NEWS · 6

CRIME: Surprising End-of-Year Stats

BY CHRISTOPHER JONES

It’s that time of year when the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) issues its year-end crime statistics. And some figures jump out at you.

In many categories crimes are down, despite the high-crime hype we heard from political candidates in the midterms. In their 2022 Year-to-Date Crime Comparison, MPD reports that “violent crimes” in the District dropped by 6 percent over last year, with “homicides” down 8 percent, “sex abuse” crimes down 14 percent, and “assault with a dangerous weapon” offenses down 14 percent. The only category of violent crime to tick up since last year was “robbery” which escalated 4 percent.

Property crimes are also down 4 percent over last year according to the report. Most precipitously, “burglary” has dropped 10 percent and “theft from auto” declined 9 percent. With little change, “theft (other)” dropped only 1 percent while “arson” remained the same at 4 cases in the year. The only property crime category to see an increase was “motor vehicle theft,” rising 4 percent over last year.

Another interesting year-end summary surveyed “recovered firearms” in the District. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the number of weapons MPD took off the streets grew significantly each year over the last 10 years. In 2011, MPD recovered 1,919 firearms, while a decade later in 2021 it recovered 2,410.

In its most recent report on “Weekly Firearm Recoveries,” issued Nov. 23, MPD reported 41 weapons obtained in the District. A sampling of the types of firearms recovered includes an increasing number of “ghost guns” which can be assembled by individuals or purchased online and are untraceable because they have no serial numbers and are not registered.

In Georgetown, MPD Lt. John Merzig of the Second District appeared at ANC 2E’s Nov. 29 meeting to report good recent news on crime and public safety. “I believe across-the-board, all of our crime statistics are down,” he said. “Only 1 burglary was reported in the last month, while 6 had been recorded 2 months before. “Most thefts are around the Wisconsin and M Street corridor,” Merzig said. For the holidays, special MPD units will be detailed to areas of higher crime.

Looking for something new in 2023? Do you or someone you know need a little extra help around the house or getting out and about? Ready to fill in your social calendar for the coming year? Look no further, Georgetown Village can help you accomplish all that and more! We are a membership based organization and for a limited time we are offering $100 off the annual membership fee. Call today! GV provides social connections, programs, and services to those 55 and older to enrich their lives and help them stayed engaged in our Georgetown community. Engage - Connect - Support

Looking for something new in 2023? Do you or someone you know need a little extra help around the house or getting out

and your about? Ready to fill in social calendar for the Georgetown Village

coming year?

Look no further, Georgetown Village can help you accomplish all that and more! We are a membership based organization and for a limited time we are offering $100 off the annual membership fee. Call today! GV provides social connections, programs, and services to those 55 and older to enrich their lives and help them stayed engaged in our Georgetown community.

Engage - Connect - Support

Looking for something new in 2023? Do you or someone you know need a little extra help around the house or getting out

and your about? Ready to fill in social calendar for the Georgetown Village

coming year?

Look no further, Georgetown Village can help you accomplish all that and more! We are a membership based organization and for a limited time we are offering $100 off the annual membership fee. Call today! GV provides social connections, programs, and services to those 55 and older to enrich their lives and help them stayed engaged in our Georgetown community.

Engage - Connect - Support

Georgetown Village

Make Your 2023 Great Make Your 2023 Great Make Your 2023 Great

(202) 999-8988(202) 999-8988(202) 999-8988 www.georgetown-village.org www.georgetown-village.org www.georgetown-village.org

Chef Michael Rafidi of Yellow Georgetown. Courtesy Yellow.

This Just in: Grand Openings for L’Avant-Garde and Yellow

GEORGETOWNERS HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING THE DEBUT OF THESE TWO RESTAURANTS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEY OPEN THIS WEEK.

