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Robert Devaney • January 17, 2012

A big, new restaurant requires a big ribbon cutting. The Hamilton got one with Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C council members and Clyde’s corporate officers Jan. 9. Flanked by D.C. Council chair Kwame Brown and Ward 2 council member Jack Evans, Mayor Gray held the big scissors at the center of the downstairs live music stage.

The Hamilton, Clyde’s Restaurant Group’s new 37,000-square-foot restaurant at 14th and F Streets, is making the scene in no small way. It is as big in space and in time as the ambition of the first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, whose federal department is but a block away with the White House nearby.

The same goes for the food and the music. Under the care of executive Brian Stickel, the menu is an expansive mix: steaks, seafood, salads, munchies, muffulettas and burgers, too. It changes for the time of day, there is a breakfast, brunch and lunch menu and more. There is an Eggs Hamilton on the late night menu. It will be the first Clyde’s joint (the original opened 1963 in Georgetown) ever to serve sushi. And, as in 24/7, the Hamilton which opened Dec. 18 never closes?

In keeping with the restaurant designers of Clyde’s, the artwork is custom, the woodwork perfection and the look and details contemporary but classic. Check out the Lady Liberty hanging lamps. The Hamilton is in the old Borders space, where before that was the flagship of Garfinkel’s department store. It is the 15th Clyde’s restaurant; Old Ebbitt Grill, owned by the group, is one block away on 15th Street.

A lot of patrons can show up: first floor restaurant areas, 400 seats; upstair Loft private dining room, 80 seated/100 standing; live music seating, 260 seats, 100 bar stools. Downstairs, the sound-proofed, high-tech music space has its own menu for “quiet food,” such as sliders, pizza or sushi. [gallery ids="100453,115393" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Water Street Gym Supports Georgetown Ministry Center

January 12th, 2012 at 04:33 PM | trish@waterstreetgym.com | Tel: 202.812.5050

Water Street Gym is celebrating their one year anniversary at their new location by giving back to the community. Help with their effort to support Georgetown Ministry Center and the homeless in Georgetown by bringing any unwanted warm winter coats to the Water Street Gym (3255 K Street, NW, Georgetown Waterfront above CycleLife) from now to January 31st.

You can also organize an internal drive at your place of employment or business and email trish@waterstreetgym.com for a scheduled pick-up. 202.812.5050

Address

3255 K Street, NW,

Georgetown Waterfront above CycleLife

MLK- The Making of a Holiday

January 13th, 2012 at 06:00 PM

Join On The Potomac Productions and Destination DC for a private screening of “MLK- The Making of a Holiday” at L2 Lounge on Friday, January 13,2012 at 6pm.

“MLK: The Making of a Holiday” highlights the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King and the popular movement that led to the passage of congressional legislation to create a national holiday in his honor. The one hour film, co-hosted by actors LeVar Burton and Marla Gibbs, features exclusive interviews with Coretta King and Stevie Wonder.

Address

3315 Cadys Alley Northwest
Washington D.C.

1K Wine and Beer Walks

January 14th, 2012 at 02:00 PM | 35-40 | info@crystalcity.org | Tel: (703) 412-9430 | Event Website

Get ready to lace up your walking shoes and sip your way to the finish line, but you won’t find energy drinks along the way. Instead, walkers can sample more than 30 different wines as they make their way through a fun, indoor course at the Crystal City Shops during the one and only 1K Wine Walk. The event returns on January 14th and 15th, 2012. Walkers can tap into extra fun with the inaugural 1K Beer Walk the following weekend.

Address

2200 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202

Quis Custodiet

January 14th, 2012 at 07:00 PM | $25.00 | tinabarksdale@yahoo.com | Tel: 315-212-1901 | Event Website

The Examiner called Artistic Director Robert Bettmann’s last piece “An example of artistic craftmanship”, and the company’s new work, Quis Custodiet, includes videos by renowned local artist Tim Tate as well as choreography by Bettmann. The dance explores the issue of Security through the performance of intersecting narratives, including a re-telling of the biblical stories of Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel. What do we do to keep ourselves safe as nation, and as individuals?

