Latest News

Robert Devaney • July 16, 2015

A man was found dead June 20 after 10 p.m. in the 3600 block of Calvert Street NW, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. He was identified as Joel Johnson, 53, and pronounced dead at the scene. He was stabbed and had other injuries.

Johnson was described by police as homeless and found in a courtyard of St. Luke’s Mission Center in Glover Park and next to the condominium, Georgetown Heights, close to the U.S. Naval Observatory.

According to MPD Second District Commander Melvin Gresham, “A number of homeless men were sleeping outside of the St. Luke’s Mission at Calvert and Wisconsin when an altercation resulted in one of the men being stabbed. The men were all associates, and this was not a random act.”

St. Luke’s Shelter is a small, year-round facility that helps homeless men transitioning into jobs, housing and recovery programs. The church merged with Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, where it holds services.

The Rev. Charles Parker, a pastor at Metropolitan, told the Washington Post that the killing “is a great tragedy and I think a real indictment of our community.” Parker, who said that Johnson was not staying at the shelter and did not know him, added that it is sad that those in need “don’t have the resources available that they need.”

No arrests have been made.

Georgetowner •

American Affinities: Pop Art from John Stango

June 26th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | Free | morgan@aproof.net | Tel: 202-803-2782 | Event Website

Artist’s Proof is proud to announce the unveiling of their upcoming exhibition, “American Affinities: Contemporary Pop Art from John Stango,” which features a compilation of works from artist John Stango starting Friday, June 26th to Sunday, July 19th. Stango builds upon traditional Pop Art imagery while incorporating influential contemporary brands and uniquely American icons to create bold, colorful, and dynamic pieces that resonate with twenty-first century pop culture energy.

Address

Artist’s Proof; 1533 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Guided Garden Tour: Historic & Growing

June 26th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | Free-$10 | press@tudorplace.org | Tel: 2029650400 | Event Website

This lively walk traces the history and horticulture of centuries-old trees, heirloom plants and flowers, and abundant English boxwood across the 5½-acre landscape. Learn how Tudor Place’s design reflects its Federal-period origins and how land use changed over time. Identify species cultivated here over two centuries, and see how four owners and six generations cared for and embellished their land as Georgetown and the Federal city developed.

Address

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

Book Hill Dog Parade

June 27th, 2015 at 8:00 AM | free | Tel: 202-944-2753

At the annual Dog Parade and Show, in Georgetown’s Book Hill Park, dogs will meet Uncle Sam, strut in the parade, and compete for prizes (best costume, best couple, best trick and others). The event is open to the public. Rain date: June 28.

Address

Book Hill Park is located behind the Georgetown Library at the corner of Reservoir Road and Wisconsin Avenue.

Garden Party

June 27th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | free | art@liveanartfullife.com | Tel: 540-253-9797 | Event Website

Live An Artful Life® Gallery will host a floral celebration of art with their show “Garden Party”. The show will feature artwork depicting a garden theme from a group of talented artists residing in Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The public is invited to vote for their favorite painting for the People’s Choice Award. An opening party is planned for the evening of June 27th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Show runs June 27 through July12, 2015.

Address

Live An Artful Life Gallery; 6474 Main Street; The Plains, VA 20198

Mosaic Live

June 27th, 2015 at 05:00 PM | FREE | mmcgarry@edens.com | Event Website

Join us the last weekend of June for a special FREE concert weekend presented in partnership with Jammin’ Java!

Saturday Night:

From 5-9 p.m., will feature food and drink from Mosaic partners, including DGS and Sisters Thai and concerts by

-Brain Stew, A Tribute to Green Day (6pm-6:45pm)

-Good Time Boys, A Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers(7pm-8pm)

Sunday Morning:

From 11am – 2pm, will feature local family favorites

-Rocknoceros (11:30am-12:20pm)

-Rainbow Rock (12:40pm-1:30pm)

Address

Mosaic District; 2910 District Avenue; Fairfax, Virginia 22031

El Centro D.F. Brings Back Its Popular Guacamole Festival

June 29th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | $12.55 to $14.75 | Tel: (202) 328-3131 | Event Website

Richard Sandoval’s vibrant Taqueria and Tequileria, El Centro D.F., is pleased to debut its popular Guacamole Festival, which will run June 29th through September 30th, 2015. The Festival will feature different flavors that highlight various regional experiences of preparing guacamole. Dating back to Aztec times, the traditional Mexican dip was comprised of avocado, onion, chilies, fresh tomato, and salt.

