Getting to the Heart of the Georgetown House Tour

May 17, 2012

If you’re one of those persons who’ve been on a few Georgetown House Tours, you begin to get a notion about some of the things the tour might be about.

The tour is about history, for sure—about the homes being shown, about the people who have lived in them and live in them now, about change in Georgetown and change in how people live.  For all the historic, stately qualities of Georgetown, it’s a remarkably fluid place, and you can see that in the homes that are being shown.  Those houses, acting like official greeters, may show a part of the past, and a part of the present to visitors all at the same time

Georgetown is after all a historic district where wholesale physical change is difficult to achieve—but things are often going on inside that speak to the modern and to the future, as well as individual style and taste.

People flock to the Georgetown House Tour with expectations that they will see a portion of the lives and looks of the persons who occupy and own these houses and that they will reflect the village of people with residents who know how to live with style and grace.   They also expect to see the living breath of history—the occasional antique piece of eye-popping furniture, paintings, gardens, the work of fabulous interior decorator, the timeless touch of the history of the homes themselves.  To visitors, Georgetown can seem like Brigadoon, separate from its surroundings.

All of these elements come together in the annual spring Georgetown House Tour, sponsored by historic St. John’s Episcopal Church and benefits many of its long-time charitable activities. Like many “festive” or “tour” events in the city, it has grown and branched out over the years, adding social occasions—the Patrons’ Party, for instance—and mini-events on the day of the tours like the hugely popular afternoon tea at St. John’s.

And every year, there are people who gather together to lend their resources, talents, time and efforts to ensure the event’s success.  There are volunteers, quasi-docents, ticket-takers, information providers and so on. There are corporate sponsors, such as Washington Fine Properties, and there are the folks who lend their name and their time and effort as the co-chairs and the kind folks who open their homes.

This year, the co-chairs — Frank Randolph, a renowned interior designer and Stephanie Bothwell, who heads her own business called Urban and Landscape Design — combine with Frida Burling, long the soul and inspiration of the Georgetown House Tour, to bring together themes of history, interior and exterior designs, i.e., how we live in our homes and communities and share the best of those qualities with each other and the world.

Randolph, known for his enchanting interior designs, is ideally suited for his role as co-chair: He is, without a doubt, one of the village’s most unabashed boosters, a native son,  born and raised in Georgetown, a student at  Western High before it became Duke Ellington School for the Arts.  Bothwell  is a relative newcomer to Georgetown, having lived here with her family for 12 years, but she brims with a passion for the village and ideas about achieving ideal and workable designs for urban living.

Burling, who for years with an energy that surprises people to this day, made sure that the tour would come off every year—by marketing, by cajoling, persuading, charming, pushing and using her considerable contacts to make it happen. She became the face and voice of the tour, it’s most able, articulate promoter. In 2001, when Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn hosted the tour’s patrons’ party, the Georgetowner newspaper arrived at their N Street home to take a cover photo. An editor asked Bradlee why he was involved, and the Washington Post executive editor roared back: “Because Frida told me to.”

The combination of the three speaks the best of Georgetown, a sense of a community with historic offerings that presents a graceful face to the world and to itself, for that matter.

“It goes without saying, “ Randolph says. “One of the key components is the fact that all of us, the residents of Georgetown, get to visit each other at one time or another. It’s a community thing that way.”

Of course, Randolph combines the historic with designer know-how and appreciation as well as an articulate, busy knowledge of his favorite place. “I can think of only a few houses in Georgetown that I’ve not been in,” he says. “And, over the years, I’ve done the interior design for, I don’t know, 30 or 40 homes.   Of course, that includes my own home.”  It is on 34th Street near Dent Place and has a certain cache beyond his own ownership, which is no small thing either. “Henry Kissinger lived here for a few years,” he says. If you want cache, or just history chat, talk with Randolph. His father was a senator from West Virginia. Randolph was asked to redecorate the Vice President’s Residence when the Cheneys lived there. “I had a privileged upbringing, you could say, but not spoiled or extravagant,” he said. “I was and still am very appreciative of the opportunities.”

 The world comes to tour the nine Georgetown homes on Saturday, April 28. It used to spread over two days on a spring weekend but has since been held on Saturday only.  “Georgetown presents one of the better illustrations of livable urban design, I’m not talking about showing off a collection of solar panels or being green.  It’s about ease of movement, access and connection,” Bothwell said.

“The house tour shows people the history here, sure, but I think it also shows how you can manage change in interior ways, what you can do with old homes to make them more contemporary while keeping the history and beauty,” she said. “We have a remarkable variety in housing stock here—it’s not all mansions and big properties, although we have plenty of that here. It’s livable, manageable homes, some quite small. And the homes are very deceptive from the outside; they give off the historic feeling without revealing their depth or size.”
           
Echoing that theme, Randolph said, “I absolutely love Georgetown. I have everything here I need. I can walk to the Safeway or Whole Foods and restaurants galore.  We have the firemen at Dent Place nearby.  It’s fluid, it changes and the people change.  But it has tradition. It has history that’s permanent.  And I think you can see that reflected on the tour. I’ve lived here most of my life, and I wouldn’t live anywhere else

Randolph, a Georgetowner par excellence, can tell you about the various schools—Hardy, Hyde, Western—and the people who have lived here.  He knows lots of people and has a host of friends.  “I live by myself,” he says. “I don’t even have a pet. I have a porcelain dog. He’s the perfect pet. You don’t have to walk or feed him, and he’s always there for you. But I share this place with my friends, this lovely village.”

Frida Burling can tell you a little about life in Georgetown herself, too.  At 96, she’s seen and done a lot in her village. In a phone conversation, she tells you she’s slowing down—then rattles off a series of activities, meetings with relative, church, another meeting Sunday afternoon—that indicates she still keeps a busy schedule.  She is the tour chair emerita and is hosting the Patron’s Party on April 25. 

She recalls how she first got involved in the house tour, which had begun during the Depression as a small thing, probably with people in a bus going by houses. “My husband and I  (the late Edward Burling, whom she still refers to as Eddie) used to go on weekends out to Middleburg, but that’s hunt country, and it’s not Georgetown.  I got involved with St. John’s which is so much a center of all this with their many projects. Eventually, I got involved in the house tour, because that’s a way to support those charitable projects like the Georgetown Ministry.”

No question about it, she propelled the house tour into its next incarnation to the point where it has become an institution, a must-do event and an integral part of the community’s traditions. She did it by example—her energy became legendary as she got older. She remembers asking best-selling author and biographer Kitty Kelley, a Georgetowner to the bone, to host the first patrons’ party in the late 1990s. The patron’s parties were a Burling innovation, and it enlarged the image of the tour, created a higher profile.

