IMAX Experience Coming to AMC Georgetown

May 3, 2012

IMAX is coming to a theater near you this fall, with the Sept. 9 premier of Contagion, a thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh starring Matt Damon, scheduled to appear via the “IMAX Experience” at AMC Georgetown 14 on K Street.

The IMAX Experience is a modified version of the IMAX theaters in the Museum of Natural History and the Air and Space Museum on the National Mall, and has been dubbed “IMAX-lite” by Ian Buckwalter of the DCist. Like Buckwalter, several local bloggers have expressed contempt and skepticism toward what would appear to be an advance for the theater experience.

But many would argue to the contrary: the IMAX Experience preserves IMAX”ssignature sound quality and involves the same dual digital projection as in the traditional IMAX theaters. The resolution of the projected images is classified as “2K,” making IMAX dual projection superior in quality to normal movie screens with 2k resolution, but sources report that most movie chains have begun to install to 4K resolution projectors in their theaters. If the transition is completed on schedule, the IMAX Experience at AMC Georgetown will have been trumped in terms of image quality in its first year.

Critics are wondering if the IMAX Experience will live up to its snazzy name, or if IMAX is better experienced through the traditional setup at the Smithsonian. We’ll just have to wait until Sept. 9 and see for ourselves.

GBA Reception Honoring Bernie Furin


The Georgetown Business Association invites the community to join them at this month’s reception, “Networking with a View… And a Salute to Furin’s.” The event will grant special recognition to Bernie Furin in honor of his retirement and the closing of Furin’s after 40 years of catering Georgetown events.

The reception will be held at the House of Sweden on the Waterfront from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The GBA asks that those planning to attend RSVP by Monday, Aug. 15 to Sue Hamilton via email or she can be reached by phone at 202.333.8076.

Beloved Environmental and Political Leader Dies


Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, died late Sunday in a Nairobi hospital at age 71, ending a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her three children.

Maathai, an environmental and political activist, was the founder of the Green Belt Movement, an organization that aimed to stop political injustice through creating a healthy environment. Her idea was that healthy forests made lives easier by providing necessary elements for survival such as clean water, thereby lessening people’s need to fight for such resources.

Her ambition lead the Green Belt Movement in the planting of some 30 million trees, prompting the U.N. to pick up her torch in a worldwide movement that saw 11 million trees planted.

She earned degrees from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas, and the University of Pittsburgh before going on to become the first woman to receive a doctorate from the University of Nairobi in 1971 where she later became a professor.

Maathai was both beaten and praised for her determination, fighting for the environment, democracy and women’s rights.

She was on the board of several organizations including the UN Secretary General Advisory Board on Disarmament, The Jane Goodall Institute, Women and Environment Development Organization, World learning for International Development, Green Cross International, Environment Liason Center International, the WorldWIDE Network of Women in Environmental work and National Council of Women in Kenya, according to the website of the Nobel Prize.

Maathai also served as a member of Parliament beginning in 2002 and was soon after appointed Assistant Minister for Environment, Natural Recourses and Wildlife in Kenya’s ninth parliament.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

Stachowski Brand to Open Georgetown Butcher Shop


After years of success selling meat at local farmers markets, Jamie and Josef Stachowski, the father-son team behind Stachowski Brand Charcuterie is preparing to open a butcher shop in Georgetown on the corner of P and 28th Street.

The deli-style market shop, tentatively titled Valentine Meats, will reside in the former location of Griffin Market, which closed down and moved to South Carolina last February due to a spike in rental rates.

Josef will be the owner of the shop, taking the reins from his father Jamie, an acclaimed sausage maker who was recently featured on Discovery Channel’s “Meat America.”

“We’ve thought about doing this for a long time,” Josef said as he took a break from grilling sausages at the Rose Park farmers market last Wednesday. “The markets are always busy, and people are always asking ‘where is your store?’ For the longest time, I’ve had to say that we don’t actually have one.”

According to Josef, the Georgetown location was not specifically selected in advance, but he does think it will be a good fit.