Address

1819 14th Street, NW

Tudor Tots: Summer Fun in the Sun

June 30th, 2015 at 10:00 AM | $5 per child. Free for adults | Tel: 2029650400115

Tudor Place has enchanted young children for almost two centuries. Experience it yourself on family-friendly Tuesday mornings, joining others to read, sing, and play in the picturesque gardens. Each week introduces a new theme, from “adventurous animals” to “growing gardens” and more. Children enjoy interactive read-alouds, songs, and themed movements related to the week’s topic, sharing a shady green and tranquil setting with the grown-ups who care for them.

Address

1644 31st Street NW

Peter Murray •

The Metropolitan Police Department has discovered 3 dead bodies in Washington waterways this week, and has attributed the discovery of those bodies to heavy recent rain.

The first body was found in the rear of the Swedish Embassy at the 2900 block of K Street NW. Officers appeared on the scene to investigate a “body floating in the water” and “discovered a deceased male,” according to an email from the department. Police say the body was in the water for an “undetermined amount of time” and that they do not know the cause, or the location, of the man’s death. The department has scheduled an autopsy to find out more about the man’s death Officials also said that the deceased man “carried identification” indicating North Carolina residency.

On Wednesday, police retrieved two bodies from the Tidal Basin and the Potomac River, respectively. U.S. Park Police called MPD to the scene when they discovered a partially submerged, “unconscious and unresponsive” adult male in the Tidal Basin around 6:30 a.m. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Meanwhile, MPD is continuing their investigation of the death as a homicide and asking anyone with information about the body to call the department at (202) 727-9099.

Lastly, MPD’s Homicide Branch is investigating unidentified remains that were found in the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center around noon Wednesday. The police said in a statement that MPD’s K-9 Unit was the first on the scene and that Office of the Chief Medical Examiner transported the body to their facilities for further investigation.

Georgetowner •

The National Mall is vibrant with American politics, history, and spirit. Now, it’s bursting with Peruvian pride as part of the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

The event, which kicked off Wednesday, celebrates traditional Peruvian culture with a lineup as diverse as the country itself. Throughout the eight-day festival, visitors of all backgrounds can immerse themselves in every aspect of Peru’s lively culture.

The festival will serve up traditional Peruvian eats from pork stew and potatoes in cream sauce, to more exotic fare like stingray jerky and Andean rodent, prepared by both native cooks and D.C. chefs in live demonstrations.

For those seeking fun and festive entertainment, a number of dance troupes and musical performers will showcase their roots through song and dance, representing an array of regions. Notable dances scheduled during the festival are the Masquerade, which celebrates la Mamacha Carmen, the patron saint of Paucartambo, and the country’s national dance, the Spanish-and-African-infused Marinera.

Hand-crafted Peruvian artwork and objects will also be displayed, including carved gourds, reed rafts, textiles, masks, jewelry, painted wood crafts, ceramics, and woven goods. The various crafts represent 4 distinct regions of Peru.

The festival is held now through June 28, as well as July 1-5, between Third and Fourth streets on the National Mall. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. everyday, with evening concerts taking place at 7 p.m. June 25, 26 and 27, as well as July 2 and 3.

Robert Devaney •

“Small business is the heart of America,” said Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans at the Georgetown Business Association’s Leadership Luncheon June 24 at Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place at Washington Harbour.

Businesses, small or otherwise, and their leaders and influencers were on full display at the longtime popular spot on the Potomac. The full list of honorees in room, along with the attendees, made for what was truly a business power lunch.

The event’s biggest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, went to P. Wesley “Wes” Foster, Jr., co-founder of Long & Foster Real Estate. Business Person of the Year was Charles Lawrence of the Secor Group and the Joe Pozell Public Safety Award was given to Metropolitan Police officers Christian DeRuvo and William Peterson. The Art Schultz Communitarian Award went to Leslie Buehler of Tudor Place, while Baked and Wired was named the Business of the Year. New Business of the Year, on the other hand, was awarded to Dog Tag Bakery. The Georgetown Preservation Award went to architect Robert Bell, who is reconstructing the old Georgetown Theater.

Evans also spoke on the D.C. budget and honed in on the $3 million earmarked for repairs to the C&O Canal and a new canal barge — a neighborhood treasure as well as major tourist attraction. The councilman also recalled when Washington, D.C., and its oldest neighborhood were hurting in the 1990s in contrast to today, which he referred to as a “golden age of Georgetown” while also noting the vibrancy of the 14th Street corridor downtown.

Pam Moore, the former president of the Citizens Association of Georgetown, introduced Leslie Buehler, outgoing executive director of Tudor Place, one of the most historic homes in the city with ties to the family of George Washington. Moore noted how residents and businesses “all work together . . . it is a golden age, as Jack says.” Buehler thanked the businesses “for embracing Tudor Place.”