BY ROBERT DEVANEY L’AVANT-GARDE

L’Avant-Garde, a contemporary brasserie by Fady Saba along with storied Michelinstarred chef Gilles Epié, opened Wednesday, Dec, 7 at 2915 M St. NW. They tell us it’s “from Ezekiel Entertainment, the same team behind its next door neighbor, the beloved cocktail bar L’Annexe. L’Avant-Garde will bring to Georgetown a buzzy, sophisticated French brasserie rooted in classic technique, with Epié’s distinct touch. L’Avant-Garde is an ode to Paris, where a sultry, high-energy atmosphere combines with pitch-perfect cuisine, classic cocktails and an extensive wine list. The menu is best described as exquisite simplicity. It leans towards his background of contemporary French cuisine with global influences. The food is personal, with an emphasis on sourcing and a minimalist sensibility.”

The youngest chef to receive a Michelin star at age 22 (at Le Pavillon des Princes in France), Epié, decades into his starstudded career, is thrilled to bring his style of contemporary French cuisine to Washington,

Chef Gilles Epié of L’Avant-Garde. Photo by Scott Suchman. D.C. Most recently, he was the Executive Chef of Turtle Bay Resort, a 5-star luxury hotel in Oahu, Hawaii (and most recently famed for its placemaking role in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”). Prior to Turtle Bay, he led the kitchen at the former Montage Beverly Hills, and for owning Frenchy’s, his Parisian-style brasserie in the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. His ties to D.C. include naming his restaurant Citrus Etoile to honor his friend, and legendary chef, Michel Richard and Michel’s Los Angeles restaurant Citrus.

YELLOW CAFE

Yellow, a cafe from chef Michael Rafidi, opens Saturday, Dec. 10, at 1524 Wisconsin Ave., NW. They tell us it “offers a taste of the Levant with a menu of baked goods, mezze, wood-fired pita sandwiches and specialty drinks. The sweet and savory pastries which blend French technique and Middle Eastern flavors. The coffee program is curated by Coffee Director Ayat Elhag and sourced by Counter Culture. The original location for Yellow opened in May 2020 as a pop-up in the private dining room of Albi, Rafidi’s Michelin-starred Levantine restaurant in the Navy Yard.”

Raised in Maryland, Rafidi spent time at other East Coast restaurants, including Blue Duck Tavern in D.C. and Talula’s Garden in Philadelphia. He also staged at chef René Redzepi’s internationally acclaimed Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, an experience that fostered his appreciation for foraging and other culinary techniques from around the world. But before making his mark on D.C.’s restaurant industry, Rafidi spent six years working alongside Michael Mina as executive chef of the lauded French restaurant RN74 in San Francisco, and as the Mina Group’s Corporate Chef. In this role, he supported the culinary management of the group’s multinational properties and was pivotal in opening eight of those concepts.

INS & OUTS

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

IN: SHOWFIELDS AT 31ST & M

With a grand opening event set for Dec. 8, Showfields opened the doors at 3077 M St. NW last month in the former Brooks Brothers space as well as retail incubator, Concept 31/M space. Showfields calls itself “a lifestyle discovery store” and “the most interesting store in the world.”

Located at the corner of 31st and M Streets, Showfields brings together, it says, “a unique curation of brands and experiences” in the roughly 20,300-square-foot space, owned by EastBanc, the Georgetown-based real estate developer. The retailer inked a 10-year deal for the three-story property.

“We’re ecstatic to bring Showfields to D.C.,” said Showfields CEO and co-founder Tal Zvi Nathanel. “This store is a great example of how we approach the future of retail — we can take a heritage retail space, re-work it, and create an entirely new environment that’s wholly unique but at its core nostalgic for a classic shopping experience. We re-used a lot of the existing infrastructure of the previous store.”

The Georgetown store is the fourth store for Showfields. Its other stores are in Manhattan, Miami and Brooklyn. The company adds: “Each brand curation lasts six months to keep the experience fresh.”

IN: BOURBON CONCIERGE

The Bourbon Concierge has opened at 2816 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in the former Cafe Tu-O-Tu space. The family-owned business was founded in 1995 and specializes in highend, collectible spirits.

