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Robert Devaney • February 3, 2014

As The Georgetowner newspaper closes in on its 60th Anniversary, it seems fitting that your town crier will be relocating to new digs, of course, in Georgetown. Unlike other newspapers that call Georgetown theirs, this is the only newspaper that makes its home in Georgetown — and has for six decades, albeit now at 14 different locations in the community.

The Georgetowner’s new address is 2801 M St., NW. Its longtime main telephone number remains the same: 202-338-4833. Besides staffer emails, please use Editorial@Georgetowner.com for story ideas, pitches and news tips. For business inquiries and prime advertising placement, please use Advertising@Georgetowner.com.

Come on by, say hello and see our new office. As one staffer observed, “It’s our 14th location, and it’s 2014.”

Robert Devaney • January 23, 2014

The Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Georgetown Business Association are sponsoring a mayoral debate — 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, at Dumbarton House.

This exchange of views on issues about the District of Columbia is open to all on a first-come, first-serve basis per seating arrangements; doors open 6 p.m. The debate is expected to run two hours.

The debate is for candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor. Confirmed Monday by GBA to attend are Mayor Vincent Gray and Council members Jack Evans, Vincent Orange, Muriel Bowser and Tommy Wells as well as State Department official Reta Jo Lewis and restaurateur Andy Shallal. Other candidates, seeking to win the Democratic primary, include: musician Carlos Allen and contractor Christian Carter. Current Newspapers publisher Davis Kennedy will moderate the program.

In Washington, D.C., general elections are usually won by Democratic candidates. According to the D.C. Democratic State Committee, 75 percent of registered voters in Washington, D.C., are Democrats, with 17 percent independent and 7 percent Republican.

For more information, call Dumbarton House — 2715 Q St., NW — at 202-337-2288.

Robert Devaney •

If you are a local visual artist, you have until the end of Monday, Jan. 13, to email or phone the Citizens Association of Georgetown to be a displayed artist in its February arts show, “Visions of Georgetown,” at the House of Sweden.
The popular show — now in its fifth year and chaired by Laura-Anne Tiscornia– is open to those who live or work in Georgetown.

“We have larger space this year in the Nobel Room at the House of Sweden,” said curator Jennie Buehler. “It also has dramatic lighting for us to showcase the art” — from some regulars to new talent. Also, expect larger pieces, she said.

Below are the requirements, as specified by CAG:

? The show is open to artists, who either are current residents of Georgetown or who have studios in Georgetown.

? The show will take place from Thursday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 9, and will feature a reception on Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. and midday special events and “art talks” featured on the Saturday and Sunday.

? Work may be for sale or for display only, as the artist wishes. CAG will process sales and pay artists at the end of the sale. CAG will receive 20 percent commission on all art sales.

? Artists pay a $50 entry fee to CAG to defray the cost of the show. In addition, each participating artist must complete a three-hour volunteer shift during the show.

? The show is open to artists working in the following media: painting, photography, sculpture, prints, two-dimensional and three-dimensional mixed media. We cannot accept jewelry or anything requiring electricity. Pieces accepted into the show should be of a suitable nature to be viewed by families with children.

? There is no jury. Entry is first-come, first-served. Please get your application and payment in promptly to secure your space in the show.

Artists may submit up to three pieces for inclusion in the show. The final number displayed will depend on space available.

(Maximum size per piece is 48 inches in the largest dimension, including frame.) All two-dimensional work must be properly framed and wired for hanging, or it will not be accepted. The Georgetown ARTS 2014 Hanging Committee will select pieces to be displayed based on space and composition.

? To enter, submit three jpegs — and titles, size, year and price — of your artwork to CAGtownART@gmail.com. Additionally, send a printed copy of your application and check for $50 (made out to CAG/Art Show) to Citizens Association of Georgetown, 1365 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 by Jan. 13 — or call 202-337-7313. See details at CAGtown.org.

Robert Devaney •

Expected to attend — and advertised as such — incumbent Mayor Vincent Gray will not be at tonight’s mayoral debate, sponsored by the Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Georgetown Business Association at Dumbarton House. No explanation of Gray’s absence was given.

The mayor will hold a campaign kick-off rally on Saturday. Yesterday, he was interviewed by WUSA9’s Bruce Johnson and said he was sorry for his 2010 campaign’s illegalities.

