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Gary Tischler • October 10, 2014

And then there was one.

The Citizens Association of Georgetown had invited the three major candidates running for mayor in the Nov. 4 general election to its debate and candidate forum Sept. 24. It’s almost a traditional ritual for community groups in neighborhoods throughout the city at election time, when candidates get a chance to duke it out on issues at the local level.

But that was before Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser, after avoiding any and all debates up until that point, announced that she would be participating in only four debates before the November, the first of which was held Sept. 17 at American University, an affair that produced some heated back-and-forths, but not much substantive debate.

Fellow Independent candidate and D.C. veteran councilmember and often-times mayoral candidate Carol Schwartz, who is Jewish, regretfully opted out because of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year celebration. CAG president Pamla Moore said a call to Bowser’s campaign office produced a “We’ll get back to you” promise that never materialized.

So, Councilmember David Catania, who entered the fray back in April right before the Democratic Primary which Bowser won going away over scandal-plagued Mayor Vincent Gray, was for one night the only mayoral candidate on the dais, as he talked and answered questions from a panel that consisted of Georgetowner editor-in-chief Robert Devaney, David Kennedy, publisher of the Current newspapers, and Topher Matthews of the Georgetown Metropolitan before a packed audience at Dumbarton House of Q Street.

This kind of situation, leaving one candidate at an event which was billed as a debate among three candidates, can be a pitfall for the candidate or an opportunity. Catania clearly turned the turn of events into an opportunity to show off his ability to articulate policy matters and issues with sometimes long, but often revelatory explanations, to flash an appealing smile, along with some humor and warmth. Given Catania’s reputation for having a sharp temper—which never materialized—this was an experience-rich, smart, even visionary performance by a tough candidate who seemed to have the talents and strengths to run a credible campaign against Bowser. There was no sign in this confident Catania that he was trailing big-time in the most recent poll.

Faced with a question on how it felt to be the only candidate to show up at the CAG event, Catania resisted the temptation to take a shot at Bowser and instead said only that these events are important and an important part of democratic elections, that they allow people to have contact with the candidates contacts, learn about them and help voters to make an informed decision. “These debates are an obligiation that we owe to the voters,” he said.

Catania showed himself to be a walking encyclopedia on issues facing a Washington, D.C., which is blessed with a booming economy, about which he was not quite so sanguine. “We can look at all the cranes on our horizon and think that we’re doing really well,” he said. “The truth is that we’re in the middle of something of a recession. Our economy is based in large parts on government jobs and government activities, and that part of the economy is shrinking. We’ve lost government jobs, and they’re very difficult to replace without the proper education and training. We have a shrinking economic component.”

“Our biggest priorities—in addition to education—are to narrow the achievement gap, to address the fact that we have an affordable housing crisis and to safeguard our economic future,” Catania said.

He then launched into a fully detailed talk about health care, new economy jobs, infrastructure, human capital. “We need to have trained engineers,” he said. “Engineering jobs are job multipliers. It’s our best job creator. An engineering job creates 4.2 jobs around it.”

Catania said in a previous debate that he would prefer delaying the school boundaries issue for a year. “I think some very good work has been done here,” he said. “But we have to think in terms of fairness also, about what kind of schools we are creating—we allocate equal amounts of moneys to every school—which is to say a high-quality school with affluent and concerned parents gets the same amount of money a school in a poorer area with single parents does, which strikes me as unfairly advantageous to one school over another. That’s what a fair funding bill would be about.”

“When it comes to housing, we need to determine who needs housing the most—not just the homeless, but people with low incomes, and struggling middle class people,” he said. “Somebody once described a crisis as being “desperate but not serious.” Well, the housing crisis is desperate and serious. … When it comes to charter schools, we need to make sure that this doesn’t come down to DCPS [D.C. Public Schools] and charter schools sniping at each other. They have to work together. We can’t have an atmosphere of attacks.”

Catania was asked why he has not responded to questions about whether or not to retain key public officials like Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson and Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier. “Look, we do not as yet have a successor to the current mayor, and candidates don’t have any business talking as if they were mayor now,” he responded. “The chief and the chancellor answer to the mayor, not to me or to any other candidate. And I think you are inviting mischief, and you can do a lot of harm by talking about what you might or might not do.”

