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TRUMP FEDERALIZES D.C. POLICE, DEPLOYS NATIONAL GUARD BY ROBERT DEVANEY
President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is deploying the National Guard and federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department to crack down on crime.
VOLTA PARK TO PARTLY CLOSE; RENOVATIONS BEGIN BY PEGGY SANDS
After almost two years of planning and delays, the renovation of Volta Park’s baseball diamond and other improvements is set to begin construction in the park at 1555 34th St. NW on July 21.
YALA GREEK ICE CREAM: HELLENIC FLAVORS IN GEORGETOWN BY CAROLINE WOODWARD
Yala Greek Ice Cream, the self-described “first authentic Greek ice cream shop in America,” is opening its inaugural U.S. shop in Georgetown, bringing new style and flavors to the local ice cream scene.
SMITHSONIAN PREPS TEACHERS FOR 2026 BY RICHARD
SELDEN
The Smithsonian’s deputy secretary is Meroë Park. The four under secretaries are: Ronald Cortez, finance and administration; Kevin Gover, museums and culture; Ellen Stofan, science and research; and Monique M. Chism, the first official holder of a position created in 2021, undersecretary for education.
BURSTING THE BUBBLE AT BUBBLE PLANET D.C. BY CAROLINE WOODWARD
Bubble Planet is an immersive art and sensory experience centered around the concept of, you guessed it, bubbles.
A NIGHT TO DINE FOR: THE 43RD RAMMY AWARDS BY EVAN CAPLAN
Last night, the greats of DC’s restaurant world—and their allies and fans—came together at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the 43rd Annual Rammy Awards & Gala. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced the 2025 Rammy Award winners.
specialists are regularly in your area offering in-person complimentary auction estimates of single items and entire collections.
your appointment
After All That, Council Passes $22-Billion Budget
BY PEGGY SANDS
After months of agony, weeks of argumentative back-and-forth and two hot (in both senses) days of debating last-minute amendments — some on issues thought long resolved — the Council of the District of Columbia on July 28 passed its Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. The final vote was 10-2 in favor. The total budget: $22 billion.
Last-minute changes were necessitated by the sudden and unexpectedly steep downturn of annual projected revenue for the next few years.
The budget is full of “trade-offs,” as the Washington Post noted. The split was between two competing priorities: enhancing the business climate to build back jobs and attract commercial activity, visitors and new residents; and budgeting more funds for services and to support the city’s poorest residents, impacted most in any downturn.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and the majority of the Council sided with boosting business initiatives to help the city grow in the years to come.
In June, Bowser promised there would be no cuts to basic education programs in the new budget. She also promised no layoffs from city-funded jobs, but said there would be a hiring freeze.
Opponents argued for keeping adult health programs and the minimum-wage increase for employees earning tips. A group temporarily disrupted Council proceedings and was removed after protesting cuts to child tax
support for private business and downtown revitalization. That included millions of dollars for professional sports, including, of course, the District’s share of the costs to redevelop the RFK site, a restructured tennis center in Rock
credits, youth violence mediation programs and “almost every climate and environmental law and rule we’ve got.”
Early analyses of the budget cited various “winners” and “losers.” Winners: The Council voted to continue and even enhance
Park and a reformed sports wagering system. Funds were also allocated to continue converting empty downtown offices to residential spaces and for an extensive river cleanup program. Losers included programs connected with adult health, including a city-funded
replacement for some Medicaid programs that the Trump administration axed, as well as formerly budgeted funds for youth violence mediation programs. Other cuts were made to D.C.’s State Department of Education proposals, such as creating an alternative school and providing teachers with math training. The streetcar proposal and a marked bike lane on Connecticut Avenue bit the dust, too.
The shortfall in 2026 revenue was partially due to the sudden reduction in the federal workforce following the newly elected Trump administration’s massive downsizing of executive agencies in the District, such as USAID, VOA, the Department of Education and even the State Department.
In a downtown still recovering from the nosedive in office work that began with the pandemic, the loss of thousands of federal employees hit hard, adding to the growing concern about the future of District restaurants, which face rising food costs, rents and wages.
The new budget now awaits approval by Congress. A revised revenue estimate from CFO Glen Lee in September will also be crucial in making decisions about keeping programs or cutting them further.
Creek
The District Council debates the 2026 budget. Courtesy DC News Now.
New Georgetown Preschool Offers Hands-On Learning
BY MAREN FAGAN
As the back-to-school season approaches and parents and caregivers of Washington’s youngest residents seek early learning opportunities, a new preschool in Georgetown is set to welcome up to 80 children for its inaugural academic year.
Opening on Sept. 2 in Hamilton Court at 1230 31st Street NW, Suite 100, the Georgetown Preschool will feature seven classrooms where the emphasis is on learning through hands-on activities and play.
With the slogan, “Where little lions learn and grow,” the Georgetown Preschool will care for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years, with several licensed preschool teachers on staff.
Hours will be Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Founder Farah Kuraishi’s goal is to provide area children with a supportive environment. “We’re thrilled to bring this vision to life in one of D.C.’s most vibrant neighborhoods,” Kuraishi said.
According to press materials: “At Georgetown Preschool, we understand the importance of providing a nurturing and secure environment for your little ones. Our licensed daycare center is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of infants to toddlers, guiding them through their earliest years with love and care.”
Images shared with The Georgetowner show a wide range of toys and hands-on activities, including trains and a train track, walls with building blocks, a spacethemed wall fixture and toy musical instruments.
Families looking to enroll their children can do so online at thegeorgetownpreschool.com.
The Georgetown Preschool is also seeking experienced educators for available positions. According to the school’s website, those hired will receive inclusive health insurance and retirement benefits.
D.C. Elementary Schools Ban Cell Phones
BY PEGGY SANDS
When public school begins on Aug. 25 in Washington, D.C., elementary school students will face a new rule that might be painful: no cell phones allowed.
“Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, DCPS students are prohibited from accessing a cell phone or personal electronic communication device during the bell-to-bell school day when on DCPS school grounds,” a June 6 memo announced. “If a cell phone or personal electronic communication device is brought to school, it must be turned off and stored during the bell-to-bell school day. Each school must establish a system for cell phone and personal electronic communication device storage and implement it in a consistent manner for its students.”
The policy allows for some exceptions, such as when school staff permit device use for educational purposes or in cases of documented health needs or extenuating circumstances.
“As a DCPS parent, I’m so glad our kids will have the support of the District to help them focus on school while at school,” Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Kishan Putta told The Georgetowner. “I was proud to support this measure and I encourage all families to sign the [Wait Until 8th] pledge,” according to which, parents don’t give mobile devices to their kids before the end of eighth grade.
ANC 2E Chair Gwen Lohse agrees. She has not allowed her daughter, 10, to have a phone as yet and strongly supports the Wait Until 8th movement. When she gets her daughter a phone, it will probably be a Light Phone — a minimalist device, lacking internet browsing capability, designed to encourage users to spend less time glued to their screens.
“These devices do have benefits once kids are old enough for them,” wrote Putta. “But study after study has shown the terrible harm that can occur when young, not-yet-mature brains are exposed to them. And especially to social media, which is ubiquitous and very hard to prevent once devices are in kids’ hands.”
According to the DCPS, the new policy requires students in public elementary schools to keep their phones turned off and stored away during school hours. This “bell-to-bell” ban aims to refocus student attention on academics and foster better peer interactions. Officials write that positive results have already been seen from implementing similar bans in middle schools and some high schools, including increased engagement and reduced anxiety. The District Council is considering a law to ban cell phones in all public and charter schools.
“The official ban does not cover private schools in the D.C. area,” said Lohse. “Yet” was implied.
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The Georgetown Preschool will open on Sept. 2 in Hamilton Court. Courtesy The Georgetown Preschool.
Namesake Nonprofit Leaving Halcyon House
BY ROBERT DEVANEY
Halcyon, the nonprofit accelerator that has supported nearly 600 impact-driven entrepreneurs globally, announced on July 29 that it will leave its historic Georgetown headquarters — Halcyon House at 3400 Prospect St. NW — early next year.
“From the very beginning, my dream was to create a sanctuary where changemakers could come together, innovate and create lasting impact,” said Dr. Sachiko Kuno, co-founder. “I’m incredibly proud of what our community has accomplished and look forward to supporting Halcyon’s next phase in a new space that reflects our shared mission.”
Halcyon President and CEO Daniel Barker added: “Plans are already underway to identify a new, centrally located headquarters in Washington, D.C., that reflects Halcyon’s scalable, global mission and the inclusive spirit championed by Dr. Kuno. The new space will not only house Halcyon’s staff and programs, but also serve as a vibrant hub to connect and convene Halcyon’s broader ecosystem of social impact entrepreneurs, partners and changemakers.”
Halcyon describes itself as “a Washington, DC–based nonprofit accelerator empowering early-stage social-impact ventures. Since its founding in 2014, Halcyon has nurtured entrepreneurs addressing global challenges through fellowships, workspace, mentorship and a vibrant international network.”
With her then-husband Ryuji Ueno, Kuno took possession of 30,000-square-foot Halcyon House from the Dreyfuss family on March 1, 2012, at the price of $11 million. The historic property has seen many owners — from first Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert, who built it in 1787, and eccentric Albert Clemens (supposedly Mark Twain’s nephew), who enlarged it, to architect and sculptor John Dreyfuss, who restored and renovated it in the 1990s.
In 2011, Kuno and Ueno bought another Georgetown landmark, the Evermay estate at 1623 28th St. NW, and made it the headquarters of the S&R Foundation, which supports artists, scholars and community organizations. Today, S&R Evermay also owns the former Fillmore School on 35th Street, which houses Georgetown Village.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
GEORGETOWN WATERFRONT MOVIE NIGHT
Friday, Aug. 15
The next free movie night from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in Georgetown Waterfront Park, K Street and Wisconsin Avenue, will feature “Paddington in Peru.” Presented by the Washington Harbour, where restaurants are offering specials, the series continues with: “Top Gun: Maverick” on Aug. 22, “Coco” on Aug. 29, “Twilight” on Sept. 5 and “Grease” on Sept. 12. Visit georgetowndc.com.
SUMMER RESTAURANT WEEK
Monday, Aug. 18, to Sunday, Aug. 24
During this summer’s edition of Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week, diners at participating restaurants can snag three-course brunches and lunches for $25 and $35 and three-course dinners for $40, $55 and $65. Visit ramw.com.
