Georgetown Will Have its Pizza and Bake it, Too
• July 26, 2011

A round face of thin, puffy dough is Eric Fosse’s canvas, and fresh, all natural pizza is his craft.

Fosse, founder of HomeMade Pizza Co. started the business with his brother-in-law and wife in Chicago over a decade ago. Almost 13 years later he has opened his sixth store in the District, bringing fresh and inspiring pizzas to the ovens of Georgetown homes.

The pizza shop offers take-and-bake pies, giving customers a dinner to enjoy around the kitchen table. Walking into the store, the smell of fresh basil and other spices immediately induces salivating.

Each customer is greeted with shouts from the kitchen. Three large black banners hang from the wall showcasing the five steps of ‘how-to homemade.’ Lists of Homemade Favorites and Simple Classics showcase the range of predesigned pies. For those more interested in creating their own pizza, HomeMade Pizza has a list of some 41 ingredients, for the pickiest to the most adventurous of pizza toppers.

Pizzas come in “Cutie Pie” 9 inch pies, 12 inch, or 14 inch sizes. And each has the option of regular or wholegrain wheat crust. All pizzas are thin crust from hand-tossed dough and, along with everything else in the shop, made from scratch. “We offer a unique dinner opportunity,” Fosse said.

And the Georgetown neighborhood already seems to agree. HomeMade Pizza served up 2,000 slices to pedestrians who passed by the new shop at 1826 Wisconsin Ave during their opening celebration, February 22 – 24. Over 500 pizzas were taken home in the first three days of business alone.

HomeMade Pizza has kept close ties to its Chicago home, while branching out to Minnesota, New York and Washington. According to Fossee, the DC locations are doing phenomenally well, and he is excited to see the Georgetown store take off.

With over 30 stores, Fosse is proud that all his original pizzas still appear on the menu, and his cheese pizza, voted number one thin crust in Chicago, still tops the charts as his best seller.

“If you can’t make a great cheese pizza, you can’t make anything else great,” he says.

Sausage and caramelized onions are Fosse’s choice toppings, but he also boasts a number of vegetarian options, he explains while referencing the fresh produce section of the topping list.

Produce is in-season and locally sourced, giving HomeMade Pizza a number of specialty salads to feature on the menu. And Fosse doesn’t forget his vegan customers, either. Although the ingredient list includes seven different cheeses, the shop also creates cheese free pizzas.

HomeMade family sized cookies are available to take-and-bake, and pint sized all natural ice cream is also a part of the dessert menu.

HomeMade Pizza Co. is open daily from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Georgetown. Pizzas can be ordered online, by calling ahead, or simply stopping in and seeing the friendly staff.

Visit HomemadePizza.com for more information on the menu, locations, or tonight’s dinner.

TBD RIP
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“TBD – sums up its chances of success,” one whit said, when TBD was first announced as the name for the new sister site for Politico’s online local news. This week, we got the answer. Just about six months after going live, TBD was “MySpaced.” Staff halved. It went from new media local news juggernaut to a limited effort focused on “entertainment and life styles.”

The reason given is that the revenue was not there. It was never allowed to function as designed, is the reply. You didn’t live up to what you promised. We were getting there in a hurry, no thanks to you… The truth… does it matter?

What is clear is that from the start there was an irreconcilable clash of culture between the WJLA news team and the newcomers that never happened when Politico was born. But that is because Politico was, and remains, such a different animal that the only conflict was over office space.

But TBD was meant to be the younger, faster, hipper local news team. If not intended as a threat, the old media team certainly wasn’t happy to share the toys. After all, TBD took over WJLA’s website. And it took over News Channel 8. And then it took even more of that already limited office space, squeezing in between Politico and WJLA. From before the formal launch, truly decent professionals on both sides expressed complete frustration with the other, both complaining of a lack of communication, lack of mutual support, and worse. Unfortunately it was no surprise. I have yet to see a newsroom where true harmony between legacy and new media is anything but a thin layer of wallpaper.

In the movie State of Play, the grizzled Washington veteran journalist and the vibrant onliner overcome initial animosity and mutual disrespect to break the big story together and forge an unbreakable professional bond. I do love fiction.

TBD RIP.

Cherry Blossoms Season Is In the Air
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Each year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring in Washington, DC, the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan (something exceedingly important in Japan’s current crisis). The Festival produces and coordinates 16 days and three spectacular weekends of festivities, primarily free and open to the public.

One the best features during the Cherry Blossom season are the “Cherry Picks,” area restaurants offering savory menus items inspired by the cherry blossoms. Now in its ninth year, Cherry Picks has over 70 participating restaurants serve creative cherry-flavored, cherry-infused, or blossom-inspired entrées, appetizers, desserts, cocktails, or multi-course menus throughout the Festival. Check out this list of participating restaurants!

