The Georgetowner December 6, 2023

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GEORGETOWNER.COM

VOLUME 70 NUMBER 3

DEC 6, 2023 - JAN 9, 2024

Mapping Season’s Best the

M eet ou r map researcher, Vivien D obrescu

O ur gi f t t o you ! D i sc over w h e r e t o sh op, eat, pl a y a nd s t a y i n Geor g e t own

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IN THIS ISSUE

ON THE COVER Our map researcher, Vivien Dobrescu, walked every block of Georgetown, meticulously filling in every address and noting every future restaurant and store opening.

She also recorded vacant spots and closures too. Our work is just beginning with Vivien’s map and we will continue to keep the map up to date. Please notify us if you know of any updates or changes. We also wish Vivien well as she graduates from The School Without Walls and begins college in the fall of 2024.

Photo by Philip Bermingham.

NEWS · 6 - 9 Town Topics News Bytes Volta Park Renovation ANC Report Crime Report

EDITORIAL & OPINION · 10 THE VILLAGE · 11

Who is a

Georgetowners of the Year Community Calendar

BUSINESS · 12 Ins & Outs

COVER · 14 - 15 Discover Georgetown Map Gift Guide

HAUTE & COOL · 16 ARTS · 17 - 18 Art Bytes

FOOD & WINE · 19 Cocktail of the Month

REAL ESTATE · 20 IN COUNTRY · 21 Omni Homestead Resort

KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB · 22 The Postcard

4 DECEMBER 6, 2023

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robert Devaney

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT & ADVERTISING Kate Oczypok

MANAGING EDITOR Christopher Jones

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT Peggy Sands FEATURE EDITOR Ari Post FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Allyson Burkhardt Lauretta McCoy GRAPHIC DESIGN Troy Riemer Laura Argentieri PHOTOGRAPHERS Philip Bermingham Bill Starrels

CONTRIBUTORS Mary Bird Susan Bodiker Allyson Burkhardt Didi Cutler Donna Evers Michelle Galler Amos Gelb Wally Greeves Kitty Kelley Rebekah Kelley Jody Kurash Shelia Moses Kate Oczypok Linda Roth Alison Schafer Celia Sharpe Mary Ann Treger

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PUBLISHER Sonya Bernhardt

“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 For advertising inquiries email advertising@georgetowner.com or call (202) 338-4833

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HUGE RALLY FOR ISRAEL ON NATIONAL MALL B Y P E G G Y SAN D S Pro-Israel demonstration on Nov. 14 at the National Mall. Photo by Jordan Tovin.

CITY TAVERN CELEBRATES PAST & FUTURE B Y R O B E RT D EVAN EY City Tavern Preservation Foundation Vice President Andrus Seferlis and Executive Director Leslie Maysak. Georgetowner photo.

DC CHAMBER AT 85: ‘ELEVATE, ADVOCATE, CONNECT’ B Y C H R I STIN E WAR N KE Angela Franco, President and CEO, DC Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Tonya Vidal Kinlow, Chairwoman of the Board, DC Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy DC Chamber.

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TOWN TOPICS

News Bytes

BY KAT E OCZ Y P OK

THE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGETOWN ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD

CAG has announced new board directors and an office manager. Tara Sakraida Parker will remain president and Brittany Sawyer will stay executive director. Mark Stuckart will become interim treasurer, Grant Bermann and Leslie Zemnick Folsgaard will be board directors, while Alexandra Peters Randle will be office manager.

JELLEFF PLAN QUESTIONED

Bob Stowers, longtime coach and director of the Jelleff Recreation Center told a panel of D.C. Parks and Rec officials last month that a proposed plan for reconstruction of the center, initially approved earlier this year, won’t work. There were plans for a move of a swimming pool (which is now possibly postponed), a second full basketball court, and more. Visit Georgetowner.com for more on this issue.

Aerial view of Jelleff Community Center at 3265 S St. NW. Courtesy Jelleff Community Center.

MEDSTAR GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PAVILION OPENS DEC. 10

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has unveiled a brand new Verstandig Pavilion set to open December 10. A recent ribboncutting ceremony marked the milestone. Senior leaders were on hand, along with philanthropist Grant Verstandig and CBS Evening News’s Norah O’Donnell (a Georgetown alumna), who served as emcee. President and CEO of MedStar Health Kenneth A. Samet spoke at the unveiling. “This is truly a transformational project, creating a world-class facility to match the world-class care provided by our physicians, nurses and associates.”

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He also gets along very well with other dogs.

A new Georgetown Jack live mascot will be arriving early next year.

ANOTHER JACK IN 2024

There’s a new pup coming to town! A four-month-old English bulldog puppy from California will be the next Georgetown Jack live mascot. He will be joining the community early next year after the untimely death of his predecessor at just age 4. Jack is currently 30

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GEORGETOWN MAIN STREET TO LIGHT CHRISTMAS TREE

Georgetown’s first community Christmas tree will be lit at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Executive Director of Georgetown Main Street Rachel Shank told The Georgetowner that “Georgetown’s small business community has long dreamt of a holiday centerpiece to bring festivity to the corridor.” The 18-foottall Douglas fir stands at the bottom of Book Hill Park through the holiday season.

New Georgetown community Christmas Tree.

TOWN TOPICS

View of Volta Park Baseball diamond. Courtesy National Park Service.

Volta Park Baseball Diamond $700,000 Renovation

BY PEG GY SA NDS A very lively, civil and informed meeting between DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) officials and Volta Park users on Nov. 26 at the Georgetown Public Library answered many questions about the until-now stalled renovation of the Volta Park baseball field — and posed a few new ones.

The baseball diamond in Volta Park is an icon of Georgetown history. Nothing has changed much since then except that the benches are increasingly degenerating, and the playing field is slowly eroding. Plans for its renovations have been on the books for years with a final budget approved in 2022 for $700,000. The needed reconstruction was scheduled to begin in fall 2023, but the park was once a burial ground. “Extensive archeological work had to be done to ensure that no graves from the old cemetery would be disturbed,” said Christopher Dyer, DPR Community Engagement Manager.

The plans deal basically with three issues.

First is the undisputed need to repair the baseball diamond. The playing field will be completely resod. The backstop, benches and stands will be repaired but remain basically the same.

The second focus of the project is to manage the water runoff through the playing field that is causing erosion and mud throughout the area.

The plans are to construct a multilayer deep “French drain” across the middle of the park running east-west and then turning south to link

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into a city storm water drain.

The third focus that produced the most questions and concerns by the very well-informed audience was the construction of a fence that would separate the picnic and family areas in the mainly north-west area of the park, from the baseball playing field. The fence would protect especially small children and the numerous dogs that families bring to the park from running into baseball players. It will be four feet high and have two gates onto the field that will remain closed, even locked, most of the time. A new ramp will be constructed as an access path for wheelchairs, strollers and picnic wagons from the upper 34th Street entrance down to the northwest corner.

The fence raised honest controversy. The city sees the park as a public baseball diamond with a park. Many in the community see it otherwise.

D.C. also frankly identified that many users also see that area as an unofficial dog park where dogs can go unleashed; but it is not, and they cannot legally. A low closed fence would make it legal at least to allow dogs in the area.

The only issue where Saraya Arnold, president of the Friends of Volta Park, got the project DPR Landscape Architect Peter Nohrden to promise a call back, concerned leaking retaining walls along Volta Place during rains.

The permit procurement process is now under way. DPR expects the project to have approval and contracts to begin perhaps in spring 2024.

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TOWN TOPICS

Crime: D.C.’s Crime-Fighting Woes

ANC: Prosecutions, Leaf Pickups

BY CH RISTOP HER J O N E S

BY PEGGY SAN D S

Georgetown’s new MPD Second District Commander, Tatjana Savoy, (right) with MPD Officer Leake (left) in 2019. Facebook photo.

Again, our city’s crime problems are national news. On Nov. 24, Associated Press reported that “homicides are rising in the nation’s capital, but police are solving far fewer of the cases.” Washington, D.C., the report said is “witnessing a multiyear spike in the number of homicides,” but crime-solving has recently deteriorated. Such trends, of course, lead to a downwardly spiraling feedback-loop, where would-be criminals are less-deterred while residents lose faith in police, detectives and law enforcement generally.