HOLD THE LIGHT PHOTO ART EXHIBIT
Thursday, Aug. 21 to Sat., Sept. 6
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5-7 p.m. and Sunday, August 24 from 1-3 p.m., celebrate Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day with a special photo exhibit at Gallery 16TEN. Visit https://www.georgetowndc. com/business/gallery-16ten/.
ANC 2E MONTHLY MEETING
Tuesday, Sept. 2
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.
OLD GEORGETOWN BOARD
Thursday, Sept. 4
The Old Georgetown Board–Commission of Fine Arts will meet at 9 a.m. at 401 F St. NW, Suite 312. The filing deadline is Aug. 14. Meeting documents are posted on the Monday afternoon prior to the meeting. Visit cfa.gov.
CARPE LIBRUM POP-UP BOOKSTORE
Sunday, Sept. 7
Books and CDs priced under $6 will be offered for sale in the Chase Bank parking lot at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and P Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sale benefits Turning the Page DC. Visit georgetownmainstreet.com.
Halcyon House at 3400 Prospect St. NW. Photo by Elliot Cline.
3 Residential Conversions Move
Forward
BY GRACE ELIZABETH CADY
A wave of transformation is hitting Georgetown as several high-profile redevelopment projects reshape the neighborhood’s historic fabric. From the residential conversion of the Flour Mill offices to the luxury residences planned by the Four Seasons — and we can’t forget the long-awaited EastBanc project at 2715 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — these projects reflect a growing demand for upscale living spaces in a community with complex preservation guidelines.
Here’s a look at three key projects currently moving forward.
FLOUR MILL RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION
In October of 2024, Related Fund Management and Network Realty Partners purchased the Flour Mill office buildings at 1000 Potomac St. NW with plans to implement a residential conversion. The original building was built in 1847 as a cotton mill and later became a flour mill. In 1922, a second building was constructed. Those two buildings were purchased in 1980
FOUR SEASONS PRIVATE RESIDENCES
The Four Seasons project on the site of the former West Heating Plant on 29th Street NW will comprise 64 homes with between one and four bedrooms. “As our standalone residential portfolio continues to grow, we’re crafting exceptional living experiences in key cities where locals, residents and guests already know and trust the Four Seasons brand,” said Bart Carnahan, president of global business development, portfolio management and residential at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
“The Georgetown Company and Mohari Hospitality share our vision for redefining luxury living in this important, historic and dynamic city.” Inquiries about ownership opportunities are now being accepted.
2715 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NW RESIDENCES
EastBanc’s long-planned Pennsylvania Avenue residential project broke ground in April, nearly a decade after it was proposed. Following the pitch, it received approval from
and converted to office space. Last month, the organizations took their proposal before the Old Georgetown Board, which gave its approval on July 31. The proposed plans for a 135-unit complex, designed by New York-based STUDIOS Architecture, include two floors of office space in the West Building, which currently houses condominiums. Approximately 8,000 square feet of retail would be constructed along Potomac Street and Water Street NW. Other proposed changes include replacing the facade of the South Building and a redesign of the inner plaza.
the Old Georgetown Board and the District Zoning Commission; the gas station on the site was demolished in 2018. Since then, there have been many delays. But progress is now being made and delivery targeted for late in 2026. The plans for the new development — led by Portugal-based Souto de Moura Arquitectos and D.C. firm CORE architecture + design — include seven residences ranging in size from 2,000 to 3,600 square feet.
+SUMMER MOVIE
The Flour Mill. Courtesy Washington Fine Properties.
Rendering of Four Seasons Residences on 29th Street.
Rendering of EastBanc apartments at 28th and M Streets and Pennsylvania Avenue.
ANC Issues Coming Up This Fall
BY GWENDOLYN LOHSE
Fall in Georgetown is spectacular — the neighborhood transitions from its lovely, quiet summer vibe to its “we are back” energy. After an August hiatus, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E will resume its monthly public meetings on Sept. 2.
Washington, D.T.?
And you thought August would be mellow. A political earthquake hit Washington, D.C., on Monday, Aug. 11: President Donald Trump announced that he is deploying the National Guard and federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department to crack down on crime in the District.
The unprecedented actions are the biggest curtailment of Home Rule since the D.C. Control Board in the 1990s. We should have known better — because it was all preordained.
In the fall of 1998, Trump and several family members attended a Larry King Cardiac Foundation gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. The Georgetowner covered this social event that was, in hindsight, powerfully prophetic.
While King was front and center, it was Trump — recipient of the Larry King Heart Award — who got the most attention (naturally). At his table were his future wife, Melania, and his mother, Mary Anne, along with his two sisters and brother.
The evening’s kicker was the parody CNN newscast. On video, Wolf Blitzer announced that Trump had purchased Washington, D.C., which would be renamed “Washington, D.T.” Under the new ownership, the Supreme Court would be known as the Trump Court and
the White House would become a club and casino; a revolving restaurant would be added atop the U.S. Capitol rotunda. The mock graphics depicted it all onscreen, unwittingly predicting today’s political climate.
Who’s laughing now?
Said a subdued Mayor Muriel Bowser a few hours after the Aug. 11 White House press conference: “While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can’t say that given some of the rhetoric of the past, that we’re totally surprised. … My message to residents is this: We know that access to our democracy is tenuous. That is why you have heard me and many Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood.”
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb offered: “We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents.”
The Georgetowner believes that the president has overreacted. D.C. crime stats are improving. Yes, increase the number of officers in the Metropolitan Police Department by at least 400 — but don’t take it over.
And when was Trump last out and about in the city? We invite the president to dine at Martin’s Tavern or any of the restaurants across Washington. (Oh, yeah, that’ll be the day.)
BTS: Not Just a K-Pop Group
In a chaotic and uncertain world, there’s at least one thing each fall we can count on: the smell of newly sharpened pencils, just-opened markers and freshly ironed clothes. Back-toschool season is (almost) here.
In the Washington, D.C., area, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by a variety of educational institutions. Along with our universities and the public school systems of the District and surrounding towns, there are outstanding independent schools, for example, Georgetown Visitation Prep and the British International School of Washington.
Earlier this month, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser sent an email to residents with some reminders about upcoming events prior to back-to-school season. A noteworthy one: the 11th annual Chuck Brown Day on Saturday, Aug. 16, celebrating an essential strand of the District’s music culture.
Don’t forget about immunizing your student
ahead of the school year’s start. District Health pediatric immunization sites are opened across the city, with the final DCPS Student Health Hub of the season on Thursday, Sept. 11.
As August fades into September, it’s a good time to show our students — of all ages, whether related to us or not — how proud we are of them, and to thank their teachers and school administrators for preparing them, the next generation, to change the world. (One could say the world needs it.)
Even if you don’t have a student in school, or any other connection to the educational system, this time of year offers an important lesson: starting fresh can sometimes be exactly what’s called for. While this year has been unsteady at times, let’s try to start anew in September by being kinder, more curious and open to learning from one another.
Happy back-to-school season and best of luck to all!
For those unfamiliar with the ANC, ANC 2E serves Georgetown, Burleigh and Hillandale, acting as a liaison to District government. Residential voices amplify issues and help set ANC direction. Our monthly meetings focus on: review of applications to Planning, Zoning, the Old Georgetown Board (historic preservation), Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis, etc.; collaboration with city agencies, the Council, Georgetown University and local organizations in areas such as safety, parks and trees, transportation and schools; and advocating for improvements and identifying opportunities of all kinds.
Key issues that ANC 2E will tackle this fall include:
• Targeting specific improvements to city services, such as pushing for more consistent and timely trash and leaf collection. Support from Council member Brooke Pinto’s office in these areas is critical, thus ANC 2E is working to ensure we are well aligned with the Council on the importance of these services.
• Seeking input on and widely communicating the potential impact of a notably large number of proposed zoning text amendments regarding alley lots, rear additions, etc., by the Office of Planning. Since Georgetown is one of the nation’s few federal historic districts, these changes deserve to be very carefully reviewed.
• Pushing for solutions to micromobility parking and safety. After the National Mall, Georgetown sees the most of these vehicles in D.C. Current geofencing pilots aren’t addressing concerns, especially for those residents who live near the commercial district. ANC 2E has begun direct collaboration with the thirdparty companies and the District Department of Transportation on solutions that will work for Georgetown’s unique streetscape.
• Clarifying the “streatery” concept. City regulation of streateries supposedly begins this November. Unless a temporary sidewalk (that is, a plastic sidewalk extension with Jersey barriers) contains an active restaurant in a legally safe location, the wider sidewalk will be removed. This said, the planning and resources required to have permanent street dining that aligns with Georgetown’s character and necessary functions such as loading and unloading has just begun.
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are volunteer public servants, not city employees. Volunteering is rewarding. If you are interested in volunteering locally, here are some fall ideas. CAG, the Citizens Association of Georgetown, has its annual fundraiser on Sept. 18. Meet your neighbors and learn why CAG matters. Sept. 25 is the Friends of Rose Park Gala, supporting efforts to keep Rose Park beautiful. Oct. 14 is the GMC Gala, supporting GMC’s Drop-In Center and Street Outreach Team, which serve the unhoused.
The more we work together, the better our neighborhood and city can be. Please reach out.
RE: ‘HAPPY PRIDE FROM OLIVE STREET’ BY CRAIG WILSON
What a fabulous tribute to our neighborhood. I have lived on 28th between Olive and N for 35 years and often pass by the neighbors with my dog Lady Georgia (maybe you have seen her around wearing shoes). Our neighborhood welcomes everyone. During the pandemic my husband Bob said he would never move because where could you find such great neighbors. Thank you for your post.
— Caryn Fagan
My office was on M Street around the corner from Olive Street from 1984 to 2014. I often parked on Olive Street, and on warm days joined Craig and Jack for a drink on my way home. On occasion, Kathleen Parker was there. It was always a pleasure to be with them.
I am a straight African American longtime labor arbitrator now in a senior residence in Montgomery Village at 94.
— James Harkless
RE: ‘JUNETEENTH CELEBRATED WITH A NIGHT OF MUSIC AT BLUES ALLEY’ BY CAROLINE MOORE
Please forgive my tardiness but I wanted to thank you for the wonderful article you wrote about Juneteenth at Blues Alley with Sen. Kaine and the Dave Kline Band. It was such a warm acknowledgment of the celebration of this important holiday and so great that you featured it for our community. This is what sustains us now in our efforts to hang together and push forward.
