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IN THIS ISSUE
ON THE COVER
Former CEO of software firm GoCanvas Viyas Sundaram stands in front of his newest real estate acquisition, now a tasting room for his other project, 1787 Provenance Straight Bourbon. He not only creates the bourbon locally in Middleburg, Virginia with partner Jay West, he’s also renovating this space, the former Patagonia shop next to the C&O Canal at 1048 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
David McCullough: ‘History Matters’
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The GeorGeTowner is published in print monthly with an online newsletter supplement posted twice per week — On Mondays we highlight news and on Thursdays goings on about town. The opinions of our writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect the editorial and corporate opinions of The GeorGeTowner he GeorGeTowner accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. The owner reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions. Copyright 2025.
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News Bytes
BY ROBERT DEVANEY
OLD-FASHIONED FUN AT THE GRAND OLD DITCH
The first-ever Canal Day gathered family and friends on a perfect Sunday, Oct. 19, to recognize one of Georgetown’s crown jewels — the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, an engineering marvel opened in 1830.
“Canal Day was a way to bring together the community to celebrate our beloved C&O Canal and remind everyone that water will be back in the canal and our boat will be back in operation in 2026,” said Maggie Downing, executive director of Georgetown Heritage, organizer of the event.
SCIENCE GUY’S CIRCULAR REASONING
Does it take an astrophysicist to offload your appliances? Because of twisting stairs, Bill Nye, “The Science Guy,” had to order up a crane to move a washer and dryer over his attached house to the back door on Oct. 25, but his Dumbarton Street neighbor refused to allow material above his roof. So, the CEO of the Planetary Society had to have the crane operator circle 270 degrees, not 90, with items hanging over the other side of the street. Now, that’s an annoying neighbor.
31ST ST. NEIGHBORS GET ALONG DESPITE DIFFERENCES
David and Christine Payne are advocates for vaccines, for general and personal reasons. The front of their house and window on 31st Street often display decorations for various holidays and causes. This Halloween, the Paynes’ window showed a skeleton in a chair holding a sign that read, “Wish I had taken my vaccine.” Funny thing is that next door resides Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is changing U.S. vaccine policies. Trolling your neighbor? The Paynes maintain: “We like and admire RFK, Jr. and Cheryl as neighbors. However, we don’t agree with his politics.”
NATIONAL GUARD PROTECTS THE TORAH, TOO
At Kesher Israel on N Street, congregants celebrated Simchat Torah, also spelled Simhat Torah, on Oct. 15. It is a Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and can involve dancing in the street, while the rabbi holds the sacred scroll, outside the synagogue. New observers and protectors this year were members of the National Guard.
GUARD HELPS AT OLD STONE HOUSE
Neighborhood volunteers who routinely clean up and clear out the large, back garden of the Old Stone House at 3051 M St. NW got some unexpected help last month. About 15 National Guardsmen were happy to provide additional yard work and lawn service.
MULTI-AGENCY RAID HITS WISC. & O
“A pre-dawn raid on Friday, Oct. 24 at a residential building at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street NW jolted Georgetown awake as a multi-agency team forced its way inside, zip-tied residents, and removed at least 10 to 12 people,” according to Migrant Insider.
Two residents described “a chaotic operation that began before dawn, around 3:30 a.m., with a helicopter overhead and a perimeter they believed included National Guard members.”
One resident said. “Suddenly there were half a dozen U.S. Marshals, [U.S.] Park Police, ICE, and [D.C.] police as well, pointing guns at me.”
“After the raid, the building’s Latino tenants were told by the landlord to vacate by the end of the month,” Migrant Insider reported.
BOOK HILL PARK’S $300K REFRESH
Book Hill Park at Wisconsin & Reservoir will undergo improvements at a cost of $300,000 under a project by the Department of Parks & Recreation and Department of General Services.
“The project goal is to improve circulation, safety, and incorporate new design features at Book Hill Park,” the agencies say. “Site improvements include new handrails along the existing stairs, stair lighting, new site furniture, repairs to the brick path and
hilltop green space, a potential new plaza space, repairs to existing water spigot, a potential second water spigot.”
Completion is expected in fall 2026. For details, visit dgs.dc.gov/page/bookhill-park-improvements.
Kesher Israel congregation celebrates Simchat Torah on Oct. 15 protected by the National Guard. Photo by Peggy Sands.
Appliance-lifting crane on Dumbarton Street. Photo by Robert Devaney.
Constance Chatfield-Taylor with mule Kismet at Canal Day Oct. 19. Photo by Robert Devaney.
Paynes’ whimsical front window: a skeleton in a chair and a sign that reads, “Wish I had taken my vaccine.” Georgetowner photo.
Christine and David Payne flank HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. Courtesy Christine Payne.
Obituaries
BY ROBERT DEVANEY
Note: Longer versions are online at georgetowner.com.
INGOLA HODGES DIES AT 80
Ingola Kuntze Hodges died peacefully at home in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 16. She was 80 and lived on 28th Street.
Her early years contributed to her adventurous nature, love of life, sense of humor — and lionhearted spirit. She was born in Offenburg in Germany’s Black Forest on May 13, 1945, five days after Victory in Europe Day. She married John Hodges in 1972. Together, they raised four children in Washington. She loved the village-like warmth of Georgetown, chatting with neighbors and gathering with other dog owners at Rose Park.
A service will be held at Christ Church, Georgetown, 3116 O St. NW, on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m.
EDITH NALLE SCHAFER DIES AT 94
Edith Nalle Schafer, a writer, landscape designer and keen observer of her milieu, died peacefully on Oct. 15 at Ingleside at Rock Creek in Washington, D.C. She was 94 years old.
She and her husband John raised their children in Georgetown, where she lived for 60 years. She wrote for local Georgetown publications, notably for the Citizens Association of Georgetown, and volunteered with the Georgetown Garden Club, where she was instrumental in helping to create the annual garden tour.
ANN SATTERTHWAITE DIES AT 94
Longtime Georgetown resident Ann Satterthwaite, who played a major role in founding Georgetown Waterfront Park, died on Sept. 20 at age 94.
Originally from Tenafly, New Jersey, she earned degrees in American history at Radcliffe College and in city planning at Yale. Satterthwaite had a long and successful career as an environmental planner, focusing on preserving historic resources and public green space. She is best known for her seminal role in preserving the Potomac River waterfront in Georgetown.
A memorial service was held on Nov. 9.
FRANCESCO PISTORIO
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear colleague Francesco Pistorio, who for more than 30 years was a cherished presence at Cafe Milano and a familiar face to so many of you,” wrote Cafe Milano’s Franco Nuschese. “Francesco was more than a member of our team; he was family. His warmth, professionalism and effortless elegance embodied the spirit of Italian hospitality. We will miss him deeply.”
ANC 2E: Health Benefits, Crime, Trash, Streateries
BY HEATHER HARRIS ROEMER
SUMMARY OF NOV. 3 ANC 2E MEETING
Concerns about funding for food benefits were addressed by the mayor’s office. Open enrollment for 2026 health plans has begun. Crime continues to be minimal as the holiday season nears. The ANC aims to improve the trash situation and keep streateries in check. The District is working on plans for bikeways and alley lots.
MAYOR AUTHORIZES USE OF FUNDS FOR SNAP AND WIC
As the federal government shutdown continues, the District will use $30.5 million of its reserves to cover the cost of November food benefits received by over 150,000 Washingtonians under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants and Children program.
OPEN ENROLLMENT HAS BEGUN
Open enrollment for health insurance through DC Health Link has begun and extends through Jan. 31.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME REPORT
According to Lt. John Merzig, theft from parked cars remains the largest issue for Georgetown. Police have increased patrols in parking lots to work to discourage the behavior, but MPD noted that many of the cars that get broken into don’t have D.C. tags. Visitors from outside the city may not be stowing purchases and valuables out of sight. Since the government closure began, only one robbery and one burglary (1800 block of Wisconsin Avenue) have been recorded; the (attempted) robbery was a purse snatcher on an electric scooter, who was caught by MPD.
NATIONAL GUARD PRESENCE
According to Brian Romanowski of Council member Brooke Pinto’s office, the National Guard will likely maintain a presence in the city at least through the planned celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
HOLIDAY MARKET
The Downtown DC Holiday Market will return to F Street NW, between 7th and 9th Streets, from Nov. 21 to 23.
MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL TO BE RENAMED
Starting next fall, MacArthur High School will be renamed after legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson Jr.
ROSE PARK TRASH MANAGEMENT
Friends of Rose Park has serious concerns about the quality and lack of quantity of the aging trash cans around Rose Park. The park is jointly
managed by the District Department of Parks and Recreation and the National Park Service. Due to the park’s proximity to Wisconsin Avenue and construction sites, trash cans often fill to overflowing with takeout containers and other food waste, attracting pests, which cause health and safety issues. According to Gail Daubert of Friends of Rose Park, the organization is willing to contribute private funds to help with the cost of new cans. The ANC will request more frequent trash pickup at Rose Park and Volta Park and recommend the purchase and installation of new trash cans with lids that close.
PROBLEMATIC ABC RENEWAL APPLICATION
The Lobby, located at 1660 33rd Street NW, is applying for renewal of its ABC license. Licenses are generally issued for three-year periods. According to Vice Commissioner Christopher Matthews, the Lobby has been routinely violating the existing ABC agreement since opening, despite the ANC’s best efforts to communicate with management. Neighbors testified about the Lobby’s patio area, which is disturbing the previously fairly peaceful block. ANC 2E will file a protest.
