News & Politics

Gary Tischler • November 15, 2012

Well into his second year of being Mayor of the District of Columbia, things remain troubled for Vincent Gray. According to polls, a majority of the city’s residents want him to resign, not to mention a few members of the District Council. Aides from his 2010 election campaign have confessed to election improprieties to U.S. District Attorney Ronald Machen. The investigation remains ongoing. Everywhere he goes, Gray is plagued with questions about his role in a so-called “shadow campaign,” involving developer Jeffrey Thompson. Everywhere he goes, Gray says little or nothing, on the advice of his counsel.

Yet, he soldiers on. July 27 was almost what you could call an upbeat day for the mayor as he led a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Adams Morgan, celebrating the high-style completion of the neighborhood’s 18th Street Streetscape project, which has transformed the long stretch of the area’s commercial and nightlife district.

“This is the sort of the thing we should be paying attention to. It’s something positive, a project that going to help transform the Adams Morgan neighborhood, bring business to the areas and make a dramatic difference,” Mayor Gray said, trailed by reporters, local business and community leaders and officials from D.C.’s Department of Transportation.

Gray looked and sounded upbeat, as he moved up and down 18th Street, dropping into shops and restaurants along the way. Still, faced with reporters with notebooks, he often looked a little wary. This is part of his daily routine now, even when it’s not the central piece of a particular event, as it really wasn’t here. Locals helped him celebrate, including Ward One Councilman Jim Graham, members of the Adams Morgan Business Improvement District and harried business owners, many of whom applied for interest-free loans from the city to alleviate costs caused by construction noise and disruption.

“If you have not been to Adams Morgan recently, you might not recognize it,” Mayor Gray said. “18th Street has undergone an extreme makeover and the results are remarkable. The new roadway, the wider sidewalks, the safer crosswalks—all of the upgrades support the local businesses in this great community and will help attract new customers.”

The project began February 2011, going up and down the sides of 18th Street from Columbia Road to Florida Avenue, a half-mile stretch. There were days and nights when the street looked like a war zone, with gaping wounds and craters along streets and sidewalks, not to mention the constant noise of drilling. The street, famous for its bar and night and entertainment and restaurant life, was in the past often congested, colorful and sometimes dangerous.

The result of the streetscape, similar to other projects in the city (there’s one about to begin on U Street and in Columbia Heights ) have made a remarkable difference at first sight. The $6.8-million project includes 32 Washington Globe street lights, 16 pendant pole lights at intersections, 47 ADA-compliant sidewalk wheelchair ramps, wider bump-outs and pedestrian gathering islands, a reconfigured intersection at 28th Street and Florida Avenue, 4,868 feet of granite curbs and brick gutters, new garbage cans and recycling cans and solar-powered compactors and larger storm-drain inlets. There are also 71 new bike racks, signs for bikers, and 59 new trees. The streets and sidewalks are wider, giving the area a new, urban, cosmopolitan look it didn’t have before. Shop owners on the whole appeared pleased with the new digs, and already there’s been an influx of new restaurants that appear an upgrade from the double-decker bars prevalent in the area. [gallery ids="100926,129531" nav="thumbs"]

Gary Tischler •

Music, be it jazz or classical or pop, is the most adaptive of art forms. It can thrive in any setting.

Of course, it’s always nice to have a perfect setting, and that’s what the S&R Foundation and its Overtures Holiday Concert Series provided November 2 at the sumptuously and classically beautiful Evermay in Georgetown.

The S&R Foundation’s Holiday series —headed by President Sachiko Kuno and Honorary Chair Ryuji Ueno—kicked off last Friday with a sweet, energetic and eclectic turn by young Israeli jazz guitarist Yotam Silberstein. The jazz theme continues tomorrow with an appearance by top-notch jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut.

The two jazz concerts are being presented in conjunction with the DC Jazz Festival, with help from the DCJF Chairman Michael Sommenreich and his wife Linda. DC Jazz Festival executive producer Charlie Fishman (and son Moses) and Executive Director Sunny Sumter were on hand for the first concert.

Silberstein is an up and comer in the jazz world. At age 21, he was named Israel’s “Jazz Player of the Year.” He plays with a light, easy style, in which player, instrument and music all seem to be involved in a courtship as he moved from free-styling versions of old standards, through his own compositions and forays into lively Brazilian numbers.