Address

Woolly Mammoth Theatre

641 D Street NW Washington, DC 20004

Corcoran offers FREE Admission to ’30 Americans’

January 16th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | FREE | Event Website

Join the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design on Martin Luther King Day, January 16 when the Gallery will honor Dr. King and celebrate the landmark exhibition 30 Americans with FREE admission and additional promotions:

Chef Todd Gray of Todd Gray’s Muse has prepared a special MLK brunch for Sunday January 15 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Please call (202) 639-1786 for reservations

All visitors on MLK Day will receive a two-for-one voucher to the Gallery to use before February 12, when 30 Americans closes, allowing visitors to come back and bring a friend for the price of one!

30 Americans (October 1, 2011–February 12, 2012) is a wide-ranging survey of work by many of the most important African American artists of the last three decades. Selected from the Rubell Family Collection, the exhibition brings together seminal figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and David Hammons with younger and emerging artists such as Kehinde Wiley and Shinique Smith. Often provocative and confrontational, 30 Americans focuses on artistic community as well as issues of racial, sexual, and historical identity in contemporary culture. For more information on 30 Americans, please visit www.corcoran.org/30Americans.

Address

Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design

500 Seventeenth Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Georgetowner •

Metro is accelerating its efforts to improve safety and return the system to a state of good repair. Their new track maintenance approach to major weekend track work involves temporarily closing individual stations or clusters of stations at a time and substituting buses for rail service. While it isn’t the most preferable thing to have the metro running sluggishly through the weekends, it’s a pretty decent way to go about it all things considered.

Metro says that the benefits to this new approach are that trains will operate more normally outside the work zone and with fewer delays, necessary track work will get done faster, and fewer customers will be inconvenienced by track work at a given time.

Shuttle bus service between the closed tracks are free.

This weekend, Metro will be shutting down the Orange and Blue line between L’Enfant Plaza and Eastern Market, which put the Federal Center and the Capitol South stops out of commission.

With metro delays and the surprisingly nice summer weather, this might be a good time to sign up for Capital Bikeshare!. Happy travels!

Georgetowner • January 13, 2012

On Dec. 15, co-owners Niko Papademetriou and Seth McClelland of Dupont Circle hotspot One Lounge (www.oneloungedc.com) celebrated two years in business by raising around $3,000 and collecting more than 150 holiday gifts for the Washington Children’s Hospital with an elaborate anniversary fete for high-profile business owners and D.C. celebs.

ABC 7 sweethearts Pamela Brown and Britt McHenry spearheaded the gift gathering efforts with support from co-newsies Alison Starling, Cynne Simpson, Natasha Barrett and Jummy Olabanji. Other Washington heavyweights such as Comcast SportsNet’s Ivan Carter, NBC 4’s Eun Yang, Doug Kammerer and Dan Hellie, FOX 5’s Dave Feldman, WPGC’s Sunni in the City, BET’s Angel Elliot, Glow Productions’ Pete Kalamoutsos, KStreetKate’s Kate Michael, Rogue 24 owner and chef RJ Cooper, RNDC VP of sales John Linette, Washington Wholesale director of sales Chang Park, Luxxery Medical Spa’s Dr. Ayman Hakki, Capital File editor-in-chief Kate Bennett, famous jeweler Alberto Parada and The Sports Junkies Eric Bickel (EB) sipped Moet Chandon and Svedka cocktails and jammed to DJs and live jazz from The Pete Muldoon Band. [gallery ids="100451,114971,114937,114963,114955,114947" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Throughout the city, there are many places to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Check out the list below for places in Georgetown and all over the city. There is still time to make plans.

The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown (3100 South Street, NW) is offering two dinner options in the Fahrenheit Ballroom. For the 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30pm seatings, guests can choose from a three-course menu for $75 per person. After 8 p.m., a four-course menu for $125 per person is offered.

