Bowser Promises Streetcars ‘All the Way to Georgetown’
• April 13, 2015

Mayor Bowser gave her State of the District Address March 31. She voiced a commitment to improved education in the District, from early childhood education to adult education opportunities and job-training programs. Bowser’s address surprised many when she promised that the much-maligned Streetcar will soon run on H Street and Benning Road. But surprise turned to mild shock when she added the project would eventually span from Georgetown to east of the Anacostia River.

“We all know that the streetcar has been long on promises but short on results,” Bowser said. “That changes now. I promise you that we will get the Street Car along H Street and Benning Road line up and running. Then, we will extend the line to downtown Ward 7 so that Councilmember Alexander’s constituents along Benning Road can ride to Union Station and eventually all the way to Georgetown.”

LeRoy Neiman’s ‘Big Band’ and $2.5-Million Endowment Trumpets Jazz Expansion at Smithsonian
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The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History kicked off Jazz Appreciation Month a day early by announcing the LeRoy Neiman Foundation’s donation of a $2.5-million endowment towards the expansion of jazz programming.

In a March 31 ceremony, the museum unveiled Neiman’s painting, “Big Band,” an epic jazz painting the artist considered as one of the greatest in his career. The painting is 9-by-13 feet and features 18 iconic jazz musicians. Visitors can view the painting just inside of the museum’s Constitution Avenue entrance, next to the newly named LeRoy Neiman Jazz Cafe.

The museum also announced its new five-year plan for jazz programming, made possible by the Neiman Foundation gift, and the detailed calendar of jazz activities for April 2015.

As part of a special donation ceremony, the museum also received other jazz related acquisitions which include: the upright bass and archives of jazz musician and double bassist, Ray Brown; the complete collection of jazz photographer, Duncan Schiedt; as well as a poster of “Ella in Flight” by Neiman.

The ceremony was attended by donors Steve Bond, director of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation, Richard and Fran Rosman of the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Mark Dibner of the Argus Fund and Ray Brown’s widow Cecilia.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is located on the National Mall at 14th Street and Constitution Ave. N.W. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Admission is free.

View our photos from the special donation ceremony at the NMAH on March 31 by clicking on the photo icons below.

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Georgetown House Tour on April 25 Will Feature Quality Hill Mansion on Prospect Street and 7 Other Homes
• April 9, 2015

The Georgetown House Tour, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday, April 25, will open the doors to eight houses in town. One of the highlights of the 84-year-old tour is the 1797 mansion built by John Thomson Mason, nephew of George Mason, and called Quality Hill. Reportedly, Thomas Jefferson stopped there for lunch. It sits at the corner of 35th and Prospect Streets. One of its recent owners was Sen. Clairborne Pell (D-R.I.).

Other houses on the tour include one of on N Street: the oldest portions of this residence were originally built in the 1890s. The property was subsequently acquired by Stanley Woodward, a friend of FDR, and was expanded to include a new three-story structure at the front of the property. The current living room was designed as a recreation of the music room of Number 20, St. James Square in London, a room designed by Robert Adam in 1772 and its plaster ceiling took 18 months to complete by hand.
Another house — on 31st Street — was termed “the only remaining example of a late Victorian cottage” by the National Building Survey. It was built between 1878 and 1880 by Albert B. Jackson. According to tour officials, it is a “fine example of a cottage-style detached residence with elaborate wood decoration. The current owner undertook an extensive restoration to restore more of the original Victorian character and charm.”

Also on the tour is a 34th Street house that sits with its historic Italianate/Victorian façade intact: “This home was completely renovated in 2014 by its current owners, partners in a Georgetown architecture firm, to include a a skylit contemporary stairway with glass railings, modern kitchen and a 45-foot-long living and dining space,” according to tour guides.

Tickets for the tour are $50 (advance) and $55 on the day of the tour. The tour’s Patrons’ Party will be held April 22 at the home of Deborah Winsor on Dumbarton Street NW. Visit www.georgetownhousetour.com for more information.

Jackson Art Center Lease Extended to 2018
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The Jackson Art Center at 3050 R St. NW has successfully negotiated with the District government an extension of its lease until 2018 of a 1890 building, which closed as a D.C. public school in 1970. The artist collective began renting the building during the 1980s and now pays a monthly rent of $12,850, according to D.C. General Services Department. The current lease was set to expire in June of next year. The artists would like to get a longer lease with the city for the property, which recently had new windows installed. The space allows for 45 artist studios.

Warby Parker on M Street
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Online hipster eyeglass outlet Warby Parker, announced Thursday that the company had signed a lease in Georgetown at 3225 M St. NW. The announcement follows news that Warby Parker will open its first Washington, D.C., location in Shaw, at the Shay development at 8th Street and Florida Avenue. The Georgetown space used to house True Religion.

