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VOLUME 73 NUMBER 1

EQUESTRIAN Style, COUNTRY Elegance 72ND ANNIVERSARY ISSUE HANDS OFF KENNEDY CENTER PUBLISHER CELEBRATES 30 GEORGETOWN’S RETAIL PAST MAPPING GEORGETOWN

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THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

IN THIS ISSUE

ON THE COVER

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT EMERITUS Peggy Sands

Town Topics

FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR Mira Adwell

EDITORIAL & OPINION 10

GRAPHIC DESIGN Jill Madsen Katie McKenney Heather Harris Roemer

Vote | Readers Comments

COVER STORY 11-18 Equestrian Style, Country Elegance

PHOTOGRAPHERS Mira Adwell Philip Bermingham Bill Starrels Andy Cline

IN COUNTRY 19 Hunt Country’s Calendar of Events

THE VILLAGE 20

REAL ESTATE 23 Sales Figures

ARTS 24-25 ‘The Score’ Review

KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB 26 ‘John of John’

MIRA ADWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

BUSINESS 21

The Latest Dish

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Robert Devaney ARTS EDITOR & COPY EDITOR Richard Selden CONTRIBUTORS Susan Bodiker Allyson Burkhardt Donna Evers Michelle Galler Amos Gelb Wally Greeves Kitty Kelley Jody Kurash Lauretta McCoy Shelia Moses Ari Post Linda Roth Alison Schafer Celia Sharpe Mary Ann Treger INTERNS Natalie Gordon Donnelly Rodgers Francis Rienzo Callie Solomon Caroline Woodward

1050 30th Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (202) 338-4833 Fax: (202) 338-4834 www.georgetowner.com

‘Georgetown’s Retail Past’ ‘Mapping Georgetown’

FOOD & WINE 22

CONTENT COORDINATOR Matilde Herrera ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Madeleine Brito

NEWS 6-9

Ins & Outs

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-INCHIEF Sonya Bernhardt

On her: Free People tan windowpane plaid double-breasted blazer, $228, at Zest. Chestnut ruffled silk blouse by Nili Lotan, $600, and Black mini “Trippy Garden” skirt by Dorotheé Schumacher, $950; both at Ruth Shaw. Black rubber equestrian rain boots by Burberry, models own. Ivory Tweed Knee Socks (Assorted 3-Pack) $36 by HUE at HUE.com and select Bloomingdales and Nordstrom stores. Pearl drop earrings, $325, and green kid leather gloves, $180 by Jill Andrews Gowns; All at Jill Andrews Gowns. Vintage watch Bob, Stylist’s own. On Him: Brown/wheat/oat Guncheck hopsack Military jacket, $495 and indigo Cotelino chambray shirt, $195; both by Sid Mashburn at Afield. Walnut nubuck quilted vest, $399, by Dubarry at Afield. Riding breeches and boots, model’s own.

“The Newspaper Whose Influence Far Exceeds Its Size” — Pierre Cardin The Georgetowner is published in print monthly with an online newsletter supplement posted twice per week — On Mondays we highlight news and on Thursdays goings on about town. The opinions of our writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect the editorial and corporate opinions of The Georgetowner newspaper. The Georgetowner accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. The Georgetowner reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions. Copyright 2026.

Please send submissions of opinions for consideration to: editorial@georgetowner.com For advertising inquiries email Advertising@georgetowner.com or call (202) 338-4833

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TOWN TOPICS

October ANC 2E Meeting Report BY TH E GE ORGETOW N E R Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E met on Sept. 28 at Georgetown Visitation Prep and via Zoom.

RESOLUTIONS

The following resolutions were approved: supporting the BellRinger ride on Oct. 24, restoring funding for the Jelleff Boys and Girls Club, opposing a proposed rear addition at 3311 P St. NW, and rescinding three temporary drop-off spaces for Holy Trinity School. No action was taken on the 3620 T St. NW zoning application and two public-space permit items. Another resolution addressed a cannabis-license protest. A District Department of Transportation shared-fleet resolution was approved, parts of which are quoted here. Below are ANC 2E’s requests to DDOT for some fundamental changes to the proposed Amendments to the shared fleet device program (dockless bikes and scooters). • Program is critical. ANC 2E supports micromobility ... • Vehicle volumes are significant and continue to grow. Per the July 2026 Strategic Bikeways Report from DDOT, Ward 2, in which ANC 2E is located, has the most bike/

scooter activity by Ward ... • ANC (and public) concerns have been repeatedly voiced but not yet addressed. ANC 2E has met with DDOT leadership and walked our community with the fleet ... ANC 2E urges DDOT’s to change its proposed amendments to: • Better protect accessibility-for-all: Require and more strongly enforce that dockless parking does not block sidewalk accessibility for pedestrians, wheelchairs, strollers, etc. What is proposed is not ample. • Require precise geofenced parking corrals in high-volume areas. Operators have the technology to use precise geofenced hubs. • Do not require locking of dockless vehicles to posts or bike racks: Every Operators’ vehicle can stand on its own without a rack, and all can be placed in a corral with precise geofencing. ... • Sidewalk riding at 10mph is still high in some cases ... • Require visible on-the-ground staff on a few high-volume weekends ... • Reduce abandoned/sidewalk blocking in problematic areas by reducing the total supply of available vehicles. • Strengthen the proposed operator accountability – including keeping the

ability for the District to change Operators every two years.