“The percentage of homicides solved by the Metropolitan Police Department has declined sharply in 2023, leaving the city on track to record its lowest so-called “clearance rate” or “closure rate” in more than 15 years,” AP reported. “As of Nov. 13, only 75 of the 244 homicides committed this year have been solved by police. Factoring in the 33 prior-year homicides cleared thus far in 2023, the overall closure rate stands at around 45 percent. That would be the lowest rate dating back at least to 2007, according to statistics provided by the MPD.” According to Professor of Criminology Rick Rosenfeld of the Univ. of Missouri-St. Louis, the “average clearance rate tends to hover” between 50 percent and 60 percent, meaning D.C is well below average in cities’ crimesolving. The AP story cited D.C.’s Deputy

Mayor for Public Safety Lyndsey Appiah who acknowledged that case closure represents “some sense of justice for victims,” and without it, a sense of “crisis” is created. In testimony to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee this year, Appiah “flatly acknowledged the scope of the crisis facing the nation’s capital,” AP reported.

“Oxford defines a crisis as a time of intense difficulty, trouble or danger,” she testified.

“So I would say there is a crisis.”

D.C.’s crime lab, the Department of Forensic Science also “lost its accreditation in spring 2021 over allegations of flaws in its analysis,” the report said. “Appiah said the lab hopes to regain its accreditation early next year; in the meantime, the city is outsourcing its crime scene analysis, a process that consumes time and money, she said, according to AP. Other indications that D.C. is facing a “crime crisis”? “Homicides in Washington are up 33 percent this year over last. Violent crimes involving juveniles also are rising steadily, as are carjackings, with a U.S. congressman and a diplomat from the United Arab Emirates among the recent victims,” AP reported.

Georgetown’s Second District has a new MPD commander, though no word yet on the reasons for the change. “I am honored to introduce myself as the new commander of the Second District, where I previously served as a captain,” announced Tatjana Savoy, MPD, replacing John Branch, Second District’s commander since March, 2023. Savoy said she is “committed to building on the successes achieved by my predecessor, Commander John Branch. I bring with me a deep understanding of community policing, crime prevention strategies, and the importance of fostering positive relationships with those we serve.

I am confident we can continue to make a positive impact together on the safety and well-being of our community. Thank you for your support.”

Phew! The Georgetown, Burleith, Hillandale Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC2E) meeting on Dec. 4 was so packed with community announcements that its two featured reports about crime and D.C. student achievement came close to the “Too Much Information” cliff.

This year’s alarming increase in crimes is uppermost in residents’ minds. The common perception has it that Washington, D.C. prosecutes less than a third of those arrested for violent crimes. “Actually in 2023, 52 percent of those arrested for committing crimes in D.C. were prosecuted,” said Wendy Pohlhaus from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, part of the Department of Justice.

“That compares to less than 40 percent in 2022,” she said. Reasons for low prosecution rates include that many of the crimes were misdemeanors, or there was insufficient evidence to make a “constructive possession case.” Some cases had viable defenses, while some were subject to prosecutorial discretion.

The biggest obstacle to prosecution, according to Pohlhaus, is the lack of a certified criminal lab in D.C. to validate accusations, especially of assaults with a deadly weapon.

It was clear that Pohlhaus’s crime presentation would be worth a good separate hour or more.

It was same with the report by Ward Two’s

State Board of Education Representative Allister Chang, a former Georgetown resident.

He showed a detailed D.C. report card for the over 200 public general and charter schools that revealed that only 30 percent of D.C. students can read proficiently at grade level. Even in Ward 2 schools, reading proficiency hovers around 60 percent. Chang suggested many solutions, which warrant in-depth discussion.

The end-of-the-year updates by D.C. spokespersons were more upbeat. The Mayor’s Office displayed plans for the use of 250 snowplows and a call for volunteers to help shovel out sidewalks of infirm neighbors in case of snow. Meanwhile, areas of Georgetown are weeks behind schedule for sweeping out piles of soggy leaves in the streets. A second round of leaf pickup is being planned and many expect this time the doorknob notices and the pickup will arrive on scheduled times.

Among the reviews by the ANC and Old Georgetown Board is the conversion of the Capital One Bank building on Q and Wisconsin Avenue into a Tattee Bakery and Café. Its patio for outdoor dining and a parking lot drew particular attention. Concerns regarding noise, garbage pickup and parking lot monitoring were explored at length before the commission voted its approval.

The next ANC2E meeting will be Jan. 9.

Tatjana Savoy, Commander, Second District MPD is stationed at 3320 Idaho Ave. NW and may be reached at: (202) 715-7300.

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TOWN TOPICS

An Epiphany: Small Church, Hidden in Plain Sight

BY PEG GY SA NDS “People tell me they have passed

by Epiphany Church dozens of times but didn’t know it was an active church,” Rev. Stefan Megyery (aka Father Stefan) told the Georgetowner last week.

Recently the Archdiocese of Washington announced that Megyery is now permanent parish administrator, the pastor, of Epiphany Church at 2712 Dumbarton St. NW on the east side of Georgetown.

The church is one block from Rose Park — red brick with three arched doors and twin belfries. A rectory is next door with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary on its neat, gated front yard. There’s also a statue of Jesus to the right of the church steps.

It looks like a village church in a small rural community. Yet it is an historic church in Georgetown — active for 100 years. The parish was founded in 1923 when about 300 black parishioner families left Holy Trinity Catholic Church on 36th Street to form their

Rev. Stefan Megyery — aka Father Stefan — pastor of Epiphany Church.

Photo by Jaclyn Lippelmann/Catholic Standard. own community because of the bigotry and segregation of the times. Two years later, the church was built, featuring a stained-glass window depicting the Epiphany — when the Three Kings encountered the Infant Jesus.

That event is celebrated every Jan. 6.

“There are at least two families descended from the original founders still active with Epiphany today and who will help us celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2025,” Megyery

said. “And the parish is growing – slowly, but in a surprising way. It appears that a good proportion of the daily and Sunday mass attendees are young professionals in or near their 30s. Even for morning Masses and confessionals there has never been a day when no one showed up.”

Some of that growth may be due to Epiphany’s tradition of diversity. While Masses and confessions are held every morning at 7:30

a.m. in English, on Saturdays and Sundays; the 9:30 Sunday Masses are in Korean — and in Lithuanian, once a month. There are Masses in Latin on the first Saturday of the month.

Until recently, the parish comprised a large French-speaking congregation.

Megyery speaks with a soft German accent from his native Berlin. He came to Washington, D.C., to do research for his doctoral degree in history. He finished it but began thinking about becoming a priest.

After a year in Germany, he was accepted at the Saint John Paul II Seminary and then Theological College, both in Washington, D.C. “Since my ordination to the priesthood in 2019, I served for two years as parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Church in Rockville, Maryland,” Megyery said. “Because of my heritage, I also was involved with the Hungarian Catholic community in the diocese.

Then in 2021, Epiphany’s pastor — Monsignor Godfrey Mosley — died unexpectedly. I was appointed to try out his position.”

“Now I look forward to building the church programs and parish in the coming years,” Megyery said. “A diverse and active Catholic church on the east side of Georgetown, especially as we celebrate our 100th anniversary.”

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EDITORIAL

Send Your Feedback, Questions or Concerns, Tips and Suggestions to editorial@georgetowner.com or call 202-338-4833.

Celebrate Joy with The Season The holidays can be a joyous time of year but also a difficult time for many. While last month was all about gratitude and giving thanks, this month turns to the concept of joy.

With wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza, it’s hard to feel particularly joyful this holiday season. While we are in no way advocating not caring about issues like these, we will say that sometimes it is a form of self-care — and ultimately care for others — to take some time to reflect on the joy that is in one’s own life at this very moment.

Joy can be as little as the delicious coffee you love at the shop around the corner. Joy can be a walk around Georgetown with your dog, taking in the neighborhood holiday decorations. Feeling joyful can be bigger too, like taking time to reflect on family or friends who surround you this holiday season.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of two classic holiday films: Elf and Love Actually.

Both have great messages when it comes to joy. Will Ferrell’s Buddy the Elf may seem like a bumbling idiot but look a little closer and

you’ll see he’s just full of pure joy. He’s happy to meet a family he never knew, he finds great delight in everyday things like revolving doors or an average cup of coffee. He finds that the little things in life are worth smiling about.

Love Actually has a great monologue by Hugh Grant as the movie begins. Reflecting on the gloomy state of the world, he reminisces about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport.

He talks about how people generally believe that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but he doesn’t see that. “It seems to be that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there,” he tells the viewer. As he ends his monologue, he says “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”

This holiday season, take some time to really look for that love. Chances are, you’ll find it surrounds us every day in some way or another. Find that joy for yourself, no matter how big or small. Happy holidays, Georgetown.

Is D.C. Still Nation’s Murder Capital? Not Per the Stats As residents may recall, Washington, D.C., was dubbed “the murder capital of the country” in the early 1990s during the crack epidemic, after journalists compared D.C.’s murder rates to those in other cities around the country. “Once you start a name…

You can’t get rid of it,” Mayor Marion Barry told the Washington Post, as the story made international headlines. Is this why D.C. continues to be pummeled unfairly for somehow leading the country in murder rates?