The series switches to classical performers with violinist Tamaki Kawakubo on November 16 and pianist Yu Kosuge on November 23, followed by a return to jazz with Jeb Patton and Mike Rodriguez November 30, then back to classical music with violinist/violist Yura Lee on December 7 and pianist Ryo Yanagitani December 14.

The S&R Foundation was created to support talented individuals with great potential and high aspirations in the arts and sciences. The Overture Series—which will have a spring season as well—was created to showcase award-winning emerging musical artists in the splendid setting of Evermay estates.

For more information, visit www.sandrfoundation.org
[gallery ids="101051,136713" nav="thumbs"]

Emily Lindstrand •

D.C. is rich with history soldiers helped create, and this weekend the District, as well as the rest of the country, will honor these veterans. Veterans Day weekend in D.C. will feature a wide range of events to honor those who have served the country.

On Saturday, November 10:

The American Freedom Festival will feature rock bands Chicago and Kansas. The concert will honor veterans and Armed forces; proceeds will benefit organizations that serve and support our veterans, active duty military service members, and injured soldiers. The event will also feature a Veterans Career Hiring Event. Tickets: Ticketmaster.com

The National Marine Corps Museum will celebrate the both Marine Corp’s birthday and Veteran’s Day with a ceremonial sword cake cutting.

The Manassas Veterans Day Parade at 11:00 a.m. features military and high school bands, pipe and drum corps teams, military units from the various Armed Services, and military vehicles.

On Veteran’s Day, Sunday, November 11:

The National Veterans Day Service will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. featuring a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Seating is limited and visitors are encouraged to arrive at least a half hour prior to the event.

From 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Boston University CDIA is sponsoring a walkabout for photographers of all ages. Participants will visit places of historical interest, such as the Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, The Air Force Memorial and the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials. RSVP to 202.625.1110.

The World War II Memorial will have a wreath laying ceremony at 9:00 a.m.
The Air Force Memorial will have a wreath laying ceremony and a two-minute moment of silence on at 11:00 a.m.

The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial will have a color guard, speakers, and a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of all who served during the Vietnam War. 1:00 p.m.

The ceremony at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial will feature stories of veterans from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as their children, told firsthand. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and 2:00 p.m.to 4:00 p.m.

Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens will have many special activities, including a concert by the all-veteran barbershop chorus at 11:00 a.m. and wreath laying at the tomb of George Washington at 2:00 p.m. Active duty military personnel and veterans get in free of charge; the concert wreath and laying ceremony are included with regular Mount Vernon admission.

Nico Dodd •

Sports legends were on hand to open the new Nike store in Georgetown Oct 25. The Vornado-owned building that formerly housed Barnes & Noble is now a three-story, 31,000-square-foot store that carries a wide range of Nike’s athletic gear at 3040 M St., NW.

Homages to Georgetown University athletics are present in numerous areas of the store. Displays include gear from Georgetown’s track & field team and a display case of Georgetown University Air Jordans.

In the entrance of the building is a commemorative display honoring former Georgetown University men’s basketball head coach John Thompson, Jr., who coached at the school from 1972 to 1999. A neon-sign quotation by Thompson reminds athletes not to ignore life beyond the court. “Don’t let the sum total of your existence be 8-10 pounds of air.”

Before the event began, coach Thompson and former Hoya Patrick Ewing were on hand for a few words. “It’s a great store,” Ewing said.

Tim Hershey, head of North American retail for Nike opened the ceremony. Hershey manages Nike’s 202 stores in North America. He explained how the store received 4,500 applications to work there, which were eventually whittled down to 500 interviews, and finally, to 171 employees working in the store today. One employee said he was in three weeks of training for his sales position.

Michael Jackson, who played point guard on Georgetown’s 1984 NCAA championship team, is now Vice President and General Manager of Basketball in North America at Nike. Jackson remarked on the new store and presented Thompson with a one-of-a-kind, commemorative jacket honoring his career in the basketball.

Thompson, who is on the board of directors at Nike, was characteristically to-the-point. “I’d rather eat a bug than what I’m doing right now,” he said.

Thompson spoke about Nike’s commitment to Georgetown University’s basketball program when the team needed support. “Nike was one of the few corporations who jumped in when we needed help,” he said.

On his quote in the store, Thompson explained how he convinced his former player, Jackson, to leave the NBA to pursue a career off the court. He emphasized that there is more to life than basketball. “If that’s what defines you totally, you’re a damn fool,” Thompson said.

