Latest News

Georgetowner • June 22, 2015

Indigo Girls

June 4th, 2015 at 08:00 PM | Event Website

The folk-rock duo that brought you “Closer to Fine” returns for a night of “acoustic arrangements with a side of gorgeously hoarse and shimmering vocal harmonies” (E! Online)

Address

Filene Center; 1551 Trap Road; Vienna, Va. 22812

Thursday Night Rock

June 4th, 2015 at 10:00 PM | $10 | tbarnes@entertainmentdc.com | Tel: 301-441-8899, Ext. 5 | Event Website](http://nexusrockband.com/)

The popular rock band Nexus will headline “Thursday Night Rock”, a new weekly concert debuting on June 4, 11, 18 and 25 (every Thursday) at the historic Fire Station 1, 8131 Georgia Ave. in downtown Silver Spring, Md. The band will perform rock/pop classics and originals from 8-11 p.m. on June 4; 10 p.m.-1 a.m. on June 11; 10 p.m.-1 a.m. on June 18; and 8-11 p.m. on June 25. Admission is $10 at the door. For more information, call (301) 441-8899, Ext. 5 or visit www.NexusRockBand.com.

Address

Fire Station 1 Restaurant and Brewery Co., 8131 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md. 20910

Our City Festival

June 5th, 2015 at 12:00 PM | 0-$10 | kendra@kendrarubinfeldpr.com | Tel: 202-681-1151 | [Event Website](http://ourcityfestival.org/2014/ocfwebsite/)

Celebrate D.C.’s culture, people and creativity through film, music and literature. Presented by public relations and marketing firm, KRPR, in partnership with the D.C. Public Library Foundation, the weekend-long event showcases films about D.C. and hosts live performances featuring Kokayi, Feedel Band, Easy Hand Dance Institute, deejay Sam the Man Burns, Bumper Jackson’s Chris Ousely, Free Minds Book Club, members of the Chuck Brown Band and many more. Check out the full schedule for more info on tons of free events.

Address

D.C. Public Library; 901 G St NW

Volta Park Cocktail Party

June 5th, 2015 at 04:30 PM | $100.00 per person | donations@voltapark.org | Tel: 202-342-0233 | [Event Website](http://www.voltapark.org/)

The Friends of Volta Park

Cocktails & Auction benefiting Volta Park

June 5th, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Food and Drink Compliments of 1789 Restaurant

Address

Georgetown Visitation School,Founders Hall, 1524 35th Street, NW (at Volta Place)

Glover Park Day 2015

June 6th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | Free | paul.marengo@prometheanfundraising.org | Tel: 202-705-2890 | Event Website

Glover Park Day, now in its 26th year, is an annual festival that celebrates the Glover Park. It is co-sponsored by the Glover Park Citizens Association and the DC Parks Dept. Glover Park Day will feature the best of Glover Park: good friends, great food, live music, crafters, community organizations, local businesses, kids’ activities and much more. Glover Park Day will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 11am – 5pm on the grounds of the Guy Mason Recreation Center.
Address

3600 Calvert Street, NW

Dupont Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend

June 6th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | Free | dkmuseums@gmail.com | Tel: 202-785-2040 | [Event Website](http://www.dkmuseums.com/)

Stretch your legs and your mind during the 32nd Annual Dupont Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend. Seven diverse museums will open their doors free of charge for this weekend-long celebration in one of Washington’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Enjoy touring the museums, viewing exhibitions, and participating in special programming. More information available at www.dkmuseums.com.

Address

2118 Massachusetts Ave., NW

Louisiana Swamp Romp

June 7th, 2015 at 02:00 PM | Event Website

Dance to infectious Cajun and blues tunes at Wolf Trap’s cherished New Orleans-style summer party featuring live music, food, and dancing—this year’s lineup includes the award-winning “Southern Knight” who “brought the New Orleans sound to the national stage” (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) and more.