While violent crime in the District continues to be a top concern — of course — on a comparative basis, D.C.’s numbers of homicides per year and its murder rates (that is, number of people killed per 100,000 persons) are nowhere near the worst in the nation.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s year-to-year comparisons, as of Dec. 1, the District’s homicide numbers rose since last year from 189 to 250 last week.

It’s bad but not as bad as other cities across the nation, to be sure. Check the following list — places like D.C., L.A. and New York are not in the top ten.

According to World Population Review, the

ten cities in the United States with the highest murder rates (murders per 100,000 people) for 2023 are: 1 — ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (69.4) 2 — BALTIMORE, MARYLAND (51.1) 3 — NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA (40.6) 4 — DETROIT, MICHIGAN (39.7) 5 — CLEVELAND, OHIO (33.7) 6 — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (31.4) 7 — KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (31.2) 8 — MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (27.1) 9 — NEWARK, NEW JERSEY (25.6) 10 — CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (24)

D.C.’s latest murder rate hardly compares to what the city went through in the early 90s. In 1991, D.C. had 482 murders over the year, or 80.6 per 100,000 persons — by 2020, murders had dropped to 198, a rate of 27.78. Yes, D.C. will be back up to more than 250 murders for the year, but the city has proven itself capable of remarkable improvements. Let’s hope progress will continue in 2024.

Letter to the Editor

Georgetown Is Hot to Shop Last week, WTOP News ran an upbeat story, headlined “Georgetown sees solid year despite retail, restaurant shuttering in DC,” and concluded “2023 has been a solid year for one of the District’s oldest and most established dining and shopping destinations.

While 27 restaurants and retail stores in Georgetown have closed this year, including Banana Republic, Bangkok Joe’s and two bank branches, openings have far outpaced closings.”

“Our vacancy rates on the restaurant and retail side are back down to where they were pre-pandemic,” Faith Broderick, economic development director for the Georgetown Business Improvement District, told WTOP. “This year alone, we have had over 55 retail and restaurants open, and we expect around 30 to 40 more to open next year.”

We know that — and so do business owners who want to locate in Georgetown. And, more importantly, people want to come here to shop, dine and play. Yes, this town remains popular — and another publication called it “cool” a 10 DECEMBER 6, 2023

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few months ago.

“Georgetown is on track to see 12 million visitors this year, more than twice the 14th Street Corridor or The Wharf, and more than three times Bethesda Row and Union Market,” reported WTOP, which added that “about 60 percent of businesses in Georgetown are locally owned” and the “true vacant” rate of its commercial properties is six percent.

We certainly celebrate our longtime businesses like Martin’s Tavern (90 years), Filomena Ristorante (40 years) Cafe Milano (30 years) and Georgetown Tobacco. The town boasts 1789, Apéro, Bourbon Steak, Cut, Das, La Chaumiere, Tony & Joe’s, Chez Billy Sud, Fiola Mare, Peacock Cafe, Clyde’s, Kyojin, 1310 Kitchen, Lutèce, L’Avant-Garde and Yellow — with a few great ones coming up as well.

What makes Georgetown so appealing is evident if you take a partial tour of stores, starting around Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, walking north. We can visit Vineyard Vines, Veronica Beard, Zadig & Voltaire,

Coolidge Foundation Story Lights Up Plymouth Notch Ralph Lauren, Hobo, Random Harvest, Shop Made in DC, L.A. Burdick Chocolates, Take Care, Tugooh Toys, Lili the First. Or, check out the new stores on O Street — Manse, Georgetown Garden Shop, Arcay Chocolates — and favorites on P Street — Just Paper & Tea and Ella-Rue. These are beautiful stores, and some are especially beautiful. They have beautiful offerings as well. Walk right in, say hello and get someone a very special Christmas gift. (And choices abound in many directions. Other spots to enjoy: M Street, east or west, Washington Harbour, Book Hill, Cady’s Alley and upper Georgetown.)

Georgetown is a place to wander around, to bring your friends and family. It can be quite enchanting — and bustling with different kinds of people. So, be sure to check out The Georgetowner’s new interactive map, “Discover Georgetown,” which shows where to shop, eat, play and go. Happy Holidays and happy shopping!

Dear Editors, We were just delighted by your article [“Cool Yule: Coolidge Foundation in Georgetown Celebrates Silent Cal Centenary,” Nov. 2023, p. 14], and tickled to death that Cal and Grace even made the cover. Your article has been the buzz of town. Thank you very much for helping Washingtonians to remember President Coolidge in this big centennial year.

All the best, Matthew Denhart, President

This year’s National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse. Courtesy NPS.

THE VILLAGE

Georgetowners of the Year for 2023

BY TH E GE ORGETOWN E R E D I TO R I A L B O A R D

MAURICE BROWN OF MORGAN’S PHARMACY

Morgan Care Pharmacy is a 112-year-old business at the corner of 30th and P Streets NW. With owner Sahar Kassem and other pharmacists, this neighborhood sanctuary of

calm, prescriptions and medical supplies is a rare Georgetown gem.

Standing at the register and coordinating phone calls, deliveries and customers is Maurice Brown, an employee of more than 33 years. His efficient, smooth manner and voice puts everyone at ease when they might be feeling anxious because of a medical condition.

His previous job may have helped: he worked at National Airport towing airplanes to their gateways.

Kassam said when she took over the business: “Maurice is a big part of Morgan’s, too. We want to keep that alive — the feeling of home, the feeling that patients can rely on us even if they’re having a hard time reaching the doctor.”

Rare is the gentleman behind the register so beloved and dedicated — but we in Georgetown have such a person.

For such accomplishments — above and beyond — Maurice Brown is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2023.

THE FRIENDS OF VOLTA PARK

“It was an opportunity to fix up the park,” said John Richardson, founder of the Friends of Volta Park. “It’s been great fun.” In 1996, the allvolunteer nonprofit began working with the neighborhood and the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation to maintain, improve and protect Volta Park’s grounds and gardens.

Located along 34th Street between Volta Place and Q Street, Volta Park dates to 1769.

The land was originally used as a cemetery and became a park more than 100 years ago.

Twenty-five years ago, however, history was not on Volta Park’s side. The park was a mess, and the pool and recreation center were closed.

Assisted by then-Council member Jack Evans and later with supporters like real estate agents Nancy Taylor Bubes and Michael Rankin, the Friends group has grown into a who’s who of concerned citizens and parents of young family — whether it be Mimsy Lindner, Steven Barentzen, Kristen Lever, Kellee Glass

The naming of Georgetowners of the Year has been a tradition of The Georgetowner newspaper for decades. Several well-known, devoted and influential members of the neighborhood have already received this distinction, such as Billy Martin, Pamla Moore, Leslie Maysak, Leslie Buhler, Bob Woodward, Nancy Taylor Bubes, Rev. Rick Curry and Connie Milstein — as well as Peacock Cafe, Cafe Milano, the Four Seasons Hotel, Mt. Zion Methodist Church, Dumbarton

VIVIEN TSANG OF SARA’S MARKET

Vivien Tsang of Sara’s Market at 3008 Q St. NW, with her co-owner John Michael Kushner, has saved a business that was established in 1919 and had closed in June 2022 — we thought forever. An impactful Georgetowner headline read: “End of an Era.” But in May of this year, Sara’s Market was resurrected by Tsang, who is the proprietor of the boutique, gourmet specialty store. With neighborhood encouragement, she and Kushner renovated the store. (They also own Dent Place Market on 34th Street.) As the face of the business, she is active in the community, whether it be events at Rose Park or Volta Park. Her friendly, unaffected manner makes everyone smile — and the kids love the popsicles, too.

Sara’s Market, the market-aware Tsang says, has “great wine, local craft beer, innovative snacks, fresh pastries, Bullfrog Bagels and drip

Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Church, the Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park and the Friends of Rose Park.

This year’s group — selected by the editorial board — includes a meticulous, serene store manager, an entrepreneurial business owner and a volunteer non-profit largely run by dynamic Georgetown women and moms.

Without further ado, we present the Georgetowners of the Year.

coffee — along with Mount Desert Island ice cream and other gourmet items.” It has continued its dry- cleaning services. With years of sales, shopkeeping and event pla n n i ng experience behind her, we look forward to Tsang’s future progress. This entrepreneur and “King of Pops Cartrepreneur” is a great addition to Georgetown — and has honored its history.

For such accomplishments — above and beyond — Vivien Tsang is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2023.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR GEORGETOWN GLOW Through Jan. 22, 5-10:00 p.m.

