Latest News

Juliana Zovak • March 31, 2016

The Nuclear Security Summit taking place in Washington, D.C. on March 31 and April 1 will lead to some road closures and rerouting of public transportation.

Summit meetings are taking place at the White House, the State Department and the Washington Convention Center.

As a result, the yellow and green lines of the Metro will not stop at the Mt. Vernon Square stop starting around 8 p.m. on Wednesday and will reopen April 1 in the evening.

The security will also affect multiple bus stops in the area, starting 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, through noon, April 2.

Roads around the White House, State Department and Convention Center will be closed intermittently throughout the duration of the event.

The Secret Service and Metro have released statements with information regarding specific routes affected and recommended alternatives.

Georgetowner • March 30, 2016

**Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place**

MARCH 25TH, 2016 AT 10:00 AM | $10 CHILD, $5 ACCOMPANYING ADULT. | TEL: 202-965-0400 | [EVENT WEBSITE](https://www.tudorplace.org)

Children will hunt for eggs, then roll them, and take part in other Easter-themed games and crafts.

Address
1644 31st St. NW.

**Italian Cooking Class with Marco and Chiara**

MARCH 25TH, 2016 AT 07:30 PM | $100 | TEL: 202-333-3904 | [EVENT WEBSITE](http://viaumbria.com)

Learn how to make traditional Umbrian dishes, including strangozzi pasta and cherry cubotti, then eat them.

Address
1525 Wisconsin Ave. NW

**Architectural Tour of Anacostia**

MARCH 26TH, 2016 AT 10:30 AM | $35 | TEL: 202-347-9403 | [EVENT WEBSITE](http://aiadc.com)

The Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects presents a walking tour of historic Anacostia, the Southeast neighborhood first incorporated in 1854 as Uniontown, with an opportunity to visit the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.

Address
Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Road SE.

**Cherry Blossom Beer and Wine Festival presented by Drink the District**

MARCH 26TH, 2016 AT 01:00 PM | $25-$40 | TICKETS@DRINKTHEDISTRICT.COM | TEL: 2026183663 | [EVENT WEBSITE](http://drinkthedistrict.com/dc/cherry-blossom-03-26-16/?aff=home)

Drink the District is back in 2016 with a double dose of your favorite tasting event: the Cherry Blossom Beer & Wine Festival. Spanning two weekends during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, each of our events will feature unlimited tastings of 100+ beers and wines, access to DC area food trucks, and live entertainment all day!

Address
The Yards, 1300 First St. SE.

**’Hollywood on the Potomac’**

MARCH 26TH, 2016 AT 01:00 PM | FREE | TEL: 202-727-0233 | [EVENT WEBSITE](https://dclibrary.org/georgetown)

A talk about Washington as depicted on the silver screen by Mike Canning, author of “Hollywood on the Potomac: How the Movies View Washington.”

Address
Georgetown Library Peabody Room, 3260 R St. NW.

**English Country Dance Workshop**

MARCH 27TH, 2016 AT 12:30 PM | $5 | TEL: 202-337-2288 | [EVENT WEBSITE](http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb.html)

Dumbarton House hosts a session about English country dance, a folk-dance tradition dating to the 16th century, with instruction and practice.

Address
2715 Q St. NW.

**Violinist Rachel Barton Pine**

MARCH 27TH, 2016 AT 02:00 PM | FREE | TEL: 202-737-4215 | [EVENT WEBSITE](http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb.html)
An all-Bach performance by the young, genre-crossing violinist from Chicago.

Address
4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.

Percy Metcalfe •

The lockdown of the U.S. Capitol complex — and, briefly, the White House — has been lifted following the detention of a suspected shooter.

The shots were fired shortly before 3 p.m. The shooter’s motives remain unknown.

Police ordered the lockdown at the Capitol, meaning no one was allowed to enter or leave the buildings. Those remaining outdoors were asked to find cover while the shooter was at large.

A U.S. Capitol police officer was shot and wounded in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, which will remain closed to the public.

The Capitol reopened, for official business only, just before 4 p.m.

Georgetowner •

The D.C. Public Service Commission, which regulates electric, natural gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of Columbia, rejected Exelon’s proposal to buy Pepco in a $6.8 billion bid by a vote of 2 to 1, Feb. 26.

In August of last year, the commission rejected the merger plan but allowed a resubmission. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a settlement deal in October in support of the Pepco-Exelon merger.

The utility merger with Pepco would create the biggest utility company in the country — already the federal government, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia have approved it.