OPEN ISSUES

Parking enforcement remains inadequate; coParking enforcement remains inadequate; commissioners questioned whether reimbursable enforcement, residential permit parking and license-plate readers will benefit residential streets. Illegal short-term rentals remain difficult to shut down, with enforcement often requiring escalation to the Office of the Attorney General. The proposed expansion of short-term-rental eligibility remains unresolved, including concerns about secondary homes, LLC ownership and housing impacts. Commissioners challenged DDOT on scooter obstruction, sidewalk riding, operator accountability, permit duration and public review procedures.

COUNCIL AND AGENCY UPDATES

Council member Brooke Pinto’s office reported on parking-enforcement legislation, hearings, the closure of the Georgetown DMV, the Jelleff renovation and the Volta Park spray park.

COMMUNITY AND HOUSING ISSUES

Scheele’s Market supporters described efforts to preserve the market after a planned building sale. If this is no intervention, Scheele’s is set to close Nov. 30. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection representative explained short-termrental complaint intake, licensing, takedown requests, notices of infraction and possible injunctions.

PUBLIC SPACE ISSUES

Commissioners discussed scooter ridership, sidewalk accessibility, enforcement staffing, speed controls and proposed permit terms.

EVENTS

Georgetown Main Street announced the Fall Market (Oct. 17-18) and Wisconsin Avenue Woof Walk (Oct. 31). Read a full version of this report at Georgetowner.com.

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TOWN TOPICS

Bowser at BID Meeting Says ‘Georgetown Is Hot Again’

PHOTO BY BILL STARRELS

BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY

Mayor Muriel Bowser and real estate executive Richard Levy.

PHOTO BY BILL STARRELS

You know your meeting is becoming something of a lovefest for Georgetown when the mayor of Washington, D.C., addresses the audience and calls Georgetown “hot again.” Along with Mayor Muriel Bowser, public and private officials met at Sequoia Restaurant on Sept. 30 for the annual meeting of the Georgetown Business Improvement District. Georgetown BID CEO Deborah Kerson Bilek stressed the group’s mission to keep the town “clean, beautiful and safe.” CFO Michael Summey marked the BID’s annual revenue at $4.8 million. Board chair Terese Wilson of LSM

Among the BID crowd, Shawn Townsend of Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Association and Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto.

announced the fiscal year 2027 Georgetown BID board of directors election results. Bettina Thompson Stern, co-founder and co-CEO of Chaia Tacos, and Duk-ki Yu, owner of Major, were elected to the board. Additionally, Ahmad Ashkar, Richard Levy, Rameez Munawar, Greg Casten and Stacey Price were reelected. Outgoing board members are Beth Aberg, Bruce Baschuk, Meghan Ogilvie, Bill Verno and Mark Witschorik. Eugene Brown received the Clean Team Member of the Year Award. Georgetown Ministry Center received the Community Partner Award. Bilek introduced the meeting’s panelists: Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto and EastBanc CEO Philippe Lanier. The following are a few takeaways from the Pinto-Lanier discussion. The city partnered with the BID to pilot targeted commercial grant programs. These included a security-camera initiative that successfully reduced neighborhood commercial burglaries from peak 2023 levels. The local business ecosystem is seeing active growth, highlighted by the arrivals of global brands like Uniqlo, a new José Andrés restaurant concept and the return of local favorite Dolcezza to its Georgetown roots. In response to shifting post-Covid economic realities, the city is actively pivoting away from an overreliance on the downtown core. The goal is to aggressively decentralize commercial activity by scaling up retail, dining and foot traffic inside historic commercial corridors like Georgetown. The panel emphasized that Mayor Bowser’s impending departure creates a unique, proactive window for the Council to advance new growth and development frameworks.

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TOWN TOPICS

NewsBytes BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY

PHOTO BY ROBERT DEVANEY

GEORGETOWN INAUGURATES 49TH PRESIDENT Georgetown University inaugurated Eduardo M. Peñalver as it 49th president during an Oct. 9 ceremony in McDonough Arena on the university’s Hilltop Campus. The Georgetown University President Eduardo program included an M. Peñalver and Speaker Emerita Nancy academic procession,

musical performances, remarks from university leaders and an inaugural address by Peñalver, who was joined by his wife, two sons and parents. Dignitaries included Nancy and Paul Pelosi and several university presidents. Many community members viewed the events online. An after-party was held at the newly opened Hoya Hotel. In the morning, a Mass, attended by President Emeritus John DeGioia, was celebrated in Gaston Hall. In his speech, Peñalver championed civil argument as vital for democracy. He also cited three major threats — political polarization, artificial intelligence and the decline of affordability — pledging to leverage Georgetown’s Jesuit Catholic identity to foster diverse perspectives, safeguard truth and teach society to reason together.

THOUSANDS RALLY FOR KENNEDY CENTER’S FUTURE Thousands met in front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on the evening of Sept. 18 to shout, “Hands off!” Hands Around the Kennedy demonstrators gathered to form a

Pelosi at post-inauguration party.

PHOTO BY BILL STARRELS

SIGNS OF THE TIMES At Rose Park, a National Park Service sign lists stern “Dog Regulations,” specifying leash length, prohibiting commercial dog walking without written authorization and warning of possible fines of $5,000. On the exterior of Georgetown University’s Lauinger Library, a sign asks how we will use artificial intelligence. On the 1000 block of Wisconsin Avenue, a NovoaGlobal device is capable of automated traffic photo enforcement (i.e., ticketing) — and more.