“I think it’s one of the oldest house tours in the country,” she said. “I know it sets an example.  And, simply by being who she is, so does Frida Burling.

The 2012 Georgetown House Tour at a Glance:

From the east side to the west side, from 28th Street to 35th Street and from N Street to Q Street, the Georgetown House Tour spreads its welcome mat over Washington’s most historic neighborhood, Saturday, April 28, 11 a.m to 5 p.m.  For the price of $40 ($45 after April 20), visitors and residents may walk through nine homes and the home’s grounds.  It is a chance to glimpse some history, to get some decorating and home improvement ideas and to feel the ease of city living. Who would open their doors to strangers? Try at least three architects, an artist, a designer, a real estate developer and agent, a financial manager, a high-tech manager, a college dean, a lawyer and another lawyer who happens to represent Georgetown as the Ward 2 councilmember.

The following have opened their homes on behalf of the tour and deserve a big thank you from the community: Cherry and Peter Baumbusch; Kristin and John Cecchi; Pat Dixon; Michele and Jack Evans; Hugh Newell Jacobsen; Kristin and Greg Muhlner; Dale and Melissa Overmyer; Alice Hall and Peter Starr; Christian Zapatka.

There is a tea at St. John’s Church parish hall (O and Potomac Street), 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 28, the day of the tour. The Patron’s Party is on April 25 at Frida Burling’s house on 29th Street.

For more information, visit GeorgetownHouseTour.com or call 202-338-1796. [gallery ids="100717,120652,120618,120644,120626,120639,120633" nav="thumbs"]

Weekend Roundup May 10, 2012

May 14, 2012

Blessing of the Bicycles

May 12th, 2012 at 08:30 AM | dumbartonpastor@yahoo.com | Tel: 202-333-7212 | Event Website

Rev. Mary Kay Totty of Dumbarton United Methodist Church in Georgetown will bless bicycles to provide safety for their riders, where two bike paths are located: C&O Towpath and Capital Crescent Trail. Open to all, nondenominational.

Address

Fletcher’s Cove,

4940 Canal Road,

Washington DC 20007

The 6th Annual Potomac River Waterfowl Show

May 12th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | 5 | silver.wang@hillandknowlton.com | Tel: (301) 885-0108 | Event Website

The Potomac River Waterfowl Show, sponsored by The Community Foundation of Charles County, features dozens of award-winning artists showcasing their world class wildlife art. Proceeds from the show benefit the foundation’s grant and scholarship program. Admission: $5 per person, 12 years and under free. Purchase decoys, carvings, prints and original artwork directly from artists. Free appraisals of decoys and related collectibles.Food available on-site. Decoy carving contest. Live Auction at 2pm

Address

Grace Lutheran Family Life Center,

1200 Charles Street,

La Plata, MD 20646

A Serene Sunday – Mother’s Day

May 13th, 2012 at 01:00 AM | Suggested donation | Tel: (202) 686-5807 | Event Website

Treat mom to a special retreat at Hillwood. This is one of the select Sundays Hillwood is open during the year. Enjoy a stroll through the spring gardens, Mansion and special exhibition, The Style that Rules the Empires: Russia, Napoleon and 1812. Sunday, May 13 from 1-5 p.m.

Address

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens,

4155 Linnean Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008

Retro Garden Games

May 12th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | Free | Tel: (202) 686-5807 | Event Website

Exercise your mind and body by exploring fun outdoor lawn games from a bygone era, including hula hoops, jump rope and pogo sticks. Visit Hillwood at the Smithsonian Institution’s Garden Fest on the National Mall, in celebration of National Public Gardens Day. This year’s theme is “Gardening for Healthy Living” and is part of the Let’s Move! Museums and Gardens initiative.

Address

National Mall

Basya Schechter: Songs of Wonder

May 15th, 2012 at 07:30 PM | $15; $12 for Members/Seniors/Students | Event Website

The newest project from Pharaoh’s Daughter’s Basya Schechter sets the Yiddish poetry of the civil rights activist and Jewish philosopher Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel to music. Songs of Wonder blends soulful grooves and lush instrumentation with Heschel’s powerful poetry. A rich new collection of Yiddish songs, these colorful arrangements feature many of New York’s greatest Jewish musicians.

Address

Washington DCJCC

1529 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

TREES FOR GEORGETOWN – SPRING CELEBRATION

May 16th, 2012 at 01:23 PM | betsyemes@aol.com | Event Website

Please join Trees for Georgetown on Wednesday, May 16, at the home of Patrick McGettigan, a house with a history.

Mr. McGettigan’s house is one of a row of five “spec” houses built in 1817 by the mayor of Georgetown, John Cox. These were grand houses, in the Federal style, with stables for horses in the back, and became known as Cox’s Row. Mr. Cox gave 3327 to his daughter. The house underwent many changes over the years, including division into apartments, until it was purchased and beautifully renovated by Mr. McGettigan in 1998.

Trees for Georgetown plants, cares for and maintains residential street trees in Geporgetown and has planted over 2,000 trees. Just one new tree costs $900 to purchase, plant and provide protective tree box fencing. We need your help to keep Trees for Georgetown growing!

For tickets and information contact: Betsy Emes, betsyemes@aol.com.

Address

the home of Patrick McGettigan

Weekend Roundup May 3,2012

May 7, 2012

The Virginia Gold Cup Celebrates 87 Years

May 5th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | $85 for a car pass (up to 6 passengers) | Event Website

One of the nation’s largest steeplechase races where 50,000 people will gather to see the finest horses in the world compete over the lush green course. Features six hurdle and timber horse races, Jack Russel Terrier races, tent, tailgate and hat contects and 30 vender booths for shopping

Address

Great Meadow

5089 Old Tavern Road

The Plains, VA

African Wildlife Ambassadors: Cheetah Day

May 5th, 2012 at 11:00 AM | Free | zoonj@si.edu | Tel: 202-633-3455 | Event Website

Join the African Wildlife Ambassadors as they celebrate the fastest land animal on the planet—the cheetah—with a day of fun-filled, family-friendly activities. See special animal demos and keeper talks; touch and feel cheetah objects; get a temporary tattoo; take your picture with a life-size cheetah plush or cardboard cutout; learn how cheetahs communicate and leave a message for the cats on the Scent Tree; guess the weight of the animals at the Cheetah Conservation Station and win a prize.