Address

Filene Center; 1551 Trap Road; Vienna, VA 22812

Free Chamber Concert

June 9th, 2015 at 07:30 PM | Free | info@dumbartonhouse.org | Tel: 2023372288 | [Event Website](http://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-chamber-concert-by-the-friday-morning-music-club-registration-15668003420)

A community of music lovers and musicians, the Friday Morning Music Club, Inc., has promoted classical music in the Washington area for over 120 years. Join us for the enchanting outdoor season finale of the Tuesday concerts at Dumbarton House

Address

Dumbarton House, 2715 Q Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007

Dispartment of the Nightwatch

June 6th, 2015 at 08:00 PM | $20.00 | katetaylordavis@gmail.com | Tel: 202 321-2878 | [Event Website](http://www.eventbrite.com/e/dispartment-of-the-night-watch-tickets-16777151913)

Artist Jared Davis Displays and Destroys Painting

DC Artist Jared Davis has painted a large format painting that he claims must be destroyed. Nightwatch, measures 16’ X 9’ and is a figurative painting using models that are primarily pulled from the DC burlesque/side-show scene.

Tickets are $20 and entitle each ticket holder to an 8”x 10” section of the painting. Tickets available at http://thenightwatch.eventbrite.com/.

Address

Anacostia Arts Center; 1231 Good Hope Rd SE

Kelly Byrnes •

A retrial was granted by a federal judge June 4 to continue the case of the man convicted of murdering Chandra Levy.

Ingmar Guandique, who was sentenced in February 2011 to 60 years in prison for the murder of Levy, will be tried before a new judge and jury, it was announced by D.C. Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher.

“Unless there is something else to be said, I would grant the motion for a new trial,” Fisher said.

The decision has been anticipated by Guandique’s defense attorneys, who have argued that a false and misleading testimony was given during the 2010 trial by his cellmate Armando Morales. Prosecutors believe the jury was correct for convicting Guandique, but added that the “unique circumstances” of the case makes the request for a retrial hard to oppose.

Levy was a 24-year-old Washington intern, when she disappeared in May 2001. Her remains were found in Rock Creek Park the following year. The case garnered national media attention when Levy was traced to be having an affair with former Rep Gary Condit (D-Calif.) Although investigators initially suspected Condit in Levy’s disappearance, he was later cleared. 

There has been no forensic evidence nor eyewitnesses to link Guandique, 34, to Levy’s murder. However, he has been accused of assaulting other women in Rock Creek Park, and was serving a 10 year prison sentence for assaulting two women at knifepoint at the time he was charged with Levy’s death.
  
The new trial will be presided by D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin, who set a June 12 hearing to schedule the trial for later this year or possibly in 2016.
 

Kelly Byrnes •

Two persons killed in a house fire near Dupont Circle during the early morning hours of June 3 were reportedly Georgetown University students, according to Sherri Kimbel, representative for Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans.

The identities of the victims have yet to be released. The college students, reportedly a male and a femaie, who lived on the third floor of the rowhouse on the 1600 block of Riggs Place NW, were trapped as flames engulfed the first floor.

During an Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2F meeting on the evening of June 3, Kimbel announced the victims as Georgetown University students, through information obtained by neighbors of the property. (ANC 2F serves such neighborhoods as those around Logan Circle, Thomas Circle and the Washington Convention Center.) Thomas Lipinsky, communications director for Evans’s office said that this report was neither confirmed by the D.C. Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department nor the Metropolitan Police Department.

Georgetown University spokesperson Stacy Kerr could not confirm at this time to the Georgetowner whether those killed in the fire were, in fact, Georgetown student or their identities.

Five others, including three firefighters, sustained minor injuries in the blaze, which began around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday. An investigation is ongoing.

Robert Devaney •

It was a very good year, it seems, if you attended the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s annual meeting, held June 10 at Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place at Washington Harbour on the Georgetown waterfront.

