The Georgetowner: March 13, 2024 Issue

art of living well®

As a resident at The Fitzgerald, you can enjoy dozens of activities and classes each week, all included as part of our whole-body health philosophy known as The Art of Living Well. Led by our creative wellness team, each experience is designed to promote one of the nine dimensions of wellness, from physical fitness and intellectual stimulation to social connectivity and artistic expression.

EXPERIENCE LIFE AT THE FITZGERALD BY ATTENDING ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS. SCAN THE QR CODE TO RSVP.

202.742.7707

LIFEATTHEFITZGERALD.COM

OPENING LATE 2024

OFFSITE DISCOVERY CENTER

4418 MACARTHUR BLVD., NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20007

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

MONDAY - FRIDAY, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

WEEKENDS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

The Fitzgerald of Palisades is currently under construction and is not licensed by the D.C. Department of Health. Upon completion of construction, The Fitzgerald of Palisades will apply to the D.C. Department of Health for a license to operate as an Assisted Living Residence. The anticipated opening for The Fitzgerald of Palisades is Late 2024.

CURATED ART GALLERY

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Georgetown is known for the distinctive doors of its historic homes — and a few businesses as well. So, let’s enjoy this vernal splash of colors at the entrance of Call Your Mother bagel shop at 3428 O St. NW. It is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Washington, D.C. Photo by Greg Blakey with the assistance of Robert Devaney in 2019, before the pandemic.

1050 30th Street, NW Washington, DC 20007

Phone: (202) 338-4833

Fax: (202) 338-4834

www.georgetowner.com

“The Newspaper Whose Influence Far Exceeds Its Size” — Pierre Cardin

The GeorGeTowner is published in print monthly with an online newsletter supplement posted twice per week — On Mondays we highlight news and on Thursdays goings on about town. The opinions of our writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect the editorial and corporate opinions of The GeorGeTowner newspaper. The GeorGeTowner accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. The GeorGeTowner reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions. Copyright 2023. Please send submissions of opinions for consideration to: editorial@georgetowner.com

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GEORGETOWN SAFEWAY ADDS SECURITY GATES, FENCING

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

The newly gated entrance to the Georgetown Safeway at 1855 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Photo by Bill Starrels.

7 OSCARS FOR ‘OPPENHEIMER’; ‘KEN’ BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE

BY KATE OCZYPOK

Ryan Gosling’s “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”-style rendition of the Oscar-nominated song “I’m Just Ken,” from the Oscar-nominated film “Barbie,” wowed the crowd at the 96th Academy Awards. YouTube screen grab.

‘BOND IN MOTION’ AT SPY MUSEUM: CARS ARE THE STARS

BY CELIA SHARPE

A new exhibition at the International Spy Museum celebrates six decades of 007 vehicles

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

VOICES OF ZION’S DC

EMANCIPATION & THE VOTE”

Thursday, March 14

The Citizens Association of Georgetown and The Alliance for New Music-Theatre present at 7 p.m. Free with reception to follow. Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 1334 29th St. NW.

MUSIC FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Sunday, March 17

Irish music 4 p.m. at Georgetown Lutheran Church, 1556 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Free but donations. 202-297-7843.

CULTURAL POWER BREAKFAST: HANA SHARIF OF ARENA STAGE

Thursday, March 21

Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana Sharif speak at our Culture Power Breakfast at the Four Seasons Hotel Georgetown. Doors open at 8 a.m. Admission is $40 pay on georgetowner.com.

COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS

Thursday, March 21

Meeting is at 10 a.m. at 401 F Street, NW, Suite 312 — cfa.gov.

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 2E

Monday, April 1

Begins at 6:30 p.m. For details, visit anc2e.com.

MEETING OF THE OLD GEORGETOWN BOARD

Wednesday, April 3

“State of the Street” — 5:30 p.m., 1351 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

OLD GEORGETOWN BOARD

Thursday, April 4

The filing deadline is March 14. OGB meetings are held at 9 a.m.Visit cfa.org.

Georgetown Divorce: Park Service Details $12.7M Canal Plan, Drops Georgetown Heritage

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

Sometimes, you never see a divorce coming. The following is just such a story between a federal agency and a local nonprofit.

Last month, the National Park Service — which is beginning a $12.7-million Locks and Walls Project on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal — abruptly informed community group Georgetown Heritage that it is ending their partnership.

Georgetown Heritage’s mission is “to restore and revitalize the national parks in Georgetown, beginning with the first mile of the historic C&O Canal that runs through Georgetown.” Founded in 2014, the nonprofit has raised more than $10 million to improve the canal and the area around it, also launching a new replica canal boat.

On March 1, Georgetown Heritage Chair and President Jennifer Romm told supporters:

“I am writing to inform you that on February 28, 2024, the Superintendent of the C&O Canal Historical Park terminated Georgetown Heritage’s philanthropic partnership agreement with the National Park Service with a 60-day

notice. We are shocked and disheartened that they never discussed this possibility with us before making their decision. Nor did they consult with the District of Columbia Government which has invested nearly $7 million in this project.

“The termination letter cites irreconcilable differences between NPS and Georgetown Heritage as the primary reason for their action. We respectfully disagree. Georgetown Heritage and NPS jointly developed a conceptual revitalization plan with an agreed-upon vision and goals informed by extensive city and community input and approved by the Old Georgetown Board/Commission on Fine Arts and National Capital Planning Commission.”

The Georgetowner received this statement from the Park Service’s Christiana Hanson, chief of interpretation, education and volunteers for the C&O Canal National Historical Park:

“On February 28, 2024, the National Park Service (NPS) notified Georgetown Heritage of the termination of its philanthropic partnership agreement effective April 29, 2024. While this

philanthropic agreement is ending, the NPS remains firmly committed to our mission in Georgetown and all along the canal’s 184.5 miles. The NPS will begin a $12.7 million NPSfunded project in Georgetown in the coming weeks.”

Hanson’s statement continues: “Terminating the philanthropic agreement with Georgetown Heritage means that Georgetown Heritage’s activities intended to generate philanthropic support for the NPS including fundraising events, donor cultivation and electronic giving will halt. In 2019, the National Park Service in partnership with the District of Columbia Government and Georgetown Heritage secured $1.5 million from the Office of the District of Columbia Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to bring a canal boat back to Georgetown. A separate agreement between NPS and Georgetown Heritage covers the canal boat and related interpretive operations. This agreement remains intact.”

Regarding the Locks and Walls Project, in an email message received last week, the Park Service reported that it “will carry out a large-scale $12.7 million preservation and rehabilitation project on the historic C&O Canal in Georgetown to protect key parts of our country’s early transportation history and reduce the risk of flooding during storms and high-water events. The project is expected to

start mid-March and is anticipated to continue through Winter 2026, weather dependent. Construction activities will likely require intermittent towpath detours in Georgetown.”

The message continues: “The NPS-funded project will focus on historic canal features including Inlet Lock 1, which diverts water from the Potomac River to the five-milesection of the canal in Georgetown; Locks 1, 2 and 5; and the canal walls at Level 4.

“The project will:

• Stabilize canal structures including the historic stone walls in Georgetown.

• Increase the resilience of the historic locks and towpath against flooding and other climate associated hazards.

• Repair water structures, from the lift locks to the feeder channel, to regain watertightness.

“Visitors will see preparations starting on March 5. During construction, portions of the towpath in Georgetown between 34th St. NW and Rock Creek Parkway may be closed with temporary detours through adjacent streets and alleys. Most of the temporary detours are 0.3 miles or less in added distance. Visitors are asked to obey all signs and flaggers and use caution around work areas. The Lock 5 parking lot will be closed during the entire rehabilitation project. Parking and towpath access will remain available at Lock 6, located 0.3 miles from Lock 5.”

