Serendipity 3 Opens Its Doors to Customers

June 12, 2013

You can stop asking when. On Memorial Day, Serendipity 3 officially opened its doors at the busy intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, May 30, to customers who quickly discovered they had to wait (some up to an hour or two at one point during the 95-degree Monday) to get a table in the packed restaurant, once home to the famed Nathans.

After months of prepping, co-owners Britt Swan and Rodrigo Garcia welcomed Georgetowners and other Washingtonians, along with the tourists in town, who dove into the frozen hot chocolates and shakes and snapped up burgers and hot dogs. There is a $1,000 sundae (no buyer yet as of press time) as well as a $69 hot dog. For this latest Serendipity 3, the extensive menu includes crab cakes, a D.C. exclusive.

Founded in 1954 by Stephen Bruce in New York City, Serendipity 3 has become a sweet tooth favorite, eclectic in its decor, and a favorite meeting spot. It has touted its celebrity connections, whether Andy Warhol, Jacqueline Kennedy, Bill Clinton or Sarah Palin, and provides the title and scenes for a romantic comedy film many guys cannot stand. Like the other New York and Las Vegas locations, the restaurant sells Serendipity 3 merchandise.

A few family members of the co-owners are involved in the eatery: hostess Katrina Rubin, whose mother Janine Schoonover, married to Swan, has been working on the debut for months, and Garcia’s brother Alexander Miguens, an investor.

On Monday, Twitter, Facebook and other websites held comments and photos on the opening. NBC4’s TV reporter Pat Collins stopped by and interviewed customers, and NBC4 news anchor Eun Yang brought her family.

“More than 500 covers went out opening day,” Garcia told us at the end of the first day. “Fro ho [Frrrozen Hot Chocolate] was the most popular order.”

Meanwhile, it looks like this restaurant can live up to its definition: “ser•en•dip•i•ty (n) the art of making happy discoveries, or finding the unexpectedly pleasant by chance or sagacity.”
Serendipity 3 will be open 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 3 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Later, it will also have a carryout counter.

Citizens Honor Community Achievers at Annual Meeting


The Citizens Association of Georgetown met May 17 at Dumbarton House on Q Street to elect its officers, hand out its community awards and hear from Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans, who discussed the Mayor’s proposed budget and his own opposition to tax increases. Nevertheless, citing the rebuilt public library and continuing work on the streets and utility connections, Evans told the citizens that Georgetown is doing great with all of the improvements and investments coming to fruition in the neighborhood, home to many active residents worthy of awards. CAG honored a few of them specifically at the annual meeting.

Brenda Moorman received the Bill Cochran Award for her work in conservation and neighborhood beautification. Toni Cherry of the D.C. State Historic Preservation Office received the Charles Atherton Award for her work in creating a preservation compliance programs among other city efforts.

The Hays family—John, Sharon and daughter Samantha—was awarded the Martin-Davidson Award for its longest surviving retail store, The Phoenix on Wisconsin Avenue, which opened in 1955.

A Special Award was given to Officer Mark Lee of the Metropolitan Police Department for his years of service in the town. The historic George Town Club, with general manager Brian Armstrong accepting, grabbed the Ratatouille Award for rat abatement. The Peter Belin Award will be presented during a September meeting to Richard Hinds, CAG’s legal advisor.

Hardy Middle School Chooses New Principal After Revolving Door of Administrators


This Friday, Hardy Middle School announced in a letter that a new principal has been selected. Dr. Mary Stefanus comes from St. Louis, Missouri, where she was principal at Hixson Middle School in Missouri for 11 years, according to Georgetown Patch. She has more than 30 years of experience in education and a track record for success.

Dr. Stefanus will be the fourth person to serve as Principal at Hardy in just over a year. At the end of the 2010 school year, Principal Patrick Pope was removed by then Chancellor Michelle Rhee and replaced by Dana Nerenberg. Nerenberg was removed at the end of this January after reports of increased fighting among students and disrespect to administrators by Acting Chancellor of DC Public Schools Kaya Henderson, and replaced by interim principal Daniel Shea.

Vornado Realty Trust flexes its muscles at Georgetown Park


After six months of renovation and only five months of business, the National Pinball Museum in the Shops at Georgetown Park will be closing this July. According to a letter from Executive Director and Curator David Silverman, mall owners Vornado Realty Trust informed him on May 18 that he has 60 days before he and his pinball machines must vacate the premises.

Silverman says he spent $300,000 renovating the space, which included a custom dinosaur mural and nine-foot flippers in the 14,000 square foot space. The museum contains hundreds of pinball machines and displays chronicling the history of the game.

Before moving his collection to Georgetown Park, Silverman’s pinball machines were kept at his home in Silver Spring. Silverman has amassed a collection of over 800 machines over the past 15 years.

For now, the museum is located on the third floor of the Shops at Georgetown Park, formerly occupied by FAO Schwarz. Silverman is determined to find a space to move his collection, and is looking as far away as New Mexico. The museum is also accepting donations. To encourage visitors, the museum has lowered its admission rate from $13.50 to $3, and has implemented new summer hours. The museum will remain open through July 4.

Potomac River Rescues


During the past few days, Washington D.C. Fire and Rescue crews have been busy with a series of rescues from the Potomac River. This Tuesday, a man fell into the river from a ten-foot ledge at Georgetown Waterfront Park. The man was reportedly taking photos over the ledge, fell into the water, and was unable to climb out by himself.