Office and retail space is renting well, consumer spending remains strong and consistent, the C&O Canal, a jewel of Georgetown, will get funding from the District government for rehabilitation — and four restaurants received major honors. To boot, the BID issued its third annual State of Georgetown report and redesigned and upgraded its website.

Now a park, the historic canal which connects the town to its working waterfront past took center stage.  “The C&O Canal is a unique feature of our region and a living piece of America’s history,” said Joe Sternlieb, CEO of the Georgetown BID. “It’s a window into the story of our industrial past, and is also a place for exercise, recreation and reflection.”
 
As previously reported in The Georgetowner and other news outlets, D.C.’s 2016 Budget includes $3 million for restoration and education efforts for the Georgetown section of the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

The BID and other community leaders founded Georgetown Heritage, an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization “with the mission of promoting and presenting the history of Washington D.C.’s oldest neighborhood.” Georgetown Heritage made fixing the C&O Canal its first mission and now works with the National Park Service on repairs, safety efforts and buying a new canal barge.
 
“I am pleased to report today that my efforts to get the city to support the C&O Canal initiatives in the Georgetown 2028 agenda have been embraced by the Council,” Ward 2 D.C. Councilman Jack Evans said.  “We have approved $3 million to the C&O Canal efforts of the BID and Georgetown Heritage.  These funds will be used to fix Lock 4, build a new canal boat and support comprehensive planning efforts to improve lighting, the towpath, wayfinding and interpretation.”

Evans also said, “The city is on board” with not only the canal work and money but also lighting under Key Bridge and the Whitehurst Freeway. Pulling from his standard celebratory stump speech, the longest serving councilman recalled the first year of the 21st century, when Georgetown was known for its exploding manhole covers and its “Little Dig,” torn-up streets because of work on its infrastructure as well as major building going up around town, such as the Ritz-Carlton and the large southwest dormitory complex at Georgetown University. “In Georgetown, nothing is ever easy,” Evans smiled.

Besides the $3 million from the District government, Georgetown Heritage promises to raise $3 million from the private sector.

The goals of fixing the canal and getting a new canal boat is only part of the action agenda items that are contain in the BID’s Georgetown 2028 Plan, “an ambitious agenda of 75 action items aimed to improve Georgetown’s transportation infrastructure and management, public spaces and economy” and “created by the Georgetown BID and community stakeholders and officially launched in January 2014,” the BID says.

Along with awards and discussions, the meeting brought together some interesting aspects of Georgetown business and its people.

Andrew Blair, CEO of Colonial Parking, who said “To hell with U Street,” introduced Paul Cohen, who founded J. Paul’s, Paulo’s, Old Glory and other restaurants in Georgetown. Cohen was recognized by the BID for the his lifelong achievement in town. For his part, Cohen saluted the legacy of “the Laythams, the Millers, the Laniers and the Snyders.” He gently acknowledged of Georgetown: “We’re in a unique situation that not everyone knows.” Cohen’s newest restaurant is Boss Shepherd’s at 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Other awardees included Marcus Brown of the BID’s Clean Team and Georgetown Galleries, a consortium of art galleries in town.

The Park Service’s Kevin Brandt was saluted as “Community Leader of the Year.” Brandt noted that the bicentennial of the C&O Canal is 2028, the same year which ends the BID’s 15-year action plan program.

He said that his ideas for the canal jived with the BID’s and that he was “optimistic” about the canal’s future “despite federal cuts.”

The BID’s economic development director Josh Hermias noted that there is 48,000 square feet of retail space under construction or in the planning stage — considering the 3220 Prospect Street project and the old Georgetown Theater reconstruction.

Herb Heiserman of Streetsense, which helped design such spots as Bandolero and ShopHouse, talked about restaurants and retail shops and how people experience those spaces. Heiserman brought up the fact that “rents have exploded.” He lamented the intrusion of the clothing store, Francesca’s, on Bistro Francais, which owns only half of the space it used.