Georgetown Heritage Chair Jennifer Romm, NPS National Capital Area Director Kym Hall and Georgetown Business Improvement District CEO Joe Sternlieb on May 4, 2023. Photo by Bill Starrels.

ANC Zeroes In on Public Safety

BY PEGGY SANDS

Public safety, criminal detention and sentencing (including of juveniles) and police reform were the focus of the monthly meeting of ANC 2E, the advisory neighborhood commission for Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale, held in person at Georgetown Visitation and via Zoom on Monday, March 4.

In fact, public safety in D.C. has been getting national attention lately, despite indications, including the ANC police report, that crime is down in the District. However, homicides of juveniles in recent weeks have fixed the spotlight on enforcement, sentencing, treatment of DNA samples and the like.

Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto attended the Monday-evening meeting virtually to give a long, patient explanation of the various facets of her Secure DC Omnibus bill, which passed the first vote of the Council in February and would be facing the second and final vote of the Council as a whole on March 5. (The District Council acts something like a bicameral government, with two votes on all legislation.)

For the second round, some advocacy groups were expected to show up in an attempt to pressure the Council to vote “no.” Citizens Association of Georgetown President Brittany Sawyer urged Georgetown residents to write emails to Council members and attend on March 5 in support of the bill’s passage.

Spoiler alert: The Secure DC Omnibus bill passed the Council with a couple of new amendments and only one negative vote. According to Pinto, the mayor will sign the legislation as soon as she receives the final package.

At the ANC meeting, Pinto also announced that she had sent her list of priorities for the fiscal 2025 budget to the mayor, warning the commissioners that budget makers “were facing different sets of limits than in the past few years. We can’t have 30-to-40-year plans at this point.” In response to commissioners’ questions, Pinto seemed to be downplaying funding expectations for some long-planned projects, and a few short-term ones, such as free

parking at Rose Park.

“We don’t have the resources for that,” Pinto commented. There is more demand for parking enforcement, for efforts to stem rampant absenteeism in certain school districts and for merging some youth crime prevention programs with serious offense reduction efforts, she said. And staffing concerns and caseloads are ever-present factors.

“Be careful not to take anything for granted,” Pinto added, which immediately raised some hackles. What about the Jelleff Recreation Center modernization, a project already long-delayed? “At this point I can’t confirm anything,” Pinto said. “It is still set aside.”

But Commissioner Kishan Putta, who has been close to that project, told the Georgetowner: “Really, everything is fine with Jelleff. Council member confirmed that there is no reason to worry.”

The ANC meeting then moved on to an extended, seminar-style presentation by Deputy Attorney General for the Public Safety Division Elizabeth Wieser. She covered many details about sentencing, starting with the question of treating a juvenile as an adult for certain offenses.

Elizabeth Wieser testifies before Council of D.C.

Photo by AG Karl A Racine on X.

Jerry Libin, 1936-2024

Jerome B. “Jerry” Libin of Washington, D.C., passed away peacefully at his home on Feb. 2, after a long battle with cancer. He was 87. His family passed along these words about him.

Thank You, Council Member Brooke Pinto

Sometimes, it takes a woman.

It is rare that a single person can be pointed to as the catalyst for great progress on an issue as perplexing and emotional as crime in a city as diverse and politically savvy as Washington, D.C.

A year ago, it was hard to imagine that one person — especially young and relatively new to politics — could take on the seemingly impossible task of negotiating a new, tough and comprehensive “omnibus” crime bill for the city. But in the past few months, 30-something Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto has become such a person.

As the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee Chairperson, Pinto has become a ubiquitous presence at hundreds of community meetings to argue for tightening up criminal enforcement, detention and sentencing procedures in the District. She has constantly made news with her courageous proposals for tackling D.C.’s crime problems head on.

A 2017 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Pinto worked as an attorney in the D.C. Attorney General’s Office of Karl Racine, then won a special election in 2020 to become the youngest member of the D.C. Council in the city’s history.

Working closely with Mayor Muriel Bowser,

she has focused on common-sense solutions and brought such thinking to the forefront of the Council. Pinto has also inspired a new group of community advocates who insist on calm, neighborhood-based discussions about local problems — and not some jumbled, ideological “Defund the Police” banter.

There is more to do, such as increasing the number of Metropolitan Police Department officers.

For her tireless and respectful actions on the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, we at The Georgetowner say, “Thank you, Brooke.” Mayor Bowser signed the bill into law on March 11.

Celebrate Georgetown’s Women, Too

As you know, March is Women’s History Month. It’s a time to celebrate the women who helped shape our country, like Susan B. Anthony, who played a huge role in the women’s suffrage movement, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the former Supreme Court justice who fought tirelessly against gender discrimination.

While it’s important to honor these women, let’s not forget the women who live in our own close-knit community. There’s Brittany Sawyer and Tara Sakraida Parker, executive director and president, respectively, of the Citizens Association of Georgetown. Both women advocate resolutely for our neighborhood.

There’s also Lisa Fager, executive director of the Black Georgetown Foundation. That organization oversees the preservation and upkeep of the Mt. Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemeteries. Fager’s energy and passion behind taking care of these sacred spaces is unparalleled.

We can’t forget the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s Vice President

of Marketing Nancy Miyahira and Communications Director Lauren Boston, both of whom are continuously boosting Georgetown through their events and strong social media presence.

There’s also Lynn Golub-Rofrano, who is passionate about connecting Georgetown’s thriving senior community. And Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto never stops fighting for the people of Georgetown, dealing with concerns of all kinds (most recently, crime).

The Georgetowner is a woman-owned business, and we are so very grateful for our publisher Sonya Bernhardt and the 25 years she’s been with the paper.

Of course, we can’t neglect the women of Georgetown who work behind the scenes: the many shop owners and restaurateurs, teachers and caregivers, mothers and grandmothers who add to the lives of all who encounter them.

When it comes to gender equality, we’ve got a long way to go as a society. It’s safe to say, however, that with the women of Georgetown, we are certainly paving the way.

Born ton Oct. 27, 1936, in Chicago, Jerry graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Michigan Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Michigan Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif.

Jerry was a law clerk to Associate Justice Charles E. Whittaker of the Supreme Court of the United States. He then joined Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan (now Eversheds Sutherland) in Washington, D.C., where he advised clients on domestic and international taxation and was an expert on the U.S. constitutional limitations on state taxation. He was pivotal in developing the firm’s tax practice, which he led for decades.

was a member of the Council of the Tax Section and served as chair of four Tax Section Committees and Task Forces. He was a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and Master of the Bench of the J. Edgar Murdock American Inn of Court.

Jerry was always involved in his community. He served as vice president and trustee of the Supreme Court Historical Society (for 25 years); honorary lifetime trustee of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; trustee of the Park Foundation, WETA, Tudor Place and the Washington Performing Arts Society; and as a board member and officer of the Citizens Association of Georgetown.

Jerry was widely regarded as one of America’s preeminent tax lawyers. He contributed to the international tax proposals that became part of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as a consultant to the American Law Institute International Tax Study Project. And he was an informal advisor to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

For the American Bar Association, he

Despite the demands of his professional and pro bono work, Jerry somehow found time to help people as much as causes. He was an inspiration and a mentor to countless lawyers, friends and colleagues, who remembered him as “a true gentleman” with a “quick wit,” who “always treated everyone with respect and kindness and was always encouraging, professionally and personally, even when he was already miles ahead.”