Address

Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park,

3001 Connecticut Ave NW,

Washington DC, 20008

Meet Author Gregory Jordan

May 5th, 2012 at 01:00 PM | jwilliams@ipgbook.com | Tel: 312.337.0747

Meet author Gregory Jordan at a book signing that he will conduct at Politics and Prose for his new book: Willie Mays Aikens: Safe at Home.

About the book:
In 1980, Willie Mays Aikens became the first Major League Baseball player to hit two home runs in one game twice in a World Series and was tabbed by many as the “next Reggie Jackson.” But Aikens drove himself out of baseball and into one of the longest prison sentences ever given to a professional athlete.

Address

Politics and Prose

5015 Connecticut Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20016

Eileen Fisher Styling Event at The Phoenix

May 5th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | 202.338.4404 | Event Website

Enjoy a gift with your Eileen Fisher purchase & giveaways throughout the day! 10% of Eileen Fisher purchase of 4250 or more will be donated to Fair Chance.

Address

The Phoenix

1514 Wisconsin Ave. NW Georgetown

Washington DC 20007

The National Cinco de Mayo Festival

May 5th, 2012 at 12:00 PM | Event Website

The Maru Montero Dance Company and LULAC are celebrating 20 years of hosting the festival with a free concert by Luis Enrique, health screenings, healthy food demonstrations with celebrity chefs and important health information

Address

Sylvan Theatre on the National Mall

Will on the Hill, 10th anniversary of Political Satire

May 7th, 2012 at 07:30 PM | $50 | WillontheHill@ShakespeareTheatre.org | Tel: (202) 547-3230

About the play: Director and his stage manager must coral a group of Washington luminaries into giving a benefit performance of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream in a short time and with an inexperienced cast .. but all turns out well in the end.

Address

Shakespeare Theatre Company

516 8th St SE

Weekend Roundup April 26, 2012

May 3, 2012

The 9th Annual Georgetown French Market Friday & Saturday

April 27th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | FREE | Event Website

This Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 from 10am to 5pm, the 9th Annual Georgetown French Market will be held in the charming Book Hill neighborhood of Georgetown.

This year, La Maison Française will have its own booth ? located in the TD Bank lot on Wisconsin and Q St., NW (Saturday from 11am – 4pm) ? selling savory and sweet crêpes!

Address

Wisconsin Avenue, NW, between P Street and Reservoir Road

La Maison Française booth: TD Bank lot – 1611 Wisconsin Ave, NW Saturday, April 28 from 11am to 4pm

Christ Church Art Show and Sale

April 27th, 2012 at 05:00 PM | Event Website

The annual Christ Church, Georgetown, Art Show and Sale is coming up on April 27, 28, and 29 in Keith Hall. The opening reception is on Friday, April 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The show and sale continues on Saturday, April 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Sunday April 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Artists contribute at least 50% of all sales to Christ Church, and the proceeds are used to expand parish outreach.

Address

Christ Church Georgetown

31st and O Streets

“2012 REAL ESTATE ESSENTIALS SEMINAR” and OPEN HOUSE TOUR

April 28th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | Tel: Lynn Mirante at 240-632-6700.

Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc. has announced that its Georgetown Sales office, located at 1680 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, will play host to “The 2012 Real Estate Essentials Seminar” jointly sponsored by Prosperity Mortgage, Long & Foster Insurance and RGS Title.

On Saturday, April 28th, 2012, at 10am, the seminar will address how 2012 has the highest buyer affordability ratios since record keeping began in 1970. In addition, attendees will learn the specific criteria for being a smart homebuyer in 2012, such as: “What is happening with local home prices”, “Is my credit good enough to qualify?” and “What are the banks new credit requirements.”

The 2012 Real Estate Essentials Seminar is open to the public, however, space is limited and reservations are advised. Refreshments, door prizes, and self-guided house tours to begin immediately after the Seminar.

Address

Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc. (Georgetown Sales office)

1680 Wisconsin Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20007

Georgetown House Tour

April 28th, 2012 at 11:00 AM | $45 | Tel: (202) 338-1796 | Event Website

-Featuring 8-12 of Georgetown’s most beautiful homes and their impressive gardens

-Homes are arranged for easy walking at your own pace taken in the order you prefer

-Tickets include a tour booklet full of useful information including a map of the houses which will make it possible to set your own route

Address

3240 O Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20007

Yoana Baraschi Trunk Show

April 28th, 2012 at 11:00 AM | everards1@aol.com | Tel: (202) 298-7464 | Event Website

Everard’s Clothing is hosting a private unveiling of the latest collection from Yoana Baraschi www.yoanabaraschi.com, designer of au courant pieces found in some of the most sophisticated closets. The featured Collection will be on display, alongside the boutique’s most celebrated pieces. RSVP directly from the link below to enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres, and a very privileged experience. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address

Everard’s Clothing

1802 Wisconsin Ave NW

Washington DC, 20007

Lab School Spring Fair

April 29th, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Join us this Sunday, April 29 from 11AM – 3PM (Rain or Shine) at the LAB SCHOOL SPRING FAIR – The Year of the Dragon. There’s something for everyone! The fair is sponsored by PALS, the Parents Association of the Lab School of Washington and proceeds benefit Lab.

FEATURE ATTRACTIONS include:

Fun Rides & Games – Laser Tag, Bungee Jumping, Rockwall Climb, Human Gyroscope and many more

Entertaining Performances – Live Music and Magician

Fantastic Vendors – Flowers, Books, Jewelry for Sale

Delicious Food

Student Art Show

Address

4759 Reservoir Road, NW

Washington, DC 20007

Tribute to James Brown and Dick Clark

April 29th, 2012 at 08:00 PM | $25.00 | Tel: 202 898 0899 | Event Website

A Tribute to James Brown and Dick Clark at “The New” Howard Theatre featuring live All Star Band, Mousey Thompson and The James Brown Experience. There will also be a screen of the acclaimed film “The Man, The Music, and The Message.”

Address

Howard Theatre Box Office

620 T ST NW

Washington, DC 20001

Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo to perform at National Gallery

April 29th, 2012 at 06:30 PM | FREE

For the first U.S. tour, Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo will be performing pieces by Mozart and Beethoven and visiting D.C. to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Japan’s gift of cherry blossom trees to our city.