PHOTO BY BILL STARRELS

MORE PARKING SPACES…AND TICKETS? The District Council passed legislation allowing private businesses, universities and business improvement districts to pay up to 100 percent of the cost for targeted Department of Public Works parking enforcement overtime. Introduced by Council member Brianne Nadeau, the program aims to curb unsafe parking and free up spaces. According to News4, while some drivers support the initiative to ease parking shortages, critics like Shaw Main Streets Director Alex Padro argue that taxpayers shouldn’t fund services that existing tax dollars should already cover. The legislation is modeled on a Metropolitan Police Department overtime program in which participating bars and clubs pay 35 percent and the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration absorbs the rest. The measure now goes to Mayor Muriel Bowser. It also would undergo congressional review.

A rally outside the Kennedy Center on Sept. 18.

human chain to protest demolition threats and call for protection of the arts institution. The numbers and social media impact of the rally, organized by Hands Off the Arts and Tara Hoot, surprised many. Supporters of the arts and of the rule of law met neighbors and friends that night in support of the memorial that honors the assassinated 35th president of the United States. Many have lifelong memories of the Kennedy Center; many created new ones that Friday. Ready to share a heartfelt story, P Street resident Constance Chatfield-Taylor told The Georgetowner: “We walked to the

u t l a a r tions g n o Cto The Georgetowner’s

Anniversary We appreciate our community partnership. Stay connected by joining Georgetown’s online community at

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C ONGRAT U L AT E S THE GE ORGE T OW NE R ON I T S 7 2 n d ANNI V E RS ARY

TOWN TOPICS

Community Calendar B Y R I C H A R D SEL D EN

HOYA HARVEST FESTIVAL Friday, Oct.16 From 4 to 6 p.m., visitors to the Hoya Harvest Garden on the fourth-floor patio of Regents Hall at Georgetown University, 3700 O St. NW, can carve pumpkins, paint mini pumpkins and learn about sustainability initiatives around campus. Visit events.georgetown.edu. DOG DAY AT OAK HILL CEMETERY Saturday, Oct. 17 Dogs are free to roam the grounds at Oak Hill Cemetery, 3001 R St. NW, two days a year, including this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Water and waste bags provided. Donations toward Kennedy Center demonstration on Friday, Oak Hill’s Bigelow Iron Fence Restoration are merging into a stream of hundreds of people on welcome. Visit oakhillcemeterydc.org. the sidewalk.” GEORGETOWN FALL MARKET Author Kitty Kelley said: “The clarion Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18 sounded, and the community responded. The Georgetown Main Street’s fall market in Book drag queen, Tara Hoot, was a spectacular Hill and along Wisconsin Avenue from N Street to emcee, who rallied us all — and there were Reservoir Road opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday and hundreds and hundreds — to stand tall, and runs through 4 p.m. on Sunday. Pumpkin painting join hands as we wrapped ourselves around our ($5 donation) begins at noon on Saturday until beloved Kennedy Center, to protect it from a supplies run out. Visit georgetownmainstreet.com. tyrant’s destruction.”

GEORGETOWN LIBRARY USED BOOK SALE Saturday, Oct.17, and Sunday, Oct.18 The Georgetown Library Friends are holding a used book sale at the library, 3260 R St. NW, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Visit dclibrary.org. AN 18th-CENTURY COMIC OPERA Tuesday, Oc. 20 Following a pre-performance discussion at 5 p.m., period ensemble Modern Musick and the Georgetown University Chamber Singers perform a concert in connection with the new critical edition of Domenico Cimarosa’s 1782 masterpiece “La ballerina amante (The Ballerina in Love),” prepared by GU professor Anthony R. DelDonna, in the Davis Performing Arts Center’s Gonda Theatre, 3700 O St. NW. Visit events. georgetown.edu. TUDOR TOTS: V IS FOR VASE Wednesday, Oct. 21 Early learners aged 18 months to 4 years old investigate styles of china, crystal and silver through examples in the collection at Tudor Place, 1644 31st

St. NW. The program, from 10:15 to 11 a.m., includes storytime and a hands-on art project. Tickets are $10 per child ($5 for members). Visit tudorplace.org. GEORGETOWN VILLAGE LUNCHES Wednesday, Oct. 21 Georgetown Village hosts its Women’s Lunch at Alara, 1303 Wisconsin Ave. NW, and its Men’s Lunch at Pinstripes, 1064 Wisconsin Ave. NW, both at noon. Attendees pay for their own meals. Visit georgetown-village.org. LANDSCAPES LECTURE AT DUMBARTON OAKS Thursday, Oct. 22 Environmental historian John Dean Davis of Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture will give a free talk, “The Landscape of Reconstruction,” at 6 p.m. at Dumbarton Oaks Fellowship House, 1700 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The talk will describe how the end of slavery led to a reordering of Southern landscapes. Visit doaks.org. For information on more events, please visit georgetowner.com.

THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

EDITORIAL & OPINION

The Council’s Final Sprint BY JAC K EVAN S

I Voted. Yo Voté. BY TH E GE ORGETOWN E R E D I TO R I A L B O A R D Never have these words been so precious. Never have they been so threatened. Trump 2.0 has been a serious stress test on our democracy, and the blows have come fast and furious. Executive orders as legislation. DOGE data theft and agency destruction. ICE kidnappings and killings. Our city occupied by other states’ National Guard. Wanton desecration of our monuments. The war in Iran. Facilitating crimes against humanity. The grift that defies imagination and calculation. Betraying our friends and courting our adversaries. Ineptitude at the highest level. The list goes on and on. A cowardly Congress and bewildering Supreme Court have, by their deliberate inaction or rulings, defended the indefensible and allowed it to fester. We can all agree that this truly is the most consequential election ever, assuming it’s allowed to proceed and the results are accepted. (Not a sure thing.) No deus ex machina is coming to turn things around. It’s up to us to overcome our overwhelming fear and save our country. For D.C. voters, the election pretty much ended with the June primaries. We hope the victors remember their promises and work hard to protect and advance the city’s interests in this most hostile of environments. We also suggest that they take a page or two from New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, and govern with joy. (A form of resistance.)