STREATERY APPLICATIONS
The Georgetown Business Improvement District is proposing a shared streatery block to be used by a number of small restaurants. The BID is also working to include micromobility (scooter/bicycle) parking spaces, especially at corners where better turn visibility for drivers would be a net positive, despite the loss of parking spaces at corners. The District Department of Transportation is now designing “forever permits” for streateries, requiring no formal renewal, and ANC 2E will have no say in future renewals. The ANC will request the Old Georgetown Board and DDOT to impose a two-to-three-year permit length; reiterate that the ANC prefers to see eating spaces on the sidewalk next to the building, with walk-around space on the street; request
commitments that the OGB review any permanent structures; and prohibit storage of trash in the streatery space. In addition, the ANC will request as few concrete Jersey barriers as possible to improve aesthetics.
NEW FAST-CASUAL IN FORMER HARMONY CAFÉ SPACE
Flavor Hive, which has purchased the space formerly occupied by Harmony Café, looks forward to operating its fourth DMV location and its first in the District. The operation started as a food truck and has expanded to Potomac Yard, Annandale and Alexandria in Virginia.
CHANGES TO CURB AREAS
As the result of a recent traffic study, DDOT plans to extend a bus stop area on the east side of 35th and T Streets to allow for sufficient space for buses. In addition, there will be a new restriction to prohibit left turns from Bank Street onto M Street and some adjustments to pavement markings at P Street and Wisconsin Avenue to allow for better visibility.
1805 WISCONSIN AVENUE CONSTRUCTION
This mixed-use development with nine townhomes (permits previously secured) expects to begin some construction in public areas at Wisconsin and S Streets.
Construction of the building is expected to start in earnest early next year.
STRATEGIC BIKEWAYS PLAN
DDOT and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association have announced workshops for each of the city’s eight wards to gain input on the Strategic Bikeways Plan. The Ward 2 Public Workshop is scheduled for Nov. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at MLK Library, 901 G St. NW. For details and to respond to online surveys, visit waba.org.
CITYWIDE ALLEY LOT PROPOSAL
A citywide alley lot proposal from the District Office of Planning aims to change zoning requirements for alley lots. This would likely affect approximately 75 lots in Georgetown. A public hearing date has been postponed to 2026. The ANC is asking for clarification, since the proposal seems to aim to increase available housing, and most of the lots in Georgetown would not be large enough nor affordable enough to help with that goal.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
TEA PARTY WITH CATS
Friday, Nov. 14
From 7-8 p.m., Meow Maison, located at 1336 Wisconsin Ave. NW, is hosting an evening with tea, sweet treats and lots of cat cuddles. Visit meowmaison.com.
GEORGETOWN HOLIDAY HEAD START
Friday, Nov. 14 through Sunday, Nov. 16
The Citizens Association of Georgetown, Georgetown Business Improvement District and Georgetown Main Street are hosting their first Holiday Head Start shopping weekend exclusively for Georgetown residents. Residents just need to mention “Holiday Head Start” in-store at participating businesses. Visit georgetownmainstreet.com/ holidayheadstart.
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGETOWN’S TAKE OVER THE BAR
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Connect with your neighbors and fellow community members at CAG’s next Take Over the Bar, which will be 5-7 p.m. at the Fountain Inn at 1659 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The event is free to attend, but an RSVP is appreciated via Eventbrite. Visit cagtown.org.
CULTURAL LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST: SUSAN MARIE RHEA
Thursday, Nov. 20
The Georgetowner’s Cultural Leadership Breakfast Series will present a talk by Keegan Theatre Artistic Director Susan Marie Rhea. Admission to the event, at 1310 Kitchen & Bar, 1310 Wisconsin Ave. NW, is $40, payable in advance at georgetowner.com or via Eventbrite. Visit georgetowner.com.
BOOK HILL TREE LIGHTING
Thursday, Dec. 4
Georgetown neighbors will gather on Thursday, December 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Book Hill Park for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.
A CELTIC CHRISTMAS
Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7
Join Dumbarton Concerts for their 40th annual tradition. With a 4 p.m. performance on both Saturday and Sunday featuring the Barnes and Hampton Celtic Consort, narrated by Robert Aubry Davis, the celebration features an afternoon of poetry and music. The event will also be livestreamed on Sunday. Visit dumbartonconcerts.org.
ANC 2E MEETING
Monday, Dec. 8
The Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, representing Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale, will hold its December meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Georgetown Visitation School, 1524 35th St. NW, and virtually on Zoom. Visit anc.dc.gov.
Starting next fall, MacArthur High School will be renamed after legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson Jr. Courtesy DCPS.
The Georgetown Business Improvement District is proposing a shared streatery block to be used by several small restaurants. Courtesy Georgetown BID.
The Ward 2 Public Workshop for the Strategic Bikeways Plan is scheduled for Nov. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at MLK Library. Georgetowner photo.
Crime Report
BY MARK MARTINKOV
GEORGETOWN SAFETY STEADY DESPITE SHUTDOWN
As the federal government shutdown continues, Georgetown’s public safety operations remain steady, thanks to strong local infrastructure and close coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District. The neighborhood’s safety network, including block captains and Citizens Advisory Council volunteers, continues to play a key role. Some ripple effects are being felt behind the scenes: federal crime prevention and victim support grants are on hold, and coordination with federal partners has temporarily slowed. Still, with violent crime at low levels and community engagement high, public safety leaders are confident that Georgetown will not be significantly affected by a prolonged shutdown.
2ND DISTRICT OFFICERS HONORED AT BANQUET
The Second District Citizens Advisory Council held its annual Awards Banquet on Nov. 5, recognizing outstanding sworn and civilian members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District, which includes Georgetown. The event highlights exemplary service across the community, honoring officers and support staff who have gone above and beyond in promoting public safety. Several awardees came from Georgetown’s patrol and community engagement teams, which continue to maintain some of the lowest violent crime rates in the city while strengthening neighborhood partnerships.
MAYOR INCREASES SAFE PASSAGE FUNDING
Mayor Muriel Bowser has awarded $9.2 million to expand the Safe Passage, Safe Blocks program, which deploys community ambassadors along student travel routes across D.C., including the Tenleytown corridor serving Hardy Middle, Duke Ellington and JacksonReed students. The ambassadors, known for their green vests, help de-escalate conflicts and ensure safe commutes to and from school. Officials say the investment will strengthen partnerships among schools, families and neighborhoods, helping Georgetown-area students feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
PROGRESS IN 2019 CANAL ROAD HOMICIDE CASE
The Metropolitan Police Department announced a third arrest in connection with a 2019 fatal stabbing near the 5200 block of Canal Road. The victim, 16-year-old Eberson Guerra-Sanchez of Frederick, Maryland, was found dead at the scene in April of 2019. The most recent suspect, 23-year-old Selvin Daniel Urizar-Hernandez, was arrested in Falls Church, Virginia, on Oct. 15; he will be extradited to D.C. to face First Degree Murder While Armed charges. Two additional suspects were taken into custody in 2024 and 2025. MPD continues to investigate. offering up to $25,000 for information leading to further arrests or indictments.
ARREST MADE IN WISCONSIN AVENUE STABBING
Metropolitan Police arrested 37-year-old Travis Cole of Northwest D.C. in connection with a stabbing that occurred on Sunday, Sept. 28, in the 2700 block of Wisconsin Avenue. According to police, a food delivery dispute escalated when the suspect allegedly assaulted and stabbed the delivery driver multiple times before fleeing the scene. The victim sustained serious but non-lifethreatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Responding officers located Cole inside a nearby apartment building and placed him under arrest. He has been charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon planned celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
Courtesy cagtown.org.
Life Lessons from ... John Candy
’Tis the season! To give, to appreciate what we have, to be grateful. These days, that’s easier said than done, isn’t it?
If you have a chance this Thanksgiving, check out the Amazon Prime documentary “John Candy: I Like Me.” The title comes from lines spoken by Candy’s character Del Griffith
things that matter most. Don’t let it happen!
The Toronto-born actor stayed humble and grounded, showing a genuine interest in people. He made sure to connect with his co-stars, asking Macaulay Culkin if he was okay after learning that Culkin had an abusive father. Candy also connected with film crews.
“Even if we don’t have thousands of dollars to donate this holiday season, our time is perhaps the most valuable gift of all.”
in the Thanksgiving classic “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles”: “I like me. ’Cause I’m the real article. What you see is what you get.”
Candy’s short life (he died in 1994 at the age of 43) is full of life lessons.
For starters, he prioritized his family over all else. His dedication to raising his two kids is a direct reflection of his understanding how important they were to him. And he made sure to cultivate a work-life balance. As Washingtonians, while focusing on our careers, we sometimes lose sight of the people and
Our
His relatability is another great lesson: even if we don’t have thousands of dollars to donate this holiday season, our time is perhaps the most valuable gift of all.
So many celebrities, family members and others recall Candy fondly in the documentary. Though Candy passed away more than 30 years ago, and was only on this Earth for 43 years, he made a huge impact. The documentary is a reminder that life is indeed short, and what we leave behind is in our hands.
This holiday season, be the real article.
Better Angels Prevailed
Could it finally be morning in America?
Well, hello there! We didn’t expect to see you here. And by “you,” we mean the hope, joy and sheer giddiness that greeted the recent election results. Just one year ago, almost to the day, the polls broke our collective heart. Today it seems our democracy has turned a corner. And maybe, just maybe, our long national nightmare is coming to an end.