Restaurateur Ian Hilton sat down briefly to discuss his work and restaurants with Steinlieb. Hilton opened Chez Billy Sud in October 2014 at 1039 31st St. NW., and it quickly become a neighborhood favorite. It is
in the old Cafe LaRuche space — he said he tried to buy the property.

Of Georgetown, Hilton, who grew up in Capitol Hill and now lives in Arlington, said: “It’s almost not D.C. I’ve always thought of Georgetown as this little town that I’ve always loved. . . . I think people are rediscovering how special Georgetown is, and with more and more people biking in the city I had this vision of people biking in to be in the neighborhood and eating at our beautiful spot. We wanted to open in a pretty space, serve good food at a good price and serve the neighborhood.”

Hilton also quipped that “the celebrity chef climate” was “kind of the apocalypse.” He added his two cents to the conversation about Georgetown’s liquor license moratorium: building new restaurants “can’t be done in the current liquor license environment.”

As the crowd adjourned, Fred Moosally, director of the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, reminded business folk of the four liquor licenses now available for Georgetown with application beginning June 25. Moosally also noted that the town’s liquor license moratorium expires Feb. 3, 2016.

In its State of Georgetown report, the BID highlighted:

= Strong office sector performance for a third year in a row, with vacancy dropping to 7.1 percent—outperforming all other submarkets in the region.

= Retailer interest remains high, evidenced by a net gain of 19 new stores and services, a total collection of over 350 retailers, rising rents and property values, and a retail vacancy rate of 2.7 percent at year-end 2014.

= New LEED certifications for six office and retail spaces accounting for 671,000 square feet (12 percent of total rentable building area in Georgetown), signaling growing interest in renewing buildings.

= Turnover in the restaurant industry produced exciting, critically praised concepts like Fiola Mare, Chez Billy Sud, a revamped Grill Room helmed by Chef Frank Ruta, and Dog Tag Bakery.  Georgetown hotel occupancy rebounded, moving slightly above the five year average to 71.5 percent, and revenues increased to $72 million (up 12 percent from 2013).

Visit the BID’s revamped website to download a copy of the report, or click here.

Carolyn Landes •

In Washington, House and Senate members play hardball in politics everyday, but on a steamy, late, spring evening in June, after months of preparation and grueling 6:30 a.m. practices, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle gathered around the diamond at Nationals Park to play partisan ball of a different kind. 

It was the 54th Annual Congressional Baseball game, held June 11 – a storied political showdown that pits Democrats against Republicans in a time-honored fight for victory on the field – and later, bragging rights throughout the halls of Capitol Hill.  This year’s game had been especially highly anticipated as the Democrats and Republicans were playing a tie-breaker game, each party entering with a overall record of 38-38-1.

Only one person could heighten the drama and excitement of the game: the President of the United States. Yes, the real president, Barack Obama, did show up at the game – especially when he needed votes for a critical trade bill, as a few staffers noted.

Baseball fans who attend Nationals games at the South Capitol Street stadium are used to seeing a few presidents, especially those racing presidents, George Washington, Tom Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Bill Taft.

It was a major surprise for the crowd of around 10,000 gathered for the Congressional game, when Obama arrived during the third inning, toting two dozen bottles of White House-brewed beer, reserved for the winning team. The president wore slacks, a dress shirt and black Ray-Ban sunglasses, visiting both parties’ dugouts and staying about a half hour before leaving, as the Democrats led 3-1.

While the Dems continued their lead, extending their six-game winning streak by taking home a victory after the tie-breaker was dispelled with a final score of 5-2, it was the recipients of three D.C. area charities who really came out on top.  Though members play to win and bragging rights are coveted, over the years the ballgame has evolved into a fundraiser, raising money for the Washington Literacy Council, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. 

This game was truly a win-win for all, no matter your politics.
[gallery ids="102103,133881,133884,133863,133878,133875,133871,133867" nav="thumbs"]

Peter Murray •

UN Women, a body designated by the United Nations to support the empowerment of women around the globe, announced Thursday that Georgetown University has joined the HeforShe movement and outlined specific steps the school will take to push for gender equality within its walls and beyond.