Current Georgetown University basketball coach John Thompson III also spoke about the new store.

After the ceremony, Thompson, Jr., was joined by his son, his two grandchildren, Michael Jackson, Tim Hershey and Jack the Bulldog for the ribbon cutting. Afterwards, eager shoppers poured in to see the new store for themselves. Along with sports gear in other sports, such as that of the Washington Redskins, the store will manage a running club.
[gallery ids="101033,136049,136042,136036,136029,136023,136017,136064,136069,136011,136074,136082,136056" nav="thumbs"]

Hayley Markovich •

During all of the trick-or-treating and revelry in Georgetown on this quickly approaching Halloween, parking will be restricted on some of the roadways in the neighborhood from 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, until 6 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 1.

Those streets affected are K Street, NW, from 30th Street to Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Water Street, NW from 33rd Street to the Capital Crescent Trail, 1000, 1100,1200, 1300 Blocks of Wisconsin Avenue, NW, M Street NW, from 25th Street to Key Bridge, 1100 block of 26th Street, NW, and Thomas Jefferson Street – 1000 block (from the canal, north to M Street).

Residents, visitors and employees of businesses in these areas will have access to these streets. Additional streets may be closed or opened as well. To gain access to these streets, citizens must present proof of work or residence to gain access to these streets. The restrictions will be in effect on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 6:30 p.m., until Thursday, Nov. 1, 4 a.m. The streets affected by these closures
are:

• 1000 block of Grace Street, NW

• 1000 block of Thomas Jefferson Street, NW

• 1000 through 1500 blocks of 29th Street, NW

• 1000 through 1500 blocks of 30th Street, NW

• 1200 through 1300 blocks of Potomac Street, NW

• 1200 through 1500 blocks of 27th Street, NW

• 1200 through 1500 blocks of 28th Street, NW

• 1200 through 1600 blocks of 33rd Street, NW

• 1200 through 1700 blocks of 34th Street, NW

• 1500 32nd Street, NW

• 1200 through 1700 blocks of 35th Street, NW

• 2600 through 3100 blocks of Dumbarton Street, NW

• 2600 through 3100 blocks of P Street, NW

• 2600 through 3600 blocks of O Street, NW

• 2700 through 3600 blocks of N Street, NW

• 2700 block of Poplar Lane, NW

• 2700 through 2900 blocks of Olive Street, NW

• 3100 block of Blues Alley, NW

• 3100 block of Oak Alley, NW

• 3100 block of South Street, NW

• 3200 through 3400 Q Street, NW

• 3200 block of Cecil Place, NW

• 3200 through 3600 blocks of Prospect Street, NW

• 3300 through 3400 blocks of Dent Place, NW

• 3300 block of Cady’s Alley, NW

• 900 block 30th Street, NW

Motorists are encouraged to exercise extreme caution when traveling in these areas. In addition, those who will be in the area on Halloween are encouraged to use public transportation.
Georgetown will be holding many events on and around Halloween to celebrate. Thunder Burger and Bar will be holding a Halloween Costume Contest. You can come at any time; costume judging begins at 10 p.m. Titles up for grabs are best male and best female costumes. Winners receive a $50 gift certificate to Thunder Burger and Bar.

The Annual Boo Cruise will be taking place on Saturday, October 27. Guests 21 and over can come aboard and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar all night long. Halloween costumes are encouraged and the best costume will win 4 free tickets on the Spirit of Washington during the costume contest by the end of the night! Boarding will begin at 9:00 pm, and the cruise will last from 9:30 p.m. to 12:05 a.m.

On Oct. 28, the Georgetown Theatre Company will be communicating with the spirits and reading poems and short stories by Edgar Allan Poe including “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee.” After the show there will be a “Horrors d’oeuvre Reception” with the cast.

In Cady’s Alley on Oct. 27, starting at 9 p.m., L2 Lounge will host an Angels & Demons party. Doors are open until 11 p.m.

Bandolero will be hosting its Wake the Dead Party at 10 p.m. on Nov. 2. It will feature a DJ on the first floor and a popular-vote costume contest from 10 p.m. until midnight. Prizes include gifts of lunch or dinner at Bandolero.

Paul Bakery has taken a different spin on Jack-o-Lantern making. It will carve bread rather than pumpkins. You are invited to join the fun at the Georgetown bakery and café. Cost is $15 per person; this includes a large pumpkin-shaped loaf of bread, a stencil to carve a design and a drink and treat. To reserve a spot, email paulb03@paul-usa.com. Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to noon; 1078 Wisconsin Ave., NW.