And most important, he was a devoted husband to June, his wife of 59 years, and father to his daughter Nancy, both of Washington, D.C.

Nina Richardson, 1944-2024

Nina Leake Richardson of Washington, D.C., died on Feb. 7 at the age of 79, following a two-year battle with a glioblastoma. His family passed along these words about him. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, John Dennett Richardson, son Scott Richardson, daughter-in-law Nicole Richardson, grandsons John “Jack” Richardson and Maclean Richardson, sister Nora “Tooey” Cameron, niece Nora “Nonie” Cameron, nephew Roderick “Rory” Cameron, nephew Nicholas Richardson, niece Rachael Brewer and four great-nephews and great-nieces.

Nina was born in New York, N.Y., on Sept. 11, 1944, to Eugene Walter Leake, Jr., and Nora Bullitt Leake. She grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and attended Louisville Collegiate School before going to boarding school at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where she graduated in 1962.

would live the rest of her life. She opened a photography studio with Lisa Berg and continued taking photos for many years.

In 1981, she married John, of Providence, Rhode Island, and in 1984, they welcomed their only child Scott. Nina went back to school in her late 40s, ultimately obtaining her college degree from American University in 1997. She could be found well into her 70s auditing classes at Georgetown University and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at AU. She served as a member of the boards of the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women and the Friends of Volta Park and spent time volunteering at a women’s prison in Maryland and making short videos for nonprofit organizations. Nina was a member of the Sulgrave Club and the Chevy Chase Club, and she was an avid golfer and a fierce bridge player.

Nina moved to New York, where she studied at Parsons School of Design and began work in publishing, which included stints at Vogue Magazine and National Geographic. In 1969, Nina moved to Washington, D.C., where she

In 2018, Nina became “Nana” to Jack, a role that she cherished. She was able to meet and hold her second grandson, Maclean, who was born in December of 2023.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Nina may be directed to support the brain cancer research program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

Jerome B. “Jerry” Libin. Family photo.

Nina Richardson, 1944-2024

Council Member Brooke Pinto.

‘Listening to Citizens,’ Council Passes Secure DC Bill

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

Community groups across the city urged their representatives to support the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024. On March 5, the Council of the District of Columbia voted its approval. The bill — written, proposed and pushed by Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto — now awaits Mayor Muriel Bowser’s signature. The legislation has received national attention.

“The Council’s passage today of my Secure DC Omnibus legislation sends the clear message that D.C. is united in its efforts to make meaningful and sustainable improvements to public safety for residents across the District,” Pinto said. “The status quo is unacceptable.”

Among the community groups at the daylong Council hearing was the Citizens Association of Georgetown. After the victory, CAG Executive Director Brittany Sawyer spoke to the press as follows: “Representing the collective voice of our residents, we went to the Wilson Building to make sure our voice was heard over outside opposition advocacy groups. These groups were clearly organized and packed the chamber and hallways. The District Council was not swayed by these

groups and chose to listen to their constituents. We applaud the champion of the Secure DC bill, Council member Brooke Pinto, and the rest of the Council for listening to citizens and taking swift action to pass this bill.”

Elizabeth Miller, former chair of ANC 2E, the advisory neighborhood commission for Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale, had this to say about her experience advocating for Secure DC’s passage: “Every day the headlines get worse — from deadly carjackings to armed robbery and homicides. I think twice before I walk my dogs after dark and pumping gas has never felt more perilous. If D.C. were a state, we’d have the highest crime in the country. I went down to the Wilson Building to advocate for the passage of Secure DC because my neighbors and I are fed up! While I don’t think this is the magic remedy to ending all crime in the District, I think it’s a step in the right direction toward making our city safer.”

Miller added: “I was surprised by the crowds who clapped when Council members spoke of a reduction in our police force. I was surprised by the hissing and booing when Council members voted to support common-

sense crime fighting tools. Council member Brooke Pinto deserves all our thanks for her tireless work to get this bill over the finish line. I experienced, firsthand, the uphill battle she faced, and I am eternally grateful to her for her commitment to make D.C. and all our residents safer.”

Crime Report

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

DEAD BODY NEAR G.U. CAMPUS

On March 1, a dead body was found near Georgetown University, south of the Village A apartment complex at 3773 Prospect St. NW. “The individual was found deceased at 4:55 a.m., and officials do not suspect foul play,” said the university, which added that “the person found deceased was not affiliated with the school.”

The Metropolitan Police Department later determined the incident to be a suicide.

2 ARRESTED IN BREAK-IN OF SUV USED BY NAOMI BIDEN

A man and a 14-year-old were arrested in connection with a November break-in of a Secret Service vehicle used by President Biden’s granddaughter which was parked outside a Georgetown residence, according to authorities and court documents, the Washington Post reported last month.

The Post added: “A Secret Service agent fired at a getaway vehicle that nearly hit the agent during the incident the night of Nov. 12, according to authorities and an arrest affidavit. No one was struck.

“Court documents say the Secret Service vehicle was used by members of the president’s family. A law enforcement official said it was

“By definition, moderates aren’t the types to show up and get loud and crazy,” said marketing and design consultant Kristin Cecchi. “So, I attended the meeting to represent the majority of D.C. residents who are fed up with the crime and want the Council to pass the commonsense provisions of the Secure DC Omnibus.”

for Naomi Biden, Biden’s adult granddaughter.

“The arrests of 19-year-old Robert Kemp and the youth came after authorities said a D.C. police officer found the getaway car, a stolen red Toyota Corolla, abandoned in 16th Street Heights. Inside it were items taken from the Secret Service vehicle, including a protective vest, night-vision goggles, a first aid bag and a computer router. Authorities also found a McDonald’s bag and food receipt; the affidavit says fingerprints on the items led them to the arrests.”

The following crime report is from the Metropolitan Police Department:

ARREST FOR ILLEGAL HANDGUN

On Saturday, March 9, at approximately 1:00 am, Officers were on routine Patrol in the 1200 block of Connecticut Ave NW, when they were flagged down in reference to a subject with a gun. Second District officers stopped the subject and an illegal handgun was recovered. One male subject was placed under arrest.

Kristin Rae Cecchi, Citizens Association of Georgetown Executive Director Brittany Sawyer, Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto and Elizabeth Miller, former chair of the Georgetown-Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Courtesy Kristin Cecchi.

Spring Real Estate

Enduring Style: Beth Hague’s Timeless Interiors

BY CARRINGTON C. TARR

The client first discovered Beth Hague when she walked into the home of a friend and fell in love with the decor.

“I thought if we ever move, I knew she was the one I wanted to work with,” said Libby (last name withheld).

What she loves about the interior designer’s style is what she most admires about her as a person.

“There is no difference between Beth and her style — serene, classy, enduring. She designs forever homes versus glam trends. She created the home I would want for now. I have three young kids and a 100-pound dog. We needed durable. Nothing precious.”

When Libby and her husband bought a house in Chevy Chase, Hague was the first person she called. “It was a full sprint,” she said, describing the 11,000-square-foot Tudor they would completely renovate. “I said ‘Let’s get it done fast,’ and she didn’t hesitate. That was in June [of last year] and it’s pretty much done.”

Hague’s serenity in a business filled with deadlines and disasters has helped her succeed as a designer for more than three decades.

The Georgetown resident has been featured in various national magazines and boasts projects all over the country, including the D.C. area, Nantucket, Maine, New York, Florida and Los Angeles. [Note: Hague is a friend and has also worked with this writer.]

When she encounters seemingly unfixable problems, she has learned not to panic because she knows there is always a solution.