Neverthless, in a separate Feb. 26 vote, the D.C. commission offered its approval to the merger, if four conditions were met within 14 days.

The following is part of a statement issued by the commission.

“Today, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) voted in a 2 to 1 decision to reject, as filed, the Nonunanimous Full Settlement Agreement and Stipulation (NSA) concerning the proposed merger between Pepco and Exelon Corporation as not being in the public interest (Order No. 18109).

“Chairman Betty Ann Kane and Commissioner Joanne Doddy Fort comprised the majority vote rejecting the NSA with Commissioner Willie L. Phillips dissenting. However, Commissioner Fort proposed alternative terms for a Revised NSA that would, if accepted by the settling parties, result in the approval of the Revised NSA and the Merger Application without additional action by the Commission, and asked for approval to send the alternative terms to the settling parties. . . .

“In initially determining whether the NSA is in the public interest pursuant to D.C. Code §§ 34-504 and 34-1001, Chairman Kane and Commissioner Fort agreed that there are four (4) areas that warrant rejecting the NSA as filed:

“(1) the evidentiary record failed to provide a persuasive rationale for excluding non-residential ratepayers from sharing in the proposed $25.6 million allocation of the Customer Investment Fund (CIF) for base rate credit relief and failed to persuade the Commission that the proposed allocation would not undermine the Commission’s ability to address the negative rate of return that currently exists for residential ratepayers and the resulting subsidies that are placed on non-residential customers;

“(2) the NSA assigns roles to Exelon, as a developer of a solar generation facility at Blue Plains, and to Pepco, as a developer of four public purpose microgrids, that undermine competition and grid neutrality and are inconsistent with the District’s restructured market;

“(3) the proposed uses of the CIF for sustainability projects and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payments do not improve Pepco’s distribution system nor advance the Commission’s objective to modernize the District’s energy systems and distribution grid; and

“(4) the proposed method of allocating the CIF funds to District Government agencies and designated funds deprives the Commission of the ability to ensure that all of the funds are being used to enhance the distribution system and benefit District ratepayers, and to enforce the terms of the NSA.

“Commissioner Fort’s alternative terms resolve the four (4) areas of concern by: (1) deferring a decision on the allocation of the $25.6 million Customer Base Rate Credit until the next Pepco rate case; (2) removing the provision that designates Exelon as the developer of a 5 MW solar generation facility at DC Water Blue Plains Treatment Plant and requiring Pepco’s commitment to facilitate the interconnection of a 5 MW solar project for any vendor selected by DC Water through its procurement process; (3) creating an escrow fund with two subaccounts at Pepco to hold $32.80 million of the $72.8 million Customer Investment Fund funded by Exelon under the NSA, $21.55 million of which is to be used for pilot projects emerging from Formal Case No. 1130 (a case to modernize the District’s energy system) and $11.25 million of which would be used for energy efficiency and energy conservation initiatives with a primary focus on housing, including multifamily buildings, for low and limited income District residents; and (4) striking as premature the provisions regarding Pepco’s role with the District to develop public purpose microgrids and requiring Pepco to facilitate and support the pilot projects under Formal Case No. 1130. …”

Mayor Bowser released the following statement on the commission’s decision on the proposed Pepco-Exelon merger:

“Last year, in conjunction with the Office of the People’s Council, Attorney General Racine and others, the District advanced a deal that ensures D.C.’s energy future– focused on reliability, affordability and sustainability. The Public Service Commission took the framework we negotiated and made adjustments. We will have to carefully review the Commission’s order to determine if it meets our goals for ratepayers, especially residents.” ?

Exelon Corporation issued a statement on the decision: “The commission’s order prescribes new provisions that we and the settling parties must carefully review to determine whether they are acceptable. Once we have had a chance to study the order and confer with the settling parties, we will have more to say about what it means and our next steps.”

The PowerDC Coalition released the following statement in response to today’s ruling.

“Although the commission agreed the merger should be denied, its 14-day, last-chance, fix-it proposal is a band-aid on a problem that cannot be fixed. This is an extremely disappointing outcome for the District of Columbia and our entire region. Tens of thousands of residents, the majority of D.C.’s neighborhoods, and all of the substantive experts who looked at this merger agreed that it will lead to higher electricity rates and slower progress on clean, efficient energy. In the end, we fear that the corrupting influence of corporate money on our elected officials won the day – again. Today’s decision, however, will not stop the citizens of D.C. from continuing to advocate for lower power rates and expanded renewable energy.”

