Latest News

Robert Devaney • February 18, 2016

After serving Georgetown and the nation’s capital since 1978, The Georgetown, a 92-unit, assisted-living facility at 2512 Q St. NW, will be renovated for use as luxury apartments.

The Georgetown’s owner, Holladay Corporation, will present its plans for the Q Street residential complex to the Georgetown-Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission at its Feb. 29 meeting, according to Rita Bamberger, senior vice president of Holladay Corporation, based in Washington, D.C.

Bamberger told The Georgetowner that nearby residents had been contacted by the company about the conversion.

The property was set to undergo a multi-million-dollar building renovation last May, and the retirement home residents were moved out early last year.

One neighbor indicated that he would be “calling the city to explore if the seniors rights were violated since what they were originally told has changed.”

Built as an apartment building in the 1920s, The Georgetown was “one of the city’s first retirement facilities to address the growing needs of its elderly population, offering both housing and an array of social services,” according to Holladay. Many of its residents were well known locally as well as nationally, such as Sen. Eugene McCarthy, Betty Friedan and Emerson Duncan.

Juliana Zovak •

The Arlington County Board will vote tonight on whether to approve a Multiparty Memorandum of Agreement for a study on the feasibility of a gondola between Rosslyn, Va., and Georgetown, D.C., according to its website.

The project was conceived by the Georgetown Business Improvement District, which, according to the website Arlington Now, will pay $75,000 toward the study. The county, if the MOA passes, is expected to contribute $40,000, which the Arlington County Board report listed as 16 percent of the total cost.

The Georgetown BID proposed the gondola in its Georgetown 2028 15-year Action Plan, in which it recommended a “feasibility study on the use of a gondola lift to provide a fast, reliable, and exciting transit link between the Georgetown Commercial District, Georgetown University and Metrorail.”

That long-shot proposal got a lot of buzz in the local press and real estate blogs.

Christopher Slatt, chairman of the Transportation Commission, wrote in a letter to the Chair of the Arlington County Board that the Commission recommends the approval of the MOA.

“The majority of the commission felt that without a study, it is hard to say whether the gondola could be a worthy project that solves a real transportation issue in a cost-effective manner,” Slatt wrote. “The gondola would bypass Key Bridge congestion and is, perhaps, uniquely suited to handle Georgetown’s topography.”

According to the Arlington County Board’s report, those not in favor of the gondola are concerned it would simply be a tourist attraction and not assist in transportation issues.

Georgetowner • February 16, 2016

Singles Anti-Valentine Party

February 12th, 2016 at 05:30 PM | iricchievents@gmail.com | Tel: 202-835-0459 | Event Website

Who Needs Cupid Anyway? Bring a friend, or make a new connection at our bar for $8 special cocktails, $6 wine, and $3 beer with complimentary appetizers. 5:30-9 pm

Address

Ristorante i Ricchi; 1220 19th Street NW

Valentine’s Silent Disco Party

February 13th, 2016 at 08:00 PM | $15-20 | info@silentdancesociety.com | Tel: 2024702642 | Event Website

Calling on all those who believe in love – singles, couples and friends! Let’s meet on the dance floor!

Love is in the air and what a better way to celebrate than with music and dancing. Expose yourself to the world of rhythm and movement and let the dance beats of our 3 DJs lure you into a night of fun, music, and excitement.

Address

The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown; 3100 South Street NW

GEORGETOWN CONCERT SERIES United States Navy Band Sea Chanters

February 14th, 2016 at 05:00 PM | FREE ADMISSION | sam@stjohnsgeorgetown.org | Tel: 202-338-1796 | Event Website

Anchors aweigh and all hands on deck! Celebrate Valentine’s Day with well-known tunes, sacred medleys, patriotic music, and other favorites at a family-friendly, fun, and FREE performance by the U.S. Navy’s acclaimed official chorus, the Navy Band Sea Chanters.

FREE PARKING at the Hyde Addison School parking lot directly across from the church.

Reception follows in Blake Hall.