Now the hard work begins. Will states led by Democrats be able to hold off the cockamamie redistricting or, at the very least, “fight fire with fire,” as California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, urged voters. (Republicans are already trying to undo the new House maps.) Can Zohran Mamdani prevail over his city’s massive and sclerotic bureaucracy and bring more affordability and equity to all New Yorkers? (So far, so good.) Can new Govs. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia continue to energize their states while protecting them from the president’s destructive policies?
Trump’s name was not on the ballot, but his poisonous record permeated every campaign rally. The bill for his ICE raids, DOGE firings,
Georgetown’s Design Review Takes a Hit
Were any Georgetowners pleased when the Biden-appointed, volunteer members of the Commission of Fine Arts were “terminated, effective immediately,” by the Trump administration? (Created in 1910, the CFA also has a paid staff, headed by Secretary Thomas Luebke, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.)
With its largely intact 18th- and early 19th-century fabric, Georgetown is a case study and a bastion of the historic preservation movement. The Old Georgetown Act of 1950 established the federal Old Georgetown Historic District and the Old Georgetown Board of Architectural Consultants, a threemember panel that reviews historic district projects for the Commission of Fine Arts.
Given the approval process for changes, construction in Georgetown is second only to parking as the neighborhood’s most triggering topic, surely some of the residents and developers who have had their plans delayed and modified, if not outright rejected, felt karmic satisfaction when they learned of the Oct. 28 massacre at the CFA.
We’re not talking about a wall or an adaptive reuse. We’re talking about not only routine construction in the nation’s capital but projects
involving landmarks, whether existing (the White House, due to be dwarfed by the Mother of All Ballrooms) or proposed (the Independence Arch, welcoming the victorious army of Arlington Memorial Bridge motorists).
And we’re talking about replacing credentialed evaluators with, for the most part, Trump loyalists whose distinction, if any, is in fields other than architecture, landscape architecture, planning and preservation. In this, the administration is following its familiar pattern: out with the qualified, particularly if they’re Democrats; in with the order-takers, particularly if they’re MAGA-aligned.
Given the current volume of executive policies, appointments and orders that threaten the safety net (not to mention literal safety), the environment, the economy and our democratic principles, perhaps the ousting of fine arts commissioners and the like — for example, the Librarian of Congress and the Kennedy Center leadership — should be the least of our worries.
Nonetheless, symbols are powerful. As one of the 7,000-plus commenters on the Washington Post’s East Wing demolition story wrote: “He is taking the wrecking ball to our house, and our country.“
Streateries: Still a D.C. Delight or a Disaster in the Making?
Another buzzword that has stuck around since the pandemic is “streateries.” The D.C. Department of Transportation opened the citywide Temporary Streateries Program in June of 2020.
Eventually, about 45 Georgetown eateries had temporary streatery permits, but at what cost?
M Street is one of the only ways out of the city north and northwest of Georgetown to Maryland and Virginia, and traffic is often horrendous.
incompetence, grift, tariffs, Epstein tapes, East Wing-displacing ballroom and vulgarity has come due. Victorious Democrats and their constituencies will now be demanding payment in full. Not for retribution’s sake, but as a big first step to restoring the rule of law, the Constitution and a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
The Nov. 4 contest was a good night for women, who have been under threat since the first Trump regime. Winning candidates rejected anti-abortion extremism by a wide margin and pledged to support early education, affordable childcare, access to reproductive care/contraception and LGBTQ rights.
This reprieve from despair was brought to you by passionate campaign workers and voters and by candidates with a clear, compelling message, along with a level of energy we have not seen in a long time. If we want to keep this momentum going and win our county back from the nihilists now in office, we need more of the same. There’s lots of room for improvement, but — for the moment — it seems that our better angels prevailed.
However, there are some positives to streateries like more opportunities to socialize, and a European feel to sitting outside on a nice day and enjoying a meal with friends.
Streateries are diverse and often decorated with live plant material, but problems have accumulated (rats anyone?). Still, there are major concerns about rush hour traffic rules and no street parking. Visual appeal of unmaintained streateries were increasingly voiced at community meetings.
The DDOT’s Temporary Streatery Permit program expires on November 30, extended
from July 31. All food establishments must obtain a Streatery Design Permit from DDOT to bring their structures into compliance with DDOT’s new permanent program that is offering “forever permits,” which will require no formal renewal. Community organizations like Georgetown’s Advisory Neighborhood will have no official say in future renewals. This is directly reminiscent of Georgetown’s liquor licensing issues in the 1990s, which you can read more about at the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration website https://abca.dc.gov/.
There will be ongoing inevitable changes needed for buses and parking spaces, innovations in safety materials, opposition to jersey barriers, flex posts, large painted pathways, and the like.
Yes, streateries have given new popularity to Georgetown’s dining. However, maintaining the special quality of Georgetown is a must. What is your opinion on streateries? Let us know your opinion by using the QR code below.
INS & OUTS
BY ROBERT DEVANEY
N: IKEA OPENS ON M ST.
Leading home furnisher IKEA opened a planning location at 3307 M St. NW, next to Tesla, in the previous location of the Todd Snyder pop-up and CB2, on Nov. 5. The brand signed a lease with EastBanc and Acadia Realty Trust, co-owners of the Georgetown Portfolio, for the 7,049-square-foot space.
The store is not your standard IKEA, of course, considering Georgetown’s density. The new space allows customers to plan and order furnishings with the help of an IKEA team member, with delivery and scheduled services available.
“I am excited to welcome IKEA, a leader in design and corporate governance with an unwavering commitment to social impact, to Georgetown,” said EastBanc President and CEO Anthony Lanier in a statement. “With their arrival, you can now walk from Italy to Sweden in under a minute.”
IN: MILO & MAV, COFFEE BAR, DOG BOUTIQUE
Milo and Mav opened at 3206 N St. NW, Suite C-600A, in the center of Georgetown Court — next to Sid Mashburn and up the steps from the Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. The dog lovers tell us: “We’re Milo & Mav — a coffee shop and dog boutique … in the heart of Georgetown! We’re here to bring you great coffee and all the goodies your dog loves! But more than that, we’re building a community — one that celebrates inclusion, creativity, and the joy of life with dogs.”
IN: MONOS TRAVEL
Monos Travel Luggage opened at 3124 M St. NW, previously a store for Atmos sneakers. The company says: “Monos is a Canadian travel and lifestyle brand offering premium suitcases, bags and accessories. Inspired by the Japanese concept of mono no aware — the profound appreciation of the beauty in fleeting moments — Monos embodies the belief that the journey is as meaningful as the destination.”
IN: CURRENT BOUTIQUE
Current Boutique opened at 1068 31st St. NW, for years the site of Ristorante Piccolo, which shut down in June of 2023 due to a fire. Founded in 2007 by Carmen Lopez, the consignment store has three other locations, on 14th Street, on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington and on King Street in Alexandria.
COMING: OX & OLIVE IN JANUARY
Chef Ryan Ratino plans to open a steakhouse in Georgetown, “the fulfillment a lifelong dream for the Ohio native raised on steak and potatoes who rose to culinary prominence with Michelinstarred restaurants Jônt and Bresca,” the Washington Business Journal first reported. Ox & Olive will be at 3201 Cherry Hill Lane NW, formerly the home of Johnny Spero’s Reverie, which closed on Oct. 4.
“We love Johnny, so having that opportunity is super special,” said Ratino, who leads Hive Hospitality, with restaurants in Washington, D.C., and Florida. A new one, Ode by Jônt, will open soon in Los Angeles.
COMING: ON … SNEAKERS
Footwear company On will open at 1211 Wisconsin Ave. NW, formerly a pop-up for French fashion brand Sézane — and, before that, a Tory Burch store for years. Founded in 2010, On Holding AG is a Swiss athletic shoe and sportswear company with a logo misunderstood by many.
COMING: LIL SWEET TREAT ON M
Lil Sweet Treat, founded by Elly Ross in New York, is set to open at 3285 M St. NW. Expect high-end gummies from Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Germany and elsewhere that customers choose and shovel in a bag to be weighed.
COMING: THE SALTY ON M
The Salty — setting up at the former Peet’s Coffee shop at 33rd and M — is a donut shop from Miami with intense flavors. “Our story begins in 2014, when Amanda Pizarro and (then boyfriend, now husband) Andy Rodriguez spent all their time (outside of attending school) dreaming about creating a community gathering place centered around donuts, coffee and good vibes,” the shop says.
COMING: NUTS FACTORY
Next to the Georgetown Inn, Nuts Factory is setting up at 1326 Wisconsin Ave. NW, a former site of Towne Wine & Liquor, which moved up the avenue a few years ago. The Israel-based business offers “a large selection of nuts, dried fruits, spices, olives, chocolates, candies, coffee, tea, legumes and more in bulk … Today, we are a third-generation family-owned business, and we are proud to bring this great concept to the U.S.” Along with the Dubai chocolate, we expect superlative halva.
COMING: YELLOW SUN COFFEE
Not to be confused with the nearby Yellow cafe, Yellow Sun is taking over the former Home Court sneakers shop at 1363 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The company tells us: “Yellow Sun Coffee Roasters was born from a simple idea: coffee should connect people. We work directly with farmers and trusted import partners who share our values. Every bean is chosen with care, roasted with intention and shared with honesty. Our first café is now open in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and it’s only the beginning.”