Address

National Gallery

4 Constitution Ave NW, DC

My Soul Look Back and Wonder: Life Stories from Women in Recovery

April 30th, 2012 at 07:30 PM | $25-$100 | jeff@theatrelab.org | Tel: 202-824-0449 | Event Website

The Theatre Lab presents the premiere of an inspiring original theatrical work developed and performed by participants from The Theatre Lab’s Life Stories at N Street Village, a drama program serving homeless women in substance abuse recovery. The performance, which includes music, poetry, and drama based on the women’s personal experiences, will be followed by a panel discussion featuring R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Address

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Terrace Theater,

2700 F Street, NW

Washington, DC 20566

The Iraqi Cultural Center


Outside, it was a typical American-style Friday night in Dupont Circle, restaurants and watering holes busy, couples and groups of people wandering up and down the streets; a mild fall-like weekend
night, outdoor dining, indoor imbibing.

In that scene, the outside of 1630 Connecticut Avenue looked like any other night-time office building, but inside and out of view, at the site of the still new Iraqi Cultural Center upstairs, something different
was going on. Culture—in the form of ancient music inspired by and evocative of something as prosaic as coppersmithing—seemed to have had an accumulatively powerful effect on an audience gathered for the first concert offering of the 2010-2011 Embassy Series.

That particular Friday night, Embassy Series founder and director Jerome Barry had something that vividly illustrated what he’s always said the series are meant to be: staged musical events in embassies, ambassador residences, and cultural centers that double as cultural diplomacy.

Nothing demonstrated the possibilities and opportunities of cultural diplomacy more effectively then the merging of audience, performers, and Iraqi officialdom from the ranks of the embassy more than this Friday concert of music by the Safaafir Iraqi Maqam Ensemble, a young group of musicians of Iraqi and American heritage, who played music from, in effect, the Cradle of Civilization, but with new compositions.

An evening of Iraqi music played by musicians, some of them from the American Midwest searching for the roots of the music of their Iraqi heritage in front of an audience of Americans and Iraqis in Washington, D.C. has an undeniably powerful resonance – historically, politically, and culturally.

In Washington, Iraq lies vividly in the contemporary mind, full with memories of 9/11, the invasion, the fall of Saddam Hussein, thelong, violent American military presence, and the ongoing efforts of the country to recreate a viable nation and government. These things are impossible to put aside for any great length of time, but they can be softened by a keen appreciation of cultural opportunities that builds bridges.

“Iraq is not just a country of explosions,” said Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida’ie, the Ambassador of Iraq, speaking with a moving eloquence. “We are not just a country of violence and problems.

“This concert is about a different side of Iraq. We are an ancient people, part of a great civilization
from the Cradle of Civilization. What you will hear is music that goes back thousands of years. You will hear music made on instruments that presaged all string instruments, like the violin and the lute, as well as percussion instruments. You will hear music which came from the market place in old Baghdad, melodies which men and women, poets and vendors swayed to in that ancient city.”

“It’s a historic night for us,” Barry said. “Iraq is the 57th embassy to have participated in the Embassy Series.”

The group—made up of brother and sister Amir El Saffar and Dena El Saffar, Tim Moore, Zafer Tawil, and Carlo DeRosa—takes its name from a well known market in Baghdad, evoking the sound of the ancient art of coppersmithin. The rhythmic noises, din-like, constant, syncopated almost, result in singular works of beauty. The sound of what’s called Maqam—a kind of classical vocal tradition dating back centuries in Iraq—includes the metallic timbre of the instruments used in making the music, which includes percussion instruments and ancient string instruments, like the Santur and the Oud.

The result is something is so evocative that it’s almost otherworldly, but it persists in the market places and the society of Iraq where the music links up with poetry. In Iraq, poetry is serious business—not in the sense of being published, say, in magazines or academic circles, but as being written on a daily basis and recited at dinner among family members. Consider for a moment Ambassador Sumaidaie’s background. He is almost a quintessential techie, with degrees in electrical engineering and a diploma in computer study. He’s also an entrepreneur, a veteran diplomat, and he writes Arabic poetry in the classical form.

The brother and sister team of Amir and Dena El Saffar were pursuing traditional contemporary
musical studies and careers—Amir as a jazz trumpeter in New York, Dina with a degree in classical music. From the Midwest with an American mother and Iraqi father, they began to explore traditional Iraqi music and the result is the Safaafir Iraqi Maqam Ensemble.

With roots in secular poetry and Sufi mysticism, the Maqam as performed by the ensemble evokes more than anything a quality that is particular to Middle Eastern music. There is a stirring yearning, a building ecstasy achieved by repetition. In his vocals, Amir El Saffar builds a kind of musical mountain from sand. The repetition builds the emotion and it can careen from plaintive sadness to ecstatic joy. Some of the textual material—the words—are old stories about unrequited love. “The last one involved a man who meets a girl he instantly falls in love with,” Amir explained. “She’s part of a caravan. He goes to the caravan, but it’s already gone. So he follows, and they come to a monastery, where he’s just missed her. The monks listen to his story and begin to cry themselves, so sad is his plight.”

Lamentation is likely one of the first forms of music—a keening repetition that rends the heart. In its current musical form, it’s a more embracing kind of music. It pleads for participation.

The concert was the first performance event for the Iraqi Cultural Center, which opened in May. The concert proved to be a bridge to an older place, a better time, and the music made it vivid, where before, amid two wars, it had to be imagined.

Matha’s Vineyard & Nantucket


Like Georgetown, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island are two New England destinations where rich history, boutiques, food and culture all come together. These two islands are unarguably ideal for any Georgetowner to visit. While both are havens for travel, they are also uniquely different. Which destination is a matter of personal preference, but who knows, you may like both, so why pick just one?

Martha’s Vineyard Island
Also called “The Vineyard,” the island is accessible by boat or plane only. Traveling by a ferryboat takes approximately 90 minutes, depending on the port and weather conditions.

Within the island are six towns, each area possessing something to call its own. Just to list a few, in Chilmark, there is The Yard, a seasonal live-performing theatre; Farm Neck Golf Club, an 18-hole course in Oak Bluffs; and a boat cruise to watch the sunset from the waters at Charter Cruise, located in Edgartown. The island’s compact size is in the traveler’s favor. With communities located so closely together, visitors can walk, take a bus, or ride a water taxi to navigate through town.

You will instantly find other reasons to fall in love with this northeast Atlantic gem. The Vineyard is also packed with world-class accommodations for families and couples. Travelers should look into Hob Knob, a boutique hotel located near the coast in Edgartown. This resort encompasses everything from guest rooms to bed and breakfast villas.

The Hob Knob’s Rejuvenation Spa also provides incredible therapeutic services. If relaxation is what you’re looking for, then you can’t possibly leave without a Hob Knob Signature Facial or Ocean Deep massage.

Winnetude Oceanside Resort is another great place to stay. Conveniently located just 250 yards from South Beach, guests will be inundated by the resort’s activities, accommodations, and dining experience (Lure Grill’s). From Winnetude, Guests can get a taste of nostalgia by taking an antique fire truck ride, go bicycling, or take a yoga class out on the lawn.

