Uber Begins Delivery Service Test in D.C.
• August 28, 2014

Private car hire service Uber began a product delivery service Aug. 19, only in Washington, D.C.

Its “Corner Store” will be available, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, within certain D.C. neighborhoods. There is no service fee and no minimum-purchase requirement for products delivered to your door, as drivers make use of some of their down time.

Announced Uber on its blog: “No need to race to the store after a long day at the office — now you can request allergy medicine, diapers, toothpaste and over 100 other items through the Uber app. This limited-time-only experiment will run for a month.”

Uber’s grocery delivery area is limited and includes Georgetown, Foggy Bottom, Adams Morgan, Upper Northwest, downtown around the White House and Capitol Hill. (No fresh produce is expected to be delivered.)

Other companies that offer same-day delivery include Amazon’s AmazonFresh, a grocery service it offers in Seattle and California. Google offers its Shopping Express, another delivery service which pulls from Costco, Whole Foods and others and operates in San Francisco and being expanded to Los Angeles and New York.

Uber will see how its experiment goes and may later extend and expand the service.

For 200th Anniversary, Star-Spangled Banner Is Unfurled in Sight of the White House
•

The 200th anniversary of the capture and burning of Washington by British forces during the War of 1812, “America’s Second War of Independence,” was marked at several spots in D.C. on Sunday, Aug. 24.

Perhaps, one of the more poignant activities of the day was the flag lesson by the National Park Service at the White House Ellipse. With the south lawn and White House in the background, visitors and ordinary citizens got to learn about the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner, as they held and unfolded and re-folded a full-sized replica of the 30-foot by 42-foot U.S. flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write what became our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Dressed as Key, park ranger Vincent Vaise of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine explained the meaning of the flag and the importance of the War of 1812 in America’s growth to greatness.

Some persons walking by the huge flag stopped to hear the talk by Vaise and wound up helping to hold the flag. It was an unexpected history and civics lesson for several. The White House was burned by British troops 200 years ago to the day on Aug. 24.

Meanwhile, in Georgetown, it was Dolley Day at Dumbarton House, to where first lady Dolley Madison fled from the White House on Aug. 24, 1814. Children and parents enjoyed old-time games, crafts as well as Dolley cake and ice cream, which Mrs. Madison popularized.

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Weekend Round Up August 21, 2014
• August 25, 2014

Summer Block Party Late Night

August 21st, 2014 at 05:00 PM | marcommintern@nbm.org | Event Website

Enjoy extended Museum hours to visit exhibitions, navigate the BIG maze, and nosh at Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue.

Address

National Building Museum; 401 F St. NW

EPL at RiRa Georgetown

August 21st, 2014 at 07:45 AM | $4 Heineken, Newcastle and Strongbow during every game! | Tel: (202) 751 2111 | Event Website

All the action on our big screens! $4 Heineken, Newcastle and Strongbow during every game!

Aston Villa vs Newcastle: 7.45am Swansea vs Burnley: 10am Southampton vs West Brom: 10am Chelsea vs Leicester: 10am

Address

Rí Rá Georgetown; 3125 M STREET NW

Georgetown Family Festival

August 23rd, 2014 at 10:00 AM | info@dumbartonhouse.org | Event Website

Dumbarton House invites you to a weekend full of events that are fun for the whole family. Programs include, Georgetown walking tours, ice cream making, a Dolley cake, and Federal period games and crafts. Events begin Saturday, August 23rd at 10am and conclude Sunday, August 24th at 4pm.Admission to the museum is free this weekend.

Address

Dumbarton House; 2715 Q ST, NW

Sunset Yoga & Pilates in the Park

August 26th, 2014 at 06:00 PM | Event Website

The Georgetown BID, in partnership with Georgetown yoga and pilates studios, will host free one-hour sunset yoga and pilates sessions in the park throughout the summer. Sessions will begin at 6 p.m. in Georgetown Waterfront Park near the intersection of Potomac Street and K Street (Water Street). Please check in upon arrival at the information booth and pick up free water and light refreshments. You must bring your own yoga mat! Space is limited, and RSVPs are required. Namaste.

