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Robert Devaney • September 25, 2013

A neighbor alerted the Georgetowner Sept. 20 about a stop-work order by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for the small corner condominium construction at 3220 Grace St., NW. The permit cited retaining wall work that lacked permits. All construction at the site has stopped.

The project itself has gone through major changes because of challenges from Georgetown’s influential Advisory Neighborhood Commission as well as the powerful Old Georgetown Board, an advisory committee of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.

Such a shutdown may seem ordinary or routine. Yet it was the added postscript under the order that caught our eye, thanks to our neighbor. It has a classic Georgetown ring to it, helpful but not too haughty.

The unsigned letter is a succinct rebuff and quite the advertisement for one of Georgetown’s favorite architects. It reads:

“Now that the property value of the neighbor has been saved from this incredibly ugly building, please do yourselves and the neighborhood a favor.

“Walk a quarter of a block east and knock on Frank Schlesinger’s door. Let him design a nice set of row houses in keeping with historic beauty of the street you seem hell bent on destroying.

“Frank designed 3303 Water Street and 3336 Cady’s Alley. He made everyone a lot of money with great designs. Please let him do the same for you. Please. Really . . . PLEASE.”

Reporting on the same story, Georgetown Patch earlier contacted Larry Parker of DCRA. He responded to Patch, which explained, ” . . . the stop work order was probably issued for work outside of the parameters of the permits issued for the site, which include a permit for a retaining wall. He also said the permits were not posted anywhere on the site, which could also lead to the stop work order.”

Let’s see if Schlesinger gets a new account.
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Marie Loiseau • September 23, 2013

As a neighborhood known for its beautiful houses and vibrant business district, Georgetowners like things just so. There is one piece of streetscape that puts frowns on the faces of passers-by. There, a sign reads, “The National Jewel Center,” which sits, aged and forlorn, on the empty 1351 Wisconsin Ave., NW, space.

This address did not always look so homely, and some pieces of its history are still visible in the old signage hanging out front. It became home to the bustling Dumbarton Theater in 1913. It was alight and glorious, a playhouse equipped with seating for 460. The Dumbarton Theater became the Georgetown Theater and began showing movies in 1947. The theater – infamous for showing the Penthouse-produced film, “Caligula,” for months on end — was sold in 1986 to be used for retail.

The National Jewel Center took its turn after the fall of the Georgetown Theater. After 20 years, it closed, leaving the space for sale by the Heon family with no takers yet. It has sat this way for the past two years, as the iconic Georgetown Theater sign collects rust with each passing season. Georgetown is ready for a change.

And, finally, change may be on the way. The dusty space may, after two long years of sitting and collecting sympathy, have an amazing transformation in its near future.

According to the Washingtonian, Politics and Prose Bookstore may be coming to Georgetown. The popular and successful independent bookstore at 5015 Connecticut Ave., N.W., wants to expand and may take over the currently dingy Wisconsin Avenue space.

Politics and Prose, with its workshops, speakers and coffee shop element, would add some real verve to Georgetown. Unfortunately, this business expansion has not yet been officially confirmed. As P&P owners Bradley Graham and Lisa Muscatine are currently out of town, no statement could be received on the matter. Employees at the Connecticut Avenue location have made it clear that only the owners are able to comment on this supposed business plan. So, until the bosses are back in town, Georgetowners can only cross their fingers and dare to dream. Look for a follow-up in next week’s newsletter.

Gary Tischler •

When a poet dies, some parts of the world weep. Folks so inclined hear words running through their head like metamorphosed nymphs. Those who are part of the world’s folk bookish in nature read about the lives of poets and “The Lives of the Poets” and sometimes write the very same things or even a sonnet in feverish pentameter.

When an Irish poet dies, the whole world cries—and sings and praises as if a pope or an honest politician had died, or worse, a pop or movie star. The Irish in their news journals and online, they not only mourn and commemorate—Irish gifts both—but intemperately argue, critiquing the obituaries and sometimes the late poet himself, as if it were required to be disrespectful in the end.

The Irish poet Seamus Heaney died Aug. 30, and the world noticed so much that if you were inclined to love poets and poetry, you wanted to almost dance to celebrate the size of the outpouring. Indeed, as every obituary tells you that his death—he had been in ill health for some time—at the age of 74 was a great loss, you think there must have been many a poem left in him if he had lived to a ripe or even honestly and very mature age.

