Latest News

Robert Devaney • September 12, 2013

While you were at the beach, etc., things still happened in the old town during the last couple of weeks. Welcome to September. Here’s an update.

Some people like to show up or show off at Washington Harbour, but this is ridiculous. A Metropolitan Police Department harbor patrol boat pulled a “Miami Vice” turn on the Potomac River in front of the dock at Washington Harbour Aug. 30. In the U-turn maneuver, the police boat hit two boats docked on the Georgetown waterfront and partially sunk one. No was injured. The Coast Guard and MPD are investigating the incident.

Corrie Dyke •

ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen will open its second D.C. location in Georgetown Monday, Aug. 19. This will be ShopHouse’s third location. The first opened in D.C. in 2011 and second in Los Angeles.

The restaurant, created by Chipotle Mexican Grill, follows the same model where guests choose their own ingredients and create a custom meal. “ShopHouse” is a phrase from East Asia: it means a small, commercial building that has an eatery on the first floor and residences above.

“Many different cuisines could fit into this model that will help to redefine fast food,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. “I am excited that at ShopHouse we will bring to customers the authentic ingredients and flavors of Southeast Asia in a way that is entirely unique.”

ShopHouse fuses traditional ingredients from Southeast Asia, including cooking techniques of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

Guests choose from jasmine rice, brown rice, chilled rice noodles or a salad. Protein choices include grilled chicken satay or steak laab, pork and chicken meatballs, or organic tofu. They can add a choice of various fresh vegetables, green or spicy red curry sauce or a tamarind vinaigrette, green papaya slaw or pickled vegetables and finish with an herb salad and toasted rice, crushed peanuts, or crispy garlic.

Customers order at the counter, and can see directly into an open kitchen — a format similar to the one that has become a hallmark of Chipotle restaurants. Dishes are priced under $10.

The restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen is located at 2805 M St., NW, Washington, D.C., 20007. For more information, visit ShopHouseKitchen.com, or call 202-627-1958.

Jordan Hellmuth • September 9, 2013

Walking into Teddy & the Bully Bar on 19th Street, NW, is like entering the Roosevelt World for “a robust & refined experience.” Preceded by sister restaurant, Lincoln, Teddy joins the Presidential Restaurant Group family and makes its inaugural debut June 24.

Owner Alan Popovsky of Presidential Restaurant Group brings Theodore Roosevelt’s cowboy persona to life through savory shared plates, sweet cocktails, and the restaurant’s very fitting décor. Bar consultant and mixologist John Hogan, who also perfected Lincoln’s cocktail program will bring complementary cocktail flavors to Teddy’s.

Artist and interior designer Maggie O’Neill of O’Neill Studios personally provided all wall art for Teddy’s new humble abode. Take a walk into the women’s restroom and look into mirror to read a rewritten “Pledge of Allegiance,” beginning with, “I pledge allegiance to all of the badass women of America,” inspired by Alice Roosevelt, Teddy’s eldest daughter, a Washingtonian.

In honor of Roosevelt being the 26th President of the United States, the very American cocktail menu features 26 day barrel aged old fashioneds, among with new favorites that Teddy would love.

The Strawberry julep brings a new twist on an age-old favorite. It features Woodford Reserve bourbon, strawberry ginger shrub, fresh mint, and comes in a julep cup to keep the sweet flavors nice and cold. First made popular as a mint julep, it was popularized at the Round Robin Bar of the Willard Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue during the 1800s, making the Kentucky Derby look like it just ran its first race.
[gallery ids="101358,101359,101360,101361" nav="thumbs"]

Gary Tischler •

As you get older, you always remember school—the teachers, the lockers and locker rooms, the class rooms and books, the brainy ones and book worms, the others, the jocks and beauty queens, even the school ties.

There’s another kind of school that everyone remembers: the old school, as in old school, not a campus but a state of mind that comes up when its members pass away and are—in praise, condolence and with affection and regret—remembered one last time. Adjectives we rarely hear anymore trail them like life honors and diplomas.