Address

Georgetown Waterfront Park

Salamander Resort & Spa Celebrates its First Year Anniversary with a Birthday Bash Weekend

August 29th, 2014 at 06:30 PM | $30 | Tel: 800.651.0721 | Event Website

– Salamander Resort & Spa is celebrating its first anniversary with a fun-filled Birthday Bash over Labor Day Weekend featuring numerous activities, contests and packages. – the resort will host a Birthday Bubbles celebration from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Filled with bottomless sparkling wine, birthday sweets and live entertainment, the event will take place on the Grand Terrace and Lawn. Admission is $30 per person.

Address

500 North Pendleton Street; Middleburg, VA 20117

Unique Events Mark 200th Anniversary of Washington’s Capture and Burning
•

Sunday marks the 200th anniversary of the Capture and Burning of Washington by British forces during the War of 1812, “America’s Second War of Independence.”

On Aug. 24, 1814, Gen. Robert Ross and his troops set fire to the U.S. Capitol, Treasury, White House and other public buildings. No private property was put to the torch. Nevertheless, many Washington residents fled to Georgetown, D.C., and then to the wilds of Virginia and Maryland. Days later, President James Madison and first lady Dolley Madison returned to Washington, D.C., only to see a burned-out Executive Mansion. The capital resolved to rebuild, and America began its drive to greatness as a nation.

To commemorate the bicentennial of this long-ago British invasion, events abound in D.C. and Maryland. They include a “Flee the British” 5K at Congressional Cemetery, Dolley Day at Dumbarton House in Georgetown, an unfurling of an original-size Star-Spangled Banner replica on the Ellipse, a 1812-style Sunday service at Christ Church on Capitol Hill and a dinner at Martin’s Tavern from the White House menu of Aug. 24, 1814 , “The Meal That Was Never Served.”

Aug. 23 to 24 — War of 1812 Family Festival & Dolley Day

Walking tours, ice cream making, Dolley cake, Federal period games, and crafts from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St., NW. Tickets are $10. For details, call 202-337-2288.

Aug. 23 to 24 — The Battle of Bladensburg Commemoration and Monument Unveiling

A day-long festival of events including a reenactment, musical performances, children’s village, Food Truck Rally, and fireworks at Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, Md., following the unveiling of the new Battle of Bladensburg Monument. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free. For details, call 301-887-0777.

Aug. 24 — Flee the British 5K at Congressional Cemetery

Commemorate the 200th anniversary of the British invasion of D.C. with a 5K run at 8 a.m. at the Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St., SE, among graves of many of the key players in the War of 1812 — www.CongressionalCemetery.org/flee-British-5k — 202-543-0539.

Aug. 23 — Meet Dolley Madison at the Ellipse

At President’s Park, the White House Ellipse, Washington, D.C.– 10 a.m. and noon. The United States Park Service will feature a park ranger dressed as Dolley Madison, with a 30-minute presentation about the first lady’s role in the War of 1812.

Aug. 24 — Full-Sized Star-Spangled Banner at the Ellipse

At President’s Park, White House Ellipse, visitors will get to hold — 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. — a full-sized replica of the 30-foot by 42-foot U.S. flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Chief of Interpretation Vincent Vaise will highlight the British capture of Washington, D.C., the burning of the White House and the successful Defense of Baltimore. Visitors will understand how the events of August and September 1814 shaped how many Americans currently see the flag as the symbol of the spirit of the American people and how that spirit of resilience led to the rebuilding of the Capitol and White House after the War of 1812.

Aug. 24 — The Key Story

At President’s Park, White House Ellipse, 1:30 p.m., meet Francis Scott Key, author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” as he is portrayed by a park ranger. Learn about Key’s life as a father and lawyer in Georgetown, Key’s role in defending Washington, the series of events that led to his writing the song that later becomes the national anthem and his active role in Washington politics after the War of 1812. A lively question and answer session will follow the formal presentation.

Museum Open Houses

Aug. 24 — Family Day at National Museum of the U.S. Navy

It is Family Day at the Washington Navy Yard on August 24, noon to 4 p.m. — and to commemorate two of the most important events of the War of 1812: the Battle of Bladensburg and the burning of the Washington Navy Yard, the National Museum of the United States Navy will open the new exhibit “Defeat to Victory: 1814-1815” — 202-433-6897 or 202-433-6826 — www.history.navy.mil/NMUSN.