— Judy Cranford
RE: ‘A NATIVE GEORGETOWNER SAYS GOODBYE’ BY ALISON SCHAFER
What a poignant and heartfelt article about not just Georgetown but any town where small is special and familiar neighbors even more special. It speaks to all of us who uproot our lives in search of complacency and peace. It rarely works out perfectly but stirs the heartstrings.
— Margaret Heimbold
Ins & Outs
BY ROBERT DEVANEY
IN: THE GEORGETOWN PRESCHOOL
Enrollment of children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years is underway at the Georgetown Preschool, which will open its doors at 1230 31st St. NW on Sept. 2.
The school tells us: “Founded by a dedicated team of educators and community leaders, The Georgetown Preschool is committed to fostering the whole child through a creative curriculum that encourages play based learning, early literacy and social-emotional development. With small class sizes, highly qualified teachers and a thoughtfully designed learning space, the school provides individualized attention in a safe and joyful setting.”
Said Farah Kuraishi, the school’s founder: “Our mission is to create a space where children feel seen, supported and inspired, while giving families a trusted partner in early education.”
IN: HUCKBERRY… FOR MEN
“This is a dream realized,” said co-founder Andy Forch, who grew up just outside D.C. “Georgetown is where I fell in love with gear and adventure — and where I always imagined opening our first store.”
Founded online in 2011, Huckberry reports that it “has built a loyal following through its curated selection of rugged menswear, outdoor gear and original storytelling. Now, the brand brings that experience to life with a flagship that blends thoughtful design, in-store exclusives and immersive storytelling.”
IN: BLOSSOM DAILY REPLACES
BITTY & BEAU’S
Eatery and gift shop Blossom Daily opened last month at 3207 M St. NW, replacing Bitty & Beau’s, a similar business that employs people with disabilities.
Part of ServiceSource, a nonprofit headquartered in Oakton, Virginia, Blossom
Huckberry, a top destination for men’s style and adventure, opened its first permanent brick-and-mortar store at 1239 Wisconsin Ave. NW, next to Ralph Lauren.
Daily explains that it has “a unique mission: Providing employment, community and connection for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
“We hope our customers who come in to eat and shop will see the power of work for people with disabilities,” said Director of Operations Jackie Gemenden.
Among the items for sale are cards, candles and soaps made by people in the Bloom selfemployment program at ServiceSource and handwoven scarves and bags made by people with disabilities in the ArlingtonWeaves program. Artisans receive 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of their work.
IN: BIBIBOP ASIAN GRILL
Bibibop Asian Grill is coming to 2805 M St. NW, formerly home to Feta Bakery and Cafe, which opened in April of 2022. Previous businesses in this location included Freshbee’s, Bibibop, ShopHouse and, most famous of all, Furin’s Bakery.
OUT: REVERIE’S LAST DAY IS OCT. 4
A Michelin-starred restaurant by chef Johnny Spero that survived the pandemic and a 2022 fire will serve its last meal on Oct. 4. Reverie restaurant at 3210 Cherry Hill Lane NW opened on Oct. 6, 2018, with 64 seats. After the fire, it reopened early this year with 36 seats.
Besides his shuttered Bar Spero, Spero has worked at such places as José Andrés’s Minibar and stellar European spots like Mugaritz in Spain and Noma in Denmark.
“This is meant to be celebratory — so please don’t take it any other way,” wrote Spero on Instagram, saying he was “going out in a blaze of glory — and passing the torch to someone else to continue the story down this alleyway.”
He shared: “Reverie has shaped me in more ways than I can count. It gave me space to grow through some of life’s biggest challenges all at once — becoming a father, opening a restaurant and giving up alcohol. It helped me find my voice and define the kind of dining experience I wanted to create — the kind that tells a story, sometimes without needing many words.”
Spero continued: “I pushed myself to be exactly who I am — not different for the sake of it, but because the food that excited me most was the food I believed in. And now, I’ve decided to end this chapter on my own terms. ... But we’re not done yet. We’re closing out strong with Vegetable Season through August — one of the most focused, vibrant and creative menus we’ve ever done.
Then in September, we’ll finish with a final tasting menu that celebrates everything Reverie has stood for: creativity, connection and a relentless drive to just cook really f--ing good food.
“Thank you to everyone who’s walked through these doors — from the Reverie 1.0 crew to the team beside me now. To Alexis — none of this would’ve happened without you. You’ve raised our three amazing kids with love, patience and strength while I chased this dream. Fiona was born just ten days after we opened, and nothing shows how much can change in seven years more than watching all three of them grow up alongside this restaurant.”
The newly opened Huckberry store is next to Ralph Lauren on Wisconsin Avenue. Courtesy Huckberry.
Chef Johnny Spero in the alley next to Reverie, which will serve its last meal on Oct. 4. Courtesy Reverie.
Downtowner DC
BY KATE OCZYPOK
COMMANDERS HEADING BACK TO THE DISTRICT
The District Council voted earlier this month to approve a deal that would bring the Washington Commanders, D.C.’s NFL team, back to the District of Columbia. The Council voted 9-3 to approve the plans for a stadium where RFK Stadium still sits: 2400 East Capitol St. NE, to be exact. The nearly 200-acre property is set to become a mixeduse development with retail shops, housing, sports fields, parking and, of course, the Commanders stadium.
IT’S OFFICIAL: OUR TRAFFIC IS THE NATION’S WORST
Washington, D.C., has yet another accolade to add to our list — except this one shouldn’t exactly be celebrated. D.C. has taken the top spot of worst traffic in America from Los Angeles. The average commute to work in the District is 33.4 minutes. On a regular weekday, traffic congestion lasts over six and a half hours. Those numbers result in commuters spending the equivalent of more than two months in traffic every year.
PIRRO CONFIRMED AS U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT
On Aug. 2, the Senate voted along party lines to confirm former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a role she has filled since May on an interim basis, appointed by President Trump to replace Edward Martin Jr. Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Tim Scott of South Carolina and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, as well as Democratic Sens. Peter Welch of Vermont and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, did not vote.
Sports Column: Commanders Preview
BY KATE OCZYPOK
After a long, long drought — we’re talking nearly two decades — the Washington Commanders finally won a playoff game last season. That playoff run fired up Washingtonians more than ever for this upcoming season, which begins at home at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, versus the New York Giants.
The Commanders are hoping their young quarterback, dynamo Jayden Daniels, who
is just 24, will continue to lead the team to success. There are some new additions that should help aid that success, like wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who was traded in the off-season by the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
The defense will still need some improvement, especially after games like last year’s NFL Conference Championship, which the Philadelphia Eagles won 55-23.
‘NEW KIND OF FOOD HALL’ OPENS ON 14TH ST. NW
More than 25 restaurants will be part of Wonder, a food hall offering dine-in, takeout and delivery options that opened last month at 1925 14th Street NW. Expect to see chefs like José Andrés and restaurants like Di Fara Pizza, serving Brooklyn pies, and Marcus Samuelsson’s Streetbird at this “new kind of food hall,” which hopes to disrupt traditional food delivery. There are plans for almost 10 D.C.-area locations by the end of the year.
ALBERT PIKE STATUE TO BE RESTORED, REINSTALLED
In line with other Trump administration interventions, the National Park Service announced that it will restore and reinstall a statue of Confederate Gen. Albert Pike (1809-1891) that was pulled down during riots in the summer of 2020. The controversial statue, formerly at 3rd and D Streets NW, honors Pike for his Freemasonry leadership, including three decades as Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite’s Southern Jurisdiction.
The team also signed kicker Matt Gay to a one-year deal, hoping to solidify the kicker game, as Gay is known for his accuracy and ability to kick well from long distances.
Even if this season somehow goes south, fans will have something to look forward to.
The District Council voted earlier this month to approve a deal to bring the Commanders back to D.C., voting 9-3 to approve plans for a new stadium, part of a mixed-use
development where RFK Stadium still currently stands.
For the Commanders 2025-26 season schedule, visit commanders.com.
Join us next month! The Georgetowner is launching a sports column. We will be interviewing sports stars about their top fitness and lifestyle tips. If you want to mix up your gym routine or spice up your healthy breakfasts and lunches, stay tuned.
Microabrasive cleaning of the controversial Albert Pike statue. Courtesy NPS.
New U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro.
Commanders safeties Percy Butler and Jeremy Reaves before the first preseason game. Courtesy Commanders. The Commanders training camp. Courtesy Commanders.
100 PLUS PERFORMERS
BIRKHEAD
Brent Birchhead, an award-winning alto saxophonist, will perform for D.C. Jazz Fest at the Wharf Saturday, Aug.20.
The New York Times has called him “one of the most riveting young improvisors in New York,” and the Washington Paper has also said Birkhead has “bottomless potential.”
Full list of performances in this Special PullOut or visit DCJAZZFEST.ORG
DOWNTOWN ARTISTS
HEIDI MARTIN
EATON DC - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27
Vocalist and composer Heidi Martin brings a singer-songwriter perspective to her jazz and folk influences. For her current project celebrating NEA Jazz Master Abbey Lincoln, Ms. Martin is a recipient of a 2024 Berger-Carter Fellowship from the prestigious Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers-Newark.
REGGIE BOWENS
EATON DC - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27
Reginald Bowens, an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies, and coordinator of vocal jazz studies at Howard University, is an accomplished singer and arranger in the a cappella jazz voice and gospel voice arenas.
BRASS-A-HOLICS
DOWNTOWN DC ANTHEM ROWTHURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Brass-A-Holics: Is an infectious band from New Orleans which incorporates funk and DC’s native go-go sound in its crowdpleasing repertoire, which includes bass,
guitar, and drum kit in expressions that can range across the Black music spectrum, literally from Louis Armstrong to Kendrick Lamar. This performance is made possible thanks to support from Events DC and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
BENJIE PORECKI
DOWNTOWN DC ANTHEM ROWTHURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Benjie Porecki: A versatile pianist and keyboard player versed in the B-3 organ, Porecki draws inspiration from a broad spectrum of soulful artists ranging from Ray Charles and Jimmy Smith to Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder. Porecki has released six recordings as a bandleader, his latest being 2025’s All That Matters. This performance is made possible thanks to support from Events DC and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
BE’LA DONA
DOWNTOWN DC ANTHEM ROWTHURSDAY, AUGUST 28
DC-based upholders of the go-go tradition established by the legendary Chuck Brown, this all-female band performs a captivating mix of R&B covers over go-go beats, and also incorporates jazz, pop and other R&B selections in their mix.