OUT: LA PERLA, AFTER 26 YEARS
Ristorante La Perla at 2600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW closed on Oct.19. Chef Vittorio Testa, La Perla’s 82-year-old owner, said: “After 26 years as the owner and chef of La Perla Ristorante, and 45 years in the restaurant business, including Il Borgo in McLean, Leonardo da Vinci and Mona Lisa in Washington Harbour, I have made the decision to retire.
“I have been dedicated to providing the best Italian food and exceptional dining experience in a room filled with Italian artifacts and memorabilia. I want to thank all of my many friends who have frequented La Perla over these many years and made this restaurant so successful in Washington, D.C.”
CHEVY CHASE FLOOR WAXING SERVICE
Polishing, buffing, and waxing to preserve and protect your wood floors. Family owned and operated for 30 years. Licensed Bonded Insured.
(301) 656-9274
Chevy Chase, MD
Nuts Factory.
Chef Ryan Ratino. Courtesy Hive Hospitality.
IKEA. Pexels photo by Alexander Isreb.
Georgetown Holiday Events Preview
BY MIA PECH AND KALYN TIPPETT
SANTA SWAPS HIS SLEIGH FOR DONUTS AT VOLTA PARK
On Saturday, Dec. 14, families can enjoy a morning filled with holiday spirit, sweet treats and plenty of photo opportunities at Friends of Volta Park’s “Breakfast with Santa.” The event will take place on both the tennis and basketball courts, with a DJ playing festive holiday music throughout the morning. Guests can look forward to mini donuts from Mama’s Donut Truck, hot cocoa, coffee, reindeer races and a festive craft station. Tickets are $20 per family and can be purchased at the event via cash or Venmo. Last year had over 300 attendees from the community.
SUGAR, SPICE AND SERIOUS SKILL: GEORGETOWN DEBUTS ITS FIRST GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING COMPETITION
The holiday season got even sweeter with the announcement of the very first Georgetown Gingerbread House Competition, on display the month of December across some of the neighborhood’s top culinary and hospitality destinations, including the Four Seasons Washington, D.C., CUT by Wolfgang Puck, 1789, Fiola Mare, La Bonne Vache and Call Your Mother Deli. Each venue will showcase a gingerbread house, no larger than 30 inches per side, crafted by local culinary talent. Visitors can follow a self-guided tour map, admire the magical designs and vote for their favorites by donating to the Marine’s Toys for Tots Foundation with one dollar counting as one vote.
“As a luxury real estate leader passionate about the joy of home and the spirit of generosity, I founded this event to turn whimsical gingerbread houses into a force for good,” said Serhant founding agent Chris Itteilag. For more event information, sponsorship opportunities or to make an advance donation, contact Chris directly at chris. itteilag@serhant.com.
Holiday Cheer Returns with the Second Annual Georgetown Jingle
The upcoming holiday season kicks off with the second annual Georgetown Jingle on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 1–4 p.m. The event will bring live music to locations throughout Georgetown. Performers will fill the streets with seasonal classics and upbeat tunes while more than 40 shops, restaurants and services will offer special discounts, complimentary refreshments and pop-up events.
The celebration continues with the St.
Lucia Choir procession from the Embassy of Sweden to Washington Harbour at 5:30 p.m., featuring Swedish holiday treats and samples of nonalcoholic Glögg.
BOOK HILL TREE LIGHTING LIGHTS UP WITH THIRD ANNUAL CEREMONY
Georgetown neighbors will gather on Thursday, December 4, at 5:30 p.m. at Book Hill Park for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, celebrating the season with joyful holiday caroling by the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and light bites.
“It’s a wonderful and intimate event for the community to get together to launch the holiday season,” said Billy Martin of Martin’s Tavern, the event’s lead sponsor.
Georgetown Main Street will sell its annual Georgetown holiday ornament at the event and accept donations to support its mission of making Georgetown a festive place to celebrate the holidays.
SWEET! THE GEORGETOWN MAIN STREET COOKIE TOUR IS BACK FOR A FIFTH YEAR
The annual Georgetown Cookie Tour marks its fifth anniversary this year and will take place on two Saturdays, December 6 and December 13, beginning at 1:00 p.m. It’s a popular event with more than 400 tickets that sold out in advance. VIP and VVIP tickets were introduced this year for the first time, offering goodie bags with extra gifts.
Ticketholders will visit 12 retail locations along the Georgetown Main Street corridor, collecting one cookie prepared by local bakeries at each stop. Participating shops will also offer a broad holiday shopping selection, from pet supplies, toys, food and wine, books and garden supplies. Each location will also offer special in-store promotions for attendees during the tour.
“This sweet tour kicks off the holiday
shopping season and allows ticketholders to discover our small businesses that are either new or new to them,” said Allison Cooke, Board Member of Georgetown Main Street.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: FRIENDS OF ROSE PARK’S HOLIDAY MARKET IS DECEMBER 6
The Rose Park Holiday Market will take place on December 6 from 1 to 4 p.m., inviting neighbors to celebrate an afternoon of festive
fun. Organized by the Friends of Rose Park, the event has become a local tradition that marks the start of the holiday season.
Families can explore local vendors, enjoy seasonal treats, and plenty of holiday cheer. Santa will arrive promptly at 1:30 p.m.
“The Rose Park Holiday Market is pure holiday magic, with cheerful vendors and Santa and his elves sprinkling a little joy on everyone,” said Gail Daubert, Whether you are shopping gifts or just soaking up the holiday spirit, it’s the perfect way to kick off the season,” said Gail Daubert, president of Friends of Rose Park.
Happy to be with Santa Claus: Elizabeth Reid with her daughters Ellie, Charlotte and Caroline, and her mother, Martha Bowen. Georgetowner photo.
Courtesy Georgetown Main Street.
Courtesy Georgetown Main Street.
Courtesy Georgetown Main Street.
Santa visits the Rose Park Holiday Market in 2024. Courtesy Friends of Rose Park.
BOURBON, BRILLIANCE AND BOLD MOVES: HOW VIYAS SUNDARAM SEIZES THE DAY
BY RICHARD SELDEN
is Instagram bio reads “Carpe Diem addict.” He certainly seems to have taken to heart Mr. Keating’s “Dead Poets Society” directive to make his life extraordinary.
Loudounnow.com branded Viyas Sundaram, former CEO of Reston-based software firm GoCanvas, a “serial entrepreneur.” And though he’s only 48, “clearly, I’m an old soul, as my wife says.”
On Sept. 26, Sundaram held a coming-out party for the seven- and 14-year releases of 1787 Provenance Straight Bourbon, offered by his and whiskey maker Jay West’s Middleburg Barrel Company, based at Sundaram’s 121-acre estate. The event took place at 1048 Wisconsin Ave. NW — “in my mind a trophy, iconic Georgetown building,” he says — that he acquired from Karen Snyder of Snyder Properties in February for $6.625 million. Formerly the Georgetown home of Patagonia, the 4,900-square-foot building, on the corner of Grace Street by the C&O Canal, had been vacant since the end of 2018.
Just how did this Chicago-born son of immigrant parents, “a diehard Bears fan,” end up dividing his time between Georgetown and Middleburg?
Though it didn’t shake his loyalty to the Windy City, after age 5 Sundaram grew up mainly in Augusta, Georgia. At Emory University, he majored in political science and economics and, thinking he “wanted to be a Gordon Gekko,” interned at Merrill Lynch. Sundaram’s serial
entrepreneurship began in his Atlanta dorm room. Partnering with his sophomore advisor, a “really smart IT guy,” he launched a start-up and rode the dot-com boom.
A few years later, in the early 2000s, a sales and marketing position with Mindshift Technologies brought him to Virginia’s flourishing Dulles Technology Corridor. (Sundaram remained with Mindshift after it was sold to Best Buy in 2011. Ricoh acquired it in 2014.) While there, he completed an MBA at the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business, which he calls “one of the most amazing experiences for me,” crediting it with teaching him to “ask different questions than I was biased to ask.”
His next stop? Senior vice president of sales, then chief revenue officer at Snagajob (acquired by JobGet last year), based in Richmond suburb Glen Allen, from 2014 to 2018.
“I became a turnaround executive,” he says of his career at that stage. But after leaving Snagajob, “I wanted to be with my kids.”
Sundaram and his wife, Jaya Saxena, who is part of Spencer Stuart’s global inclusion team, have two daughters, aged 8 and 12, now at Georgetown Day School. His homebody plan was short-lived, however. In 2021, a private equity firm called to ask if he would consider an operating role, and he took the top spot at GoCanvas, which creates mobile apps and online forms used by field workers in construction and other industries. (The company was acquired last year by the Munich-based Nemetschek Group.)
Fountain Inn by the fireplace. Courtesy The Fountain Inn. Aerial view of Mortgage Hall Estate. Photo by Krysta Norman.
INFATUATED WITH HISTORY
When Sundaram first came to the Washington, D.C., area, “I was too poor to afford housing,” he (questionably) claims. His solution was to buy an 1890 townhouse at 13th Street and Florida Avenue and bootstrap a gut renovation. When he brought his mother to see it, she was taken aback by the bars on the windows, thinking, he says: “What is my son doing?”
A different kind of shock, a positive one, was ahead for Sundaram, “when I first broke open the drywall and saw the original fireplace ... I just became completely infatuated with the history of these buildings.” In 2005, with the building’s renovation complete — and with the help of “borrowed plumbers and electricians” — he moved in. “I was now living in one of my creations,” he says proudly. Two years later, he sold his creation on Craigslist and not only moved out but moved on, purchasing a property every other year.