We give you a disparate group of old schoolers, and with them such descriptions as gentlemen, lady, professional, class, originality, larger than life, descriptions ill-fitting to today’s class of celebrities who hound us as much as the paparazzi hound them.

We give you an American political legend, a liberal Republican leader, a television newsman who was the kind of on-camera star who resonated professionalism and class, an actor who managed to stay in our minds, and sometimes our oddest dreams, and a Hall of Fame football player who could never be mistaken for anything else. In their professions, they were in one way or another, a part of legend, history and sometimes the top of their class. In the best of ways, they were old-school originals which is to say we will not see their like again.

We give you: William Scranton, Lindy Boggs, John Palmer, Michael Ansara and Art Donovan.

WILLIAM SCRANTON—We live in times of cultural, social and economic division, the latter being more of a chasm that exists with the so-called one percenters and the rest of the country. Scranton was a one percenter of the kind that’s rarely seen any more: a scion of a family whose name graces the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania (a city that’s seriously economically trouble these days), a family whose maternal side goes back to the Mayflower. If Scranton was moneyed and privileged, he believed in public service. He was a Yalie who dropped out to serve in the Army Air Corps in World War II, who took up politics in a congressional race that was considered bitter and heated for its day in the early 1960s and was later elected to the governorship of Pennsylvania. During that time, there were still a large number of “moderate” Republicans and even a significant number (like Nelson Rockefeller), who could be called liberal. Scranton was once dubbed a “Kennedy Republican” and took on a challenge to the insurgent conservative candidacy of Barry Goldwater in 1964, failing to stop the Arizona Senator who then went to be defeated soundly by President Lyndon Johnson. Scranton also served as Ambassador to the United Nations under President Ford. But he had vowed never to run for office again and kept his word. The image: graceful and gracious, moderate in temperament, the kind of politician who wasn’t a natural politician and who’s as rare as a unicorn in GOP ranks today. Scranton died of a cerebral hemorrhage July 28 at the age of 96 in California.

LINDY BOGGS—When it came to family roots, Louisianan Lindy Boggs could hold her own: her family, the Clairbornes, went back to colonial Jamestown, the first English colony in North America. But it was when she won a special election to succeed her husband, the late GOP House majority leader Thomas Hale Boggs, in 1973 for his congressional seat that she came into her own. A Democrat from the South, she championed civil rights causes for African Americans, women and children, using charm, intelligence and the political and social skills she had displayed since she came to Washington with her husband in the 1940s. She won elections in a district that was predominantly black. Her children all made names for themselves: Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., a major partner in the prestigious law firm Patton Boggs, Cokie Roberts, the high-profile correspondent for ABC News and National Public Radio, and the late Barbara Boggs Sigmund, who was mayor of Princeton, New Jersey. Boggs died of natural causes at the age of 97 in Chevy Chase, Md., July 27.

JOHN PALMER—“Gentleman,” “classy,” “pro” and “family man” were all words used by his colleagues to describe Palmer, the hard-working newsman, correspondent and news anchor who brought clarity to viewers by telling complicated stories in person from war-torn and far-flung places, or as a news anchor for NBC’s Today Show when it was hosted by Bryan Gumble and Jane Pauley. He broke the story of the abortive attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran. He looked the part of foreign correspondent when he was one, but mostly he came across as trustworthy, with little need for overly dramatic flair. NBC said in its statement that he was “a brilliant, brave, and tireless journalist….he covered five presidents and traveled to every corner of the world, always showing the empathy and compassion that helped set him apart.” Palmer died Aug. 3 in Washington, D.C., at the age of 77 of pulmonary fibrosis.

