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Georgetowner • August 19, 2015

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced last week the District’s purchase of the total output of the 46-megawatt Iberdrola Renewables wind farm located in southwestern Pennsylvania, along with a name change: the Department of Environment is now the Department of Energy and Environment.

“This is about more than just a name change; our energy needs and our environmental concerns go hand in hand. That’s why I’ve tasked Tommy Wells [director of DOEE] and his team with rethinking how we bring more green, affordable energy to all eight wards,” the mayor said.

The wind farm initiative is expected to save the District $45 million over the next 20 years, as it provides 35 percent of the energy needed to power the city’s government buildings. Speaking at the announcement, Wells underscored the significance of the name change from a policy perspective, including plans to expand solar power and improve D.C.’s energy efficiency.

Georgetowner •

Starting Aug. 24, D.C. Public School students can ride to and from school and school-related activities on Metrorail for free through a new program initiated by Mayor Muriel Bowser. Students may register now for the program, called Kids Ride Free on Rail, with the DC One Card, which is required.

Public Charter School students are also eligible, but not private, parochial or homeschooled students, who remain eligible for the Kids Ride Free on Bus program. Enrolling in the rail program automatically enrolls students in the bus program. This program could replace the $30 30-day pass for some students, though the free pass may be revoked if used for non-school events.

Georgetowner •

Owners of three Maine Avenue Fish Market businesses have sued the D.C. government and two developers of the $2 billion Wharf project, the largest mixed-use development project in the District, alleging that they are being forced out of business. In the complaint, the businesses say the government shut down Water Street SW, the primary access point to the Fish Market, preventing customer and delivery access, that construction crews have blocked their parking lots and that the developers have attempted to evict them illegally.

Since a meeting last year between the owners and representatives of the developers failed to resolve their differences, developers have tried to evict two of the businesses. The market owners asked the U.S. District Court for D.C. to prevent “further blocking, altering, or eliminating any entrances to or exits from Plaintiffs’ leased property including the Common Area.”

The CEO of one of the developers, Monty Hoffman, issued a statement recently that said, “With any large-scale project in a dense urban area, some temporary disruption is inevitable.”

Georgetowner •

Reversing her original stance to keep police officers’ body-camera footage away from public view, Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed the most open plan in America. Citing the high-profile police shootings of the past year, Bowser has changed her stance. “Nationally, we have all seen too many instances where video footage proved to be invaluable,” she said.

Private citizens would be able to view silenced footage of any police interactions on street corners, during traffic stops and elsewhere outdoors. But, in line with privacy concerns, video recorded indoors or in private settings and cases of domestic violence or sexual assault, even in public places, would not be viewable except in court proceedings.

Any person recorded by a body camera could view footage of their interaction at a police station within 90 days of the incident. Academic researchers, prosecutors, the Office of Police Complaints and a few others would have unrestricted access to all of the footage.

The D.C. officers’ union and advocates for open government and police accountability say the plan does not go far enough, but are pleased that the mayor recognized the lack of support for completely restricting public access.
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Robert Devaney •

The CVS at 2819 M St. NW had an unwelcome shopper Aug. 11, and the store manager knew it. She went to the local Georgetown Business GroupMe app — an online community that shares information or photos on suspicious shoppers, among other things — on her smartphone and asked for a “walk through” of the store by an officer of the Metropolitan Police Department. A policeman quickly arrived and checked out the suspect, who was with friends.

The suspect had taken off his ankle monitor and held an H&M shopping bag (now, for store employees, a well-known clue that a person may be looking to shoplift). The MPD officer struggled with the suspect and injured his (the officer’s) foot. The suspect was handcuffed and sat down on the sidewalk as about 15 MPD officers arrived on the scene. While grabbing the attention of passersby, the scene was quickly taken care of by MPD, the D.C. Fire Department and EMS, with both officer and suspect taken away in ambulances for a hospital checkup.
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Georgetowner •

Blues Alley: Poncho Sanchez

August 14th, 2015 at 08:00 PM | 40 | Tel: (202) 337-4141 | Event Website

Legendary percussionist Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band are performing live from Friday, August 14th through Sunday, August 16th. Inspired by the conga playing of Cuban great Mongo Santamaria, Sanchez honed his skills as a percussionist and broke into the limelight at the age of 23 when he joined vibraphonist Cal Tjader’s famed Latin jazz ensemble in 1975.