LANGSTON HUGHES II
DOWNTOWN DC ANTHEM ROWTHURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Langston Hughes ll: Blessed with a rich, pure tone any, list or consideration of “who’s next” in jazz or on the alto saxophone must certainly include Langston Hughes ll. A native of PG County, Langston matriculated at Howard University and recently achieved
his graduate degree in music at the famed Juilliard School. He has lately been firing up the bandstand at Blues Alley, with his own quartet as well as with pianist Cyrus Chestnut’s latest band. This performance is made possible thanks to support from Events DC and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
ELIJAH EASTON TAKOMA STATION - THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
From the future-funk of Nag Champa, to the jazz-meets-go-go fusion of Marc Cary’s Indigenous People, to the hard bop of frequent partner trumpeter Muneer Nasser, Elijah Easton’s hard-hitting tenor saxophone has been a major element.
IMANI-GRACE COOPER KREEGER MUSEUM- THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Imani Grace Cooper: A teaching artist, who matriculated at Howard University through the famed vocal ensemble tradition known as Afro Blue, Imani has vocalized alongside NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves, as well as Esperanza Spalding, and the late George Duke. Deeply rooted in jazz voice, she draws inspiration from that wealthy tradition as well as from contemporary soul singers.31 at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
MARCUS MILLER
Multi-hyphenate Marcus Miller, a bassist, composer and media personality, will be one of the featured artists for the upcoming 2025 DC JazzFest. Miller, who has worked with Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Beyonce, and more, is also a two-time Grammy Award winner. Miller’s set will be at DC JazzFest at The Wharf on Saturday, August 30. -Kate Oczypok
JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO
John Scofield is an experienced jazz improviser whose guitar work has influenced the genre for over 50 years. Scofield, an Ohio native and raised in suburban Connecticut, started learning the guitar at 11 years old and began his international career as a recording artist and bandleader in 1978. After that, as they say, the rest is history! Scofield’s set will be Sunday, August 31, at The Wharf. -Kate Oczypok
TONY MARTUCCI EARTH TONES
Tony Martucci has been performing for over 60 years. His original and interpretive drum style has made him the great collaborator, working with the likes of greats like John Abercrombie, Danny Gatton, Joe Henderson and more. His playing bridges styles like swing, bebop and modern jazz, often joining the past and present. Martucci and his band, the Earth Tones, will be playing Saturday, August 30 at The Wharf. -Kate Oczypok
BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET
No jazz festival is complete without great saxophone, and DC JazzFest ’25 has one of the best in NEA Jazz Master Branford Marsalis and his brilliant quartet. A robust, deeply expressive tenor saxophonist, these days Branford’s soprano saxophone may indeed be his most distinctive horn! His longtime quartet includes pianist Joey Caldarazzo, drummer Justin Faulkner and bassist Eric Revis.cThe quartet will be playing Saturday, August 30 at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
EMMET COHEN TRIO
A young artist with an old soul, pianist Emmet Cohen has established himself through rewarding partnerships with his jazz elders – including NEA Jazz Masters Jimmy Heath, Jimmy Cobb and Ron Carter, as well as saxophonist Houston Person – both in-studio and onstage. During the pandemic, his “Live from Emmet’s Place”
ARTIST PROFILES
concerts from his Harlem apartment became hugely popular, garnering millions of views. The trio will be playing Sunday, August 31 at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
THE STRING QUEENS
With their performing profile increasing on a global scale, DCJF is proud to have presented The String Queens from the ensemble’s inception. Recipients of a DCJF “Jazz Education Award” The String Queens, three dynamic women who are dedicated DC public school teachers, continue to excite global audiences with their vibrant mix of music from the Baroque period to modern jazz and beyond. The String Queens will be playing Saturday, August 30 at Arena Stage. -DC JazzFest
HERB SCOTT
One of the leading saxophonists in the DMV, Herb has been quite active on the jazz advocacy side as a co-founder of the Capital Hill Jazz Foundation. A graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, he studied at Michigan State University under Rodney Whitaker. He is the recipient of the 2023 Mayor’s Arts Award. He has performed at venues ranging from DC’s renowned Mr. Henry’s, where is a regular, to the Kennedy Center and the White House. Scott will be playing Friday, August 29 at The Kennedy Center. -DC JazzFest
LEAH PILZER
The most in-demand baritone saxophonist in the DMV, she has been described as “A force of nature on the baritone” (CapitalBop). A member of the JazzDC All-Stars, she has also performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Baltimore’s Soulful Symphony, and has been a fixture on the annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival and is a member of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Pilzer will be playing Thursday, August 28 at The Kennedy Center. -DC JazzFest
JOSHUA BAYER
The guitarist has performed at venues across the region, including Blues Alley, NPR, the Kennedy Center, and Philadelphia’s Chris’s Jazz Café. He has recorded for the Jazzheads and Interlace Records labels, and served on the music faculties at the Peabody Conservatory, American University, and the Washington Conservatory of Music. Bayer will be playing Wednesday, August 27 at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. -DC JazzFest
LYLE LINK
One of the DMV’s most in-demand tenor saxophonists and flutists, he has performed with an array of jazz and pop greats. He has also performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In addition to leading his group, the Lyle Link Quartet, he is a music educator at the Sheridan School and the Levine School of Music. Link will be playing Sunday, August 31 at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
MAKOTO OZONE & GREGOIRE MARET
A renowned Japanese pianist who studied at the Berklee College of Music, where he first encountered and subsequently performed with vibraphonist Gary Burton. He has made over 40 albums as a leader or co-leader, including partnerships with NEA Jazz Masters Chick Corea and Burton. Additionally, he has composed film soundtracks and has worked extensively in jazz education. Ozone and Maret will be playing Sunday, August 31 at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. This performance is presented with generous support from the Embassy of Japan, a proud partner of the DC Jazz Festival. -DC JazzFest
TODD MARCUS
The Baltimore-based composer and bandleaders has been aptly characterized as one of only a handful of jazz artists in the world to focus their work primarily on the bass clarinet, though he also excels on the clarinet. As a bandleader he has embraced the jazz clarinet tradition, including collaborations with such masters of the instrument as Don Byron. Marcus will be playing Sunday, August 31 at Arena Stage. -DC JazzFest
AKUA ALLRICH & THE TRIBE!
Jazz vocalist and DC-native Akua Allrich has proven herself to be a musician of extraordinary talent and crowd-moving passion. With finesse and charisma, this vocalist, composer and teacher, has successfully etched out a place for her unique musical expression, electrifying audiences in and around the nation’s capital with sold-out performances. Allrich will be playing Saturday, August 31 at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
HIRUY TIRFE QUARTET
Winner of the 2024 DCJazzPrix, this energetic quartet is helmed by the soaring tenor saxophone of Philly-based Hiruy Tirfe, who is of Eritrean descent. He has collaborated with The Roots, Patti LaBelle and Solange Knowles, among others. The quartet will be playing Sunday, August 31 at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
PAUL CARR & VANESSA RUBIN
Paul Carr, a Houston native and 1985 Howard University graduate, has dedicated his professional career to performing and promoting Jazz through education and community outreach. He carries on the Texas tenor tradition espoused by great heroes such as the late Houstonians Arnett Cobb and Don Wilkerson who served as his early idols and mentors. He grew up in inner-city Houston, Texas and was a member of the Kashmere High School Stage Band, whose director, the late Conrad Johnson, is the subject of a documentary, Thunder Soul, produced by actor, Jamie Foxx. Carr and Rubin will be playing Sunday, August 31 at Arena Stage. -DC JazzFest
THE JAZZMEIA HORN QUARTET
After winning the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition in 2015, this magnetic vocalist has received two GRAMMY nominations. Her broad repertoire ranges from jazz standards in the tradition of Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan to distinctive jazz remakes of material by artists like Stevie Wonder. The quartet will be playing Sunday, August 31 at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
MATTHEW WHITAKER
New Jersey native Matthew Whitaker continues to amass an impressive audience through his kinetic and deeply soulful keyboard work. Blind since birth, he has performed at the virtual DC JazzFest Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater, where he opened for Stevie Wonder’s Hall of Fame induction concert. Whitaker will be playing Friday, August 29 at DC JazzFest at The Anthem. -DC JazzFest
EDDIE PALMIERI TRIBUTE AFROCARIBBEAN JAZZ OCTET
“Unfortunately health challenges prevent me from playing DC JazzFest 2025. However, my band will be on fire as always and thank you for supporting the Eddie Palmieri Tribute.”
-Eddie Palmieri
One of the reigning kings of Latin jazz,
multiple GRAMMY-winning pianist, composer, bandleader and NEA Jazz Master Eddie Palmieri Tribute is a leading figure in the evolution of the genre. A true legend, this celebrated artist from Puerto Rico will electrify the masses gathered at The Wharf for DC JazzFest® 2025. The tribute octet will be playing Sunday, August 31 at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
SUN RA ARKESTRA
Though its leader, the Afro-Futurist and NEA Jazz Master Sun Ra, , this uniquely colorful large ensemble continues to carry on its leader’s traditions in music ranging from swing time to no time. Now led by 2025 NEA Jazz Master Marshall Allen, the Arkestra includes vivid elements of song, dance and film in its expressions of Sun Ra’s cosmic pursuits. Sun Ra Arkestra will be playing Saturday, August 30 at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
GARY BARTZ NTU TROOP
The recipient of a 2024 NEA Jazz Master award, alto and soprano saxophonist Gary Bartz is a proud son of Baltimore whose legacy runs deep in the DMV, where he has developed a robust audience. Bartz’s Ntu Troop is an electrifying ensemble that delivers a powerful message of struggle, love and hope, exploring Black consciousness within the realm of jazz. The NTU Troop will be playing Sunday, August 31 at DC JazzFest at The Wharf. -DC JazzFest
RON CARTER
Grammy Award-winning bassist Ron Carter will headline D.C. Jazz Fest Sunday, Aug. 31, at Arena Stage.
Spanning a career of 50 years, Carter holds the distinction of being the most recorded bassist in the history of recorded music, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, having contributed to more than 2,200 albums across multiple genres and styles. Carter has collaborated with renowned jazz musicians, including on the albums “Speak No Evil,” “Maiden Voyage,” and “Red Clay.”