“Sometimes you just can’t see it right away,” Hague said with a knowing laugh. She recalled working on a three-year project that featured multiple dwellings on one property. Prior to completion, the owner held her daughter’s wedding there, using the large foyer as a receiving area. Hague and the client managed to get the water and electricity turned on, and Hague and her crew were able to install drapes and furniture. After the wedding, they took it all down, moved the furniture back and shut the utilities down before the inspector came.

“We had a pretend install,” she said, chuckling again.

Hague’s love of beautiful interiors stems from her days tagging along with her mother to antique shops, galleries and auctions in Lexington, Kentucky. Her first job was with

the D.C. designer Antony Childs, known for his understated luxury and refined style. At the time, she was taking evening classes at Mount Vernon and Marymount, getting an undergraduate degree in interior design after earning one in business. She called him repeatedly until he offered her a job. After a few years, she moved to Anthony Brown, Oprah’s one-time designer, and eventually opened her own shop, Elizabeth Hague Interiors, Inc.

In recent years, she says, her own style has leaned more contemporary and streamlined, but she has always loved timeless pieces that have unusual forms and textures that give a room layers.

“Plaster lighting and furniture, parchmentwrapped furniture, Diego Giacomettiinspired metal furniture and lighting, bark and pulp paper-paneled walls and lampshades, interesting stone slabs for table tops, unique textiles,” she wrote in an email. “I am obsessed with textiles.”

Hague brings an eye for subtle tailoring and unexpected touches to transform a space. Like covering a wall with a hand-stenciled motif from a faux finisher.

“She added plaster to our dining room light

fixture to add more texture,” Libby said. “Her attention to detail is amazing. I didn’t know there were people who did that.”

Her own tastes notwithstanding, Hague said her first job is to ensure that she understands the client’s perspective and start from there. She is also versatile, having worked on jobs large and small, from major projects in Florida and California to a powder room in Georgetown.

If Hague is working with an existing decor, she might mix in new with old, modern with classic. In a traditional home for example, she might add more modern hardware or lighting fixtures.

“You can incorporate antique fixtures in a more contemporary application,” she said. “Have worn floors of reclaimed French oak. It all kind of works. It’s not uptight.

“I don’t like fussy interiors,” she added. “I want people to feel like they can walk into any room in jeans and bare feet.”

What Hague mostly brings to her work, according to Libby, is originality. “I just like that you walk in the homes she has designed and have never seen it before,” she said. “It’s awesome and hard to do.”

Courtesy Elizabeth Hague Interiors.

At Home: The Door

BY MICHELLE GALLER

The door, as an architectural element, has saturated our psyches and language so fully that we barely notice it. Yet opening a door to reveal the space beyond it is pivotal to our sense of privacy and propriety. The interior door helps us move between spaces in our homes and is the junction of the public and the private realms. Doors between the outside world and the sanctity within welcome family and friends and shield us from enemies.

When America was being settled by Europeans in the late 1600s, the simple design of the plank door offered protection from the elements and from intruders. Much like the early front doors,

expanding population.

Both exterior and interior doors shared some design attributes. However, interior doors tended to be made of thinner wood and, since they could not accommodate a doorknob assembly, most early interior doors had thumb latches. In the United States, interior residential doors were generally thin in construction until the 1840s, with some thicker doors being found in later 19th-century homes.

Even though the basics remained the same, increased technology made it possible to embellish a door, which led to more elaborate door designs, as in the Greek Revival style. This

The journey of doors from a simple barrier to a sophisticated, multifunctional element of our homes is a testament to human innovation and creativity.

the interior doors were also plank doors, known as board and batten. The door itself, as well as the hinges and operating hardware, were fabricated from wood.

Although the board and batten door design endured in mostly rural areas, American residential architecture evolved in more populous towns. Between 1750 and 1840, architectural design generally exhibited one of three recognizable styles: Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival. And although the style elements varied, they spoke a common language.

“Almost every decorative element has its origins in classical architecture,” said Craig Weis, founder and president of Architectural Woodcraft in Asheville, North Carolina, “notably the raised-panel door, and strict symmetry is common to all three of these foundational styles.”

And yes, sometimes features from one style overlap with those of another. In the 1830s, woodworking machines had already changed the way that doors were made and assembled. By the late 19th century, catalogs were selling a large selection of manufactured doors to a rapidly

style incorporated elaborate molding designs that were often nailed on — a layering of panel within panel with moldings applied at each margin, which could be three or four inches thick.

The Victorians, proponents of copious decoration on almost everything, employed even more machine-made door ornaments. Intricate door designs proliferated. Stained and etched glass were Victorian innovations. Initially, only the two upper panels were glazed, but by the 1880s the entire top half of a door might include leaded panes and patterned, colored stained glass. During this era, roughly from 1840 to 1901, many doors still had fanlights, typical in the traditional Georgian style, but the Victorians added intricate ironwork designs, as well as brighter door colors.

Later on, a simpler door design was introduced. Almost medieval in appearance and proportions, yet modern in construction, the Arts & Crafts door became a key element in the new wave of bungalows, Foursquares and Prairie Schoolinspired houses popping up across the country at the turn of the 20th century and into the 1920s.

Style has constantly changed, and material trends have shifted through the eras, mainly influenced by cost. Even though many people choose wood doors for their beauty, insulated doors of fiberglass and steel — popular materials for use in the construction of entry doors — are energy-efficient. Plastic doors and composite interior doors enjoyed a boom in the early 2000s, due to their perceived low maintenance and affordability. But despite radical changes in building technology over the centuries, wood has remained the primary building material for doors.

Today, even interior doors are mostly made from wood, since wood offers improved thermal efficiency. The cellular structure of wood is a natural insulator (400 times more efficient than steel) and is more dimensionally stable than other materials. And as the world becomes more aware of climate change, the sustainability of wood is another draw for the environmentally conscious.

But, as with any material, there are limitations to wood doors. They are not maintenance-free. To preserve a good finish, wood doors cannot withstand complete and constant exposure to full sun; porches and hoods help shield them from the elements.

“Few pursuits are as satisfying as gathering high-quality raw materials and fashioning them into works of lasting beauty,” said Weis. “We use the best woods to handbuild thousands of beautiful entrance and interior doors and finish each door to provide many lifetimes of use.”

Door security has come a long way

from the simple wood plank that kept out trespassers. One of the first serious attempts to improve the security of the entrance door was made in England in 1778 by Robert Barron, who patented a double-acting tumbler lock. By the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was well underway, and the production of metal and metal parts stimulated the growth of more secure locks. However, after World War I, some people still eschewed technological innovations and employed a door shaker to come around after dark to ensure that their homes were locked up.

Even through innumerable improvements and iterations to entrance door security — like Marie Van Brittan Brown’s invention of the first video monitoring and remote door operating system in the 1960s — the basic principles of the door lock remain today. There are 21 types of locks used today, ranging from the padlock to the deadbolt, and each serves a very useful purpose, even though the materials and designs have evolved to be more streamlined.

The journey of doors from a simple barrier to a sophisticated, multifunctional element of our homes is a testament to human innovation and creativity. Even though we may never know who invented the door, we can appreciate the evolution of this quotidian invention that has enriched our everyday lives in so many ways.

Michelle Galler is a Realtor with Chatel Real Estate, representing buyers and sellers in both Washington, D.C., and Virginia with in-town, as well as rural, real estate assistance. She is also an antiques dealer and a columnist.

Photos by Greg “Fritz” Blakey.

What’s Happening Now and What’s Ahead?