“Frankly, the things that happened in my campaign, you know, they were painful, they were embarrassing to me,” Gray told Johnson. “There were things that I wish hadn’t happened, and I’m very sorry that those things happened. . . . I didn’t do anything. At the same time I want to apologize to people about the campaign.” . . . “I can’t apologize for what other people did, but it was the Vincent Gray campaign. I understand that.”

Nevertheless, the debate remains set — 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9. This exchange of views on issues about the District of Columbia is open to all on a first-come, first-serve basis per seating arrangements; doors open 6 p.m.

The debate is for candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor. While Mayor Vincent Gray has dropped out of tonight’s debate, four Council members Jack Evans, Vincent Orange, Muriel Bowser and Tommy Wells, who are seeking to win the Democratic primary, plan to be there — as well as State Department official Reta Jo Lewis and restaurateur Andy Shallal. Other candidates include: musician Carlos Allen and contractor Christian Carter. Current Newspapers publisher Davis Kennedy will moderate the program.

For more information, call Dumbarton House — 2715 Q St., NW — at 202-337-2288.

Gary Tischler •

Our long nation’s capital nightmare appears to be over.

We are, of course, referring to the Washington Redskins season and its aftermath, not Iraq, Jennifer Lawrence’s ever changing wardrobe, the proliferation of bicycles and their riders minus any laws that might make them obey traffic laws that everyone else does—and, oh, the insurance pig, gecko and duck.

Actually, it’s not over, even though the Redskins appear to have named a coach after numerous interviews of coaches, assistant coaches—excuse me, coordinators—former coaches, RGIII’s college coach, which just goes to show you why football coaches have caller ID. None of the names of those interviewed spring instantly to mind, nor does the name of the new coach, who appears to be Jay Gruden, as opposed to his Super Bowl winning brother John Gruden now a sports analyst. Analyze this, John.

This is not really news, actually: folks were twittering the fact that Gruden had dinner with Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen with whom he’s worked before at Tampa Bay where he had been assistant coach for eight years. Gruden is highly regarded as an offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals where he nurtured quarterback Andy Dalton to stardom and a spot in the playoffs this season, although the Bengals offense and the team was knocked out by the San Francisco 49ers.

Gruden—Jay—is familiar with Allen, with defensive backs coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, under whom he coached with the UFL’s Florida Tuskers in 2009. (Stop. “What is a Tusker?” you may well ask. Good fans, look it up). It appears that it is who you know that may count for something after all. On the other hand, it will be interesting to see if Gruden will want to keep Haslett, defense not being a strong point for the Redskins this past awful, awful season, along with the defensive backfield and special teams and, oh, just about everything.

The Redskins had just gotten through firing Coach Mike Shanahan and his son Kyle a week or so ago after a 3-13 season in which relations between coach and coach junior and their star quarterback Robert Griffin III had soured. The whole thing became a nightmare, as seasons often do under the long but futile reign of owner Dan Snyder. Not only that, but the team and Snyder were plagued with the old “Redskin” naming controversy, about which Snyder has so far refused to budge, along with many fans who do not realize that a name change, and all those chief feathers and John Riggins jerseys would become antiques.

Local sportswriters and sports casters and some anchors agonized over this mess as did we the people, a condition akin to emotional heartburn, intense feelings of shame for caring so much about so little of importance. People dreamt about the nightmare of the Redskins. Then, things became more nightmarish, especially for columnists who had predicted a trip to the Super Bowl, joining Davey “World Series or Bust” Johnson in the “not” club.

In any case, we have a coach—the eighth one since 1999. It will be a good reason to avoid the local sportscasts tonight, and the Redskins are still the Redskins. After all, there is a certain amount of certainty in our quaint little world. Maybe, for a few months at least, we will have other things we can talk about needlessly now that the coach is here. That “Duck Dynasty” thing appears to haves quacked itself out. Of course, we do have a mayoral primary campaign going on in Washington, which is a sport all its own.

Robert Devaney •

While objected to by some neighbors, the convenience store 7-Eleven at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street erected its low-key signage and moved closer to completion. It is expected to open in March.

It will be Georgetown’s second 7-Eleven and will be located in the historically significant building, which housed clothing or antique stores in recent years.

The 1344 Wisconsin Ave., NW, location is best known as the place owned by Harry “Doc” Dalinsky who ran the Georgetown Pharmacy. After more than century in operation, the pharmacy closed in 1988. Dalinsky died in 1992.

The Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission sought to keep store designs low-key and appropriate to the neighborhood, and the Old Georgetown Board agreed. Nearby architect Robert Bell — who purchased the Georgetown Theater property across the street — found the original designs for the store “degrading to the historic character of the building.”

The other Georgetown shop is at 2617 P St., NW.

Georgetowner •

Washington Winter Show 2014

January 10th, 2014 at 10:30 AM | General Admission $20 | Tel: 202-248-7159 | Event Website

The Washington Winter Show, a charity antiques show in Washington DC, will feature fine antiques, distinguished events, and a Loan Exhibition. The theme for the 2014 show is “Southern Celebrations: Traditions Handed Down.” Stratford Hall, home of the Lees in Virginia, has created a loan exhibit that will provide a glimpse of customs that are evocative of life in the 1800’s including items elated to entertaining, style and family life.

Address

The Katzen Arts Center American University; 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

Gypsy Sally’s: Patty Larkin

January 10th, 2014 at 07:00 PM | $20-25 | Tel: (202) 333-7700 | Event Website

Patty Larkin has become renowned for her creative playing and writing as well as the often odd formatting of her music. To celebrate her twenty fifth year of recording, she recorded twenty five songs with twenty five different friends, giving each of them free reign over the track.

Address

Gypsy Sally’s; 3401 K St. NW

Beau Soir Ensemble

January 12th, 2014 at 04:00 PM | $20 | musicinmclean@gmail.com | Tel: 703-356-0670 | Event Website

Enjoy a celebration of music from around the world including Argentine-inspired tangos and music from France and Russia. The sound of flute, harp, and oboe combine in a unique instrumental performance delivered by three talented musicians who exude passion and individual expression, enhanced with flowing synergy.

Address

Saint Luke Catholic Church; 7001 Georgetown Pike; McLean, VA 22101

Brass-A-Holics at The Hamilton Live

January 12th, 2014 at 06:30 PM | 25.50 | Tel: 202 787 1000 | Event Website

The Brass-A-Holics Band and the Go-Go Brass Funk genre joined the ranks of the time honored traditions, culture and music that have come out of the great city of New Orleans, Louisiana. They will preforming live from 6:30- 11PM

Address

The Hamilton Live; 600 14th St NW

Gary Tischler •

Among the ever-growing array that comprises the awards season, the Golden Globes is unique for many reasons.

It’s the only awards show where the awards are handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a largely unknown group of journalists who apparently report on all things Hollywood for a world-wide audience which now knows that Kevin Bacon, famous for “Footloose” and most recently a serial killer series on television, has a daughter named Sosie Bacon, who was this year’s Miss Golden Globes. The 21-year-old acquitted herself nicely by managing to steer often confused award winners on and off the stage through what was a long evening.

It’s also an awards show that hands out both film and television awards, which makes for class skirmishes here and there, and in two different categories for the major awards, i.e., musical or comedy and drama, although what constitutes comedy for the judges seems a mystery to me. My guess: it’s a fun thing to do, makes for more major awards and more stars in attendance. All of this goes out the window at the Oscars, but it makes for some odd choices, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” for instance, along with “Nebraska,” “American Hustle” and “August: Osage County,” comedies all, thus avoiding to have to compete with “12 Years a Slave.”

The GGs are also as far as we know the only awards presentation event at which dinner and drinks are served throughout the ceremonies, which allows for the observation that anything could happen. Even best actress in a drama (for Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine”) Cate Blanchett, smoothly graceful, elegant and sexy, allowed that she had fortified herself with a few martinis. Everyone sits at big tables with friends and cast members and wanders around catching up or lining up for drinks. I’ve never seen so much schmoozing and flesh pressing since the last time I saw Bill Clinton at a gathering of more than five persons.

The Golden Globes rest somewhere in significance between Fat Tuesday and the Oscars, and the atmosphere bears that out. It’s comedy tonight at the podium—where mistresses of ceremony Tina Faye and Amy Poehler reigned supreme and close sometimes to obscene but always funny—and the circus of the red carpet where the stars parade, stop and pose, get interviewed, pose for selfies, pose again, get interviewed by everyone from E! folks (not “E” for “elves,” although Orlando Bloom was there) but “E” for “entertainment”) to bloggers to the fawning fawns of Access Hollywood and the folks from the Today Show. (Matt Lauer in black wraparound glasses and Savannah Guthrie, who is even taller in real life.)

