The Georgetowner: August 12, 2026 by The Georgetowner issue archives

SINCE 1954

VOLUME 72 NUMBER 11

In Focus: Tony Powell Back To School National Guard - Still Here? RIP – Walter & Didi Cutler DC Jazz Festival – Tribute to Miles & Coltrane

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AUGUST 12-SEPTEMBER 15, 2026

2026 SEPT 2–6, 2026 | LABOR DAY WEEKEND | WASHINGTON, DC

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DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER QUARTET "WE EXIST!" • JOSHUA REDMAN QUARTET • KURT ELLING & YELLOWJACKETS CELEBRATE WEATHER REPORT • KES • CORY HENRY & THE FUNK APOSTLES • NATE SMITH • DONALD HARRISON • EMMET COHEN: MILES AND TRANE AT 100 FEAT. TIVON PENNICOTT, JEREMY PELT, YASUSHI NAKAMURA AND JOE FARNSWORTH • EMMET COHEN TRIO • BILL FRISELL TRIO FEAT. THOMAS MORGAN & RUDY ROYSTON • DANILO PÉREZ TRIO: PANAMONK FEAT. BEN STREET & ADAM CRUZ • ETIENNE CHARLES & CREOLE SOUL • JANELLE GILL WITH SPECIAL GUEST AMINA CLAUDINE MYERS • MS. LISA FISCHER • ORRIN EVANS TRIO MICHELE ROSEWOMAN AND QUINTESSENCE • NASAR ABADEY AND SUPERNOVA • BRANDON WOODY'S UPENDO • AFRICAN RHYTHMS ALUMNI QUINTET: RANDY WESTON CENTENNIAL • CHELSEY GREEN • JASON MARSALIS • CHRISTIE DASHIELL • JAZZDC ALLSTARS DIRECTED BY PAUL CARR • CHUCK BROWN BAND • BEN WILLIAMS BAND • ISAIAH COLLIER “COLLIER PLAYS COLTRANE” BUTCHER BROWN • EKEP NKWELLE • ALFRED YUN • ALLYN JOHNSON TRIO • B3 SUMMIT VOL.2 WITH CHARLES COVINGTON, MIKE LEDONNE, LENNY ROBINSON, AND DAVE MANLEY • CHARLES RAHMAT WOODS • CORCORAN HOLT QUINTET • DAN MURRAY • DOMAS ŽEROMSKAS • ELSA NILSSONBAND OF PULSES • FELIX CONTRERAS • FRAN VIELMA • HANNAH MARKS HEIDI MARTIN ENSEMBLE • JOE BROTHERTON • JOSÉ ANDRÉ QUARTET • JOSÉ LUIZ MARTINS • KENNY RITTENHOUSE • LAURA ANGLADE • LUKE STEWART'S SILT TRIO • MARSHALL KEYS AND SOULFUL PATH • NEXT JAZZ LEGACY • PUREUM JIN & THE EMPRESS RICARDO TOSCANO • SAKOBI • SHACARA ROGERS • SHAREL CASSITY • SON CUBANO SUBTERRANEO • TOMMY CECIL TRIO DC JAZZPRIX FINALS: AMINA SCOTT QUINTET, BOKANI DYER TRIO, JAMES FERNANDO TRIO, LUTHER S. ALLISON & POIESIS ARTIST LINEUP SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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THE GEORGETOWNER | AUGUST 12, 2026

IN THIS ISSUE

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-INCHIEF Sonya Bernhardt

ON THE COVER

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT EMERITUS Peggy Sands FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Allyson Burkhardt Lauretta McCoy GRAPHIC DESIGN Jill Madsen Katie McKenney Heather Harris Roemer

NEWS 6-9

PHOTOGRAPHERS Philip Bermingham Bill Starrels Andy Cline

Town Topics

EDITORIAL & OPINION 10

INTERNS Hannah Beil Mia Dinunzi Francis Rienzo Callie Solomon Emma Ibrahim Caroline Woodward

Welcome, President Peñalver

THE VILLAGE 11 Back to School / Community Calendar

Ins & Outs

Tony Powell, Photographer in Focus / Fall Gala Guide

Self portrait, Tony Powell.

United in the Hereafter: Walter and Didi Cutler BY R OBERT D EVAN EY

REAL ESTATE 16-17 Sales Figures

FOOD & WINE 18-19 IN COUNTRY 20 Old Friends Pass Gold Cup Chairmanship

ARTS 21 DC Jazz Festival

KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB 22 “Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage”

PHOTO BY TONY POWELL

The Latest Dish / Cocktail of the Month

Married for 45 years, Walter and Isabel “Didi” Cutler died within weeks of each other last month. The two were a well-known power couple around Washington and Georgetown, having left their 34th Street home last year for an assisted living community. At home around the world, the Cutlers enjoyed their Georgetown base, leading or attending seminars and receptions.

Walter Leon Cutler Walter Leon Cutler, a veteran and career U.S. diplomat, passed away peacefully on July 2 in Didi and Walter Cutler in 2018. Washington, D.C. He was 94. Born on November 25, 1931, in Boston, Walter grew up in Amherst. He served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the Congo Republic (Zaire) and Tunisia. He was Ambassador-Designate to the Pahlavi Kingdom of Iran before diplomatic relations were broken in 1980. Prior to his first ambassadorial assignment, he served in Cameroon, Algeria, Iran, South Korea and Vietnam. He later served as the president of Meridian International Center.

Isabel “Didi” Cutler Isabel “Didi” Kugel Cutler, of Washington, D.C., died peacefully on July 27 at the age of 85. Writing about and photographing ambassadors, Didi was the author of several photography books and also contributed insightful columns to The Georgetowner. Didi and her husband, Ambassador Cutler, will be entombed at Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony to be scheduled. 4 AUGUST 12, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

ARTS EDITOR & COPY EDITOR Richard Selden CONTRIBUTORS Susan Bodiker Allyson Burkhardt Donna Evers Michelle Galler Amos Gelb Wally Greeves Paulina Inglima Kitty Kelley Jody Kurash Shelia Moses Ari Post Linda Roth Alison Schafer Celia Sharpe Mary Ann Treger

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“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 2026.

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GILDED HORSE SCULPTURES HAVE GEORGETOWN CONNECTION BY ROBERT DEVANEY

Freshly gilded equestrian statue near the Lincoln Memorial. Photo by Susan Bernhardt.

FAN FAVORITE: MUBADALA DC OPEN BY EVAN CAPLAN

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Alexandra Eala during her winning match against Zheng Qinwen. Photo By Deney Lam.

ENCOUNTERING THE NEW GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM BY MARGARET DUNNING

Statue of Ramses II in the Grand Hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Photo by Margaret Dunning.

THE ETERNAL RETURN OF ‘THE ODYSSEY’

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S TA N D I N G O U T A B O V E T H E R E S T Matt Damon stars in “The Odyssey.” Courtesy Universal Pictures.

FOUNDRY BRANCH TRESTLE BRIDGE TO BE DEMOLISHED BY CAROLINE WOODWARD

Foundry Branch Trestle Bridge, located at the southern end of Glover-Archbold Park, as seen from Canal Road. Photo by Bill Starrels.

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TOWN TOPICS

News Bytes

BY R OBERT D EVAN EY AN D MIA DINUNZIO

WAYMO FOR WASHINGTON?

Waymo, the autonomous driving company owned by Alphabet, has been testing its vehicles throughout the District as it prepares to launch its driverless ride-hailing service here. While the cars currently have trained drivers behind the wheel, the company hopes to eventually offer fully autonomous rides, as it does in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin. On July 13, the District Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment held a marathon hearing regarding the Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026, introduced by Council member Charles Allen. The act would establish a regulatory framework for commercial robotaxis in the District, setting rules regarding safety standards, insurance requirements and government oversight. A final Council vote is expected in the fall, likely amid a certain amount of public opposition. If all goes well for Waymo, its self-driving cars could be available in D.C. in 2028.

VENEZUELANS BACK ON 30TH ST.

Led by Félix Plasencia, chargé d’affaires, the Venezuelan government has officially reassumed control of its embassy at 1099 30th St. NW, across from the office of The Georgetowner in the Duvall Foundry Building. In 2019, raucous pro-Maduro protests took place at the four-story brick building. Following the arrest of activists, the property was seized. The building is currently being rehabilitated as Venezuela seeks to restore consular services

for hundreds of thousands of its nationals residing in the U.S., among other functions. The ambassador’s residence is also back in the Venezuelan government’s hands after years of State Department control.

MOVIEGOER INTERRUPTS ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT

Last week, when a moviegoer left a screening of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” at AMC Georgetown around 4:30 a.m., he heard a woman yelling for help from the bushes in Georgetown Waterfront Park. “I heard a cry for help over and over, repeated,” Zamilan Munkhjargal told News4. “And it turned out to be a man who pulled a woman out of her sleep while she was experiencing homelessness on the monument and dragged her towards the bushes right by the water where he’d be a little more safe.” He told News4 he tried to scare off the man while recording with his phone. “He started approaching me while I had the video on, so I had to cut it, get some distance between me and him, and then I still hovered around the area, which gave her a chance to get up, get towards safety, towards the main road,” Munkhjargal said. He called 911 and stayed with the woman. “She was experiencing homelessness for a couple days,” Munkhjargal said. “She had her license stolen. She had ended her lease and was moving out, but she ended up breaking her wrist. She was an injured woman who was experiencing a hard time.” U.S. Park Police said a man had been taken into custody. Charges have not been announced.

Mayor Refuses to Sign D.C. Budget BY FR AN C IS R IEN ZO

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In one of her last months in office, Mayor Muriel Bowser has defiantly refused to sign the budget approved in June by the District Council. Bowser characterized the budget as irresponsible, since it uses one-time funding to pay for some of the proposed programs. The absence of her signature does not block the bill’s passage, but it shows her disapproval. Totaling almost $22 billion, the fiscal 2027 budget unanimously approved by the Council reversed many of the mayor’s proposed cuts. In a statement, Democratic mayoral nominee Janeese Lewis George called Bowser’s cuts “irresponsible,” saying that they placed the District on a “precarious path.” Lewis George emphasized that she did not want to implement cuts to child-care worker subsidies or paid family leave, as the mayor had proposed. In a letter to Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Bowser warned that choosing “to fund recurring programs with one-time money is setting up the next Mayor and Council with an $837 million fiscal cliff.” Some, including Mendelson, fear this message of disapproval will prompt Congress to interfere. Republicans on Capitol Hill continue to work to constrain the tax policies set by D.C. government and to reduce the District’s financial autonomy.