Address

St. John’s Episcopal Church; Georgetown Parish; 3240 O St. NW

Valentine’s Day Supper Club

February 14th, 2016 at 07:00 PM | $150 | rsvp@artsoiree.com | Tel: (202) 912-4109 | Event Website

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a truly enchanting private evening of candlelit dining & live concert at the stunning Fahrenheit ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown. Treat yourself and your other half to a delicious pre-fix dinner as you enjoy the melodic sounds of the Lauren White band with an old school supper club charm.

A multi-course menu specially crafted by Ritz-Carlton’s new executive chef will be a feast for all the senses.

Address

The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown; 3100 South Street NW

Spring onto the Scene with Barbour

February 15th, 2016 at 10:00 AM | 0 | Event Website

Spring and Summer are fast approaching; embrace the warmer weather with Barbour’s new Spring/Summer 2016 collection! This collection encompasses a wide selection of garments and accessories, from light jackets designed for biking across the desert to cashmere cable knits and casual daywear. This diverse arrangement of clothing is now available at your local Barbour Georgetown store. For more information, visit Barbour.com.

Address

Barbour Georgetown; 3221 M Street NW

Mrs. Peter Invites You: Presidents’ Day Open House

February 15th, 2016 at 11:00 AM | 0-10 | press@tudorplace.org | Tel: 2029650400 | Event Website

On Presidents’ Day, see one of our nation’s largest collections of George and Martha Washington objects, including rare artifacts not usually displayed, and meet the Martha Washington granddaughter who built Tudor Place with her husband as a showplace for capital society. “Martha Parke Custis Peter” (as played by an interpreter) will showcase her family heirlooms and share fascinating stories of life in the new and growing Federal City.

For all ages.

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Address

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden;1644 31st Street NW

Flying in the Great Hall

February 13th, 2016 at 09:00 PM | Free | Tel: 202-272-2448 | Event Website

11 am–4 pm
Free. Drop-in demonstration. All ages.
Witness death-defying feats of aeronautics—well, model aeronautics, anyway—when the D.C. Maxecuters return to fly their model airplanes in the Museum’s Great Hall. Check out their rubber-band- and electric-powered model airplanes as they soar overhead.

Address

National Building Museum; 401 F Street NW

Chuck Baldwin • February 10, 2016

As part of its Green Infrastructure Challenge initiative, DC Water is launching a program this summer to divert stormwater by connecting downspouts to rain barrels after disconnecting them from standpipes that run into the “combined sewer.” Participants would give DC Water a right-of-entry to inspect the properties about once a year to ensure downspouts remain connected to the barrels.

In an interview with The Georgetowner, Bethany Bezak, DC Water’s manager of Green Infrastructure, said the program would be optional for property owners and that properties must meet the approved criteria for installation, including “enough pervious space” to ensure no flooding. While there would be no penalty for disconnecting the rain barrels, she said, there would be a process to reconnect to the sewer, and that DC Water would ask that property owners inform them of disconnections, primarily for the sake of tracking the use of rain barrels for the Environmental Protection Agency. The rain barrel program is part of a plan modification that reduces the amount of work that will be done in the streets and public right of way to divert additional stormwater away from the combined sewer, as required in part by the EPA, Bezak said.

Set to begin mid-2017, the work in the public right of way will consist of the construction of the Potomac River Tunnel, a 23,000-foot-long gravity tunnel that will connect and consolidate six of Georgetown’s combined sewer overflow outfalls along the Georgetown Waterfront to the Blue Plains Tunnel in Anacostia. The new tunnel, along with the implementation of the Green Infrastructure initiatives, such as downspouts diverted to rain barrels, is a response to public comments. The original plan had a 4,500-foot-long tunnel, but required the highly disruptive construction of a pumping station to empty the tunnel, as well as additional capacity to the tunnel dewatering station. The simpler gravity-fed tunnel will run along the Potomac River, eliminate the need for a new tunnel dewatering pumping station and offer greater reliability, according to DC Water’s Long Term Control Plan Modification for Green Infrastructure.