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we cannot be complacent. Our (mostly) democratic institutions will survive, but only if we pay attention and participate more actively in the process by voting and by assisting our elderly and disabled and transportation-challenged friends and neighbors to get to the polls. Nov. 3 is coming. You know what to do. Vote!

VOTING TIPS 1. Election Day is Tues, Nov 3. If you are in line when the polls close, you must be allowed to cast your vote. 2. Check your voter registration card. Make sure the information is accurate and bring it with you if you vote in person. See apps. dcboe.org/vrs. 3. Early voting runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1. For in-person polling places, visit earlyvoting.dcboe.org. 4. Don’t mail your ballot. Vote in person or use an official drop box (the closest is in front of the Georgetown Neighborhood Library). 5. It is illegal for federal troops or ICE agents to patrol polling places. Know your rights and don’t be intimidated. Visit aclu.org.

A Pearl of a Publisher Soon after she arrived at The Georgetowner, 30 years ago this month, the soon-to-be new publisher and owner of “the newspaper whose influence far exceeds its size,” still wet behind the ears, bought the URL georgetowner.com. That’s just the way she is: a risk-taker, a trendspotter, an early adopter. Today she is ready to use AI to advance local journalism, in print and online. (Note: this encomium was written entirely by humans.) Our Sonya, as she is known to all, is the epitome of creativity, sociability, smarts and grit. She loves people, especially entrepreneurs, and dogs, especially black Labs. A Californiaborn Air Force brat who lived in Madrid until age 10, she brings an “estilo audaz,” an audacious sense of style, to everything she does. A former Georgetown gallery owner, she is a fierce defender of small businesses. She served as president of the Georgetown Business Association and helped launch Georgetown Main Street a decade ago. No one balances Georgetown business and Georgetown style better. Sonya will be the first to say she has never done it alone. Her husband, Wally, and her sister and family, Susan, Tam, Elisa and Stefan, have backed her steadily through every deadline and every gamble. Just as dear are the friends she has made here over three decades: shopkeepers, neighbors, civic leaders, writers and readers who have become part of The Georgetowner family. They are what make this job so very special, especially Robert Devaney and Richard Selden. Those of us who help keep this 72-year-old enterprise going strong admire her unflagging energy and her devotion to this unique Washington neighborhood. Please join us in three cheers for Sonya, one for each remarkable decade. Happy 30th anniversary to a pearl of a publisher! 10 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

The D.C. Council returned from its summer recess at the end of September to face an unusually crowded and consequential final three months of the current Council Period. Council Periods last two years, corresponding with the election cycle. When this one ends and the newly elected Council takes office in January, legislation that has not received final approval will expire and must be introduced again. That gives the Council only a short time to complete work on bills that have already been introduced, debated and, in many cases, subjected to public hearings. Mayor Muriel Bowser, whose time as mayor is also coming to an end, has submitted an ambitious list of priorities she hopes to complete before leaving office. They range from projects close to home in Georgetown, including the long-awaited redevelopment of Thompson Boat Center, to major investments, such as improvements to Nationals Park. Nationals Park opened in 2008 and is now 18 years old. It needs substantial modernization if it is to remain a first-class ballpark and competitive venue. But major projects require significant capital funding. Capital dollars sound different from operating dollars, but they are not free money. The District borrows for its capital program, and that debt must be repaid with interest from future budgets. This is particularly important when the city has already committed more than $1 billion toward a new football stadium and approximately $550 million for the renovation of Capital One Arena, with numerous other projects competing for limited borrowing capacity. The Council’s year-end legislative agenda presents the same basic problem. Nearly every worthy initiative costs money. Unfortunately, the city’s finances are not well positioned to accommodate a late rush of new spending. CFO Glen Lee has described the District’s fiscal indicators as “flashing red.” Nearly every major revenue category has been declining or underperforming, with capital-gains revenue tied to the stock market serving as the notable bright spot. Commercial property taxes — historically

one of the strongest pillars of the District’s finances — have taken the most serious hit. That weakness also affects deed recordation and transfer taxes, sales taxes and the many businesses that depend upon a vibrant downtown economy. By the time this article is published, the CFO will have issued the September revenue estimate. Whether that estimate proves somewhat better or worse than anticipated, it should be viewed in the context of these broader warning signs, rather than as a license for additional spending. The Council’s budget, approved in July, restored many of the mayor’s proposed cuts by relying heavily on one-time funds. Most concerning was the decision to take approximately $150 million from the District’s reserves. The CFO strongly recommended against that action, although he ultimately certified the budget based upon the expectation that future revenues would replenish the money. If revenues fall short, the mayor and Council may have to revisit some of the decisions they made only a few months ago. At the same time, the Council is preparing to examine possible tax increases. An October hearing is expected to consider higher taxes on upper-income residents, a Business Activity Tax — commonly called the BAT — and other revenue proposals. This is exactly the wrong moment to make the District less competitive. High-income residents can relocate and businesses, particularly small businesses, are already contending with high costs, declining foot traffic and an uncertain commercial market. Driving away taxpayers does not strengthen the tax base. Many costly promises were made during the recent campaign, including proposals for free child care. But nothing provided by government is truly free. Someone always pays for it. The final months of this Council Period should therefore be governed by discipline. Complete the essential work, protect the reserves and demand honest cost estimates. Before making new promises, the District must be certain it can afford the commitments it has already made.