Mendelson wrote to the mayor that her failure to sign the budget was harmful because “criticizing the Council and the budget gives succor to our detractors in Congress.” Lewis George also voiced concerns in a statement, noting that the District is facing “unprecedented attacks on home rule from the federal government.” Refusing to sign the budget is “not reflective of the unified leadership we need from our executive at this moment,” she added. The Council restored $450 million of proposed cuts through deductions in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill and through the city’s reserve funds. District CFO Glen Lee, while expressing concern about using the reserves, ended up declaring the budget balanced. Charles Allen, who stated he was not surprised that the budget wasn’t signed, said that “[Bowser] put a budget in front of us that cut millions from people and working families that needed it,” and that the Council restored it all. The mayor called her proposed cuts responsible choices, but not easy. This is the second time she has declined to sign the Council’s budget. The fiscal 2025 budget, which she called “unsustainable,” remained unsigned. That budget still took effect, with all the proposed cuts restored.

TOWN TOPICS

Local Artists Give D.C. a Mural Makeover BY EMMA IB RAHIM Washington, D.C., is undergoing a makeover as local artists bring the city’s culture to life with a new mural project. “These murals are all about recognizing the many hands, histories and communities that have built this nation, and — as illustrated in one of the murals — a reminder that the work of democracy is ongoing, unfinished and shared,” said Nancee Lyons, coordinator of MuralsDC, a program of the District Department of Public Works. On July 13, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the DC250 Mural Project, a citywide public art initiative celebrating the nation’s 250th

anniversary in a way that is unique to D.C. “Public art is a fantastic way to celebrate our country’s semiquincentennial. Through art, we can share our stories, celebrate our shared values and inspire future generations,” Bowser said in a release. Eight D.C.-based artists were commissioned to paint one mural each, so that each of the city’s eight wards would have one. They were to collaborate with residents and property owners, creating pieces reflecting the voices of the communities. “Every ward in the District carries its own identity, traditions and unique landmarks,” said Lyons. “We try to infuse some of that in each of the projects.” Ben’s Chili Bowl, a D.C. landmark and a legendary gathering place for activists during the civil rights movement, will feature a new mural by the end of the month. “Ben [Ali] was an immigrant from Trinidad and was able to create this amazingly popular and beloved eatery,” Lyons said. “They sort of embody the American dream, and the people on their wall will be people who have embodied that as well.” Currently, two murals have been completed: Luis Del Valle’s mural at Shrimp Boat Plaza on East Capitol Street NE in Ward 7, and another

by Federico Frum on Georgia Avenue NW in Ward 4. Mia DuVall, a sixth-generation native Washingtonian, is completing a mural at Henceforth on H Street NE in Ward 6. “I want the local community, the H Street community in particular, to feel and see themselves in this piece,” said DuVall. She describes her mural as layered, with homages to local culture, including a marching band with a percussionist — a nod to Go-Go music — dressed in uniforms fashioned after the D.C. flag, with medallions branded with “51” (a statement of statehood and the District’s fight for representation). One of the lead figures in the marching band, largely made up of Black and Latino children, holds an illuminated quill. In the coming weeks, five other murals will embellish walls across the District, from the Metropolitan Branch Trail to the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. DuVall’s daughter is her assistant on the mural. “For me as a parent to inspire my own child into civic action to the point where she wants to study political science, to further her understanding of who we are as a people, as a community, as a government — that’s what I hope my mural does,” DuVall said. The locations, artists and current status of the

eight murals follows. Ward 1: Ben’s Chili Bowl, 1213 U St. NW. Aniekan Udofia. Work begins this month. Ward 2: Blagden Alley entrance, 1208 9th St, NW. Julia Kagan. Work begins this month. Ward 3: Macomb Recreation Center, 3409 Macomb St. NW. Demont Pinder. Work begins this month. Ward 4: 5816 Georgia Ave. NW. Federico Frum. Completed. Ward 5: Metropolitan Branch Trail, 2000 5th St. NE. Asad Walker. Work begins this month. Ward 6: Henceforth, 1335 H St. NE. Mia DuVall. Near completion. Ward 7: Shrimp Boat Plaza, 4510 E. Capitol St. NE. Luis Del Valle. Completed. Ward 8: Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. Nabi Bilal and Candice Taylor. Work begins this month.

ABOUT THE LATE NINA PILLSBURY We honor the memory of Nina Pillsbury, a beloved board member of the Alliance Française of Washington DC. A fluent French speaker and a true friend of France, she embodied French-American friendship with elegance, enthusiasm, and flair. In French, Nina was a “grande dame.” She loved bringing people together and did so generously for the Alliance, serving many times as Gala co-chair. Known for her love of red—the color of life and beauty—she had a kind word for everyone, from Washington’s decision-makers to AFDC staff and teachers. Her legacy is celebrated through a selection of her favorite pieces, reflecting her vision of fashion as dialogue: French and American, classic and bold, seamlessly intertwined. These pieces from well-known designers will be exhibited throughout the residence on the night of the Benefit Event. THE GEORGETOWNER | AUGUST 12, 2026

TOWN TOPICS

Building Community Book by Book BY AN DREW L EDDY

[Better Half from other room]: Hey, Barnes & Noble is coming back to Georgetown. [me]: Nice [BH]: I thought you might want [pause]… [me]: ? [BH]: …to work there. I mean, all you do is sit around and read anyway… That loving nudge began my now two-year foray into the retail world of selling books, right around the corner from our house. With an M.A. in Russian literature and many years in the Soviet field, a career switch to teaching IB English and nearly 30 years researching and writing about antiques, books and reading have been constants in my life. As I imagine many people do, I had a slightly rose-tinted view of what working in a bookstore would be like. In truth, many romantic notions have fallen by the wayside. But there has been a saving grace or two. Through good fortune and permission to try new things, I’ve found myself the steward of both the History Book Club and the Fiction Book Club at the store. Each meets one Sunday a month. I have never been a Book Club Person (full disclosure). My introverted nature just would not allow me to sit and discuss what I had always considered a very personal act: reading. With the

wisdom of age, perhaps, but also knowing that I have so many interesting and accomplished neighbors, I thought that book clubs would be a great way to connect with a local crowd. Of course, many nonresidents come to Georgetown, but I didn’t want to lose an opportunity the store offers for those of us who live here. The summer months have us all blown to the winds, making schedules tough to coordinate. However, it only takes a few contributors for the discussions to blossom. Regardless, members keep up with the readings and I get regular, thoughtful emails about current readings and suggesting books for future readings. In fall, winter and spring, interest and attendance rebound. In short, it is a great gift to read new books (in both genres) and to share impressions with sharp and perceptive readers. Of all the things I imagined finding at a bookstore, this has been perhaps the icing on the proverbial cake. Besides the unexpected delights that come from finding a book a customer is looking for — or having someone excitedly purchase a book I’ve recommended — these clubs are a rare example of that much vaunted third space, a safe and relaxing spot away from home that makes it

worth the effort to get there (and you don’t have to buy booze or a cupcake). I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to meet so many really kind and contributive members. Whoever shows up is most welcome. To be fair, not all comers are Georgetowners, but I want more people in this community to know about the clubs and sign up. I’m not sure if I’m an old dog learning new tricks or just trying to resist the increasing atomization of our society. Either way, bringing people together beats letting us drift apart. Books, I do believe, have magical magnetic powers. To clarify: The History Book Club meets on the first Sunday of the month at 4 p.m. We’ve read a terrific array of history and historyadjacent books. The Fiction Book Club, in which we sort of alternate between current novels and classic or older works, meets on the second Sunday of the month at 4 p.m. Our Sept. 6 History Book Club selection is “The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China” by Jonathan Kaufman. For the Sept. 13 Fiction Book Club, we’ve selected a novel in a non-urban setting, Gary Shteyngart’s well-received Covid novel, “Our

Country Friends.” A light drama set in upstate New York, it has a good-sized cast of characters. I’ve read two of his many novels and also enjoyed his long-form journalism in the New Yorker and other periodicals. Both clubs meet on the third floor of the store, located at 3040 M St. NW. If you’re interested in signing up for either or both clubs, contact Meg at crm3989@bn.com. The books are offered to members at a 10-percent discount and membership is free.

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TOWN TOPICS

Pat Oliphant, Fierce Master of Political Cartoons, Dies at 90 BY RO B E RT DEVA NEY “Skewer,” “merciless” and “savage” are words that accompany the editorial cartoons that Pat Oliphant penned for half a century before his death on July 13. Woe to presidents, politicians and institutions that got on his bad side. And they did. The cartoonist’s depictions of Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan are legendary — and Oliphant did not spare Barack Obama either. He even came out of retirement to take a swipe at Trump with a Hitler Youth drawing. Oliphant won the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for his Vietnam War cartoon of Ho Chi Minh, saying of a dead soldier, “They won’t get us to the conference table ... will they?” He thought this piece one of his lesser works and turned his back on the Pulitzers because he thought the judgment was too political and not artistically based. The artist died of old age at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His son, Grant Oliphant, confirmed the death. Washington and Georgetown Arriving from Australia in the ’60s, Oliphant quickly gained recognition and was soon in the nation’s capital working for the venerable but stylish Washington Star. He seemed to be happy to be in the belly of the beast. A Washington Post critic once said, “If Pat Oliphant couldn’t draw, he’d be an assassin.”