Address

Blues Alley; 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW

Mr. Knick Knack at Market Common Clarendon

August 14th, 2015 at 10:30 AM | 0 | isobel@taapr.com | Tel: 2026258370 | Event Website

Mr. Knick Knack, the DC areas most popular children’s entertainer, will perform weekly songs for the Market Common Clarendon community Friday morning’s beginning August 14 from 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM. Please join us on the following dates for child friendly entertainment and sing a longs!

August 14; August 21; August 28; September 4; September 11; September 18; and September 25

Address

Market Common Clarendon; 2700 Clarendon Blvd; Arlington VA 22201

Nakimuli Trunk Show

August 15th, 2015 at 02:00 PM | 0 | info@nubianhueman.com | Tel: 2023943386 | Event Website

Nakimuli end-of-summer trunk show at Nubian Hueman Boutique. The show displays the stunning Black Star / Jump Hi Collection at a 20%-50% discount for RSVP’d patrons. Designer McMillan has adorned celebrities such as Eva Marcille of America’s Next Top Model, Grammy Awards winners Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, Danielle Brooks of Orange Is The New Black, and music artists Jazmine Sullivan and Merrill Garbus of TuneYards. All pieces range in size from small to 3x-large.

Address

Nubian Hueman Boutique Lounge; 1231 Good Hope Rd SE

Dumbarton House: “The Search for Yarrow Mamout”

August 19th, 2015 at 06:30 PM | $15 for members (DCPL and DH/NSCDA); $25 for nom-members | Tel: (202) 783-5144 | Event Website

A Muslim former slave from West Africa, Yarrow Mamout purchased property located at what is now 3324 Dent Place, NW in 1796, where he lived until his death in 1823. Mamout became famous after Charles Wilson Peale painted his portrait in 1819 and for a later portrait painted by James Alexander Simpson in 1822. The search for Yarrow Mamout’s remains stems from an obituary circulated by Peale following Yarrow’s death that suggests he was buried in his backyard.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Yarrow Mamout Archaeology Project Field Director, Mia L. Carey will talk speak at Dumbarton House about the project’s research methods, findings, and more.

Address

Dumbarton House; 2715 Q St. NW

Georgetowner • August 17, 2015

Grace Church 22nd Annual Bach Festival

July 5th, 2015 at 03:00 PM | $20 | Event Website

Visit Georgetown’s historic Grace Church to experience Bach’s most iconic works as they come alive. Starting Sunday, July 5, at 3:00 p.m., the festival will include a series of concerts for $20 admission, concluding on Friday, July 10, with a final concert at 7:30 p.m.

Address

Grace Church; 1041 Wisconsin Ave NW

Pink Martini

July 10th, 2015 at 08:00 PM | Event Website

The self-described “little orchestra” has become an international phenomenon, “mixing glamour and sophisticated easy listening with multilingual songs and the unexpected” (The Guardian)—see them on tour for hits like “Sympathique,” “Amado mío,” “¿Dónde estás, Yolanda?” and more.

Address

Filene Center; 1551 Trap Road; Vienna, VA 22812

House + Walking Tours: Tudor Place and the Civil War Home Front

July 11th, 2015 at 10:00 AM | $8-$15 | press@tudorplace.org | Tel: 2029650400 | Event Website

Civil War brought uncertain times for Tudor Place and surrounding Georgetown. Learn in a unique house tour how owner Britannia Peter Kennon saved her family home by boarding Union officers. See where they dined, learn what they ate, and hear about the landlady’s special precautions to avoid charges of espionage. After breaking for lunch on your own, join the expert guided walking tour of historic Georgetown.

Address

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

National Ballet of China

July 14th, 2015 at 08:30 PM | Event Website

Fusing classical western ballet with traditional Chinese dance, this spellbinding performance tells the story of star-crossed lovers through luscious costumes and poetic staging.