Georgetown BID, Commercial District.

Experience the magic of light at Glow in Georgetown, the region’s only curated outdoor public light art experience set against the backdrop of D.C.’s oldest neighborhood, now in its 9th edition.

or Nina Rich. Today, the Friends of Volta Park board includes Ashley Burke, Liz D’Angio, Elizabeth Figoni, Alison Garback, Carrie Hoffman, Brian Macauley, Sally Atwater McLeod, Elizabeth Reid, Malorie Blake Shin, Claire Voorhees.

With Concerts in the Park during the summer, the Fall Festival and Breakfast with Santa, held this year on Dec. 9, the park is a wonderful place for the children of Georgetown. Currently, the group is making sure the ball field is fixed properly.

For such accomplishments — above and beyond — the Friends of Volta Park is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2023.

MEETING OF THE OLD GEORGETOWN BOARD Dec. 7, 9:00 a.m.

401 F St. NW, Suite 312. Filing Deadline: Nov. 9 GEORGETOWN COOKIE TOUR Dec. 9, 12-4:00 p.m.

Georgetown Main Street (GMS) Taking the traditional holiday cookie exchange and making it a little bit sweeter, GMS will partner with local bakeries and small retailers to encourage a “tour” of Georgetown. For ticket information, go to Georgetownmainstreet.com.

A CELTIC CHRISTMAS Dec. 10, 4-6:00 p.m.

Dumbarton Church, 3133 Dumbarton St. NW. The 40-year Washington favorite returns this holiday season, celebrating the comfort and joy of the season with the classic sounds of the Barnes and Hampton Celtic Consort.

CULTURE POWER BREAKFAST FEATURING CATHEDRAL CHORAL SOCIETY DIRECTORS Dec. 14, Doors open 8:00 a.m.

Hosted by The Georgetowner, The Four Seasons Hotel, 2800 Penn. Ave. NW. VIRTUAL MEETING OF ANC2E Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m.

Go to ANC2e.com for info.

WINTER MARKET Dec. 9, 2:00 p.m.

Friends of Rose Park, 26th and O St. NW. Santa arrives at 3:00 p.m; Reindeer Dog Parade at 4:00 p.m.

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BUSINESS

INS & OUTS

BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY

IN: FRANK DARLING RINGS

The new retailer at 1305 Wisconsin Ave. NW, second floor, is another jeweler with new ideas and old-fashioned crafts. After all, Christmastime is a big draw for engagement announcements. Frank Darling’s witty introduction caught our eyes: “We’ll be frank, darling. The diamond industry benefits from confused customers. … This is where Frank Darling stands humbly at your service.”

Cécilia Bönström and Thierry Gillier, founder of Z&V.

IN: ZADIG & VOLTAIRE

French clothing brand Zadig & Voltaire opened last month at 1227 Wisconsin Ave. NW, the former site of shoes and leather goods retailer Ecco. Founded in 1997 by Thierry Gillier, Z&V writes: “Not just for him or her, day or night, or work or leisure, the Parisian fashion house redefines modern femininity with wild, free, and rock-fueled wardrobe essentials ...” (The business is named after the philosopher Voltaire and a character in one of his novellas.)

IN: VUORI ON M

The California-based apparel company, Vuori, opened Nov. 11 at 3222 M St. NW. “Launched in 2015, Vuori delivers elevated, everyday essentials that blur the lines between fitness and life,” the company tells us. “An active yogi and surfer, founder Joe Kudla was motivated to create clothing that’s ‘Built to Move in. Styled For Life.’ ”

It’s obviously the cat’s meow at Mèo Maison.

Courtesy Mèo Maison.

IN: MÈO MAISON!

Meow, we have another cat cafe, as it were. The kitties are at the window at 1336 Wisconsin Ave. NW in the former Goodyear tire shop. The owners write: “We partner with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, who save homeless cats and kittens at risk of euthanasia, and we house them in our cafe. At our cafe, we care for our cats and kittens until they are adopted!” Cafe con Bagel is next door.

branding agency tells us it has “signed a five-year lease for the former Georgetown location of co-working space, the Wing.”

The 10,600-square-foot space at 1056 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, according to the PR firm, is equipped with a large-scale event space with stadium seating and a green room, a catering kitchen and café, a library, shower facilities and a fitness room.

1406 Wisconsin Ave. NW. However, Parviz Mizrahi, co-owner of the classic sportswear store with his sister Lida Solmen, told The Georgetowner that Dolce Vita — Madden’s upscale brand for women’s boots, flats and sneakers — is now taking over the old Prince & Princess space.

NEW OWNER: THE FITZGERALD REPLACES BALFOUR

Tatte Bakery will be moving into the former Capital One Bank building at Wisconsin Avenue and Q Street, according to the Georgetown Metropolitan. Empty since May 2022, the Capital One Bank property at 1545 Wisconsin Ave. NW was purchased

by Roadside Development and Waterview Capital Management for $3.15 million.

The senior living facility Balfour Palisades at 4865 MacArthur Blvd. NW has been rebranded to the Fitzgerald of Palisades and is already 30-percent leased — and will open in fall 2024.

“Kisco Senior Living is the new owner with 30 years of experience in the industry.

Michael Schonbrun and Susan Juroe have decided to retire after more than 30 years of dedicated service,” Fitzgerald General Manager Alfonso Westley told his clients.

Amenities at the Fitzgerald include culinary meals in three dining venues, indoor saltwater pool, sauna, fitness center and yoga studio, hair salon, theater, a library, bar, housekeeping and home maintenance services, valet parking for residents and their guests, reserved covered parking and chauffeur service. Its leasing center is at 4418 MacArthur Blvd. NW.

MOVED (TEMPORARILY): TODD SNYDER MEN’S WEAR

Todd Snyder, the recently opened men’s clothing store at 3211 M St. NW, that temporarily closed due to an Aug. 14 fire on the top floor of its building has opened a popup store two blocks west at 3307 M St. NW.

Kim Kardashian, founder of Skims, plans to open a store at 3300 M St. NW next year.

Courtesy Skims.

COMING: KIM KARDASHIAN’S SKIMS ON M

Greco at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Dumbarton Street says it will open in December. Georgetowner photo.

IN: GRECO READY TO OPEN

This month, an authentic Greek fast casual restaurant will open at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Dumbarton Street — 1335 Wisconsin Ave. NW — in the building which previously housed &pizza and, before that, a 5 Guys burger joint. The corner is most famous for its time as Au Pied de Cochon, the latenight and storied French restaurant.

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Brand Guild co-founders Jayne Sandman and Barbara Martin. Photo by Tony Powell.

MOVING: THE BRAND GUILD TO FORMER WING SPACE

The Brand Guild, located at 3109 M St. NW, will be moving into space next to the C&O Canal in early 2024. The full-service

Founded in 2019 by Kim Kardashian, shapewear brand Skims is set to open a store at 3300 M St. NW next year, according to the Washington Business Journal. The corner spot at 33rd and M currently houses a Sandro pop-up — and was an Intermix store, before that, for years. The Skims brand, which sells loungewear, undergarments and other clothes, is valued at $4 billion, according to the New York Times.

COMING: DOLCE VITA AT WISCONSIN & O

Steve Madden was supposed to reopen in Georgetown at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street. The new store pushed the longstanding Prince & Princess next door to

COMING: TATTE BAKERY AT FORMER CAPITAL ONE BANK

OUT: NAADAM TO BE REPLACED

BY GROWN BRILLIANCE

Naadam — “the world’s fairest cashmere” — at 3003 M St. NW, having set up in the former i-Thai restaurant space, departed the town after little more than a year. The space will be taken over by a jewelry store, Grown Brilliance.

Meet the Breast Medical Oncology Team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

Every patient is unique, and so is their cancer. Our nationally recognized breast cancer specialists are here to diagnose and treat your cancer, offering a variety of treatment options that address your specific cancer.

Through our research partnership with Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center—the area’s only comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute—we are offering tomorrow’s treatments, today.

Our multidisciplinary team prioritizes compassion, respect, and empathy through every interaction because that’s the kind of care we’d want for our family members.

Meet our team.

Seated: Elaine Walsh, MD; Beth Strand, NP. Standing from left: Theresa Harrington Stukus, NP; Candace Mainor, MD; Miriam Jacobs, MD; Joyce Slingerland, MD; Nadia Ashai, MD; Claudine Isaacs, MD

If you would like to schedule an appointment or consultation with a member of our breast medical oncology team, part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, please call 202-444-2223.