Georgetowner •

Poor President Barack Obama.

The man was just re-elected to a second term as President of the United States.

Can’t he just take a little time off, do a victory dance, walk the dog, gloat—in private—a little, before having to take on the burdens of state and all that stuff.

But no. People keep calling with stuff. Ring.

“This is Barack.”

“It’s John Boehner, Mr. President.” “Yes?”

“John Boehner, Mr. President, the Speaker of the House?”

“I know who you are, Mr. Speaker. I can tell by your voice. Are you sniffling?”

“No, sir, just a cold.”

“What do you want, Mr. Speaker, it’s nine o’clock in the morning the day after the election, which I won, thank you very much. Did you call to congratulate me, John, in which case, thank you very much.”

“No, sir. I mean, yes, sir, but it’s about the cliff.”

“The cliff? Oh, that cliff. Can’t this wait, John. I mean, for God’s sake, I haven’t even had breakfast. I gotta walk the dog.”

“It cannot wait, Mr. President. If we don’t solve this crisis, the nation will go over a cliff and the economy will go into recession.”

“Well, we can’t let that happen. But I got it, John. Raise taxes on the rich. You’re cool with that, right? Talk to you later. Bye.”

Ring.

“Yo, my man. Chris Christie here. Really, thanks for everything you did. It was cool hanging out with you. You got the boss on the phone. Say, reason I’m calling, you wouldn’t happen to have his cell phone number would you?”

“I think I can manage to get you that”

“By the way, I lied. I didn’t vote for Romney. I voted for that libertarian guy.”

“Nice. Gotta go. Let’s get together real soon. See you next hurricane.”

“It’s Dave, Sir. General Dave.”

“Um, who?”

“General David Petraeus, your CIA Director?”

“Oh, sure. Say, shouldn’t you be preparing for your Benghazi testimony?”

“I’m afraid not, sir. I’m call to telling that I would like to come over and see you to tender my resignation.”

“You do know I just got re-elected, right? I mean, for God’s sake, man.”

“I had an affair, sir.”

“You what?”

“I had an affair. With a woman who was embedded with me in Afghanistan. And I’m afraid the FBI appears to know about it.”

“They do? They didn’t tell me about it. Wait, did you say she was in bed with you?”

“No sir. Embedded, sir. In any case, I feel I have no choice but to resign.”

“Why don’t you sleep on it, Dave, and let me know in 24 hours, okay? I mean, I gotta walk the
damn dog.”

Ring.

“It’s Rick Perry, Mr. President.”

“Who?”

“The Governor of Texas, sir, and the eyes of Texas are upon you, sir.”

“Didn’t you lose in the primaries, Rick?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then, why are you bothering me on the day after I won re-election. Did you see that look on Mitt’s face?”

“Yes, Sir. I bet him $10,000 that he was going to lose. But what I called about: I’m thinking about having Texas secede from the United States of America.”

“You just keep thinking that, Rick. Gotta walk the dog. Bye.”

Ring.

“It’s Justin Bieber, sir. Selena broke up with me. What should I do?”

“Where did you get my number, son.” “Bruce Springsteen gave it to me.”

“Goodbye, son.”

Ring.

“Hey, you, commie.”

“Is that you, Ann?”

“No, it’s Michelle. Gotcha.”

Ring.

The president does not answer the phone this time.

“Bo,” he turned to his dog. “Let’s get out of here.”

Gary Tischler • November 14, 2012

When Colin Powell walks into a room, you kind of want to sit up a little straighter.

He looked in his dark suit, walking-tall way, smiling but firm, well, presidential. It’s only natural that such a thought came to mind, given that President Barack Obama had been re-elected the night before. There was still a buzz in the air among those attending the book talk by Powell, the former U.S. Secretary of State at the Dupont Circle offices of the Aspen Institute, the non-profit, non-partisan think and issues tank.

Not only that, but it had been only days since Powell, a Republican, had endorsed Obama for a second time, which stirred a certain amount of controversy, at least among the likes of shoot-from-the-hip Fox commentator Bill O’Reilly, who suggested that Powell did so because Obama, like Powell, is black and rose success from modest circumstances.

It’s also true that in the 1990s, there was a groundswell for the popular Powell, an African American who led the hugely successful U.S. military effort in the Gulf War against Saddam Hussein, to run for president.