Cafe Milano (3251 Prospect Street, NW) is offering an a la carte menu until 9 p.m. and then a prix fixe menu, along with two DJs and a band. The prix fixe menu is $125 per person and includes one glass of sparkling Italian wine but excludes all other beverages, tax and gratuity.

Bistro Francais (3124 M Street, NW) invites you to ring in the New Year with with chef Gerard Cabrol and a special 3-course prix-fixe menu ($59), a complimentary glass of champagne and noisemakers before midnight. www.bistrofrancaisdc.com

Puro Lounge (3276 M Street, NW) hosts a New Year’s Eve party starting at 7p.m., including great music with Guy Robert Jean, DJ music after 10:30 p.m., favors, raffle and many more surprises.

Sequoia (3000 K Street, NW) is offering a special five-course New Year’s menu, live entertainment (Radio King Orchestra), and a champagne toast at midnight. For more information, visit www.arkrestaurants.com/sequoia_dc.html

L2 Lounge (3315 Cady’s Alley, NW) is hosting New Year’s Eve Havana Party. Live telecasts of New Year’s Eve celebrations happening across the globe will be projected throughout the lounge. Havana beats to be performed by a live bongo drum musician playing in synch with L2’s in-house DJ. Breakfast will be available from 1 to 3:30 a.m. No entry fee for L2 Members plus five of their guests present upon check-in; $50 per person for non-members. Table reservations being held in reserve for L2 Members; non-members may send their requests to be put on the waiting list to memberservices@l2lounge.com.

Kafe Leopold (3315 Cady’s Alley, NW) offers an unforgettable New Year’s Eve dining experience featuring a decadent Austrian-inspired menu and NYE specials, prepared by the chef, while listening to live jazz music performed by Amy Bormet. Guests will be provided a complimentary party favors and noise makers to ring in 2012. Call 202.965.6005 to make reservations.

Mate Lounge ( 3101 K Street, NW) knows how to throw a party. Enjoy two hours of sushi and Latin fusion cuisine, a midnight champagne toast, party favors and fabulous live DJ set to set the tone for a fabulous year. To party with friends, book a VIP table for six people, and enjoy a bottle of Absolut vodka as well as a bottle of champagne to toast 2012. Sushi and Latin fusion cuisine buffet and party favors also provided. For table reservations (parties 7 or more), contact farees@latinconcepts.com or 202.361.1666. Pre-sale tickets, $35; regular, $45; table service for six persons, $350.

Sea Catch Restaurant (1054 31st Street, NW) is offering a “New Years Symphony” menu, featuring five courses for $60. For an additional $25, guests can add a wine tasting including four wines.

Bourbon Steak (2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW) is offering guests executive chef Adam Sobel’s special six-course tasting menu priced at $175 per person — with an additional $95 including wine pairings. The menu will be filed with luxe dishes such as Osetra caviar sandwich with toasted blini and fried quail egg, Chinese roast squab with foie gras steamed bun and plum sauce and Grilled bison tenderloin with black truffle gnocchi and toasted hazelnut. Dessert will see sweets, such as pineapple in all forms from confit to soup to sorbet, and the rich Bourbon Steak brownie with bourbon cordial and chocolate creameaux. The restaurant will offer two seatings for New Year’s Eve. The first seating will be available from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will offer a three-course menu for $90 per person. The second seating will be available from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. — www.bourbonsteakdc.com

Peacock Cafe (3251 Prospect Street, NW) There are some reservations available for our festive annual NYE prix fixe dinner. First seating is from 6 to 7:30 pm, three courses and a glass of bubbly for $50 (not incl. tax & tip). A la carte options also available at the first seating, and all night long for bar patrons. Second seating brings late night excitement and takes place from 8 to 10 p.m.; four courses include a glass of bubbly plus party favors and festivities at midnight for $65 (not incl. tax and tip). All night, Moet & Chandon will have a special price of $64.88 ($20.12 off list price). Please call 202-625-2740 to make your reservations; credit card confirmation required.

Citronelle (3000 M Street, NW) will be offering two dinner seatings for the evening, with the first seating at 5:30 p.m., and the second starting at 8:30 p.m. This year will feature a special New Year’s Eve package on Dec. 31, including an overnight stay at The Latham Hotel, parking, and a continental breakfast.

For more locations in Georgetown, visit Georgetown BID

Outside of Georgetown, There Are Many Other NYE Parties to Attend

Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW): Make the Headliners Ball an even bigger story, and add dinner at The Source by Wolfgang Puck and lodging at Hotel Monaco. There’s no better place to count down to 2012 than D.C.’s top museum and party venue. The Headliners Ball features the best in food, drink and entertainment for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration. One-of-a-kind cocktails and food from Wolfgang Puck, entertainment from the area’s hottest party band, Round Midnight, Dance jams with DJ Scientific Beats and access to Newseum exhibits.

Countdown to midnight and 2012 on the 40-foot by 22-foot high-definition video screen.

The Headliners Ball at the Newseum offers a choice of three packages — $195 per person; $180 for Newseum members; includes an open bar (8 p.m. to 2 a.m.), light snacks and a champagne toast at midnight. For more information, please call 202/292-6100.

Eden Lounge: For those looking to party down in class, I Street hotspot Eden Lounge (1716 I Street, NW) is hosting the End of The World 2012 New Year’s Eve Party in our nation’s capital this year. Located in the heart of Washington, Eden is D.C.’s own oasis under the stars. The hotspot has attracted A-list celebrities, such as David Arquette, T.I., Nas, Alex Ovechkin, LMFAO, Jay Sean and Wale among others. For party-goers who want to flash some real cash, Eden is offering a slew of baller packages. The Ultimate End of The World Package for $5,000 includes VIP Admission for 40 Guests and a private VIP section. To bring in the New Year with cheers, guests will receive 24 bottles of Moet and Chandon Imperial Rose Champagne and 10 bottles of premium liquor. For those with a more reasonable budget, the venue is offering VIP Packages of both $1,000 and $750, including VIP admission for 10 or eight guests. All New Year’s Eve packages with bottle minimums also include complimentary bottles of champagne. Individual tickets are also available for purchase for $30. To reserve a table or for more information, visit www.EdenDC.com or call 202-491-2165.

Josephine: Celebrate New Year’s 2012 in style at the newly enhanced Josephine Lounge at 1008 Vermont Avenue, NW. Josephine wowed the D.C. party scene in October with its chic brand new modern decor and redesign expanding the venue’s usable dance and mingling space. The hotspot has hosted celebrities such as Sean Penn, Will.i.am, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Spike Lee. D.C. party people are invited to dance the night away to music by DJ N’dys from Miami’s famous Set nightclub. The DJ recently remixed the song “Missing You” by the Black Eyed Peas. VIP Packages start at $1,000 for 10 guests and bottle and champagne numbers depend on package deals. Individual tickets can be purchased for $40 and $75 for couples. To reserve table packages, visit www.josephinedc.com or call 202-347-8601.

Public: Join high-energy Dupont Circle favorite Public Bar (1214 18th Street, NW) for an evening of vibing and imbibing this New Year’s Eve. Public will be offering tables for up to 10 guests starting at $800, including champagne and bottle service. Individual tickets can be purchased for $80. Happy Hour prices will be offered, 8 to 10 p.m., and an open bar will be available to all guests from 10p.m. to 1 a.m. An appetizer buffet will be served from 10 p.m. to midnight for hungry Public partygoers. To reserve table packages or purchase tickets, visit www.PublicBarDC.com or call 202-223-2200.

Lost Society: U Street boutique steakhouse Lost Society (2001 14th Street NW) will be hosting a special New Year’s Eve feast to ring in the new year. With a unique and sophisticated ambiance, the lounge has already attracted celebrities such as Sean Penn and Tara Reid. DJ’s Gavin Holland and Chris Burns will be spinning on the decks starting at 9 p.m., with dinner served at 7:30 p.m. Table reservations start at $250 and tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 with three guaranteed top shelf cocktails. For more information, visit www.lostsociety-dc.com or call 202-618-8868.

Robert Devaney •

The new year clean-up has begun. The Department of Public Works is now collecting Christmas trees and wreaths to be picked up curbside through Jan. 14. Remove all decorations and place the greenery in the treebox space or in front of your home now or by Jan. 9. Please do not put the trees in plastic or cloth bags. Trees collected between Jan. 3 and 14 will be recycled. Any trees not collected by Jan. 14 should be set out with your trash to be picked up as space in the trash trucks allows over the following weeks.

The fall leaf collection program continues through Jan. 14, and every neighborhood in the District will have its leaves collected. DPW will collect leaves at least twice from residential neighborhoods by “vacuuming” the leaves residents rake into their treebox spaces.

Also, DPW will collect bagged leaves from the treebox space or the alley in neighborhoods with rear trash and recycling collections. Bagged leaves will be placed in the landfill. By collecting leaves, DPW reduces potential accidents and injuries resulting from slipping on wet leaves and prevent catch basins (storm drains) from clogging and causing street flooding during heavy rains.

Robert Devaney •

Your sweet wait is over! On Thursday, Jan. 5, at 10 a.m., Pie Sisters of Georgetown will open its doors at 3423 M St., N.W.

With ovens, coolers and counter ready for action, Allison, Cat and Erin Blakely will feed the town’s new taste for pies, sweet, creamy and fruity — and a savory one, too. “People are excited,” Allison said. “They have been so nice.”

Flavors include apple caramel crunch, pecan, key lime and banana, coconut or chocolate cream. The shop will sell pies in three sizes: the $4-“cuppie,” seven-inch ($14 to $16) and nine-inch ($35) pies, but return the glass plate for $5 off next purchase — which appears irresistible. There are chairs and tables in front of the shop with a coffee counter as well.

Bakers, businesswomen and parishioners of St. John’s Church, the Blakely sisters hail from Great Falls, Va., two having gone to Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington and also played college basketball. Allison worked at the State Department and finance section of NBC in New York; Erin at BCBG Max Azria. Cat still works at the State Department.

Already known around town for their pies for weddings and social and charitable events, the Blakely trio said they chose the site because of its closeness to Georgetown University and its visibility — you can’t miss it turning off Key Bridge from Virginia — and that “the location is not too small and not too big.” Erin added: “We’ve had Georgetown students contact us for part-time jobs.”

Pie Sisters of Georgetown is at 3423 M St., N.W., one of the shops along Regency Row: 202-338-PIES (7437) — www.PieSisters.com

Robert Devaney •

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E — Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale — will meet tonight, Jan. 3, 6:30 p.m., at Georgetown Visitation Prep, 35th Street and Volta Place, Main Building, Heritage Room, 2nd floor. Among the updates, a discussion of the government property, the West Power Plant on 29th Street, and its future use.

Below is the agenda (from the ANC website):

Approval of the Agenda

• Approval of the January 3, 2012, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda
Administrative

• Approval of November 28, 2011 Meeting Minutes

• Public Safety and Police Report

• Financial Report

• Transportation Report – O & P Street update

• Public Works Report

• Officers and areas of particular interest in 2012

• 2012 meeting dates

• Standing resolutions

• Security Trust Fund

Community Comment

New Business

•West Power Plant update – GSA plans and procedures for disposition (This item will come up before 7:00 p.m.)