READER COMMENTS End of an Era: Booeymonger Closes: Something cosmic about coming across this posting on this date. I recall the occasional trade out of Magic Pan crepes for Booeymonger deli sandwiches. Mayor Sends Final RFK Site Plan to Council: 6,500 residential units at 30% equates to 2,166 affordable units not 1,600. However, it is all talk until the council allocates funding in its budget to subsidize the 2,000 plus affordable units. Thirdly, locating a 2,000 plus space garage close to the river is a wasted opportunity for those that could enjoy river views 24/7 and those using the river looking at a huge garage. Let’s get it right – we only do this once. George Cockburn

Wilma Bernstein, 1939-2026: I was so sorry to hear of Wilma’s passing. I regret not seeing her for many years. Her mother Ruth & my mother Rose Cohen were first cousins. I remember Ruth & Dave Estrin very good people. With regret, Jack Cohen Robin Hill: Artist, Birdman, Neighbor dies at 94: my father restored a yacht for Mr. Hill in 1978 and Mr. Hill gave my father a painting of a red-tailed hawk my father passed away a month before Robin did July 25th and my father loved this painting that Robin gave him and he left it to me and it’s beautiful.

EQUESTRIAN Style, COUNTRY Elegance

A modern take on traditional country classics. Think re-imagined tweeds, updated coats and sharp tailoring styled with a luxe, edgy attitude. Welcome to Virginia’s Hunt Country!

EQUILUXE ON HIM: Ivory Polo Neck cable knit sweater, $148 by West End Knitwear at Faire Isles Trading Company. Reversible Traders trench in houndstooth tweed, $1,450, by Sid Mashburn at Afield. Riding breeches and boots, model’s own. ON HER: Garnet alpaca Western hat, $288, by Adeana at Afield. “The Courtney” espresso windowpane plaid jumper, $240, by Amanda Uprichard at Chloe. Burgundy Tweed Knee Socks, $36 / Assorted 3-pack, by HUE at HUE.com and select Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom stores. Gold sock flashes, $39/pair by Lochcarron of Scotland and fuschia tartan satchel, $114 by Islander UK; both at Faire Isles Trading Company. Chocolate high-heeled booties and Gucci scarf, model’s own.

Location- Salamander Resort, Middleburg Virginia Produced and Photographed by Mira Adwell Assistant PhotographerDonnelly Rodgers Styling by Pascale Lemaire/ T•H•E• Artist Agency Styling Assistant Nikki Hendricks/ T•H•E• Artist Agency Models: Larry Campbell and Katie Anderson/ T•H•E• Artist Agency Hair & Makeup by Mel Wilson/T•H•E• Artist Agency BTS PhotographyLeland Schwartz Video Content- Kristen Dudek Special Thank you to Jill Andrews

THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

12 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

Green crewneck sweater, $110 by Inis Mor , and Braeriach wool tartan kilt by Lochcarron of Scotland, $575.25; and brown fur sporran, $430 by Dalman & Narborough, all at Faire Isles Trading Company. Boots, model’s own. Gold sock flashes, $39/pair by Lochcarron of Scotland and fuschia tartan satchel, $114 by Islander UK; both at Faire Isles Trading Company. Chocolate high-heeled booties and Gucci scarf, model’s own. Special Thanks to Eva Smithwick of Sunny Bank Farm with Snickersville Hounds Rider Kristin Prompol and her horse Bernadette

THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

Beguiled

Strapless silk taffeta gingham gown, $8,500, by Jill Andrews Gowns. Grey amethyst tassel/ lariat necklace, $425; labradorite and rose quartz necklace, $325; all at Jill Andrews Gowns. Blush pink faux fur coat, $210, by Astrid at Chloe.

14 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

Horsepower

Dark olive corduroy “Butcher” jacket, $695 and matching corduroy field pants, $295; both by Sid Mashburn at Afield. Black turtleneck, pocket square and boots, model’s own. Green sunglasses $225 by Krewe at Ruth Shaw Boutique. Courtesy of Capt. Robert Mihlbaugh 1949 Bentley Mk 6.

THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

The Heiress

Auburn tweed blazer with velvet cuffs, $340 by Mucros Weavers and beige leather dogtooth plaid mini satchel, $150; all at Faire Isles Trading Company. Vintage fur collar and vintage Hermès silk scarf, Stylist’s own. Jodpurs and riding boots, model’s own.

16 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

The Gentleman

Killarney Irish tweed pub cap, $62.00 by Mucros Weavers at Faire Isles Trading Company. Olive Loden wool “Huntsman” jacket, $1,099; light grey “Alpe” full-zip sweater, $649; and tan corduroy “Concord Gaiter” pants, $429; all by Amundsen at Afield. Indigo Cotolino chambray shirt, $195 by Sid Mashburn at Afield.

THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

Lady of the Manor

Teal Katrina midi dress, $895, by Leo Lin at Ruth Shaw Boutique. Ada skinny wrap belt, $100, at Zest. Garnet tassel earrings, $425, at Jill Andrews Gowns. Teal Ultrasheer hose, $13.50, by HUE at HUE.com and select Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom stores. Chocolate suede boots, model’s own.