MICHAEL ANSARA—It’s not entirely ironic that in our sci-fi and celebrity-loving culture that the Syrian-born American actor Michael Ansara would be best remembered in some quarters for his three-time appearances on Star Trek as the Klingon Commander Kang and for having been at one time the husband of “I Dream of Jeannie” star Barbara Eden. There was a lot more to Ansara the actor. He took up the part of the Apache chieftain Cochise in the popular television series “Broken Arrow” (from the original film starring Jeff Chandler and James Steward). He had small parts in “The Ten Commandments” and “Julius Caesar,” in which Marlon Brando showed that American method actors could play Shakespeare as Marc Anthony. He was a character actor in numerous Westerns, epics and on television shows (including “Jeannie). His acting credits in both film—”The Robe”—and TV series—”Hawaii 5-0,” “Man from U.N.C.L.E.”—make for a very long list: again, a pro and old school. He died July 31 at the age of 92 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease in California.

ART DONOVAN—A legendary Baltimore Colts football player at defensive tackle, Art “The Bulldog” Donovan earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame while another current legend, Baltimore offensive tackle John Ogden was being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Donovan looked old school—he used to sport the same razor-sharp butch haircut, owned by quarterback legend Johnny Unitas. He told stories his long life through, including this testament to old school behavior: “I never lifted anything more than 24 ounces and that was a bottle of Schlitz.” He died Aug. 4 from a respiratory disease at the age of 88 in Baltimore.
[gallery ids="101409,154597,154595" nav="thumbs"]

Rachel Scola •

Last year, it seemed like frozen yogurt was all the rage, but this summer ice cream remains supreme again. To celebrate this cool dessert and beat the heat, look no further than Rosa Mexicano.

Part of its yearlong celebration Flavors of Mexico, the Festival de Helados — Ice Cream Festival — offers multiple ice cream flavors, popsicles, cocktails and more.

Everything on this menu is worth trying once, but to entice your taste buds, here is a preview of some flavors.

There are four new ice cream flavors for the season, but if you want to get the most out of your experience try one or both of the following:
Mexican Sour Gherkin & Jalapeno Sorbet: Don’t write off the unusual flavors without trying this sorbet first. The gherkin gives is a slight sweet and vinegar taste at first, until the heat of the jalapeno kicks in. Either taste could be overpowering, but they instead balance each other out and are made milder by the coolness of the iced sorbet. It’s not heavy at all and would be the perfect ending to a summer meal.

Sweet Cream with Shaved Mexican Chocolate & Cajeta Swirl: Cajeta is a thick caramel-like syrup that, in this ice cream, melts into the chocolate and combines perfectly with the sweet cream ice cream base. It tastes very similar to a Mexican hot chocolate, with its hint of cinnamon and has a creaminess very similar to coffee creamer. This flavor tastes best when served in the delicate homemade cones.

Each popsicle, or paleta, is served in a white chocolate and sprinkle-rimmed glass with a layer of granola on the bottom. They are very adult-updated versions of every kid’s favorite summer treat.

Papaya & Passion Fruit: This is the least creamy and most fruity of the popsicles. It has chunks of fruit frozen in juice that has more of a gelatin consistency. It has great flavor but is reminiscent of the fruit jello that someone always brings to a holiday potluck.

Arroz con Leche & Peach: A two-layer popsicle, the sweetness of the peach is a perfect complement to the cinnamon and milk of the, essentially, rice pudding bottom. This one tastes best if dipped back into the cinnamon granola in order to get a crunch to go along with the smoothness.

Guava, Chile de Arbol & Huckleberry: Fair warning — this is the spiciest popsicle you will ever enjoy. Also a layered creation, both parts have a strong kick to them, which doesn’t compete with the fruit flavor but does overpower it. It is certainly a good choice for the most adventurous customer.

Raspado comes from the Spanish word for scrape and is the name of these Mexican snow cones. The ice is hand-scraped from a block making it extremely fine and perfect for absorbing the flavors. Once the ice is shaven, choose from mocha caramel horchata, passion fruit and lime, orange creamsicle, or mango, mint and chili as your “syrup” and then top it with condensed milk, chocolate or fruit. Espresso and tequila are also offered as toppings. The consistency is like a frappe and unfortunately refreezes very fast.