As it was, Heaney had already written plenty of enduring works, works which were not just in the jealous domain of people who love poetry but appealed to people who normally didn’t—men and women alike. His poems have a deceptively plain-spoken feel and sound to them. He opened up the field and the curled gates of the domain like a father welcoming a whole tribe of prodigal sons, of whom there are many in Ireland and elsewhere.

He was famous. Different photographs of him graced the pages of such publications as the Washington Post, the Irish Times and the front page of the Saturday New York Times, which displayed the photograph by Steven Pyke for Getty Images a late-life portrait, the skeptical, intense side glance, eloquent eyebrows, thin, set lips and sage head of white hair above a headline: “He Wove Irish Strife and Soil Into Silken Verse.” It’s not likely he’d be making the cover of Time, what with the Syrian business, or People Magazine, what with poor Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones separating, her being Welsh and all.

But it shouldn’t be a surprise if he had. His poetry often veered into the old euphemistic Irish troubles of North and South, Dublin and Belfast, the fire of bombs and ancient political curses — enough so that he wrote the line “be advised, my passport’s green/no glass of ours was ever raised/to toast the Queen.” You can be certain that his work—in its corners and travails and travels—might attract the readers of the Economist and People Magazine alike at some fine night’s points.

In all the papers, this Nobel Prize for Literature honoree who never expected to be making a speech in Stockholm was called “the greatest Irish poet since W.B. Yeats,” a man of the generation of Ted Hughes and in the ranks of not only Yeats but Joyce and Beckett, the novelist and the playwright giants of Ireland. But why stop at the Irish, where poems, spoken, sung and written and repeated as a birthright, where the color red, the fiddler adept, are strung into the genetic code like a dance? He had the blood of farmers and farmland in him, but also the academics’ wild penchant for classicism—he first gained true fame with his translation of “Beowulf,” which begins with in mid-tale, with the word “so.”

He lived a blessed life in some ways—none of that drunk and half in love with death and despair down at the corner pub stuff like the crazy Welshman Dylan Thomas, or the fatally sad women of his peer Ted Hughes, who nonetheless became the English laureate. He lived the life of son, husband father, and, yes, eventually, sage and wise men, befriended by millions of readers and powerful folk, at times.

He taught and gave speeches, to be sure. People seemed to preternaturally treat him with affection and that face changed over the years once his hair turned white. His voice had the lilt—look him up on YouTube talking about his life, reading or from memory speaking the poem “Digging,” the first poem in his book of selected poems, 1966-1996 called “Opened Ground.” It’s a telling title, as are poems called “Death of a Naturalist” and “A Call,” because—this son (oldest of eight children)—roots deep in the earth, vegetables, the sounds of frogs and birds and weeds being pulled out, the rawest memories are true subjects of many of his poems. One can imagine that the son of the land becoming a poet in modern times clashes with the past:

“Between my finger and my thumb/The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.

Under my window, a clean rasping sound

When the spade sinks into gravely ground:

My father, digging. I look down…..

Between my finger and my thumb

The squat pen rests.

I’ll dig with it.”

These are the first and last lines of “Digging”—in its ambition, fathers and son and again the dirt and rich loam of earth figure strongly—and they return again and again as in “A Call”, in which the poet recalls and telephones his father, who’s outside, pulling weeds, which ends with the father coming to the phone: “Next thing, he spoke, and I nearly said I loved him.”

He was, before and after all, born on a farm in County Londonderry, which had echoes and overtones for him all of his life.

“I like to play with words sometimes,” he said in an interview. “Words that are different but sound the same, like heard and herd. And I think a poet wants and needs to be heard but must not be a part of the herd. Although, that’s never that simple.”

Like many poets, he was contemporaneous, but courted classicism, not only in “Beowulf” but also in poems which echoed Homer, clanged with talk by Greek and Trojan heroes outside the city gates. He talked about medieval roots and pulled them. In these, those conversational tones at times, those earthy unveilings of earth, the mixing of simple visions doing difficult dances, he was like Cummings, Eliot, Jeffers, Pound, affable brilliance on display.

In the Irish Times, where he was mourned loud enough to think you heard weepings and the odd pint being raised in church, a postscript scuffle or two developed in the comments section, some folks complaining about the quality of the obituary, others perceiving an under appreciation here and there. Heaney might have liked that: the bloody quarrels being subdued to crank internet insults about poetry.