Aug. 24 — Decatur House Open House

The White House Historical Association invites all to a War of 1812 Open House at Decatur House, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the burning of Washington — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Aug. 24 — Octagon House Open House

Visit the home where the Madisons lived, following the burning of the White House on Aug. 24, 1814. The museum, now a part of the American Institute of Architects, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. to the public.

Aug. 24 — Commemorative Services at Christ Church on Capitol Hill

Join worshippers at historic Christ Church on Capitol Hill to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Burning of Washington, D.C. on Aug. 24, 1814. At both its 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services on Aug. 24, Christ Church will be worshiping in the 1806 building in which its congregation would have worshiped in 1814, using the same Episcopal service that would have been used the Sunday after the Burning of Washington. The rector of Christ Church on that historic day, the Rev. Mr. McCormick, was involved in dealing with the British after they marched into the city and started the burning.

Historic Walking Tours

Aug. 24 — Washington Is Burning! 2-Part Walking Tour

The Aug. 24, 1814 conflagration ignited by British troops invading Washington, D.C. is the subject of a two-part walking tour offered by Washington Walks, a D.C.-based walking tour company. Guides will lead participants along the route British soldiers took as they marched through America’s capital city, setting ablaze key government buildings and military targets. Many of the sites are included on the “Star-Spangled Banner Trail,” a 560-mile land and water route that tells the story of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay region. Part one of the walking tour takes place in the morning, visiting the Sewall-Belmont House, U.S. Capitol, former sites of the U.S. Patent Office and Washington Daily National Intelligencer newspaper, amongst others. Following a break for lunch, the second half of the walk takes in War of 1812 history in the vicinity of the White House; the former site of Rhodes Tavern, U.S. Treasury building, Dolley Madison house, and the White House itself are a few of the featured stops. The tour concludes at the Octagon, one of the oldest houses in Washington, D.C., and site of the treaty signing that ratified the end of the war. Here tour participants will encounter first lady Dolley Madison, who became the Octagon’s most famous resident when it served as temporary home for President James Madison and his wife, following the destruction of the White House. Washington Walks has partnered with the History Warehouse, an organization that provides living history performers for commemorative events. History Warehouse founder and professional actor Leigh Jameson specializes in portraying Dolley Madison — www.washingtonwalks.com/tours/washington-is-burning-august-1814.

Aug. 24 — Georgetown During the War of 1812

Meet 10 a.m. at Dumbarton House’s East Garden at the corner of Q and 27th Streets, NW, for a two-hour walking tour of historic Georgetown devoted to the events of the War of 1812. Join Dwane Starlin, a member of the Guild of Professional Guides of Washington, D.C., for a tour de force of Georgetown during the “Second Revolutionary War,” Visit and view that areas of Georgetown that were part of the conflict, which finally established the United States as a country and not a just a former British colony. The tour ends at the Francis Scott Key Park.

Aug. 20 to 25 — Pride of Baltimore II Tall Ship at the Navy Yard

Tour and demonstrations of the Pride of Baltimore — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. — at the Washington Navy Yard in Southeast.

Aug. 24 — Wreath-Laying at Navy Memorial

To remember those who fought at the Battle of Bladensburg 200 years ago, there will be a wreath laying ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Navy Memorial Plaza, 701 Pennsylvannia Ave., NW. In attendance will be representatives from the U.S. Navy, United States Marine Corps, Great Britain, and Canada.

Aug. 23 and 24 — National Park Service Freedom Plaza Programs

Walking tours and re-enactments, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th Street, NW.

Aug. 24 — White House Dinner at Billy Martin’s Tavern

Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown (1264 Wisconsin Ave., NW) will be serving “The Dinner That Was Never Served” (at the White House on Aug. 24, 1814, when British troops burned the Capitol and White House) 200 years later, on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014. The menu consists of what the 40 guests might have been served, as President James Madison’s cabinet and military officers intended to toast what they assumed would be a victory at the Battle of Bladensburg on Aug. 24, 1814.

