Opening “The Box”
• June 15, 2011

Tackle Box’s new location in the heart of Cleveland Heights opened Tuesday to the sounds of a reggae band and the flash of camera lights. The crush of boisterous attendees enjoyed signature cocktails and “Big Ass Beers” along with Tack’s Box’s specialty steamed lobster – quality cuisine served on a gingham table cloth.

This is Tackle Box’s second location. The first, located in Georgetown, is the casual cousin of Hook, the first sustainable seafood restaurant owned by Jonathan Umbel. Umbel got his start in the business 25 years ago when he opened a pizza delivery joint on Connecticut Avenue at the tender age of 19. Now, he wants to continue expanding his chain which has become so popular in Georgetown.

Although he eventually hopes to open many more locations, Umbel says that for now, he is intent on making the new Cleveland Heights branch successful and is focused on nurturing a quality, community-oriented restaurant. As the only seafood place in the immediate area, he’ll be tapping into a whole new market.

While they’re working on getting a band license so that groups like The Proverbs – the reggae band who set the mood for the restaurant’s opening – can play regularly, the Tackle Box will also be introducing a new concept to the D.C. food world. The Connecticut lobster roll. Unlike the traditional cold Maine lobster roll, this variation is served steamed and hot with butter and Tackle Box’s special seasoning.

“The head chef won’t even tell me what’s in it,” said Tyler Tremaine, the general manager at the new location.

The lobster, along with many other steamed seafoods, are brand new items on Tackle Box’s menu along with freshly created signature cocktails. The new drinks were invented by Ed Howard, the head bartender at Tackle Box’s Georgetown location, whose martini won Yelp’s Fourth Annual Best Martini in D.C. Contest.

Currently, the only place where these new items are available is at the Cleveland Heights location. However, Tackle Box is working on integrating them into Georgetown’s menu as well.

With new items like Beet and Goat Cheese Salad and four times the space of its Georgetown counterpart, the new Tackle Box seems to be aiming for success. And although the paint on the sign reading “In cod we trust!” just dried and the brightly colored buoys were just hung on the walls of the new restaurant, Umbel already has even bigger dreams for the future.

“To give you a sneak preview, in the next location, we are attempting to make the world’s largest oyster bar,” he said with a grin.

Ford’s Theatre Gala
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Ford’s Theatre was aglow on June 5 as guests strode the red carpet for the Annual Gala. With Richard Dreyfuss as host, the performance was titled” Lincoln’s Legacy and a New Era of Hope.” Highlights included Anika Noni Rose’s rendition of “If I Had My Way” with students from the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School, David’s Selby’s reading from Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and Joshua Henry and Jeremy Gumbs singing “Go Bank Home” from “The Scottsboro Boys.” Attorney General Eric Holder presented the Lincoln Medal to the NBA’s all-time scoring champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi did the honors for first lady of the musical theatre Julie Andrews. In closing remarks, Vice President Biden hailed the recipients “powerful voice” and called Ford’s Theatre “this hallowed hall of American history.” After the performance guests enjoyed a seated dinner in the courtyard of the National Portrait Gallery & American Smithsonian Art Museum. [gallery ids="102531,102532,102533,102534,102535" nav="thumbs"]

Third Annual Constellation Celebration
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Award winning Constellation Theatre celebrated its over the top season with a gala “Kick Up Our Heels & Toast to the Stars!” at The Washington Club on June 9. The evening’s silent auction had myriad goodies including costumes and props from the past season’s productions. Artistic Director Allison Stockman opened a brief program saying “reviews—good or bad—“are always entertaining.” “The Green Bird” was lauded for “extravagant, whimsical creations” and “a multi-sensory joy feast.” Constellation was praised as an ensemble with “practical coherency” espousing a “live connection between actors and audience.” Tom Teasley, a two-time Helen Hayes award winner for sound design, entertained and quipped “there’s another instrument you’ve never seen before.” [gallery ids="100044,100045,100046,100047,100048" nav="thumbs"]

E.CO Photo Exhibition Opens at Katzen Arts Center
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Curated by Claudi Carreras, C.EO presents submissions from 20 Latin American and European photographic collectives highlighting their countries’ major environmental concerns. The exhibition is presented by the Ministry of Culture of Spain, the Embassy of Spain and the Spain-USA Foundation in cooperation with the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center and FotoDC as part of Spain Arts & Culture 20121 Program. The images are riveting and alarming. The overriding themes are waste and water issues. A June 2 opening reception was attended by Director of Promotion of Arts, Ministry of Cultural of Spain Angeles Albert, Embassy Cultural Counselor Guillermo Corral, Founder of PhotoDC (South Africa) Theo Adamstein and Keith Lipert of the eponymous Georgetown Gallery. The photo exhibition will run through Aug. 14. [gallery ids="100054,100055,100056,100057" nav="thumbs"]

Save the Date
• June 14, 2011

When it became necessary to postpone a June 3 fundraiser she planned to benefit Second Family, Inc., Shahin Mafi, Founder and Trustee of the Azar Foundation for Children of the World, invited her committee for dinner at La Ferme restaurant on June 2. The dinner honored Bulgarian Ambassador Elena Poptodorova, host of the benefit, and Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Adriana Velinova, who was scheduled to perform. Shahin thanked everyone and said a rescheduled event early next year will be more far reaching in supporting the needs of children here and abroad. In her remarks, Ambassador Poptodorova said she suffers from the condition of orphanages in her country and noted that “there is nothing better than helping a child.” She expressed appreciation for the confidence of the benefit committee members.

The Washington Ballet Presents Carmen at the Harman
• June 2, 2011

May 19 was opening night of the Ballet’s season finale. The program began with David Palmer’s Passing Through followed by a musical interlude performed by Youth Orchestra of the Americas. Edwaard Liang’s As Above, So Below concluded Act I. Following intermission, Carmen was beautifully interpreted by lead dancers Sona Kharatian, Luis R. Torres, Maki Onuki and Jared Nelson. At a post-performance reception, Board Chair Sylvia de Leon hailed “the year that was” as the Ballet grew to a new level. Incoming Executive Director Peter Branch was welcomed and glasses were raised to his predecessor Russell Allen. [gallery ids="99842,99843,99844,99845,99846,99847,99848" nav="thumbs"]

Fight Night
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Fight Night for children took place the Hilton Washington on November 11 at 6 p.m. [gallery ids="99561,104629,104635,104633" nav="thumbs"]

Foto Week DC
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Foto Week DC as held at various galleries throughout Washington DC November 6-13. [gallery ids="99562,104634,104636" nav="thumbs"]

Jack Evans’ Birthday
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On October 27 Jack Evans invited residents of ward 2 to a birthday party. [gallery ids="99490,99491,99492,99493" nav="thumbs"]

Bravissimo Society
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Leilane Mehler founded the Bravissimo Society to assist young singers in our region through an awards competition, which will conclude in May of 2011. On Sept. 12, she and her husband Barry hosted supporters for a recital of Zarzuela performed by soprano Serena Canino, baritone Jose Sacin, as well as tenor Aurelio Dominguez and pianist Emily Senturia, who came from Norfolk where they are in rehearsals for Rigoletto. Bravissimo founding member Felipe Rodriguez likened Zarzuela, which originated in Spain, to US musicals in the blending of music and drama.

-Mary Bird [gallery ids="99276,104419,104431,104424,104428" nav="thumbs"]