“Georgetown is a nice place to be,” he said. “It’s got a homey kind of local feel to it, something you definitely wouldn’t get at a place like H Street. It gives it a more authentic feel.”

Tom Papadopoulos, a real estate agent and restaurant broker who helped the Stachowskis obtain a 10-year lease on the property, said he thinks the Georgetown location is ideal, and that “people in Georgetown would really love it.”

Stachowski Brand sausages are made fresh straight from the source. The butchers use pork raised by Amish farmers and season their products with special herbs and spices. They plan on serving an array of their famous sausages including chicken, Wisconsin bratwurst, duck, turkey and sweet Italian pork sausages, as well as a small menu of sandwiches.

Despite some reservations, Josef is looking forward to running his own shop.

“Right now, I’m excited,” he said, “but like everything else, I might get bored with it before too long. “But,” he continued, “it’ll be more personal than what we do now. I’ll get to interact with people more.”

Josef said that running a family business with his dad leads to some unique workplace dynamics.

“I really don’t have a traditional boss,” he said. “I have space and freedom. But, at the same time, it’s a lot harder to hear your dad tell you what to do. It’s a power struggle for sure, but we keep each other in check.”

Josef hopes that Georgetown and the wider D.C. community will flock to
their shop in the same way they flocked to the popular Griffin Market.

“Hopefully, we can serve the community and they will embrace us,” he said.

Although the shop does not have an official opening date, the Stachowskis hope to have the operation up and running “in the next couple of months,” Papadopoulos said.

Until then, curious foodies can try out the unique Stachowski Brand at local farmers markets, including the Rose Park, Palisades and Falls Church markets. For more information on Stachowski Brand Charcuterie, visit http://stachowskibrand.com.

Taste of Georgetown Cooks Up Local Favorites


Next month, Georgetown will play host to the 18th annual Taste of Georgetown food and wine festival. The festival will provide visitors a chance to sample fine cuisine from 30 local restaurants, including Bangkok Joe’s, Clyde’s, Muncheez, Café Bonaparte, 1789, Mie N Yu, Serendipity, Neyla and Pinkberry, which will be opening in Georgetown soon. More traditional favorites, such as Chipotle and Georgetown Cupcake, will be on hand to serve up their familiar fare. The event will also feature wine tastings and local jazz talent at Blues Alley.

Past favorite tastes at the festival have included such diverse dishes as JPaul’s cheeseburgers, Hook’s campfire s’mores, Tony & Joe’s macadamia shrimp, Muncheez’ falafel wrap, Clyde’s pork belly sliders and Café Bonaparte’s crepes.

Taste of Georgetown began as a bake sale on the lawn of Grace Church to help raise awareness and money for Georgetown Ministry Center, a homeless ministry that began in 1987 to provide services ranging from housing to psychiatric assistance. According to Debbie Young, marketing manager of the Georgetown Business Improvement District, the event has raised more than $100,000 for the GMC since 2004. Last year alone, the festival raised $38,000 for the GMC, Young said via email.

Taste of Georgetown will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, NW. Tasting tickets, good for one tasting, are $5 and can be purchased in advance online at TasteofGeorgetown.com or at the event.

The Capella Georgetown Secures Funding, Plan to Open by the End of 2012


After some delay, the construction of The Capella luxury hotel can begin, funded by a joint venture, Castleton Hotel Partners, according to a press release from Capella Hotels and Resorts in early September.

Construction of The Capella Georgetown has been on the agenda for quite some time; the original plan was to open by Jan. 2012, according to a press release from Capella Hotels and Resorts in March 2010. “The developer experienced some difficulties with the funding,” said John Drake, vice president of marketing at Capella Hotels and Resorts, “but now we have secured funding and we would love to open by the end of 2012.” Castleton Holdings and ICG Properties is partnering with Point Ford Management Limited, a South Asian based investment firm, to secure funding for construction as well as management of the luxury hotel, according to the latest press release.