See The Georgetowner’s Dec. 2 editorial on the proposed Pepco-Exelon merger.

Georgetowner •

The Georgetown-Burleith-Hillandale Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 2E) will hold its March meeting, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 29, at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 35th Street and Volta Place, NW, Heritage Room, main building, second floor. The following is Monday’s meeting agenda, as provided by ANC 2E.

Approval of the Agenda
• Approval of February 29, 2016 ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative

• Public Safety and Police Report

• Financial Report

• Transportation Report

• Environmental Report

Special Presentation: DC Water

DC Water main line replacement and CSO relining presentation

Community Comment

New Business

• Lawyers Have Heart 10K & 5K, June 13, 2016

• Sprint Four the Cure 5K, September 17, 2016

• Nations Tri, September 11, 2016

• BikeRideDC, May 22, 2016

ABC

Zoning and Planning

• 3254 O St., NW BZA 17535A variance

Old Georgetown Board

Private Projects

1. SMD 05 OG 16-127 (HPA 16-212) 1065 31st Street, NW Commercial, Flag poles
Permit

2. SMD 05 OG 16-124 (HPA 16-197) 3000 K Street, NW Commercial, Alterations to terrace at Fishers Farmers Bakers Concept

3. SMD 05 OG 16-136 (HPA 16-228) 3124 M Street, NW Commercial, Alterations to storefront, up-lights, sign — UBIQ Concept

4. SMD 05 OG 16-129 (OG 16-215) 3222 M Street, NW Commercial, Awnings and sign — TJ Maxx Permit

5. SMD 05 OG 16-118 (HPA 16-190) 3101 N Street, NW Commercial, New pavers at driveway
Concept

6. SMD 05 OG 16-132 (HPA 16-223) 3342 Prospect Street, NW Residence, Alterations, deck, fence
Concept

7. SMD 05 OG 16-133 (HPA 16-224) 3348 Prospect Street, NW Residence, Alterations, replacement windows, roof trellis Concept

8. SMD 06 OG 16-134 (HPA 16-226) 1313 28th Street, NW Residence, Alterations, replacement windows and doors Concept

9. SMD 07 OG 16-101 (HPA 16-173) 2512 Q Street, NW The Georgetown, Alterations, demolition, replacement windows Concept

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming March 4, 2016, 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, Feb. 26.

1. SMD 02 OG 16-045 (HPA 16-077) 1679 35th St., NW Residence Two-story rear addition, porch enclosure, demo Concept

2. SMD 03 OG 16-137 (HPA 16-229) 1419 33rd Street, NW Residence Parking pad with overhead door Concept

3. SMD 03 OG 16-105 (HPA 16-177) 1431 36th Street, NW Residence Roof replacement Permit

4. SMD 03 OG 16-097 (HPA 16-165) 3259 O Street, NW Residence Door replacement
Permit

5. SMD 03 OG 16-068 (HPA 16-114) 3420 P Street, NW Residence Addition, demolition, replacement windows, site work Concept

6. SMD 03 OG 16-106 (HPA 16-178) 3526 P Street, NW Residence Roof replacement
Permit

7. SMD 05 OG 16-069 (HPA 16-116) 3111 K Street, NW Commercial Alterations, sign – AMC Theaters Concept

8. SMD 05 OG 16-093 (HPA 16-161) 2910 M Street, NW Commercial Roof top HVAC Permit

9. SMD 05 OG 16-013 (HPA 16-021) 3121 N Street, NW Residence New front porch
Permit

10. SMD 05 OG 16-063 (HPA 16-109) 1037 Cecil Place, NW Residence New gate in wall – Existing alterations without review Permit

11. SMD 05 OG 16-090 (HPA 16-138) 1075 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW Commercial Replacement of trellis at roof deck Concept

12. SMD 05 OG 16-114 (HPA 16-186) 1057 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Commercial Back-lit sign – AT&T
Permit

13. SMD 06 OG 16-131 (HPA 16-222) 1325 30th Street, NW Residence Rear dormer
Concept

14. SMD 06 OG 16-125 (HPA 16-205) 2807 O Street, NW Residence Roof replacement
Permit

15. SMD 07 OG 16-135 (HPA 16-227) 3029 Q Street, NW Residence Fenestration alterations, railings
Permit

16. SMD 07 OG 16-088 (HPA 16-136) 3203 R Street, NW Residence New stairs at front and side Permit

17. SMD 08 OG 15-330 (HPA 15-606) 1221 36th Street, NW Institution Addition/alterations – de la Cruz Gallery of Art Concept

Government of the District of Columbia: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E

3265 S St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

202-724-7098 anc2e@dc.gov www.anc2e.com

Juliana Zovak •

Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown just got a few options for finding food and drink, especially if customers are looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary.