His early career included his 1961 studio album “Where?” Just two years later, Carter joined famed trumpeter and band leader Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet from 1963-1968. Carter scored music from “A Gathering of Old Men” and “Blind Faith.”
Carter has won three Grammy Awards: in 2022, he won with Skyline for Best Jazz Instrumental Album with the Skyline Trio; in 1993, he won for Best Jazz Instrumental Group— the Miles Davis Tribute Band; and in 1986 for his instrumental composition in the film “Round Midnight.”
Beyond playing music, Carter has amassed an academic career, including teaching and six honorary degrees.
Carter served as Artistic Director of Boston’s Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Studies. He spent 18 years as a professor in the music department of The City College of New York, where Carter is now a Distinguished Professor
Emeritus. He also taught at the Juilliard School and at the Manhattan School of Music.
Carter has also received foreign accolades for his work, including an award from the French Minister of Culture, accompanied by the medallion and title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters. The Japanese government also awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun, a distinction for people who have served the government, for his contributions to Japan-US relations in the field of music. -Maren Fagen
THE JAZZDC ALL-STARS ORCHESTRA WITH SAXOPHONIST STEVE WILSON AND VOCALIST CHRISTIE DASHIELL
The JazzDC All-Stars Orchestra, accompanied by Steve Wilson, a saxophone player, and Christie Dashiell, a vocalist, will perform at Arena Stage on Saturday, Aug. 30.
The All-Stars Orchestra will perform a special composition of the work of Billy Childs, a renowned jazz pianist and composer.
Allyn Johnson, an acclaimed pianist and composer, directs the group. The ensemble previously included pianist Janelle Gill, bassist Herman Burney, drummer Nasar Abadey, trumpeter Thad Wilson, trombone artist Reginald Cyntje, lead alto Antonio Parker and tenor saxophonist Tedd Baker.
JazzDC has support from the Galena Yorktown Foundation and the Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation. Additional support provided by Tanner Powell, Peter Gillon, Leslie Whipkey, Debbie Veney, Carmencita Whonder, Erik Moses, Stephen Riddick, Jeffrey Freund, Sunny Sumter, D’Qwell Jackson, Pamela Frazier, and Patricia Sarcone.
Wilson will perform alongside the group, having recorded more than 25 albums in his career and contributing to more. He is currently a faculty member with the New England Conservatory in Boston. In the Aug. 30 performance, he will play the saxophone, though Wilson is also known for his performance on the clarinet and piccolo.
Dashiell will join the orchestra and Wilson to perform for the festival. She was a Grammy nominee for the 2025 Best Jazz Vocal Album, honoring her second album “Journey in Black.” She also contributed to Terri Lyne Carrington’s noted recreation of the classic landmark jazz album addressing the Civil Rights Movement by
ARTIST PROFILES
Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln’s collaboration, “We Insist: Freedom Now!” Dashiell has performed with the All-Stars Orchestra before.
-Maren Fagen
BIRCKHEAD
Brent Birckhead, an award-winning alto saxophonist, will perform for D.C. Jazz Fest at the Wharf Saturday, Aug. 30.
Birckhead released his first album in 2019 with producer Revive Music, resulting in a selftitled work that explores themes of activism and experimentation. Songs on this album include “4 and 6,” “3 Uptown” and “Flux.”
His second album, “Cacao,” released in April 2024, garnered critical acclaim as he continued to develop his craft in jazz music and expression, according to his website. This album features the namesake record, “Cacao,” as well as other songs, including “Headspace” and “Skyline.”
Birckhead was an artist-in-residence at Bohemian Caverns, a D.C. jazz club that closed in 2016.
While performing, Birckhead has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Lauryn Hill, SWV, Nas, and George Duke. Birckhead has also made appearances in NPR’s Tiny Desk performances alongside other artists and musicians.
Birckhead studied and practiced music in the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, where he received DownBeat magazine accolades including “Best Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist” and “Outstanding Instrumental Jazz Soloist.” At Howard, Birckhead earned his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music.
Beyond recording music, Birckhead also teaches the saxophone as a professor at the Baltimore School for the Arts and Morgan State University, both in Baltimore, Md. Birckhead is a Baltimore native but now resides in New York City.
The New York Times has called him “one of the most riveting young improvisers in New York,” and the Washington City Paper has also said Birckhead has “bottomless potential.”
CORCORAN HOLT
Jazz bassist Corcoran Holt will perform at the Wharf for D.C. Jazz Fest on Sunday, Aug. 31. Holt, a D.C. native, is the 2024-2025 D.C. Jazz Fest Artist-in-Residence. Holt’s album, “The Mecca,” includes his original “14th Street Bounce,” which represents the street he grew up on as a teenager in D.C. and the diverse cultures present
on that one street, according to his website.
Holt also contributed to three Grammynominated recordings, including Kenny Garrett’s 2013 “Pushing the World Away,” Jamison Ross’s 2014 “Jamison” and The Baylor Project’s 2017 “The Journey.”
Holt began studying music at the age of four, focusing on West African percussion instruments, including the djembe, a goblet drum played with the hands. He studied these instruments as a member of the Wose Dance Company under the tutelage of Baba Aidoo Holmes and Mahiri Edwards. Holt began studying the upright bass with the D.C. Youth Orchestra.
Holt graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Georgetown and received a Bachelor of Arts in jazz studies from Shenandoah Conservatory in 2004, where he studied bass with Michael Bowie. Holt earned his master’s in jazz studies from Queens College in New York City in 2006.
Having traveled extensively on tours during his professional career, Holt also toured the Middle East as a Jazz Ambassador alongside Alvin Atkinson and the Sound Merchants. On this tour, he represented the United States under the US State Department as a musician and educator.
Holt is now a professor in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre at Arizona State University.
-Maren Fagen
A multitalented performing artist known for her ability of vocal expression, Lalah Hathaway is a singer, songwriter, and producer who effortlessly crosses multiple genres from R&B to jazz and is embraced by hip-hop artists for her rich contralto expressions. First rising to fame in the 1990s with the release of her debut self-titled album, “Lalah Hathaway,” the album’s lead single “Heaven Knows” peaked in the top-five on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. She has continued to top the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart with songs such as “Forever, for Always, for Love”. She has won several Grammys including Best R&B Performance and Best Traditional R&B Performance. Currently, Hathaways owns independent record label, Hathaway Entertainment, through which her last two albums, “Honestly” and “Vantablack” have been released. Lalah Hathaway will be performing at the Anthem on Friday, August 29. -Caroline Woodward
THE BAYLOR PROJECT
Looking for a vibrant, ever engaging, and consistently crowd-pleasing band? The Baylor Project, a modern jazz ensemble, co-led by the wife and husband duo of vocalist Jean Baylor and drummer Marcus Baylor, offers just this sort of musical excitement. This multi-GRAMMY nominated group manages to highlight both jazz traditional and sound, with its explosive horn section and Marcus’ drum, while maintaining the soul of R&B via Jean’s gospel and expressiverich vocalizations. Their album “Generations” won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Vocal Jazz Album in 2022 and the band has been featured on NBC’s viral series, Tiny Desk Concert. The Baylor Project will be performing at DC Jazzfest at The Wharf on Saturday, August 30th. -Caroline Woodward
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT
Mixing the spirit of musical invention with wonderfully polished singing talent, FrenchAmerican vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant has elevated the current state of jazz tradition through her work as a vocal artist. Equally comfortable with the American Songbook repertoire as she is with crafting her own original music, Salvant performs an eclectic array of songs with strong narratives, unexpected twists and humor. Her storytelling skills are magnetic and imbued with a singular vocal sensibility and overwhelming technique. At the age of only 21, she released her first album, “Cécile & the Jean-François Bonnel Paris Quintet,” which won the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. Now, Salvant is a 6-time Grammy nominee and 3-time winner of the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal album for her works, “For One to Love” (2015), “Dreams and Daggers” (2017), and “The Window” (2018).
Cécile McLorin Salvant will be performing as the Arena Stage on Thursday, August 28. -Caroline Woodward
LALAH HATHAWAY
Nantucket: Where Summer Lives
BY DONNA LEANOS
Nantucket is more than an island-it’s a mood. Woven baskets carry whispers of history, lobster motifs promise seaside feasts, and whales nod to the island’s proud maritime past. Coralhued Nantucket Red pairs effortlessly with crisp whites and deep ocean blues, echoing weathered shingles and endless horizons. Every detail-whether a mermaid bottle opener, a well-worn book, or the salt-soft patina of a favorite throw-tells a story of summers
1. WHALING NANTUCKET RED SLIPPER $650.00
2. NAUTICAL BOTTLE OPENER $ 60.00
3. NECKLACE DAILY CATCH PENDANT $9,400.00
4. FARAWAY CASHMERE THROW $1,600.00
well spent. Here, style is collected like sea glass: timeless, sun-kissed, and unmistakably Nantucket.
In design, the magic lies in balance-mixing the classic charm of natural fibers with the polish of brass, layering nautical prints over sun-faded linens, and letting storied pieces anchor a room like the lighthouses that watch over the island. Nantucket interiors are as effortless as a summer breeze, yet grounded in heritage and craft.
5. LOBSTER POT LIMOGES BOX 2015 $488.00 6. BASKET CUSTOM PURSE $5,000 7. THE BLUE BOOK $20 8. WHALE COASTERS $65.00 9. “FLAG HOUSE” COLLAGE $1,995 10. BOWLS BLUE LUCY $138 11. BACKGROUND NANTUCKET ARCHIVAL PRINT | LIZ ROACHE $395.00
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON
‘A HIDDEN GEM’
BY KATE OCZYPOK
BISW students pose with Principal Oona Carlin at their school, located at 2001 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
Photo by Greg “Fritz” Blakey.