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 26, 2011
Family festival featuring hands-on activities, interactive art exhibits, and exciting indoor and outdoor youth performances. Presented by Safeway and Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States Region.

April 9
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

Apr 09, 2011 – Apr 09, 2011
Enjoy this long-standing Washington tradition featuring lavish floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, and other family entertainment.

Mar 23 2011
2011 Pink Tie Party

Mar 23, 2011
Kick off the “Season of the Blossoms” in style at the Festival’s Pink Tie Party fundraiser and auction, presented by Macy’s and Open Skies – The Unique All Business Airline. Tickets now on sale!

Mar 22 2011
Community Cherry Blossom Art Show at Union Station

Mar 22, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
Blossom inspiration comes to life through the imagination of DC public and charter school students. Public exhibition presented by Sodexo.

Mar 26 2011
Music of Spring

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 27, 2011
Alongside Eastern Market’s foods, arts and crafts, enjoy music throughout the grounds.

Mar 26 2011
Glorious Gardens Self-Guided Tour

Mar 26, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
Experience nature’s beauty through a series of visits to several splendid gardens in Fairfax County.

Mar 26 2011
Cherry Blossom River Teas

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 27, 2011
Enjoy a charming, full-service English ‘High Tea’ aboard a classic yacht while cruising along the blossoms.

Mar 26 2011
Lantern Walks

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 27, 2011
Guided by the light of festive lanterns, rangers will guide you on an evening walk around the Tidal Basin.

Mar 26 2011
National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony

Mar 26, 2011 – Mar 26, 2011
Official kick-off to the Festival features a dazzling line-up of classic and contemporary performances, with welcoming remarks by Washington dignitaries. Presented by Open Skies – The Unique All Business Airline.

Mar 26 2011
Performance Stage at Sylvan Theater

Mar 26, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
The Festival’s primary stage features daily performances by recognized and diverse talent from around the region, country, and world.

Mar 26 2011
The Blossom Secrets Stroll

Mar 26, 2011
A walking tour recounting the story and sites of how the Japanese cherry trees came to Washington, D.C.

Mar 26 2011
Photo Safaris Around the Tidal Basin at Cherry Blossom Time

Mar 26, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
Instructional workshops in cherry blossom and travel photography conducted around the Tidal Basin at sunrise and in late afternoon.

Mar 26 2011
Beyond the Tidal Basin: Introducing Other Great Flowering Cherries

Mar 26, 2011 – Apr 10, 2011
Enjoy a self-guided tour of different species and cultivars of flowering cherries. [gallery ids="99621,105126,105119,105123" nav="thumbs"]

Elizabeth Taylor, 1932-2011
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Elizabeth Taylor, beloved Hollywood actress and icon, died Wednesday at age 79 of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

Taylor was a blue-blooded Hollywood star, a darling of the silver screen since her breakout role in “National Velvet” (1944) at age 14. More than 70 years later, Taylor had appeared in 50 films and won two Academy Awards as Best Actress for her roles in “Butterfield 8” (1960) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966) as well as being nominated for three others. Other films such as “A Place in the Sun,” (1951) “Giant,” (1956) and “Cleopatra” (1963) cemented Taylor’s fame. Upon her death, she hadn’t acted in several years.

Taylor was also heavily involved with various philanthropic efforts, raising support and awareness for AIDS since 1985, after the death of her close friend and fellow actor Rock Hudson. Her campaign to combat AIDS was monumental in the 1980s, as up until her involvement it was an issue largely ignored by the press and national government. Using her celebrity status, Taylor played a large role in bringing the AIDS epidemic to the forefront of America’s attention. She helped found the American Foundation for AIDS Research and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

The dynamic celebrity was also known for her larger-than-life personality and tumultuous personal life, with her illnesses, addictions and string of failed marriages (two alone to Richard Burton, the Anthony to her Cleopatra) a constant source of media attention. It often became difficult to tell where her public life ended and her personal life began.

Taylor had three children: two sons with actor Michael Wilding and one daughter with producer Michael Todd, who died after one year of their marriage in 1958.

Her seventh and final marriage to John W. Warner, a Republican senator from Virginia, also ended in divorce. During the six years of their marriage, Taylor brought Hollywood glamour to politics, standing by Warner through his first U.S. Senate race in 1978.

In a statement released by Sally Morrison, Taylor’s publicist, Michael Howard Wilding, 58, remembered his mother:
“My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love,” he said. “We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts.”