Oliphant met the owner of a Georgetown art gallery, Susan Conway, who became his business manager and his third wife. Residing on 30th Street, they enjoyed the neighborhood, where he continued his cutting cartoon commentary after the Star folded, working independently through newspaper syndication. Oliphant also created bronze sculptures and painted in oils. By the turn of the century, the Oliphants were residing in Santa Fe full time. Last year, the Magnolia Pictures documentary “A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant” had its debut at the DC/Dox film festival in Washington, D.C. Oliphant’s survivors include three children, Grant, Laura and Susanne Oliphant; two stepchildren, Pauline and Daniel Conway; a brother, John; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. (His wife Susan died last December.) While Oliphant bashed presidents and others, he could be quite friendly in real life. He even had a playful moment with President Ford. It seems quite a few people have an Oliphant story — and a drawing. A Couple Oliphant Stories “Pat Oliphant, one of the world’s best political cartoonists, and I became friends when he moved to Washington, D.C., in 1975,” writes David Hume Kennerly, Pulitzer Award winner and former

White House photographer, as well as occasional contributor to The Georgetowner. “Among his fellow cartoonists, most of whom were wickedly good at their job, he was in a league of his own. When photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams died in 1984, Oliphant reflected Ansel’s view of President Reagan quite accurately. (Mainly because Ansel was vehemently opposed to Reagan’s Interior Secretary James Watt). Pat, knowing I was a friend of Ansel, gave me the original with the admonition written in the lower right (‘don’t give this one away!’). “In my defense, the previous Ansel cartoon he drew I gave to the great man himself! This one is now in my archive at the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona that Ansel founded with Dr. John Schaefer in 1975. Nick Adde told The Georgetowner about a spicy incident: “Pat Oliphant, an extremely clever and brilliant man, and I became friends while we were at the Washington Star, where my last vestige of a gofer job involved making sure his cartoon got to the post office each night for shipment to a camera company in New Jersey. Two weeks before the paper closed on Aug. 7, 1981, I let him know casually that it was my birthday. He signed a cartoon and gave it to me; it’s framed and hanging in my office to this day. “Years later, while I was a reporter for the Army Times Publishing Company, we reconnected

Cartoonist Pat Oliphant, 1935-2026.

when I was assigned to cover a ceremony at the Omni Hotel during which the American Legion presented the great Bill Maudin of ‘Up Front’ fame with a lifetime achievement award. Afterward, Oliphant, Mauldin, his wife Christine and our cartoonist Jack McLeod moved to an empty bar in the hotel. “While three of us chatted it up, Oliphant asked the bartender for a blank bar tab and quietly went to work with pen in hand. It so happened that the John Wayne Bobbitt episode was in the news. [Look it up.] About 15 or 20 minutes later, Oliphant showed us what he had done. It was a very funny and very naughty two-panel cartoon depicting Bobbitt, an open window and a ferocious dog. After our hysterics subsided, he signed it for Mauldin’s wife.”

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EDITORIAL & OPINION

Journalism in the Age of AI BY M IA D IN U N ZIO

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Welcome, President Peñalver! Fifty years ago last month, the Rev. Timothy Healy, S.J., became the 46th president of Georgetown University. His tenure was marked by breakthrough moves, with Georgetown’s national visibility growing as he increased the endowment, set expansion goals, won a NCAA basketball championship and celebrated the university’s bicentennial in 1989. Healy’s predecessor, Robert Henle, S.J., had overseen a chaotic period, marked by student protests, but also by welcoming women as full-time Georgetown College students and establishing financial constraints. Twenty-five years ago last month, John DeGioia became the 48th president of Georgetown University, having worked under Healy as well as under his successor, Rev. Leo O’Donovan, S.J. In office for a record 23 years, DeGioia initiated many programs, moved an expanded Georgetown onto the global stage and resigned in late 2024 due to health issues. Last month, Eduardo Peñalver became the 49th president of the university, arriving from

Seattle University. This legal scholar, blessed with an inquisitive mind and an engaging personality, is the second lay person to lead the 237-year-old institution, the first Catholic and Jesuit university in the U.S. It is noteworthy that Peñalver went on an eight-day silent retreat, informed by Ignatian spirituality, a few months ago. He said at the time: “Georgetown is this precious thing, for the Jesuits, for the global Catholic community and for the country. It’s doing something no one else is doing. What are the things I need to be doing to prepare myself to do well, not for myself, but to help this institution continue to thrive?” Amid all the uncertainties besetting educational life in America, Georgetown University appears well positioned for local and global success. DeGioia left a platform to build amazing things in the future, as Robert Groves, then interim president, pointed out in a June interview with The Georgetowner. Peñalver looks to us like the right man for the right job at the right time.

As a student journalist, I have learned that journalism is not simply about producing words on a page. It is about listening, questioning, building trust and making careful decisions about how a story should be told. Every article begins long before the writing process, with interviews, research, conversations and the responsibility of representing real people and real experiences. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly present in newsrooms and classrooms, we must ask an important question: How do we embrace new technology while still protecting the human creativity that makes journalism meaningful? AI has undeniable benefits. It can help journalists organize information, summarize documents, brainstorm ideas and manage the overwhelming demands of reporting. As a student balancing classes, deadlines and the responsibilities of working in journalism, I understand why these tools are appealing. They can make certain parts of the process more efficient. However, efficiency should never come at the expense of ownership. A journalist’s work is more than the final article that readers get to see. It represents hours of reporting, relationship-building, editing and thought. The same is true for writers, artists, photographers and other creators. Creative work reflects an individual’s perspective and labor, and that work deserves protection.

As conversations around AI continue, there must be a clear distinction between what a creator intentionally shares with an AI platform and what is simply available in the public realm. Journalists who upload a draft of an article, notes or unpublished writing into an AI platform are choosing to provide that material. But creative work should not be treated as automatically available for AI systems to use, reproduce or learn from without the author’s permission. A piece of writing does not lose its authorship and value simply because it exists online. This issue is especially important for student journalists. Many of us are still learning the craft and developing our voices. The articles we write are not just assignments; they are evidence of our growth as reporters and storytellers. Allowing creative work to be used without proper consideration undermines the very people who represent the future of journalism. It should not be a competition between humans and technology. AI can be a valuable tool when used responsibly, transparently and ethically. But it must remain a tool, not a replacement for the curiosity, empathy and judgment that define good reporting. Journalism exists because people choose to tell stories about one another. Technology can help us tell those stories, but it cannot replace the human experiences behind them. Protecting creative work means protecting the voices that make journalism matter.

A Year of National Guard Deployment in D.C. Tuesday, Aug. 11, marked one year since President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C. More than 5,000 troops and millions of dollars later, it seems as though the guards are here to stay. “The line just keeps being moved, with the intention of people getting used to seeing armed guards on our streets. They’re hoping that we come to normalize it,” said Jill Santos, one of the co-chairs for Free DC in Ward 2. Last August, Trump declared a crime emergency in the District, despite violent crime plunging to a 30-year low, ushering in a surge of law enforcement patrolling everywhere from Union Station and neighborhoods to the National Mall and parks. Though the guards are not legally authorized to make arrests, they can detain people. Each day, the deployment costs taxpayers $3 million. With the extension of the National Guard presence into Inauguration Day in 2029, costs could amass to around $1.4 billion, according to a Defense Department estimate. While the Trump administration celebrates a reduction in crime, two different studies by the Niskanen Center and the Center for American Progress found that the National Guard has had little to no effect on violent crime. “If this was really about making D.C. safe and beautiful, instead of wasting this money on the guard, we could instead be funneling that money into resources for the city,” Santos said, directing

attention to homeless shelters, food security and supporting the nearly 30,000 federal employees who were pushed out of their jobs. D.C. is not the only city that has dealt with a wave of federal law enforcement agents. Among the others are Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland, Oregon. But while other states successfully challenged the presence of the National Guard, D.C.’s status as a federal district complicates city officials’ calls for withdrawal. District Council member and presumptive mayor Janeese Lewis George promised to end the cooperation between Metropolitan Police Department officers and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, who are part of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. “Federal agents deployed against D.C. residents have killed two people, injuring and endangering countless others, and ICE has detained thousands of residents, separating families and destroying homes. The occupation has made D.C. less safe,” said Amanda Gomez, Lewis George’s campaign communications director. Free DC organized 11 days of action and solidarity, honoring Julian Bailey and Nolberto Meza, two D.C. residents who were killed by federal agents, celebrating in Malcolm X Park with a Sunday drum circle and, on the morning of the one-year anniversary of the guard deployment, holding a rally at Black Lives Matter Plaza. “It’s been reinvigorating to see the ways that

10 AUGUST 12, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

PHOTO BY LELAND SCHWARTZ

BY EM MA IBRAHIM

neighbors have come together,” Santos said, encouraging residents to familiarize themselves with Know Your Rights resources. “This is a moment in time where it’s super important that we look out for each other.”

Members of the Georgia National Guard walk along Wisconsin Avenue in front of Victoria’s Secret.

VILLAGE

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Back-to-School Round Up BY C ALL IE S OL OMON As the 2026-27 school year approaches, here are some of the latest developments at schools in the neighborhood — including Georgetown University — that students, families and educators should know before the first day of school (or classes).   New Interim Principal at Hyde-Addison Native Washingtonian and District of Columbia Public Schools graduate Kimberly Bigelow will serve as HydeA d d i s o n Elementary School’s interim principal for the 2026-27 academic year. According to DCPS, Bigelow brings Kim Bigelow experience across multiple roles in education, including elementary classroom teaching, literacy coaching and school leadership. Bigelow served as assistant principal of Mann Elementary School and led efforts that contributed to doubledigit growth in English Language Arts during the 2024-25 school year. Back-to-School Night at Hardy Middle School Hardy Middle School’s Back-to-School Night will take place on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Families will follow an abbreviated schedule to visit the classes their children are taking. British International School Campus Upgrades Per the admissions team at the British International School of Washington, the 2026-27 school year brings the addition of new classrooms at the independent school, along with renovations to classrooms, laboratory space and teacher facilities throughout the campus. MacArthur High Renamed for John R. Thompson Jr. Starting this fall, students will attend John R. Thompson Jr. High School, the new name for MacArthur High School. The Ward 3 public high school opened on MacArthur Boulevard in 2023. In August of 2025, the District Council approved legislation to rename the high school after the former Georgetown University men’s basketball coach. Thompson coached the Hoyas from 1972 to 1999. Under his leadership, Georgetown reached the NCAA tournament 20 times and captured seven Big East tournament titles. In 1984, Thompson became the first Black coach to lead a team to an NCAA championship.   Thompson was also known for confronting racial injustice and advocating for his players. For example, he established rules for media

NINA SIMONE TRIBUTE AT BLUES ALLEY Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16

John Thompson, former Georgetown University men’s basketball coach.

engagements in an attempt to protect the team from racist attacks and criticism. More about Thompson’s career is available at georgetownvoice.com/2025/03/17. New President at Georgetown University Eduardo Peñalver began his tenure as Georgetown University’s 49th president on July 1. Peñalver previously served as president of Seattle University. He also served as dean of Cornell Law School and taught law at Fordham Law School, the University of Chicago Law School and Cornell Law School. Peñalver is a Rhodes Scholar who earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell and a J.D. from Yale. In his July 1 welcome message to the community “Beginning the Next Chapter Together,” Peñalver wrote: “As Pope Leo recently observed, compounding our challenges, in higher education and beyond, is a crisis of values and meaning. We have become a deeply divided and rudderless society in which people ‘know many things, but struggle to find direction.’ We suffer from ‘an inability to connect information with deeper knowledge or … a sense of purpose.’ Georgetown’s distinctive strengths are directly responsive to this challenge.”