One of those early real estate investments was a mixed-use building nearby on U Street, occupied by a dental office. Retaining the local business became part of Sundaram’s M.O. If a retail property didn’t have a tenant, he would try to find something good for the “ecosystem,” he explains. While appreciating what M Street’s upscale national chains bring to Georgetown, for example, “what makes Georgetown is the Tuckernucks of this world,” he says, in other words, homegrown businesses that keep growing.
A MULTISENSORY JOURNEY
Two decades ago, as Sundaram was getting to know Georgetown, he recalls, “I went on a date to Citronelle,” chef Michel Richard’s culinary destination in the Latham Hotel. Like the drywall moment, it was a transformative experience: watching Richard walk another patron through a “wine journey.” Years later, having begun collecting rare bottles of whiskey, Sundaram started up an online reseller called the Bourbon Concierge — “just a fun passion project,” he says. (Another passion: Ferraris from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.)
One thing led to another, as they do with Sundaram. Thinking that “we should create an experiential tasting room,” and devoted to historic preservation, he purchased 1659 Wisconsin Ave. NW, where, in 1783, John Suter established a stagecoach stop and tavern known as the Fountain Inn.
Upon becoming CEO of GoCanvas, however — though “I could still do drop-off at Little Folks,” the Georgetown preschool — Sundaram took a step back from his whiskey projects. But the Bourbon Concierge “just boomed,” and he “let it be its own stand-alone experience.”
Reborn in March of 2022 as “a highbrow tasting room and cocktail bar centered around pours of distilled delicacies from all over the world,” according to Eater DC, the Fountain Inn was an instant hit. A recent accolade: In July, Washington City Paper named chef Greg Heitzig the Best Chef in Washington.
To Sundaram — who says, “I just love resurrecting history” — the Fountain Inn is “a place to connect and create a memory,” and tasting “becomes a sort of multisensory journey ... you’re pouring the story.”
The following year’s purchase of what was then called Mortgage Hall — an 1850s horse farm just outside Middleburg, once owned by a Sears heiress — was the result of spending time in the area during Covid and, says Sundaram, watching his daughters interact with nature.
Following a two-and-a-half-year restoration process, the property became the base for Middleburg Barrel Company, a way to leverage the “barrel picking” experience associated with bourbon, “an American heritage.”
Renamed Provenance Estate (“provenance” being the art historical term for an object’s ownership history), the former Mortgage Hall is now a venue for private and invitation-only events. “We are big conservation folks,” says Sundaram, meaning that he wants to limit the property’s impact on the landscape. Bourbon purchasers who choose a barrel from among the hundreds in the estate’s rickhouses get the full experience, staying at the manor house and eating chef-prepared meals. “Every barrel has a unique flavor profile,” notes Sundaram. There are also half-barrel and 12-bottle options. Starting next month, on Saturdays only, 12-bottle purchasers can reserve a two-hour visit.
Conscious of the historical significance of the Middleburg-to-Georgetown corridor, traversed
by Washington, among others, Sundaram refers to its “amazing town-and-country dynamic.” In the two locations and farther afield, he and his wife are active donors, both through direct giving and via the Sundaram Philanthropy Fund, which supports youth empowerment, the arts, freedom of the press and conservation. Last May, Saxena and Sundaram chaired the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington’s BlueFest gala, which netted more than $1.2 million.
In Georgetown, about eight blocks from the Fountain Inn, Sundaram now has an office at 1048 Wisconsin, where the interiors and systems are being restored and modernized. “We’re currently trying to evaluate what the right concept is,” he says. “The intent is to bring some form of experiential retail to that space.” While putting a high value on history, Sundaram leaves no doubt that he will continue to seize the day.
Dinner service at the barn at Mortgage Hall Estate. Photo by Krysta Norman.
Viyas Sundaram. Photo by Andy Cline. Fountain Inn bar room. Courtesy The Fountain Inn.
Le Decor: Kitchen Inspiration
Whether one prefers a light, sun-filled space or a tenebrous, cozy retreat, today’s kitchens have evolved far beyond their utilitarian roots. Once closed off from dining and living areas, they now flow seamlessly into great rooms—blending beauty, comfort and connection at the heart of our homes. Join me in welcoming Ateliers Jacob to Georgetown in Cady‘s Alley.
Pair of Louis XVI Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Covered Urns
Estimate: $3,000–$5,000
Sold for: $6,400
This pair of late 18th-century Louis XVI urns, eight and a half inches tall, are from the collection of New York-based interior designer Anne Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
This month’s featured auction lots include paintings by Jacques Martin-Ferrières, Andrew Wyeth and TV personality Bob Ross, along with a yellow gold wristwatch that Max Schmeling gave to Jack Dempsey and a pair of small Louis XVI urns from the collection of President Eisenhower’s granddaughter Anne.
Le Pont Saint Michel et Notre Dame de Paris
Estimate: $15,000–$25,000
Sold for: $35,200
This oil painting by French artist Jacques Martin-Ferrières, from a private collection in Maryland, depicts the Saint Michel Bridge and Notre Dame. The painting is signed but undated. Born in 1893, Martin-Ferrières was the son of second-generation Impressionist Henri Martin. He died in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1972.
Sold for: $17,920
Part of Bonhams’ Americana auction, this Bob Ross oil painting on velvet sold for just under $18,000. Ross first began painting in the early 1960s. He became the host of “The Joy of Painting” TV show, for which he painted over 1,000 works, in 1983. Throughout his career, Ross, who died in 1995 at the age of 52, is said to have completed around 30,000 paintings, but not many have made it to an auction. The Alaskan landscape was one of this favorite subjects.
Estate of Jane Stanton Hitchcock
Owner Auction, Nov. 20, 10AM
New York Times Best-Selling Crime Novelist, Friend of Jackie O, Georgetowner, Collector
THE POTOMACK COMPANY
Fox Hunters at Andress House, 1938
Estimate: $200,000–$300,000
Sold for: $175,000
This large early watercolor by Andrew Wyeth shows a group of fox hunters on horseback heading through a snowy landscape toward a Pennsylvania farmhouse, the John Andress House in Chadd’s Ford. The 1938 work, from a private collection, is painted from the point of view of Kuerner’s Farm, which was a short walk from Wyeth’s studio.
Estimate: $1,000–$1,500
Sold for: $20,320
This yellow gold jump hour wristwatch from around 1930 sold for over 13 times its high estimate in an online auction of lots from the Dr. G.B. Espy Collection. The watch was given to Jack Dempsey, world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926, by fellow boxer Max Schmeling. It is inscribed: “Berlin-Germany / 4-7-33 / To my Pal Jack Dempsey / From / Max Schmeling.”
George IV Armorial Silver Soup Tureen & Cover, London, 1828, Paul Storr
John Wootton, British Circa 1682-1764, H. M. King George I's Arabian
Chinese Carved Jade & Diamond Pendant/ Brooch
Ernest Hemingway For Whom The Bell Tolls. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1940.
Collection of Louis Vuitton Luggage
BONHAMS Snowy Cabin with Three Mountains
FREEMAN’S
CHRISTIE’S Yellow Gold Wristwatch from Max Schmeling to Jack Dempsey
DC Downtowner
BY KATE OCZYPOK
NATIONAL GUARD MAY STICK AROUND UNTIL 2026
ABC News has obtained a court filing and emails from National Guard leaders that say the deployment of the National Guard in D.C. could be extended, with the extension possibly lasting until next summer. The documents show that federal officials intend to prep for the winter months and beyond. Interim commander of the D.C. mission Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II said in an email that the team should “plan and prepare for a long-term persistent presence” in the area.
DEL. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON (D-D.C.) SCAMMED BY PSEUDO CLEANING CREW
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, was scammed in her home last month by a group of people who claimed they were part of a cleaning crew. According to NBC-4, the suspects charged nearly $4,400 to Norton’s credit card for work they did not do. The police report characterized Norton as having the early stages of dementia and mentioned she has a caretaker with power of attorney. Norton’s office resisted that claim.
CHIEF: JUVENILE CURFEW ZONE POLICY PERMANENT?
The D.C. Council was asked by top public safety officials to give law enforcement a permanent tool to make juvenile curfew zones, according to The Washington Post. The council was seeking to prevent gatherings of big groups of unruly young people, where some have escalated into violence. There were special curfew zones for juveniles this summer in specific nightlife corridors where teens were known to hang out. Emergency legislation also expanded a citywide curfew to begin an hour
earlier. The D.C. Council rejected extending a temporary measure in October, and now Mayor Bowser’s administration is working on permanent legislation. Lawmakers say extending policies without giving the public the chance to weigh in should raise criticism.
NETFLIX IS COMING
Netflix is coming to D.C. The streaming service is planning on a move to take 14,000 square feet of the first and second stories of the Woodies Building at 1025 F St. NW. The business wants to host private screenings, receptions and premieres at the location. As of press time, it is not clear whether a lease has been signed.
BILLIONAIRE MACKENZIE SCOTT GIVES $80 MILLION TO HOWARD UNIVERSITY
MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has given Howard University $80 million, the second largest donation in five years after she previously gave the university $40 million in 2020. WTOP reported that interim president and president emeritus of Howard University Wayne Frederick said the donation will have a “huge impact” especially during the government shutdown. $17 of the $80 million is set to go to the College of Medicine.