BID Can Help You Create a Parklet

• August 20, 2014

The Georgetown Business Improvement District wants to help create parkets around town. The following is from the Georgetown BID:

D.C.’s PARK(ing) Day will be Sept. 19. PARK(ing) Day is an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks, sometimes called “parklets.”

The Georgetown BID will assist businesses interested installing a temporary park near their location obtain the required permits from the District Department of Transportation. The temporary parklets must be located in a metered parking space where there are no rush-hour restrictions. They must also be open to the public and free of commercial activity.

The BID will also grant a $500 stipend to up to five innovative parklet designs.

Mayor’s Race: Washington, D.C., Progressive City
•

Jim Hudson was present at the creation. By that, I mean he was an active participant in the first mayoral election for Washington, D.C., in 1974.
Hudson was a close and trusted adviser to Mayor Walter Washington, who was appointed mayor by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967. The District was granted limited sovereignty after Congress passed the Home Rule Act in 1973. A provision of the law specified that elections were to be held for mayor and the 13-member District Council.

Washington faced Clifford Alexander in the very first race for mayor. Washington beat Alexander. But what Hudson stressed to me in a recent conversation was that no mayor has ever been elected in D.C. without being a Progressive.

Washington and Alexander proudly wore the Progressive mantle. Every mayor since would embrace that moniker. Marion Barry, Sharon Pratt Dixon, Tony Williams, Adrian Fenty and Vincent Gray. Hudson is a sage observer of the D.C. political scene. He has been a major fundraiser and strategist for most D.C. candidates. He is an ardent supporter of Muriel Bowser, and he is a good and loyal friend of mine. (Don’t hold that against him.)

Hudson’s main point is, above all, this is a Progressive city. All you have to do is look at the staggering numbers Progressive presidential candidates have racked up every four years since 1964. The current president outdoes all of them with 92 percent and 91 percent in 2008 and 2012, respectively.
Hudson believes that Bowser is in that Progressive tradition and thus will win easily. In fact, he estimates she will win by 25 points. Bowser will never win any contest for charisma. Yet in Hudson’s view by inclination, ideology and philosophy, Bowser is in tune and in sync with the D.C. electorate.
His not too subtle inference is that David Catania is not. Nowhere is that more apparent in my view than Catania’s selection of his campaign chair, Sharon Ambrose.

Ambrose is a former Council member from Ward 6. No one would ever accuse her of being a Progressive. Before being elected to the District Council, she served as chief staff member to non-Progressive councilmembers, Betty Ann Kane and John Ray.

Kane was the only member of the council to vote against a moratorium on condo conversion and Ray eagerly sought to do away with rent control. By picking Ambrose to lead his campaign, Catania is sending a clear signal of his political leanings and posture.

Watch for Bowser to tie Catania to anti-Progressive stands. His opposition to paid sick leave comes immediately to mind. Bowser will seek to portray Catania as alien to the political tradition of this Progressive town. It is probably her strongest card to play. What Bowser lacks in personal appeal, she hopes will be more than compensated for by claiming that she “is one of us.”

To Progressive African-Americans and Progressive whites and Hispanics, Bowser wants you to know and believe she fits, while Catania definitely and deliberately does not.

*Mark Plotkin has been writing about the mayor’s race for the Georgetowner and will be doing so until the election in November. He is a political analyst and contributor to BBC on American politics.*

Floating Food Boat Coming to the Potomac
•

Thanks to Nauti Foods, D.C’s first food boat, paddlers on the Potomac River can now grab a quick bite to eat, starting this weekend. Nauti Foods will partner with local food vendors, such as Dolcezza Gelato, Bullfrog Bagels and Sticky Fingers, to offer a wide variety of snacks to anyone on the Potomac.

“We will be serving a variety of food on our boat,” said Ari Fingeroth, co-founder of Nauti Foods. “Hot dogs, healthy snacks, baked goods, ice cream and non-alcoholic drinks on board.”

“I have been boating for 15 years now,” Fingeroth said. “I think there is a high demand of quick access to food amongst the kayakers on the river so I came up with the idea of floating food boats.”