According to Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, a call was made around 9:15 p.m. The District’s Fire Boat rescued the man from the water. After being evaluated by EMS at a nearby boathouse, the man was found to be uninjured.

The second rescue occurred on Sunday night, when three teenagers were rescued after trying to swim across the Potomac. DC Fire-EMS and U.S. Park Police crews used thermal imagery to find two of the teens on Theodore Roosevelt Island, where they were hiding. One male was found by the Georgetown waterfront and treated for hypothermia. The others, a male and a female, were transported. The teens may face charges, as swimming is not allowed in the river.

According to Georgetown Patch, three people drowned in the stretch of the Potomac from Great Falls to Georgetown last year.

Second District Crime Sees Sharp Increase from Last Year


According to Second District Commander Michael Reese, burglaries and automobile related theft rates rose in the Second District during May. Four burglars have been arrested, though, and Reese expects to see a decrease in the number of burglaries, according to Georgetown Patch.

Property crime was up 5 percent overall in the second district in May compared to last year, but violent crime was down 29 percent. The overall crime rate has increased by less than 1 percent.

Four burglars have been arrested recently, and the Commander expects to see a decrease in the number of burglaries.

Ward 2’s Boundaries Change with Redistricting


With the release of the 2010 census, the District government has had to change the wards’ boundary lines. Each Ward’s population must be within 5% of the average.

The ward redistricting committee has released a map and a report that makes a number of changes to ward boundaries, including moving Shaw east of 9th St. from Ward 2 into Ward 6, excluding the Convention Center, and putting Penn Quarter back in Ward 2.

According to Washington Post blogger Mike DeBonis, a public hearing on the plan is set for 6 p.m. on June 1 at the John A. Wilson Building.

Another Pizzeria Coming to 34th & M?


Another pizza joint might be coming to the corner of 34th and M Streets, in the old Philly Cheesesteak spot, once home to the legendary Cellar Door. It will be called Fuhggetaboutit New York Pizza. At its website, Faipizza.com, the company promises true New York pizza, made with the correct ph level of N.Y.C. water. Its design concept—which involves a rooftop deck—was up for review by the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, May 31.

While the correct spelling and meaning of the Brooklynese phrase is in question—official New York City road signs for those exiting Brooklyn read “Fuhgeddaboudit”—the business’s frontman, Tony, has a blog that displays his search and love for authentic N.Y. pizza, not found easily in the Washington region.

Also, could you spell “Washington, D.C.,” properly on your website? I’m just sayin’.

36th Street Burglar Was ‘Looking for a Party’


There was another intruder alert for students living near Georgetown University’s main campus. (Who are these guys?) There were two burglaries Dec. 2 in the 1400 Block of 36th Street and 3600 Block of O Street. 

The following is the report from the university’s Department of Public Safety:
“On Friday, December 2, at approximately 9:56 p.m., a student reported that while she was sitting in her living room, an unknown male emerged from an adjacent closet. The student saw the suspect and asked what he was doing there. The suspect said that he was looking for a party. The suspect then ran out the back door in an unknown direction of travel. The Metropolitan Police Department was notified and arrived to the scene. DPS and MPD canvassed the area with negative results. On Friday, December 2, at approximately 10:30 p.m., another student reported that she had arrived to her residence and had gone into the living room. The student heard a noise coming from upstairs and went to check it out. The student went inside the bedroom and saw an unknown person inside the bedroom. The student screamed, and the unknown person ran down the stairs toward the back door and fled in an unknown direction of travel. MPD was notified and arrived to the scene. DPS and MPD canvassed the area with negative results. Both incidents will be investigated at the direction of MPD.”
No physical injuries were reported in this incident. Witness description of suspect(s): Black male, approximately early twenties, 6’0”, medium build, wearing a black North Face hooded jacket with black sunglasses. The suspect in the second burglary is described as an unknown person 6’0” medium build wearing a dark hooded jacket, and white gloves with a mask covering the face.
The Department of Public Safety is requesting that anyone who has information regarding this or any other incident(s), or who noticed any suspects before or after the incident(s), to contact them immediately at 202-687-4343.

ANC Update: 3254 O St. Deja Vu; Reservations on EastBanc’s Back 


A few more items were on Georgetown’s and Burleith’s advisory neighborhood commission (ANC2E) Nov. 28 meeting agenda:

The owner of 3254 O Street again submitted designs for a back alley garage to be renovated with a second floor. Variations of this design have been presented to the ANC before and were rejected – just as this one was – for the past 10 years. At a September ANC meeting, commissioner Jeff Jones expressed annoyance at the owner for bringing up the garage re-design concept so many times. At this latest meeting, architect Outerbridge Horsey came to oppose the design for the Citizens Association of Georgetown.

EastBanc wants to raise the roof and allow rear entry for its commercial property at 3259 M St., N.W., which is the Coach shop. Commissioners voted unanimously to express their reservations about the project, which is seen by neighbors on Prospect Street as the start of EastBanc’s push to make the alley between M Street and Prospect into a kind of Cady’s Alley. The dead-end alley opens onto Potomac Street. [See Letters to the Editor for a neighbor’s perspective on this proposal.]
ANC2E will next meet on Jan. 2 at Visitation Prep.