A number of other multinational corporations, such as Twitter and Vodafone, as well as international universities, including Oxford and Stony Brook University, have also pledged to forward the movement, launched with a powerful speech from actor Emma Watson on feminism that went viral last year.

According to Time Magazine, Georgetown University President John DeGioia committed to advancing gender equality “through research compiled by Georgetown’s Institute for Women, Peace & Security, which will soon unveil a new study on women’s political participation in ending conflict.” In addition, G.U. recently instituted a new education program on campus to help faculty and students better identify harassment and sexual misconduct.

Georgetown is joining the fold as a part of the UNWomen’s IMPACT 10x10x10 initiative, which engages 10 leaders each from three sectors — public, private and academia — in the organization’s broader push for gender equality. The organization announced the first five leaders from the private sector and academia, respectively, to make commitments to the HeforShe movement earlier this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. G.U. was already technically involved in the movement, coordinating with early pledge-taker Tupperware Brands to conduct research on how women’s confidence affects their economic success.

Georgetown and Stony Brook are the only American academic institutions involved in the initiative, with other schools represented hailing from all over the world.

Other commitments made include Barclays’ pledge to provide 2.5 million women around the world with financial programs, Oxford University’s expansion of its “Good Lads” workshops on consent for men on sports teams and in social clubs, and the University of Sao Paolo’s implementation of a zero-tolerance policy in dealing with on-campus violence against women. (The University of Buenos Aires and the Autonomous University of Mexico have joined the University of Sao Paolo’s efforts.)

UN Women and HeforShe have yet to announce commitments from 10 public sector leaders that would further gender equality.

Georgetowner •

Scheduled repairs for the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge, which crosses over Rock Creek and its parkway between 28th and 26th Streets NW, have begun.

The following is the latest from the District Department of Transportation:
“DDOT will close one lane in each direction on the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge over Rock Creek Parkway, beginning Wednesday, June 3, from 9 pm until 5 am, the following day, weather permitting. These nightly closures will continue until Saturday, June 13.
 
“These lane closures are needed so that DDOT can conduct repairs and preservation activities on the bridge. A single lane in each direction will be maintained at all times.
 
“Moderate-to-heavy traffic delays are expected. DDOT encourages motorists to stay alert and look for workers and traffic devices as they travel through this work zone.”

The immediate repairs are part of a larger 15-month plan to rehabilitate the bridge, which has been tagged “structurally deficient” by DDOT. Designed by Civil War Gen. Montgomery Meigs, the bridge was constructed in 1860 and re-constructed in 1913.

In its March 25 issue, the Georgetowner reported that “falling debris from the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge closed the southbound lane of the Rock Creek Parkway and brought engineers to the scene to assess the damage on March 24. U.S. Park Police said that a parkway driver reported debris on the road below the bridge around 1 a.m. Tuesday. When structural engineers arrived on the scene for repairs, they were greeted with a flurry of falling debris with pieces as large as golf balls falling on them from underneath the bridge.”

Kelly Byrnes • June 18, 2015

Navigating a festival lineup can be hard, especially for an event as expansive as DC Jazz Festival. Here are some of The Georgetowner’s picks for this weekend:

Notable shows to catch include vocalist-guitarist duo Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke performing at Bohemian Caverns on U Street at 7:30 p.m. on June 11, soulful singer Alison Crockett on June 12 at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage at 6:00 p.m., and The Bad Plus Joshua Redman. The latter artist–a trio comprised of pianist Ethan Iverson, drummer David King, and bassist Reid Anderson—brings along saxophonist Joshua Redman for their June 12 performance at The Hamilton Live. It should be noted that the 8:30 p.m. show is sold out of seated tickets, with standing room only tickets available.