Asked about legalizing marijuana in the District, Catania said, “You’re talking about something that is likely to happen—it is happening elsewhere already.” Then, he told a very funny tale about his mother talking to him about drugs when he was five years old. “She would give me these detailed explanations about pros and cons, legality and such and then say sweetly, ‘And I know you won’t be doing anything like that because I would kill you if you do.’ Look, there’s a trajectory on this issue which is plain to see, but we should also look carefully at what happens in Colorado and Washington State.”

He may be, as he asserted, “a convener and a generalist,” but Catania also showed off a gift for attention to and articulation of details. All of which can be found in his campaign book “David Catania’s Vision to Security Our City’s Future,” a full-color, fully illustrated, 126-page tome — complete with graphs and interviews — that reads like Catania talks.

An occasion like this was, of course, all good for Catania, but then again, Bowser at least has no one but herself to blame for that.

Robert Devaney •

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E will hold its October meeting, 6:30 p.m., tonight, Sept. 29, at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 35th Street and Volta Place, NW, Heritage Room, main building, second floor. This following is tonight’s meeting agenda, as provided by ANC 2E.

Approval of the Agenda

Approval of September 29, 2014, ANC Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative

Approval of September 2, 2014, Meeting Minutes Public Safety Report Financial Report and FY 2015 Budget Transportation Report — Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge Repairs DPW Report

Introduction of first-time candidates for ANC 2E.

Community Comment

New Business

DDOT– Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge Construction Plans

Georgetown BID proposal for pedestrian use during one weekend in October of a parking lane in one block of M Street.
Volta Park Day

A proposal to name the alley behind 3213-3227 Volta Place, NW.

Dumpsters on residential streets in Georgetown and Burleith

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of D.C. Home Rule

ABC

3401 K St. NW, Gypsy Sally’s Acoustic Tavern, LLC., ABRA license No. 090582

2622 P St. NW, After Peacock Room, Inc., ABRA license No. 095964

Bon Appetit Management Co. for the Georgetown University Healey Family Student Center Pub, ABRA license No. 096001

Zoning

3000 M Street, NW, Latham Hotel, BZA 18845, Application for variance relief from the rear yard, parking, and loading requirements and special exception approval to locate 20 parking spaces in an off-site parking facility to permit the conversion of an existing hotel with accessory retail into a mixed-use residential and retail building (Hearing Date 10/28/14).

Old Georgetown Board

PRIVATE PROJECTS

1. SMD 02,1826 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. OG 14-320 (HPA 14-601) Commercial 2-story rear addition, roof deck at 3rd floor, green wall Revised Concept

2. SMD 03, 3137 O Street, NW. OG 14-287 (HPA 14-564) Residence 2-story rear addition Revised Concept

3. SMD 03, 3127 Dumbarton Street, NW. OG 14-345 (HPA 14-678) Residence Roof deck – existing Permit

4. SMD 05, 3220 Prospect Street, NW. OG 14-353 (HPA 14-686) (Square 1207, Lots 104, 838-841, 843, 906) New construction Concept

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming October 2, 2014, 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, September 26th, 2014.

1. SMD 02, 3413 R Street, NW. OG 14-318 (HPA 14-599) Residence 2-story rear addition plus basement Permit

2. SMD 02, 3336 Dent Place, NW. OG 14-350 (HPA 14-683) Residence Replacement windows Permit

3. SMD 02, 3339 Reservoir Road, NW. OG 14-337 (HPA 14-670) Residence Replacement railing on front stairs – existing Permit

4. SMD 03, 1233 33rd Street, NW. OG 14-336 (HPA 14-669) Residence Replace front door Permit

5. SMD 03, 1525 34th Street, NW. OG 14-278 (HPA 14-551) Residence Alterations – existing Permit

6. SMD 03, 1519 35th Street, NW. OG 14-351 (HPA 14-684) Residence Alterations to rear yard, retaining wall, fence Permit

7. SMD 03, 3245 N Street, NW. OG 14-343 (HPA 14-676) Residence Railing – revised design Permit

8. SMD 03,3265 N Street, NW. OG 14-330 (HPA 14-646) Residence Addition and alterations to garage Permit

9. SMD 03, 3238 P Street, NW. OG 14-103 (HPA 14-206) Residence Two-story rear addition Revised Concept

10. SMD 03, 3240 P Street, NW. OG 14-352 (HPA 14-685) Commercial 2-story rear addition with basement Permit

11. SMD 03, 3343 P Street, NW. OG 14-342 (HPA 14-675) Residence Alterations to front balcony, new window well at rear, replacement garage door Permit