MAYOR BOWSER BEING INVESTIGATED—OR NOT?
Last week, The New York Times reported that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was being investigated by federal prosecutors for a corruption investigation. The investigation was looking at a foreign trip Bowser took with members of her staff that was paid for by Qatar. The next day, it was reported by Axios that a Trump administration official said Mayor Bowser is not under federal investigation. The official blamed the rumor on an FBI agent who was angry that they had been fired. In a statement, Mayor Bowser’s office said they had not been notified of an investigation.
D.C. POLICE
Yuri Lee of Capital City Care and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton in 2020. Georgetowner photo.
Mackenzie Scott. Britannica photo.
Photo by Constance Chatfield-Taylor.
Holiday Arts & Things to Do Preview
BY KATE OCZYPOK
Wondering where to spend the holidays with your family, on a date, with your best friend, or perhaps where to take mom and dad? The D.C. area has plenty of options, including performances, outdoor art exhibits, and free caroling events.
WITH THE FAMILY
WINTER WONDERFEST AT NATIONALS PARK
Opens November 28, evenings Enchant Christmas is not coming to Nats Park this year, but in its place, there is something even better: Winter Wonderfest. There will be a variety of family-friendly activities at Nats Park, notably a 100-foot ice slide, LED see-saws, a snowflake studio featuring local artists, nine-hole “Frosty” fairway, and a winter train ride too. There are also plans for special theme nights built to champion local community members.
CHORAL ARTS’ O NIGHT DIVINE
December 15 at 7 p.m. and December 24 at 2 p.m.
At the Kennedy Center’s Performing Arts Concert Hall, Choral Arts rings in the
holiday season with traditional Christmas carols, sing-alongs, and new takes on timeless compositions. The performance is all set to a full orchestra. Shows are just 90 minutes with no intermission, making them ideal for those with little ones.
DR. SEUSS’S ‘HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS: THE MUSICAL’
December 30-January 4, various times
The Grinch is showing up in D.C. for a six-day stint at the tail end of the holiday season. Families will love the musical, narrated by the Grinch’s beloved dog Max. It features music from the 1966 cartoon like “Welcome Christmas” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”
ON A DATE
GEORGETOWN JINGLE
December 6
Running from 1-4 p.m., Georgetown Jingle is a great option for an afternoon date post-brunch or pre-dinner. Featuring live holiday music at multiple outdoor locations in Georgetown, artists will perform festive songs and over 40 Georgetown businesses will be providing discounts, free refreshments and pop-up events
throughout the Jingle. Stick around for the St. Lucia Choir’s procession from the Embassy of Sweden to Washington Harbour followed by a Swedish holiday celebration.
THE WASHINGTON CHORUS’S ‘A CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS’
December 14-22
Grab tickets to a romantic evening with The Washington Chorus. Enjoy appearances by the National Capital Brass and Percussion, Annandale High School, and this year’s featured guest artist, pianist Rod Vester. Vester will be performing with new, jazzy takes on Christmas carols.
Champions Of Magic: Holiday Spectacular
Nov. 18–23 | Eisenhower Theater
Champions Of Magic’s grand-scale, interactive show captivates audiences of all ages with jaw-dropping illusions, holiday humor, and festive surprises.
Make memories at the Kennedy Center this holiday season!
Shamrock Tenors: Christmas in Belfast
Nov. 25–30 | Eisenhower Theater
The Emmy®-winning PBS stars bring their all-new Christmas in Belfast tour to life with high-energy Irish music, holiday classics, and the unmistakable charm of the Emerald Isle.
Cincinnati Ballet: The Nutcracker 26 & 28-30 | Opera House
Cincinnati Ballet presents its beloved, family-friendly Nutcracker, a whimsical holiday adventure filled with dazzling dance, colorful characters, and heartfelt
The Improvised Shakespeare Company®
Nov. 28–Dec. 23 | Theater Lab
Based on one audience suggestion (a title of a play that doesn’t exist), this acclaimed comedy troupe performs a fully improvised Shakespearean masterpiece right before your eyes!
Courtesy Georgetown BID.
Fresh AIR
Wed, Nov 12
Artists in Residence class of 2026 debut concert
American Railroad
Silkroad Ensemble featuring Wu Man Sun, Nov 16
A folk journey through American history
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis Fri, Nov 28
Beloved holiday show with dazzling visuals
A Swingin’ Little Christmas!
Starring Jane Lynch featuring Kate Flannery & Tim Davis with The Tony Guerrero Quintet Sat, Nov 29
Jazz, comedy, and nostalgic holiday cheer
Dave Koz and Friends
Christmas Tour 2025 featuring: Jonathan Butler with special guests: Haley Reinhart, Casey Abrams, and Kayla Waters
Thu, Dec 4
Jazzy takes on holiday classics.
Seán Heely’s Celtic Christmas
Thu, Dec 11
Festive fiddles, bagpipes, dancers, and holiday joy
Béla Fleck and The Flecktones Jingle All The Way featuring Victor Wooten, Roy “Future Man” Wooten & Howard Levy with special guests Jeff Coffin & Alash Sun, Dec 14
From top: Seán Heely by Jordon Koepke; Wu Man Borderlands by Call The Shots Photography; Dave Koz by Colin Peck Photography; Béla Fleck and The Flecktones by Gemhouse Media, Tim Davis, Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery
ARTS
The Georgetowner’s 2025 Holiday Theater Guide
BY RICHARD SELDEN
THIS MONTH ONLY ..
“Vildanden!”
That’s no greeting, it’s the original DanoNorwegian title of Henrik Ibsen’s “The Wild Duck,” folding its wings this weekend in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre. STC Artistic Director Simon Godwin directs David Eldridge’s adaptation, with Maaike Laanstra-Corn, Brown University class of 2021, playing Hedwig, who turns 14 in the play (through Nov. 16). More Ibsen: Theater J, at the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, is staging Amy Herzog’s Americanized version of “An Enemy of the People,” aka “En folkefiende,” directed by
“Hadestown,” Anaïs Mitchell’s multiple Tony winner, is at The National Theatre (Nov. 18 to 23) and “Lizzie the Musical,” a punk take on Ms. Borden by Steven Sheslik-deMayer, Tim Maner and Alan Stevens Hewitt, with “a blistering all-female rock score,” is at The Keegan Theatre, directed and choreographed by Jennifer J. Hopkins (through Nov. 30).
Can you get to Herndon? At NextStop Theatre Company, Aria Velz directs “The Last Five Years,” a musical written and composed by Jason Robert Brown that tells the story of two New Yorkers’ on-again, off-again love affair from opposite timelines (through Nov. 23).
János Szász (through Nov. 23).
Other classics are wrapping up at the American Shakespeare Center in the Queen City of the Shenandoah Valley: “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by K.P. Powell, and “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” directed by Aidan O’Reilly (through Nov. 15). Also, on the boards of Staunton’s Blackfriars Playhouse is the un-Bardly world-premiere musical “The Pirate Ballad of Bonny and Read,” by Vanessa Marosco and Peter Simon Hilton, directed by Allie Babich (through Nov. 16).
Across the Potomac, you can jump into “Grease” for a few more days. The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s has mounted Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s tribute to ducktails and bobby socks, directed by Frank D. Shutts II, with music direction by Mark Deal and choreography by Suzy Alden (through Nov. 15).
Closing out 2025 at Arena Stage: “Fremont Ave.,” a world premiere by Reggie D. White about “a cutthroat game of Spades,” directed by Lili-Anne Brown. In “Furlough’s Paradise” by a.k. payne, Sade visits her cousin while on a three-day furlough from prison. Autumn Angelettie directs for Theatre Alliance at 340 Maple Drive SW. Synetic Theater co-founder Paata Tsikurishvili directs Nathan Weinberger’s adaptation of “Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus,” with choreography by Irina Tsikurishvili, at Arlington’s Thomas Jefferson Theatre (through Nov. 23).
At the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street NE, Irish arts organization Solas Nua presents Ciara Elizabeth Smyth’s “Lie Low” — “a dark comedy about trauma, the lies we tell ourselves and the outrageous ways our brains work. Or don’t.” — directed by Rex Daugherty, with several pay-what-you-can performances (through Nov. 23).
“Fremont Ave.” at Arena Stage. Photo by Marc J. Franklin.
OPEN OR SOON TO OPEN AND PLAYING ON ...
Anatevka comes to Arlington in “Fiddler on the Roof” at Signature Theatre (through Jan. 25). Looking swell at Olney Theatre Center: Nova Y. Payton in “Hello, Dolly!” (through Jan. 4). Olney’s “A Christmas Carol” opens the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28 to Dec. 28), and Ford’s Theatre’s full-scale production of Dickens’ immortal three-ghoster gets an even earlier start (Nov. 20 to Dec. 31).
Vogel’s latest, “Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions,” opens tonight at Studio Theatre, directed by Margot Bordelon (Nov. 12 to Dec. 21). Estonian clown Julia Masli brings her “Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha Ha” to Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, co-directed by Masli and Kim Noble (Nov. 13 to Dec. 21). Atlas resident partner Mosaic Theater Company makes “A Case for the Existence of God” by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Danilo Gambini (Nov. 13 to Dec. 7).
Paula
“A Christmas Carol” at Ford’s Theatre. Photo by Scott Suchman.