The weekend’s lineup is an exciting one, as Hecht Warehouse is hosting the Ernest Khabeer Dawkins Orchestra and the Organix Trio, comprised of flutist Nicole Mitchell, cellist Tomeka Reid, and drummer Mike Reed, in celebration of AACM’s 50th birthday on June 13. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Also June 13 is the jam-packed line-up of Marshall Keys, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, and Grammy award-winners Esperanza Spalding and Common performing at the Yards Park from 3:00-10:00 p.m.

Seven-member band The Cookers performs an 8:00 p.m. show June 14 at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, bringing both charisma and generational experience to their showmanship.

Alto saxophonist Bruce Williams takes stage at UDC, along with the school’s jazz program director Allyn Johnson and the UDC Jazztet for a 7:00 p.m. show on June 15.

The D.C. Jazz Festival runs from June 10-16, featuring over 125 performances at 40 different venues. See the full event schedule here.

Georgetowner •

Thursday Night Rock

June 11th, 2015 at 10:00 PM | $10 | tbarnes@entertainmentdc.com | Tel: 301-441-8899, Ext. 5 | Event Website

The popular rock band Nexus will headline “Thursday Night Rock”, a new weekly concert debuting on June 4, 11, 18 and 25 (every Thursday) at the historic Fire Station 1, 8131 Georgia Ave. in downtown Silver Spring, Md. The band will perform rock/pop classics and originals from 8-11 p.m. on June 4; 10 p.m.-1 a.m. on June 11; 10 p.m.-1 a.m. on June 18; and 8-11 p.m. on June 25. Admission is $10 at the door. For more information, call (301) 441-8899, Ext. 5 or visit www.NexusRockBand.com.

Address

8131 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910

“Weird Al” Yankovic

June 12th, 2015 at 08:00 PM | Event Website

Fueled by clever, zany lyrics, this parody master transforms pop hits from Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” to Lorde’s “Royals” into hilarious, new renditions.

Address

Filene Center; 1551 Trap Road; Vienna, VA 22812

Ritz-Carlton: Kids Carnival

June 13th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | $65 | aba@taapr.com

The Kids Carnival is the perfect way to kick-off summer for the entire family as guests are invited to indulge in the luxe experience complete with an extensive buffet featuring everyone’s favorite carnival treats including funnel cakes, cotton candy, sliders, chili-dogs and more. Experience a high-energy carnival performance by the South Riding Dance Academy that dazzles and delights with its Ringmaster, lion tamers, clowns, acrobatic duet, and showgirls on pointe.

Address

1700 Tysons Blvd; McLean Virginia

Historic Gay DC Walking Tour

June 13th, 2015 at 10:00 AM | Free | Tel: (202) 670-7470 | Event Website

In the 1960s, the Dupont Circle area was a center of antiwar activism and the counterculture, an environment in which many of the young gay and lesbian activists of the 1970s learned the tactics of protest. In the 1970s and ’80s, Dupont Circle became the center of Washington, DC, gay life. Join in on this walking tour highlighting bars, homes, and protest spots that have played a significant role in the experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities of Washington, DC.
Address

Meet at Q and 20th STs

Reading from “Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs” by Sally Mann

June 14th, 2015 at 02:00 PM | Free | Event Website

In this presentation at the National Gallery of Art, acclaimed photographer Sally Mann reads from her revealing memoir and family history, Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs. In this groundbreaking book, a unique interplay of narrative and image, Mann’s preoccupation with family, race, mortality, and the storied landscape of the American South are described as almost genetically predetermined, written into her DNA by the family history that precedes her.

Address

East Building Atrium; 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW

Cathedral Sings! Mozart Requiem

June 14th, 2015 at 07:30 PM | $10 | lsheridan@cathedral.org | Tel: 202-537-2228 | Event Website

Join us for a community sing-along of Mozart’s Requiem at Washington National Cathedral! Led by Cathedral Choral Society Music Director J. Reilly Lewis with Todd Fickley at the organ. Singers of all abilities are welcome! Tickets are $10; scores provided.

Address

Washington National Cathedral; 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW