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Georgetowner • July 26, 2011

Here is what’s going on this weekend, straight from the Georgetowner’s online events calendar. And as always, we encourage you to get involved with your community by uploading your own events or any we may have missed.

Georgetown House Tour Hospitality Suite
April 30th, 2011 at 10:00 AM
FREE For All To Attend

Join The Georgetowner Newspaper for our Hospitality Suite to Benefit the The Georgetown House Tour on April 30th. From 4-6PM, enjoy cocktails, Hors d’ oeuvres, and a day full of special events.

Hosted By
Canal Group Builders
The Georgetown Social Editor, Mary Bird
Address

Boffi Studios
3320 M Street NW
Washington DC 20007

Dataklysmos: Multidimensional Sculptures
April 30th, 2011 at 06:00 PM

Irvine Contemporary announces Dataklysmos, an exhibition of new multimedia sculptures by [dNASAb]. [dNASAb] (who goes by “Disney”) is a Brooklyn-based artist who constructs complex, multidimensional works that visualize the world of data and the materiality of digital technology in new ways.Opening reception 6-8 p.m.

Address

Irvine Contemporary
1412 14th Street, NW

Family Stories: Daughters, Mothers, and Bubbes
May 1st, 2011 at 01:00 PM
mwestley@jwv.org
202 265 6280

We invite to you portray your beloved daughters, mothers, and bubbes in skits, scrapbooks, videos, song and dance routines, or whatever your imagination can conjure. Exhibits will be open from 1-5pm. Treasure hunts for the kids.
Address

National Museum of American
Jewish Military History
1811 R Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Georgetowner •

Maddy’s Day
—

May 13th, 2011 at 12:00 PM

Maddy’s Bar & Grille will donate 100% of the day’s profits to benefit breast cancer research at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Bring your friends and grab lunch or join us for happy hour as we raise money for breast cancer research at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center on May 13. 100% of the day’s profits will be direct to breast cancer research at Lombardi. It will be a fun filled day with great food, drinks, and music.

Maddy’s Bar & Grille
1726 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
(2.5 Blocks North of the Dupont Circle Metro)

5th Annual Potomac Wildlife Art & Decoy Show
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May 14th, 2011 at 10:00 AM

The Community Foundation of Charles County’s 5th Annual Potomac Wildlife Art & Decoy Show is a free art and decoy exhibit celebrating the Potomac’s natural beauty. The show directly benefits the community. Donations to the Community Foundation are appreciated. Wildlife art and decoys on display, Potomac Decoy Collectors Association exhibiting antique duck decoys for show and sale, free decoy identification and appraisals, and decoy competition will be held. 10am-5pm

College of Southern Maryland
8730 Mitchell Rd–Business & Industry Bldg, Conf Center
La Plata, MD 20646

The Land That I Love
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May 14th, 2011 at 05:00 PM

May 14 – June 3 “The Land I Love” by the Piedmont’s premier landscape artist Tom Neel,opening May 14, 5 – 8 PM. Acclaimed for his strong sense of color and composition, Neel’s rich oil paintings are known to capture the best of the Piedmont region. Opening will feature live jazz by the Brian Litz Trio and wine by Barrel Oak Winery. See our website for calendar of upcoming events.

Live An Artful Life
6474 Main Street
The Plains, VA 20198

“Innocent Spouse- A Memoir”
—
May 22nd, 5-7PM

You’re invited to an evening with Carol Ross Joynt on the publication of her new book, “Innocent Spouse- A Memoir” Enjoy a reading, discussion/Q&A and a meeting with the author and have your booked signed! Music and Refreshments will provided. All proceeds from the sale and signing will benefit the new Georgetown Public Library under the direction of the D.C. Public Library Foundation. There is no charge for this event but seating is limited. To R.S.V.P call Anna 202 727 4943
Black Hall
At Potomac and O Streets in Georgetown
(Adjacent to St. John’s Church)

Venus in Fur
—
May 25th, 2011 at 08:00 PM

A comedy-drama that explores the complex relationship between sex and power. Reality and fantasy, strength and weakness, pleasure and pain all blend together in one of the smartest and funniest plays in recent years.