18 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

IN COUNTRY

IN COUNTRY CALENDAR BY RICHARD S E LD E N MIDDLEBURG FILM FESTIVAL Thursday, Oct. 15, to Sunday, Oct. 18 More than 40 narrative and documentary films will be screened. The festival box office is at the Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington St. Visit middleburgfilm.org. GRACE CHURCH CONCERT SERIES Friday, Oct. 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. British ensemble VOCES8 presents its “Give Me Your Stars” program at Grace Episcopal Church, 6507 Main Street in The Plains. Visit gracetheplains.org. PICKLE & INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct 18 The festival, at Crooked Run, 22455 Davis Drive, #120, in Sterling, features pickle-inspired foods, craft beer, live music, vendors and family fun. Visit crookedrunfermentation.com. AN EVENING WITH CHEF PATRICK O’CONNELL Monday, Oct. 19, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The Chase Club and the Huntōn at Hotel Burg, 208 S. King St. in Leesburg, celebrate the publication of O’Connell’s memoir “Main, Middle & Gay.” Visit eventbrite.com.

TASTE OF GOLD CUP Friday, Oct. 23, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. An evening of sips, bites and dancing at Great Meadow, 5089 Old Tavern Road in The Plains, benefiting the Fauquier Free Clinic. Visit vagoldcup.com. INTERNATIONAL GOLD CUP Saturday, Oct. 24 The “crown jewel of American steeplechasing” takes place at Great Meadow, 5089 Old Tavern Road in The Plains. Visit vagoldcup.com. ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S ‘THE BIRDS’ Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. The Middleburg Library, 101 Reed St., presents a free screening of the Hitchcock classic, with refreshments. Visit library. loudoun.gov/middleburg. EVENING WITH OLYMPIC EVENTER WILL COLEMAN Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. A cocktail reception and conversation with one of America’s finest event riders at the National Sporting Library & Museum, 102 The Plains Road in Middleburg. Visit nationalsporting.org.

THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

VILLAGE

Georgetown Business Gets the History Book It Deserves “I lived in Philadelphia and Boston before I came to Washington in 1971, two cities that are guaranteed to give you an interest in history,” says Kenneth Peters, a retired real estate lawyer who now lives on R Street with his wife Ann Marie, across from Montrose Park. While historians have chronicled Georgetown’s historic homes, the neighborhood’s vibrant commercial past has usually been overlooked. That archival gap sparked a 12-year research odyssey for Peters, who transformed a hobby into an encyclopedic look at Georgetown’s retail history with his new book, “Georgetown’s Retail Past.” While tracing the lineage of his home and collaborating with Paul Williams, director of Oak Hill Cemetery, on residential history projects, Peters realized that authors had bypassed the neighborhood’s businesses. Georgetown’s stores — the social and economic hubs that fueled daily life across centuries — became his research passion. Peters combed through records to reconstruct the narratives of the shopkeepers and merchants who shaped the area’s economic backbone. The resulting book is stunning in its breadth and coverage of Georgetown’s commercial heritage, proving that the history of a community is written just as much in its stores as in its parlors. The exhaustive table of contents tells the tale: from farm supply and feed stores, clothing stores, barbershops, grocery stores, ice cream shops, tobacco stores, antique dealers, hardware stores, restaurants, taverns, hotels, bars, movie theaters, bookstores, record stores and banks to “Georgetown Park and New Immigrant Entrepreneurs.” Asked how he would describe Georgetown,

Author Kenneth Peters at Martin’s Tavern.

GEORGETOWNER PHOTO

BY R OBERT D EVAN EY

Peters replies: “It’s a historic enclave that once was a port town. It retains some of that smalltown feel, and … it has always been a retail center. It attracts shoppers and diners and strollers, because it’s very walkable, and there’s this wonderful historic atmosphere. That is the appeal. “As much as I love the city, there’s no other neighborhood that has quite that. The only place that has something similar is Old Town Alexandria.” For those who love Georgetown history, business, real estate and consumer culture, “Georgetown’s Retail Past” is a resource to return to again and again, filled with fun facts to triumph at any pub trivia night — as well as information needed for a master’s in urban studies.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

REALTOR

REALTOR ¨

20 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

When we last saw Marilyn Butler, she was wrapping up her folders of the “Mapping Georgetown” columns, many of which have appeared in The Georgetowner. With a simple folded flyer with an outline map of Georgetown and a page for responses, the retired AT&T executive launched the project in 2019. “After commuting to my apartment in Georgetown for almost 10 years, I found that the novelty of the interesting people I met, the wealth of places I saw and the charm in the detail everywhere, never wears off,” Butler said. “I started collecting their stories and each one led to another. I am delighted that these stories became a published collection that shows how personal they are. It is a joy to memorialize the people of Georgetown!” Who made it into Butler’s book? Well, we’ll just have to buy the book.

Freshly minted author Marilyn Butler with her puppy Halston.

PHOTO COURTESY TERRY HALL

‘Mapping Georgetown’ Is Now a Book

BUSINESS

Ins & Outs BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY

IN: GARAGE CLOTHING

following the success of her flagship locations in SoHo and Los Angeles.”

Garage Clothing opened on Oct. 3 at 3295 M St. NW, in the former Club Monaco space. Known for its trendy, Gen Z-friendly women’s apparel, denim, basics and accessories, the store is the Montreal-based retailer’s first Washington, D.C., location.

OUT: IKEA ON M

IN: POP MART

PHOTO BY BILL STARRELS

Another cult favorite has arrived. Pop Mart, a Beijing-based toy company, opened at 3221 M St. NW. Think Hello Kitty and beyond — fantastical toys like Labubu, Harry Potter, the Powerpuff Girls and other pricey designer toys.

Rag & Bone made a combined move to 3034 M St. NW.