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Weekend Round Up
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Check out what’s happening around town this weekend with The Georgetowner’s interactive calendar. Looking for an excuse to get out of the house, or know of an event so exciting you just have to share? You can do both at the Georgetowner.com Calendar.

Hamtdaa: Together
April 1st, 2011
11:00 AM
703-875-1100

Hamtdaa: Together features the work of renowned visual artist and Arlingtonian Gankhuyag Natsag, whose Tsam dance masks, ceremonial costumes and paintings speak to Mongolia’s ancient traditions and contemporary experiences. Accompanied by a multi-faceted program of performances, workshops, films and community celebrations, this exhibition is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
March 3- May 1,2011

Address
Terrace Gallery
1101 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22209

Save Bristol Bay In Washington, D.C.
April 2nd, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Tel: 202.331.2120

Trout Unlimited with the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association is bringing Bristol Bay’s salmon and story to our nation’s capital for a delicious weeklong celebration of our nation’s last great wild salmon fishery. Over 20 DC-area restaurants will be featuring wild Bristol Bay salmon on their menus from March 27 – April 2 as a way of showing that they value Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery and want to see it protected from proposed mining development in the Bristol Bay watershed.

Artini 2011
April 2nd, 2011
08:30 PM

Celebrate with the 1869 Society at the culminating ARTINI benefit, where your votes for D.C.’s favorite artini will be revealed. Taste the 12 artinis crafted by the competing mixologists. View the Corcoran’s collection, including the works of art that provided the inspiration behind each artini. Enjoy dancing and music by DJ Neekola, a beer and wine bar, and a cocktail and dessert buffet. Tickets and pre-registration required.
Address

Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 Seventeenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20006

The Royal Wedding Breakfast & Viewing Party
April 28th, 2011
09:00 AM
$40.00
Tel: 202) 974-5566

In celebration of the upcoming marriage of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, K.G. to Miss Catherine Middleton, luxury bridal boutique Carine’s Bridal Atelier and The Ritz Carlton Washington D.C.will offer guests the opportunity to watch the “Wedding of the Century” in style at a Royal Wedding Breakfast & Viewing Party. Guests who wish to stay over, the night before can enjoy a Royal Wedding Overnight Package.
Address

The Lobby Café located in The Ritz-Carlton
1150 22nd Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037

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Thousands Cheer bin Laden’s Death at White House (photo gallery)
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The announcement of the death of Osama Bin Laden sparked a spontaneous celebration at the north gate of the White House with chants of USA USA and the National Anthem. Midnight to 3 AM on May 1-2, 2011. To view additional photos in high def, Click Here. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="99662,105719,105724,105729,105734,105739,105744,105749,105754,105759,105764,105769,105774,105779,105784,105789,105794,105714,105709,105649,105815,105811,105654,105807,105803,105659,105664,105669,105674,105679,105684,105689,105694,105699,105704,105799" nav="thumbs"]

White House Correspondents’ Dinner photo gallery
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The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington DC Hilton is the place where politicians, news correspondents and Hollywood types mingle. For any photographer, the attraction is irrisistable. Our camera followed the invitees to the Hilton and then to the big MSNBC afterparty at the Italian Embassy. April 30, 2011. To view additional photos in high def, Click Here. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="106009,105944,105939,105934,105929,105924,105919,105914,105909,105904,105949,105954,105959,106004,105999,105994,105989,105984,105979,105974,105969,105964,105899,105894,105889,105824,106013,105819,106017,105814,106021,105809,106025,105804,105829,105834,105839,105884,105879,105874,105869,105864,105859,105854,105849,105844,99663" nav="thumbs"]

July 4 in Washington D.C. (photo gallery)
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View photos below of the Fourth of July Festivities in Washington DC.
The National Independence Day Parade and Fireworks over the Washington Monument.
Plus a performance by the US Army 3rd Infantry “The Old Guard” Fife and Drum Corps, and a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives.
(All Photos by Jeff Malet /www.maletphoto.com) [gallery ids="106384,106319,106314,106309,106304,106299,106294,106289,106284,106279,106324,106329,106334,106379,106374,106369,106364,106359,106354,106349,106344,106339,106274,106269,106204,106388,106199,106392,106194,106396,106189,106400,106184,106209,106214,106219,106264,106259,106254,106249,106244,106239,106234,106229,106224,100222" nav="thumbs"]

A Facelift for Martha Washington’s Dolls
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In a box, in a corner of an office, in the Tudor Place in Georgetown, an antique collection of wax figurines lays largely untouched and unseen by visitors to the historic home.

The 228-year-old dolls, once the treasured belongings of first First Lady Martha Washington, were brought to their home at Tudor Place by Martha’s granddaughter and looked after for two centuries by her descendants and then museum curators.