In between, there is the drama on the podium, the handing out of awards, and the long trips to the podium by the winners. Whoever did the layout and logistics for this show ought to be made to sit in Los Angeles traffic for hours on end as punishment. The route—depending where you were sitting—to the podium seemed to be so difficult as getting over Donner Pass, twisted and stops for kisses and attaboys and girls from the tables that the journey seemed to take forever. Former big movie star Jacqueline Bisset, who won an award for best supporting acting in a television mini-series, almost didn’t make it to the stage, where she stood speechless, gave us her grandmother’s favorite saying (“Go to hell, and don’t come back”), almost crashed the bleeping system, and generally won the highlights of the evening awards for drama hands down. She also managed to get the sh-t word for good measure and looked frazzled but lovely.

As for the awards, as the King of Siam might say, they were often a “puzzlement.” Best comedy “Brooklyn Nine Nine,” and best comedy actor Andy Samberg? Seriously? The Saturday Night Live vibe was strong throughout, what with that odd choice and Poehler’s win.

It wasn’t much of a hot night for Julia Louis-Dreyfus who’d been nominated for comedy actress in a movie (for “Enough Said” with the late James Gandolfini) and for best comedic actress (for “Veep”). She was shut out and had to endure jibbing from Fey and Poehler for sitting in the movie section. Plus, she lost to Poehler.

As for “12 Years a Slave,” the gripping, moving saga of the plight of a free man in pre-Civil War America, who endured 12 years of life and suffering as a slave, this best movie by far)managed to win best movie against weak competition–but was shut out in best actor (the splendid Chiewetel Ejiofor lost to Matthew McConaughey for “Dallas Buyers Club”), best director (Steve McQueen lost to Alfonso Cuaron for the space saga “Gravity”) and best support actress (the remarkable Lupita Nyong’o lost to everybody’s darling, Jennifer Lawrence, for “American Hustle”). Lawrence, complete with her pixie haircut and just plain goofy honesty, is now officially adorable.

“Hustle” did well for itself—the sharply written and performed hit based loosely on the Abscam scandal of the 1980s, also got a best actress award for Amy Adams and a best musical or comedy award award.

Woody Allen was given a life-time achievement prize, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, for a career filled with original, funny, serious, funny-serious movies and was also rewarded with a tribute from Diane Keaton, ex-girlfriend and Annie Hall. Allen, who won an Oscar for directing for “Annie Hall,” has been much honored and much loved by lady actresses for whom he writes wonderful parts, including Blanchett, who said “Thanks for finally calling me.” Almost every actress who’s worked with him is likely to forgive him for anything with the possible exception of ex-wife Mia Farrow, who nonetheless did her best work for him in “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “The Purple Rose of Cairo.” My personal favorite? “Midnight in Paris.”

Leonardo DiCaprio, alone, looking sharp and hot and very cool, won the award for best actor in a comedy or musical for his endlessly greedy and hedonistic star turn in Martin Scorcese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street.” DiCaprio sometimes brings his mother to awards shows. Good thing he didn’t this time. She might have blanched at the fulsome introduction for him provided by Tina Fey, just before he presented the award for best film. “And now,” she offered, “like a supermodel’s vagina, let us give a warm welcome to Leonardo DiCaprio.”

Bet you won’t hear that at the Oscars.

Robert Devaney • January 21, 2014

The tragic story about a double stabbing on Sunday morning in a Q Street home has gotten worse.

Fifty-six-year-old Bradford Nelson Elliott suffered a heart attack and died at a hospital Jan. 20, according to the Metropolitan Police Department, before being formally charged with homicide.

Bradford Elliott was the only suspect in the stabbing death of his 88-year-old father, Le Roi Elliott, Jan. 19. The 81-year-old mother, Vaughn Elliott, was also injured during the same attack, which took place at the Elliotts’ home in the 3300 block of Q Street, NW, across from Volta Park. They had lived there since the mid-1980s.

Bradford Elliott was reportedly mentally ill and lived in the Q Street home with his parents. It was Vaughan Elliott, who called 9-1-1 around 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning and remains in stable condition. Bradford Elliott answered the door with blood-soaked hands when police arrived and was arrested, MPD told the Washington Post. He was being treated at a hospital, while in custody, and a Jan. 22 court appearance had been scheduled.