IN: HERBIVORE INDIAN CUISINE

An Indian restaurant opened at 1639 Wisconsin Ave. NW in the former Pho Asian Bistro location on Book Hill.

IN: DC TASTY CORNER ON DUMBARTON

DC Tasty Corner opened at 3147 Dumbarton St. NW in the former District Chicken & Gyro location. The South American-style cafe offers empanadas, choripan, specialty sandwiches, home-style soup and hand-crafted espresso drinks.

IN: KABUL CASTLE KABOB

More Middle Eastern food at 28th & M: Sambosa, hummes, manto, wraps, kabobs. Kabul Castle Kabob opened at 2801 M St. NW. Its entrance is on the 28th Street side of the corner building, across from George’s King of Falafel.

COMING: DIG, UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Long awaited at the old Paolo’s side space (once a Little Tavern hamburger joint) at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and N Street NW, Dig is on a mission of mindful sourcing for its ingredients — with bowls of salads or dishes of chicken or meatballs with names like the Autumn Harvest or Lime Leaf Salmon. Adam Eskin opened the first Dig Inn restaurant in New York City in 2011. Among Dig’s investors is restaurateur Danny Meyer.

COMING: NISOLO ON M

Started in 2011, Nisolo is an eco-friendly, sustainable, living-wage shoe brand — with a shop opening at 3251 M St. NW.

TOP BRANDS COMING TO WISCONSIN & PROSPECT

EastBanc, Inc. and Acadia Realty Trust announced last month that leases were signed with top brands for the redevelopment of 1238 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The 30,000-square-foot Showfields has opened at 3077 M St. NW — with a grand opening event set for Dec. 8. Georgetowner photo.

Georgetown landmark building was divided into six high-demand retail spaces at the corner of Prospect Street and Wisconsin Avenue. The property previously boasted a Zara store and, before that, Billy Martin’s Carriage House and Tramps Discotheque.

“We chose to redevelop this prominent corner because modern retailers are looking to right-size their spaces and maintain connection with their customers,” said Philippe Lanier of EastBanc.

The brands are Wolford (a collection of athleisure, legwear and accessories), Ever/ Body (cosmetic dermatology), Blank Street Coffee (“limited, quality menu and state-ofthe-art coffee technology”) and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream (“good ice cream from good ingredients”).

50 YEARS

Sundays 8 - 4

1819 35th St NW

Taking Holiday Party Reservations

Call 202-625-2740 Shannon@peacockcafe.com

Restaurateur Stephen Starr and Michelin star chef Nancy Silverton will open an M Street restaurant Manto at Kabul Castle Kabob. late next year that “will knock the socks off of D.C.” Courtesy Starr Restaurants; courtesy U.S. Embassy.

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

Holiday Spirit/Charitable Giving

If you have little ones at home, “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992) is a great film to explain the true meaning of the holiday season. It’s hard these days to tell the next generation just how much better giving is than receiving. So, why not let Smithsonian’s own Kermit the Frog do so instead?

The spirit of the holiday season is not just about giving and receiving, however. It’s about togetherness and putting thought into caring about others. Sure, that may be in the form of a gift to express your love and gratitude, but sometimes it’s as simple as picking up the phone to call and say hi.

Think about your Christmas tree or other holiday decorations. Chances are, you have lots of nostalgic, deep-rooted memories in the ornaments and other accoutrements that adorn your home this time of year. If you haven’t picked up the phone to call the friend or family member who reminds you of said knickknacks, your heart just might be warmed in doing so.

The holidays are a special time, a selfless time to forgive -- and think about what’s truly important in your life. After all, look what Kevin McCallister managed to do in “Home Alone.” Not only did he get to know his older neighbor “Old Man” Marley (whom his older brother Buzz said was rumored to be a serial killer, scaring Kevin out of talking to him at first), he got him to reunite with his estranged family, including his young granddaughter, whom he loved dearly.