Georgetowner Oncology Ad 10 x 11.25.indd 1

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2:10 PM DECEMBER 6,3/2/23 2023 13

COVER

Where to Shop

Stay

Where to Eat Where to Stay What to Do

Our Gift to Georgetown: A Map of Where to Shop, Eat, Stay and Play

BY VIVIE N DOB RES CU Our map researcher, Vivien Dobrescu, walked every block of every street in Georgetown, detailing every place and recording what was there, vacant storefronts and businesses yet to come. The process started earlier this year. In July, The Georgetowner unveiled Phase 1 of an accurate interactive map linked to Google Earth, denoting every major store, boutique, mom and pop shop, restaurant, café and bakery and all the hidden gems to know about and see in 3-D. We have completed the next stage of our efforts, which include 267 shops and boutiques and 195 restaurants, cafés and bakeries.

We’ve designed our Discover Georgetown Map to help our readers receive a more complete, colorful, up-to-date and informative guide to the commerce in our beloved community— all with the detail only locals can provide.

While the revitalization has been impressive, Georgetown still has around 80 boarded up, vacant or for-lease commercial spaces along the main streets. Our goal for this interactive map is to help fill out these vacant 14 DECEMBER 6, 2023

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storefronts in the future and contribute to the continuing growth of Georgetown’s vibrant business scene.

As an ideal spot for flagship stores, startups and on-trend retailers, Georgetown has a plethora of independent businesses to choose from and we hope you can use our map to discover some exciting new stores and restaurants.

We plan to update the map as new stores and restaurants open, and others leave. It was designed to help our readers receive a more complete perspective of the state of commerce in our community. We hope you enjoy the next stage of our map. Do not hesitate to offer a suggestion and help us create the most comprehensive map of Georgetown available.

Send your map suggestions to editorial@georgetowner.com or if you’re reading this on the web, leave a comment on the story below.

An Easy Guide to Using the Map: For a more immersive view of our map, press on the three vertical buttons next to the search bar and click “View in Google Earth.” There you can toggle between 2-D and 3-D displays, zoom in and out, change orientations, and even use it to guide a walk along the streets of our map.

COVER

Gift Guide for Shopping Georgetown

BY C HR ISTOP HER J O N E S A N D K AT E O C Z Y P O K

UNIVERSITY DOODLE BUBBLE SLEEVE $68 Boat House Apparel 1061 31 St NW. With a creative graphic doodle of Key Bridge and Georgetown University in the background – designed by co-founder and shop owner Samantha Ring – this trendy white bubble sleeve shirt is a great way to celebrate GU university life or the joys of living in D.C.’s coolest neighborhood.

Women’s Apparel, Souvenir Apparel, Bubble Sleeve Shirt, Georgetown Artwork

DIAMOND ALPHABET NECKLACE $425 Gorjana Georgetown 3029 M St. NW. Gorjana’s alphabet necklace is a meaningful present. They can be layered and are 14k solid gold, measuring 16” plus a 1” extender.

Women’s Jewelry, Necklaces

VIDA SMALL POUCH IN TANGO RED $48 HOBO Bags 1265 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Who can resist a whimsical pouch in a perfectly festive bright red?

Women’s Accessories

“SAM GILLIAM,” HARDCOVER BOOK $60.45 Bridge Street Books 2814 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Commemorate the legacy of acclaimed D.C.-based color-field painter Sam Gilliam (1933–2022) with this attractive hardcover coffee table book.

Books, Coffee Table Books, Art Books

ABSTRACT SHAPES PLANTER (7.5”) $44.00 - $60.00 Shop Made in DC 1304 Wisconsin Ave. NW. From local ceramic artist Adele Vera, these abstract shape planters provide gardeners a breath of creative fresh air for their indoor and outdoor plant displays.

Ceramic Artwork, Planters, Locallycrafted Ceramic Art

BICYCLE FLAT TIRE FIXER KIT $52.99 Trek Bicycle 3411 M St. NW. Trek’s “Bontrager Pro Flat Pack” is the ideal gift for anyone who loves to bike but doesn’t want to be stuck with a flat tire.

Bike Gear, Tools

SAPIN (PINE TREE) CLASSIC CANDLE $86 Diptyque 3273 M St. NW. Notes of pine, resin and cedar instantly fill your home with the nostalgic smells of holidays past.

Men, Women, Coworkers, Teachers, Secret Santas, for Home GMG, INC.

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HAUTE & COOL

Gold Standard 1

8

The Timeless Tradition of Gifting in Gold 7

2

4

10

12

5

3

Gifts under $100

17 18

18

20

11

13

6

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1.

WANDER BEAUTY Gold Eye Masks: $26. Blue Mercury, Georgetown.

2.

2023 WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT - Holiday Wreath: $24.95. The White House Historical Association.

3.

HOURGLASS COSMETICS Limited Edition Glossy Balm Duo: $55. Sephora, Georgetown.

4.

SUGARFINA Happy Holidays Bento Box: $32. Nordstrom.

5.

SIDAI DESIGNS Woven Warrior Bracelet: $50. The Phoenix, Georgetown.

6.

TAI Birthstone Rock Crystal Ring: $65. Neiman Marcus.

7.

REISS Girl’s Metallic Pleated Dress: $225. Saks Fifth Avenue.

8.

COULETTE NATURE French Cotton Tablecloth: $129. Tuckernuck, Georgetown.

9.

DYPTIQUE St. Germain Hourglass Fragrance Diffuser: $220. Dyptique, Georgetown.

Gifts Under $500

10. TORY BURCH Metallic Leather Clutch: $398. Tory Burch, Georgetown.

BESTSELLING GOLDEN GIFTS FROM $100, $500, AND MORE

BY ALLY S ON BURK HAR D T Tis the season to celebrate the year and the loved ones who’ve been a special part of it.

Across cultures, it’s a period of celebration and gifting. Many of these festivities are illuminated by the glimmer of gold. Whether it’s Christmas, Hannukah, Diwali or the Chinese New Year, centuries of customs are embedded in this precious metal. In the original Nativity story, gold is a special offering to honor the kingship of baby Jesus. The treasured gelt coins of Hannukah were given in appreciation to religious teachers for their service throughout the year. During Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, the gilt of gold is presented to bring fortune to the home.

Throughout Asia, gold-bars are given at the 16 DECEMBER 6, 2023

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11. KENDRA SCOTT Antique Brass Jewelry Box: $275. Kendra Scott, Georgetown.

12. CREED Men’s 3-Piece Eau de Parfum Holiday Discovery Set: $250. Macy’s.

13. CRYSTAMAS Grand Home Gold Bar of Bling: $395. Horchow.

Lunar New Year to bestow prosperity upon loved ones.

The symbolism of gold connects these traditions. And, of course, its desirability is quite pervasive today. Gold jewelry reflects status and affluence. In interiors and home décor, it radiates sophistication and refinement. Gold design elements in fashion add a sense of luxury. We’re even finding gold to be a resplendent ingredient in beauty, enhancing the luminescence of the skin. These are all ways to present your loved ones with the true gold standard. So, let’s ignite the holidays with gilded glamour and dazzle our way into the New Year.

Gifts $500 & More

14. DAVIDOFF Year of the Dragon Limited Edition Cutter: $530. Georgetown Tobacco.

15. LUGANO Diamond Ombre Gents Band. Pricing Upon Request. Lugano Jewelers, Georgetown.

16. VERSACE Men’s Baroque Bath Robe: $550. Bloomingdale’s.

17. SACKS FIFTH AVENUE Festivity Prasiolite and Diamond Cocktail Ring: $1890.

Brilliant Earth, Cady’s Alley.

18. TOM FORD Lock Metallic Stiletto Sandals: $1,350. Farfetch.

19. THE ATTICO Opalescent Minidress: $2,890. Saks Fifth Avenue.

20. LENOX Imperial Caviar Flatware Set. Service for 4. $512. Anthropologie, Georgetown.

ARTS

Art Bytes

BY KAT E OCZ Y P OK

Ángel Gil-Ordóñez, co-founder of the PostClassical Ensemble, conducts.

Courtesy Gilordonez.com.

POSTCLASSICAL ENSEMBLE SURVEYS ARCHITECTURE

Lasting only 90 minutes, PostClassical Ensemble’s November 16 concert in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater was modest. There were no singers, dancers, actors, narrators, film screening or live illustration, nor were there any gamelan orchestras. The program, called “Bouncing Off the Walls: Music and Architecture” was jointly developed by Co-Founder and Music Director Ángel Gil-Ordóñez. Washington Post Critic Philip Kennicott, and architect Hany Hassan, who is the director of Beyer Blinder Belle’s D.C. office. To explore the relationship between classical music and architecture, five musical works were chosen. Read more about the works and the full review from Richard Selden on Georgetowner.com.