The document notes that the combined sewer is an antiquated system that carries both sewage and storm runoff to a treatment plant to remove pollutants before being discharged into the Potomac. During periods of heavy rain, when the capacity of the combined sewer is exceeded, the overflow, which includes untreated sewage, is discharged directly into the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. Modern sewer systems separate sewage from rainwater. No combined sewers have been built in the District since 1900.

According to an email from Bezak, “Implementation [of the Green Infrastructure] may have impacts such as dust, noise, temporary closure of streets and alleys and temporary parking restrictions. DC Water will work closely with the community to minimize the impacts of construction,” similar to road construction projects. “DC Water is currently developing the proposed locations and types of GI [green infrastructure] for implementation. Once developed, DC Water will continue to seek public feedback. Following this process, a phased construction plan will be developed to determine which areas will be constructed first within the construction timeline.”

Jeff Jones, a member of the Georgetown-Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission, says that ANC2E is trying to collect more information, to find out what requirements and stipulations will go into agreeing to the program. “We want to make sure that residents understand what they are getting into,” he said.

DC Water will pay for the rain barrels, disconnection of the downspouts from the sewer and reconnection to the rain barrels, said Bezak, and that property owners will be responsible for maintenance of the rain barrels and will be provided with information on how to do so. She added that many people use the stored water for gardening and even washing cars.

Interested property owners are invited by DC Water to contact them at cleanriversgi@dcwater.com to schedule a brief audit of their property to evaluate suitability for the rain barrels or other Green Infrastructure opportunities. Anyone with questions about the program may also contact that address.

*[Editor’s Note: There will be regular updates on this massive project. Please call The Georgetowner at 202-338-4833 if you have concerns or questions.]*
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Lexi Rodencal • February 1, 2016

Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced that all citations issued for parking on snow emergency routes on Friday, Jan. 22 will be voided. The 2,800 citations issued, each with a fine of $250, are no longer in effect—although towing and storage fees still are.

“The Blizzard of 2016 was one of the largest snow events in recent history and we are all working together to dig the District out from this storm,” Bowser said. “Despite that drivers were advised last Thursday to remove their vehicles from snow routes, I understand that some who received citations that Friday may not have known about the parking restriction, or may have been running errands in preparation for the storm. This ticket dismissal is one small way that we can continue to help each other recover from the storm.”

“Residents who have already paid their citations for violations that occurred on Friday, Jan. 22, will receive a refund,” the mayor’s office added. “In either case, all applicable towing and storage fees still apply. Residents with questions about the citation void are asked to call 311.”

According to several press reports, the District of Columbia issued more $1 million during the blizzard of 2016.

NBC4 News reported, “The District issued $1,369,750 in fines for cars left on snow emergency routes—and towed almost 700 of them, the city said. . . . Another 431 cars were impounded by private tow companies and were issued $250 parking tickets and the $100 tow fee, plus a $20 per day storage fee.”

Georgetowner •

Coup Sauvage & The Snips — Foul Swoops — FRINGE MUSIC

JANUARY 28TH, 2016 AT 09:00 PM | INFO@CAPITALFRINGE.ORG | TEL: 202-737-7230 | EVENT WEBSITE

Coup Sauvage & The Snips and Foul Swoops are two of D.C.’s realest bands. Coup Sauvage brings a witty, politically radical, deeply-DC dance phenomenon while Foul Swoops serves up re-imagined, bombastic gritty rock & roll. Get with it.