Rosa Mexicano, like any good Spanish restaurant, has fantastic guacamole. It is made tableside, where you can see the fresh ingredients added and combined. The Festival de Helados answer to this is dessert guacamole. Avocado ice cream — yes, there is such a thing; no, it is not a powerful taste — is mixed with white chocolate chunks, strawberries and mint so that it has the same colors and appearance of actual guacamole. It is served with divine cinnamon sugar tortilla crisps, which are the highlight of the dish and you will want to munch on all night. A chocolate sauce and strawberry sauce are also served with it, to replace the traditional salsas that come with the actual guacamole.

Last but not least, there are two new cocktails for the festival. They are very different, although both have fantastic presentation.

Verano: A summer mojito of sorts, this cocktail is tequila with just slight citrus, mint and sweet flavors. At first, it may have a bit of a sour taste, due to either the lime or blood orange sorbet. It is a beautiful rose color and is garnished with three blueberries.

Chavela Especial: Beer cocktails are a favorite in Hispanic nations, and they have yet to catch on in the U.S., but here is Rosa Mexicano’s twist on them. Modelo Especial beer is poured over a popsicle sitting in a snifter. The popsicle is essentially a frozen gazpacho, and when it melts into the beer or is enjoyed with the beer, gives the drink a frozen Bloody Mary taste. The glass is rimmed in chipotle and chili flakes, adding more flavor and spice to the unique drink.

Rosa Mexicano’s Festival de Helado runs through Aug. 25. There are two locations to enjoy the delectableness: Penn Quarter (575 7th St., NW) and Chevy Chase (5225 Wisconsin Ave., NW).
[gallery ids="119012,119023,119029,119016" nav="thumbs"]

Rachel Scola •

UPDATE: The Titan Arum has bloomed! The U.S. Botanic Gardens are keeping their extended hours, 10 AM to 8 PM, today Monday, July 22, so visitors can enjoy the sights and smell of the plant.

The flower has been named Mortimer and is continually updating his twitter: @DCTitanArum.

It opened fully between 5:30 and 7:30 PM on Sunday, July 21. On average, the plant has a 24-48 blooming time period. The Botanic Garden staff was worried Mortimer would close early, but so far he remains open.

As the tweets continue to come in, it seems the verdict is that this titan arum is not as stinky as expected, but still quite a sight and celebration!

Summer is in full swing, and noses are rejoicing in the sweet smells of chlorine, coconut and corpses.

Yes, corpses. The cause of this stench is the titan arum, a plant native to Indonesia. The U.S. Botanic Garden, however, has its own individual titan arum, and the garden is gearing up for the plant to bloom.

Titan arum does not have a routine blooming schedule. The last time a blooming one was on display was 2007, according the garden’s website. While it takes a while to open fully, the plant will stay open for between 24 and 48 hours and then quickly collapse into itself.

The plant’s stench is comparable to rotting flesh and strongest during the peak bloom from night to day, advises the Botanic Garden. Due to the heat, its odor travels farther than normal. In the wild, this stench attracts insects like the dung beetle from miles away.

Why does it take so long to bloom? The titan arum stores energy in its underground stem — the corm — and, when it reaches the energy threshold, begins to unfurl and bloom.

The Botanic Garden is extending its hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 16 and 17, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to allow visitors to witness the slow-moving bloom. If any visitor is unable to make it to the garden, there is a live streaming video on the USBG website.

Streaming Live by Ustream [gallery ids="101389,153971" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

It has been almost 30 years since National Night Out — the neighborhood and police get-together that fosters cooperation and teaches safety awareness, how police departments work and how to fight crime — made its national debut.

D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department encourages the public to join neighbors and friends tomorrow, Aug. 6, for the 30th anniversary of National Night Out, America’s Night Out Against Crime. Meet the men and women of the public safety agencies that work hard to make our neighborhoods safe and the residents and businesses that work with them to make a difference.