The Milton Theatre
1501 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

National Sporting Library & Museum Book Fair
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May 28th, 2011 at 10:00 AM

Saturday, May 28, 2011, 10 am – 5 pm, the Library will host the NSLM Book Fair. Six authors are scheduled to talk for 20 minutes then sign books, beginning at 11:00. The authors are: Rita Mae Brown, Kate Chenery Tweedy and Leeanne Ladin, Tim Rice, Bill Woods, and Norman Fine. Booksellers will be on hand and the authors’ books will be available for purchase. Check www.nsl.org for details in early May.

The National Sporting Library and Museum
102 The Plains Road
P.O. Box 1335
Middleburg, Virginia 20118-1335
Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m

Gary Tischler •

It’s official: Henderson, who was named interim chancellor by newly elected Mayor Vincent Gray last year in the wake of the apparently mutually arrived at departure of controversial and high profile chancellor Michelle Rhee, was recently confirmed unanimously by the DC City Council, making her neither defacto or in waiting, or interim or acting anything, but THE DC Schools Chancellor.

No surprise there. Gray had already made her position permanent earlier this year. Henderson, who came with Rhee when she was named Chancellor by then mayor Adrian Fenty, is very much in the Rhee vein philosophically—accountability being the trump card when it come to teaching and teachers—but has a very different operating style.

Rhee became a national and highly visible figure when she engaged in a school reform program that included large numbers of teachers being fired, trying to get private funding for merit pay, reaching a hard-fought contract with the teachers in spite of a combative, tense relationship with the teachers union, and generally making her a national figure in school reform advocates.

Henderson’s style—while following some of the same tenets espoused by Rhee, to whom she was very close—was much more people friendly and pro-active and was more adept at building relationships with and listening to parents and teachers. Some Rhee foes from previous hearings which tended to get combative said they would vote for Henderson, including At Large member Michael Brown and Wards 8 Councilman Marion Barry. Even the head of the Washington Teachers Union Nathan Saunders, a vocal critic of both Rhee and Henderson’s reform efforts at times made nice.

Georgetowner •

District Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan reported that his office is investigating allegations against Capitol Petroleum Group, the Springfield-based gasoline supplier, accused of engaging in practices that could be inflating pump prices, reports the Washington Post. Accordingly, this enormous regional enterprise “owns, operates or supplies” 164 stations in the DC area, as well as 71 stations in New York City.

Concurrently, Maryland’s Attorney General Douglas Gansler is also investigating a “sudden and dramatic” increase in prices at a handful of Maryland gas stations, supplied by Empire Petroleum Holdings, based in Gaithersburg, MD. Gansler said his office has received phone calls from customers and gas station owners worrying about the price increases of about 25 cents per gallon. Gansler demanded Empire turn over proper documents concerning the purchase and sale of gasoline from last month as proof of the legitimacy of the recent price hike.

“Such a significant price increase in such a short amount of time is deeply concerning to this office,” wrote Gansler, whose office is charged with ensuring fair market competition and protecting consumers.

However, an attorney for Empire Petroleum claims they are being unfairly targeted, and that these distribution companies do not make any price decisions—the oil companies do that.

Corrie Dyke •

President Obama set ambitious goals for the future of America’s dependency on foreign supplies and moving the country in a more energy efficient direction. The President stated that the problem will not be solved with quick fixes, calling for a one-third reduction in U.S. oil imports by 2025.

Obama’s speech Wednesday at Georgetown University lasted nearly an hour as the President restated many energy solutions previously proposed.

President Obama looks to boost domestic oil production, noting his administration’s recent approval of both shallow and deep water drilling permits. Obama mentioned the ongoing effort of energy independency, which the country has struggled with for decades.

“Presidents and politicians of every stripe have promised energy independence but that promise has so far gone unmet,” Obama said. “That has to change. We cannot keep going from shock to trance on the issue of energy security, rushing to propose action when gas prices rise, then hitting the snooze button when they fall again.”