NEW YORK BOUND? SEEK OUT THESE 6 ART SHOWS

If you’re headed to New York City this holiday season, arts writer Richard Selden reviewed six arts exhibitions at Manhattan museums. You can find the whole story on Georgetowner.com, but the biggest show mentioned is “Manet/Degas,” on view through January 7 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

THE MANSION ON O STREET CREATES WHIMSY WITH ‘THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS’

The Mansion on O Street is currently running an exhibit, “Through the Looking Glass,” dedicated to the world of English poet and author Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass). The exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to explore the secret gardens where new sculptures

by London-based Robert James Studio are installed. Founder of the O Museum in the Mansion, H.H. Leonards is a lifetime trustee and board member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The board’s annual retreat this year was in London during the famous Chelsea Flower Show. Leonards discovered Robert James Studio’s sculptures at the show. See the full story by Kate Oczypok on Georgetowner.com.

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ARTS ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ AT FORD’S

December 19 marks the 180th anniversary of the publication of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” At Ford’s Theatre, “A Christmas Carol” has been an annual tradition since 1979. The current adaptation, by Michael Wilson — which began its life in 1990 at Houston’s Alley Theatre — came to D.C. in 2004. For this production, Ford’s Director

of Artistic Programming José Carrasquillo recreated the original Ford’s staging by Michael Baron, currently producing artistic director of Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma.

More information on the full show, with a review by Richard Selden, can be found on Georgetowner.com.

Ragtime” — led by Bobby Smith as Tateh, with Emerson Holt Lacayo as the Little Girl.

Photo by Daniel Rader.

‘RAGTIME,’ AN AMERICAN MASTERPIECE: A MUST SEE

The musical Ragtime has been called ‘an American Masterpiece,” and it includes unforgettable music and lyrics, drama, dance, and more. It’s about racism, yellow journalism, the one-percenters, the struggling middle class of whites, blacks, and immigrants’ first, second and

third generations. It has tear-inducing tragedy and utter joy, especially in the unexpected ending that ties everything together. Ragtime is currently playing at Signature Theatre in Arlington through January 7. Read the whole review from Peggy Sands on Georgetowner.com.

SWEPT

AWAY A NEW MUSICAL TALE

BOOK BY JOHN LOGAN MUSIC AND LYRICS BY THE AVETT BROTHERS CHOREOGRAPHED BY DAVID NEUMANN DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MAYER

ON STAGE NOW Wayne Duvall in Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s world premiere production of Swept Away. Photo by Kevin Berne.

ORDER TODAY!

ARENASTAGE.ORG/SWEPTAWAY | 202-488-3300 18 DECEMBER 6, 2023

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Craig Wallace as Ebenezer Scrooge and Rayanne Gonzales as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the 2022 Ford’s Theatre production of “A Christmas Carol.” Photo by Scott Suchman.

Courtesy Ford’s Theatre.

FOOD & WINE

Cocktail of the Month

BY JODY KURA S H

filipino christmas

Western adventurers looking for a jovial Christmas escape often overlook Asian destinations due to cultural and religious differences. For the majority of people in the far East, December 25th is just another day on the calendar.

However, this changes drastically when you get to the Philippines. Christianity is the majority faith of up to 90 percent of the population with the overwhelming majority being Catholic. In fact, with celebrations starting in September and continuing until the feast of the Three Kings in January, Filipinos might be the most Christmas-crazy people in the world.

In addition to religious practices, such as nativity scenes and mass, you’ll find Western customs such as Santa Claus, Christmas trees, caroling, fantastic light displays and greeting cards. They also have their own traditions, such as “parols,” bamboo poles with lighted star lanterns that symbolize the star that guided the three wise men.

For people who just can’t get enough of the holiday spirit, the Philippines offers a plenitude of celebration. Randy Rively, a D.C. area native who’s been living in Pearl of the Orient for more than 22 years, says, “Christmas starts September 1, with the “Ber” months.

The seasons start to change and we have pleasant evenings in the mid-to-high 70s. I love Christmas, so having four months to celebrate is wonderful, seems less of a rush like back west. The Philippines has three seasons (jokingly), hot, wet and Christmas.”

Filipinos are also known for their love of a good party, so food and drink play an important role. Some popular cocktails during the holiday season include the fruit salad cocktail which highlights the country’s tropical bounty and the “halo halo” made from sweet red beans, jackfruit and ube (purple yam).

One cheery favorite from the states which has jumped the Pacific is eggnog which is commonly spiked with Filipinos’ preferred

The Festive Manhattan. Courtesy Don Papa Rum.

spirit, rum. The archipelago has a huge sugarcane industry and if you go to any gathering where the primary objective is socializing over drinks, you’ll find rum. And following a worldwide trend, craft-distilled spirits are making a splash.

One such spirit is Don Papa, which has an elaborate marketing campaign showcasing its production on an island dubbed “Sugarlandia.”

Officially known as Negros Occidental, the sugar cane is grown in volcanic soil from Mount Kanlaon which imparts depth and multilayered flavor to the finished product.

For a divine cross-cultural tipple, Tomas Delos Reyes, Brand Ambassador for Don Papa, suggests a Pinoy twist on an American winter classic, the Manhattan. “The Don’s Festive Manhattan is a great festive holiday drink for any Filipino holiday celebration, and one of my favorite go-tos, not only because it’s delicious and easy to make, but because of the enjoyment of introducing a play on an iconic American cocktail,” he says. “It leans into the colder season with a touch of baking spices and pairs well with holiday meals and comfort food.”

Forged from cherry, orange, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, this cocktail captures the season with its warmth. “Cherry liqueur and orange bitters add the necessary festive flavors, with the Don Papa Rum bringing that all-important Filipino connection to the cocktail,” Reyes added. “With tasting notes of vanilla, honey, and candied fruits, balanced by a subtle hint of citrus, the Don Papa 7-year aged rum is the perfect accompaniment.”

DON’S FESTIVE MANHATTAN I NG REDI ENTS • 30ML DON PAPA RUM, 7-YEAR AGED • 15ML SPICED SWEET VERMOUTH* (SEE BELOW) • 5ML CHERRY LIQUEUR • 1 DASH OF ANGOSTURA BITTERS • 1 DASH OF ORANGE BITTERS

I NSTRUCTI O NS Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir for 15 seconds to chill down the cocktail.

Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe, and zest with orange oils. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry. *Spiced sweet vermouth Combine one cinnamon stick, one star anise, three cloves and a pinch of nutmeg with 300ml of sweet vermouth, allow to mix together overnight. Strain off spices and store in the fridge.

Although you may be a little tardy to start your Christmas merriment by the Filipino calendar, it’s never too late to enjoy a fine cocktail. Maligayang Pasko (That’s Tagalog for “Merry Christmas!”)

— 2023/ 2024 SEASON —

JAN. 10, 2024 | 7:30PM Ángel Gil-Ordóñez MUSIC DIRECTOR

THE KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER *

WINTER PERFORMANCE!

AMAZING GRACE In Paradisum

PCE’s seasonal favorite returns with a stirring program for chorus and orchestra that celebrates the universal expression of the human spirit through music. This new year, we are joined by soprano Katerina Burton and the CAAPA Chorale, featuring works by George Walker, Gustav Mahler, Margaret Bonds, Luciano Berio, and the local premiere of DC-born composer Jeffrey Mumford’s cello concerto with soloist Annie Jacobs-Perkins.

Katerina Burton, soprano

ROBERT HOULE: RED IS BEAUTIFUL

Open now | National Mall

See a retrospective featuring one of the most renowned Indigenous artists from Canada.

Organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada. Generous support provided by the Canada Council for the Arts and Ameriprise Financial.

Annie Jacobs-Perkins, cello

“(An) unconventional musical program played by a chamber orchestra that...is unsurpassed.” — The Georgetowner

Tickets On Sale Now! postclassical.com/tickets

AmericanIndian.si.edu

Robert Houle. Red Is Beautiful, 1970. Acrylic on canvas.

Canadian Museum of History © Robert Houle

or call Kennedy Center Instant Charge (202) 467-4600 * Performances are an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and are not produced by the Kennedy Center.

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DECEMBER 6, 2023

19

See the full list at georgetowner.com. Listed from highest to lowest sold.