IN: LEMON NAIL BAR

PHOTO COURTESY GEORGETOWNER

Lemon Nail Bar recently took over the former Annie’s Nail Salon at 3064 M St. NW. Under new ownership with a new team, the salon shares that it “offers manicures, pedicures, nail extensions, lashes, facials and waxing, as well as HEMA-, TPO-, and TMPTA-free nail product options, selected with current European cosmetic safety standards and evolving industry practices in mind.”

combined and moved to 3034 M St. NW. The American premium fashion brand, founded by Marcus Wainwright and Nathan Bogle in 2002, has more than 700 stores around the world.

COMING: GUIZIO

New York-based fashion label Guizio will open soon at 3061 M St. NW, the former space of Rag & Bone, which moved across the street. According to Vogue, founder Danielle Guizio is “executing a broader physical retail rollout

Leading home furnisher IKEA’s plan-andorder location at 3307 M St. NW will close on Oct. 18, according to the Washington Business Journal. Having opened on Nov. 5, it’s been less than a year for the store, which IKEA called a “pop-up.” Not your standard IKEA, the spot allows customers to plan and order furnishings with the help of an IKEA team member, with delivery and scheduled services available.

SPECIAL EVENT: EVERARD’S TRUNK SHOW, OCT. 16-17

Everard’s Clothing is making a special appearance at the George Town Club, 1530 Wisconsin Ave. NW, on Oct. 16 and 17 for a oneof-a-kind trunk show. “Now that we no longer have a brick-andmortar shop, this event is a rare opportunity to experience Everard’s craftsmanship in person,” says Louis Everard. “Men’s garments will begin at $1,700 in our opening fabric range, and women’s garments will begin at $1,000.” The show’s hours are 2:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 17.

IN: PURÉE JUICE BAR Pop Mart is now open at 3221 M St. NW.

IN: DUTCH DARLINGS

Dutch Darlings Stroopwafels & Sweets opened on Oct. 2 at 1003 Wisconsin Ave. NW, close to Georgetown Waterfront Park. Local owners Hans and Maaike Ravesteijn, a fatherand-daughter team, began selling their waffles in 2024 at farmers markets. Follow @dutchdarlings for the latest shop news.

Purée Juice Bar finally opened on Oct. 8 at 1511 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Founded in 2011, the business tells us it offers “organic, coldpressed raw juices bottled in glass, hand-made smoothies, wellness shots, açaí bowls and plantforward food options.” It is owned by Dyala Madani and Kaveh Shirazi, longtime Purée customers.

MOVED: RAG & BONE

It’s just a quick move across the street. Rag & Bone Menswear at 3067 M St. NW and Rag & Bone Womenswear at 3061 M St. NW have

Two Roofing Legacies. Same Trusted Craftsmanship. Jack’s Roofing Company is now part of the Wagner Roofing family, combining nearly 200 years of local craftsmanship.

301-585-4985 | jacksrooﬁng.com THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

FOOD & WINE

The Latest Dish: Openings, Openings BY L IN D A R OTH The Popal Group will double down in Adams Morgan when it (re)opens The Berliner at 2436 18th St. NW, where Mellow Mushroom used to be. Originally on Georgetown’s Water Street, the biergarten closed when the building was sold. It will return early in the fourth quarter with the same hearty fare and extensive rotating tap list for which it was known. The Berliner joins its sister Adams Morgan operations Lapis, Lapop and Maison Bar à Vins. Just Opened: Altair DC, serving American fusion cuisine, opened at 333 G St. NW in the Arlo DC hotel, with seating for 82. It’s from the folks that brought us ART DC. There’s a rooftop too … Flora Pizzeria has opened its second D.C. location at 1228½ 31st St. NW in Georgetown ... Solace Outpost opened at 4201 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington. This is the brewery’s fourth Outpost, with others in Navy Yard and in Falls Church and Sterling. Max Rivera and Sarah Montell of Hambre Hospitality are slated to open Bajo, a subterranean Spanish-Japanese restaurant and vinyl listening bar at 130 Blagden Alley NW in Shaw. It’s where Never Looked Better used to be. DJ music is part of the recipe. Thompson Restaurants’ Makers Union will

22 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

open in the fourth quarter in Fairfax’s Mosaic District at 2911 District Ave., where its sister concept, Matchbox, was. It will be the sixth Makers Union store. 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.

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

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THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

ARTS

Faith Is a Feast for the Senses: STC’s ‘The Score’ BY RYAN AL L EN AN D C ATHERINE MEALE Sir Trevor Nunn’s production of Oliver Cotton’s historical drama “The Score” brings a luxuriant, baroque touch to a propulsive play that pits genius against empire and faith against faithlessness. The genius is provided by Johann Sebastian Bach, played by a bristly Brian Cox. Audiences who come to watch Cox deliver a performance of the tightly coiled menace that powered four seasons of the hit HBO show “Succession” and an Emmy-winning UberOne commercial will not be disappointed, but Cox and the rest of the talented cast and creative team are far from onenote wonders. Together, they create a rich milieu for the confrontation between Bach and a king bent on conquest. Cotton’s thought-provoking script is inspired by the real-life meeting in May of 1747 between Bach and Frederick the Great, king of Prussia. This encounter would spawn one of Bach’s masterpieces, “The Musical Offering,” a collection of compositions based on a complicated musical theme the king, an enthusiastic flutist, composed himself. In “The Score,” Bach and Frederick have music in common and not much else. Bach is a devout Lutheran. He is the esteemed Thomaskantor, in charge of composing and rehearsing the music for four churches in Leipzig, Saxony. Frederick is an avowed atheist and a proud military man, entirely unapologetic for the devastation that his

