Celebrating 90 Years THE GEORGETOWN

House Tour Returns

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

n April 22, the annual Georgetown House Tour returns for its 90th showing — opening nine historic and exceptional houses (one, a house of worship) of varying styles to local and out-of-town guests, likely numbering more than 1,800. The tour is believed to be the oldest, most prestigious house tour in the country. Ninety never looked so good — and so do the nine places on the tour. With committed homeowners, architects, designers and tour volunteers, it takes a village to put on an event that has raised millions to support charities that serve those in need in Georgetown and beyond since 1931.

“Today, St. John’s Episcopal Church celebrates the 90th running of the Georgetown House Tour, annually benefitting the many missions and ministries supported by the church community,” says Donna Leanos, chair of this year’s Georgetown House Tour. “During the 1930s, a time of upheaval in our country, folks were searching for ways to help those who were less fortunate and who had fallen on very difficult times. Many residents of Georgetown were hungry and living in unhealthy conditions at that time. Mrs. Jefferson Randolph Kean noticed this problem and decided to organize a tour of the many beautiful and historically significant homes of Georgetown, charging a fee that would ultimately support these neighbors.”

St. John’s Church, Georgetown Parish, is engaged in many outreach programs, supported, in part, by the Georgetown House Tour. Over the past few years, St. John’s has funded a broad range of human service organizations, including: Bishop Walker School, Bright Beginnings, Cornerstone Community, Seabury Senior Ministries,

Georgetown Ministry Center, Grate Patrol, Jubilee Jobs, DC Volunteer Lawyers Project, Manna, Metro Teens & Pediatric AIDS, New Futures and Joseph House (all in the Washington metro area), in addition to Seafarers & International House, American Near East Refugee Aid, Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and Honduras Support through the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.

Chaired by Kathryn Minor Jones, the Patron’s Party — created by tour benefactor Frida Burling — will kick off the action for offer glimpses, both interior and exterior, of historic houses that we have had the privilege of restoring, expanding and ushering into the 21st century — lots to discover behind the historic facades!” says Zapatka.

Designer Azali Kassum worked with Zapatka on one of the houses on the tour and is opening her own home for the day. Her Georgetown story — like Zapatka’s — is both personal and professional.

She met her now husband, Ian Myers, when the two were teenagers attending the

“Our entire day to day life revolves around this community, and the Georgetown House Tour is such a fabulous way to give back. All the homes which participate each year provide an incredible view to the design, architecture and history of Georgetown and how families live today — each a gem in its own right.” the Georgetown House Tour with a stylish reception on April 19 at the Hawkins residence (the Henry Foxhall house) on Dumbarton Street.

On Saturday, April 22, the self-guided tour — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — will begin at St. John’s Church on O Street, where guests will receive a House Tour magazine with maps and histories on each property. Attendees will also receive admission to the Parish Tea, held in Blake Hall at the church.

The homes are certainly exceptional and historic — well-known architect Christian Zapatka invites attendees to four special places, including his residence and his home office.

“It’s always a pleasure and an honor to

American Embassy School in New Delhi, India, in the late 1980s.

“Our parents were all stationed there for work, and Ian and I were both in the same high school science class,” Kassum says. “We reconnected 25 years later, when Ian, rather serendipitously, came across my name while researching law firms with a presence in India. I was living in Georgetown at the time which really set the stage for our courtship and our decision to settle here. We love the neighborhood, its history, and how walkable it is, whether with our dog or to our favorite date night destinations, such as Apero, Chez Billy and Martin’s Tavern. All three of our children have attended Little Folks School.”

As for her design philosophy, Kassum says, “I’ve always had a passion for design, inspired by my mother’s love of antiquing and our global travels throughout my childhood. Creating and recreating living spaces were often my great escape from practicing law. My minimalist and organic approach to design is rooted in the belief that your home should reflect who you are, what you love and how you live while creating a sanctuary from the chaos of every day. I love layering natural textures, materials and finishes with curated and meaningful pieces, the unexpected contrast of which draws your eye and connects you to a space. Design for me is also fluid, ever evolving and transformative. The entire process excites me, from configuring floor plans for how a family functions in their home carries equal weight to how it is ultimately decorated.”

Kassum adds: “Our home, featured on the tour, served as exploration of this — taking a 1790s Federal down to its bones, revealing the original brick, beams, thresholds and lintels — and pulling it back together by opening rooms to bring in the outdoors. It’s a surprise to most who walk through to see these deconstructed and simplified spaces which also feel warm and inviting.”

Indeed, it does take a village to show off the charms of the oldest neighborhood in the nation’s capital. We know the walls have ears and more. So, if you look and listen very hard, you’ll learn a little more about Georgetown.