PROVIDED BY WASHINGTON FINE PROPERTIES

DEC. 2023 REAL ESTATE SALES

REAL ESTATE ADDRESS 3017, 3009, 3003 N St NW 2838 Chesterfield Pl NW 4511 Klingle St NW 2830 Chesterfield Pl NW 1318 34th St NW 3615 49th St NW 700 New Hampshire Ave NW #1404 1696 31st St NW 2319 Bancroft Pl NW 3408 34th Pl NW 3410 Volta Pl NW 4830 Loughboro Rd NW 5148 Tilden St NW 1689 35th St NW 3601 Fordham Rd NW 1155 23rd St NW #5A 4014 Linnean Ave NW 1427 Q St NW #3 1618 Corcoran St NW 3716 S St NW 3608 Rittenhouse St NW 2724 Woodley Pl NW 3306 McKinley St NW 1442 T St NW 3717 Fulton St NW 1420 Corcoran St NW 1233 12th St NW 3638 Cumberland St NW 5109 44th St NW 3052 R St NW #306 2900 Ellicott St NW 1830 S St NW 3052 R Street NW #201 5171 Macarthur Blvd NW 3727 Veazey St NW 1223 Fairmont St NW 6429 31st St NW 1516 Swann St NW 2712 Cortland Pl NW 4464 Greenwich Pkwy NW 1412 Ingraham St NW 2924 N N St NW 3928 Georgetown Ct NW 4215 16th St NW 1905 4th St NW 5908 17th St NW 3355 Military Rd NW 5445 30th St NW 1533 9th St NW 3721 Yuma St NW

SUBDIVISION/NEIGHBORHOOD GEORGETOWN FOREST HILLS WESLEY HEIGHTS FOREST HILLS GEORGETOWN SPRING VALLEY FOGGY BOTTOM GEORGETOWN KALORAMA CLEVELAND PARK GEORGETOWN KENT SPRING VALLEY GEORGETOWN SPRING VALLEY WEST END FOREST HILLS LOGAN CIRCLE DUPONT CIRCLE BURLEITH CHEVY CHASE WOODLEY PARK CHEVY CHASE LOGAN CIRCLE OBSERVATORY CIRCLE LOGAN CIRCLE OLD CITY #2 NORTH CLEVELAND PARK AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK GEORGETOWN FOREST HILLS DUPONT CIRCLE GEORGETOWN PALISADES NORTH CLEVELAND PARK U STREET CORRIDOR CHEVY CHASE LOGAN/DUPONT GARFIELD FOXHALL 16TH STREET HEIGHTS GEORGETOWN BURLEITH 16TH STREET HEIGHTS LEDROIT PARK CRESTWOOD CHEVY CHASE CHEVY CHASE SHAW NORTH CLEVELAND PARK

BEDS FULL BATH HALF BATH 13 13 5 6 6 2 7 5 2 7 5 1 4 4 1 5 4 1 3 2 1 6 5 1 5 3 1 5 5 1 5 3 4 4 1 5 5 1 5 5 1 6 4 1 3 3 1 4 3 1 3 2 1 4 3 1 5 5 1 6 3 1 4 3 1 4 3 1 4 4 1 4 3 1 4 3 1 4 3 1 6 4 1 5 4 1 2 2 1 3 3 1 4 4 1 2 2 3 2 1 3 3 1 5 3 1 4 3 4 2 1 3 3 1 4 3 1 5 3 1 SERVICE DIRECTORY 2 1 1 4 3 1 5 3 1 5 5 1 5 4 5 3 1 4 2 2 4 2 3 2 2

CHEVY CHASE FLOOR WAXING SERVICE olishing, buffing, and waxing to preserve and protect your wood floors.

Family owned and operated for 30 years. Licensed Bonded Insured (301) 656-1810, Chevy Chase, MD

LIST PRICE CLOSE PRICE $9,250,000 $15,100,000 $6,350,000 $6,000,000 $5,249,900 $5,150,000 $4,995,000 $4,700,000 $4,000,000 $4,450,000 $4,100,000 $4,000,000 $3,995,000 $3,995,000 $3,990,000 $3,990,000 $3,650,000 $3,350,000 $3,195,000 $3,093,000 $2,850,000 $2,675,000 $2,599,000 $2,600,000 $2,600,000 $2,600,000 $2,650,000 $2,575,000 $2,649,500 $2,512,260 $2,599,000 $2,450,000 $2,425,000 $2,425,000 $2,250,000 $2,275,000 $2,250,000 $2,250,000 $2,295,000 $2,200,000 $1,875,000 $2,170,500 $2,075,000 $2,075,000 $1,950,000 $2,000,000 $1,995,000 $1,950,000 $1,949,000 $1,937,000 $1,925,000 $1,925,000 $1,888,888 $1,850,000 $1,995,000 $1,850,000 $1,924,000 $1,829,000 $1,875,000 $1,770,000 $1,795,000 $1,750,000 $1,775,000 $1,750,000 $1,725,000 $1,700,000 $1,895,000 $1,685,000 $1,499,000 $1,665,000 $1,649,000 $1,600,000 $1,595,000 $1,595,000 $1,535,000 $1,580,000 $1,450,000 $1,551,100 $1,495,000 $1,550,000 $1,549,000 $1,549,000 $1,545,000 $1,545,000 $1,545,000 $1,500,000 $1,499,000 $1,500,000 $1,495,000 $1,475,000 $1,495,000 $1,450,000 $1,475,000 $1,450,000 Residential specialists $1,437,500 inside and $1,495,000 $1,449,900 $1,425,000 outside.

Family owned and operated $1,495,000 for over 30 years. (202)$1,425,000 363-2897

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IN COUNTRY

Courtesy Omni/Homestead.

Holidays at the Omni Homestead Resort

BY TR IS H F OX W EL L

H

ot Springs, Virginia. A new era has arrived at the historic Omni Homestead Resort & Spa. Nestled in one of the most scenic corners of the Allegheny Mountains of southwestern Virginia, the resort recently completed a $150-million renovation and transformed the property, from updating its 483 guest rooms and suites to enhancing its spa, creating new dining spots, to adding a variety of indoor and outdoor activities making it a natural holiday getaway for Washingtonians and Virginians alike.

From mid-November through New Year’s, the towering brick Colonial Revival hotel, built

H I C KO R Y T R E E FA R M

in 1929, will be festooned in holiday splendor ensuring your holiday excursion will be all the more enjoyable. Everything from enjoying s’mores by the fireplace to caroling, gingerbread house decorating to carriage rides and sipping hot cider on a chilly afternoon, to artisan craft classes, wine tastings, afternoon tea served on Fridays and Saturdays, ice skating and horseback riding through its Equestrian Center provide additional choices. For fly-fishing fans, the Orvis Fly-Fishing School will offer lessons and fishing trips.

And don’t overlook a visit to Serenity Garden, the adult-only pool featuring the warm natural

H I G H A C R E FA R M

springs, a perennial attraction for travelers to the resort. Another exceptional outing is signing up for the Cascades Gorge hike led by a naturalist, lasting three hours. Walking by waterfalls and learning about the bird life and fauna of the region is also very popular.

The Great Hall with its graceful, trademark white pillars will greet you when you first arrive. A giant fir Christmas tree complete with dazzling decorations on display ensures you’ll be in the holiday spirit, and an array of eclectic and unique shops can be found nearby along the corridors.

The Homestead’s storied history is also an attraction. As a member of the National Trust’s Historic Hotels of America, the site has hosted U.S. presidents, notables and dignitaries.

Woodrow Wilson spent his honeymoon here with Edith Bolling Galt in December 1915.

Dwight D. Eisenhower enjoyed many weekends strolling the meandering fairways playing golf.

And, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, arrived with his wife Eleanor on July 4, 1931 to not only enjoy the warm, healing mineral springs at the resort but to map out his bid for his presidential run while serving as Governor of New York.

J.P. Morgan’s name can also be added to the list as well as that of Jacqueline Bouvier (Kennedy) who enjoyed the resort in the summer of 1945 while vacationing with her father and sister.

Accommodations range from traditional rooms offering one and two beds to spacious suites with views, some with fireplaces. Dining options include the elegant Audubon Dining

S O U T H PA W P L A C E

Room with its white décor, serving breakfast daily and dinners on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, to the sporty and casual Jefferson Restaurant and the very popular Jefferson Tap Room open daily for lunch and dinner. Theater 1923, its classy movie and special event venue, offers snacks, beverages and the cocktail bar for evening entertainment. Martha’s Market is for guests on-the-go offering pastries, sandwiches and beverages

INFORMATION The Omni Homestead – Owned and operated by Omni Hotels, is open year-round. Address: 7976 Sam Snead Highway, Hot Springs, VA 24445.

Phone: 1-800-838-1766.

For online information, keyword search “Omni Homestead Resort.”

GETTING THERE Amtrak offers service from Union Station on its Cardinal route on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The resort can arrange for transportation from Clifton Forge, the rail depot, to the hotel. The journey takes approximately one hour.

For those who drive, the resort is approximately two hours west from Charlottesville.