12. SMD 05, 3050 K Street, NW. OG 14-270 (HPA 14-514) Commercial Alterations to storefront, signs – The Orange Anchor Permit

13. SMD 05, 3306 M Street, NW, rear. OG 14-356 (HPA 14-689) Commercial Illumination of banners – Janus et Cie and Design Within Reach Permit

14. SMD 05, 3315 M Street, NW (also known as 3315 Cady’s Alley, NW). OG 14-360 (HPA 14-693) Commercial Illumination of banner – Leopold’s Permit

15. SMD 05, 3318 M Street, NW. OG 14-359 (HPA 14-692) Commercial Illumination of stairs Permit

16. SMD 05, 3338 M Street, NW, Rear. OG 14-366 (HPA 14-699) Commercial Illuminated planting strips Permit

17. SMD 05, 3600 M Street, NW. OG 14-329 (HPA 14-612) Mixed-use Alterations to wood doors, replacement aluminum windows and storefront Permit

18. SMD 05, 3069 Canal Street, NW. OG 14-324 (HPA 14-605) Residence Rear addition, replacement doors Concept

19. SMD 05, 3207 Grace Street, NW. OG 14-315 (HPA 14-596) Commercial Roof top deck, sign Revised Concept

20. SMD 05, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW . OG 14-328 (HPA 14-609) Hotel Rooftop antennas behind screen walls – AT&T Permit

21. SMD 05, 3246 Prospect Street, NW. OG 14-293 (HPA 14-572) Commercial Partial demolition, 2-story rear addition, basement Revised Concept

22. SMD 05, 3100 South Street, NW . OG 14-327 (HPA 14-608) Mixed-use Rooftop antennas behind screen wall, and alterations to penthouse – AT&T Concept

23. SMD 05, 1055 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (formerly known as 1045 Wisconsin Avenue, NW). OG 14-344 (HPA 14-677) Residential Signs Permit

24. SMD 06, 2929 M Street, NW. OG 14-335 (HPA 14-668) Commercial
Alterations to storefront Permit

25. SMD 06, 3025 M Street, NW. OG 14-341 (HPA 14-674) Commercial Sign – American Apparel

26. SMD 06, 2715 N Street NW. OG 14-143 (HPA 14-283) Alexander Memorial Baptist Church – Rectory Addition, alterations, site work Revised Concept

27. SMD 06, 2924 N Street, NW. OG 14-298 (HPA 14-579) Residence Replacement windows, siding, fence, alterations to rear, roof top HVAC Concept

28. SMD 06, 3014 O Street, NW. OG 14-313 (HPA 14-594) Residence Addition at 2nd floor, alterations to rear Revised Concept

29. SMD 06, 3044 O Street, NW. OG 14-333 (HPA 14-665) Residence Alterations to fences, stone and CMU walls Permit

30. SMD 06, 3023 P Street, NW. OG 14-266 (HPA 14-507) Residence Demolition, 2-story rear addition with basement Concept

31. SMD 06, 3025 P Street, NW. OG 14-348 (HPA 14-681) Residence Alterations to rear Permit

32. SMD 07,1633 31st Street, NW. OG 14-301 (HPA 14-582) Residence One-story rear addition with roof terrace, new garage Revised Concept

33. SMD 07,1645 31st Street, NW. OG 14-314 (HPA 14-595) Residence Site work: fence, gates, terraces, swimming pool, landscaping Permit – revised design

34. SMD 07, 1671 31st Street, NW. OG 14-236 (HPA 14-471) Residence Site work: front stairs Permit

35. SMD 07, 2528-2530-2532 Q Street, NW. OG 14-237 (HPA 14-472) Residence Replacement windows – existing Permit

36. SMD 07, 2920 R Street, NW. OG 14-246 (HPA 14-487) Residence Partial demolition, additions, alterations, underground garage Revised Concept

37. SMD 08, 3700 O Street, NW. OG 14-292 (HPA 14-571) Georgetown University Site work for bus stops at McDonough Gym Revised Concept

38. SMD 08, 3700 O Street, NW. OG 14-311 (HPA 14-592) Georgetown University – Ryan and Mulledy Halls Alterations and site work Revised Concept

39. SMD 08, 3700 O Street, NW. OG 14-332 (HPA 14-664) Georgetown University – Dahlgren Chapel Installation of Healy Hall crosses on berm, landscaping Permit

40. SMD 08, 3700 O Street, NW. OG 14-334 (HPA 14-666) Georgetown University – Reiss Science Center Antennas mounted to penthouse – Sprint Permit.