ARTS
As if “Hadestown” wasn’t toasty enough, The National follows up with “Some Like It Hot,” based on Billy Wilder’s cross-dressing screen comedy. Pride Night is Nov. 30 (Nov. 25 to Dec. 7). Chicago’s Improvised Shakespeare Company starts acting Willfully that weekend at The Kennedy Center (Nov. 28 to Dec. 23).
Kids, get your mittens on! “Frosty the Snow Man” saunters into Adventure Theatre MTC in Glen Echo Park (Nov. 26 to Jan. 11). At Bethesda’s Imagination Stage, Janet Stanford directs her adaptation of “The Snowman and the Snowdog,” with an original score by Ilan Eshkeri and Andy Burrows, additional music by Tim Guillot and choreography by Nikki Mirza. Dogs will be available for adoption from rescue organization the Underdog Division after the Dec. 13 and 21 performances (Nov. 22 to Jan. 4).
ARRIVING IN DECEMBER ...
More “Christmas Carols” get clanking in Virginia at The Little Theatre of Alexandria (Dec. 5 to 20) and ASC (Dec. 4 to 27). Keegan’s holiday tradition, Matthew J. Keenan’s “An Irish Carol,” sets an homage to Dickens in a Dublin pub (Dec. 11 to 28).
“Guys and Dolls” — crapshooters and missionaries, that is — will blow into STC’s Harman Hall when Washington National Opera’s Francesca Zambello directs the winner of the 1951 Best Musical Tony (Dec. 2
ANONYMOUS WAS A WOMAN
Jae Ko | linn meyers | Joyce J. Scott | Renée Stout
On view at The Kreeger Museum
October 16 - December 31, 2025
“Lizzie the Musical” at the Keegan Theatre. Photo by Cameron Whitman.
to Jan. 4). Coming to The National: “Water for Elephants,” based on Sara Gruen’s veterinary novel (Dec. 9 to 14). At GALA Hispanic Theatre, Ángel Vázquez plays Sixto, a Puerto Rican in New York, in “The Other Side Story,” his one-man musical response to that Tonyand-Maria show (Dec. 12 to 14). And at the Ken Cen, Monty Python’s “Spamalot” clops into the Eisenhower Theater (Dec. 16 to Jan. 4) and “Shear Madness” snips on upstairs in the Theater Lab.
In Series presents the world premiere of its first commissioned opera, “The Delta King’s Blues,” about guitarist Robert Johnson’s Faustian bargain. Directed by Alicia Washington, with music by Damien Geter and a libretto by Jarrod Lee, the cast includes Melissa Wimbish, Albert Lee, Christian Simmons, Marvin Wayne Allen III and
In Series.
Anthony Ballard (Dec. 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 at 340 Maple Drive SW; and Dec. 19, 20 and 21 at 2640 St. Paul St. in Baltimore).
Round House Theatre Artistic Director Ryan Rilette directs the U.S. premiere of Sam Holcroft’s holiday farce “Rules for Living” (Dec. 3 to Jan. 4). Signature’s got a U.S. premiere too: “In Clay,” a musical set in 1930s Paris. In the show — directed by Kimberly Senior, with a book by Rebecca Simmonds, music by Jack Miles and lyrics by both — ceramicist and painter Marie-Berthe Cazin recounts her life (Dec. 9 to Feb. 1). Over in Tysons at 1st Stage, Ernestine Ashworth celebrates turning 17, 18, 41, 70 and 101 in Noah Haidle’s “Birthday Candles,” directed by Alex Levy (Dec. 4 to 21).
Child-size shows in the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center: Discovery Theater presents “Seasons of Light” for ages 5 to 10 (Dec. 1 to 19) and Ezra Jack Keats’s “The Snowy Day” for ages 3 to 7 (Dec. 17 and 18). And The National takes us into 2026 with the good Dr.’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” (Dec. 30 to Jan. 4).
COMING IN JANUARY ...
Back in action, Constellation Theatre Company swoops into the Atlas, stoking things up with “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen (Jan. 23 to Feb. 15).
A cherished Petworth holiday tradition that brings together professional dancers and rising young talent in a magical retelling of Clara’s journey.
Buy Tickets Today! Use Code: GT-DREAM-10 for 10% off
Cocktail of the Month
BY JODY KURASH
The National Guard is deployed in cities with decades-low crime rates, the White House is being demolished to make room for a vanity ballroom and ICE continues to arrest people at random as MAGA people cheer them on. The compassionate and inclusive values of America seem a distant memory in this sea of absurdity. If a true alien landed in D.C., no doubt they’d be calling: “Beam me up, Scotty, there’s no intelligent life here.”
If only we had our own personal rockets. Unfortunately, that’s not an option for most Washingtonians, unless you’re Kalorama resident Jeff Bezos.
Even escaping the States on a commercial airline has become more complicated as the government shutdown continues and TSA staff and air traffic controllers work without paychecks.
Luckily there is a spaceship you can board only a short drive from the DMV.
Pittsburgh, an excellent weekend getaway, is not only home to suburbs named Moon, Mars and Apollo, it also offers an otherworldly experience at the intergalactic watering hole Space Bar. Stepping into this super-groovy sci-fi hotspot is like boarding a futuristic vessel and touring a galaxy far, far away.
You’ll find it nestled in the center of the Steel
The Latest Dish
BY LINDA ROTH
Atlas Brew Works closed in Ivy City on Sept. 27, but quadrupled its production capacity at the brewery’s just-opened Bridge District location in the Douglas Development at 600 Howard Road SE, overlooking the Anacostia River. The new location features a 30-barrel brewery, expansive outdoor seating and Andy’s Pizza
Diane Gross and Khalid Pitts of Cork Wine Bar & Market on 14th Street NW plan to open a smaller, tighter version in Cleveland Park in the fourth quarter. Their vision also includes a hot dog concept slated to open in the first quarter of 2026 in Tenleytown, serving the American University student base.
Just Opened: REALM Rooftop Bar & Lounge at 899 O Street NW, in the heart of D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood ... Toronto-based chef Lonie Murdock opened Isla, featuring “elevated” Caribbean dishes, at Midtown Center, 1100 15th St. NW, where Philotimo used to be ... The Snug with The Macallan, a whisky lounge, opened at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C., 1150 22nd St. NW.
Quick Hits: Hakan Ilhan is slated to open Le Midi brasserie and bar in the fourth quarter of 2026 at 1100 New York Ave. NW, where Capitol City Brewing Company used to be, with indoor seating for 300 and an outdoor patio seating 65 ... Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises plans to open RPM Steak and RPM Events at Market Square, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW ... Ryan Ratino’s Hive Hospitality (Jônt and Bresca) plans to
City, off historic, brick-paved Market Square. From the outside, the only indication of anything unearthly is an inflatable alien greeting you at the door. Once you step inside, be prepared to be transported into a glowing avant-garde UFO.
Space Bar is the brainchild of Elizabeth Menzel and Dale Thomas Vaughn, who moved to the East Coast after many years in L.A. In her past career, for 30 years, Menzel helped people recover from the long-term effects of trauma — superb qualifications for working behind a bar.
It would be easy to write off Space Bar as just another gimmick, but the spunk and expertise that has been poured into this arena exceeds the theme. The craft and science behind the cocktail menu reach Michelin-star heights. Each menu item is a labor of love, sometimes involving months of tastings and experimentation. Menzel and her mixologists, who she calls “nonstop idea
machines,” are not only creative and daring but sticklers for details.
My first choice on the menu, “Starship,” was a supersensory take on a gin and tonic, served in a star-shaped goblet with a dry-ice mist seeping out the top. This supernova concoction has a complex ingredient list. To the typical G&T and citrus, it adds blueberry, lemon balm, dandelion gentian root, lemongrass, cardamon, allspice, clove and cinchona bark. Menzel sources many of these extravagant ingredients online and from local Asian markets. The taste of my pink quasar is multilayered, with sharp, sour, bitter and fruity flavors.
My next foray is the “Fifth Ele-mint,” a glowing, Martian green, cucumber-mint creation that comes with special sipping instructions. The drink itself is served in the triangular bowl
of a martini glass, which is balanced atop an illuminated sphere of gas. The radiant hue of this tipple is exaggerated by a shimmering constellation formed on the surface by droplets of house-crafted mint olive oil.
My first swig induces a “wow” moment. I’m impressed by its soft crisp flavor. “The secret is acid-adjusted cucumber,” Menzel explains. “We take off about half of the cuke skin, leave other half on, juice it and add citric acid.” This mixer, made fresh every two or three days, has a lightness she describes as “glorious.” Mint and yuzu build depth and the oil dribbles pack an umami punch that enhances this tipple’s sophisticated nature.
Regrettably, after two cocktails, it’s time for me to return back to earth and reality of 2025. Leaving this mothership feels like deboarding the plane after a delightful holiday. However, I feel better knowing temporary refuge lurks nearby. Vaughn sums it up: “We’re here to provide a glimmer of hope, and we think a starship is inherently optimistic. Maybe somehow enough of humanity will survive climate change, unite and become technologically capable of traveling the cosmos. Too optimistic? Call it an escape then. A ‘moonage daydream,’ to quote the space poet David Bowie.”
open Ox & Olive steakhouse where Johnny Spero’s Reverie used to be at 3201 Cherry Hill Lane NW in Georgetown ... Liberty Tavern Restaurant Group plans to open its second Ruthie’s All Day at 4100 Monument Center in Fairfax in the first quarter of 2026 ... In the fourth quarter of this year, Tyson Cole/ Hai Hospitality plans to open Uchiko Japanese restaurant in Bethesda at 7315 Wisconsin Ave., where Ruth’s Chris Steak House used to be … In the second quarter of 2026, Betul and Ismail Uslu plan to open Agora, their third restaurant in the region, at Hyatt Regency Bethesda, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., where Daily Grill used to be ... Clyde’s Restaurant Group plans to open Ebbitt House at 1860 Reston Row Plaza in Reston Station in the first quarter of 2026. It will have 300 seats indoors, two bars and a 125-seat outdoor patio ... Panamanian coffee shop Café Unido is slated to open its third D.C. location in Colette in Buzzard Point’s Corso promenade, serving breakfast, lunch and (light) dinner. An opening in the second quarter of 2026 is targeted.