WITH IMPACTFUL TEACHERS, A RIGOROUS EDUCATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIPS, THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON ON WISCONSIN AVENUE IS WHAT PRINCIPAL OONA CARLIN CALLS “A HIDDEN GEM” IN WASHINGTON. THOUGH BISW’S NAME REFLECTS ITS BRITISH HERITAGE, THE SCHOOL WARMLY WELCOMES BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC FAMILIES — INCLUDING MANY LOCAL TO THE D.C. AREA — WHO THRIVE IN ITS INCLUSIVE, GLOBALLY MINDED ENVIRONMENT. “I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOUT A BIT MORE LOUDLY ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND HOW WELL WE DO IT,” OONA SAID. “IT’S VERY BRITISH OF US TO BE A BIT RESERVED, BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE — AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE MORE FAMILIES HAVE THE CHANCE TO DISCOVER WHAT MAKES BISW SO SPECIAL.” BISW SUPPORTS STUDENTS THROUGH EVERY STAGE OF THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY — FROM EARLY YEARS (AGES 2 TO 5) AND PRIMARY (AGES 5 TO 11) TO LOWER AND UPPER SECONDARY (AGES 11 TO 18). FOLLOWING THE BRITISH SYSTEM, THE FINAL YEAR OF SCHOOL IS CALLED YEAR 13, WHICH ALIGNS WITH GRADE 12 IN THE U.S. AT THE UPPER LEVELS, STUDENTS FOLLOW THE PRESTIGIOUS IGCSE AND IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES, EARNING ADMISSION TO LEADING UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD. FOR MANY FAMILIES, THE ABILITY TO REMAIN IN ONE EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOR 15+ YEARS OFFERS BOTH ACADEMIC CONTINUITY AND PEACE OF MIND.
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
With more than two decades of leadership across British and international schools, Oona brings a wealth of global experience to her role as principal of BISW, which she joined in 2024. Before arriving in Washington, she spent five years in the Middle East leading two British curriculum schools, following her tenure as principal at Ipswich High School and deputy head at Putney High School — both respected institutions in the U.K.
Earlier in her career, she also taught in Colombia, shaping a perspective that blends academic rigor with a deep appreciation for global education.
“The British education system is so highly valued that it’s allowed me to take it from the U.K. overseas,” Oona said. “It offers the kind of academic depth, critical thinking and global outlook that benefits all students — whether they’re relocating internationally or planning to stay close to home.”
Oona herself was educated in the U.K., earning a degree in biochemistry from Imperial College London and later completing her teaching qualification at Cambridge University.
“I feel fortunate to have had a strong academic foundation,” she added. “It’s a privilege to now help students develop the skills, mindset and global perspective they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.”
That globally minded education has been BISW’s hallmark for 27 years, since its founding in 1998. The school joined Nord Anglia Education’s worldwide family of schools in 2013, further strengthening its international reach and collaborative opportunities.
A CREATIVE, WELCOMING, ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS ENVIRONMENT
Through three factors — British heritage, a personalized approach to learning and an international focus — BISW offers a unique
academic experience that’s different from other schools in the area. The students at BISW, who range in age from 2 to 18, represent over 70 nationalities. They’re well-rounded, with interests ranging from music to art to the sciences, and everything in between.
Daya, in Year 9, wants to become a doctor when she grows up and plans to combine that with classical piano to help “heal people completely.”
“I feel like BISW really understands and supports my goals to become a doctor,” Daya said. “With the help of my parents and my teachers, I have started to get involved in medical-related activities. I also volunteer and lead classical piano performances at hospitals, rehab centers and other programs.”
BISW collaborates with multiple leading institutions like MIT and the Juilliard School. Its global program with MIT inspires students to look beyond individual subjects, sparking curiosity through a hands-on interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, guided by the world’s leading STEAM institution. Through the Juilliard partnership, BISW enhances its drama and music programs, while promoting creativity, teamwork and resilience among students of all ages.
Year 13 student Eva knows what it means to adapt. She just finished her first year at BISW, having attended several schools across different countries, including a move to Malaysia.
“Being in a school like BISW, where international experiences are the norm, makes those transitions so much easier,” she said. “It can be daunting to walk into a new school building with unfamiliar faces and spaces, but here you feel welcomed right away. People are open, inclusive and genuinely want to get to know you.”
Lada, Year 13, spoke about the strong relationships and consistent support she’s experienced throughout her time at the school.
“What I love most is that BISW truly feels like
a second home,” she said. “The teachers really know you, and the friendships you build here run deep. There’s a strong sense of community that makes every year feel connected.”
RECENT RENOVATIONS
Speaking of buildings, BISW has undergone renovations in recent months. There is a new outside learning space for nursery students, and the school is currently developing a new “Knowledge Hub” — a dynamic, whole-school environment designed to foster collaboration, research and creativity.
“For our Primary Students, we’ve just created what we’re calling the ‘DREAMS Lab,’ where they can do their science and technology work,” Oona said. “As a Nord Anglia school, we have an MIT collaboration, and many of the hands-on projects our students explore — even at a young age — are inspired by real-world challenges from MIT researchers. It’s all about helping students become inquisitive problemsolvers from the very start. The space itself is designed to spark imagination.”
RESPECTED TEACHERS
In addition to its state-of-the-art campus, BISW’s greatest strength may be its teachers — deeply respected by students for their individual support and lasting impact. Many students shared stories of educators going above and beyond to help them succeed, both academically and personally.
Sofia, Year 12, arrived at BISW after several school moves that had disrupted her learning. One of her teachers gave up their lunch period to help her study and review material for exams. “I appreciate her for that,” Sofia said.
Others spoke to the way BISW teachers help students think more deeply and grow as individuals. “English has been especially transformative for me,” said Muhd, a Year 13 student. “It’s helped me see the world in new
ways and even supported my personal and spiritual growth.”
Kavan, Year 11, shared a similar perspective. “My physics teacher has been extremely supportive,” he said. “She’s played a big role in helping me build confidence in the subject.”
That same personalized guidance extends beyond the classroom. “I’ve spoken with my university counselor a lot throughout the year,” said Paul, Year 13. “I’ve been to every university visit the school has offered — it’s been incredibly helpful in planning my next steps.”
Beyond graduation, BISW students credit the school with preparing them for what’s next.
“My brother’s transition to university was a lot smoother because BISW helped him build strong time-management and organizational skills,” said Callum, Year 13. “It’s a smaller environment, so it’s easier to share ideas, work in groups and really understand different perspectives.”
LOOKING AHEAD
As the school year begins, BISW will take part in Georgetown’s Art All Night, a free annual arts festival that brings together local artists, businesses and performers.
“We’re proud to be one of the lead sponsors of this year’s Art All Night event,” Oona said. “It’s a wonderful way for us to support the Georgetown community and share the creativity of our students with a wider audience.”
BISW will feature a student art exhibition and live performances throughout the evening, showcasing the breadth of talent within the school’s vibrant arts program.
“We’re proud to be a longstanding part of the Georgetown community,” Oona added. “Events like Art All Night give us the opportunity to celebrate our students’ talents while deepening our connection to this vibrant neighborhood.”
For more information on the British International School of Washington, visit nordangliaeducation.com/bisw-washington.
THE LATEST DISH: More From Baltimore
BY LINDA ROTH
Casey and Eli Linthicum of Baltimorebased GameOn Bar+Arcade plan to open their first DMV location in the third quarter at 1330 U St. NW in D.C.’s U Street corridor, where Enigma Cocktail Lounge used to be. Private event space will be a significant part of the renovations, which also include designs by a graffiti artist. Other locations are in Baltimore, Annapolis and Columbia, Maryland.
Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group is opening The Ruxton steakhouse in National Harbor at 149 Waterfront St., where Bond 45 used to be. It will seat 250, including 100 outdoor patio seats. Atlas operates close to 30 restaurants in the greater Baltimore region, with plans to expand north and south. An opening in the fourth quarter of 2026 is targeted.
Paris-based gelato chain Amorino will open at 3401 M St. NW in Georgetown, where Georgetown Running Company was. Franchisee Christopher Roldan also
has locations in Tysons and Pentagon City, Virginia. Globally, Amorino has more than 300 locations.
Blooms & booze! There’s more inside the walk-in refrigerator at the back of Florería Atlántico flower shop at 1066 Wisconsin Ave. NW, where Papa Razzi used to be. It’s the entrance to a don’t-call-it-a-speakeasy Argentinian cocktail bar. The original location in Buenos Aires is considered one of the best bars in the world. Plus, there’s an authentic Argentinian live-fire grill next door, Brasero Atlántico. Partners include Renato Giovannoni and Alex Resnik, formerly of Wolfgang Puck Dining Group.
Targeting the third quarter, Tim Ma is slated to open an expanded version of Any Day Now at 1100 New York Ave. NW, across from CityCenterDC. Next up: additional versions of Taco Cat, his taqueria concept in Western Market, and a smaller Any Day Now kiosk inside a new student center on Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus in Baltimore.
Quick Hits: Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger serves up American-style smash burgers at 507 7th St. NW in D.C.’s Penn Quarter ... Ada Osakwe of fast-casual concept Nuli (“taste joy”), based in Lagos, Nigeria, has targeted a third-quarter opening in The Square food hall at 1850 K St. NW, featuring nutrient-rich African ingredients locally sourced from the DMV.
Newport Beach-based California Fish Grill plans to open three units in the fourth quarter: at 1048 Main St. in Fairfax, Virginia, in September; at 12238 Rockville Pike in Rockville, Maryland, in October; and at 7003A Manchester Boulevard in Franconia, Virginia, in November.
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.
Music and Lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross Book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop Based on the Novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop New Adaptation by Will Power and Doug Wright Additional Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Directed and Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo
Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group is opening The Ruxton steakhouse in National Harbor at 149 Waterfront St., where Bond 45 used to be. Courtesy The Ruxton.
COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH
The Orange Crush
BY JODY KURASH
First off, it was a fruity carbonated soft drink that peaked in popularity in the late ’70s, though its origins date back to the early 1900s. Next, it was a breakout hit from the ’80s alternative rock darling R.E.M., which won a VMA for best postmodern video. Then it became THE cocktail of the Eastern Shore. First mixed in Ocean City in 1995, it’s still a favorite today.
What is this mystery item?
It’s the Orange Crush, massively popular in the Delmarva Peninsula. Never mind its nonalcoholic inspiration and the classic tune, if you’re in a bar in Rehoboth Beach, you can’t swing a cat without meeting someone enjoying one of these citrusy tipples.
Its components: (orange) vodka, triple sec, freshly squeezed orange juice and a topper of lemon-lime soda. One of the first drinks to use flavored vodka in its mix, the Orange Crush has a 30-year history behind it.
Since the cocktail’s invention in 1995 at the Harborside Bar & Grill in West Ocean
City, Maryland, the bar claims to have sold Orange Crushes by the millions. And though it made its debut in the Old Line State, the Starboard in Dewey Beach, Delaware (which also claims to have devised it), made it trendy.
Whatever story you believe, you should know that both states have officially recognized the Orange Crush as their state cocktail, with Delaware doing so in 2024 and Maryland in 2025.