Georgetowner •

ArtJamz

October 2nd, 2014 at 05:30 PM | Event Website

With a drink in one hand and a brush in the other, artists decorate their canvases as the sounds of live music fill the Plaza around them.

Address

The Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center Woodrow Wilson Plaza; 1300 Pennsylvania NW

Georgetown Community Fair and Tailgate

October 3rd, 2014 at 10:00 AM | Event Website

The annual Georgetown Community Fair and Tailgate is an opportunity for the Georgetown community to come together. This free event will include food, music and a variety of family-friendly activities. Additionally, for those who register online in advance, there are a limited number of free tickets to the football game, which will be at 12:00 pm against Harvard University.

Faculty, staff, students, neighbors, families, friends …
all are welcome!

Guests can register for the tailgate and free tickets to the football game.

Address

Georgetown University; Lawn of Wolfington Hall (directions below); 37th and O Streets, NW

Potomac Country House Tour & Festival Preview Party

October 3rd, 2014 at 06:30 PM | Free | madelyn.muldoon@mokimedia.com | Tel: 301-365-2055 | Event Website

The 58th Potomac Country House Tour & Festival kicks off the weekend full of events with a open to all Preview Party on Friday, October 3 from 6:30-8:30pm. Guests will be able to shop over 25+ boutiques, participate in a silent auction & raffle, and enjoy food and drink.

Address

St. Francis Episcopal Church; 10033 River Road; Potomac, MD 20854

Eating Local: Feeding the Urban Estate — Monthly Garden & House Tours

October 4th, 2014 at 10:30 AM | 8.00-15.00 | press@tudorplace.org | Tel: 202-965-0400 | Event Website

For almost 200 years, onsite food production was a central part of life at Tudor Place. From the Smokehouse to the gardens, the estate helped sustain its owners and servants. This garden tour highlights the essential functions of the garden. The homesteading theme extends into the mansion where garden tools, cookbooks and domestic utensils complement an afternoon tour of the estate.
Choose a tour of Garden, House or both with a leisurely cafe lunch between
Garden Tour: 10:30| House Tour: 12:30

Address

1644 31st Street NW

Fall Fest at the Soldiers’ Home

October 5th, 2014 at 10:00 AM | Free | LincolnsCottage@savingplaces.org | Tel: 202-829-0436 | Event Website

Celebrate Fall Fest at the Soldiers’ Home and enjoy an array of family-friendly activities throughout the day, including: an Antique Car Show, beer and bourbon tasting tents, children’s games and activities, golfing, live music, a military drill team, and tours of buildings in the historic core of the Soldiers’ Home campus, including the Sherman Tower.

Address

140 Rock Creek Church Road NW

Seniors Yoga at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library

October 7th, 2014 at 11:00 AM | Free | Erika.Rydberg@dc.gov | Tel: 202-727-0232 | Event Website

Join the Georgetown Neighborhood Library for a variety of yoga classes taught by teachers from Yoga Activist.

The Georgetown Neighborhood Library is registering RSVPs for all October classes. This class will be specifically for seniors ages 55 and older.

To RSVP for any or all classes, send Erika Rydberg an email with the class(es) you’re interested in registering for. The first 30 RSVPs will be registered and the remaining RSVPs will be placed on a waiting list.

Address

3260 R Street NW

Brandi Carlile

October 7th, 2014 at 08:00 PM | $75.00 – $80.00 | heatherh@wolftrap.org | Tel: 877.965.3872 | Event Website

Lose yourself in the passionate vocals of the rootsy folk-rock powerhouse who gave us “The Story” in these special unplugged performances

Address

1551 Trap Road Vienna VA, 22182

Georgetowner • September 29, 2014

Georgetown Community Fair and Tailgate: Registration Now Open

October 3rd, 2014 at 10:00 AM | Event Website

The annual Georgetown Community Fair and Tailgate is an opportunity for the Georgetown community to come together! This free event will include food, music and a variety of family-friendly activities. Additionally, for those who register online in advance, there are a limited number of free tickets to the football game, which will be at 12:00 pm against Harvard University.