I would drink—except I don’t drink anymore—to Seamus Heaney who knew enough to make his poems as recognizable as plain talk and as mysterious as metaphor-miracles, true mysteries.

Georgetowner •

Mark your calendars for The Third Annual

St. Jude Heart of Fashion Benefit

September 28, 2013 at 11:30 AM | Individual: $150, Friend of St. Jude: $300 | Tel: 703-351-5171 | Event Website

St Jude Heart of Fashion: “Join Neiman Marcus and Armani Collezioni at Mazza Gallerie in Washington, D.C., for a fabulous morning of fashion benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Featuring the Fall 2013 Ready-to-Wear Collection by Armani Collezioni, the event will include brunch bites and cocktails, followed by a seated fashion presentation.”

Address

Neiman Marcus at Mazza Gallerie, Washington, DC

ACTIVATED! Art4All DC Social Media Launch Party

September 13th, 2013 at 06:00 PM | Event Website

The Cultural Tourism DC and Pepco Edison Place Gallery are holding a social media launch party to get everyone ready for the unveiling of new art activities, performances, workshops, open houses, and more.

Address

702 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, DC

DC Wine Week Wine Tours: Plainly Perfect

September 14th, 2013 at 10:00 AM | $95 | emily@pivotpointcom.com | Event Website

For the next few months leading up to DC Wine Week, we have partnered with DiVine Wine Tours of Virginia to offer a series of wine tours to various Virginia wineries.

Stops included: Grey Ghost Winery, Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn, Vintage Ridge Winery

The Plainly Perfect tour takes you to Delaplane, Va., where the scenery is simple and beautiful. With gorgeous backdrops, a friendly community and rich wine history, these wineries capture the essence of what Virginia wine is all about.

Address

Please see website for details

Hovercraft by American River Taxi

September 14th, 2013 at 02:00 PM | Event Website

From Georgetowndc: “Hosted by American River Taxi and Universal Hovercraft of America, catch the waves during a two day event… on the scenic Potomac River at Washington Harbour… Experience the transitional capability of a hovercraft from water to land and witness the new quiet fan in action as well as its versatility. The event will feature both on water and floor displays of the Renegade hovercraft.”

Address

Georgetown Washington Harbour; 3000 K Street, NW

NUMARI Fall Fashion Preview at The Graham Georgetown

September 14th, 2013 at 02:00 PM | Event Website

From Georgetowndc: “Catch a glimpse of NUMARI’s newest silhouette debuting at NUMARI’s Fall Fashion Preview… at one of Forbes’ “must visit rooftops”… Experience an afternoon out with the who’s who of DC, a fall fashion show featuring models from T.H.E. Artist Agency, and complimentary early tastings of French 75… Send your RSVP for NUMARI’s Fall Fashion Preview to events@numari.com. Dress to impress!”

Address

Observatory Rooftop of the Graham Georgetown; 1075 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW

Friends of McMillan Park Town Hall Meeting

September 14th, 2013 at 03:00 PM | free | estoremcmillan@gmail.com | Tel: 202-234-0427 | Event Website

The City’s plan to privatize and demolish historic McMillan Park as well as creative alternatives will be discussed. To familiarize yourself with the issues or to sign the petition to save the park, please visit www.friendsofmcmillan.org. We are also seeking volunteers. Please contact Kirby Vining at restoremcmillan@gmail.com or 202-234-0427 to learn more.

Address

St. Martin’s Pioneer Room, 1908 North Capitol Street NW (@ T)

Frederic Yonnet Performs

September 14th, 2013 at 08:00 PM | $25.00 | Event Website

From Blues Alley: “Called ‘the Jimi Hendrix of the harmonica,’ Frédéric Yonnet brings the humble harmonica front and center, defying expectations and coaxing contemporary jazz, R&B, and a rainbow of genres from this versatile instrument. He’s performed with Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and Erykah Badu; recorded with the Jonas Brothers, toured with Prince — and won the respect of audiences everywhere.”

Address

Blues Alley; 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW

An Afternoon of the Arts

September 15th, 2013 at 04:00 PM | $40 | aginsberg@sjcs.org | Tel: 202-274-3460 | Event Website

Please join us in an afternoon of musical talent by violin/piano duo Holly Hamilton, the National Symphony Orchestra, and Carol Barth, DC Board of Directors and Founders Board member, with solo piano Sara Daneshpour, Master’s of Music graduate from the Juilliard School. An art auction will feature the artistic talents of artists in the ART Options program.