In his speech Obama set another dated goal, this time calling for government agencies to ensure that by 2015 all new vehicles purchased are alternative-fuel vehicles, including hybrid and electric. This accompanies Obama’s previously set a goal of putting 1 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads in the same year.

Obama’s expansion of oil alternatives include natural gas and advanced biofuels, fuels made from non-food sources such as wood chips, switch grass or plant waste.

According to administration officials, Obama’s plans would require significant spending on research and development, though no cost estimates have been made.

Lisa Gillespie •

On Monday evening, March 28, Mayor Vincent Gray delivered his first State of the District speech after three months in office and weeks of stormy resignations, allegations and negative approval ratings.

His 8,000 word speech did not address the recent firing of former health administration employee Sulaimon Brown who accused Gray of a pay-to-play and nepotism and D.C. City Council’s probes into those allegations, nor did it address repercussions for City Council chairman Kwame Brown’s two fully-loaded SUVs that ended up being illegally procured.

However, after a reporter asked about the admittance in a press conference after the speech, Gray said, “I wanted to talk about the issues affecting the city. The reason I ran in the first place was to advance the educational outcome for children and provide opportunities for self improvement.”

He also mentioned that he had not wanted the main topic of headlines to be his troubles, but the “real” issues affecting the city, and that there would be accountability to those who violate the public trust: “If people violate the public trust they will be fired. There are missteps that have been made and at the end of the day I’ll take responsibility for them. And if I’m going to take the weight for them, I intend to bring the weights back to where it belongs.”

The speech, titled “One City…Rising to the Challenge,” did focus heavily on unifying the city, and Gray addressed the challenges that he’s faced since taking office. Last week, for instance, the Census released statistics that showed the District’s African American population down to 50 percent.

“The facts are troubling, but they bear acknowledging: there are parts of this city where over half of our high school students do not graduate. In some neighborhoods, one out of every three adults is unemployed.”

Tammy McKinney, 41, attended the speech and said she felt he’d addressed the issues facing her home in Ward 6.

“We’ve seen the development on H Street Northeast and a few good things come through, but we don’t hear as much about Wards 6, 7 or 8 than we do the others,” said McKinney, who was born in DC. “Why would people come out here? There are not restaurants and no shopping. I’m hopeful, but unsure.”

Gray spoke of the dividing line between the Anacostia River and the hope that it would one day resemble other notable rivers in the world: the Thames in London, the Charles River in Boston or the San Antonio River Walk in Texas.

“At its widest, the Anacostia River spans barely half a mile —but when you pass over it, it can feel like you’ve left one continent for another…it should be a unifying force between the east and west.”

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton praised the Mayor for not glossing over the $322 million budget gap that will lead to budget cuts, to be released on Friday.

“I appreciate that he didn’t gloss over the tough issues. People will be very disappointed when they see these cuts, though we’ve seen it come worse to other parts of the country.”

Gray delivered his speech at Eastern High School in Ward 5, where the poverty rate stood at 20 percent in 2009.

“If I have been repetitive on this topic, it’s because it is vitally important for us to be honest about how things will change,” Gray said. “Some of the agencies that we depend upon will be asked to make do with less. We cannot and will not use budget gimmicks to close the gap.”

He compared the city government after the cuts to, “a lean athlete after a period of intense training: with a government that is leaner, but also one that is stronger.”

Samantha Hungerford •

In a box, in a corner of an office, in the Tudor Place in Georgetown, an antique collection of wax figurines lays largely untouched and unseen by visitors to the historic home.

The 228-year-old dolls, once the treasured belongings of first First Lady Martha Washington, were brought to their home at Tudor Place by Martha’s granddaughter and looked after for two centuries by her descendants and then museum curators.

Years of heat, mishandling and bugs have obviously gotten to figures; many are missing legs or arms, and the silk clothes are torn and faded of their color. But Leslie Buehler, the executive director of Tudor Place, believes that there is life yet to breathe back into these charming wax characters, and she is currently working to restore them.