•Friends of Volta Park designated as the official community representative for Volta Park

•GU Campus plan update

•Safeway traffic issue

Old Georgetown Board

PRIVATE PROJECTS:

1.SMD 01, 1738 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-026 (HPA 12-053) Residence, 2-story rear addition, Concept – revised design

2.SMD 02, 1669 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-071 (HPA 12-124) Commercial, Alterations to window, awning and blade sign for Macaron Bee, Permit – revised design

3.SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 11-162 (HPA 11-255) Residence, Partial demolition, reconstruction of garage with enlarged footprint, Concept – revised design

4.SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 12-083 (HPA 12-137) Residence, Alterations to rear of main house, remove chimney, Concept

5.SMD 03, 1432 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-025 (HPA 12-041) Retail, Sign for “DC Jewelry Center”, rolling grille, Permit / Concept – revised design

6.SMD 03, 1510 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-082 (HPA 12-136) Commercial, Alterations to storefront, sign scheme for “Luigi Parasmo Salon,” Permit

7.SMD 05, 3288 M Street, NW, OG 12-073 (HPA 12-126) Retail, Deck, Permit

8.SMD 05, 2810-12 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-014 (HPA 12-014) Four Seasons Hotel – Eno Wine Bar, Rear addition with basement, window replacements, signs and awnings, Concept – revised design

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming November 3 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, December 30, 2010.

1.SMD 02, 1522 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-068 (HPA 12-121) Residence, Replacement rear fence, Permit

2.SMD 02, 1615 34th Street, NW, OG 12-058 (HPA 12-097) Residence, Replace rear fence, Permit

3.SMD 02, 1675 35th Street, NW, OG 12-081 (HPA 12-135) Residence, Rear additions and alterations to side, new window wells on front, Permit – revised design

4.SMD 03, 1513 33rd Street, NW, OG 11-285 (HPA 11-495) Residence, Alterations, dormers, partial demolition, Permit

5.SMD 03, 1525 34th Street, NW, OG 12-079 (HPA 12-133) Residence, Relocation of front door to side, alterations, Permit

6.SMD 03, 1408, -10, -12 36th Street, NW, OG 12—85 (HPA 12-139) Residences, Door surround, transom, window casing, Permit

7.SMD 03, 3240 P Street, NW, OG 12-061 (HPA 12-106) Commercial, Alterations to glass roof at rear yard, Permit / concept

8.SMD 05, 1050 31st Street, NW, OG 12-076 (HPA 12-130) Office building to hotel, Alterations, Permit

9.SMD 05, 1037 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-074 (HPA 12-127) Commercial, Sign scheme for “Flor,” Concept – options

10.SMD 05, 3067 M Street, NW, OG 12-072 (HPA 12-125) Alterations to storefront, sign and banner for “Rag & Bone,” Permit – revised design

11.SMD 05, 1059 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, OG 12-078 (HPA 12-132) Residence, Alterations to front and rear, deck, fence, Permit – revised design

12.SMD 06, 1248 30th Street, NW, OG 12-069 (HPA 12-122) Residence, Alterations to garage, Permit

13.SMD 06, 1235 31st Street, NW (also known as 1231-35 31st St, NW), OG 12-080 (HPA 12-134) Residence, Alterations and conservatory addition at rear, Permit

14.SMD 06, 3043 N Street, NW, OG 12-055 (HPA 12-093) Residence, Replacement brick garden wall at rear, Permit

15.SMD 06, 3130 O Street, NW, OG 12-056 (HPA 12-094) Church Parsonage, Replacement tin roof, Permit

16.SMD 06, 3127 P Street, NW, OG 12-077 (HPA 12-131) Residence, Alterations to front yard and light fixtures on side, Permit – revised design

17.SMD 06, 2624 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-062 (HPA 12-107) Church, Handicapped access ramp, Concept

18.SMD 06, 2908 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-084 (HPA 12-138) Residence, 2-story rear addition, Permit

19.SMD 06, 1329 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-054 (HPA 12-??) Retail, Sign scheme for “Comfort One Shoes” and “Mephisto”, awnings, Permit

20.SMD 07, 1601 28th Street, NW, OG 12-057 (HPA 12-096) Residence, New opening for garage door at basement of historic house, Permit

21.SMD 07, 2823 Q Street, NW, OG 12-075 (HPA 12-128) Residence, Rear alterations, Permit

22.SMD 07, 2516 East Place, NW, OG 12-067 (HPA 12-120) Residence, Alterations to rear, retractable awning, shutters, Permit

Gary Tischler •

At last.