The Nauti Foods boat will be stationed north of Key Bridge on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings. The business hours will be flexible, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays, noon to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

For more information and updates, follow Nauti Foods (@nautifoods) on Twitter and Facebook.

Jack Evans Report
•

It’s hard to believe that the first day of school in the District is coming up next week. You read that right. Monday, August 25th marks the beginning of another school year for our students. The new school year always makes me reflect on the state of our schools, and think about where we still need to go.

Two years ago, Francis-Stevens and Garrison Elementary School in Ward 2 were on a list of proposed schools to close. I joined with parents, teachers, neighbors and many other members of the community to object to closing these two important Ward 2 neighborhood schools. I’m proud that we were able to keep those schools open and I’m happy to report that both schools are continuing to thrive.

Francis-Stevens School, now the School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens, has seen huge enrollment growth in the last year, only highlighting the importance of keeping that school open for the neighborhood. The school community is working hard to foster that neighborhood impact and recently announced its inaugural community auction, organized by the school’s Home & School Association, which will take place on October 18. Positive school news extends to Georgetown as well, as the first phase of the expansion and modernization at Hyde-Addison is underway!
Our schools here in Ward 2 are strong and getting stronger, but there’s always more we can do to help. I’ll just highlight two opportunities for residents to get involved with the important work of enhancing our schools. This Saturday, August 23 is the D.C. Public Schools’ annual Beautification Day from 9am-1pm at schools all across the city. You can still sign up to help online at bit.ly/BDay2014.

The other opportunity for people to get involved is by joining the Ward 2 Education Network. The ‘Ed Network’ is a group of concerned parents and community members who advocate for strong Ward 2 schools, share information with fellow communities members and provide public comment on proposed education policies. You can learn about the work they are doing and their upcoming meetings by contacting the group at W2EdNetwork@gmail.com.

Education continues to be an important issue for me and I will work vigorously on the Council to continue the improvements we’ve seen in our schools. In addition to improving school quality and modernizing our facilities, I will continue to work to support school libraries, as well as art, music and physical education classes in our schools. I will also work to expand middle school seats within our ward and push to explore the feasibility of a full-scale public high school right here in Ward 2.

Dump the Dumpsters
•

If you have been traveling around Georgetown within the last several months, you may have thought to yourself that there seems to a lot of dumpsters here — from 36th to 26th Street.
Well, you are right: it is time to rein in the proliferation of these giant metal boxes which steal parking spaces for months, are an eyesore and are used by others for a trash toss. At $150 a pop for six months to the District government, that’s just about free for million-dollar renovators. It is time to review the requirements and fees for such usage.

At the same time, let’s look at how many service vans simply line up along the street for work at one home. Last week, 31st Street near Christ Church looked ridiculous: at least three Harvey Hottel vans in a row plus other vehicles at both sides of the street — and, of course, a long-sitting dumpster. Work on the other side of town at Prospect House and Halcyon House is kept to a low roar and annoyance by the smart use of dump trucks. All over town, there are workers’ vehicles, simply parked near a project. A parking ticket for my guys? No problemo. That’s part of the bill, Mr. & Mrs. Homeowner.

Let’s hope the September meeting of the Georgetown-Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission gets a handle on all of this. Otherwise, let’s simply dump the dumpsters.

Police to Issue Tickets to Litterers
• August 18, 2014

Beginning Sept. 1, a new anti-littering law will be enforced by the Metropolitan Police, which will allow officers to issue $75 Notice of Violation for littering to any pedestrians caught littering on public space, in waterways or on someone else’s private property.

If you are issued an NOV for littering, you are then required to provide your accurate name and your address to the officer. If you refuse or fail to do so, you can be arrested. When convicted, the litterer will be fined an additional $100 to $250 by D.C. Superior Court. The fines will double when an individual fails to respond to the ticket either by paying or appealing the ticket to the Office of Administrative Hearing.

During August, police officers are writing warnings to litterers in the First, Second, Third, Fifth and Seventh Police Districts to educate the public about the possible consequences of the upcoming littering law enforcement.

A driver of any vehicle — where an officer sees either the driver or any passenger throw out trash of any kind on to any public space, such as streets, alleys and sidewalks — will continue to be fined with a $100 ticket.