**THE SOVEREIGN**

The Sovereign, which bills itself as a Belgian bistro and bar, has a soft opening tonight. Beard Papa’s, a Japanese cream puff chain, opened over the weekend.

The Sovereign has more of a local beginning, though its cuisine has an international flair, as in Belgian beer and Belgian food. It is run by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, which runs restaurants in D.C. and Virginia—such as ChurchKey, Rustico, Birch & Barley and Pike & Rose —among other culinary businesses.

Located down the alleyway at 1206 Wisconsin Avenue, the two-story bar and bistro used to house Blue Gin and before that, Champions Sports Bar.

A partner in the business is Greg Talcott, who is well known in Georgetown. He bought the nearby Third Edition from Greg Smith in 1983 (he started as a bartender in 1977). Talcott closed Third Edition three years ago and reopened it as El Centro under a partnership with Richard Sandoval.

As for businesses previously at the Sovereign space, Talcott bought the famed Champions Sports Bar from the equally famous Michael O’Harro in 2002—it was redone as Blue Gin two years later and closed in 2008. Now, Talcott has partnered with Michael Babin and the Neighborhood Restaurant Group.

Sovereign head chef Peter Smith, NRG beer director Greg Engert and NRG Director of Operations Erik Bergman took a trip to Belgium to experience the traditional food and drink and draw inspiration for their Belgian menu—which includes, they say, 350 kinds of beers.

The Sovereign’s Twitter account has already teased some menu items, posting a picture of moules frites, or mussels and fries, and writing, “Particularly proud to be sourcing Dutch-style mussels.” It will have “a wide breadth of beers from a focused group of brewers,” Engert told DCBeer.com.

The Sovereign has a special preview Feb. 1 and plans to open formally later in the week, though it has yet to announce the exact date.

**BEARD PAPA’S**

Touting its “fresh’n natural cream puffs,” Beard Papa’s has a mix and match system where customers can first pick the type of shell and then pick the cream—vanilla, chocolate or the flavor of the week. The shells are then filled in front of the customer and finished off with a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

According to manager Jah McLean, most of the desserts are equally popular, but a newcomer cannot go wrong with the tried and true vanilla cream puff.

The first Beard Papa’s opened in Japan in 1999, and since then the company has expanded to have locations in 15 countries. Already popular on the West Coast, the Georgetown location is only one of three on the East Coast.
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Georgetowner •

Richard Thompson – All Request Show

February 4th, 2016 at 08:00 PM | $60-$75 | wolftrap@wolftrap.org | Tel: 703-255-1900 | Event Website

The founding member of Fairport Convention, called “the finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix” (Los Angeles Times), presents a solo, all request show—pick your favorite songs to be played from any of his numerous albums, including his new, highly-acclaimed release, Still.

Address

The Barns at Wolf Trap; 1635 Trap Road; Vienna, VA 22182

Candice Bostwick at Living Room Live (Jazz & Blues)

February 4th, 2016 at 07:00 PM | Free | rsvp@artsoiree.com | Tel: 2024702642 | Event Website

An evening of jazz and blues at the Living Room Live presenting Candice Bostwick, accompanied by one of DC’s finest pianists, Wayne Wilentz, and David Jernigan on bass.

Living Room Live is a unique live concert series aimed to spotlight and support local musicians & bands while giving exclusive access to the true music fans.

Seating starts 7pm & Performance 8pm (seating on first come basis)

Address

The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown; 3100 South Street NW

Annual Mardi Gras Masquerade

February 5th, 2016 at 08:00 PM | $20-25 | rsvp@artsoiree.com | Tel: 2024702642 | Event Website

Don your most elegant masks and festive attire for one of the greatest and oldest traditions! Immerse into the colorful world of masquerade and dance the night away to the best of New Orleans inspired music and beats by The New Jazz Coalition and DJ Eric at the luxurious ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown right in the heart of DC.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! Let the good times roll!

Address

The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown; 3100 South Street NW

Sweet Valentine: Tour and Workshop for Children

February 6th, 2016 at 10:30 AM | 5-25 | education@tudorplace.org | Tel: 2029650400 | Event Website

Celebrate sweet Valentine’s Day traditions! Children tour the historic mansion, learning about how food was made and enjoyed at Tudor Place over the last 200 years. Then, they decorate two decadent chocolate Valentines to give special family members or friends.