Georgetowner • January 17, 2014

The National Park Service reviewed its temporary halt to an eviction of Jack’s Boathouse and wrote to Jack’s on Jan. 18 that it has decided “to issue a new temporary concession contract for non-motorized boat rental and storage devices and to allow you to continue your operations until such time as the contract is awarded, provided that your occupancy comports with National Park Service standards . . .”

The Jan. 18 letter from NPS regional director Stephen Whitesell to Jack’s Boathouse owner Paul Simkin rescinds the Park Service’s Dec. 18 letter sent to the popular canoe and kayak renting facility on the Potomac River in the shadow of Key Bridge that first brought up the eviction — and howls of protest in late December from fans of Jack’s.

Nevertheless, the latest Park Service action on Jack’s makes the removal of the current owner from NPS land appear more likely.

The Park Service wrote in its Jan. 18 letter to Simkin that it “will release a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for non-motorized boat rental and storage devices at or near the location of the present operation. We will evaluate all responsive proposals, including yours should you wish to submit one . . . ” The deadline to respond is in two-and-a-half weeks, Feb. 6.

Understandably, Jack’s owner is clearly upset about this latest obstacle in his fight to remain on the shores of the Potomac and operate his business, a Georgetown tradition since the 1940s. Simkin has owned and run Jack’s since 2008. He has operated under a lease controlled by the Park Service that has not been updated since 1982; the monthly rent remained a little more than $350 for years. Simkin said he has made significant improvements to the property that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A few weeks ago, Simkin has retained attorney Charles Camp, who wrote to Park Service, citing a detail of September 1985 resolution by the District Council, concerning the transfer of D.C. public land in the area around Jack’s: “The National Park Service shall assume responsibility to repair, maintain, and protect all wharves, piers, bulkheads, and similar structures that are located on the transferred land or in the adjacent waters.”

Upon reading the Jan. 18 letter from NPS, Simkin issued this statement: “We thought we were doing the right thing. We thought by following the rules, making our customers happy, increasing our customer base . . . approximately 18-fold and creating a special environment that people from all around the world, not just D.C., wanted to be a part of, that we were doing things the right way. Without being too cliche, it’s the American way. We somehow failed. I think we’ve just been too naive. We are being steamrolled into oblivion by the National Park Service, and we still don’t know why.”

“If this were a simple rent matter, we would have been happy to pay what was asked. We were never asked. In addition, we have now learned that they [the National Park Service] should have been paying, all of these years, for dock maintenance — something that has cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket.”

“If something doesn’t change soon in the next few days, we are finished. Jack’s will be gone forever. The legal expenses here are killing us, as is the Park Service’s failure to respond to us in any meaningful way and leaving us absolutely in the dark. Its willingness to see a D.C. resource turned into a typical corporate entity will prevail. In fairness to my employees, I’ve had to tell them that the future at Jack’s appears bleak. That’s 27 persons. This latest message, dated January 18th, from the National Park Service, saying that we are allowed to bid to run our own business that the staff has worked so hard to build is heartbreaking. It should be clear to all that the NPS does not award contracts based on objective criteria. By its own admission, it is almost wholly subjective. We would have no chance of winning because we are obviously (and for no apparent reason) not wanted.”

“Out of necessity, we have retained an attorney whose investigation of the area has proved to be enormously insightful. It turns out that the land that Jack’s is on is, in fact, owned by the District of Columbia and is neither owned nor controlled by the National Park Service at all. Because of some past bureaucratic mismanagement on the part of the NPS, it has been able to act as if it is the landlord. It has taken our rent money, performed no maintenance tasks and is now acting as if we are the outsiders. It is my understanding from talking to District officials that the city is going to make an enormous push to set right what is a clear wrong.”

“I have been too embarrassed to ask the public for help previously. I’m old-school and a bit too small-town, but, frankly, this heavy-handed and hostile takeover by the Park Service is just kicking my butt. For those who love the place, for those who like the place, for those who want Jack’s to be a place where they can still go, I need help. Jack’s needs community support now. I cannot promise more than continuing to do what we do and working every day to make it better — and a promise that there is nothing more important to me than the river. Everyone can make a difference. If you haven’t yet, please sign the petition at change.org. If you know someone who knows ‘someone,’ this is the time. We are talking about days, not weeks or months before it is all over.”