Robert Devaney • June 29, 2011

The Hays family — and their store, The Phoenix, on Wisconsin Avenue since 1955 — was given the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Georgetown Business Association at its Senior Advisory Luncheon on June 15. The business, founded by Bill and Betty Hays, has been continued by John and Sharon Hays — and now their Samantha. Presenters, including Brad Altman, Jim Wheeler and Sonya Bernhardt, publisher of the Georgetowner, speaking for last year’s awardee, retired publisher David Roffman, told stories about the Hays family, the neighborhood and the Phoenix, “more than a store.”

Robert Devaney •

First father, President Barack Obama, treated daughters Malia and Sasha, along with his niece and nephew, to ice cream at Georgetown’s Thomas Sweet Ice Cream at Wisconsin Avenue and P Street, N.W., June 19. (The first daughters will accompany the first lady on their trip to Africa.) Obama and his daughters had already visited Georgetown within the last two weeks: he, at 1789 restaurant; the girls, at Georgetown Cupcake.

Among the presidential gawkers along Wisconsin Avenue was chef Ris Lacoste on her day off — and Bridget Berry, a computer technician from Red Bay, Alabama, visiting D.C. with her husband Chris and their daughters Carlee and Mattee. (Berry provided one of the photos of the scene at Thomas Sweet.) She and her family, visiting friends Robert and Sharon Shoffner, have already been to the National Zoo, Cactus Cantina, Dean & Deluca and, of course, Georgetown Cupcake.

Robert Devaney • June 8, 2011

Horse and hunt country lovers traveled from as far as Middleburg, Va., as well as nearby Georgetown to the Kalorama townhouse of the Johnsons for a cocktail reception to benefit the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, May 19. The library’s board chairman Manuel (Manley) Johnson and vice chairman Jacqueline Badger Mars served as event hosts.

With its historic buildings and grounds, the Middleburg non-profit boasts the finest collection of books on horse and field sports in the world. “It is the largest collection of rare books in equine and fishing sports books,” Johnson told the crowd, which included Tom McMillen, former U.S. representative from Maryland and retired NBA basketball player, Scott Wilson, Hector Alcade and Robin Phillips. The library holds a 1683 first edition of ‘The Compleat Angler” along with essays on hunting from Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland and extensive photos of President John Kennedy in Middleburg. The National Sporting Library Gala is scheduled for October.
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Robert Devaney • May 20, 2011

The Georgetown Business Association held its monthly meeting, May 18, at one of D.C.’s oldest marketplaces, which has housed one of Georgetown’s high-end food and wine businesses, Dean & Deluca, for almost two decades. At the sidewalk patio, GBA members and guests had a lively time, meeting old and new colleagues and sampling fine fare. GBA president Joe Giannino mentioned how the group held a zoning seminar among other business talks. People lingered longer at the Dean & Deluca sidewalk, as they were also greeted by newly sworn-in At-Large Councilman Vincent Orange. “I am at large, so I am here,” said Orange, who also thanked “The Georgetowner and The Downtowner for getting it right” by endorsing him before the special election. [gallery ids="99765,99766,99767,106144" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • May 16, 2011

After a few preview parties, Sax, the new haughty, naughty restaurant in the old Posh space at 730 11th Street, NW, opens officially on Friday, May 13th. Sax owners Errol Lawrence and Nancy Koida (of Oya and Sei fame) offer a Moulin Rouge fantasy with a glass-enclosed, 20-foot burlesque and cabaret stage atop the main bar with velvet curtains and gold and red colors throughout, as well as a second floor. Oya chef Jonathan Seningen oversees the menu. (Steak tartare on crackers and other finger food were presented by corseted waitresses at the parties.)

But the scandalous murals on politics and religion prompt the most buzz in this nation’s capital. Pictures of what looks like President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky as well as Anita Hill and Justice Clarence Thomas gives one pause, not to mention other phallic-laden images of priests and God himself. Oh, Lord, forgive us our satire if not blasphemy. Publisher Larry Flynt was not at our party. [gallery ids="99674,99675,99676,99677,99678,99679,99680,99681,99682" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • May 4, 2011

The Georgetown Business Association celebrated its new media outlet — “Out & About” — a venture with the website, Georgetown Dish, in Cady’s Alley, April 20. Georgetown business leaders, politicians, residents, other media and influencers made the scene in the hypercool L2 nightclub, as Dish publisher Beth Solomon greeted the guests and said, “This is the first social media channel in D.C.” The purpose of the GBA’s “Out & About” is to post the profile, increase promotion and widen online presence of Georgetown businesses. GBA members can send out news, special offers and business advice from their unique town to the world wide web. [gallery ids="99667,106055,106039,106051,106047,106044" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • April 21, 2011

The D.C. Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative gathered in La Maison Française at the French Embassy, April 8, to honor the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation — and to show off its students and raise funds for programs which give public school students a chance to experience the D.C. arts scene. The lively crowd of arts and business leaders at “Taking Flight: The Transformative Power of Arts Education” applauded Calvin Cafritz who accepted the first-ever Annual Spirited Leadership Award. NBC4 news anchor Wendy Rieger, who will jet off to cover the royal wedding in London, remarked, “My mother was a teacher. God bless you. God love you.” Bob Levey, former Washington Post columnist, quipped: “Wendy said I have been here since the Johnson Administration, but it was the administration of Lyndon Baines Johnson.” [gallery ids="99651,105316,105314" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • April 20, 2011

The N Street Village Gala, always a joyous and easy-going affair, celebrated the powerful women of the nation’s capital and the shelter’s women in recovery at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, April 6. Honored for turning their lives around were Camela Carney, Rene Petaway and Carol Toran. Founders’ awards were given to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and board member Carol Wheeler. Presenter and political pundit Mark Shields remarked: “If you want something done, ask a woman.” PBS’s Gwen Ifill was mistress of ceremonies. Melissa Maxfield was the gala chair was with Diana Enzi and Julianna Smoot as honorary chairs. [gallery ids="99653,105331,105324,105328" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

The Citizens Association of Georgetown joined with Boffi, the high-end kitchen and bathroom showroom on M Street, and neighborhood chefs on March 21 to give residents an exquisite setting for a springtime taste of their restaurants’ culinary talents. From Clydes, Salvatore Ferro’s crab and spring vegetable salad; from Farmers & Fishers, Al Nappo’s baby cheeseburgers; from Mate, Kahn’s colorful sushi; from Mie N Yu, mixologist Mike Cherner’s cherry blossom cocktail; and from Paolo’s, Tom Chenshaw’s gnocchi. With demonstrations and advice from the chefs, the crowd noshed and chatted through the glassy lit, sleekly modern space. And secrets from the chefs? Ferro said, “Fresh ingredients and this guy,” pointing to his boss John Guattery, Clyde’s corporate chef. Farmers & Fishers’ Nappo revealed: “It’s all in the seasoning, my friend.” And one of the winners for a gift certificate at one of these places? This newspaper’s publisher, Sonya Bernhardt. [gallery ids="99629,105166,105164" nav="thumbs"]