Address

Capital Fringe
1358 Florida Ave NE

Beard Papa’s Finally Opens

JANUARY 29TH, 2016 AT 12:30PM | EVENT WEBSITE

Known for delicious cream puffs, Beard Papa’s became an international desserts phenomenon after opening their first location in Osaka, Japan in 1999. The much-anticipated Georgetown store, will be open 12:30-6 p.m. on Friday. Beginning on Saturday, January 30, Beard Papa’s will be fully open, operating Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Address

Beard Papa’s
1332 Wisconsin Ave NW

Spy Fest: Tradecraft Try-Its for the Whole Family

JANUARY 29TH, 2016 AT 06:00 PM | $14 | INFO@SPYMUSEUM.ORG | TEL: 202-393-7798 | EVENT WEBSITE

Could you be a spy? Now’s your chance to find out! Families are invited to find out how they measure up at the Museum s annual Spy Fest. Mini-missions, tradecraft demonstrations by the experts, and the chance to try spy skill challenges will give KidSpy agents and their handlers an insider s peek into the shadow world of spying and who knows, there just may be a spy or two in your midst.

Address

International Spy Museum
800 F Street, NW

Dine on Wine

JANUARY 29TH, 2016 AT 7:30PM | $75 | EVENTS@VIAUMBRIA.COM | TEL: 202-333-3904 | EVENT WEBSITE

Learn how to turn your favorite drinks into your favorite dishes with Chef Jodie. Part demonstration and part dining, this evening is guaranteed to be 100% fun! The event takes place on January 29 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. and includes delicious dishes such as Umbrian crostini with chicken liver pate, radicchio with vincotto and mascarpone, red wine risotto, braised lamb, dessert, and wine.

Address

Via Umbria
1525 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 122

Ted Alexandro

JANUARY 29TH, 2016 AT 08:00 PM | $22 | WOLFTRAP@WOLFTRAP.ORG | TEL: 703-255-1900 | EVENT WEBSITE

“Crafty, thoughtful and extremely funny” (The New York Times), don’t miss the stand-up comedian who has appeared on the late night shows of David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Craig Ferguson, and more.

Address

The Barns at Wolf Trap
1635 Trap Road

The Winter Onesie Party

JANUARY 29TH, 2016 AT 10:30PM | $10 | TEL: 617-340-8791| EVENT WEBSITE

Hit up Malmaison and put that onesie you just got to WORK. This year, The Winter Onesie Party is your chance to step out in that sexy, cozy one-piece. And we all know, everything is better in a onesie. If you do not have a onesie, not to worry. The AJ Team has partnered with a few awesome onesie companies! Below are company links and promo codes.

FUNZEE 20% off with the code “winteronesie20”

JUMPIN’ JAMMERZ 25% off with the code “Party25” (Not valid for certain premium, clearance or on sale items.)

FOREVER LAZY 25% off with the code “OnesieParty” (Applies for items over $30, and free shipping on orders over $100.)

Address

Malmaison
3401 K St NW

Gay Men’s Chorus of DC: Rock Creek Singers/Potomac Fever

JANUARY 30TH, 2016 AT 07:30 PM | $45 | WOLFTRAP@WOLFTRAP.ORG | TEL: 703-255-1900 | EVENT WEBSITE

Two vocal ensembles from “one of the world’s best male choruses” showcase their “usual impeccable musicianship [and] witty choreography” (The Washington Post) in this “fabulously fun” (Broadway World) performance—hear the WAMMIE-winning groups during their 35th anniversary season.

Address

The Barns at Wolf Trap
1635 Trap Road

Trevor Young: VOLTAGE

JANUARY 30TH, 2016 AT 11AM – 5:30PM | TEL: 202-338-5180 | [EVENT WEBSITE](http://www.addisonripleyfineart.com/exhibitions)

Come to Addison/Ripley Fine Art for VOLTAGE, Trevor Young’s first exhibition at the Georgetown gallery. And, while some of the images are, indeed, electrifying, with structures illuminated by concealed light sources, it is the stillness the artist captures best, the potential of places: an airline conveyor belt, empty of luggage, a building under construction or an aerial view of streets emptied of traffic.

Address

Addison/Ripley Fine Art
1670 Wisconsin Ave NW [gallery ids="102380,123736,123743" nav="thumbs"]

Chuck Baldwin • January 28, 2016

George Washington University President Steven Knapp announced Jan. 11 that the university will rescind Bill Cosby’s honorary degree conferred by the university.