The panoramic views also serve as a perfect backdrop for any occasion and often serve as the setting for family reunions, weddings and reception at the Oceanside.

But the island’s biggest attractions are its beaches – a total of six sandy shores ring the island:Joseph Silva, Moshup, Menemsha, South Beach, Lighthouse Beach, and Norton Point. Each beach is exclusive and private enough for visitors to enjoy the surrounding waters and sun with minimal interruptions.

In addition to these natural attractions and recreational activities, there are many other events and restaurants. Fine dining attractions such as The Atlantic not only serve delicious meals, but also host bands for entertainment. The Sweet Life Café, an eatery serving French-American infused cuisine, and The Grill on Main, a participating Martha’s Vineyard’s Restaurant Week establishment, are other great “must taste” restaurants. For a full listing of events and participating Restaurant Week locations, visit Georgetowner.com.

Nantucket
Lawrel Spera, the public relations and marketing manager of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce described this vacation getaway, saying, “Nantucket has so much to offer and is the perfect combination of the old and new, the historic and the modern sophisticate. More than 800 pre-Civil War homes line the cobblestone streets of town among world-class lodgings, restaurants, shops and galleries. Beyond stretch miles of bike paths, pristine beaches and conservation lands to explore – there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.”

Nantucket is a bit farther out, about 26 miles from the coast, and is the only official historic district on the water. Like Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket is accessible by a ferryboat or airplane; however, unlike The Vineyard, the area is more spread out, allowing ocean breezes to sweep the island.

Just because summer is almost over, do not hesitate to visit Nantucket and its ten beaches in September or in April. Associating this destination only with the warmer seasons is a commonly made assumption, but it is in fact temperate throughout the year. Because Nantucket is located in the ocean’s jet streams, the waters are actually cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Regardless of when you visit, the Union Street Inn is a Fodor’s Gold Choice Award bed and breakfast boutique that is sure to keep you warm or cool, depending on the season. It is designed with a rich combination of past and present and also comfort that is undeniable. The calm and family-oriented getaway draws visitors in like a cozy home.

Another quaint stay to consider is White Elephant Hotel Residences. Picketed in by a white fence and porch, this luxury hotel is Nantucket’s latest accommodation. Everything about White Elephant, the fine interior touches, the pool, cabanas, and last but not least, the spa, all factor in to make this resort picture perfect.

Depending on your vacation’s timeline, there is also a plethora of events and activities that take place such as: The Nantucket Wine Festival, fishing, and boating, four-wheeling down The Wildlife Refuge Natural History Excursion and other specified events listed in a calendar of “Special Event Weekends.” In addition, Nantucket is the home to award-winning James Beard restaurants and other fine-dining restaurants such as Brant Point Grill or Galley Beach, which overlooks the harbor and sunset. Be mindful though, that these dining opportunities are limited. Some restaurants like The Topper’s are open seasonally from May to October.
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Oh Shucks: Best Oyster Bars and Festivals


For true Washingtonians, oysters are more than just a seasonal treat—they’re in your blood. Chesapeake Bay oysters have been a culinary and cultural mainstay for over a century. In the early 1900s, this city had over 150 oyster bars, which were frequented by politicians and day laborers alike. Those salty little pearls, small in size and full of flavor, bring us together, bridging the gap between blue-collar informatlity and culinary opulence. The District is still full of places to indulge our cravings, from Old Ebbitt Grill—where tickets for their Annual Oyster Riot last year sold out in ten minutes flat—to Hank’s Oyster Bar, which offers a half-priced raw bar every night from 11 p.m. to midnight.

And the surrounding Delmarva area is brimming with festivals and restaurants celebrating these briny little treasures. Oysters are in season in a big way, and there is plenty of time left to partake in this regional, epicurean eccentricity. So don’t waste these prime “R” months—head toward the water and try out these seaside bars, shacks and festivals for all the shucking oysters you could ask for.

Oyster Festivals

At the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., you can learn how to harvest your oysters and eat them, too. At the museum’s annual Oysterfest, sample Chesapeake Bay oysters right out of the water while exploring an oyster nursery, learning how to make a dip-net and viewing the museum’s restoration of the skipjack Rosie Parks, which once sailed the bay dredging for oysters.
Attendees will be challenged to an oyster slurping contest, while local chefs will be challenged to an oyster stew-making competition, with the winners of both taking home the grand prize of bragging rights for the rest of the year.

With other activities such as riverboat cruises, face painting, scavenger hunts, a touch tank, live music and cooking demonstrations, there are plenty of amusements for all ages.

There will also be educational opportunities to learn about the bay’s oyster culture, which is not only vital to the ecosystem but also part of the region’s heritage. A century ago, the bay had perhaps the largest populations of oysters in the nation, and though their numbers dwindled enormously due to over-fishing and pollution, they have been making a thundering resurgence over the past decade thanks to rehabilitation efforts and preservation initiatives.

To celebrate Chesapeake Bay oysters, head out to Oysterfest on Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit Cbmm.org.

In a small town in Virginia, the locals are gearing up for the fast-approaching Annual Urbanna Oyster Festival, now in its 54th year. What started as a small gathering to promote the local economy has now grown into a two-day event that draws some 75,000 people from across the region.
The festival features over 125 craft booths, more than 50 food vendors, wine tastings, two parades – the Fireman’s Parade and the Festival Parade – and the crowning of a Festival Queen and a Little Miss Spat. And of course, there will be mountains of oysters, cooked or served raw in their myriad forms.

Attendees can participate in an oyster shucking competition, browse through vendors selling everything from jewelry to furniture, and learn about the rich local history at the Oyster Festival Waterfront. The exhibits will highlight the restoration and preservation of the bay and its oyster industry, while providing live music and cruises. You can even attend demonstrations that will teach you how to be a pirate.

The festival will take place Nov. 4 – 5 from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Visit UrbanaOysterFestival.com for more information.

Oyster Bars

If you can’t make it to these festivals, don’t worry—you haven’t missed your chance to sample the best of oyster season. There are plenty of oyster bars surrounding D.C., big and small, white collar and blue, which offer up the freshest catch any day of the week.

In Annapolis, three oyster bars never fail to please an oyster-loving palate: O’Brien’s, McGarvey’s and O’Leary’s.