Terry Bell of Salon Ilo introduced architect Robert Bell (no relation), who took on the task of improving “the ugliest building in Georgetown for the last 40 years.” The architect and now owner of the old theater said that the iconic “Georgetown” sign would soon return to be illuminated and hang over Wisconsin Avenue and look “fabulous for the next 100 years.”

At-large Council member Vincent Orange introduced the man of the hour, Wes Foster, who smiled when Orange read out part of Long & Foster’s annual report and said, “These are great numbers.”

Before anything else, Foster thanked the police — and then his wife Betty — before speaking of his 12,000 agents. Known for getting to the point and keep it real, Foster told the crowd, “Thanks for sticking around.” [gallery ids="102124,133745,133743,133748" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

There are 18 staffers and 11 fellows — 31 in total. The non-profit bakery, which opened at 3206 Grace St. NW in late 2014, receives no funding from the government but does work with federal agencies that provide resources for service members and families.

Co-founders Rev. Richard Curry, S.J., of Georgetown University, and Constance Milstein, of New York City, Washington, D.C. and Georgetown, began their labor of love eight years ago.

For Dog Tag’s very first employee, Chief Operating Officer Meghan Ogilvie, who worked in finance in New York, her meeting with Curry recounted a similar tale experienced by many involved with the non-profit bakery.

“My college roommate called me one day and told me about a family friend, Father Richard Curry, who was looking to start a nonprofit for veterans,” Ogilvie recalled. “She knew I’d be interested as I’m from a Marine Corps family, with my father who served 26 years and my sister who served for eight.” Ogilvie sent her resume but got no response. Her friend was getting married, Ogilvie was a bridesmaid — and the officiant at her wedding was none other than Curry. “I found him at the rehearsal dinner and began my pitch — by the end of the weekend I had a job offer.” She started April 2012.

For Ogilvie, Dog Tag Bakery means opportunity and empowerment. “One percent of the country voluntarily signed up to protect the other 99 percent. Our organization provides quality opportunities for our veterans and spouses to take advantage of and empower their lives moving forward. It’s on the fellows to take charge of their lives, and we are here to be a support for the transition into the civilian workforce,” she said.

Are there other Dog Tag Bakeries to come? “Once we perfect the program at our Georgetown location, we look forward to opening up in cities across the country,” Ogilvie said.

Job applicants can visit DogTagInc.org. Customers can go to the bakery, or visit DogTagBakery.com.

Robert Devaney •

The Georgetown–Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E held its July meeting June 29 to discuss, among other things, home rentals and the city’s archaeological survey of 3324 Dent Place NW, the lot on which freed slave Yarrow Marmout lived.

On home rentals, the commission touched on both short- and long-term rentals with regard to Airbnb “party houses” and Georgetown University student rentals, respectively. D.C. Department of Consumer Regulatory Affairs acting director Melissa Bolling appeared at the meeting to talk about both issues.

Commissioner Tom Birch raised a number of concerns that Georgetowners have about short-term rentals, including their use as “party houses.” Despite legal issues surrounding Airbnb rentals in D.C., Bolling said her agency can only flag problem houses based on complaints related to excessive noise or other problems. She noted that DCRA is considering new rules on short-term rentals akin to those the D.C. Taxi Commission have considered regarding Uber.

On off-campus student housing, Bolling said that DCRA wants properties rented out by GU students “in the system” in order to make sure the dwellings are safe, inspected and licensed to be rented. She said DCRA will be conducting “surprise” inspections this summer to further that goal.

Also at the meeting, Ruth Trocolli, the D.C.’s chief archaeologist, gave an update on the dig underway at the Yarrow Marmout lot on Dent Place. She and field director Mia Carey have high hopes that the dig will uncover artifacts that will shine a light on Marmout and Georgetown’s African American history more broadly.

Marmout, who was taken from Guinea and enslaved, was educated and became a successful merchant in town. His life was recounted in the book, “From Slave Ship to Harvard: Yarrow Mamout and the History of an African American Family.”

To support the project, contact the D.C. Preservation League to donate towards its goal of raising $7,000. According to the league, “This project is being conducted by the D.C. Historic Preservation Office with the assistance of student and community volunteers. The funds will be used to conduct remote sensing of the site, hire a professional earth moving team to remove fill and to purchase necessary supplies to complete the project.”

Georgetowner •

Writing and singing in 1963, Bob Dylan gave us an anthem for the 1960s in “The Times They Are A-Changin’ ”: Vietnam, the counter culture, civil rights tragedies and triumphs and assassinations.

Dylan, who remains with us as a crusty, gravelly sage, may himself be astonished by how change dances through the street these days, multitasking at will. Last week, change was a daily dancer, the kind we’ve hardly ever seen before. In a week marked in red by the prior week’s murder of nine parishioners at a historic black church in Charleston, change charged into our lives — especially here, but everywhere else, too — with an almost brusque confidence.