COMPILED BY KATE OCZYPOK

We asked three local Realtors about the current market and what they think the future will hold. Our questions are below, followed by their responses and insights, edited for space and clarity.

Our Questions:

1. Have interest rates really affected sales in Georgetown?

2. Do most people who buy in Georgetown pay cash?

3. How will the election impact property values, depending on whether Trump or Biden is elected?

4. Do buyers prefer to buy a turnkey home or a fixer-upper?

5. What’s the most helpful technology you use today to sell a home?

6. Aside from the MLS, do you prefer Redfin, Zillow, Homesnap or any other app for research?

DONNA EVERS, MANAGING BROKER, LONG & FOSTER

Property values in our city will not be impacted much by the election. Biden’s positive ratings are high in this city and Trump’s are low, so a Trump victory may dampen the local market somewhat. I say “may” because we have enjoyed such a hot market that even a Trump victory would not do much to dampen buyer enthusiasm.

per-square-footage pricing on new builds (if you can find any!). Everybody is in the mood to start living the life they want right now. Conversely, this is a very bad market for fixer-uppers, unless a builder can buy one for the right price, renovate it and make a profit on it.

Bright is still the biggest and best clearing house for area properties. Zillow allows public access to much of the same information that Bright offers to real estate professionals, and it is how most buyers “tune in.”

WASHINGTON FINE PROPERTIES

Interest rates have affected sales in Georgetown. It’s two-fold. Since they are higher, sellers are locked up in their house with and it has put pressure on our Of course, so many buyers have less buying power with the higher rates, so we do

One would assume [buyers in Georgetown] are all-cash, but they are financed. Buyers are more likely to put in more cash when rates are higher.

I have been selling for 38 years and have seen many elections and never are sure. Generally when a president gets reelected, there is very little turnover. When a new party comes in, our greatest demand is on rentals immediately. Generally more sales occur a year later, once they get settled down in their jobs.

Younger buyers generally prefer buying something that they can add value to and do

some improvements over time. The emptynester buyer wants redone. Those in the middle buy what works for them and, generally speaking, in a historical neighborhood, it means it’s going to need work.

You know you would think it’s such a hightech world, but real estate still has a lot to do with feel and touch. We use a lot of social media platforms, as they are colorful and eyecatching, but not sure they move the needle. Our buyer is still looking online at virtual tours and videos as they always did. During Covid, we did a video of every house, which we really didn’t before. Those views by buyers have decreased some. Most people are in a rush always, so they just prefer flipping through photos at their own rate and not committing to a video.

Homesnap (which has now become Homes. com) was a big advertiser during the Super Bowl — it’s very user-friendly. Secondly, I think Zillow is still a big favorite.

DANIEL HEIDER, CEO & FOUNDER, HEIDER, AND EVP, TTR SOTHEBY’S

While interest rates may impact affordability for potential buyers, Georgetown’s market tends to attract more affluent buyers, who tend to be less sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates as compared to other submarkets within the city. We have seen a direct correlation between consumer confidence and interest rates. As rates decrease, consumer confidence goes up.

Cash transactions have historically punctuated the upper-bracket Georgetown market, however, they’re not the dominant force overall. Many buyers, predominantly in the sub-$3,000,000 range, choose to finance.

A common misconception is that shifts in administration play a bigger role in our market than they actually do. The reality is that most incoming government staffers do not purchase for a host of reasons, mainly because their salaries are prohibitive, and they are unsure of how long their administration will be in office. The rental market is more broadly impacted. There have been exceptions, of course. In 2016, we saw a surge in our very upper-bracket market, which included Georgetown. Will that

repeat itself? Nobody knows for sure. I sense that the overall desirability of Georgetown will transcend political fluctuations.

While Georgetown buyers can agree on a general affinity for historic charm from the curb, there’s a trend toward turnkey homes due to the convenience and time-saving aspect. There’s of course a niche market for fixeruppers, particularly among investors and buyers looking for customization opportunities. However, “newness” is king.

The most popular listings sell. Attention is everything, and social media is unquestionably where all the attention is. Leveraging social media is by far the most relevant and beneficial tool an agent can use to help drive sales. A lesser-known fact is that our company, Heider Real Estate, is the world’s most followed real estate practice across social media. We have a global audience of over four million people and are headquartered right in the heart of Georgetown on the corner of 26th and P Streets.

Georgetownpropertylistings.com is our go-to client resource for all things Georgetown. Our partner Melanie Hayes has done a phenomenal job curating a site specifically tailored to the Georgetown market.

e o r G e t o w n

The House Tour 2 0 2 4

Our doors are open

Celebrating its 91st year, this annual event graciously opens historic 18th and 19th century homes in Georgetown to Tour attendees.

Tickets are $60 per person online in advance, or $65 per person on the day of the Tour. Tickets include Parish Tea at St. John’s from 1:30 - 4:30 pm. Group prices are available. For more information and to purchase tickets online, please visit:

www.georgetownhousetour.com

saturday, aPril 20, 2024

11 am - 5 Pm 3240 o street, nw

We appreciate the generous support of our sponsors.

silver

Georgetowner

COVER Long & Foster’s New CEO, Patrick Bain

INSIGHTS ON THE BRAND, LEGAL ISSUES, AND MARKET TRENDS

BY KATE OCZYPOK

Fourteen years ago, Patrick Bain, now president and CEO of the Long & Foster Companies, began working for the man he would end up succeeding: Jeff Detwiler. Bain ran Long & Foster’s insurance, home warranty, property management and rental service businesses — also launching Insight Home Inspections in 2021 — until Detwiler resigned in March of last year. It was the start of new era with Bain at the helm, along with Jackie Thiel, who became president of Long & Foster Real Estate.

Berkshire Hathaway affiliate HomeServices of America acquired Long & Foster in 2017.

“Like most acquisitions, it was sort of business as usual at Long & Foster for about five or six years,” Bain explained. “Berkshire Hathaway said, ‘You’re a great company, continue to run the company the way you run it.’”

When HomeServices of America decided to make some changes, responding to shifts in the market, Bain was in the succession plan and got tapped as president and CEO.

Dealing with legal issues was among his initial challenges.

“Everybody in the industry is navigating a whole bunch of change and litigation, and we are too,” Bain said. “We have a very strong brand, which makes us a target, sometimes inappropriately so.”

One of the class-action lawsuits the industry is facing alleges the existence of an anticompetitive agreement that had home sellers paying inflated commissions to brokers or real estate agents in violation of antitrust law.

“They’re attacking the industry and, really, what I would say are tried and true practices of trading, listing and selling real estate,” Bain said. “What is alleged is just plainly not true.”

The lawsuits started with a handful of larger real estate companies like HomeServices of America and Long & Foster, along with the National Association of Realtors. “Like most litigation, there are two sides of the story, and we are aggressively defending our position,” Bain said. “It’s business as usual until there is some rule change or regulatory change or the Department of Justice weighs into this thing.”

“We come to it with a high degree of

integrity,” Bain said. “I don’t believe the argument that there’s collusion and conspiracy and all these crazy allegations. I live it every day and I see that we are a big part of the American dream of home ownership.”

LEVERAGING THE LONG & FOSTER BRAND

Long & Foster spent the last year doing what Bain called a “deep dive” into the company culture, examining who they are, what they believe in and how best to leverage the nearly 60-year legacy of co-founder Wes Foster.

responsibility to do something with that that’s substantial and meaningful.”

“It’s caused us to examine where we want to play in the marketplace and what kind of company we want to be,” Bain said. “We have a great brand … I think we have a

Bain spent his first 120 days as president and CEO getting grounded and delving into the culture at L&F. He visited all nine of the states where the company operates, doing what he called a “listening tour” and hosting

Patrick Bain. Courtesy of Long and Foster

sessions called “Let’s Get Real.”