Faculty, staff, students, neighbors, families, friends …
all are welcome!

Guests can register for the tailgate and free tickets to the football game.

Address

Georgetown University; Lawn of Wolfington Hall (directions below); 37th and O Streets, NW

Twentythirtysomething Book Club (T.T.B.C.)

September 25th, 2014 at 07:30 PM | julia.strusienski@dc.gov | Event Website

Are you a local reader between the ages of 21 and 35? Looking for a more casual book club experience? Then join us for Twentythirtysomething Book Club (T.T.B.C.), a new book group for younger adults.

Our September selection, Chang-rae Lee’s 2014 novel “On Such a Full Sea,” takes place in a future America in which cities have become labor colonies. Young heroine Fan works in the settlement that was once Baltimore, but she soon departs in search of the man she loves.

Address

Breadsoda; 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW

Capital Harvest on the Plaza

September 26th, 2014 at 11:00 AM | Free | JRoberts@ITCDC.com | Tel: (202) 312-1552 | Event Website

Visitors can gather new recipes and watch live cooking demonstrations while shopping among local vendors serving farm-fresh foods.

Address

Terence Blanchard Quintet

September 26th, 2014 at 08:00 PM | $40 | anne@burgessmgmt.com | Event Website

Five-time Grammy winning jazz musicians and film composer Terence Blanchard returns to Blues Alley! From Thursday, September 25 – Sunday, September 28, the Terence Blanchard Quintet will perform over four nights, with two sets each night: the first show at 8pm and the second show at 10pm.

Address

BLUES ALLEY; 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW

Cady’s Alley Oktoberfest

September 27th, 2014 at 12:00 PM | FREE

On Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 from 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m., the Cady’s Alley corridor will transform itself into a bona fide German Oktoberfest funfair with Bavarian food provided by Kafe Leopold, a soft pretzel cart, a two-story Central Beer Hall featuring authentic seasonal German brews, Alpine music and a Fun Zone filled with games and attraction

Address

Cady’s Alley; Georgetown. 3330 Cady’s Alley, NW

12th Annual Turkish Festival

September 28th, 2014 at 11:00 AM | Event Website

The festival will include Turkish dance and stage performances, an authentic Turkish bazaar featuring 25 vendors showcasing everything from Turkish jewelry to clothing and home accessories, Turkish cuisine from local Washington DC restaurants, a Turkish coffee and tea tent with the ever-popular Turkish coffee fortune-tellers who will be reading fortunes from coffee grinds as well as a “Kid’s Tent” featuring hands-on activities for children of all ages.

Address

Pennsylvania Avenue NW; between 12th and 14th streets

12th Annual Michael Wilbon & James Brown Celebrity Roast & Golf Classic

September 29th, 2014 at 05:00 PM | $250 for roast; $500 to play golf; and $1,000 combo package includes 2 tickets to both events. | adrienne.laborwit@dccap.org | Tel: 202-783-7938 | Event Website](http://www.dccap.org/golf/)

Join Mike and JB for a celebrity “roast” of Washington Bullets legend and NBA Hall of Famer Wes Unseld. The evening, sponsored by the Washington Wizards, starts with a cocktail reception and silent auction featuring priceless sports memorabilia, travel and dining packages and more, all to benefit the DC College Access Program. The Roast is part of a two-day event that includes a golf classic at Lansdowne Resort. Attend the roast, play golf or both. See website for details. RSVP by September 12.

Address

The Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave., N.W.

Chefs Behind Bars: Part 3

September 29th, 2014 at 06:00 PM | $40 | blumenthal.jd@gmail.com | Tel: 610-999-2131 | [Event Website](http://ce.strength.org/events/chefs-behind-bars-enjoy-cocktails-created-your-favorite-chefs)

The Taste of the Nation DC committee will host a final cocktail competition at The Gryphon to benefit No Kid Hungry’s work to end childhood hunger in America.