Cosby was arraigned in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30 and charged with aggravated indecent assault, a second-degree felony, for allegedly drugging a woman until she could not move before sexually abusing her in his home in 2004. It is the first known arrest related to the more than 40 accusations of sexual assault that have been publically levied against the comedian in recent years for alleged sexual abuse dating back to the early ’70s.

In a letter to the GW community, Knapp wrote: “Students last fall raised the question of whether, given the numerous allegations of sexual assault against Bill Cosby, the university should rescind the honorary doctoral degree it conferred on Mr. Cosby in 1997. Last October, we issued a statement indicating that honorary degrees were conferred at a moment in time, based upon what was known about the candidate at that time, and it had never been the university’s practice to rescind a degree in response to later information. Since then, however, I have continued to discuss this issue with students as well as colleagues. What has particularly moved and impressed me has been the argument that, whatever may ultimately be determined about the guilt or innocence of Mr. Cosby in a court of law, the controversy itself has become a cause of renewed distress for our students and alumni who are survivors of sexual assault. That makes this case different, in my considered judgment, from other cases in which the assessment of a degree candidate might be altered by subsequent information or events. I have therefore decided that the university will rescind Mr. Cosby’s honorary degree.”

Georgetowner •

Opening Reception, Mark Giaimo: The Secret Life of Toys

January 22nd, 2016 at 06:00 PM | FREE | gallery@callowayart.com | Tel: 2029654601 | Event Website](https://www.facebook.com/events/1514719101878012/)

Whether painting still lifes of cheap plastic toys, portraits of friends, city landscape and plein air paintings, or political caricatures, Giaimo mixes the mundane with the sacred, 19th-century painting techniques with contemporary pulp and graphic illustration, that is both an homage to and satire of the past and present. His new paintings explore the mysterious pastimes of toys—their invisible struggles with life, death, and love.

Address

1643 Wisconsin Ave NW

Building Tour: American Society of Interior Designers Offices

January 23rd, 2016 at 10:00 AM

The future headquarters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) will be one of the first in the region to pursue WELL Building certification for its space. The WELL Building Standard is an evidence-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring the performance of building features that impact health and well-being. Representatives from Perkins+Will lead a tour of the 8,700 square foot office, which is also being designed to achieve LEED Platinum status.

Address

401 F ST NW

Rosebud Film Festival

January 23rd, 2016 at 02:00 PM | $15 | kevin@arlingtonmedia.com | Tel: (703) 524-2388 | [Event Website](https://www.arlingtonmedia.org/rosebud)

The Rosebud Film Festival is an annual competition open to DC, Maryland and Virginia film and video producers. Rosebud honors the innovative, experimental, unusual and deeply personal in creative film and video making. The festival features a twenty-film slate over 5½ hours.

The Rosebud Awards Gala will be hosted the next day at 7pm at the Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd.), where winners of the festival will be awarded $1000 prizes by a panel of judges from the DMV media arts community.

Address

Showcase: Naval Heritage Center ( 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW)

Awards: Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington)

Dancing After Dark 2016

January 23rd, 2016 at 07:00 PM | 100 | casey.myburgh@ketchum.com | Tel: 2028358876 | [Event Website](http://childrensnational.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=581)

Dancing After Dark is an evening of cocktails and dancing that raises funds for Children’s National. Last year the Junior Council raised over $185,000 through Dancing After Dark. The money raised supports the vital role Children’s National plays in improving the health of children in the nation’s capital, across the country, and around the world.

Address

1301 Constitution Ave NW

Marcia Ball

January 23rd, 2016 at 08:00 PM | $35-$40 | wolftrap@wolftrap.org | Tel: 703-255-1900 | [Event Website](http://www.wolftrap.org/tickets/calendar/performance/1516barns/0123show16.aspx)

Join this Grammy-nominated pianist and singer/songwriter as she blends Louisiana swamp rock and classic Texas blues into an “irresistible” musical cocktail (The Boston Globe).

Address

The Barns at Wolf Trap; 1635 Trap Road; Vienna, VA 22182