Robert Warman, executive vice president of West Paces Hotels, told USA Today that the Capella Georgetown will compete with Georgetown’s other luxury hotels, the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. Drake, however, is not afraid that this will be difficult for the Capella Georgetown. “I don’t want to sound arrogant but our hotel is a notch above the other hotels in the area,” Drake said, explaining that the Capella Hotels and Resorts offer personal service and assistance to their guests and adapts to their guests’ needs.

The Capella Georgetown, situated at 1050 31st Street, will feature 49 rooms and suites with “unmatched levels of customer service and room finishes,” according to a press release which says that the hotel will offer the pre-arrival services of personal assistants, luxury car service, 24 hour room service and a guest only spa and fitness center. The Capella Georgetown also entices guests with immediate access to the upscale shops and restaurants of Wisconsin Avenue and M Streets.

There will also be a restaurant and bar with outdoor seating along the C&O Canal, a private rooftop lounge and a rooftop indoor and outdoor pool overlooking the Potomac River and several Washington landmarks. The rooftop, however, might be “wishful thinking” as the Advisory Neighborhood Commission and the Old Georgetown Board previously have hesitated on similar matters, according to the Georgetown Patch.

Regardless, there is no question whether the Capella Georgetown will be a high-end place. “The hotel is purposely very small in number of rooms,” says Drake, “and we will cater to top corporate managers, CEOs, diplomats and heads of state among others.” And the caliber of the hotel certainly matches that of the event that serves as an unspoken deadline for the project, the next presidential inauguration, Jan. 2013.

Georgetown Voice Loses Newsroom, Students and Alumni Fight Back


Student writers and alumni of the Georgetown Voice at Georgetown University are protesting school administrators’ decision to confiscate their large newsroom, which will take effect today. The administrators are punishing the actions of two editors and a former staff member, who caused approximately $1,500 in property damages when they attempted to evade campus security during hurricane Irene.

“The Georgetown Voice violated the student organization office space use agreement and as a result must give up their current location,” Georgetown University spokesperson Rachel Pugh told the Georgetown Patch. “They continue to have exclusive access to a different office space.”

Many Voice writers and alumni believe that the entire paper is being treated unfairly as a result of the actions of a few members. 57 alumni signed an ad in the Voice asking the university to reconsider its decision.

“Moving The Georgetown Voice to smaller, inadequate office space penalizes the rest of the paper’s staff, who were not involved in the incident, and jeopardizes the future of a critical University institution,” the alumni wrote. “Taking away that space cripples the paper’s ability to do the reporting that makes it an integral part of life on campus.”

A Jan. 25 diversion hearing has been set for Eric Pilch, Sam Buckley and John Flanagan, the three students who were arrested for the damage on Aug. 28. The initial misdemeanor status hearing was held in D.C. Superior Court on Sept. 21.

A Life of Achievement and Service


When you think of the life of Roger Kennedy, the former director of the National Park Service who passed away at the age of 85 last week, you think almost immediately of the old adage that “they don’t make ‘em like they used to.”

Kennedy defined the idea of a Renaissance man, a concept which today merely means multi-tasking, which is not the same thing.

Kennedy lived a life of service and only became the NPS director relatively late in his life when President Bill Clinton appointed him to the position in 1993. By that time, he had already become a noted attorney, historian, television news correspondent, radio journalist and author of 12 books on American history, architectural history and public affairs. His last book, in fact, was published in 2009, a work called “When Art Worked: The New Deal and Democracy.”

He had served the nation and six presidents in various capacities, including Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Health, and Welfare and the U.S. Secretary of Labor.
The current NPS director, Jonathan B. Jarvis said that “Roger made it possible for everyone to have a stake in the national parks.”

Eight parks were added to the national park system during his tenure and you can tell the eclectic nature of his interests and passions from the list, among them the Tall grass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas, the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in Massachusetts, the Cane River Creole National Historical Park and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

During his tenure, he implemented a major restructuring of the Service while defending the Park Service against changes that would have undermined the system’s mission. He insisted that the park system tell multiple and diverse sides of the American historical story, a stance that often came under fire. He was a futurist in the sense that he anticipated the emergence of the Internet as a major communication tool to tell the American historical story to a huge audience.

He resisted government cutbacks that would weaken the ability to tell an inclusive story of the history of America. In 2002, he warned that “The impulse to prune back the budgets and get rid of the newer parks was all code for ‘let’s stop paying attention to blacks, Hispanics, women.’”

Kennedy could always be seen during the time of his tenure wearing the familiar uniform of the NPS, something that critics saw as grandstanding, but something he did with a great deal of pride.
Look at his life and writings; he had a lot to be proud of.

Final Days to Pre-Order Tickets to The Annual Georgetowner Holiday Benefit and Bazaar


Join us to kick off the holiday season with an evening of shopping and merriment as we honor and give back to three shining stars of our community: the Citizen’s Association of Georgetown, Hope for the Warriors and Hyde-Addison Elementary School. EagleBank and Georgetown Media Group present the 2nd Annual Georgetowner Holiday Benefit and Bazaar to at the historic George Town Club Nov. 17 from 6 to 10 p.m.

Come browse for holiday gifts for your friends, family and for yourself at our unique vendors’ booths, featuring local Georgetown businesses. Highlights for attendees this year include Holiday Portraits by Philip Birmingham, an array of cocktails by Beam Global Spirits, a marvelous menu compliments of The George Town Club and a fabulous gift bag.

The George Town Club is an elegant Georgetown landmark founded in 1966 for community and political leaders and is modeled after the finest clubs in London and Paris. With immaculate service and cuisine, this year’s event promises to be marvelous. Take a tour of the Georgetown Club by clicking here

Here’s a list of our wonderful vendors:

Whyte House Monograms

Smathers & Branson

Ella Rue

Dandelion Patch

Queen Bee Jewelry

Linens of Provence

Alexandra Beth

Three Sisters

Skincando

Mija Jewelry

Silver Leaf Epicure

Aidah Collection

Ibhana Creations LLC

Dean and Deluca

Help us get into the holiday spirit! RSVP to RSVP@georgetowner.com or call 202-338-4833. Tickets can be purchased online(click Buy Now Button Below).


Number of Tickets




$75 online or at the door for $100.

Bandolero Restaurant to Take Over Former Hook Restaurant Space


On M Street, the former Hook restaurant sits vacant, closed down since June when a fire caused severe damage to the restaurant and its neighbor, Tackle Box. Mike Isabella, chef at Graffiato and a former contestant on Top Chef, plans to fill the space with a new, contemporary Mexican restaurant called Bandolero.

Jonathan Umbel, owner of Tackle Box and the former Hook, said he thinks that Isabella will help cater to a younger demographic and provide a more casual dining environment in the face of a sputtering economy. While the new restaurant will be Isabella’s creation, Umbel will continue to own the building.

“We’re really excited to be connected with Mike,” Umbel said. “We think he’s a talented guy.” He also said that Isabella’s cooking is “flavorful,” and that this partnership was a “no brainer.”

Isabella stated in a press release that his vision is for a restaurant that is “high-energy,” one that will “match the bustling vibe of the Georgetown neighborhood.” He plans to serve a variety of Mexican dishes, including salsas, guacamole, ceviches, tacos and fajitas. Options for dishes con carne will include unusual choices such as duck, goat and off-cuts of meat.

Bandolero is expected to open by March of next year, which will give construction workers time to repair over $50,000 worth of damage sustained in the fire.

Umbel plans to have Tackle Box, the other restaurant damaged in the fire, opened by Thanksgiving.

The fire that damaged the two structures started in Hook’s loading dock June 29, and the resulting damage from smoke and water shut the restaurants down. Originally, Umbel announced that Hook would be closed indefinitely.

“We pigeonholed ourselves into a fine dining restaurant [with Hook]” he said, “which is a segment that is really being beaten up by the economy right now.” He said that if he wanted to, he could open Hook back up, but he hopes that Bandolero, a more casual restaurant, will attract more customers and provide a unique dining experience to the Georgetown community.
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