Years of heat, mishandling and bugs have obviously gotten to figures; many are missing legs or arms, and the silk clothes are torn and faded of their color. But Leslie Buehler, the executive director of Tudor Place, believes that there is life yet to breathe back into these charming wax characters, and she is currently working to restore them.

The figurines make up a tableau set that was a gift to Martha Washington from Samuel Fraunces in 1783. The scene depicts the story of the military hero, Hector, and his wife Andromanche, whose romance was endearing to George and Martha, mirroring their own story of love and separation during wartime.

The scene was removed from public display in an effort to conserve the figurines and spare them any further damage.

The steps taken by Tudor Place to make the figurines more aesthetically pleasing have been more challenging than expected. The pins and dowel rods that hold the dolls together are from unidentifiable years, making it difficult to determine which ones are the originals, and details such as what the faces and clothes originally looked like are unknown. Buehler stated that it will be at least another year before the figures are ready to go back on display.

The restoration is being funded by private donors, including a remarkably generous donation which covered the initial analysis of the figurines.

“All of these objects tell extraordinary stories that relate the times these people lived in a visceral way,” Buehler said to the Post. “The more one understands about the beginnings of this country – how people lived, how they spent their time – it just informs our sense of history.”
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Jack Evans Report
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At this point, District residents must think the Council votes on the budget every time it meets. For the past couple of months, that has been nearly correct. On April 1, Mayor Gray submitted his fiscal year 2012 budget proposal to the Council. After a period of committee hearings to scrutinize the numerous government agencies that comprise the executive branch of the District government, as well as substantial community input, the Council took a first vote on a revised budget proposal on Tuesday, May 24. An ostensibly final vote took place on June 14, but a further vote was held July 12 to make needed technical corrections and account for “new revenue” that was identified in the Chief Financial Officer’s revised quarterly revenue estimate in June.

I have had mixed feelings on this budget from the beginning. The budget, at nearly $11 billion, is the largest in the District’s history, and I have vocally opposed the Mayor’s budget proposal from the moment it was released. In our May and June votes, the Council wisely repealed Mayor Gray’s attempt to raise the personal income tax, keeping the rate at 8.5 percent. We also rejected the proposal to tax live theatre, which was simply a terrible idea in an environment where our arts institutions are already reeling from massive cuts in federal funding. We were able to reject a proposed doubling in the Circulator fare, as well as to delay a proposed hike in the parking tax. We also restored a number of safety net cuts made by the Mayor which would have reduced funding for homeless and housing services. The Council also increased funding to the Metropolitan Police Department to ensure we have at least 3,900 sworn officers on the force, which moves us in the direction of my eventual goal of a minimum number of 4,000 officers. Finally, the Council acted to restore a substantial amount of money to the District’s “savings account,” which helps to bolster our bond rating.

The one item I most strongly disagreed with in the Council’s proposed modifications to the Mayor’s budget was the decision to implement an unfair retroactive tax on the interest earned on out-of-state municipal bonds. In the original modification from the Chairman, the tax on this bond interest would not have gone into effect if we had a sufficient revenue increase in June. Seven of my colleagues repealed this provision, however, and when new revenue did arrive in June, it was quickly diverted to other uses. On July 12, however, we were able to pass an amendment to push the implementation of the tax back to cover only earnings from Jan. 1, 2012 and beyond, rather than taxing earnings already received since Jan. 1, 2011. This is an important first step, as it gives bondholders notice of a pending tax proposal and allows them to make strategic changes in their investments to compensate for the massive change in the tax. As additional revenue is identified in September, however, I remain hopeful that we will be able to further delay or fully reject this proposed tax.

The other major item that was moved forward last week was the District’s redistricting plan. On July 13, I hosted a Ward 2 Redistricting Task Force kickoff with support from the Office of Planning, the Board of Elections and Ethics, and the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. As you may recall, the Council finalized the Ward redistricting plan in June, and over the summer each Ward will form a committee to make any needed changes to Advisory Neighborhood Commission and Single Member District boundaries. While we had a great showing of Ward 2 residents seeking to be involved last week, we will continue to include other Ward 2 friends and neighbors who would like to give input in our neighborhood-based subcommittees. Please feel free to contact Ruth Werner at rwerner@dccouncil.us or Kevin Stogner at kstogner@dccouncil.us, both in my office, to be added to the redistricting distribution list, or to ask any specific questions you have. Or, if you just want to keep tabs on the process, more specific data is available at the ANC redistricting website at https://sites.google.com/a/dc.gov/redistricting. Please feel free to share this information with other Ward 2 residents who may be interested.