For ages 6+.

Parents/caregivers remain with children.

10:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Address

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden; 1644 31st Street NW

Case Design — Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Seminar

February 6th, 2016 at 11:00 AM | Event Website

Gain insight into the latest trends and the different levels of Kitchen & Bath remodeling. We will also help you better understand time frames and project budgeting.

Hosted by Lisa Magee and David Waguespack

11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Address

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate; 1515 14th ST NW Suite 200

The Magic of Spying: Tradecraft Trickery

February 6th, 2016 at 02:00 PM | $10 | info@spymuseum.org | Tel: 202-393-7798 | Event Website

In the real-life world of espionage, spies often call upon the art of magic and illusion to distract the enemy, make evidence disappear, and escape unnoticed.

Join professional magician, Peter Wood, as he demonstrates the art of misdirection, sleight of hand, and other illusions used by skilled spies. This one of a kind performance, custom-designed for the Spy Museum, is guaranteed to fascinate children and adults alike.

Address

International Spy Museum; 800 F Street, NW

An Affair of the Heart

February 8th, 2016 at 11:00 AM | $125 per person | Tel: 703-248-1745 | Event Website

The Women’s Board of the American Heart Association Greater Washington Region presents the 68th Annual “An Affair of the Heart” Luncheon and Fashion Show to benefit heart research and education. DC society will step out to this elegant event hosting around 1100 attendees. Bloomingdale’s will present this year’s Fashion Show which will feature the newest pieces for Spring 2016 for men and women.

Address

The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, NW

Georgetowner •

41st Annual Washington Antiquarian Book Fair

March 4th, 2016 at 08:00 AM | bcampbell@wabf.com | Tel: 202-363-4999 | Event Website

Exhibitors from around the country will convene, offering both serious collectors and budding enthusiasts rare books, manuscripts, modern first editions, autographs, prints, maps, drawings and other rare finds. Over the course of two days, the fair will also host a series of exciting programs including: On-Demand Poetry, created on vintage typewriters by Typewriter Rodeo. In five minutes or less, get an original and personal poem as a keepsake. Many more programs to be announced in 2016.

Address

Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge; Rosslyn Ballroom, Shenandoah Suite & Dogwood Room; 1900 North Fort Myer Drive; Arlington, VA 22209

The Capital Club’s 21st Annual Shamrock Soiree

Fri, March 4th 2016 at 9:00 PM | Event Website

The Capital Club is pleased to invite you to once again kiss the blarney stone at their 21st Annual Shamrock Soiree on Friday, March 4th, 2016 from 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. The party will take place at Malmaison. The 2016 Shamrock Soiree is brought to you by Tito’s Vodka, BlankLabel, and SELECT.

This year’s Shamrock Soiree will include a beer and wine OPEN BAR from 9 p.m – 11 p.m., live music from the Lunch Money Bandits, Irish jigs and surprises, and an All-American good time.

Your ticket buys you:

-Beer and Wine Open bar from 9 p.m – 11 p.m.

-DC’s favorite party band, the Lunch Money Bandits

-Drink specials all night long

Adress

Malmasion; 3401 K ST NW

Chris Smither

March 5th, 2016 at 07:30 PM | $25-$27 | wolftrap@wolftrap.org | Tel: 703-255-1900 | Event Website

Fingerstyle guitar wizard, named “one of the absolute best singer-songwriters in the world” (Associated Press), showcases his rollicking songbook of “clever blues-based folk tunes” (The Washington Post).

Address

The Barns at Wolf Trap; 1635 Trap Road; Vienna, VA 22182

Easter Card Making Workshop

March 5th 2016 at 11:00 AM | Event Website

Join Paper Source for an Easter Card Making Workshop on March 5 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The turn of a new season always brings with it a creative spark. Welcome Easter with this card making workshop. Craft with some of Paper Source’s newest stamps, tapes & adornments, learn essential DIY techniques and come away with four handmade cards for the holiday. A 10-percent-off coupon will be provided with the class. Workshop registration is $28. Buy two seats at the same time and save10 percent off each seat.

Address

Paper Source; 3019 M ST NW

Green: March Exhibition at Washington Printmakers Gallery

March 5th 2016 at 3:00 PM |

Stop by the Washington Printmakers Gallery on March 5 at 3-5 p.m. for the Opening Reception for GREEN, a new exhibition of works by WPG’s members focusing on the color green. The exhibition will be on view from March 2 – March 26, 2016.