Address

Filene Center; 1551 Trap Road; Vienna, VA 22812

Author Debriefing: The Billion-Dollar Spy

July 15th, 2015 at 12:00 PM | FREE | lhicken@spymuseum.org | Tel: (202) 654-0932 | Event Website

While getting into his car on a February evening in 1978, the chief of the CIA’s Moscow station was handed an envelope by an unknown Russian. Its contents stunned the Americans: details of top secret Soviet research and development in military technology that was totally unknown to the United States. From David Hoffman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Dead Hand, comes the riveting story of the CIA’s most valuable spy in the Soviet Union.

Address

800 F Street, NW

Jane Austen Film Festival Presents: Emma

July 15th, 2015 at 07:30 PM | Free | marketingintern@dumbartonhouse.org | Tel: 2023372288 | Event Website

There is no shortage of outdoor movies to choose from in Washington, D.C., this summer, but what sets the Jane Austen Film Festival apart is the picturesque backdrop of Dumbarton House, which The Georgetowner calls “a perfectly historical fit” for the romantic stories of the author. Dumbarton House will host the 4th Annual outdoor film series screening popular adaptations of some of the most beloved Jane Austen novels. Bring a blanket, bring a date, bring friends and family and come watch under the stars!

Address

2715 Q St NW

Cheers or Jeers

July 15th, 2015 at 07:30 PM | $10 | media@dcshorts.com | Tel: 202.393.4266 | Event Website

For 12 years, the D.C. Shorts Film Festival has presented the best short films from around the globe. Now, watch the ones that did not make the cut in an interactive evening of jeering in misery — and cheering for victory.

Address

Penn Social; 801 E St NW

Robert Devaney •

It takes the mayor to get some Georgetowners up and out early on Saturday morning.

Mayor Muriel Bowser brought her FitDC initiative to Ward 2 and Georgetown July 25 at Jelleff Recreation Center on S Street NW.
Bowser walked into the Jelleff parking lot, joined the group waiting for her arrival and started the line dance with Ward 2 FitDC coach Aimee Stoltz. After the warm up, officials and neighbors took a 1.5 mile walk on the east side of Georgetown along R Street and P Street that circled back to Jelleff.

Along with Department of Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt, M.D., and Keith Anderson, director of the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, Bowser encouraged everyone to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Bowser also discussed D.C.’s Billion Steps Challenge, which is like the Let’s Move! initiative, begun by first lady Michelle Obama. It is a citywide effort that encourages all D.C. residents to get active by collectively walking one billion steps. This challenge serves as a unique platform that will allow the FitDC coaches to encourage and motivate participants to get out, move more and make healthier choices resulting in better health outcomes. 
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Kelly Byrnes •

Benetton, the major fashion retailer that expanded across the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s, has now dwindled down to one American store following the sudden and quiet closing of its Washington, D.C., store in Georgetown.

Last week, the store, located on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street NW, was abruptly boarded up with no explanation of its closing. The brand’s name has also been removed from the building’s exterior wall.

Though the Italian-based company still has an international presence—particularly across Europe and South America–the Georgetown closing signals the end of Benetton’s era in the American fashion industry, as its New York City store is now its lone retailer in the country.

The dwindling number of American stores can be attributed to popularity of discount clothiers and the underperforming teen-apparel market. Famous retailers, such as J. Crew and Abercrombie & Fitch, are closing stores. Wet Seal, which used to be across the street from Benetton in Georgetown, has closed most of its stores.

Benetton was a giant of children’s fashion, largely in part to its United Colors of Benetton clothing line. The collection boasts vibrant, colorful pieces and had garnered attention through the use of eye-catching yet somewhat controversial advertising, which aimed to promote social awareness. At its peak, the brand had more than 500 stores in the U.S.

The Georgetown Benetton at 1200 Wisconsin Ave. NW was one of the first to be opened in the U.S. by retail marketing expert Iraklis Karabassis, who brought the popular, hip fashion house to White Flint Mall, its first ever spot in America. Head of IK Retail Group in Georgetown, Karabassis opened more than 100 Benetton stores in the U.S. and Canada. He sold his Benetton operation to the Benetton Group in 2008.

It is rumored that the Japanese retailer Uniqlo, which will open a Tyson’s Corner location next year, could become the next occupant of the three-story space, which once housed the National Bank of Washington.