54 YEARS Every Sunday 8AM to 4PM

Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW (rear), presents “I Got Life: The Music of Nina Simone,” featuring vocalist Carol Riddick and bassist Gerald Veasley. The presentation moves through four aspects of the Simone songbook: Quest, Passion, Fury and Hope. Not including $7 fees and a $15 foodand-beverage minimum, tickets are $60 on Saturday at 7 p.m., $50 on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. and $35 on Sunday at 5:30 and 8 p.m.

TIRAMISU MAKING AT SHOP MADE IN DC Sunday, August 16

Italian-trained chef and coffee sommelier Antonia Petaccio leads a celebration of desserts and coffee, highlighting Takomabased small-batchers Lost Sock Roasters, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Shop Made in DC, 1304 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Participants will build tiramisus to take home with a bag of Lost Sock coffee and “Antonia’s most meaningful tiramisu recipe.” Tickets are $53.55 on Eventbrite.

SUMMER DISTRICT 5K & HALF ON C&O CANAL Sunday, August 16

These two runs on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal path benefit the John P. Mayhugh Foundation, which seeks to address systemic barriers to recovery and improve outcomes for those suffering from posttraumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and addiction. The half marathon (registration fee: $81.66) begins and ends near Potomac Boat Club. The 5K (registration fee: $44.30) begins and ends at Fletcher’s Boathouse. Visit bishopsevents.com. ”

WATERFRONT MOVIE NIGHT: ‘MEN IN BLACK’ Friday, August 21

The Washington Harbour’s Waterfront Movie Nights series continues at Georgetown Waterfront Park, K Street and

Wisconsin Avenue NW, with sci-fi comedy “Men in Black.” The free screening starts at sunset, on or about 7 p.m. Blankets, lawn chairs and neuralyzers welcome. The Sept. 4 film is “Finding Dory.”

TUDOR PLACE HISTORY ON ICED TEA & TOUR Saturday, August 22

Area residents are invited to visit Tudor Place Historic House & Garden, 1644 31st St. NW, at 2 p.m. for iced tea, tea sandwiches, cakes and other treats on the dining terrace (rain location: Dower House). A guided garden tour, with a dash of Peter family history, will follow. Tickets are $65 ($55 for members). Visit tudorplace.org.

ANC 2E MONTHLY MEETING AT VISI PREP Monday, August 31

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, representing Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale, will hold its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 1524 35th St. NW, and via Zoom. Visit anc.dc.gov.

JANE AUSTEN FILMS AT DUMBARTON HOUSE Wednesdays, September 2 and 9

Canceled in 2025 due to the site’s HVAC replacement project, the Jane Austen Film Festival will return to Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW, on two September Wednesdays. The screenings, in the garden, start at sunset. Picnicking is encouraged, and refreshments will be available for purchase. Ticket sales begin two weeks ahead of each screening. Visit dumbartonhouse.org.

OLD GEORGETOWN BOARD MONTHLY MEETING Thursday, September 3

The Old Georgetown Board–Commission of Fine Arts will meet via Zoom at 9 a.m. The filing deadline is Aug. 13. Meeting documents are posted on the Monday afternoon prior to the meeting. Visit cfa.gov.

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1819 35th St NW THE GEORGETOWNER | AUGUST 12, 2026

BUSINESS

TALENTOURS: REMOTE WORK IS THE NEW FRONTIER

INS & OUTS

BY FRANCIS RIENZ O

BY R OBERT D EVAN EY

In the weeks and months ahead, as previously forecast, we will see an interesting mixture of retail and restaurants making their Georgetown debut: Garage, Café Tulúm, Joe & the Juice, Dayglow, Puree Juice Bar, East Fork, Delhi Belly, Pop Mart, Dutch Darlings and Thursday Boot Co. as well as those listed below. Get ready for a busy fall season.

other words, Kiss Kiss will open in the fall with Basque cuisine.

COMING: JONES ROAD TO M

The popular Jones Road makeup shop is coming to 3207 M St. NW, in the former space of Blossom Daily coffee shop and, before that, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee. In October of 2020, Bobbi Brown launched Jones Road as her second beauty brand.

IN: MEERMIN SHOES

PHOTO BY ROBERT DEVANEY

Meermin Shoes is now open at 3001 M St. NW, the Spanish footwear brand’s first retail location in the Washington, D.C., area. Meermin offers handcrafted Goodyear welted shoes, boots and a selection of accessories.

IN: BOMBAS OPENS AUG. 14

acquisitions now that he had more time to do so. With the help of TalentOurs, the practice could expand and go further, rather than being bogged down by administrative steps. TalentOurs also strives for stability with its employees. When a client or project is done, the recruited employees stay on with TalentOurs and are matched to a future project. As Gonzalez says, “we’ll float them over until the next project.” With the growth of A.I. and other factors post-Covid, small business owners are looking to expand and start new projects, creating a gap that TalentOurs can fill with the company’s virtual assistants. The company keeps a roster of all the different employees with various skill sets. As those people get hired, TalentOurs continues to grow, hiring more employees to fill their spots. If a client comes in asking for help with a website and spreadsheets, “Someone has admin skills and web design skills, and we pair them up,” explains Gonzalez. As for the future of TalentOurs, Gonzalez says — noting the adoption of A.I. by companies in India and the Philippines, replacing remote workers — the need for a real human connection in customer-facing businesses will not go away. He strives for quality over quantity, wanting a slow business increase and growth while still providing excellent service. The Spanish-language element of the company also sets it apart, with TalentOurs able to work with a wide variety of both Spanish- and English-speaking businesses. TalentOurs can adequately match virtual assistants and employees from both languages to work with any business. Planning to expand on the social-media side, the company will also be revamping its visual identity and branding. “We want to have healthy growth,” Gonzalez said, “and for the people that work with us, that they have a stable future and career.”

12 AUGUST 12, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

EORGETOWNER PHOTO

Could you use a virtual assistant? With TalentOurs, finding one is easier than ever. Anything that your company needs can be easily matched to a highly capable assistant through TalentOurs. These assistants can handle any sort of administrative work as well as customer service and marketing. There are 500-plus satisfied clients, and the company is only beginning to grow. Founded in 2025, TalentOurs has primarily focused on matching Latin American-based employees with American businesses. “Then, it turned into a fullblown business,” said Brandon Gonzalez, the company’s business and acquisition chair. The company prides itself on 24/7 support that allows the virtual assistant to contribute as much as possible to each business. TalentOurs is slowly growing, currently being promoted through word of mouth and more grassroots marketing. There have been success stories around individual clients who have been successfully helped by virtual assistants matched with them. Gonzalez said there is a large, wellrounded talent pool that he works with, from every area of expertise. “There’s web design, accounting, search engine optimization, you name it,” he said. He spoke about one specific success story involving a medical practice, where the owner needed assistance in streamlining tasks and staffing for large operations. “It’s kind of where we specialize in small businesses,” Gonzalez said, “to deliver talent that can clean up the mess.” There were a lot of billing, calendar and administrative tasks that the virtual assistants helped with, making it easier for the business to run smoothly and providing work for the assistants. “We were able to take everything off their plate and let them focus completely on patient care,” Gonzalez said. The owner was able to get monthly double-digit growth rates on new client

“The comfort-focused apparel brand known for its One Purchased = One Donated mission is opening its first Washington, D.C., retail store in the heart of Georgetown on August 14,” we were told. Bombas is setting up at 1400 Wisconsin Ave. NW, on the corner of O Street, in the space that previously housed shoe and apparel retailer Dolce Vita.

See you soon: Spicewalla and East Fork at 1317 and 1313 Wisconsin Ave. NW, respectively.

COMING: SPICEWALLA

A fancy spice market, Spicewalla (“walla” being a term used in India for “seller”), is coming to 1317 Wisconsin Ave. NW, next to where the pottery shop East Fork is moving in. Both businesses hail from Asheville, North Carolina. “Chef Meherwan Irani started Spicewalla to make it easy for everyone to cook boldly, season fearlessly and bring big flavour [sic] to their tables,” the company tells us.

OUT: PIZZERIA PARADISO The Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo will open on Aug. 28 at 3262 M St. NW.

IN: UNIQLO OPENS AUG. 28

As reported by The Georgetowner on Dec. 8, “the Japanese casual wear retailer Uniqlo is set to come to Georgetown at 3262 M St. NW, formerly the spot for J.Crew.” The Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo will open on Aug. 28. Uniqlo will also offer some services at the 22,618-square-foot store, including UTme!, a T-shirt and tote bag printing service with Georgetown-specific designs, and RE. UNIQLO, a clothing repair and upcycling.