Green is the color and theme of Washington Printmakers’ March exhibition. Green celebrates the beginning of Spring after a cold winter, St. Patrick’s day, renewable energy, natural resources, and growth and renewal. Green is often regarded as a positive color, a color of balance and energy. It comes in many shades, from muted grey-green moss and deep fir greens to vibrant limes. WPG’s members will be showing a variety of prints and photographs encompassing the range of greens.

Address

Printmakers Gallery; 1641 Wisconsin Ave NW

Compline by Candlelight

March 6th, 2016 at 08:00 PM | FREE AND OPEN TO ALL | sam@stjohnsgeorgetown.org | Tel: 202-338-1796 | Event Website

This 30-minute traditional service is chanted by the St. John’s Choir in the warmth and beauty of candlelight.
Join us for this ancient rite of contemplation as we reflect and meditate on a quiet night at the end of a Winter day.
Warm beverages and sweets follow in Blake Hall.

Address

St. John’s Episcopal Church; Georgetown Parish; 3240 O St. NW

Museum Series: Selling Suffrage – Strategies for Victory

March 9th, 2016 at 07:30 PM | Free. Donation suggested | communityrelations@workhousearts.org | Tel: 7035842900 | Event Website

In commemoration of Women’s History Month, Edith Mayo, Curator Emeritus, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, will discuss the different strategies employed by the two wings of the American suffrage movement pushing Congress and the President toward winning voting rights for women. These women, in a pre-electronic age, literally invented a new type of political communication within a system had previously been all male.

Address

W-3 Theatre; 9518 Workhouse Way; Lorton, VA, 22079

Richard Selden •

Ears pricked up at the press preview for the Kennedy Center’s 2015-2016 season this morning when the stodgy-but-stirring performing arts palace announced its first artistic director of hip-hop culture. Q-Tip, 45, a former member of A Tribe Called Quest, was born Jonathan Davis in Harlem. He grew up in St. Albans, a middle-class neighborhood in Queens (the Q in Q-Tip stands for Queens) that was home to Basie, Miles and Coltrane and a couple guys who played baseball in one of the other boroughs, Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson. When he converted to Islam, he changed his name to Kamaal Ibn John Fareed.

Tip (as his friends call him) has been nominated for a Grammy Award six times, winning Best Dance Recording in 2006 for “Galvanize,” with the Chemical Brothers. What’s the difference between hip-hop and rap? Rap is considered one element in hip-hop, a culture that embraces music, art, dance and fashion. But we’ll leave it to Tip to drop science on our ass starting this summer. Welcome to D.C.!

Robert Devaney •

The developers of the West Heating Plant site — the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the Levy Group and the Georgetown Companies of New York — ran into a brick wall Feb. 4 with a decision by the Old Georgetown Board.

Arguing that proposed building’s design does not honor Georgetown’s industrial past along with questions about its adjacent park, the OGB said no to the group’s plans to demolish the structure at 1051-55 29th St. NW.

Despite ample support from 29th Street neighbors and the Citizens Association of Georgetown and favorite but not unanimous approvals by the Georgetown-Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission, members of the federal board found that designs for the 10-story building made it look too big and not quite residential.

With his development group, Richard Levy of the Levy Group is promoting the designs of two star designers: British architect David Adjaye and landscape architect Laurie Olin.

The property group bought the two-acre property— situated between the C&O Canal, Rock Creek, 29th Street and K Street — from the federal government in 2013 for $19.5 million. High-end condo units, to be managed by the Four Seasons, will number 60 to 70, and half of the land will become a park. Levy said at a December community meeting that the condo units would run $2,000 per square foot at this year’s prices.

Adjaye was the lead architect for the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, set to open in September, as well as for two D.C. public libraries. As opposed to his first concept with vertical lines aping the heating plant, Adjaye’s second vision reveals a differently aligned building with horizontal lines that echo the flat sweeping lines of the Kennedy Center and Watergate complex as seen from the Potomac River sailing up to Georgetown. The footprint of the building is to be smaller than the original. Olin’s one-acre park joins green space from Rock Creek Park to the new building, K Street and close to Georgetown Waterfront Park.

Per the structure’s demolition, Levy and his team must get Mayor Muriel Bowser to deem their efforts a “project of special merit” to have a completely different building (though it is a similar size) for the site.

The heating plant condo design team will next present to the Fine Arts Commission Feb. 18.
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