“I said, ‘Tell me what you want Long & Foster to be, and what you’re looking for, and what you want to be a part of and how we can best deliver that,’ because I don’t think anyone has ever asked them that question before,” Bain said. “We learned a ton and came out of it with a sort of redefined vision and mission and set of core values that govern how we do business, who we are, how we behave and how we treat each other every day.”

Bain added that the company made a deliberate decision to go to market as one Long & Foster, not dividing things up into nine separate state units. “That is proving to be transformational for us,” he said.

THE CURRENT MARKET

According to Bain, current inventory is slim, and it’s going to be that way for a while. As he explains: housing prices continue to rise, fueling inflation because housing is a big part of gross domestic product. Rising prices drive higher interest rates, impacting demand. Not many are in the market to buy due to the current high rates versus a few years ago. The real estate market is stuck in a bit of a supply-and-demand problem, all of which fuels inflation.

“This cycle is hard to break when the Fed has this stranglehold on lowering inflation and they won’t lower interest rates until that

happens,” Bain said. “As a result, there aren’t a lot of choices, and when one does come up on the market, you’re competing and driving prices higher.”

Despite all this, Bain advised buyers not to give up, because everybody should still be striving for home ownership. “It’s a good thing for our country, families and our culture,” he added.

With buzzwords like escalation clauses, prices over asking, appraisals and preapprovals, Long & Foster aims to simplify the process. The company wants its customers to remain with L&F for life. “No one else in our market in the nine states that we’re in can bring that level of capability and expertise to our buyers and sellers every day,” he said.

THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE

In the wake of AI, the real estate business has started to navigate the new technology. Bain admitted that yes, technology can move things faster and make things more efficient, but the reality is the consumer has an expectation of service and relationship, and that can’t be replaced with a machine.

“People buy, sell and live in houses, not computers,” he said. “You can’t take the human element of our business out.”

It’s a genuine challenge at times. Bain referred to a dehumanization of commerce, especially since Covid. “You don’t actually

have to go anywhere or talk to anyone. It can be brought to you,” he said.

However, there is a high percentage of Americans who still believe in strong relationships and great service. “When you can deliver that, you can use it as a competitive advantage.”

TIME TO DECOMPRESS

Pittsburgh-native Bain, who owns a condo in Reston, travels back to Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, every weekend to spend time with his wife, Suzanne, and their three

children: Caroline, 24; Jonathan, 21; and Avery, 18. He and Suzanne will celebrate 35 years of marriage this September.

He calls the four-hour commute on Fridays and Sundays the best times in his week to decompress — then to start planning for the week ahead.

As for putting down roots in the nation’s capital, while he’s a Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins fan at heart, he has grown to love local teams like the Washington Capitals and Commanders, and the Baltimore Ravens, too.

Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

Helen MacMahon (540) 454-1930

Paul

Paul

Brian

Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

Brian MacMahon (703) 609-1868

Paul

2023 REAL ESTATE SALES IN GEORGETOWN

PROVIDED BY WASHINGTON FINE PROPERTIES

2908

1601

1600

Community Recycling Event!

SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH•10:00AM  2:00PM

Bring your items to Rose Park and the NTB Group will help you discard and recycle:

•Paint cans

•Old electronics (TVs, computers, DVDs, etc.)

As the Spring market gears up, it's time to spring into action! Whether buying or selling – call us today! Anytime, Anywhere & At Any Price Visit TheNTBGroup.com to get to know our team!

CAILIN MONAHAN

(804) 874-1847

cailin.monahan@wfp.com

NANCY TAYLOR BUBES

(202) 386-7813

nancy.taylorbubes@wfp.com

LIZ D’ANGIO

(202) 427-7890

liz.dangio@wfp.com

MG Moving Reaches Out to D.C. Regional Real Estate and Mortgage Markets

Justin Dibbs has joined the team at MG Moving Services. Justin is one of many hires by the new CEO, Steve Kuhn. Recently rebranded from My Guys Moving & Storage, MG Moving has made noteworthy investments into a new strategy that will ultimately result in twenty-five locations throughout the southeastern United States.

CEO Kuhn has over forty years in the moving industry at his family’s endeavor, JK Moving, and more recently as the CEO of Able Moving. White glove treatment for clients is a longtime signature of the new CEO, and the jumpstart for MG includes a very specific plan for the introduction of industry liaisons to facilitate business development in the D.C. region.

Justin Dibbs will be acting as the MG Moving Director of Business Development specifically for the real estate and mortgage markets in the Washington D.C. region. Having been a real estate agent and mortgage broker in the past, Justin is very familiar with the transactional life cycle of clients in these niches and looks forward to being able to introduce MG Services to market leaders. The priority of MG will be to communicate to the real estate and mortgage industries in the region how much they care about relationship longevity and quality services, so much so that they have hired Justin specifically to reach out to them.

Justin will promote awareness of the company by making himself available to the many different entities in the area at their weekly meetings or Zoom gatherings, offering simple strategies and tips that have worked for him, or just spending some brief time together to show how much MG cares about their clients to establish a foundation of trust and familiarity with the newly rebranded entity.

MG Moving and Justin are very much looking forward to escalating the relationship they have with the Georgetowner newspaper. Respect for the Georgetowner’s own seventyyear history and relationships with local real estate and mortgage professionals has led to not only MG advertising in the publication, but commitments to being involved with the Culture Power Breakfasts and many other activities the paper spearheads.

Native to Washington, D.C., Justin has raised his family here. A fitness enthusiast, he enjoys golf and spending time outdoors. He very much looks forward to talking with the industry about MG Moving and being a part of helping them offer a successful book of vendors for their customers. He would be pleased to introduce himself to professionals in these industries that have any questions about his services or want to add a quality mover to their vendor rolodex. He can be reached directly at (703) 930-5800 or jdibbs@ mgmoving.com.

Step into Spring with

Sensational Shoes

BY ALLYSON BURKHARDT

If spring means time to rethink your closet, start at the base. After all, every fashion enthusiast knows an enviable wardrobe is built on fashionable footwear. A well-heeled woman is revered as a tastemaker by signaling a sense of self behind the outfit.

The Spring/Summer 2024 runway presentations collectively created looks to be remembered with intentional footwear. From The Row’s easy chic slides to Louboutin’s powerful take on florals, we’re seeing a pattern of iconic revivals. The designer shoe trends are primarily reinterpretations of trustworthy styles that can be worn on repeat. So you can pull a pair from the closet or choose to invest

This season, shift your attention down toward fashion’s fundamentals. The idea is to start feet-first by adopting the creativity of an unexpected pairing. You can punctuate your personality with a futuristic mule or a mischievous Mary Jane. Embrace imaginative details, edgy accents and mirrored metals. If your feet are made for walking, dip your toes into low-heeled looks. You’ll find colorful sneakers, minimalist sandals and micro-heels all on the rise. Here are our fair-weather favorites to shop for right now.

Allyson Burkhardt is the founder of Let’s Get Dressed! Image & Style Services. Go to letsgetdresseddc.com to put your best look forward.

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Blooming Half d’Orsay Pumps

$845. Neiman Marcus

There’s something quite powerful about a pump that ends on an edge. This is a boss of a shoe for the most feminine of patrons.

PIFERI Fishnet Ballet Flat

$565. Olivela

French-girl style prevails with a fresh interpretation of the sophisticated classic. The mesh design adds a playful flair to the traditionally understated shoe.

