Town Topics

Robert Devaney • August 15, 2013

After closing due to the April 2011 flooding and after months of serving customers on outside tables, Tony and Joe’s and Nick’s Riverside Grille are preparing to open their interior spaces next month.

Tony Cibel, owner of both restaurant, confirmed to the media that the eateries, with upgraded menus from chef David Stein, will open sometime after Sept. 1. Even Zagat has felt the need to opine on the changes: “Encircled by tall windows, with cascading water features, nautical wood, and stylish appointments, its newly remodeled dining room feels like a posh ocean liner. An eating bar faces the open kitchen. Popular seafood dishes from the restaurant’s past — crab cakes, lobster, rockfish, mussels and shrimp cocktail — will be menu staples, and specials featuring Chesapeake area ingredients will be introduced daily.”

Bill Starrels, an advisory neighborhood commissioner whose district includes the Georgetown Waterfront, had this to say about the restaurants’ re-birth: “It brings us happiness to see the re-opening of Tony and Joe’s and Nick’s at Washington Harbour. After seeing the ravages of the Potomac and, now, the sparkling, newly renovated restaurants, it is a good day.”

David Roffman •

When all is said and done, the real citadel of strength in any community is in the hearts, minds and desires of those who dwell there.

Georgetown’s strength is evident in the many charitable and philanthropy projects. Programs at different Georgetown ministries help the homeless. The Volta Park, Rose Park and Georgetown Waterfront Park projects have revitalized our community’s green spaces. The annual House Tour and Garden Tour benefit various groups in need. Lastly, there is the Georgetown Senior Center, which this newspaper has supported for over three decades.

The Senior Center, founded by Virginia Luce Allen in 1982, is run today by a dedicated board of directors and volunteers. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, which provides lunches for older people three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at St. John’s Episcopal Church at Potomac and O Streets, N.W. The lunches are prepared by volunteers, most of whom are Georgetown residents. Prior to each lunch is a light exercise program for the seniors led by Ayanna Smith. After each lunch, the seniors are treated to a special program. Recent programs have included a performance by the Calico Cloggers, a talk by local astronaut Scott Altman and a talk by a National Gallery of Art curator preparing for a special exhibit. Wendy Erlanger has been arranging these special programs for close to ten years now and is doing an amazing job. Upcoming programs include a talk by international news and documentary producer Steve Sapienza, a performance by multi-instrumentalist Jesse Palidofsky and two sessions on communicating with grandchildren on Facebook.

Throughout the year, there are special luncheons like the Long and Foster picnic, an afternoon delight at Clyde’s of Georgetown, and special luncheons at Paolo’s Restaurant and Billy Martin’s Tavern.

Prior to Christmas and Easter there are special luncheons prepared by the 1789 Restaurant. On the third Wednesday of each month, the seniors have lunch and programs with the seniors group at St. Paul’s Methodist.

Many of the volunteers who prepare the meals are Georgetown moms, headed up by longtime volunteer Mary Meyer, who schedules the cooks. Jorge Bernardo drives the van, picking up the seniors and delivering them back home after the luncheons. Every month, the seniors go on a field trip, which are proposed by staff and selected by the seniors. Recent Field Trips have included the National Geographic Museum’s Titanic exhibit, a trip to the National Arboretum’s bonsai collection, a Washington Nationals game and a visit to St. Alban’s to hear an “Arts at Midday” performance.

For over 30 years, Virginia Luce Allen was the voice and advocate for the Georgetown Senior Center. Today, a board of directors carries on Virginia’s vision and meet every two to three months. The board’s officers include Allison Silberberg, Janice Rahimi, Lila Sullivan and Wendy Erlanger.

Charitable contributions to the Georgetown Senior Center are always welcome, and periodic fundraisers are essential to the continuance of the Center. One recent Benefit, a cocktail reception at F. Scott’s in May 2012, was well attended and raised approximately $17,000. The reception was given by Ginger and John Laytham and Sally Davidson of The Clyde’s Group. [gallery ids="100982,131812,131805,131783,131799,131792" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • August 7, 2013

Georgetown’s Volta Park officially opened its new playground July 22 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and visit by Mayor Vincent Gray, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, other local politicians, Parks & Recreation employees and friends of the park. After less than two months of construction, kids are already meeting playmates and enjoying play dates.