My first encounter with it was at an outdoor bar in Rehoboth where literally everyone was drinking them. I found it refreshing, fruity, not overly sweet and a perfect sundowner after a day lazing away on the beach — an ideal summer treat.
You might compare it to the vintage Screwdriver, a highball consisting of premade orange juice and vodka, but there are some key differences. Every spot where I’ve enjoyed this delightful drink had a hand squeezer, where fresh oranges are halved and “crushed”
into your glass. No Minute Maid or Tropicana concentrate here.
What’s more, the orange vodka totally amps up the drink’s intensity. The final addition of a citrus soda balances out the flavor, giving it an effervescent quality without making it pulpy or thick.
The Orange Crush also has the flexibility to go as highbrow or lowbrow as you like. Ordering it in a dive bar will get you a mixture of bottom-shelf vodka and OJ from a carton. I prefer Absolut Mandarin or Stoli Orange. And the triple sec (orange liqueur) can be upgraded to Grand Marnier or Cointreau. This cocktail follows the basic principle of sour drinks: citrus fruit plus sweetener (liqueur) plus spirit.
As August has come upon us, many Washingtonians will be heading to the beach. If you’re going to enjoy the Delmarva shore, be sure to wind down with an Orange Crush. If, on the other hand, you are someone who enjoys the quietest month in the capital city, mix your own and enjoy the (relatively) easy parking.
The Orange Crush
Orange wedge for garnish Fill a glass with crushed ice. Squeeze one whole orange into a glass. Pour in the vodka and liqueur and stir. Top it off with the soda and orange wedge.
Savor and stay during Amelia Island, Florida’s Dining Month. This month-long culinary celebration invites you to enjoy luxurious accommodations paired with $55/$75 prix-fixe dinner menus crafted by the island’s hottest chefs. Sept 1-30.
to planning the perfect getaway. AmeliaIsland.com/DiningMonth
A Shakespearean Staunton Getaway
BY RICHARD SELDEN
Although the American Shakespeare Center’s Shenandoah Valley home is pronounced “STAN-tin,” putting the “u” in Staunton is mandatory. As for putting the “you” in Staunton, a two- or threeday getaway to the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson and three of the original four Statler Brothers (none of whom was a Statler) is heartily encouraged.
About 160 miles from Washington, D.C., the small Virginia city rolls out the welcome mat with gusto. On Fridays at 4 p.m., a public works crew bollards off four blocks of Beverley Street for the weekend. Restaurants and cafés expand with street seating. Couples
and families stroll in and out of shops: the Beverley Cigar Store, Once Upon A Time Clock Shop, Staunton Books and Tea, to name a few. A cellist or fiddler performs.
The major Staunton draw is ASC’s Blackfriars Playhouse, a post-and-beam structure built in 2001 along the lines of the indoor theater of the King’s Men, William Shakespeare’s company (the more famous Globe, across the Thames, was open to the sky).
Do D.C.-area residents need more Bard of Avon, what with Shakespeare Theatre Company and Folger Shakespeare Library productions close by? Ay, my lord. Besides its Virginia oak playhouse, resembling the Folger’s Elizabethan Theatre, ASC’s production style is its own.
The lights — nine chandeliers — stay on
throughout. The costumes are elaborate; the sets near nonexistent. Most unexpected: cast members perform songs from this century and the last, encouraging the audience to clap and sing along.
ASC recently closed two shows playing in repertory: literary scholar Emma Whipday’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1811 novel “Sense and Sensibility,” directed by Jemma Alix Levy; and Shakespeare’s late comedy — quite serious at times — “The Winter’s Tale,” directed by Raphael Massie.
Coming up this fall: “Romeo and Juliet,” opening Aug. 28; “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” opening Sept. 11; and “The Pirate
Ballad of Bonny and Read,” opening Oct. 16. Still more live theater is presented by Oak Grove Theater, ShenanArts and Silver Line Theatre Exchange.
Among Staunton’s other sites of interest are the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, the Frontier Culture Museum, the Camera Heritage Museum and the Virginia Scenic Railway. The city’s imposing 1906 train station, served by Amtrak’s Cardinal, is a reminder how important the railroad, a Chesapeake & Ohio predecessor, was to Staunton’s post-Civil War expansion. Two restaurants occupy part of the complex, some of which dates to the mid-19th-century.
Leading up and over the tracks is an iron truss bridge with stunning views of the
PIANO WITH KATE
city. Walkers can proceed to a steep park and historic neighborhood known as Sears Hill. Baptist minister and Brown University president Barnas Sears came to Staunton as agent of the Peabody Educational Fund. After the dilapidated bridge was dismantled and donated to the city, a nonprofit “friends” group raised sufficient funds to restore, reassemble and reopen it in 2013.
The station below, and well over 100 other structures in Staunton — including the Augusta County Courthouse, ornate commercial buildings and numerous residences — were the work of architect Thomas Jasper Collins.
In 1893, on more than an acre in the Gospel
Hill neighborhood, east of downtown, Collins designed an elegant home for Edward Echols, who served the state as lieutenant governor. Managed by Be Still Getaways, the mansion is now the Historic Inn at Oakdene. a self-checkin property that can accommodate up to 18 in rooms and suites on several floors.
The Commonwealth Suite, for example, has a separate living room and a covered outdoor porch; attached to the Echols Suite is an enclosed glass sunporch. All guests have access to several beautifully restored common rooms, outdoor sitting areas and the grounds.
An ideally located choice with a homey feel is the family-owned Frederick House Hotel on North New Street, adjacent to the treelined, neoclassical campus of Mary Baldwin
ACE WINDOW CLEANING, CO.
University, founded in 1842 as Augusta Female Seminary. Though called a hotel, Frederick House is best described as a bedand-breakfast compound.
In five buildings built between 1810 and 1910, the property comprises 23 rooms and suites, some with spacious patios, comfortably furnished with antiques. A hot breakfast of your choice (try the apple-raisin quiche) is served in a pleasant dining room past the check-in desk, which functions as an informal Staunton visitor center.
Right next to ASC’s Blackfriars Playhouse on South Market Street is the 124-room Hotel 24 South. The upscale property opened in
2005 after $22 million was spent to renovate the former Stonewall Jackson Hotel, built in 1924, adding a new entrance, a conference center and an indoor pool.
Staunton’s compact downtown slopes downhill to the station precinct, where, in a parking lot off Byers Street, a farmers market sets up on Saturday mornings through September. Nearby, on South Lewis Street, are a couple breweries and — confirming that the Shenandoah Valley is apple country — Ciders From Mars (a Bowie pun, get it?).
Event timing relevant to your potential Staunton getaway plans: this year’s Staunton Music Festival runs Aug. 15 to 24, the Oak Grove Folk Music Festival strums Aug. 22 to 24 and Queen City Mischief & Magic manifests Sept. 27 and 28.
“The Winter’s Tale” at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia. Photo by Madison Patterson. Courtesy ASC.
View from the Sears Hill Bridge. Photo by Richard Selden.
Beverley Street in Staunton, Virginia.
Photo by Richard Selden.
The Frederick House Hotel.
Photo by Richard Selden.
Wylder Hotel Tilghman Island: An Idyllic Bayside Getaway
BY ANNABEL TAYLOR
As August melts into September, many Georgetowners are looking for a final summer getaway before autumn routines kick in. Twenty minutes southwest of St. Michaels, Maryland, a lesser-known East Coast getaway lies down a gravel path: the stunning Wylder Hotel Tilghman Island.
The 9.5-acre Talbot County property was originally Harrison’s Chesapeake House, famed for hosting D.C.-area bigwigs since 1898, in recent decades including Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Making its debut as a Wylder in 2018, the resort features 50 rooms with outdoor access, many opening right up to the bay, and a host of amenities. Guests can enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing, as well as recreational activities from sunning on the private beach to joining a game of bocce or cornhole.
with white clapboard siding, a wooden swing hanging from an oak tree and a carefree breeze that trades refined living for barefoot exploration. The saltwater pool is a prime location, offering water aerobics every Saturday morning.
Adjacent to the pool and overlooking the bay is the Scandinavian sauna and ice bath, providing a rejuvenating and detoxifying retreat. Guests can sign up for charter fishing and sunset cruises straight from the private marina.
Snag one of the bikes lined up by a hedge of white hydrangeas for a ride down to the Tilghman Island Country Store for a quick bite, or browse the charming antique stores just steps from the end of the driveway.
“A lot of these people, they’ve never shucked an oyster or ate one raw or caught a hard crab. Some don’t even know what color they’re supposed to be,” he said with a grin. “The experience is showing people things, explaining about Tilghman the way it used to be. It’s a lot of fun.”
Faulkner also gives “fireside chats” at the hotel as a means to preserve the island’s rich heritage. He grew up in the Bar Neck section, and reflects fondly on childhood memories of skating on the bay in the wintertime. Years of experience on the shore give him an almost mystical persona; he is a living link between past and present.
That same authenticity carries through to food.
Tickler’s menu is creative and comforting all at once, with its offerings of octopus ceviche and summer vegetable risotto. The crab cake dinner is a standout; expect a generous helping of lump crab and little breading. The restaurant is casual and family-friendly, complete with bibs, mallets and a breathtaking waterfront view. Look forward to Eastern Shore hospitality and prepare with an angler’s appetite.
The Wylder honors the balance that many hotels fail to accommodate — relaxation and adventure — all in one pretty package. Its façade suggests the Inn at Perry Cabin’s relaxed southern cousin,
Tilghman Island reaps all the benefits of Talbot County minus the tourism and commercial distraction. Three miles long with a population of 800, the island maintains its strong maritime culture and economy. Fourth-generation islander Capt. Alan Faulkner, who wears many hats — waterman, firefighter and a Renaissance man at the Wylder — spoke about teaching crab catching and oyster shucking at the resort.
Tickler’s Crab Shack and Restaurant is the epicenter of the resort, as well as a local favorite. Neighbors on the bay can be seen pulling up for midday crabs by boat. With fresh food sourced daily from the docks and garden, the shack features a host of Maryland classics, including cream of crab soup, Chincoteague oysters on the half shell and the signature multilayered Smith Island cake for dessert.
A day here might look like a dip in the saltwater pool, followed by a kayaking adventure on the bay, a sweat session in the sauna, a dinner of locally-sourced seafood — probably while being serenaded by a live Eagles cover — and s’mores by the bayside firepits to top it all off.