It was an especially good and transformative week for President Barack Obama, who suddenly had a legacy in hand as, first, Congress handed him a hard-fought victory on his trade deal, then the Supreme Court (now and forever SCOTUS in this acronym-favoring and acrimonious society) upheld the president’s health-care program by a convincing 6-3 vote. On the following historic day, the court ruled 5-4 that same-sex couples were allowed to marry nationwide, with Justice Anthony M. Kennedy providing the key vote and an eloquent, moving rationale.

Suddenly — President Obama called the gay-marriage decision a thunderbolt — it seemed we had witnessed something transformative. A cultural earthquake had shaken the body politic, resulting in tremors of jubilation and, for shocked opponents, tremors of fear.

Republicans were said to have a hard time of it, which did not prevent every single so-far-announced candidate, from Bush to what’s-his-or-her-name, from announcing the old bromide: we will fight for repeal of Obamacare. It’s as if they were wearing their old hand-me-downs, still lamely saying what they were against and failing to articulate what they were for.

This was a remarkable difference from the GOP response to the shootings by a self-proclaimed white supremacist in South Carolina. Many Southern GOP officials, governors and presidential candidates called for getting rid of the Confederate flags on public display, in one way or another.

The tragedy also turned out to be a triumph for the president. It was as if the old Obama, the rhetorically gifted and inspiring young candidate of 2008, had reappeared in a stirring eulogy for the Rev. Clementa Pinckney. With an act of amazing grace, he led four thousand parishioners in the singing of “Amazing Grace.”

It seemed to many that these were watershed days, when a rainbow flag of love seemed to replace a flag that inspired hate, when progressives moved from being seen as knee-jerk, PC liberals to the grand masters of inclusion and tolerance, injected by a fresh spirit. Their friends on the other side of the aisle seemed suddenly old, entranced by the past.

But, before the next thing happens, let’s listen again to Mr. Dylan’s words: “As the present now/Will later be past/The order is rapidly fadin’/And the first one now will later be last/For the times they are a-changin’.”

Kelly Byrnes •

Dozens of protesters gathered July 9 at the Old Post Office Pavilion, the site slated to become the Trump Hotel next year, to join forces against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

At the same time, a smaller group of Trump supporters also showed up near the protestors.

Led by local elected officials and activists of community groups, the crowd voiced anger towards Trump’s recent comments in which he degraded Latinos and Mexican immigrants, referring to them as “criminals” and “rapists.”

At the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Street NW, shadow Sen. Paul Strauss (D) of the District of Columbia rallied the crowd, saying, “This building is on the people’s land, and it is the American people’s building. The Trump name stands for nothing but intolerance and hate.”

Strauss cited recent racial victories, including the passage of a bill to take down the Confederate flag from the statehouse in South Carolina and the court ruling to cancel the Washington Redskins trademark registrations over concerns that they convey a derogatory image of Native Americans, to provoke passion from the crowd.  

Latino presence was strong at the protest, with participants vigorously chanting Spanish phrases, such as “Si se puede” –translated to English as “Yes, we can.”

Maryland state Sen. Jamie Raskin (D) called upon the Republican Party and its constituents to recognize Trump’s controversial comments. He also urged citizens of Maryland, D.C. and Virginia to “boycott Trump hotels, boycott Trump casinos and boycott Trump politics.”  

The protest comes just one day after celebrity chef Jose Andres, a Spanish immigrant, backed out of plans to head a restaurant in the upcoming Trump Hotel.

Trump has faced plenty of backlash for his discriminatory comments, as NBC, Univision and Macy’s have all cut their corporate ties with the business mogul. 
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Robert Devaney •

West End Cinema, the independent movie theater at 23rd and M Streets NW that closed March 31 after four years of operation, will re-open July 17 as part of Landmark Theatres, the cinema chain announced this week.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Landmark Theatres is known for showing documentaries, independent and foreign films and operates 50 theaters — 229 screens in 21 markets — across the U.S. Its first spot in D.C. was E Street Cinema at 555 11th St. NW in Penn Quarter, and it also operates Bethesda Row Cinema. In 2016, Landmark’s footprint in D.C. will expand with new screens in the old Atlantic Plumbing building at 8th and V streets NW later this year and at the Capitol Point project at New York Avenue and N Street NE, one block from the NoMa/Gallaudet U Metro station.

Previously known as the Inner Circle triplex before Josh Levin revived the place as West End Cinema, the new theater in the West End neighborhood will have two screens, and its lobby service will include alcoholic beverages.

Landmark President Ted Mundorff said that the new M Street venue will “bring even more films and events to the Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom and Georgetown neighborhoods.”