The renovated playground, located on Q Street between 33rd and 34th Street within the park, also features a jungle gym, rope structure, sand pit, plastic climber with an attached slide and see saw. A new PebbleFlex surface covers the ground, protecting children from scraped knees and other injuries.

Part of the Play D.C. initiative, the Volta Park playground is a product of a partnership between the Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of General Services and the Georgetown community. Play D.C. describes itself as a project that “will improve and renovate an unprecedented number of play spaces during the 2013 fiscal year…[and] prioritize maintenance and capital improvements.”

The community-based nonprofit Friends of Volta Park Georgetown raised and contributed about $40,000 to buy most of the equipment, and the city covered construction costs.

The DPR paid for the park’s “demolition and prep, equipment installation and delivery, the purchase of the new swing set, safety surface, benches and refurbished sandbox,” according to the agency.

Georgetowner •

Georgetown University’s mascot bulldog will not return for the fall semester, the school announced July 31. The news surprised students and campus observers. After 15 months and lots of media hype, mascot-in-training Jack, Jr., is out as the live bulldog to represent Hoya mania at sporting and other school events. It appears that the young J.J. could not put up with large crowds and loud noises — and, more importantly, bit a young child last fall, prompting a possible lawsuit against the university by the child’s family.

“A settlement reached with two parents whose child was bitten by Jack Jr. last fall was a factor in the decision to remove the former mascot-in-training from campus,” reported the Hoya, a student newspaper. “The child sustained non-critical injuries after the incident. … Director of Media Relations Rachel Pugh confirmed that the couple reached a settlement with the university and that a lawsuit was never filed.”

J.J. was to succeed Jack the Bulldog, who still lives on the main campus and who underwent surgery for a torn ACL. Jack retired in March. Students were upset about the sudden nature of J.J.’s departure and not being consulted on the decision.
J.J. lived with the older bulldog Jack and caretaker, Rev. Christopher Steck, S.J., in New South dormitory. Not part of the university’s decision-making process to boot the dog, Steck later wrote in the Hoya that the university needed to do a better job of being more inclusive in how it makes decisions.

With J.J. gone and Jack retired, the university will have no live bulldog as its mascot when school starts within a month. Nevertheless, already some Georgetown residents are happy to assist with any substitutions. One such neighbor is Thomas Gerber, who has owned bulldogs and previously subbed his dog for the mascot a few years ago. Gerber said his bulldog Reuben is upto the task and happy to help with any events. “Reuben is a calm, people dog,” he said.

In a statement about the dismissal, the university’s Pugh added: “After 15 months of monitoring and training, in consultation with these experts and the breeder, we determined that returning to a home environment is what is best for J.J. … While Jack, Sr.’s official mascot duties ended last year, he will continue to live on campus. The tradition of a bulldog mascot at Georgetown is a cherished one, and it will continue.”

Robert Devaney •

Here is a news brief from the Washington Post’s Clarence Williams last week — one of the only media outlets to mention this incident: “A man plunged from the Key Bridge near Georgetown Friday night July 26 and was pulled from the Potomac River by the D.C. police, according to authorities and witnesses. Few details about the 10 p.m. incident were available immediately. However, a witness said police in boats were in the area at the time. They quickly got the man out of the water and began CPR, the witness said. He was taken to a hospital. Authorities said he was unconscious but breathing.”

One observer at the scene later told the Georgetowner that a police officer said that the jumper is a bartender who worked in Georgetown.

Robert Devaney •

One of Georgetown’s best-known and best-loved restaurants is celebrated its 50th anniversary this year — and it is time for everyone to join the party. The District Council will proclaim Aug. 12 “Clyde’s of Georgetown Day” to celebrate the landmark restaurant’s 50th anniversary. In honor of the festive occasion, this D.C. mainstay will offer specials throughout the entire day. Beginning 8 a.m., Aug. 12, Clyde’s of Georgetown will kick off the festivities by serving a special breakfast, free of charge. Patrons are invited to drop in and enjoy popular egg dishes, juice and coffee in the Omelette Room until 10 a.m. Following the breakfast, Clyde’s will keep the day fun-filled by bringing back special menu items served at Clyde’s that were popular in the 1960s and 1970s. With dishes such as London broil, filet béarnaise, and beer-battered shrimp, as well as drinks including sidecar and cir royal, guests will be transported to the era when the restaurant first opened. Menu items are priced between $5 between $25. Clyde’s of Georgetown is located at 3236 M St., NW.