Nobody in the crowd at the Aspen Institute asked him about that, but they didn’t need to. Powell brought it up himself. “We all know the huge effect of fund raising and money has had on the electoral process. That was evident to me even back then. My running was a serious matter, raised by serious people, and it had to be taken seriously, and I gave it considerable thought. I agonized over it a little, truth be told. But a decision like that in our house involve my wife, Alma, and I thought about it. And I thought about having to go to yet another fund raiser. I thought about the life of daily campaigning that it would take, and I finally decided and I came down for my morning coffee and told her of my decision. “I’m not running,” I said. She looked at me and said, “What took you so long?”

Everybody laughed. This was, after all, not a policy staff meeting in the Pentagon or White House. This was a book talk, moderated by noted biographer (of Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein) and Aspen president and CEO Walter Isaacson. Powell was among friends—including his successor as National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, Aspen members, a two-star army general, former colleagues in his state department where he served as the first African American Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, and an opera singer and professor of music at George Mason University. Everybody knew everybody.

Still, Powell had a little more—all right, a lot more—gravitas than anyone else in the room, but he wore it lightly and well. The book in question—“It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership” published by Harper—is a kind of bookend to his critical and popular successful memoir “My American Journey”, an anecdotal riff on the qualities of leadership and what is required to be a top leader in any field.

Some of it centers around Powell’s famous 13 rules—they were first referenced in a Parade Magazine story—chief and legendarily among them “Get Mad, Then Get Over It”. “Throughout my military career,” he said, “I’ve always encouraged discussion, even disagreement, and the rule applies here, not just about getting mad, but arguing. But once that’s over, the decision is made and you abide by it. It works in life, too. A reporter asked my wife once how we had managed to have successful marriage for so many years—“Get mad, then, get over it,” she answered.

Powell has had a fabled American career of service. In the army, where he says he found his home, his life, his friends, and in American government, he rose to the rank of four-star general and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, served as National Security Adviser, and Secretary of State, becoming the first African American (of Caribbean descent) to serve—in both roles.

A decorated combat officer—he has always said he was haunted by Vietnam, where he served with distinction. He is not only the author of the 13 rules (others include “Share Credit!” “Have a Vision!” “Be Demanding!” “Perpetual Optimism is a force multiplier”) — he is also the author of the Powell Doctrine. This doctrine was an approach to military decision-making in wartime that, summed up, means applying maximum force with minimal casualties. This worked famously in Desert Storm, the first Persian Gulf War against Iraq, where, coupled with the elder Bush’s ability to forge an eclectic alliance against Saddam Hussein, U.S. Arms won a decisive victory with few casualties.

The 2nd Iraq war, in which President Bush asked him to make the case for military action against Saddam Hussein (in a post-9/11 climate) based on intelligence that Hussein had WMDs was a different matter. “Look, I went there—gladly—with the intelligence that was given to me. Based on that, I gave my speech. It turned out that the intelligence should have been looked at more closely by all concerned. I’m not happy with that—we should have bored in more into the intelligence. There isn’t a day that goes by when I’m not asked about that, and it’s a burden I carry. It’s a blot on my record. But given the same intelligence, that is what I knew then, when I made the speech, I would do it again.”

He had blunt things to say about the war and other matters, saying that the Iraqi army should not have been dismantled, that the conduct of the war, post-victory, was not all it should have been.
He praised President Obama for his handling of the auto bailout, for what he called “his nuanced diplomacy”, and he said that the election revealed a diverse America .

“The Republican Party, we all, are facing a historical demographic change,” he said. “In another generation, there will be no more minorities, in terms of gender, Hispanics, people of color, families with different organizations. The Republican Party has to recognize it. Yesterday demonstrated that you have to figure it out. You can’t say we have no immigration policy. It’s a historic moment that’s happening, and we’re the only country that could deal with such a huge change, and that’s why it’s such a beautiful country.” He said that “there is a vein of intolerance in my party (Powell is a Republican after all). We have to change that. You can’t attack the president and say he’s a Muslim. There’s nothing wrong with being a Muslim, but we can’t demonize people we disagree with …I hope after the election yesterday, there’s no place in America for this kind of intolerance. We are the example of the best in us to the world. When I hear somebody say that we’re living in the worst of time—I say, no it’s not, I can show you the worst of times.”

There was both authority and a passionate love of country in his words. Describing the United States of America post-2012 election sounded, well, presidential.