F U LTO N R U N

The Plains, Virginia • $7,495,000

The Plains, Virginia •$6,500,000

Middleburg, Virginia • $4,400,000

Middleburg, Virginia • $2,795,000

304 acres | Main house, stunning guest house with garage, 2 tenant houses, manager’s house, apartment complex, pool, 5 barns, approx 60 stalls, 3/4 mile all weather sand track, pond & extensive paddocks, fencing & sheds | Panoramic views of Bull Run Mountains & the Blue Ridge Mountains | Original home site still surrounded by towering trees, garden & stone walls

263 acres between Middleburg and The Plains | c. 1909 brick Georgian main residence | Gorgeous millwork & fine finishes | 7 fireplaces | 4 bedrooms | Rolling & elevated land with mountain views | Mix of open land & mature woods | Extensive stone walls, notable formal garden & terraces | 3 tenant houses &multiple farm buildings

Custom built brick home, 6,000 sq ft | 5 BR, 4 ½ BA, 2 FP, 3 car garage | 50.72 acres | 6 stall barn w/tack room, feed room & large hay loft | 3 run-in sheds,7 fenced paddocks, full size riding ring, trails throughout the property | Turn key equestrian facility | Farm office building w/ 2 oversized garage doors | Stone terrace w/fire pit

50 sprawling, usable acres w/mountain views | 3 BR, 3 1/2 BA home | 3 approved building sites for custom main house | Carriage house/Barn is prepped for a 2 full bath, full kitchen, apartment or can an artist studio w/full view glass doors for natural light | 40+ fenced in acres, several paddocks

Paul MacMahon Helen MacMahon

Paul MacMahon Brian MacMahon

Paul MacMahon Brian MacMahon

Helen MacMahon

(540) 454-1930

1 4 0 9 C A P I TO L S T R E E T S W

(703) 609-1905 (540) 454-1930

B A R TO N P L A C E

(703) 609-1905 (703) 609-1868

HIDDEN POND

(703) 609-1905 (703) 609-1868

S A I N T LO U I S R O A D

Washington, DC • $979,900

Arlington, Virginia • $840,000

Leesburg, Virginia • $799,900

Purcellville, Virginia • $600,000

Completely renovated with all new systems & highend touches throughout | Open floor plan and all of the modern conveniences | 2 BR, 2.5 BA, & 2 parking spaces | Located in the heart of the Southwest Waterfront, across from Nationals Park near the shops & restaurants at the Wharf & Capitol Riverfront, just south of Capitol Hill & the National Mall | Access to commuter routes and metro

3BR, 3.5 BA brick townhouse in the heart of Clarendon | Main level features a half bath, a fireplace, hardwood floors | Second level laundry room | Oversized private outdoor balcony on third level | All exterior maintenance is taken care of by the Condo Association | Easy access to the Courthouse and Clarendon metro stations, Rocky Run Park, shops, restaurants, and major commuting routes

Historic 1798-built farmhouse on 17.5 acres of rolling pastures, features 2 ponds and is surrounded by large tracks of land | The tastefully updated and restored home features 4 bedrooms, 2 updated bathrooms, an updated kitchen, & historical charm | Easy access to area wineries & breweries, downtown Leesburg, Lucketts the Potomac River, the MARC train, & commuting routes. Zoned AR-1

10 acres in hard to find location between Middleburg and Purcellville, no HOA or covenants | Mostly open with room for house, creek frontage, mountain views.

Brian MacMahon

Brian MacMahon

Brian MacMahon

Paul MacMahon

(703) 609-1868

info@sheridanmacmahon.com www.sheridanmacmahon.com

(703) 609-1868

(540) 687-5588

(703) 609-1868

(703) 609-1905

110 East Washington Street Middleburg, Virginia 20117

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KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB

The Reward of Double Rainbows ‘THE POSTCARD’ DELIVERS AN IMMEASURABLE GIFT TO READERS R EVIEWE D BY KIT T Y K E LLE Y An “un-put-down-able” book is like a double rainbow — rare and oh so magical. Titles like “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles, “Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter, “The Godfather” by Mario Puzo, “The Thorn Birds”

by Colleen McCullough, “Strange Fruit” by Lillian Smith, and “The House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton are just a few such double rainbows that stir the soul much like the spinetingling stories of Stephen King, John le Carré’s Cold War spy thrillers, and the works of Walt Whitman, America’s poet emeritus.

Now comes another un-put-down-able book, “The Postcard,” by French writer Anne Berest, who defines her Holocaust work as an “autohybrid,” an “autobiography of sorts,” and “a true novel” that she’s wrapped in bits of fiction to protect the grandchildren, still alive, who had nothing to do with the unconscionable crimes committed by their relatives during World War II. Berest begins her story with a mysterious postcard featuring Paris’ Palais Garnier opera house sent to her mother. On the back are the names of her mother’s grandfather, grandmother, aunt, and uncle — all annihilated in Auschwitz

in 1942. No note. No signature. No return address. Most disturbing to Berest was the image of the Opéra Garnier — the central locale of the Nazis during their occupation of France.

“We were terrified [when we received that postcard],” Berest told the New York Post. “For us French people that’s a very strong symbol.”

The surge in antisemitism and xenophobia throughout Europe added layers of menace to the card. “All the signs on the postcard were signs of a threat.”

First published in France in 2021 as “La carte postale,” Berest’s book tells the story of her grandmother, Myriam (nee Rabinovitch) Picabia, who escaped the round-up of Jews in Paris by hiding in the woods. She was later rescued, hidden in the trunk of a car, and driven 50 miles north of Marseilles, where she and her fiancé — and her lover — joined the Resistance, ran messages, and translated illicit BBC broadcasts.

“This [ménage à trois] is actually the part of the book that my mother didn’t really want me to write,” Berest says. “But this sort of love triangle, this three-person romantic arrangement, was one of the most striking things to me… After writing so many difficult pages about dark, dark

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times [this romance] was a kind of light in the book.”

“The Postcard” takes readers on the author’s painful journey toward her roots. Having been raised in a secular household, Berest was unfamiliar with Jewish rituals. Yet she was surprised by the frisson of familiarity she felt attending a Passover Seder at the home of her boyfriend. During the evening, he mentioned to guests that Berest’s daughter had recently been wounded by an antisemitic remark at school.

When asked what she did about it, Berest admitted that she hadn’t addressed the matter.

One of the guests snapped, “The truth, as far as I can tell, is that you’re only Jewish when it suits you.”

The remark stung but eventually pushed Berest into “the dark, dark times” of excavating her roots and claiming her heritage. At the end of her search, she writes: “All I can tell you is that I’m the child of a survivor. That is, someone who may not be familiar with the Seder rituals, but whose family died in the gas chambers. Someone who has the same nightmares as her mother and is trying to find her place among the living.”

The book, translated flawlessly into English

by Tina Kover, became an international bestseller and was long-listed for the Prix Goncourt, France’s most distinguished literary prize. But one of the judges, Camille Laurens, pilloried Berest’s book in Le Monde as “the Holocaust for Dummies.” Laurens slammed the author, young and pretty, as “an expert on Parisian chic” who entered a gas chamber with “her big red sole [Christian Louboutin] clogs.” France’s public radio station rebuked the reviewer for “unheardof brutality,” and the Left Bank started buzzing.

It turned out that Laurens’ romantic partner, too, was being considered for the Prix Goncourt, also for a book about the Holocaust.

He had dedicated his work to a certain “C.L.” who, when criticized for her cruelty, claimed she’d sledgehammered Berest’s book “before” she knew it was longlisted for the prestigious prize. Putride. Vireux.

Nauseabond.

The Goncourt immediately dropped both works from consideration and revised its rules, now stating that no lover, relative, spouse, or partner of a member of the jury can be considered for the prize once awarded to Marcel Proust, André Malraux, Simone de Beauvoir, Romain Gary, and Marguerite Dumas.

After that literary storm, “The Postcard” was blessed with its own double rainbow — widespread critical praise and commercial sales.

Both richly deserved.

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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$7,750,000

GEORGETOWN

3255 Prospect St. NW #PH-5 Washington, DC

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GEORGETOWN

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GEORGETOWN

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BURLEITH/GEORGETOWN $3,395,000

1601 38th St. NW, Washington, DC

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WESLEY HEIGHTS

$1,349,000

4343 Westover Pl. NW, Washington, DC

Jennifer Wellde 301-602-1596 Boucie Addison 301-509-8827

GLENMONT/SILVER SPRING $899,000

3303 Water St. NW #5B, Washington, DC

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AGENTS • PROPERTIES • EXPERIENCE

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$6,100,000

DOWNSCREST

1015 Basil Rd., McLean, VA

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