Guests will enjoy cocktails by eight of DC’s hottest chefs, including host chef Joseph Evans (The Gryphon), Jason Gehrig (Mason Dixie Biscuit Co.), Danny Lee (Mandu), Tiffany MacIsaac (Buttercream Bakeshop), Andrew Markert (Beuchert’s Saloon), Harper McClure (BRABO), Matt O’Herron (Sona Creamery) & George Rodriguez (Tico).

Address

The Gryphon; 1337 Connecticut Ave NW

Georgetowner •

At-large Councilmember Vincent Orange, chair of the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, was joined by Councilmembers Anita Bonds, Yvette Alexander and Marion Barry as well as members of the D.C. small business community at a rally Sept. 23 that posed the question: “Where’s the $1 billion?”

The rally’s theme referred to the D.C. government’s alleged failure to comply with the Small, Local and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of 2005. The law requires D.C. agencies to allocate at least 50 percent of their expendable budgets towards services provided by small business enterprises based in the District of Columbia. Upon passing in 2005, the law was interpreted as one which would help smaller local organizations thrive through doing business with the District, allowing for local economic development and an increase in D.C.’s tax revenues.

A report provided by the Office of the D.C. Auditor reveals that as of third quarter 2014, only 17 percent of the Small Business Enterprise expenditure goals were met by the District. The report additionally points out that a total of $995,854,922 in funds designated for SBEs was spent elsewhere in fiscal years 2011 through 2013.

“Our small businesses deserve the money that is set aside,” said Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander. “We are going to hold the mayor accountable and ourselves accountable.” .

Councilman Vincent Orange’s office also received support for the “Where’s the $1 billion,” initiative from Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry, who said, “VO is a warrior… I have a reputation as a fighter for D.C., and I’m going to continue that fight.” Barry told the crowd, “Ask Vince Gray, where is the money?” His question quickly turned into a rally chant.

Among the crowd of members from the business community were representatives from the AFL-CIO, the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, and D.C. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, who all made remarks expressing their concern. The National Utility Contractors Association and the National Association of Minority Contractors also filled out the attendance.

Orange’s committee will hold a hearing, 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26, to review District agencies’ compliance for fiscal year 2014’s small business expenditure goals, which will also include a public oversight roundtable and testimonies from members of the D.C. business community.
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Robert Devaney •

The District Department of Transportation has begun off-peak single-lane closures on eastbound Canal Road, NW, between Foxhall Road and the Whitehurst Freeway, weather permitting.

These single-lane closures on eastbound Canal Road, NW, will occur on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

These closures will allow DDOT crews to repair a wall area along Canal Road, NW, and install a guardrail along the corridor. DDOT expects the project and associated lane closures to be completed in July 2015.

DDOT advises all motorists to be alert, while traveling through this location and be observant of the work personnel. Traffic controls will be in place to warn motorists as they approach the area.

For more information, please contact Project Manager James Sellars at 202-391-8207.

Dana Farrior •

Fret not because you forgot to feed the meter, you have a spot at the annual Park(ing) Day, Friday, Sept. 19.

In the last couple of years with the help of the Georgetown Business Improvement Development, Georgetown have taken on the parklet project, allowing residents, designers and businesses alike to construct their very own public space. Also, involved are the Downtown and Golden Triangle BIDs for their neighborhoods.

Park(ing) Day’s inception in San Francisco 2005, originated with Rebar Art Studios desire to inspire people to reimagine the environment and their place in it. Its vision is to temporarily convert meter spaces into public parks generating new forms of communal space. What started as a single locale has launched into a global movement with more than 100 cities on over four continents involved.

“The Georgetown BID is excited to see the neighborhood enthusiasm for parklets – a concept that is outlined as an important tool for improving public space in the BID’s Georgetown 2028 Plan,” said the BID’s William Handsfield.

The Georgetown businesses participating are Luke’s Lobsters at 1211 Potomac St., NW, and Baked and Wired at 1052 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, and Flor at 1037 33rd St., NW, near Cady’s Alley.

Patrons of Luke’s will be able to take advantage of food and drink specials that will debut its beer, wine and cocktails offerings. Baked & Wired chose to take a slightly different approach, making their space more interactive by including buckets filled with chalk. Visitors will be able to draw and write messages in the park, allowing the green space to be a forum to bring the community together.

For more information, visit the Park(ing) Day project at www.parkingday.org.