O’Brien’s Oyster Bar is the restaurant with history. The building has been some form of eatery or watering hole since it first opened as the Rose and Crown in 1744. It has been a tavern, a pizza pie shop, a cabaret, and was even rumored to be a brothel before it settled in its current incarnation as a celebrated seafood haven. Let’s hope it stays this way. Don’t miss out on their Chesapeake fried oysters—they’re the best around.

McGarvey’s Saloon & Oyster Bar is the great neighborhood pub. Relax in a casual atmosphere with a beer, an order of their delicious crab dip, and a dozen oysters. Voted Best Bar and Best Raw Bar last June by the Readers’ Choice Awards for The Capital Newspaper, this bar is clearly a people-pleaser. With oysters served raw, steamed and Rockefeller-style, there’s plenty of briny fare to sample.

O’Leary’s Seafood Restaurant is the fine dining restaurant. Enjoy fresh oysters while surrounded by paintings rendered by restaurant owner Paul Meyer himself, whose vision for O’Leary’s “attempts to capture the combination of sophisticated fine dining and ultra-fresh ingredients within a contemporary Annapolis environment.” Pique your appetite with Oysters Italienne, baked with prosciutto, basil, garlic and Parmesan cheese.

In Solomon’s Island, Md., try the appropriately named Solomon’s Pier, which serves the kind of delicious oysters you’d expect from a town surrounded by water. Munch your way through a basket of fresh-fried oysters while enjoying the view through the restaurant’s wide, arching windows overlooking the water.

But maybe you want an expert’s opinion on where to go to get your bivalve fix. Noted chef Jordan Lloyd of the Bartlett Pear Inn, in Easton, Md. has some excellent recommendations. For great oyster shacks, Lloyd says, it’s good to get off the beaten path. He and his wife Alice, who own and operate the inn and restaurant, recommend Brasserie Brightwell Café & Comptoir in Easton, which offers an oyster-loaded raw bar, and The Bistro St. Michaels, whose Oysters Du Jour are always worth the trip.

But Lloyd doesn’t have to go far at all for great oysters – Pear, Bartlett’s restaurant, has its own version of Oysters Three Ways that would knock the socks off even the most critical oyster connoisseur. Pear, which was awarded five stars by Open Table and received a near perfect score across the board by Zagat, serves its guests six Chincoteague Bay oysters, four prepared cold and two hot. The first pair is served cold with pickled shallots and tobiko caviar; the second pair, also cold, is plated with lemon preserve mignonette and ponzu sauce; and the final hot pair is served Rockefeller style with leek fondue and bread crumbs. With such delicious oysters, you might be inspired to spend the weekend away at the cozy inn and try them every day.

To try Lloyd’s Oysters Three Ways for yourself, visit Easton, Md. For reservations, email Reservations@BartlettPearInn.com.
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9 – 9 – 9, ridiculous or on the right path?


Tax reform is like birthdays. They come around every year with the promises of money and gifts.
The current flavor of the week is 9-9-9; a plain pizza with no toppings.

Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, proposed this catch phrase as his idea for tax reform, and it vaulted him to the top of the polls of Republican presidential candidates.

His proposal is to toss out the entire tax code, repeal the 16th Amendment and replace it with a simple new system that reduces the personal income tax rate to 9 percent, reduces the corporate tax rate to 9 percent, and imposes a new 9 percent sales tax on all “new” goods.

Like all new and bold ideas, it has pros and cons. But, like our nation’s problems, they are not simple.
Reforming the tax code is different than eliminating the 16th Amendment. Beginning with the Civil War, Congress adopted several income tax laws which touched only the rich and usually expired after the need – usually a war – passed.

When Congress passed a peacetime income tax in 1894, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional because it was not a “direct” tax requiring each state to pay its share based on its population. For example, suppose the federal government needed $100 million and California had 10 percent of the population. It would then owe $10 million, and if California had 1 million people, each person would owe $10 which clearly could not work. The 16th Amendment, passed in 1913, fixed that, and thus began the taxation of income and what are now millions of words of law and regulations.
All tax systems have three common elements: a taxpayer, a tax rate, and a tax base. For example, individuals and corporations are income taxpayers while partnerships and non-profits are not and pay no tax.

Tax rates are easy. Just move them up or down.

The big trouble lies in defining the tax base, that is, what the taxpayer pays tax on. Mr. Cain defines individual income as “gross income minus charitable deductions” though gross income doesn’t include capital gains. His idea is to exchange sacred cows such as the mortgage interest deduction and the exemptions for children for a lower rate.

Mr. Cain’s definition of business income is gross income minus purchases from U.S.-located businesses, capital investment, and net exports. So, if Ford builds a car and uses parts that it manufactures overseas, those parts aren’t deductible, but if it exports the car, that is deductible as is the cost of the new plant that will last 40 years.

Sales taxes are regressive, so lower income taxpayers will pay more tax and higher income taxpayers will pay less. Mr. Cain argues that it may not penalize lower income people since this tax only applies to “new” goods. They can avoid the tax by buying “used” goods. Move over Walmart. Here comes Goodwill. Every new car and new house will cost 9 percent more, so those industries may be mired in the doldrums for another decade. Accountants will surely have plenty of work keeping track of all this.

But, since Mr. Cain proposes eliminating the IRS, the calculations would be completely voluntary anyway.

To be fair, Mr. Cain’s underlying theory has serous merit because he is trying to wring tax incentives out of tax policy so that taxpayers make economic decisions without weighing tax consequences.
The U.S. tax code has become a vehicle for encouraging certain economic activities and discouraging others. Because the tax base is net income rather than gross income, taxpayers are rewarded with lower taxes by reducing net income. At the same time, taxpayers have little incentive to decrease gross income.

The most popular income reduction “loophole” is the home mortgage deduction. Theoretically, it encourages people to buy houses, but a larger percentage of people own homes Canada and Germany which have no mortgage interest tax incentive (and no lobbyists to protect it).

Corporate incentives are enormous. Last year, GE earned billions and paid no tax. In 2010, U.S. corporations generated about $30 trillion in revenues and paid $227 billion in tax, or less than 1 percent of total revenues. In other words, a 1 percent gross receipts tax would raise more revenue than the byzantine game of computing net income. A gross receipts tax would also dramatically reduce complexity and the cost of compliance. States, for example, spend substantially less collecting sales tax than they do collecting income tax.

Sales taxes, the source of most state government revenues, rarely impact consumer behavior. As much as consumers enjoy tax-free weekends and buying online to save sales tax, few go to the store and think, “I’m not going to buy that because the sales tax is too high.”

Mr. Cain knows that our tax code looks like pizza all the way. So, flawed as his idea is, and it is by no means simple, he knows how consumers behave and may be on the right track.