COMING: BESO BESU

At the Hamilton Collective, as previously reported in The Georgetowner — along with Flora Pizzeria and Alfie’s, a Thai concept from chefs Alex McCoy and Justin Ahn — is Beso Besu at 1228 31st St. NW. It is, Jessica Glass tells us, “a chef-driven concept owned by Claire and Ari Wilder in partnership with chefs Johnny Spero and Robert Aikens, with interiors designed by Rachel Aikens. The team is also behind Georgetown’s Le Bonne Vache, as well as Kappo, Chaplin’s and Zeppelin.” In

Open since 2002, Pizzeria Paradiso at 3282 M St. NW. closed its doors July 26. The pizza pioneer, founded by Ruth Gresser in 1991 with its Dupont Circle flagship, continues there and in Spring Valley and Hyattsville — along with its new take-out business, Paradiso Pronto. Managing Partner Carlos Gonzalez, who started at Paradiso as a dishwasher in 2000 and became co-owner of the company in 2024, said the restaurant couldn’t reach an agreement on a new lease for the Georgetown space, adding that the M Street location also needed investment for a refresh.

OUT (TEMPORAILY): GREEN ALMOND PANTRY

Green Almond Pantry is closed for renovations. Chef Cagla Onal-Urel’s TurkishMediterranean cafe is at 3210 Grace St. NW.

OUT (TEMPORARILY): 7TH STREET BURGER

Fear not. The smash burger and fries joint at 1424 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 7th Street Burger, is closed for two weeks this month for renovations, we’re told.

TONY POWELL: IN FOCUS

THE GEORGETOWNER | AUGUST 12, 2026

BY ROBERT DEVANEY AND SONYA BERNHARDT

Washington’s photographer of presidents, philanthropists and the city’s biggest moments has learned to see life differently.

f you’ve attended a major Washington gala, a museum opening, a Kennedy Center celebration or a historic event in D.C. over the past two decades, chances are Tony Powell was already there — camera in hand, quietly documenting history. His photographs have captured everyone from Supreme Court justices and presidents to artists, dancers, business leaders and philanthropists. He has photographed the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, countless cultural galas, the National Portrait Gallery’s Portrait of a Nation Awards, the Washington Ballet, the Kennedy Center Honors and many of the city’s most celebrated annual events. Most recently, Powell found himself with an assignment unlike any other. Arriving at the Supreme Court this June expecting to photograph philanthropist David Rubenstein, Powell learned just minutes before the ceremony that he wasn’t covering a public event at all. He was photographing Rubenstein’s wedding. “I thought I was there for another philanthropic announcement,” Powell recalls with a laugh. “Fifteen minutes beforehand, someone said, ‘You do realize this is their wedding?’” Fortunately, Powell travels with enough equipment for almost any possibility, stating: “You’d rather have more 14 AUGUST 12, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

equipment than you need than less.” The ceremony, officiated by Chief Justice John Roberts, continued with a celebration at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue before ending atop the Hay-Adams hotel overlooking the White House. “It was one of the great honors of my career,” he says. Powell’s work has become synonymous with Washington’s cultural life, yet his own story is every bit as compelling as the people he photographs.

Washington Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet and the Ailey School. Photography remained constant throughout. “I never saw photography as simply documenting something,” he says. “It was another artistic tool — a paintbrush.” Today, his assignments range from editorial portraits and fashion photography to documenting Washington’s most important business, civic and cultural events.

A Life in the Arts

Powell readily shares another chapter of his life — one that ultimately shaped everything that followed. For nearly two decades, he battled alcoholism, a struggle that nearly cost him his family, his dance company and his career. “I lost everything,” he says simply. In 2009, after years of treatment and relapse, Powell experienced what he describes as a profound spiritual awakening: “I realized I never had to drink again.” Seventeen years later, he remains sober. That experience transformed more than his personal life. “It taught me gratitude,” says Powell, father of two sons and two daughters. “If I don’t have my sobriety, I don’t have my children. I don’t have my business. I don’t have any of this.” His philosophy now is rooted in kindness, compassion and showing up prepared. “If I’m on time, I’m late,” he jokes. “I always want people to know I respect their time.”

Photography was never his only artistic language. Born in Washington and raised in Chevy Chase, Powell’s life changed in elementary school after a Howard University outreach performance inspired teachers to encourage him to audition for the Broadway musical “Raisin.” As a child, he toured Europe performing, while absorbing every aspect of theater production — from choreography and orchestration to lighting and costume design. “It changed my life,” Powell says. “I realized that art could tell stories in so many different ways. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was learning everything.” He later studied at Juilliard before launching Tony Powell/ Music & Movement, creating original ballets, composing music and choreographing performances for companies including the

Reinvention

Embracing Technology Without Losing the Craft Powell has also embraced artificial intelligence — not as a replacement for photography, but as another creative tool. For the Washington Ballet’s upcoming season campaign, he photographed dancers traditionally before using AI to create imaginative environments inspired by productions including “Romeo and Juliet,” “Dracula” and “The Art of War.” “I shot everything traditionally,” he says. “AI simply allowed us to transport the dancers into worlds that would have been impossible to build physically.” His enthusiasm for technology is balanced by a respect for craftsmanship. “I tell young photographers to learn the rules before they break them,” he says. “Understand light. Understand composition. Learn photography first.”

Life Beyond the Ballroom Although D.C. views Powell dressed in black, quietly moving through galas and museum openings, another side of him exists far from the city’s ballrooms. He seeks out mountains, icy lakes and remote landscapes where cold-water plunges have become part of his daily discipline. Photographs of Powell immersed in frigid waters surrounded by floating icebergs reveal someone constantly challenging himself physically and mentally. He also follows a vegan lifestyle and practices Buddhism, philosophies rooted in mindfulness, compassion and respect for life. Of course, there’s usually a sauna involved as well.

Washington’s Storyteller After 20 years photographing Washington society, the 58-year-old Powell still approaches every assignment with curiosity. Among his favorite annual events are the Kennedy Center Honors, the Mark Twain Prize, the Hillwood gala, the National Museum of Women in the Arts gala, the Phillips Collection gala, the Opera Ball and countless Georgetown events that have become fixtures on his calendar. His client list continues to grow, but Powell says success is no longer measured by celebrity access. “It’s about telling the truth,” he says. “When you make a portrait, bring out who someone really is.” That philosophy extends well beyond photography. “The universe gives me everything I need,” he reflects. “When you’re grateful, that gratitude spills over onto other people.” Perhaps that’s why so many of Washington’s most influential people continue inviting Powell into life’s biggest moments. He isn’t simply documenting history. He’s learned how to see the people who make it.

GALA GUIDE Tony Powell’s Fall Picks Starred

SEPTEMBER 2026 Wednesday, Sept. 16 Prevent Cancer Foundation Gala 6 p.m., National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW Themed “Puerto Rico: La Isla del Encanto,” one of Washington’s premier benefit evenings draws over 1,000 guests from the business, diplomatic, government, medical and philanthropic communities. CNN anchor Sara Sidner is master of ceremonies; Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón of Puerto Rico and Rep. Pablo José Hernández Rivera are honorary co-chairs, with Nickie Currie and Caryn Dyson chairing. Thursday, Sept. 17 CHCI Annual Awards Gala 4:30 to 10 p.m. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute closes its Sept. 15-16 Leadership Conference with its signature awards gala, under this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme: “Presence. Persistence. Power.” The 1751 Party 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., City Tavern, 3206 M St. NW The Citizens Association of Georgetown celebrates Georgetown’s 275th anniversary with The 1751 Party at historic City Tavern. The neighborhood gathering pays tribute to the year Georgetown was founded, with tickets appropriately priced at $275. Tuesday, Sept. 22 Dinner Under the Stars 5:30 to 9 p.m., U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE Friends of the National Arboretum gathers champions of agriculture, conservation and policy for cocktails in the National Herb Garden and a tented dinner in view of the Capitol Columns. Friday, Sept. 25 The 2026 Wolf Trap Ball — Tony’s Pick 7 p.m., Filene Center, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia “The Rhythm of New Orleans” marks the nation’s 250th anniversary with a black-tie evening on the Filene Center stage, a menu curated by chef David Guas and an appearance by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Dominic and Nedda Dragisich and Kevin and Kate Robbins co-chair. Friday, Sept. 25 2026 Dinner of Champions: Nation’s Capital 6 to 11 p.m., Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, Presidential Ballroom, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s premier fundraising event returns as the organization celebrates 80 years of progress in the fight against multiple sclerosis — and invests in the breakthroughs still to come. Saturday, Sept. 26 2026 Human Rights Campaign National Dinner Welcome reception at 5 p.m., program at 7 p.m. HRC’s annual black-tie dinner celebrates advances in the fight for full LGBTQ+ equality and regularly draws cabinet officials, members of Congress and headline entertainers. The Mayflower is the official dinner hotel.

Saturday, Sept. 26 50 Forward! — The Washington Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Celebration 7 p.m., National Union Building, Downtown Washington, D.C. The Washington Ballet celebrates its landmark 50th anniversary season with 50 Forward!, an evening looking back at five decades of dance — and ahead to its next chapter. Guests can explore interactive historical galleries, enjoy cocktails with Artistic Director Edwaard Liang and Company dancers, and dance to live music by Black Alley, followed by an exclusive speakeasy after-party.

OCTOBER 2026 Thursday, Oct. 1 Friends of Rose Park Annual Fundraiser Gala 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Alsop House Friends and neighbors gather at the historic Alsop House for Friends of Rose Park’s annual fall fundraiser, supporting one of Georgetown’s most beloved neighborhood parks. . Thursday, Oct. 8 The Spirit of Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia The annual benefit supports Mount Vernon’s education and historic preservation mission. The Spirit of Mount Vernon is marking its 25th anniversary alongside the nation’s 250th. Saturday, Oct. 10 The Virginia Fall Races 12:30 p.m., Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Virginia A fixture of the Hunt Country calendar since 1955, with steeplechase racing, tailgates and some 10,000 spectators at the oldest continuous racecourse in Virginia. Thursday, Oct. 15, to Sunday, Oct. 18 2026 Middleburg Film Festival Middleburg, Virginia (see website for specific times and venues) Four days of narrative and documentary films — festival favorites, world and regional premieres, foreign films and Oscar contenders — screened in intimate theaters and followed by conversations with filmmakers and actors. Friday, Oct. 16 The 58th Annual Meridian Ball — Tony’s Pick Meridian House, 1630 Crescent Place NW Washington’s last true ball. Guests begin the evening at an intimate ambassador-hosted dinner or the White-Meyer Dinner on Meridian’s campus, then gather for dancing, dessert and conversation at Meridian House. Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. chair. Saturday, Oct. 17 National Italian American Foundation Gala Campari aperitivo at 5:30 p.m., dinner and awards at 7 p.m., after-party at 10 p.m., Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW Black-tie. A special performance by Sebastian Maniscalco, guests from both sides of the Atlantic and a dinner inspired by NIAF’s 2026 Region of Honor, Lombardia. Additional honorees to be announced. Use QR Code for the full list of Galas, regularly updated.