ROBERTO FESTA Embroidered Micro-Pump

$235. Farfetch

Professional women have reclaimed the ultra-low look. Designers have followed suit by applying ladylike detailing to heighten the charm.

PRADA Satin Platform Sandals

$1,290. Saks Fifth Avenue.

Retro is on the rise and platform sandals are still very much in style. This bold pair offers a more elevated and dramatic design with a price tag to match.

ZANOTTI Wedge Sandals

$995. Farfetch

This sleek design is one of the most artistic silhouettes available today. By adding a high-polished finish, you can transform your look, making the investment more meaningful.

Justin Dibbs.

INS & OUTS

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

IN: CLARE V. OPENING PARTY

On Feb. 22, Clare V.’s new Georgetown store at 1238 Wisconsin Ave. NW held an opening party in the space that once held (decades ago) Billy Martin’s Carriage House and Tramps Discotheque. Founded by Clare Vivier, Clare V. is a handbag, clothing and accessories brand based in Los Angeles. Guided by her desire to create a range of chic and functional accessories, and inspired by her time living in France, Vivier launched her namesake brand in 2008.

At least 100 shoppers, fans and friends greeted hosts Clare Vivier, Sarah Cannova and Jennifer Tapper at the lively event, catered by Peacock Cafe. With the Clare V. vibe for chic, fun and vintage, it seems appropriate that the store’s space once vibrated to the beats of Michael O’Harro’s legendary disco.

IN (FINALLY): REVERIE

Chef Johnny Spero’s Reverie will return to service in a matter of days, after a major reconstruction. An August 2022 fire shut down the Michelin-starred and intimate restaurant at 3201 Cherry Hill Lane NW. Restaurant expert Linda Roth reports: “The 16-course tasting menu ($255/person) reflects tastes from where

Johnny has traveled and lived: Nordic countries, Japan, and the Chesapeake (Maryland). New design = fewer seats (36) than the pre-fire Reverie. They will start taking reservations in mid-March.”

IN: CHRISTOPHER BOUTLIER INTERIORS

Interior designer Christopher Boutlier recently moved to Georgetown — both his residence and his interior design business. His interior design and art consultancy firm is at 3214 O St. NW. The business tells us: “Christopher Boutlier Interiors is a firm of versatile and artistic designers whose aim is to embrace a home’s proportions, opening exciting sightlines that are offset by sumptuous and beautifully curated pieces.”

IN (IN APRIL): OLFACTORY NYC

Olfactory NYC, “A Unisex Custom Fragrance Company,” as it calls itself, is settling into its first Washington, D.C., store.

“The company inked a 600-square-foot lease at 3242 M Street in Georgetown and will open in April,” according to Commercial Observer. “It is subleasing the storefront from retailer Marine Layer, which last occupied the space, for the next three years.”

Founded by Joseph “JJ” Vittoria in 2017, Olfactory NYC has three locations in New York and one in Boston. “The company offers customers a

Terri Robinson

REALTOR® Emeritus

202.607.7737 (m)

202.944.8400 (o)

terri.robinson@LNF.com

Specialization: Historic neighborhoods

The Power of Experience

NOW 50 YEARS' WORTH!

Recognized as one of the top agents in the D.C. area, Terri Robinson has achieved over $2 billion in residential and commercial sales. She ranks in the top 1% nationwide and among the top 1% of agents in North America. Her clients include presidents, embassies and more. Terri previously held senior positions in the U.S. Senate and the Executive Office of the President. She joined Long and Foster in 2004.

“I am most grateful for long friendships and trusting me with your referrals.”

chance to create their own personalized fragrance and includes a smelling section of nine fragrances plus scent experts to guide them.”

COMING: SPORTS BETTING EATERY ON M

The former Rí Rá is still slated to become a sports restaurant that’s big on widescreen TVs, burgers, tacos, salads — and betting. That it would be part of the Sports & Social group, as previously reported, is no longer the case, but the new place does not yet have a name.

According to the Washington Business Journal: “The parent company behind the Greene Turtle plans a new sportsbook restaurant in Georgetown, the latest outpost in a small but growing portfolio for the new concept. The Columbia, Maryland-based restaurant chain has inked a deal for the former Rí Rá Irish Pub space at 3125 M St. NW, per Geo Concepcion, president and CEO of the Greene Turtle.”

OUT (TEMPORARILY): MARTIN’S TAVERN

If you saw furniture and picture frames being lugged out of Martin’s Tavern on Feb. 26 and were taken aback, relax — it’s just renovations. Georgetown’s 90-year-old iconic restaurant was closed until March 14. The place has a completely new kitchen, owner Billy Martin told The Georgetowner, along with a

redone floor, refurnished booths and new tables and chairs. While Martin’s looked odd stripped of its artwork and cozy wooden furnishings, it is refreshed for spring and St. Patrick’s Day.

OUT (MOVING): MARINE LAYER

Marine Layer, a San Francisco-based clothing store, has departed 3242 M St. NW. The business adds: “New location coming soon!”

OUT: HIGH ROAD CYCLING

The sign on the door reads: “Closed indefinitely for renovation.” High Road Cycling — the high-end cycling shop and cafe across from Chaia at 3210 Grace St. NW — is shuttered. We will update when more details are available.

Owner Billy Martin at Martin’s Tavern during renovations. Georgetowner photo.

THE LATEST DISH

Restaurant Resiliency

BY LINDA ROTH

Johnny Spero’s Reverie, at 3201 Cherry Hill Lane on the south side of Georgetown, will be reborn after being repaired and renovated following the 2022 fire. The 16-course tasting menu ($255 per person) reflects tastes from where Johnny has traveled and lived: Nordic countries, Japan and the Chesapeake. The new design has fewer seats (36) than the pre-fire Reverie. Reservations will be accepted starting around the time you read this.

Patrice Cleary of Purple Patch has opened Joia Burger at 3213 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, where Taqueria Nacional used to be. Seating 10 inside and 21 outside on the patio, it features comfort food — burgers (American wagyu beef or vegetarian bean), fries and ice cream (purple ube soft-serve) — as well as a kids’ menu.

Lots of new restaurant openings: Sakaki Izakaya opened at 3227 Washington Boulevard in Clarendon … Tiger Dumplings opened next door at 3225 Washington Boulevard, serving food from northern China … Chris Zhu opened Han Palace in Georgetown, expanding the Han Palace empire (Tysons Corner, Woodley Park and Barracks Row, plus China Garden in Rockville) … NYC fast-casual Dig opened in Bethesda Row at 4733 Elm St. There is also a Georgetown location … Fresh Baguette opened #6 in Cleveland Park at 3412 Connecticut Ave. NW … California-based Dog Haus opened at 1837 M St. NW, where a Chipotle used to be. Its sister operations are in College Park, Bethesda and Gaithersburg … Thompson Restaurants opened its fourth Makers Union in Cathedral Commons at 701 Newark St. NW … Plantish, an all-day wellness cafe specializing in healthy food and beverages, opened in Navy Yard next to the Bullpen at 1 M St. SE … Mood Swings Food Hall opened at 1625 First St. NW, serving soul food — for now, as the food type is voted on by its social media followers. It’s owned by Taj Sohal and her mom, Anju Gill, who also

Suzy

Embassy Chef Challenge: This is the winning Embassy of Panama team, featuring Chef Jovana Urriola (4th from left or right) with the gold medal around her neck

Georgetown House Tour Thanks the Homeowners

Let the spring celebrations begin starting with the Georgetown House Tour’s “thank you” cocktail reception at the Kassum- Meyer residence to thank this year’s participants of the much-celebrated Georgetown House Tour and upcoming Patrons Patry and tour on April

Spring Gala Guide

BY KATE OCZYPOK

MARCH

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

THE IRELAND FUNDS NATIONAL GALA

The National Building Museum, 440 G St. NW

There will be a special tribute to Paul S. Quinn with remarks by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI).