Wine Away the Winter In Charlottesville


While new wineries continue to pop up across the East Coast from New York to North Carolina, there is no region gaining more ground in both quality and recognition than the greater Charlottesville wine region. Farmers over the past 200 years cultivated the soil for fruit crops like apples and peaches, which set an ideal stage for what is now known as the Monticello American Viticultural Area.

One major factor in its success, according to King Family Vineyards owner David King, is precisely its lack of newness. Time has already proven many of the rolling Blue Ridge slopes conducive to cool-climate fruit production, and with the help of Virginia Tech’s viticultural research department and some recently acquired expertise, Monticello has lived up to the wine-growing potential that Thomas Jefferson foresaw there centuries ago.

As we stand on the precipice of winter, vineyards may seem low on the list of worthy discussion topics. Now, of course, is the time where vines begin to go barren and production comes to a standstill until the spring thaw. But while everyone else with the winter wonderland bug is waiting in line at the ski slopes, Charlottesville’s wineries offer intimate afternoon getaways off the beaten path. With the last of the fall wine festivals behind us, tours are down and crowds have dwindled, leaving true wine enthusiasts with a selection of world-class vineyards to explore without the fuss of traffic. And with more than 20 vineyards to choose from, it is just a matter of knowing where to start.

Winter is the season to have long, intimate discussions with the winemakers, get nearly one-on-one tours of the cellars, and odds are, there are some great deals to be had. Underneath the brown landscape and the cold, bustling wind, there lies a world of winter wine, waiting to be discovered in Charlottesville, Va.

Castle Hill Cider
In 1998, a great barn was built in Keswick, Va., on the Castle Hill estate, just a stone’s throw from Charlottesville and Monticello. Located on a 600-acre plot of rolling, endless hills, the barn was designed to accommodate cattle auctions for the surrounding ranchers. Like much of Keswick, the land is undeveloped and still entrenched in the natural beauty of Virginia, with a prominent view of the Southwest Mountains. When architect and landscape designer John Rhett saw the abandoned barn in 2008, with its 8,000 square feet of open space and 25-foot ceilings, he had other plans for it.
Rhett was approached to put a vineyard on the property and convert the barn to a winery, but his thoughts were a bit more interesting. “I prefer trees to vines,” he said. “I thought, why don’t we plant an orchard and start a cidery.” The Barn at Castle Cider is now a fully functioning traditional cidery and the area’s newest event space.

What makes this cider so unique is its ancient production techniques, which go back to the origins of cider production. The cider is aged and fermented in kvevri, traditional amphoras from the nation of Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains, lined with beeswax and buried in the cool earth. “We are the only cidermakers in the world making cider in kvevri,” says cidermaker Stuart Madney. “We really have no idea how long it’s been since cider has been made this way — possibly thousands of years.”
The apple varieties are all fermented individually to retain their unique flavors, and then blended to create different ciders. The apple orchard Rhett planted in the fall of 2009 is made up of 600 trees with 28 different types of apples. Its most prized variety is a nearly forgotten native breed, the Albemarle Pippin. “It’s an apple that became a favorite of Queen Victoria,” says Rhett. “She was given a basket of them, and she liked them so much that she removed the tariff from the apple just so it was cheaper to import them.”

The Albemarle Pippin got here by the hands of George Washington himself. Originally from New York, Washington gave a cutting to Colonel Thomas Walker, Thomas Jefferson’s guardian and mentor, who planted it in Albemarle County.

While cider production has been underway for over a year now, The Barn at Castle Hill Cider just celebrated its grand opening, and now is the perfect time for a visit. CastleHillCider.com

Keswick Vineyards
Al and Cindy Schornberg founded Keswick Vineyards with a mission to listen to the land. Taking a minimalist approach to the winemaking, this family-owned and -operated vineyard focuses its attention on the vineyards themselves to produce the best possible fruit with which to make the wines. Using natural, native yeast, all of their current red wines are also unfiltered and unfined — meaning that all the natural sediment in the wine remains with it in the bottle, ensuring peak flavor and body. And while their wines are in top form right off the shelves, this process makes the wine age superbly. It will keep developing in depth and complexity for five to 10 years in the bottle — good news for the connoisseurs among us.

The Schornbergs chose the historic Edgewood Estate as the site for their dream vineyard after searching the country, recognizing its potential of producing world class wines. It’s also a downright gorgeous property, and with a fine winter frost blanketing the dormant grape vines and the grey hush of the mountains looming in the distance, there is hardly a more beautiful spot in Virginia to warm up with a bottle of vintage Petite Verdot.

They’re also not bad if you like white wines. Their 2002 Viognier Reserve was voted Best White Wine in America at the Atlanta International Wine Summit. They have a slew of other awards from across the country, and they keep raking them in. Give them a visit — we’re sure you’ll agree with the judges.
KeswickVineyards.com

Barboursville Vineyard
Barboursville Vineyards, quite frankly, has it all. Founded in 1976, the winery has been a leader in establishing the credibility of the Virginia appellation with an array of wine varietals, cultivating wines of a European heritage best suited for the regional terroir, or land.

Luca Paschina, the Italian-born winemaker of Barboursville Vineyards, came to Virginia in 1991 after years working in Italy and California, and has since been producing some of Virginia’s fully ripe and high-quality grapes. Paschina got his viticultural training in Piemonte, the renowned winemaking region in Italy. And in good years in Charlottesville, he says that he sees little difference from its growing season and Piemonte’s.

And you can’t go wrong with their wines. From their Cabernet Franc to their Sangiovese, and the Chardonnays and Pinot Grigiots in the whites, Paschina has developed the portfolio of Barboursville wines into a world-class achievement. Their crowning viticultural achievement is surely Octagon, a seamless blend Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

This award winning wine, with a dark, rich garnet color and an intense aroma of plum, cassis, coffee and berries, was woven together in barrel for a phenomenally full and silky palate. The tannins are resplendent and graceful. This is not a wine you want to miss.

And beyond the wines and the vineyard, the Barboursville Estate also maintains the 1804 Inn, a converted 18th century vineyard cottage and residence, and the world class Palladio Restaurant, which even offers cooking classes and wine dinners with Barboursville wines. Combined with some of the region’s finest wines, Barboursville Vineyards is an ideal location to while away a wintry weekend.
BarboursvilleWine.net

King Family Vineyard
King Family Vineyards is a family-owned and -operated boutique winery located in Crozet, just 15 minutes from Charlottesville at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The winery specializes in small productions of ultra-premium wine that showcase the remarkable qualities of nearly 100-percent, estate-grown fruit. Founded in 1998, the winery’s first vintage was only 500 cases. Today, the winery produces approximately 5,000 cases of wine per year.