Gary Tischler •

In Washington, a company town of a very special sort, lobbyists and lawyers have a very special place.

In the rest of the great wide country outside Washington, lobbyists and lawyers are the epitome of Washington insiders—the fixers and wheeler dealers who control policy and money.

Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr.—he was called “Tommy” in his youth, and the nickname survived into his adulthood—was the kind of man who carried the aura of an insider, while having an outsider’s outsized personality. He was a warm man who knew politics better than any politician, who came from a time-honored political family, a man of the South (Louisiana) who wore his Washington persona (Georgetown University graduate) like a really good suit that fit him well. He was a big supporter of the Georgetown Senior Center. Unpretentious, friendly, a talker, he headed the firm of Patton-Boggs, a legal firm which took its lobbying duties to high levels.

Boggs, who died unexpectedly at 73 this week, was the kind of man who could probably convince the anti-lobbying and lawyer-joke people in the world that he was an honorable man working in an honorable profession, because that’s exactly what he was and what he believed.

“Tommy was a terrific guy, a very smart guy and a quintessential Washington person in the best sense of the word,” said Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, who has been of counsel with Patton-Boggs for the past 13 years.

“He was always willing to help out.” Evans said. “He had the personal touch and this gift for bringing people who disagreed with each other together. He wasn’t an ideologue. He worked with Republicans and with Democrats, although he was a lifelong Democrat. He was a classy man, who gave lobbyists a good name by example.”

At the Palms, where Boggs frequently squired clients and friends—and those things seemed to follow one another, they set his table in black, out of courtesy and as a way of celebrating the man.

Given his family and background, it’s a wonder Boggs didn’t become an elected official, a senator or governor. His father, Hale Boggs, was the House Majority Leader, his mother Lindy was a nine-term congresswoman, and his sister Cokie Roberts was a national television journalist. The man he worked for on his first sojourn to Washington was none other than Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. Young Boggs worked the Speaker’s elevator.

Hale Boggs was killed in a plane crash in Alaska in 1972. His mother, in addition to winning a special election to succeed her husband in the House of Representatives, was named as President Bill Clinton’s ambassador to the Vatican. She died last year at the age of 97.

While advancing and looking out for the interests of a varied group of clients, which included all manners of industries from oil, to drug and insurance companies, he managed always to be something more than K Street royalty. He was the kind of man who didn’t let politics per se get in the way of business or friendships maintained and new acquaintenances made and kept.

That kind of approach would be well suited today to the politics of the times, and it’s sadly lacking, a time where impasse and deadlock seem to prevail more often than not. Politicians are called by that name: because with politicians these days, it’s always about politics.

Boggs succeeded precisely because—although his stock and trade was to ease the path to the doorways of influence,which included knowing whom to call, have for lunch, and having his calls answered—he hardly ever let politics be the deciding factor of his life. Lobbyists, it seemed, on K Street were about knowing politicians, without necessarily embracing politics.

Anders Kristofer Ohm •

The Georgetown Piano Bar plans to open its doors Sept. 12 and will be located at 3287 M St., NW, where the lounge bar Modern was.

The team creating the bar is composed of piano player Hunter Lang, former Mr. Smith’s manager Gene McGrath, former Mr. Smith’s employee Morgan Williams and Bill Thoet, according to the Washington Business Journal

The idea for the piano bar started three months ago when the employees heard that Mr. Smith’s – known for its piano bar — was closing its doors, the Journal reported. What they didn’t know then was that another manager from Mr. Smith’s, Juan Andino, was working to reopen the place at a new location. Mr. Smith’s is relocating to 3205 K St., NW, where Chadwick’s once stood for many years.

Georgetown Piano Bar plans to separate itself from the rest by having the piano be the main attraction. The bar will be “built around live piano entertainment,” the new business stated on its website. “The first thing you will notice as you walk down the stairs is our bright red piano.”

There will be no food at Georgetown Piano Bar, only drinks to keep the main focus on the piano and the music. However, the bar acquired Modern’s tavern license and its settlement agreement with the community, which, according to the Georgetown Metropolitan, requires the holder to receive 15 percent of its revenues to come from food and that the holder will not have live music.

There will be lyric books on all of the tables to promote singing along with the piano to keep music as the main attraction on the M Street establishment.