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

TOGETHER IN ART AND COMMUNITY: THE WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS GALA

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Enjoy an evening of performances, dinner, dancing, an auction and more, all to support arts education programs and outreach initiatives to connect our community.

17 and 20, respectively. For more events and galas, visit Georgetowner.com.

READ MORE SOCIAL SCENE ON GEORGETOWNER.COM

SUNDAY, MARCH 24

THE KENNEDY CENTER MARK TWAIN PRIZE FOR AMERICAN HUMOR

The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW

This year’s awardee is Kevin Hart.

APRIL

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS SPRING GALA

6:30 p.m., The National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW

Celebrate after a two-year hiatus in the newly renovated building. This year, actor Tracee Ellis Ross will be honored.

Consign with DOYLE

At DOYLE, we tell the stories of objects and people. As a family-owned auction house, our business is personal and our process is bespoke. Each consignment begins with expertise paired with thoughtful conversations to ultimately share the story behind each item with our global audience.

Our Specialists are collecting Fine Art, Jewelry, Watches and more for auction or outright purchase. Please contact us to schedule a private in-person or virtual appointment.

Samira Farmer & Reid Dunavant

DoyleDC@Doyle.com 301-348-5282

Kevin Hart. Courtesy Kennedy Center.

Above: Benjamin Marshall, Portrait of the Artist and His Favorite Newfoundland Est. $40,000-60,000.

Below : Verdura Pair of Platinum, Diamond and South Sea Cultured Pearl ‘Wing’ Pendant-Earclips. Est. $10,000-15,000.

Azali Kassum (right), who is co-chairing the event again this year with Donna Leonos, to thank the homeowners whose residences are on the tour. Photo by Bill Starrels.

‘The Washington Book: How to Read Politics and Politicians’

A WITTY, MOSTLY WINNING COMPILATION OF COLUMNIST CARLOS LOZADA’S PREVIOUS WORK.

REVIEWED BY KITTY KELLEY

It takes journalistic bravado to republish old columns and present them as timely or even worth rereading. The feat works for humorists like Dave Barry and Calvin Trillin, but for most columnists, it’s like driving on flat tires: “New money for old rope.” Yet Carlos Lozada meets the challenge with style and substance in “The Washington Book: How to Read Politics and Politicians,” a compilation of his book reviews, opinions and essays for the Washington Post from 2004 to 2023.

The Pulitzer Prize winner, now at the New York Times, leads with his longest but not his strongest. Instead, he deals from the bottom of his deck, expending the first 124 pages on a section called “Leading” (rhymes with “bleating”). He recycles columns on the campaign books of presidents, vice presidents, has-beens and wannabes. Lozada begins by presenting three chapters on Barack Obama in which he thumps the former commanderin-chief for presenting America with its “most self-referential presidency.” Next come three chapters on Hillary Clinton that challenge her

“to reveal the humanity behind the capability, the person inside the politician.”

Then, in single chapters, Lozada dusts off “dedicated enabler” Mike Pence, “calcified” Dick Cheney, “lucky” Joe Biden, “feel-yourpain Democrat and policy wonk” Kamala Harris and Ron DeSantis, who “wants the elite validation of his Ivy League credentials [Yale and Harvard Law] and the populist cred for trash-talking.” Finally, Lozada lowers the boom on Donald Trump in five devastating chapters.

Those who’ve read the critic’s first book, 2020’s “What Were We Thinking: A Brief Intellectual History of the Trump Era,” will not be jolted by his searing take-down of the former president, which he delivered after reading eight ghost-written books by Trump, plus 150 books about Trump, for a staggering 2,212 pages on Trump. After this pulverizing research, Lozada concludes: “I encountered a world where bragging is breathing and insulting is talking, where repetition and contradiction come standard, where vengefulness and

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insecurity erupt at random.”

After his opening section, Lozada offers five more: “Fighting,” “Belonging,” “Enduring,” “Posing” and “Imagining.” The motherlode of the book is the 26 pages he devotes to the chapter entitled “9/11 Was a Test, and We Failed.” Here, the author soars above political musings to address the ultimate subject of civilization’s existence. To write it, he read at least 20 books and several government reports, all cited, in order to present a brilliant summary of what prompted the attack on the U.S. in 2001, how we responded and the price America paid and continues to pay.

2004 Democratic National Convention speech — “in no other country on Earth is my story even possible” — notes Lozada, adding, “Criticize a guy’s rhetoric long enough and you’re bound to start sounding like him.”

The master critic seems rocked by Marco Rubio’s acknowledgements in “American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone,” in which Florida’s senior senator writes, “I thank my Lord, Jesus Christ, whose willingness to suffer and die for my sins will allow me to enjoy eternal life.” In the very next sentence, Rubio thanks “My very wise lawyer, Bob Barnett.” Lozada notes the one-two punch of God and Mammon is “kind of a big deal.”

This chapter displays scholarship at its finest, bolstered by inspired writing and thorough research worthy of a dissertation. It should be required reading for White House staff, members of Congress and all government agencies handling national security, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council and the Departments of State, Defense and Treasury. For this chapter alone, Lozada deserves a second Pulitzer — for public service.

Transitioning from consequential to comedic, he advises readers of political books not to ignore the acknowledgements. “This is where politicians disclose their debts, scratch backs, suck up and snub,” he explains. The best snub goes to Mike Pence, who does not mention Donald Trump by name in his autobiography, “So Help Me God.”

Lozada alerts readers to the former Texas governor Rick Perry, “often accused of being intellectually unencumbered,” who wrote in “Fed Up!: Our Fight to Save America from Washington” that thanking his wife was a “no-brainer,” a term that Lozada suggests Perry “avoid in any sentence describing his decision-making.” Exercised by Josh Hawley’s “Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs,” the critic asks: “Which is it, senator? Do American men need to man up like their forefathers or hunker down in ideological silos like their political leaders? If you are promoting manhood, why wallow in victimhood? This is a book that raises its fists, then runs for cover.”

Lozada also slams Sen. Ted Cruz for possible plagiarism in writing this about his immigrant father in “A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America”: “Only in a land like America is his story — is our story — even possible.” It sounds a lot like Barack Obama’s

Most delightful are the parenthetical asides, frequently witty and often withering. In writing about Obama’s political ambition, Lozada observes, “The sense of destiny is not unusual among those who become president. (See Clinton, Bill.)” He compliments Obama as a writer but cuffs the former president’s lengthy 751-page memoir: “(It’s the audacity of trope).”

On Trump’s attempt to quash the book by his niece, Mary, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Lozada notes that “the suit was over money — what else.” When Hillary Clinton announced for president, she called for “an inclusive society … what I once called ‘a village’ that has a place for everyone.” Lozada’s aside: “(As if we didn’t remember).”

In the end, not every seat at Lozada’s table is prized, but he serves a bountiful feast of literary dish. You’ll walk away nourished and well-fed. (Maybe even overstuffed.)

Georgetown resident Kitty Kelley has written several number-one New York Times best-sellers, including “The Family: The Real Story Behind the Bush Dynasty.” Her most recent books include “Capturing Camelot: Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the Kennedys” and “Let Freedom Ring: Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the March on Washington.” She serves on the board of BIO (Biographers International Organization) and Washington Independent Review of Books, where this review originally appeared.

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