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.
The Fifth Elemint. Photo by Jody Kurash.
Anchor Fund Raises Over $300,000
BY VICTORIA MICHAEL
It was an extraordinary evening of compassion and impact as supporters gathered at Georgetown’s historic City Tavern Club for the Anchor Fund’s annual benefit. This recordbreaking night raised more than $300,000 in emergency funding to support local survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
One of the evening’s most moving moments came when a beneficiary courageously and spontaneously took the stage to share her story. Her words silenced the room and moved every person present; there was not a dry eye in sight. Her strength and bravery embody the very mission of the Anchor Fund: to ensure that no survivor faces crisis alone.
The night served as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when community and compassion unite.
NewsBash: A Night of Glamour and Giving
BY KALYN TIPPETT
Founded in 2009 by Washingtonarea anchorwomen, NewsBash, often described as “a sea of pink,” has become a beloved annual tradition that blends philanthropy, local media and community spirit. This year’s event, on Oct. 21, transformed the Royal Sonesta ballroom into a vibrant display of unity as guests arrived in shades representing those affected by breast cancer. Organized by the Brand Guild and supported by a range of sponsors, the gala’s Pink Ribbon Title Sponsor was Glassman Wealth Services. Founder Barry Glassman, often called “the heart of NewsBash,” was among the evening’s notable attendees.
Blue Hope Bash
BY CHRISTINE WARNKE
“This is a movement that celebrates survivors,” said Laura Manatos, NewsBash co-chair. “It honors loved ones — and many of our loved ones have been impacted by this disease — and it helps women right here in the D.C. area.”
Since it first began, the gala has raised more than $4.1 million to support breast health services across the region, continuing its mission to inspire awareness, action and hope.
The historic halls of the National Building Museum came alive on Oct. 25 with hope, inspiration and purpose at the annual Blue Hope Bash. This highly anticipated event was dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, which promotes research and patient support.
The evening was marked by a star-studded celebration honoring two remarkable media personalities: Craig Melvin, co-anchor of the “Today” show, and his wife, Emmy Awardwinning sportscaster Lindsay Czarniak. Their dedication to raising awareness about colorectal cancer, coupled with their advocacy for healthy living and early detection, made them the perfect recipients of this year’s honors.
Board member Kristin Cecchi with event sponsors Sarah Hake and Nasim Maleki.
NBC4’s Angie Goff and former WUSA9 anchor Andrea Roane.
Brand Guild Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing Andrea Frederick, Brand Guild co-founder and Co-CEO Jayne Sandman and Oogiebear founder and CEO Dr. Nina Farzin.
Marcus Wiseman and Hellenic Initiative Executive Director Mike Manatos.
NBC4 anchor Shawn Yancy and former WJLA anchor Alison Starling.
Brand Guild co-founder and Co-CEO Jayne Sandman, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Debbie Dingell.
NBC’s Peter Alexander, former WJLA anchor Alison Starling and their daughter.
Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarniak at the Blue Hope Bash. Courtesy Blue Hope Bash.
Lindsay Czarniak, Craig Melvin and others. Courtesy Blue Hope Bash.
City Tavern Club’s John and Kristin Cecchi at Anchor Fund benefit.
Jayne Sandman, co-founder and co-CEO, The Brand Guild; former WUSA9 anchor Andrea Roane; Laura Evans Manatos, CEO of Laura Evans Media and former Fox5 anchor; Barry Glassman, founder and president, Glassman Wealth Services; WUSA9 anchor Lesli Foster; and former WJLA anchor Alison Starling.
The Anchor Fund board.
Guests at the event.
David McCullough: ‘History Matters’
REVIEWED BY KITTY KELLEY
The celebrated late historian’s advice to writers.
Any book carrying the name of David McCullough usually weighs three pounds less than a horse. His first biography, “Truman,” ran to 1,120 pages; his second, “John Adams,” weighed in at 751 pages. Both won the Pulitzer Prize. Prior to those, in 1978, McCullough received the first of his two National Book Awards for “The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914” (704 pages). An earlier book, 1972’s “The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge,” spanned 600-plus pages.
Here was a writer who understood the heft of history — or, as the New York Times wrote in McCullough’s 2022 obituary, “His readers got a lot of work for their money.”
Now comes his daughter Dorie McCullough Lawson and his researcher Michael Hill with “History Matters.” For those accustomed to a McCullough whale, prepare for a polliwog: This book is a mere 192 pages. Most puzzling is its preface, which tells readers what they are not going to get:
“This book is by no means exhaustive and there are certain areas of his work, his life and his personality that are not covered, including, among other things, his disciplined way of approaching
everything, his love of walking and walking sticks, his insistence on things being done in particular ways, his love of lyrics and quotations and his readily available humor.”
Instead, Lawson and Hill offer speeches and essays, some previously published, that the historian delivered on various subjects — including his love of architecture and the glories of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and Brunelleschi’s dome in Florence — which led him to ruminate on what he felt was lacking in American education. “The first is imagination, originality, spontaneity … The second is willingness to take risks.” From there, the applauded historian celebrated “luck, effort and, above all, work: ‘We are what we do.’”
From an early age, Pittsburgh native David Gaub McCullough, the third of four sons, knew he wanted to be a writer, although he’d once considered a career in architecture. After graduating from Yale (class of ’55), he moved to New York City and worked for Sports Illustrated for five years. Then, in 1960, he relocated to Washington, D.C., to work at the U.S. Information Agency under revered CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow. “It was like having a part in a hit show, with a huge cast,” McCullough told the Yale Daily News in 1997, “and even if you only had a bit part, it was still very exciting.”
McCullough, whose sonorous voice narrated and experienced
Nurse Practitioner. Suzy French, MS, CRNP
the award-winning 1990 Ken Burns PBS series “The Civil War,” seemed to be a gregarious man who needed to share his love of learning, as well as his strong opinions. He praised George Washington as the “greatest American ever”; dismissed Pablo Picasso as “dislikeable”; and defined Richard Nixon as “an absolute disaster.”
In this short book, McCullough advises anyone who wants to be an author to write four pages a day, every day. He stresses doing research: If writing a biography, walk the streets that your subject walked, whether it’s in a Kentucky coal town, the jungles of Panama or the boulevards of Paris. He recommends taking drawing lessons because he believed writers needed such basics in order to write well. “I think of writing history as an art form.”
He suggests developing the habit of asking people about themselves — their lives, their interests — “and listen to them. It’s amazing what you can learn by listening.” Finally, he counsels writers to “read a lot” and makes sterling recommendations, from President John F. Kennedy’s favorite book, “The Young Melbourne” by David Cecil, to Dr. Seuss’s “Horton Hatches the Egg.”
In the 40 commencement speeches he delivered over the years to various college graduates, McCullough always advised them to read. “Read Delacroix. Don’t just look at him. Read him. Read his journal — one of the most enthralling books I know. Read Churchill. Read history. Read, read, read. Read Trumbull’s memoir. Read the letters of N.C. Wyeth, the magnificent letters of N.C. Wyeth to his children.”
Most important of all, he counsels writers to: “Rewrite, rewrite and rewrite. When asked if I’m a writer, I think sometimes I should say, ‘No, I’m a rewriter.’”
Here is where the authors miss the brass ring on their merry-go-round. McCullough never used a word processor or a computer. He did all his work and all those rewrites on a typewriter, much of which he saved. His daughter mentions a storehouse of his “letters, calendars, multiple evolutions of original manuscripts with his hand-written editorial changes, ideas, notes, lists, diagrams, paintings, drawings and photographs.” Yet she doesn’t excavate that mine for its vein of gold, which seems like a missed opportunity to share all that her father shared in his creative-writing classes at Wesleyan, Cornell and Dartmouth.
How valuable it would have been for readers to learn how the heralded historian wrote and rewrote; how he started; what he added; what he deleted; what he expanded. How did he edit himself, develop scenes and construct chapters? Did he outline before writing? How did he organize his material? Did he make a chronology of dates and events? How did he decide what belonged to history? What could be discarded? Ah, yes. A master class from a master is a writer’s ultimate fantasy and nearly impossible to convey in any book. Still, the authors of this one, however slight, manage to give a glimpse into what they call “the good, hard work of writing well” by a master craftsman who never toiled a day in his life. David McCullough wrote and rewrote, then rewrote and rewrote his 12 mammoth books simply because he loved every agonizing minute of the writing adventure.
Kitty Kelley is the author of seven number-one New York Times Best Seller biographies, including “Nancy Reagan,” “Jackie Oh!” and “Elizabeth Taylor: The Last Star.” She is on the board of the Independent and is a recipient of the PEN Oakland/Gary Webb Anti-Censorship Award. In 2023, she was honored with Biographers International Organization’s BIO Award, given annually to a writer who has made major contributions to the advancement of the art and craft of biography.
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