The figurines make up a tableau set that was a gift to Martha Washington from Samuel Fraunces in 1783. The scene depicts the story of the military hero, Hector, and his wife Andromanche, whose romance was endearing to George and Martha, mirroring their own story of love and separation during wartime.

The scene was removed from public display in an effort to conserve the figurines and spare them any further damage.

The steps taken by Tudor Place to make the figurines more aesthetically pleasing have been more challenging than expected. The pins and dowel rods that hold the dolls together are from unidentifiable years, making it difficult to determine which ones are the originals, and details such as what the faces and clothes originally looked like are unknown. Buehler stated that it will be at least another year before the figures are ready to go back on display.

The restoration is being funded by private donors, including a remarkably generous donation which covered the initial analysis of the figurines.

“All of these objects tell extraordinary stories that relate the times these people lived in a visceral way,” Buehler said to the Post. “The more one understands about the beginnings of this country – how people lived, how they spent their time – it just informs our sense of history.”
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Charlene Louis •

Each year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring in Washington, DC, the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan (something exceedingly important in Japan’s current crisis). The Festival produces and coordinates 16 days and three spectacular weekends of festivities, primarily free and open to the public.

One the best features during the Cherry Blossom season are the “Cherry Picks,” area restaurants offering savory menus items inspired by the cherry blossoms. Now in its ninth year, Cherry Picks has over 70 participating restaurants serve creative cherry-flavored, cherry-infused, or blossom-inspired entrées, appetizers, desserts, cocktails, or multi-course menus throughout the Festival. Check out this list of participating restaurants!

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 26, 2011
Family festival featuring hands-on activities, interactive art exhibits, and exciting indoor and outdoor youth performances. Presented by Safeway and Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States Region.

April 9
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

Apr 09, 2011 – Apr 09, 2011
Enjoy this long-standing Washington tradition featuring lavish floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, and other family entertainment.

Mar 23 2011
2011 Pink Tie Party

Mar 23, 2011
Kick off the “Season of the Blossoms” in style at the Festival’s Pink Tie Party fundraiser and auction, presented by Macy’s and Open Skies – The Unique All Business Airline. Tickets now on sale!

Mar 22 2011
Community Cherry Blossom Art Show at Union Station

Mar 22, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
Blossom inspiration comes to life through the imagination of DC public and charter school students. Public exhibition presented by Sodexo.

Mar 26 2011
Music of Spring

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 27, 2011
Alongside Eastern Market’s foods, arts and crafts, enjoy music throughout the grounds.

Mar 26 2011
Glorious Gardens Self-Guided Tour

Mar 26, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
Experience nature’s beauty through a series of visits to several splendid gardens in Fairfax County.

Mar 26 2011
Cherry Blossom River Teas

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 27, 2011
Enjoy a charming, full-service English ‘High Tea’ aboard a classic yacht while cruising along the blossoms.

Mar 26 2011
Lantern Walks

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 27, 2011
Guided by the light of festive lanterns, rangers will guide you on an evening walk around the Tidal Basin.

Mar 26 2011
National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 26, 2011
Official kick-off to the Festival features a dazzling line-up of classic and contemporary performances, with welcoming remarks by Washington dignitaries. Presented by Open Skies – The Unique All Business Airline.

Mar 26 2011
Performance Stage at Sylvan Theater

Mar 26, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
The Festival’s primary stage features daily performances by recognized and diverse talent from around the region, country, and world.

Mar 26 2011
The Blossom Secrets Stroll

Mar 26, 2011
A walking tour recounting the story and sites of how the Japanese cherry trees came to Washington, D.C.

Mar 26 2011
Photo Safaris Around the Tidal Basin at Cherry Blossom Time

Mar 26, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
Instructional workshops in cherry blossom and travel photography conducted around the Tidal Basin at sunrise and in late afternoon.

Mar 26 2011
Beyond the Tidal Basin: Introducing Other Great Flowering Cherries

Mar 26, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
Enjoy a self-guided tour of different species and cultivars of flowering cherries. [gallery ids="99621,105126,105119,105123" nav="thumbs"]