Donations fund the advancement of community support and opportunities for people living with disabilities in Washington, DC.

Address

Hearst Auditorium; National Cathedral School; 3612 Woodley Road NW

Robert Devaney •

CNN threw a big bash at the Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square Sept. 10 for its reintroduction of “Crossfire,” its political debate program, which ran from 1982 to 2005.

With its re-debut this week, the new “Crossfire” hosts are: from the right former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and columnist S.E. Cupp; from the left, environmental and civil rights activist Van Jones and political strategist Stephanie Cutter.

The party gathered more than 300 media types and others, with a red-carpet entrance and large video screens telling the CNN story and later showing President Barack Obama’s address to the nation on Syria. It was like sections of the summer hit read, “This Town,” had come to life.

Nikki Schwab of U.S. News, now reporting for “Washington Whispers, got a good quote from S.E. Cupp: “I wish someone had told me before I moved to Arlington that I live in the Hoboken of the D.C. metro area, I had no idea.” (We think Cupp was complimenting Arlington in comparing it to the regentrified Hoboken, N.J., across from Manhattan.)

Van Johnson told Betsy Rothstein of Fishbowl D.C. in response to her question to his being in the media spotlight even more now: “The only thing worse than being in the spotlight is not being in the spotlight.”

The event host, of course, had something to say. “Few programs in the history of CNN have had the kind of impact on political discourse that “Crossfire” did. It was a terrific program then, and we believe the time is right to bring it back and do it again,” said Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide.
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Marie Loiseau •

Mayor Vincent Gray vetoed today the proposed Large Retailer Accountability Act of 2013. The bill would have held large retailers, such as Walmart, to increase employees’ wages to a minimum $12.50 per hour. It was met with much opposition from Walmart — which threatened to pull out from three of its planned Washington locations if Gray signed the bill — and others.

“I am vetoing this legislation precisely because I believe in providing a living wage to as many District residents as possible – and this bill is not a true living-wage measure,” Gray said. “While the intentions of its supporters were good, this bill is simply a woefully inadequate and flawed vehicle for achieving the goal we all share.”

Gray noted that the jobs may not even go to D.C. residents. While so people may be upset with the veto, the mayor also called for a reasonable increase in the District’s minimum wage for all workers.

The mayor’s letter to Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, explaining his decision, listed six major points:

= “The bill in not a true living-wage bill …

= The bill is a job-killer …

= The bill would affect far more retailers than many supporters think …

= The bill doesn’t guarantee good-paying jobs for District residents …

= The bill does nothing to help underserved parts of the District …

= The bill will deal a huge blow to economic development …”

If the 13-member D.C. Council can gather nine votes, it can override Gray’s veto. It voted 8-5 for the bill on July 10.

Respect D.C., “a coalition of grassroots-based organizations, pastors, workers, and community members concerned about the quality of life in the nation’s capital,” issued a statement in response to the mayor’s veto of the bill with comments from some of its members, including this one from Kimberly Mitchell, a Macy’s employee and lifelong Ward 7 resident: “I am incredibly upset, disappointed, and angry that Mayor Gray has decided to stand with Walmart and other large corporations instead of with the residents of this city. Mayor Gray has made it clear who he stands with and it’s not with me, my neighbors or the residents of D.C. We are now counting on the City Council to do the right thing, stand up with D.C. residents, and override this veto. Mayor Gray had the opportunity to stand up for the residents of this city, but instead he allowed large, out of town companies, like Walmart, to threaten him and ultimately dictate the policies of our city. By vetoing this bill he has further eroded the ability of D.C. residents and workers to earn enough money to take care of themselves and their families while remaining in the city.”

“This is a major victory for the residents of the District of Columbia and the business community,” said Barbara B. Lang, president and CEO of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce. “Mayor Gray should be commended for vetoing this irresponsible bill that undermines the work we’re doing to increase employment opportunities for District residents. … We’re now in a position to be the economic hub for our region and end the retail leakage that has plagued our city for too long.”

After the veto was announced and assuming it is not overridden, a Walmart spokesman informed local media that the company would “move forward” on its stores in D.C., including one at Skyland Town Center in the mayor’s neighborhood.