National Night Out events will be held nationwide and citywide. Georgetown’s event will be at MPD’s Second District Police Station at 3320 Idaho Ave., NW, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Aug. 6.

As MPD advises: Come out on Tuesday, August 6 for VIN etching, meet with Commander Reese and officers of the Second District, sign up for neighborhood watch, home burglary checks, and more. Visit community partners to learn about domestic violence prevention, safety tips, child safety seats inspections, child fingerprinting, drug prevention and emergency safety. Plus appearances by the K-9 and Horse Mounted units. Food, games and prizes. (Also; Bring your unused prescription drugs to dispose in DEA’s drop box.) For more information, contact Officer Rhonda Hardy, rhonda.hardy@dc.gov, 202-270-2286.

According to the National Night Out campaign, this special August evening “involves citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from 9,500 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.”

Robert Devaney •

The late Monday afternoon bombshell hit Washingtonians like a vengeful Washington Star.

The Washington Post, an icon of print journalism and of the nation’s capital, is to be sold to one of the internet’s first and biggest digital innovators.

The following is the surprise news from the Washington Post’s website:

“The Washington Post Co. has agreed to sell its flagship newspaper to Amazon.com founder and chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos, ending the Graham family’s stewardship of one of America’s leading news organizations after four generations.

“Bezos, whose entrepreneurship has made him one of the world’s richest men, will pay $250 million in cash for The Post and affiliated publications to the Washington Post Co., which owns the newspaper and other businesses.

“Seattle-based Amazon will have no role in the purchase; Bezos himself will buy the news organization and become its sole owner when the sale is completed, probably within 60 days. The Post Co. will change to a new, still-undecided name and continue as a publicly traded company without The Post thereafter.”

In an interview with his own newspaper, the Washington Post Co.’s chief executive Donald Graham told the paper Aug. 5: “Every member of my family started out with the same emotion—shock—in even thinking about [selling The Post]. But when the idea of a transaction with Jeff Bezos came up, it altered my feelings.”

“The Post could have survived under the company’s ownership and been profitable for the foreseeable future,” Graham told the Post. “But we wanted to do more than survive. I’m not saying this guarantees success but it gives us a much greater chance of success.”

The soon-to-be owner Bezos sent a letter to Post employees. It follows in its entirety, as reported at WashingtonPost.com on Aug. 5.

To the employees of The Washington Post: You’ll have heard the news, and many of you will greet it with a degree of apprehension. When a single family owns a company for many decades, and when that family acts for all those decades in good faith, in a principled manner, in good times and in rough times, as stewards of important values – when that family has done such a good job – it is only natural to worry about change.

So, let me start with something critical. The values of The Post do not need changing. The paper’s duty will remain to its readers and not to the private interests of its owners. We will continue to follow the truth wherever it leads, and we’ll work hard not to make mistakes. When we do, we will own up to them quickly and completely.
I won’t be leading The Washington Post day-to-day. I am happily living in “the other Washington” where I have a day job that I love. Besides that, The Post already has an excellent leadership team that knows much more about the news business than I do, and I’m extremely grateful to them for agreeing to stay on.

There will of course be change at The Post over the coming years. That’s essential and would have happened with or without new ownership. The Internet is transforming almost every element of the news business: shortening news cycles, eroding long-reliable revenue sources, and enabling new kinds of competition, some of which bear little or no news-gathering costs. There is no map, and charting a path ahead will not be easy. We will need to invent, which means we will need to experiment. Our touchstone will be readers, understanding what they care about – government, local leaders, restaurant openings, scout troops, businesses, charities, governors, sports – and working backwards from there. I’m excited and optimistic about the opportunity for invention.

Journalism plays a critical role in a free society, and The Washington Post — as the hometown paper of the capital city of the United States — is especially important. I would highlight two kinds of courage the Grahams have shown as owners that I hope to channel. The first is the courage to say wait, be sure, slow down, get another source. Real people and their reputations, livelihoods and families are at stake. The second is the courage to say follow the story, no matter the cost. While I hope no one ever threatens to put one of my body parts through a wringer, if they do, thanks to Mrs. Graham’s example, I’ll be ready.

I want to say one last thing that’s really not about the paper or this change in ownership. I have had the great pleasure of getting to know Don very well over the last ten plus years. I do not know a finer man. Sincerely, Jeff Bezos

Likewise, a letter to readers of the Washington Post was sent by Post publisher and CEO Katharine Weymouth, who announced the sale:

This is a day that my family and I never expected to come. The Washington Post Company is selling the newspaper it has owned and nurtured for eight decades.
In addition to The Washington Post, the company is selling Greater Washington Publishing, the Gazette newspapers, Express, El Tiempo Latino and Robinson Terminal. . . .
The board of our parent corporation, including my uncle and company chairman Don Graham, made this decision with a heavy heart but with an absolute conviction that Mr. Bezos’ ownership represents a unique and extraordinary opportunity for The Washington Post and for you, our readers.

In Mr. Bezos we have found an owner who will continue the tradition that the Graham family started with the purchase of The Washington Post by Eugene Meyer in 1933. Since then, and most especially over the past four decades, The Washington Post has earned a worldwide reputation for tough, penetrating, insightful, and indispensable journalism. With the investment by Mr. Bezos, that tradition will continue.

Mr. Bezos is widely known, of course, as the founder and CEO of Amazon.com. He is a proven entrepreneur who, like the Graham family and this company, takes the long-term view in his investments. While he expects The Post to remain profitable, his focus is on the essential role that our journalism has on dialogue and the flow of information in our society.

Mr. Bezos knows as well as anyone the opportunities that come with revolutionary technology when we understand how to make the most of it. Under his ownership and with his management savvy, we will be able to accelerate the pace and quality of innovation.

Mr. Bezos has asked that I remain as Publisher and CEO of The Post. I am honored to continue in that role. Our mission does not change. Nor do the values that have been at the core of The Post’s enduring strength over many decades. Mr. Bezos shares the principles that have guided the Graham family’s proud stewardship of this great news organization. . . .

Georgetowner •

Smithsonian After-Hours

July 25th, 2013 at 08:00 PM | $15-25 | Event Website

Introducing the Smithsonian’s premier 21+ after-hours event series: a unique mix of culture, art, history and science that also includes music, a cash bar, and special access to Smithsonian exhibits, collections, and experts.

Address

Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center; 1100 Jefferson Drive SW

Union Market Drive-In: The American President

July 26th, 2013 at 09:00 PM | Event Website

Union Market will host Washington D.C.’s first drive-in movie experience, which will screen on Fridays. Watch classic Washington D.C.- centric films on Union Market’s 3-story wall. Pre-show festivities will include music, contests and special giveaways. A variety of Union Market vendors will also participate, serving food, drinks and fun snacks.
The DC Drive-In is free to attend, however reservations are suggested for cars. Don’t have a car? There will be a picnic area in the parking lot for bikers and walkers – no reservations are required for the picnic area.

Address

Union Market; 1309 5th Street NE

Drink the District: Beer Edition

July 27th, 2013 at 11:00 AM | $30 | media@drinkthedistrict.com | Tel: 304 280 6530 | Event Website

Drink the District is back and better than ever with our second annual Beer Edition. Come celebrate our one-year anniversary on July 27th and 28th at Mount Vernon Triangle, with unlimited tastings of 50+ craft beers and full pours available to all attendees. Ten of the District’s most popular food trucks will also be joining us, as well as live music and brew-tastic backyard games. So grab your friends and put on your party hat, and revel in the best birthday beer bash DC has to offer.

Address

500 New York Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20532

Elizabeth Huey: Hydrotherapy at Heiner Contemporary

July 27th, 2013 at 11:00 AM | 0 | info@heinercontemporary.com | Tel: 202-338-0072 | Event Website](http://heinercontemporary.com/exhibitions/elizabeth-huey-hydrotherapy)

Heiner Contemporary is delighted to present Hydrotherapy, an arrangement of new, small paintings by Brooklyn-based artist Elizabeth Huey. The history of psychology and human attempts at manufacturing happiness have long informed Elizabeth Huey’s practice. This new work exchanges sanitariums and institutions for resort spas, treatment centers and secluded getaways.

We are here most days in August, but please call in advance to be certain: 202-338-0072

Address

1675 Wisconsin Ave NW

Arts, Culture & All Things Pink!

July 27th, 2013 at 05:00 PM | $125 | Event Website](http://vippinkparty.eventbrite.com/)

CharityChicks US and We Will Survive Cancer are co-hosting a garden party for The Children’s Inn at NIH in the urban garden of the Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown. We will be creating a whimsical garden party honoring several little girls who are currently battling rare cancer. Our theme this year is “Art, Culture & All Things Pink”!

Address

Ritz Carlton Georgetown; 3100 South Street NW

15th Annual Opera Gala Concert

July 28th, 2013 at 05:00 PM | The admission is $25 | Tel: 202-723-1659 | Event Website](http://theariaclub.homestead.com/)

The Aria Club of Greater Washington, a 501 C 3 nonprofit organization for classical and opera singers, presents its 15th Annual Opera Gala Concert . This celebration will feature national and local professional and aspiring opera singers: Jennifer Hosmer, Adrienne Neal, Samantha McElhaney, Jing Chang, John White, Malaika Alvaro, Hillery Tsumba, Yubin Hung, Rose Sims, Paul McIlvaine, Reafealito Ross among others. Hear selections from Carmen, Die Fledermaus, Don Pasquale, La Boheme, Manon, Otello, Porgy & Bess, Rigoletto, Romeo & Juliette and many others. English Surtitles. Ample seating and free Sunday parking on 16th Street NW and side streets.

Please come as you are and bring family and friends for an enjoyable evening ! For more information call 202-723-1659 and visit www.theariaclub.homestead.com

Address

Tifereth-Israel Congregation; 7701 16th Street NW

South Capitol Street Corridor Project Informational Update Meeting

July 30th, 2013 at 06:30 PM

The DDOT will hold an informational meeting to update the public about the design, phasing and schedule of the largest project in its history- the South Capitol Street Corridor Project- which includes replacing the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and transforming the city’s southernmost entrance into a grand urban boulevard.

Address

Capitol Skyline Hotel; 10 I (Eye) Street SW

Rachel Scola •

On July 10, the District Council passed, 8-5, the Large Retailer Accountability Act, which is, according to the actual signed bill, designed to “establish standards for responsible business practices by large retailers by ensuring that they pay living wages and provide benefits.”

The bill would require any business that has retail stores of at least 75,000 square feet and has an annual gross revenue of $1 billion or more to pay its employees an hourly wage of at least $11.50. The bill gives the mayor power to choose the living wage, provided it never drops below $12.50, and is required to re-evaluate the wage amount every year. The current minimum wage is $8.25.

How does this affect the construction of the three Wal-Marts in the area? After the bill passed, Wal-Mart threatened that it would abandon three of its planned location — and possibly get out of another three buildings now under construction. Wal-Mart was never in favor of the bill and, in a statement of its own, said the mandatory wage increase would “change the fiscal health of” its planned stores. Losing the Wal-Marts would mean losing jobs for these areas: 300 at each location, according to one local news website, DCist.com.

Mayor Vincent Gray could still veto the newly passed bill. He has not said where he stands on the possibility of a veto, but Gray is not the biggest fan of the bill. Also, in the discussion about the bill are concerns of future economic and investment consequences for the District of Columbia. What needs to be considered, and what Mayor Gray must decide, is if the employment and development benefits outweigh these consequences and if the District will indeed turn this bill into law.