Maxime Restaurant in Former Guards Space
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Lastly, casual French steak house and mussel bar Maxime opens today at 2915 M St. NW. The concept comes from Moe and Joe Idrissi along with Ben Kirane of Thunder Burger and Bodega fame. The location formerly housed Rialto. Before that, from 1966 to 2012, it was home to the legendary Guards Restaurant. In addition to steak frites, mussels and French hors d’oeuvres, there is a Belgian-inspired list of specialty beers and cocktails. Maxime is open daily from 4 to 11 p.m.

Food Delivery Service DoorDash Debuts
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DoorDash debuted in D.C. at the end of March, combining elements of food-delivery apps like GrubHub and Seamless with the contractor-driver model of Uber and Lyft. DoorDash delivers only from restaurants in Northwest D.C. and only within a four-mile radius of your restaurant of choice. So far, Bethesda Bagels, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Pho 14, Busboys & Poets and Chipotle have partnered with the service. DoorDash differs from Seamless and GrubHub in that it charges a flat $7 for fee food delivery and the driver, not the restaurant, is in charge of pick up and delivery. DoorDash promises successful delivery within one hour of an order.

T H E Artist Agency Celebrates 30 Years in Georgetown
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Georgetown’s T H E Artist Agency – a group of models and stylists – celebrated its 30th birthday April 1. Well known around the city and beyond, the agency has been used by many in the media, including this newspaper. The models, hairstylists and make-up artists, as well as the wardrobe and set stylists, have helped make several Georgetowner fashion specials more than memorable.

Headed by Lynda Erkiletian, president, and Elizabeth McDavitt-Centenari, director and vice president, the agency offered the following anniversary comments: “On our walk down memory lane, we revisit our humble beginnings in 1985. Propelled by limitless vision, hard work and determination, T H E was born in a 300-square-foot office on P Street, using one phone with call-waiting (and no computers) to book five stylists for a handful of loyal clients. Still in Georgetown 30 years later, we have made our home in an historic building on Potomac Street where we are honored to book the top one percent of talent for an elite clientele on an eco-friendly, paper-free booking system. Inspired by our passion for the industry and the satisfaction of loving what we do, we remain true to our roots while so much continues to change for the better.”

Check out T H E’s new website – THEArtistAgency.com – to peruse, as it noted, its “fresh look, user-friendly interface and the stunning portfolios of our models and stylists.”

M29 Lifestyle at Four Seasons Marks 5th Anniversary
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M29 Lifestyle at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C., celebrates five years as one of Georgetown’s shopping destinations for luxurious hidden gems. “As style trends change with each season,” the store says, it “has continued to offer its clients a diverse and unique selection of exquisite clothing, accessories, home décor and gifts featuring creations from more than 20 designers exclusive to the store.”

The store will launch a new exclusive line April 16: Claire Florence for M29 Lifestyle. Pieces include collector’s edition totes, silk and ostrich feather scarves, spring cashmere tees and white crochet dresses, all ranging in price from $170 to $525.

“We are excited to launch an in-house line in collaboration with Claire Florence,” said the store’s retail director, Ron Edwards. “Florence’s designs are fresh, feminine and posh with details and trim that suit our luxury customers.”

Georgetown-based designer Claire Florence has worked directly with Edwards to create custom designs. Florence’s career started in New York, where she consulted for firms like Calvin Klein, Tom Ford and Cotton Incorporated. In 2000, she opened a New York City design studio that was featured in Vogue, Elle, Allure and Marie Claire. Florence’s sculptural pieces, made out of cashmere and detailed with fox and mink fur, have been worn by celebrities including Annick Goutal, Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and Minnie Driver.

During the anniversary event, M29 Lifestyle will partner with Deborah Sigmund, a longtime friend of the store, donating 10 percent of the proceeds to Innocents at Risk, which is celebrating 10 years of fighting child sex-trafficking around the world.

Shadowstone Lighting Opens in D.C.
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One of the largest companies for media, film and entertainment lighting on the East Coast, Shadowstone opened at 953 V St. NE March 27 with a grand opening reception. On hand were company founder Frank Marsico, At-large Council member Vincent Orange and Angie Gates, director of the D.C. Office of Motion Picture and Television Development. The Shadowstone facility houses its showroom and rental department, as well as a brand-new light lab that will be used for product testing, demonstrations and workshops. The New Jersey-based Shadowstone has operated in the District for a number of years. Orange has worked to bring more film-production activity and jobs to the nation’s capital.