THE GEORGETOWNER | AUGUST 12, 2026

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2823 Q St NW 3019 N St NW 3150 South St NW #1A 2816 R St NW 1554 34th St NW 2815 Q St NW 2803 Q St NW 1532 31st St NW 3307 O St NW 1633 35th St NW 3713 R St NW 3728 R St NW 1600 37th St NW 2721 O St NW 3703 Reservoir Rd NW 3305 Dent Pl NW 1314 29th St NW 3533 R St NW 3313 Q St NW 2802 N St NW 4425 P St NW 3267 Prospect St NW 1725 34th St NW 1333 27th St NW 1233 33rd St NW 4413 Q St NW 1610 33rd St NW 1804 37th St NW DISCOVER 1802 37th St NW 3708 S St NW 1080 Wisconsin Ave NW #3016 3220 Grace St NW #5 3246 N St NW #4-A 1062 Thomas Jefferson St NW 3225 Grace St NW #226 3120 R St NW #207 2606 41stCreek, St NWwellness #7 is about At Ingleside at Rock Wisconsin NW #411 more than2111 staying active—it'sAve about thriving. 2606 41st St NW #2 From resident-led fitness opportunities and 1045 31st NW #21 wellness programs to St inspiring lectures, live music, and cultural experiences, 2500 Q St NW #214every day offers new ways2610 to nurture body and mind. Located 41stboth St NW #1 in the heart of Washington, DC,#1 this not-for-profit 2630 39th St NW life plan community makes it easy pursue your 2111 Wisconsin Ave to NW #210 interests, 1080 stay engaged, and feel home. Wisconsin Averight NWat#1003 Discover what moves you today! 1711 35th St NW #1 2500 Q St NW #548 2228 40th St NW #1 3900 Tunlaw Rd NW #304 2400 41st St NW #212 4029 Benton St NW #302 LEARN MORE

WHAT MOVES YOU

16 AUGUST 12, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

BEDS 5 4 2 5 5 3 4 5 5 3 5 4 5 3 5 3 3 4 3 2 3 3 3 2 5 3 3 4 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 1

FULL BATHS

HALF BATHS

LIST DATE

CLOSE DATE

LIST PRICE

CLOSE PRICE

3 2 7/16/26 7/17/26 $6,050,000 $6,050,000 3 1 5/20/26 7/7/26 $4,395,000 $4,100,000 2 2 12/7/25 7/12/26 $4,000,000 $3,850,000 4 1 6/18/26 7/1/26 $3,495,000 $3,450,000 3 0 3/27/26 7/1/26 $3,200,000 $2,950,000 3 1 4/16/26 7/10/26 $2,850,000 $2,800,000 3 2 5/12/26 7/13/26 $2,795,000 $2,795,000 5 1 7/11/26 7/11/26 $2,750,000 $2,750,000 4 1 6/3/26 7/10/26 $2,695,000 $2,695,000 2 1 5/13/26 7/8/26 $2,850,000 $2,625,000 5 1 3/5/26 7/7/26 $2,795,000 $2,500,000 4 1 1/7/26 7/2/26 $2,425,000 $2,375,000 4 1 8/20/25 7/30/26 $2,495,000 $2,350,000 2 1 6/18/26 7/22/26 $2,095,000 $2,095,000 4 1 5/29/26 7/23/26 $1,995,400 $2,000,400 3 1 7/20/26 7/30/26 $1,850,000 $1,795,000 3 6/4/26 7/31/26 $1,795,000 $1,795,000 3 1 6/26/26 7/15/26 $1,649,000 $1,750,000 3 1 6/19/26 7/20/26 $1,695,000 $1,705,000 2 0 6/11/26 7/7/26 $1,645,000 $1,600,000 4 0 6/13/26 7/13/26 $1,565,000 $1,599,333 2 5/21/26 7/30/26 $1,575,000 $1,575,000 3 0 10/14/25 7/16/26 $1,495,000 $1,450,000 1 1 6/17/26 7/10/26 $1,350,000 $1,400,000 2 3/12/26 7/1/26 $1,500,000 $1,400,000 2 1 6/3/26 7/15/26 $1,275,000 $1,280,000 2 3/12/26 7/1/26 $1,295,000 $1,275,000 3 0 4/15/26 7/15/26 $1,185,000 $1,185,000 3 6/8/26 7/7/26 $1,150,000 $1,155,000 2 6/22/26 7/22/26 $1,100,000 $1,050,000 2 4/30/26 7/10/26 $1,025,000 $1,025,000 2 4/2/26 7/1/26 $975,000 $940,000 1 0 5/15/26 7/24/26 $915,000 $890,000 1 6/4/26 7/13/26 $900,000 $888,000 1 1 6/5/26 7/2/26 $825,000 $825,000 2 4/8/26 7/7/26 $645,000 $640,000 2 4/21/26 7/16/26 $649,900 $625,000 2 0 5/21/26 7/31/26 $599,999 $575,000 2 4/21/26 7/10/26 $499,900 $517,000 1 0 2/5/26 7/16/26 $499,000 $490,000 2 3/4/26 7/9/26 $495,000 $485,000 2 5/21/26 7/16/26 $489,900 $484,900 1 3/19/26 7/17/26 $475,000 $465,000 1 5/1/26 7/13/26 $399,000 $390,000 1 6/18/26 7/30/26 $389,000 $380,000 1 5/7/26 7/7/26 $349,000 $349,000 There are many reasons happy here, but music$347,000 is a big 1 6/18/26 we're 7/30/26 $350,000 1 5/9/26 7/31/26 throughout $325,000 the week, $320,000 part of it. We enjoy performances and 1 0 5/28/26 7/15/26 $299,900 $285,000 I have the pleasure of 7/23/26 playing the$290,000 piano every evening. 1 0 6/23/26 $285,000 1 6/11/26 MARK 7/23/26 $225,000 Ingleside at Rock Creek $210,000 Resident RUTH

REAL ESTATE

AUGUST AUCTION BLOCK BY R ICHARD S E L D E N This month’s Auction Block features a self-portrait by contemporary photographer Nan Goldin, works on paper by artists Jean Dubuffet and Thomas Eakins, an embroidered Fendi handbag, an Arts & Crafts-style bookcase and an autographed note and photograph mailed by Helen Keller to thank a San Antonio man for sending her a birthday greeting in 1960.

BONHAMS

Sold for: $12,800

by School of Paris painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985) sold for more than five times the high estimate. Titled “Paysage Aux Routes” — in English, “Landscape With Roads” — it is signed and dated “VIII 43.” The work’s childlike style indicates that Dubuffet was already responding to what he came to call art brut (raw art), now known as outsider art.

Estimate: $1,500–$2,000 Sold for: $4,160

Helen MacMahon

540.454.1930

CANTERWOOD

Middleburg, Virginia • $2,700,000

Helen MacMahon

540.454.1930

info@sheridanmacmahon.com www.sheridanmacmahon.com

This Arts & Crafts-style bookcase topped the high estimate at the Potomack Company’s “June Art, Furniture & Decorative Arts Cornucopia” auction. Just over four and a half feet tall, the oak bookcase, on square legs with wooden casters, is fitted with two wood-framed glass doors with false mullions. Michigan-based Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Company called its early 20th-century line, discontinued by the 1920s, Lifetime Furniture.

THE TANNERY

WILSON MEADOWS LANE

Golf course estate | Stone-and-brick architecture | Wideplank oak floors, soaring ceilings & exposed beam family room | Chef’s kitchen | Main-level primary suite w/ spa bath & custom walk-in closets | 3 upper-level bedroom suites, private office & sitting room | Finished lower level w/full bar, guest suite, fitness room & wine cellar | Outdoor living with terrace, outdoor kitchen, fountain & gardens.

Circa 1812 stone & stucco residence, beautifully updated & expanded | 3 BR, 2.5BA, wood floors, 4 FP screened porch, terrace, & heated pool with panoramic views | Guest house (2BR/1BA), 3-car heated garage, machine shed & classic bank barn w/ 4 stalls | 94.65 acres w/2 spring-fed ponds, woods, & rolling pasture w/board fencing.

REED STREET

HOPEWELL COTTAGES

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905 Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

Two charming cottages on 10 acres | Two spring-fed ponds | Renovated main cottage with gourmet kitchen, fireplace, 1 bedroom & 2 full baths | Separate 2 bedroom cottage offers exceptional privacy for visitors or multigenerational living | Stone wall, terraced patios | Ideal weekend getaway, full-time residence, or family compound | Peaceful natural setting with abundant wildlife and timeless charm | Rare opportunity.

Estimate: $3,000–$5,000 Sold for: $16,640

61 Acres | Limestone floors, hand-painted coffered ceilings | Mahogany doors & windows | 5 BR, 5BA, 6 FP | Elevator | Separate gallery/studio, charming stone cottage, guest house, spa, gym, pool & tennis court | Metasequoia lined driveway, orchard, formal gardens, stream w/ waterfalls, & Little River frontage | Elegance, privacy, & natural beauty.

Estimate: $500–$700 Sold for: $850

“Man with Hands behind Head” (shown) and four other drawings in pencil, black chalk and charcoal by Thomas Eakins (1844-

DOYLE

FIDELIO

THE POTOMACK COMPANY

From the estate of Rebecca Lee, this multicolored, baguette-style handbag with silver-tone hardware, crafted in the 2000s by Italian fashion house Fendi, sold for over twice the high estimate at Freeman’s “The Summer Edit: Jewelry and Luxury Handbags” auction in Chicago. Featuring all-over floral embroidery, it is trimmed in lizard skin, also the material of the strap. Lined in

Estimate: $15,000–$20,000 Sold for: $114,300

The Plains, Virginia • $7,900,000

1916) sold for more than three times the high estimate at Doyle’s “Summer Impressions: Fine Prints & Works on Paper” auction. Among the greatest American artists and teachers, Eakins’s oeuvre includes portraits, sculling scenes on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River and, for the Centennial Exhibition, “The Gross Clinic.”