Our long national nightmare is finally over.

No, we’re not talking about Watergate or the Redskins’ football season.

We’re talking about the endless debates, rise and falls, and media obsession with the political events leading up to the Republican race to “win” the Iowa caucuses, the first actual voting event in the grinding road to the presidential nomination.

It’s over.

Mitt Romney, the other Mormon candidate, squeaked out an eight-vote win over Rick Santorum, the surging ex-Pennsylvania senator and darling of the Christian right.

And now, it’s on to New Hampshire, where Romney, who has yet to get more than 25 percent in preference polls or this last vote-count in Iowa, is expected to get a little more than an eight-point margin of victory.

Still, let’s face it. This race so far has been a farce, a joke, a circus, a media obsession, and anyone who still thinks anyone can actually beat Romney—loved or unloved—is smoking something funny.

With the climax of the Iowa caucuses — aren’t you glad we don’t have to revisit that state anymore? — it’s time to say that Romney has won the nomination, and just give up on the idea that somewhere out there, there will come a man, or even Sarah Palin, who will ignite the fury of the Tea Party and smite down the bland, Gore-like Mitt, whose only known stand so far is the opinion that he is opposed to President Barack Obama.

I know—there’s dozens of primaries left all over the country stretching into the next few months—but there’s no chance that Romney can blow this nomination. He has too much money, too many good-looking children, and a blasé, murky, fuzzy, spin-like-topsy approach to issues that add up to a winner.

Maybe not a popular winner, maybe not an inspirational winner, but a winner nonetheless. Just ask Newt Gingrich, who was erased by a Romney SuperPAC attack in the blink of the time between two polls.

But seriously, folks, let’s take a look at this so-called race for the GOP lineup for the race to the presidential nomination.

All those pictures of the stalwarts lined up next to one another on a stage in debate after debate—truthfully, didn’t you just feel like giggling a little bit?

Except for Romney, who’s been there before, and who in the very least looks presidential, and can out debate anybody, that bunch looked more like a future “Dancing With the Stars” or “Celebrity Apprentice” cast than a group running for President of the United States. And don’t think that Michelle Bachman, now at last out of the race, might not show up and kick butt on one of those shows, not to mention Herman Cain, the pizza king, dial 9-9-9?

Romney was Mr. Steadfast in these proceedings, never really ahead of the pack but always the front runner, hovering around 25 percent in the polls. Every week, it seemed that there was a new leader: Bachman herself was the briefest of leaders in the polls after winning the Iowa straw poll which is something less than a caucus but something more than drawing straws for designated driver.

Along came the mighty Rick Perry, who figured if Bachman could win one thing, why he could probably win the whole thing just by showing up and throwing a Texas hat in the ring. He soared in the polls, running past Romney like a sprinter. So well-heeled and financed was Perry, so successful a politician in Texas (he could at no risk not return calls to Karl Rove) that there was a lot of boot-quaking going on, at least in the media.

Except that he showed up for the debates, where he proved to be as adept as Elmer Fudd, and even worse than the previous governor of Texas. Perry proved to have trouble with complete sentences, ideas and memory.

That was probably better than having trouble with women. Just ask Bill Clinton, I mean Herman Cain, the African-American former Pizza company executive with the 9-9-9 plan, who, for no discernible reason, rose in the polls and became the darling of the Tea Party, which by now had adopted a stance of anybody-but-Mitt. There came a time when Cain started behaving like he was in a national primary campaign and not a book tour, and further, he thought he could win. Right up until those pesky women showed up with their sexual harassment talk, including the last one who said she had a lengthy affair with him. Soon enough and inevitably, Cain folded up his campaign tent, went home to sleep on the couch and, as far as we know, has not been heard from since.

Enter Newt Gingrich the former Speaker of the House who caused Bill Clinton no ends of trouble, often married, author, intellectual, smart guy and, well, loose cannon. Still compared to the rest of the bunch, he looked like Einstein, although a portly Einstein. Romney, in fact, acted as if he were worried because chances were good that Gingrich could hold his own in a debate and had a blonde wife.

No worries. The Romney Superpac blasted Gingrich out of the water and into fourth place in the Iowa caucuses which he had led in the polls only 15 minutes ago, causing him to call Romney someone who didn’t tell the truth. Nobody dared call Romney a liar, but the word disingenuous came up quite a lot, which nobody paid attention to.

Enter — after lurking in the campaign and debates like a stalker — , who talked values, had little money and only recently said he would annul all gay marriages when he became president and that he would attack Iran’s nuclear reactor if he became president.
Nobody paid attention. Santorum was surging, and urging, and that was all that mattered. Give it another two weeks, and that will be the end of that.

The media — especially all the lads and gals with their iPads at the ready, their pie-charts and projections and their thumbs on the pulse of regular folks — can take a lot of the blame for this Iowa obsession. Media folks love the race itself, and ponder every vote and percentage point like high priests at a ceremony blessing the new consul in ancient Rome, pulling out hearts of chickens and rabbits feet to make their predictions. They love the process — so much so that they hang on every word a Perry, a Santorum, a Gingrich, a Cain has to say as if they meant something.

Did any of them seriously think that any of that bunch beside Romney was a serious presidential candidate?

And, oh, I’m sorry I forgot to say anything about Ron Paul, mainly because finishing third is like kissing your sister. And I’m sorry I forgot to mention Jon Huntsman, the other Mormon in the race because … well … I forgot.

Robert Devaney •

Georgetown’s and Burleith’s advisory neighborhood commission (ANC2E) met Jan. 3 at Georgetown Visitation Prep. Among other updates, here are the main headlines:

Tim Sheckler of the General Services Administration explained the process of the impending sale of the West Heating Plant on 29th Street, just south of the C&O Canal. Future bidders, such as those from the Levy Group and EastBanc, and a Fox5 News camera were also in the room. As it is designated Federal property, the plant and its land will be sold to the highest bidder “as is, where it is” in an online auction. The future buyer must contend with any cleanup, and the land is unzoned. GSA will simply sell the property without regard to its future use. There is no federal transfer to consider, Sheckler said, and there is no “financial angel” to pass the land to D.C. and its community for greater future control. Developers already have plans for the site which include condos in the plant building and parkland to the south at K Street and Rock Creek. (The Levy Group with partners which include the Fours Seasons Hotel Corporation has a comprehensive plan for such redevelopment.)
A Jan. 26 public scoping meeting is planned for the community. The property will be marketed in the spring with an approved sale expected by August.

Safeway’s Craig Muckle talked to the group about traffic concerns at its south entry on Wisconsin Avenue. The light for cars leaving the store get a left-turn green and then a right-turn green. The sequence leaves some cars waiting a little longer for their desired turns. (There is a north entry from the garage as well.) Some wondered whether an additional lane could be made for separate left and right turns onto Wisconsin Avenue; others said that would having pedestrians crossing three lanes at the sidewalk. Safeway and the District’s transportation department will discuss the three-lane exit option; the ANC will comment on that decision then.

Macaron Bee, coming to 1669 Wisconsin Avenue, got approval for its tri-fold window from the Old Georgetown Board with re-design requests. Shopkeepers plan to sell pricey macaroons (that’s the English spelling) to sidewalk sweets-lovers. The design is fine, but its intent is under scrutiny. That window could be used to sell almost anything and cause a noisy crowd along the sidewalk. Maurine Littleton, whose gallery is next to the new macaron shop, said she did not like the arrangement and added, “It’s not about macaroons.” Littleton, Kathleen McGarrah of the French Apartment and others said they preferred that customers go into the store to buy their cookies and coffee. The commissioners appeared sympathetic but wanted “to give the business a chance.” Without mentioning the sidewalk service window, the ANC resoluton supported Macaron Bee’s re-designs.