But David King, owner of King Family Vineyards, is on a larger mission: to make local wine more accessible in the state of Virginia. “We sell everything we make,” says King. “Yet wine made here is only 4.5 percent of the wine consumed in the state. Our biggest goal right now is merely to make more wine.”

There is a large local market in Virginia and its bordering states that has yet to be developed, he says, but with the state legislators helping to promote local wines in more shops and fine dining establishments, consumers have more opportunities to support local growers. King hopes for more wine lovers to discover the burgeoning industry right in their backyard.

During the summer months, the veranda, expansive lawn, or brick patio are perfect for outdoor picnics. In the winter, however, the winery’s tasting room is home to a warm stone fireplace and rich, family-friendly seating areas. Bring your own goodies or pick from the tasting room’s gourmet assortments of chocolates, cheeses, salamis, spreads, and hot French bread.
KingFamilyVineyards.com

Blenheim Vineyards
In 1730, John Carter, Secretary of the Colony of Virginia, obtained a patent for 9,350 acres in what is now Albemarle County, Va. In the 1790s, John’s son Edward built the first Blenheim house.
It was at Blenheim where Thomas Jefferson and his bride, Martha, are said to have rested and warmed themselves after their coach stalled nearby during a snowstorm.

Hopefully, you will have better luck with your vehicle than the Jeffersons, but in whose footsteps would it be better to follow in the historic Blue Ridge tradition of fending off the winter chill than the author of the Declaration of Independence and his brilliant, lovely wife?

Blenheim Vineyards is located on the foothills of Carter’s Mountain in southern Albermarle County, and their varieties include Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Petit Verdot, among others, and all are outstanding examples of the varietals. Their wines reflect the climate, soil and beauty of the surrounding Piedmont landscape.

The tasting room offers a peak into the barrel room below and a breathtaking view of the southern vineyard.

On the adjacent property, a historic home has been refinished with a freestanding Library, complete with a wraparound porch and fireplace. Try the wine, take in the sites, and don’t forget to thank Mr. Jefferson for finding it first.
BlenheimVineyards.com

Weekend Roundup April 19, 2012


CAGLCC Annual Business Awards Ceremony

April 20th, 2012 at 06:30 PM | Event Website

Celebrate the 22nd Anniversary among a group of local businesses and community leaders at its annual awards galas. The Chamber recognizes outstanding organizations and individuals that have contributed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the Metro D.C. area. Silent auction, cocktail reception, annual awards dinner and gala. The theme of this year’s ceremony is “A Salute to LGBT Excellence.”

Address:

Liaison Capitol Hill

415 New Jersey Ave, NW

Washington, D.C.

“Wine, Rhythm and Craft.” at Smithsonian Craft Show

April 20th, 2012 at 06:00 PM | $15 | austrpr@si.edu | Tel: 888-832-9554 | Event Website

Live Jazz, cash bar featuring wine and cheese. The Craft Show and sale is widely regarded as the country’s most prestigious juried show and sale of fine American craft.

Address:

The National Building Museum

401 F Street, NW.

Washington, DC 20001

Japanese Art and Culture Day at the Workhouse

April 21, 2012 at 12 PM | $5 for one film screening – $8 for both | Email: juliebooth@lortonarts.org | Call 703 584-2900 | Event Website

The Workhouse Arts Center presents free workshops, demonstrations, performances and talks featuring Japanese art, culture, music and food, and screening of japanese films.
12 PM – 4 PM: workshops, demonstrations, performances, talks?
4:30 PM – 9 PM: Japanese film festival double feature

Address:

Workhouse Arts Center

9601 Ox Road ?

Lorton, VA

Earth Day Brunch Cruise

April 22, 2012 at 10.30 AM | $64,90 per adult and $35,95 per child age 3-12 | Email jessica@lindarothpr.com | call 703 417-2701 | Event Website

New this year, Entertainment Cruises is partnering with the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) in honor of Earth Day. Guests aboard the Odyssey for this specialty Earth Day Brunch Cruise will enjoy a delicious buffet meal including mimosas, coffee and iced-tea while learning from the NAAEE about green energy, environmental initiatives and their upcoming conference. Guests will also have the opportunity to win a special environmentally-friendly giveaway!

Address:

Gangplank Marina.

600 Water St SW B

Washington, DC 20024

Family Party in Celebration of Shakespeare’s 448th Birthday

April 22, 2012 at 12 PM | Free | [Event Website](http://www.folger.edu/calendar.cfm?pageDate={d%20%272012-04-22%27})

Celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday with birthday cake, music and dance!

Address:

Folger Shakespeare Library

201 East Capitol St. SE, Washington D.C.

Molasses Creek – Traditional Music

April 22, 2012 at 3 PM | admission $10-$20 | Contact theatreva@aol.com | 540 675-1253 | [Event Website](http://www.Theatre-Washington-VA.com/ for more information)

From Ocracoke Island, NC, the band is described as a “high-energy acoustic group with a captivating stage presence, elegant harmonies, blazing instrumentals, and a quirky sense of humor.” Award winners on “A Prairie Home Companion”, they have several recordings to their credit. Gary Mitchell, guitar and vocals; Dave Tweedie, fiddle and vocals; Marcy Brenner, mandolin, bass and vocals; Lou Castro, dobro, bass and vocals; Gerald Hampton, mandolin and bass.

Address:

Theatre at Little Washington

291 Gay Street

Washington, VA 22747

Arlington Philharmonic Spring Concert

April 22, 2012 at 3 PM | FREE (suggested $20 donation) | Email info@arlingtonphilharmonic.org | call 703 910-5161 | [Event Website](http://www.arlingtonphilharmonic.org/ for more information)

A symphonic dawn, an afternoon daydream, and an evening song . . . the Arlington Philharmonic, Arlington County’s professional symphony, will perform Haydn’s Symphony No. 6 (Le Matin), Debussy’s Prélude à “L’après-midi d’un faune,” and Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été.

Address:

Washington-Lee HS Auditorium, Entrance 5
?
1301 N. Stafford Street

Arlington, VA 2011?

Georgetown House Tour

April 28th, 2012 at 11:00 AM | $45 | Tel: (202) 338-1796 | [Event Website](http://www.georgetownhousetour.com/)

-Featuring 8-12 of Georgetown’s most beautiful homes and their impressive gardens

-Homes are arranged for easy walking at your own pace taken in the order you prefer

-Tickets include a tour booklet full of useful information including a map of the houses which will make it possible to set your own route

Address:

3240 O Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20007