FREEMAN’S

CHRISTIE’S

From a private collection in Japan, this gouache (opaque watercolor) on paperboard

yellow satin, the interior includes a sidewall zipper pocket.

The Plains, Virginia • $6,250,000

Lynn Wiley.

540.454.1527

GERMANIA FARM

Aldie, Virginia • $2,400,000

(540) 687-5588

703.609.1905 703.609.1868

Middleburg, Virginia • $1,975,000

Estimate: $30–$50 Sold for: $325

Expected to sell for under $100, this lot — an autographed note and photograph (with envelope) mailed in 1960 by author and disability rights activist Helen Keller (18801968) from Westport, near her Connecticut home — went for more than $300 at Weschler’s July 28 Metro Online auction. The printed message begins: “I am touched by your delightful birthday greeting which is like a candle of joy shining on my birthday.”

WILLOW RUN

Aldie, Virginia • $4,750,000

Paul MacMahon Brian MacMahon

WESCHLER’S

Marshall, Virginia • $2,850,000

Paul MacMahon Helen MacMahon

703.609.1905 540.454.1930

The Plains, Virginia • $1,450,000

Helen MacMahon

540.454.1930

110 East Washington Street Middleburg, Virginia 20117

THE GEORGETOWNER | AUGUST 12, 2026

FOOD & WINE

THE LATEST DISH: SUMMER INDULGENCE BY LINDA ROT H

Fish Taco loves the DMV — and vice versa. Its latest location, 12117 Darnestown Road in the Shops at Potomac Valley in Gaithersburg, offers Baja-style tacos: beef, chicken and veggie in addition to fish. There are other locations in Falls Church, Tysons Corner, North Bethesda, Downtown Bethesda and Cabin John. Chef Miguel Guerra (Mita) opened Donisima in La Cosecha, 1280 4th St. NE, the award-winning doughnut concept’s first permanent flagship. Donisima transforms the classic American doughnut into a showcase for Latin American flavors such as arequipe and queso fresco. It will also offer baked goods and savory items. Bo Blair (Millie’s, Jetties, Surfside) opened The Wheelhouse at 5714 Connecticut Ave. NW in D.C.’s Chevy Chase neighborhood. Channeling Nantucket vibes, the 24-seat bar features a New American menu created by chef David Scribner. Its double-entendre, boat-themed name refers both to where a boat is steered and to something one is comfortable with. Hotel AKA Alexandria is now the Satire, part

of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, managed by Concord Hospitality. Its main restaurant, The Wise Fool, opens for breakfast and dinner, while The Bad Poets Café offers casual dining. Hotel AKA Washington Circle in D.C. is now One Washington Circle, part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, likewise managed by Concord Hospitality. Ten Ten West End has replaced a.kitchen+bar, focusing on an innovative beverage program and seasonal Mid-Atlantic ingredients. Dan Daley of Ten Five Hospitality has opened The Oak Room, a high-end American grill, with supper club Bernadette’s upstairs, at 1218 Wisconsin Ave. NW in Georgetown, where El Centro D.F. used to be. L.A.-based chef Tim Hollingsworth will direct the culinary program. Daley, a Georgetown University graduate, used to bartend at Third Edition, which reigned for years at that address. Quick Hits: Stillwater & Stone, a new land-and-sea restaurant and bar, opened in the newly renovated Westin Crystal City in Arlington’s National Landing … Eataly, Oscar Farinetti’s Italian food hall, will take

Donisima

over the former American Girl space at 1961 Chain Bridge Road in Tysons Corner Center … Spanish chef Pepe Moncayo (Cranes, Arrels) has orchestrated a new menu at the Tabard Inn in Dupont Circle … Duke’s Grocery opened at Crystal City Water Park, 1621 Crystal Drive, owner Daniel Kramer’s first Virginia location … Urban Garden Brewhouse replaces Right Proper Brewing Company next to the Howard Theatre in Shaw, becoming the first Black womanowned brewery in D.C. … Rita’s Italian Ice and Good Trouble Roasters are slated to open at 3800 Langston Boulevard in the Cherrydale section of Arlington. The coffee shop’s owner, Mike Greiner, plans to target the coffee crowd in the morning and happy hour aficionados in the evening. He also owns Black Market salsa, so expect proper happy hour food to complement the beer and wine.

Donisimo

PHOTO COURTESY RAY LOPEZ

Linda Roth is the founder and CEO of Linda Roth Associates, a D.C.-based public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the food service and hospitality industries. Follow her at: @LindaRothPR, #LindaRothPR or lindarothpr.com.   Fish Taco Darnestown

18 AUGUST 12, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

FOOD & WINE

Cocktail of the Month: The Grand Prix

BY J ODY KURA S H

Anyone who drives in D.C. traffic knows the feeling. Vehicles moving at a snail’s pace or locked in a complete standstill. Drivers glancing at the time while tapping fingers on the steering wheel. Pure exhaustion from doing nothing while trapped in a metal box. At these moments, the ultimate fantasy might be to zoom along Pennsylvania Avenue at speeds topping 200 mph. Imagine leaving the U.S. capital in the dust in your rear view mirror and museums whizzing by you in a flash as you zip around the National Mall. While, for most people, this scenario may only be possible in their dreams, later this month it will be reality for the twenty-plus drivers competing in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. This race, the first-ever IndyCar race to be held on the Mall, features a 1.7-mile, seventurn street circuit passing historic landmarks. Though the window for ordering tickets has closed, enthusiasts can watch from home on live TV on Aug. 23. A unique event like this deserves to be toasted with a cocktail. It turns out that there are a few different “Grand Prix” cocktails. The most famous is the Hotel Savoy’s Grand Prix, which originated in Florence. Bartender Denis Giuliani captured the grandeur of Italian supercars in this racy drink. Forged from red vermouth — infused with herbs and botanicals — and Italian beer, then sweetened

with orange juice, this sophisticated tipple will rev up your taste buds. A more modern concoction is the Cold Brew Grand Prix, created by bartender Morgan Schick for Villon, inside San Francisco’s Proper Hotel. As you can guess from its moniker, the star ingredient is cold-brewed coffee, which makes it a perfect brunch cocktail — ideal for sipping while checking out D.C.’s race, which kicks off at 1 p.m. on a Sunday. The java is mixed with Campari, delivering a broad spectrum of delicious bitter flavors. Grapefruit juice provides a freshness, simple syrup adds a touch of sweetness and a generous splash of tonic gives it a breezy, fizzy finish. The revered Difford’s cocktail guide also has a listing for a Grand Prix, though it’s a bit more boozy than the others. Containing four spirited ingredients — vodka, crème de cassis, vermouth and Campari, this may be not be the best option for “day drinking.” What ties all these cocktails together is a solid “bitter” element, along with a sweet-sour citrus component. What if we took inspiration from all these drinks to make something unique to D.C. for its premier racing event? Let’s start with the aperitivo. It’s possible to still honor Italy but keep it local. Ivy City’s family-run Don Ciccio & Figli distillery produces spirts first crafted by their ancestors in Italy, starting in 1852. Their products include

amaro spirits, sweet cordials like limoncello and Ambrosia, a bittersweet aperitivo infused with turmeric and blood orange, with a flavor profile similar to Campari’s. If we follow the recipe for the coffee-based Grand Prix, we can add locally sourced mud from Zeke’s, a small-batch roastery renowned for organic fair-trade coffee. Growlers of their cold brew are available for takeaway. For the sweet-sour components, I suggest freshly squeezing your own ruby red grapefruit juice or buying a premium product like Evolution Fresh’s pure grapefruit from the supermarket. This will add tartness and fruitiness. For a sugary twinge, use a small part of either simple syrup or limoncello. Finally, a generous splash of tonic takes the edge off the bitterness while buzzing things up a bit. While this cocktail makes a perfect accompaniment for watching the big race on TV, remember not to drink and drive!

RECIPE THE DC GRAND PRIX 2 oz. Don Ciccio & Figli Ambrosia aperitivo 1.5 oz. cold-brewed coffee 1 tbsp. simple syrup or limoncello 3 oz. red grapefruit juice Tonic water

Pour the aperitivo, coffee and simple syrup/limoncello into a tall glass with ice. Stir. Add grapefruit juice and stir again. Top off with tonic.

THE GEORGETOWNER | AUGUST 12, 2026

IN COUNTRY

Old Friends Pass Gold Cup Chairmanship BY L EL AN D SC H WARTZ

Old and dear friends Will Allison and Al Griffin are passing Gold Cup’s chairmanship, from one to the other, in what they describe as something very much like from teacher to student or from father to son. “Will has been so many things to so many people,” Al says. “Part big brother, part uncle, part confidant, part friends, you know, all of those things he’s been to, not just me, but a lot of people who have looked to Will to see how to do things.” How was always with “a combination of strength and kindness,” Al says. “It is really kind of a roadmap, you know, on how to do

Al Griffin and Will Allison

things, when you watched Will.” Watching and following Will started for Al in 1982, and crystallized years later when he saw Will inaugurated as the president of the Virginia Dental Association, where Al, also a dentist and now an adjunct faculty member at the Harvard School Of Dental Medicine, was a member. Later, Al joined Will in the Warrenton Hunt and “I followed him forever in the hunt field and then as Master of the Warrenton Hunt, where his leadership is what made the hunt work.” And then “the same thing happened with Gold Cup,” Al remembers, thinking back to 1998. “Basically, he brought me in at Gold Cup and I watched him lead.“ So, what will it mean for the Gold Cup races that Al Griffin is taking over as chairman and Will Allison is becoming chairman emeritus? “We are simply going to continue what Will has been driving for a long time,” the new

20 AUGUST 12, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

chairman said,” which is an opportunity to provide the best racing possible in a way that benefits the local community as well.” “I think we have one of the best racecourses in America, and we’re going to run the races to the betterment, not just to horsemen, but to everyone that lives in Hunt Country. Those are the things that Will stood for, and those are the things we will continue,” Al said. Will Allison, Gold Cup’s champion for the past 25 years — the face of the races. the core engine behind their success and one of the most loved people in Fauquier — has a word or two to say about his successor. “Al Griffin is the is leading person nationally of steeplechase racing. And that’s not only because he’s president of the National Steeplechase Association, but it is his personal involvement in all the races,” Will says. “And during his leadership tenure, we have seen enormous increase in quality horses, in ownership, involvement in purse structure increases. And the state of steeplechase racing rising nationally is at an all-time high, all due to Al’s fantastic leadership.” Now that Al is following Will as both race chairman and president of the Virginia Gold Cup Association (which sets the race polices carried out by the chairman), Will said, “this means it is his total responsibility to put the races on.” Will recalls 30 years ago when he was master in Warrenton and brought Al in as joint master, where he “served beautifully.” Later, when Will was chairman of the Gold Cup races, he asked Al to join him as co-chairman. “And now, he has been jointchairman for the last 10 years and has carried Gold Cup to new heights in terms of purses and quality of racing — and it hasn’t always been easy.” The hardest part was overcoming the economy during Covid, he says. One of the best parts was the realization that all of Gold Cup — the steeplechase races — came from fox hunting. “Fox hunting, the old point-to-points developed into the classic steeplechase racing we know today,” Will explained. It was the local hunt and the people joining the sport and then taking their good horses and racing them on the weekends. All that is the pleasure, that you kept.” “Advice for Dr. Griffin?” I ask. “He calls me his mentor,” Will says. “Yes, but he has succeeded well beyond any advice I could give him.”

