their desired turns. (There is a north entry from the garage as well.) Some wondered whether an additional lane could be made for separate left and right turns onto Wisconsin Avenue; others said that would having pedestrians crossing three lanes at the sidewalk. Safeway and the District’s transportation department will discuss the three-lane exit option; the ANC will comment on that decision then.

Macaron Bee, coming to 1669 Wisconsin Avenue, got approval for its tri-fold window from the Old Georgetown Board with re-design requests. Shopkeepers plan to sell pricey macaroons (that’s the English spelling) to sidewalk sweets-lovers. The design is fine, but its intent is under scrutiny. That window could be used to sell almost anything and cause a noisy crowd along the sidewalk. Maurine Littleton, whose gallery is next to the new macaron shop, said she did not like the arrangement and added, “It’s not about macaroons.” Littleton, Kathleen McGarrah of the French Apartment and others said they preferred that customers go into the store to buy their cookies and coffee. The commissioners appeared sympathetic but wanted “to give the business a chance.” Without mentioning the sidewalk service window, the ANC resoluton supported Macaron Bee’s re-designs.

Robert Devaney • December 31, 2011

The 12 Days of Merriment kicked off Dec. 10 at the PNC bank parking lot around the intersection of Wisconsin & M — karaoke for anybody willing to jump on stage with the HariKaraoke Band, fruitcake eating contest (Jay Gorman won), a gingerbread house making contest by The Georgetowner Newspaper and silly sweater contest. Also heard were Georgetown University’s a capella group, the Phantoms as well as dogs visiting the Lucky Dogs table. The crowd enjoyed hot cocoa and sweets, as Kelly Collis and Tommy McFly from 94.7 Fresh FM emceed. The Saturday party and the 12-day shopping promotion with parking and store discounts was organized by the Georgetown Business Improvement District; it continues through Dec. 20. [gallery ids="100438,114388,114380,114357,114372,114365" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • December 30, 2011

The reorganized Georgetown Senior Center held Christmas lunch Dec. 19 at St. John’s Episcopal Church on O Street. Founded in 1982 by the late and beloved Virginia Allen, the non-profit regularly gathers its members at the parish hall for lunch Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Volunteers help with the food and fellowship — local restaurants often pitch in, and Mary Meyer and Karen Cruise are still helping in the kitchen. For the seniors, there are programs after lunch as well as day trips to movies or Washington sights. For more information, call 202-316-2632 or visit www.GeorgetownSeniorCenter.org. [gallery ids="100447,114837,114882,114847,114874,114857,114866" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

For sheer size and sense of fun, the big winner in Georgetown’s Christmas decorations has to go to Jack Davies of Prospect Street. His 20-feet-tall, inflated Santa Claus waves, “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas” from the back of his house with its grand vista of the Potomac River to all entering D.C. from Virginia. While many Georgetown homes are trimmed from evergreens, red ribbons and small lights, Davies’s Santa makes for a happy surprise.

The Santa on his rooftop, overlooking Canal Road and M Street, can be seen by Key Bridge commuters stuck in traffic. And it is up there, Davies says, to make people smile. Davies, founder of AOL International, is a philanthropist and businessman who is part owner of the Washington Capitals, Wizards and Mystics.

Drivers and pedestrians enjoy the sight, illuminated at night, as does Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans who says he loves it, too.

Davies first began positioning a Santa a few years ago on a back balcony and discovered how easily the wind can bring it down. This year, with the advice of friend Michael Murphy, an environmental engineer, Davies erected his winning St. Nick the week after Thanksgiving. “The best $700 I ever spent,” he says — and quite a Christmas present from one of our neighbors.
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