As Kermit the Frog said, “’Tis the season to be jolly and joyous!” No matter how you decide to be jolly and joyous, whether it’s charitable giving, reuniting with family and friends, volunteering or just offering a hello and kind smile on the sidewalk, make it a good one. Happy holidays, Georgetown!

Let’s Give Mutual Aid

BY KATE OCZYPOK

Have you heard of Mutual Aid Ward 2? They are a grassroots community-led effort looking to take care of unhoused and lowincome members of our community. The organization is currently fundraising as they are running out of funds.

Without funds, they won’t be able to continue providing neighbors in the area with food, clothes and resources (especially for the upcoming cold winter months).

Since Georgetown is in Ward 2, consider contributing in some way to this incredibly useful organization. Ward 2 Mutual Aid is part of the bigger DC Mutual Aid (DCMA) network. This holiday season, there are so many ways to help: • There is a hotline staffed by volunteers where Ward 2 residents can call and request assistance. • A bi-weekly grocery delivery is done for around 150 families who request the aid.

There is also a weekly supply drop to around 80 unhoused neighbors. • Local residents use their leadership skills and networks to check on neighbors, relay needs and help with food distribution and donations. • Hot meals are offered to neighbors without access to a kitchen or with limited cooking ability. • Finally, support is given to high risk or immunocompromised community members to drop off cleaning supplies, masks and groceries.

During this time of year where giving back is of the utmost importance, it is crucial to help in any way you can. Who knows, it may turn into a routine to last all year long!

Georgetowners of the Year

DUMBARTON METHODIST CHURCH, NANCY PELOSI, RICK MURPHY, MICHAEL SUSSMAN

The naming of Georgetowners of the Year has been a tradition of The Georgetowner newspaper for decades. This year’s group — selected by the editorial board — includes a church and its pastor, an iconic Speaker of the House of Representatives, a respected community leader and a dedicated ringmaster of a longtime flea market.

250-YEAR-OLD DUMBARTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND REV. RACHEL CORNWELL

On Christmas Eve, Dumbarton United Methodist Church will celebrate its 250th birthday. It is one of the oldest continuously active Methodist churches in the world. The church located at 3133 Dumbarton St. NW has been a part of Georgetown since 1772. “It all started in a cooper’s workshop in Georgetown before the Revolutionary War,” writes Rev. Rachel Cornwell, pastor of Dumbarton UMC, who returned to the Georgetown church where she got married 20 years ago. “Our church has so much of D.C. history wrapped into its own stories.” Cornwall calls her congregation “historic, progressive, inclusive, welcoming and justiceseeking.” While the churches of the United Methodist Church across America are divided over same-sex marriages and the ordination of LGBT individuals, the Georgetown church continues as “A Reconciling Congregation since 1986.” It is known as the “mother church” for Mt. Zion, Foundry, Capitol Hill and other Methodist churches in the area.

For such accomplishments — above and beyond — Dumbarton United Methodist Church and Rev. Rachel Cornwell are Georgetowners of the Year for 2022.

ANC’S RICK MURPHY: CHAIR EXTRAORDINARE AND ALLAROUND GOOD GUY

A direct, practical lawyer with a wry sense of humor and sharp mind, Rick Murphy took up the chairmanship of the GeorgetownBurleith-Hillandale Advisory Neighborhood Commission a few years ago. He has wisely guided “D.C.’s Best ANC,” as headlined in a parody front page of The Georgetowner newspaper, given to him at a farewell lunch last week. Murphy represented his constituents’ concerns well — whether crime, trash or widened sidewalks — and was always available to the press. He caught a shoplifter three years ago and waited for the police to arrive. But don’t call him a hero, Murphy might say, with his aw-shucks demeanor. He has said one of a commissioner’s main focuses is “maintaining the viability of our current commercial corridor while keeping the balance with the historic nature of the adjoining residential neighborhoods and landmarks.” Summing up his time as commissioner, he quipped: “It has been a joy, almost every day — and I won’t mention the days when it wasn’t!”

For such accomplishments — above and beyond — Rick Murphy is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2022.