ARTS

DC JazzFest Marks a Triple Centennial BY R ICHARD S E L DE N Since three great jazz musicians were born in 1926, this year is a triple centennial for jazz fans. Two of them, trumpeter Miles Davis, born in Alton, Illinois, on May 26, and saxophonist John Coltrane, born in Hamlet, North Carolina, on Sept. 23, are nearly household names. Davis’s 1959 album “Kind of Blue,” on which Coltrane plays tenor sax (with Cannonball Adderley on alto), is generally considered the greatest jazz album ever recorded, though Coltrane’s 1965 album “A Love Supreme” — influenced by his work with Davis, but freer and infused with spirituality — is a rival for the distinction. The third musician was a pianist, but — though an NEA Jazz Master — he is not as familiar a name as Thelonious Monk or Bill Evans (who played on “Kind of Blue”) or McCoy Tyner (who played on “A Love Supreme”). Randy Weston was born in Brooklyn on April 6 and died in 2018, aged 92, outliving Davis by 27 years and Coltrane by 52. At this year’s DC Jazz Festival, among the more than 50 acts presented from Sept. 2 to 6 at multiple venues — including The Wharf, Union Stage, Pearl Street Warehouse, Anthem Row, The Hamilton Live, Westminster Church and Mr. Henry’s — there will be tributes to Davis, Coltrane and Weston. Writes Artistic Director Willard Jenkins: “Our 2026 DCJF Artist-in-Residence, Emmet Cohen, will lead a quintet, with tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt in the frontline, along with the same explosive rhythm section that delighted the Cosmos Club, drummer Joe Farnsworth and bassist Yasushi Nakamura, in a program honoring the John Coltrane and Miles Davis centennials.” That performance will take place on Saturday at The Wharf. “In ‘Collier Plays Coltrane,’ the widely acclaimed young rising tenor saxophonist,

John Coltrane

Isaiah Collier

Miles Davis

Isaiah Collier, and Chicago’s own member of the proud no-compromise tradition of the internationally acclaimed Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), will honor the John Coltrane centennial and threaten to blow the roof off the Transit Stage with his spiritual homage,” promises Jenkins, referencing another Saturday performance at The Wharf. As for Weston, Jenkins notes: “The African Rhythms Alumni Band” — performing at The Wharf on Sunday — “will feature members of centennial celebrant pianist-composer Randy Weston’s longtime touring ensembles,” including saxophonist-flutist T.K. Blue, hand drummer Neil Clarke, bassist Alex Blake, trombonist Frank Lacy and “Weston acolyte pianist” Sharp Radway. Performing on the festival’s opening night, Wednesday, Sept. 2, at The Hamilton Live, 600 14th St. NW, are JazzDC All Stars, directed by saxophonist Paul Carr, with special guests drummer Jason Marsalis and vocalist Christie Dashiell. Sets at 8 and 9:30 p.m. are free with a $20 suggested donation. Also on Wednesday, saxophonist Herb Scott hosts a jam session at Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE ($12 cover charge and $15 food-andbeverage minimum). Anthem Row, 800 K St. NW, is a featured venue on Thursday, Sept. 3, with free performances by Richmond-based hybrid (jazz and hip hop) group Butcher Brown, bassist Corcoran Holt’s quintet and saxophonist Marshall Keys & Soulful Path from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Also that night, vocalist Dan Murray performs from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Road NW; tickets are $40. On Friday, Sept. 4, Westminster Church, 400 I St. SW, welcomes organist Charles Covington, pianist Mike LeDonne, drummer Lenny Robinson and guitarist Dave Manley from 6 to 9 p.m.; $10 donations will be

collected at the door. Also on Friday, the Heidi Martin Ensemble will perform from 8 to 11 p.m. at Mr. Henry’s, with tickets priced at $30.75. On Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, the action moves to The Wharf, 1001 7th St.

SW; Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW; and Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl St. SW. DC JazzFest at The Wharf runs from 2 to 10 p.m. on both days. The Saturday lineup includes such stars as Kes, guitarist Bill Frisell and vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, whose We Exist! quartet features young women in jazz. The Sunday lineup includes saxophonist Joshua Redman and a celebration of jazz fusion band Weather Report by singer Kurt Elling and the Yellowjackets. Single-day tickets are $29, $49 and up; two-day tickets are $55, $95 and up. Free, interactive concerts for kids called DC Jazz Bops! are set for Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. at The Wharf’s M Street Landing. The DC Jazz Prix Finals are on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Union Stage. Tickets are $34 and $57. DC JazzFest at Union Stage takes place on Saturday at 6 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. (all-ages). Tickets are $34 and $57. DC JazzFest at Pearl Street Warehouse presents two all-ages shows: on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $34 and $57. Finally, a free Meet the Artists program starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW. The complete schedule is available at dcjazzfest.org.

THE GEORGETOWNER | AUGUST 12, 2026

KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB

‘Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage’ REVIEW ED BY KIT T Y K E LLE Y A wronged wife finally finds her voice.. Belle Burden wanted to be a writer and was admitted to a creative-writing class in college, “one of only two freshmen,” she states proudly in “Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage.” But after reading her first short story aloud in class, she was bashed by a lout named Greg. “He was tall, white and very punk rock — short, spiky blond hair, a torn concert T-shirt, big black combat boots, a leather jacket.” Burden was crushed by his criticism: “I had taken Greg’s assessment as the truth, storing it in every cell of my body.” She immediately changed her major and focused on public service; following a fellowship in New York City government, she enrolled in law school. There, she falls in love with a law student, identified in the book as “James,” who soon proposes marriage. If this were a movie, you might begin to hear dissonant chords in the background as James resists signing a prenup until certain changes are made. Then, as they plan their wedding, he inexplicably nixes dancing at the reception, much to the disappointment of his bride-to-be, who writes that it was her “one

regret about that day.” Eventually, James drops out of law school to pursue a career in finance. The background music begins to sound even more discordant, almost eerie, when he asks his new wife to liquidate one of her two trusts in order to purchase their large Manhattan apartment. She agrees, listing James as co-owner, “even though he had not contributed to the purchase. I was happy to be able to do it,” she explains. “It felt like an offering to him, to our marriage, to the family we were going to create.” Later — again at her husband’s behest — she doesn’t hesitate to raid her remaining trust to purchase the Martha’s Vineyard summer home he covets: “After five years of marriage, I believed even more strongly in our partnership, in our commitment to each other.” That belief shatters the day James announces out of the blue that he wants to leave the marriage Burden thought was happy, even joyful. He drops his bomb without regret or apology and then tra-la-las out of their home, leaving behind three adolescent children for his wife to shepherd through the Covid pandemic,

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refusing even to share custody. Burden was gobsmacked: “He never told me, not once, that he was discontent in our marriage, unhappy with me or struggling in our life together.” She was further blindsided to learn, during the production of documents required for their divorce, that her enterprising husband had become a multimillionaire. “I saw year after year of his earnings, investment returns and bonuses accumulating into a fortune, which he held in his name alone … I didn’t know he’d earned millions of dollars each year … He had not hidden it. I had chosen not to look … not to know.” Burden divides the dissolution of her marriage into five parts. She opens each segment of the book with a scene involving the ospreys perched high on an aerie near her Vineyard home. It’s an artful metaphor. Ospreys mate for life, an aspiration that eluded Belle, as it had her mother, Amanda Burden, and her famous grandmother, Babe Paley — women of enormous wealth and social privilege who endured the public humiliations of errant men. Although the author grants her husband a pseudonym in these pages, a quick computer check reveals his identity, as well as that of her mother’s on-again, off-again lover of 30 years, former TV host Charlie Rose, who was fired from PBS and CBS after being accused by more than 30 women of sexual harassment. One wonders why the women in Burden’s family — American aristocrats with social stature and financial independence — would tolerate tabloid shaming from their promiscuous partners. Burden writes as if it’s a genetic defect that she, along with her mother and grandmother, simply inherited, “an acceptance of men behaving badly.” In this unputdownable book, Burden proves to that college lunkhead Greg that she’s a writer of style and substance, something that may astound her ex-husband. As she dissects their divorce in searing detail, you can almost hear the waves of applause thundering across the country and driving the memoir to the bestseller

list, where it remains six months after its release. Just as sweet for the discarded wife is the sale of her story to Netflix, with Gwyneth Paltrow contracted to play the lead. Not since Nora Ephron wrote “Heartburn” has a wronged wife stepped forward to so effectively reap literary rewards from a wayward husband. Cue here the resounding drums of a Shakespearean triumph, for Belle Burden has taken “arms against a sea of troubles. And by opposing [ended] them.”

Georgetown resident Kitty Kelley has written several best-sellers, including “The Family: The Real Story Behind the Bush Dynasty.” Recent books include “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 first appeared.

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