But at the same time, you can find kids hosting lemonade stands along the road, a local farmers market across the street and the historic Watermen’s Museum just half a mile north of the hotel. Guests will discover that the charm of the Wylder and Tilghman lies in their authenticity, honoring the history of the land, people and food that came before.
Tickler’s Crab Shack and Restaurant. Photo by Annabel Taylor.
Bikes outside the hotel’s front entrance. Photo by Annabel Taylor.
‘Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free’
REVIEWED BY KITTY KELLEY
Meet the most influential clothier you’ve never heard of.
Women might be surprised to learn that much of what hangs in their closets — the leotards and leggings, hoodies, denim jackets, leather skirts, dresses with pockets, side zippers and ballet flats — was designed by a woman they’ve never heard of.
Yes, even the jersey wrap dress.
All this time you thought it was Diane von Furstenberg who gave you an hourglass figure in the 1970s. Actually, DvF simply resurrected and glamorized what Claire McCardell had already made into a wardrobe staple, decades before.
As an unknown designer, McCardell made a monkey out of Christian Dior, with his padded shoulders, tightly cinched waists and teetering high heels, trumpeted in 1946 as his “New Look” for women. Unimpressed by the French maestro, McCardell cut her ready-to-wear garments to fit a woman’s natural shape, making Dior’s wasp waists look like skeletal twists.
Betty Friedan agreed. Years before she rattled America with “The Feminine Mystique,” Friedan wrote a 1955 magazine profile of McCardell: “The Gal Who Defied Dior.” That
same year, McCardell made the cover of Time. Yet it’s Dior whose name reigns in fashion today, while McCardell and her creations faded after her death in 1958.
But now comes glory for the forgotten fashionista in a sparkling tribute by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, who’s written “Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free.”
Growing up in Frederick, Maryland, a tomboy who played with her brothers, McCardell refused to be encumbered by the hoops and stays and bones and wires of her era. She began making her own simple clothes as a youngster and would eventually graduate from the New York School of Fine and Applied Art, later known as Parsons School of Design.
McCardell set sail for Paris for a junior year abroad studying the intricacies of haute couture. At 23, she returned to New York City, determined to make a career in fashion. After modeling sportswear at B. Altman and Company for $25 a week, she landed a job sketching ready-to-wear designs. But with no real experience, and unable to keep up with production, she was fired in 1929. She bounced back weeks later, finding another job on Seventh
Avenue and starting at the bottom of the pay pole.
Blessed by the gods of career girls, McCardell gradually soared; she knew what she wanted to do and never stopped chasing her goal. Having decided she didn’t want to have children or become a housewife, she postponed marriage for many years to bring her designs to the world. Psychologically, she needed to work. “Without it,” Dickinson writes, “she wasn’t sure who she was.”
A practical woman, McCardell used her own experiences to fuel her designs. For instance, whenever she traveled to Paris on a buying trip, she grew frustrated having to lug a 100-pound steamer trunk full of clothes from her apartment to the Hudson River docks and then onto — and, later, off of — an ocean liner. So she devised a system of five different garments made of crease-free jersey that she could fit into a single suitcase and interchange while traveling. Such a system of separates was unheard of in 1934, but it would revolutionize American fashion 50 years later.
to the creation of the New York Dress Institute, which protected and promoted American clothiers’ designs.
Next, McCardell designed the “Monastic dress,” a tentlike garment with dolman sleeves, belted with thin ties that wrapped multiple times around the waist. The frock — which freed women from corsets, girdles and crinoline — sold out its first day in stores. Then the clever designer conceived the “Pop-over dress” as something fashionable women could wear while cleaning the house before popping over to a cocktail party. The Pop-over cost $6.95 in 1942, sold more than 75,000 in its first season and won McCardell a Coty Award.
On a creative blitz, she also designed the “Diaper bathing suit” and Capezio ballet flats, while putting pockets in everything from capris to evening gowns. She moved zippers to the side of garments instead of the back so women could dress themselves without assistance. In doing so, she invented American sportswear for women and pushed the ascent of American design, which eventually challenged France’s fashion dominance.
In this achievement, McCardell was surprisingly aided by New York’s mayor, Fiorello La Guardia, who summoned a group of fashion journalists to educate him about the industry. After listening to the women, the mayor vowed to help build an organization to foster American fashion, leading months later
Who knew U.S. designers would come to owe so much to McCardell? But such is the charm of this book and its author that you’ll care about a designer you’ve never heard of, who became the first American to get her name on a Seventh Avenue label. Years before Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Anne Fogarty, Anne Klein, Donna Karan, Bonnie Cashin, Tory Burch or Lilly Pulitzer, there was “Claire McCardell Clothes by Townley.”
McCardell was only 52 when she died of colon cancer, but in her lifetime she ingeniously transformed the needle trade into the fashion industry and left an indelible mark on American design. She finally gets her crown in Dickinson’s delightful biography.
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.
Washington Global School: Celebrating 10 Years in Southwest D.C.
BY CHRISTINE WARNKE
Tunisian Ambassador Hanène Tajouri Bessassi hosted an evening gathering for friends and supporters of Washington Global Charter School, a middle school transforming future global leaders, on June 5. The tuition-free institution — located, curiously enough, on School Street in Southwest D.C. — offers a rigorous, internationally focused curriculum, as students are immersed in foreign languages, including Korean and
Spanish, global studies and project-based learning. The school opened to students in August 2015.
At the Residence of Tunisia, school founder and CEO Elizabeth Torres remarked that Washington Global isn’t just a school — “It is a launchpad for understanding the importance of diplomacy in an everchanging world.”
Dance in a Musical Jewel Box
BY THE GEORGETOWNER
On Saturday, July 26, at 3 p.m., the acclaimed Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company triumphantly returned to the Kreeger Museum on Foxhall Road NW. Museum Director Helen Chason and choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess welcomed the sold-out audience, a group of 55 enthusiastic museum and dance patrons.
The audience was treated to the intimate D.C. premiere of Burgess’s newest work of choreography, “Sudden Snow,” a dance homage to the titular work by Abstract Expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler. The breathtaking 35-minute piece for eight dancers flowed seamlessly through the Kreeger’s main hall, filling the space with curvilinear shapes, high-soaring lifts, leg extensions and full-body rolls. Full-ensemble sections were juxtaposed with adagio pas de deux and quick playful quartets.
“Sudden Snow” was accompanied by a musical compilation of compositions by Claude Debussy and Domenico Scarlatti,
performed live by DTSBDC’s resident pianist Dana Nichole Scott, violinist Holly Nelson and cellist Marcus Gee. The stunning silk costumes were a collaboration between Taos Pueblo fashion designer Patricia Michaels, who hand-painted the fabric, and Icelandic costume designer Sigrid Jóhannesdóttir, who cut and hand-finished each costume.
The lush movements of the costumed dancers were akin to watching bold brushstrokes in motion. “Sudden Snow” was perfectly placed in the Kreeger, where it was surrounded by sublime Claude Monet paintings, soaring ceilings and grand picture windows; it was dance in a musical jewel box.
Following the performance, the audience enjoyed a wine reception with the artists.
Attendees included Ambassador of Spain Ángeles Moreno Bau and her husband Roberto López Fernández, artists Kelly Dinglasan Minton and Marcia Hilton and DTSBDC board members Ellen Kwatnoski, Mary Eccles, Jan Tievsky and Marcia Lim.
One Year In: Next ChaptHER Announces Microgrants
BY MAREN FAGEN
At its first birthday party on July 9, D.C. women’s empowerment group Next ChaptHER announced a new grant program and reflected on one year of its work.
About 100 people celebrated on the Rosewood hotel rooftop with hors d’oeuvres and a themed mocktail. The four Next ChaptHER founders — Hilary Phelps, Lindsay Gill, Alicia McKenzie and Anina Belle Giannini — announced the creation of a microgrant program with four $1,000 grants for women beginning the next chapter of their lives. More news: a membership program will soon debut at nextchapther.com.
Phelps commented that she never expected to see so much accomplished in year one. “The growth that we’ve seen tells us that it’s really important and really necessary in
D.C. to get women together who are mindful and intentional and are looking for that next chapter,” she said, whether that involves starting a new hobby or changing their career path.
Giannini said the idea for Next ChaptHER began after a lunch with McKenzie, when they considered how it would be impactful to “recreate this wonderful support group that we’ve created for ourselves, but for more women.”
According to Giannini, McKenzie outlined a business plan, officially beginning the work to found Next ChaptHER. The group began last July with a series of small lunches; three sold out and soon a mentorship program was launched.
“An idea is only as good as having the people around you to support you to make it
happen,” Giannini said at the event. “If you find that person, that is magic.”
Gill also reflected on Next ChaptHER’s growth, originally unimaginable and now inspiring.
“That’s what we tell everyone, just start,” Gill said. “You don’t have to figure it all out or know all the answers, but if you just start, you never know what can happen. So, in one short year, look where we’re at.”
She called the microgrant program an investment in women. “We have decided we want to pay it forward to women who want to start the next chapter of their life.”
Based on personal experience, Gill said, a $1,000 grant can be life-changing, as it provides the tools for women to start their next project. Lafayette Federal Credit Union funded the first of the four microgrants, and
sponsors are being sought for the remaining microgrants.
Gill added that, as the first year of Next ChaptHER’s work comes to a close, she is grateful for the relationships she has seen develop among the women at the events.
“We’ve seen you all create relationships and partnerships and collaborations very organically on your own through these meetups and through our lunches, and we love that so much,” she said. “That’s the best gift you can give us is the connections that you’re making with each other. We hope you’ll stay in touch as we grow and as we continue our programming for the rest of the year.”
Next ChaptHER’s next “Ladies Who Power Lunch” event, “Women & Wealth: On HER Terms,” is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Barbara Hawthorn, Sherrie Beckstead and Halim Flowers. Photo by Patricia MacDougall.
Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Kelly Dinglasan Minton and Marcia Hilton. Photo by Sueraya Shaheen.
Hilary Phelps speaks at Next ChaptHER’s July 9 party alongside co-founders Lindsay Gill, Alicia McKenzie and Anina Belle Giannini. Photo by Maren Fagan.
Pianist Dana Nichole Scott and dancer William Robinson. Photo by Sueraya Shaheen.
Washington Global CEO Liz Torres, Washington Global student Amaya Smith, D.C. Secretary of State Kimberly Bassett, Washington Global student Mason Fraser and Washington Global Principal Howard Mebane. Photo by Tony Powell.
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