troops are wreaking on Bach’s hometown and throughout Europe. As one might imagine, Bach is not eager to bow before the monarch who has brought violence to his streets. Regrettably, he has already accepted the king’s invitation. His wife, Anna (Nicole Ansari-Cox, Cox’s real-life wife) urges him on and instructs him, “you’ll keep your temper,” a prediction that those familiar with Cox’s work will know is bound to fail. Fortunately for us, it does. Cox boils over with irritation, erupting with well-aimed outrage. This is the master of irascibility at his finest. But Cox’s Bach is more. He is a loving father. He is a king’s subject. (Cox memorably delivers Bach’s almost-cowed vulnerability as Frederick catches him in a nightshirt and breeches.) Cox’s Bach is a man of deep faith struggling through a fallen world. Sometimes, that faith explodes out of him in potential life-threatening tirades. Should one shout at a monarch? Bach’s son, Carl — one of the court composers — certainly doesn’t think so. Sometimes, Cox renders this faith as pain, as when the atrocities of war cause Bach’s failing eyes to ache; he is losing sight of the mortal world and turning his gaze to the eternal. This is a beautifully acted play. Carl Graun (Matthew Romaine), Johann Quantz (Christopher Staines) and Franz Benda (Toby Webster) amuse

PRESENTS

DEFINITELY NOT BASED ON A MAJOR TELEVISION SHOW. OCTOBER 24, 2026 2PM (ASL), 5PM, & 8PM KEEGAN THEATRE 1742 CHURCH STREET NW TICKETS AT GMCW.ORG OR CALL 202-293-1548

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24 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

DECEMBER 5, 12 & 13, 2026 LINCOLN THEATRE, 1215 U ST NW TICKETS AT GMCW.ORG ASL TICKETS & GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE: CALL 202-293-1548

ARTS

and delight as a trio of composers and musicians complicit in the king’s prank on “old Bach,” with an aim to stump his musical genius. Peter De Jersey shows up as Voltaire, a half-ally to Bach, fully French and impossible to ignore in a bold, humorous interpretation of the role. One of Bach’s only true allies, his talented and loyal son Carl, is given a tense, compellingly nervous edge by Jamie Wilkes. Stephen Hagan transforms Frederick II from a louche dilettante at play, almost too emptily villainous, through a bold if legalistic statesman, a military figure and, finally, into a man seeking understanding of the small voice of conscience calling him, possibly, away from conquest. The production truly soars where the actors collaborate with the vision of the creative team. Juliet Garricks’s Emilia shines in a wordless scene, standing alone on stage bathed in warm light to capture a moment of profound faith. During scene changeovers, the set whirls on a

parquet circle like dancers waltzing through a ballroom, while a focused spotlight illuminates intimate foreground action. The costumes vividly form King Frederick’s character: first, an over-decorated dandy in a series of ornate outfits, then, finally, in a military uniform, but still himself with shiny silver epaulettes and a bright silver sash. Tying these visual elements together, Sophie Cotton’s sound design deftly blends additional compositions, recorded snatches of authentic Bach keyboard tracks and live music onstage, showcasing Bach’s works primarily through short excerpts and musical themes rather than full concert performances. The seasoned core creative team behind the original production at Theatre Royal Bath — including set and costume designer Robert Jones, lighting designer Johanna Town and sound designer and additional composer Sophie Cotton — has reunited for this West End transfer. Well worthy of a second mention, wielding the directorial baton is theater legend Nunn, former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company for 18 years, who has directed all 27 of Shakespeare’s plays alongside the world premieres of West End and Broadway blockbusters including “Les Misérables” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.” The Score Through Oct. 25 Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW Shakespeare Theatre Company shakespearetheatre.org

2026/27

FALL SEASON

Timothy O'Leary General Director Francesca Zambello Artistic Director Robert Spano Musical Director

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THE GEORGETOWNER | OCTOBER 14, 2026

KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB

‘John of John’ by Douglas Stuart REVIEW E D BY KIT T Y K E LLE Y A novel of beguiling prose and hidden secrets. The epigraph of this book holds its key: “Every man’s work, pursued steadily, tends in this way to become an end in itself, and so to bridge over the loveless chasms of his life.” So wrote George Eliot in “Silas Marner.” Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, forced in the 19th century to use a male pseudonym to be taken seriously. Today, writers need not hide their gender, but the sexual secrets of their characters sometimes force them into “loveless chasms.” In Douglas Stuart’s 2026 novel “John of John,” his characters struggle to fill their lonely lives of longing amid the fear and shame of their secret proclivities.   This striking queer coming-of-age story is set in a Glaswegian village of Scottish sheep farmers and weavers, whose main characters live secret lives as they covertly seek their pleasures. In this story, John Sr. appears to be a religion-crazed brute who tries to outrun his secret homosexuality while presenting himself to the community as a respected Presbyterian minister, recently divorced from his wife and secretly sleeping with his best friend, Innes.

John Sr. is tormented by the idea of his depravity: “He loved God. He loved Innes. He loved God and God hated how he loved Innes.” John Sr.’s son, John Jr., called Cal, cares not for his father’s church nor his rigid strictures. But after his drugging college years in Edinburgh, he returns home, still drugging and still closeted, desperate to find employment and perhaps even a fulfilling life. Here you might recall the wisdom of Thomas Wolfe: “You can’t go back home to your family, back home to your childhood ... back home to the old forms.” Conflicts immediately arise between father and son, who hide their homosexuality from each other. That unknowingly leads each to secretly pursue the same man, which will leave readers gobsmacked. As one reviewer wrote: “[T]he scars left by honesty are mere scrapes compared to the wounds from living a lie.” Throughout this book the author announces each chapter in Scottish Gaelic and English (a h-aon/one, a dhà/two, etc.), and frequently mixes tongues in the text, giving those of us strapped to a single language the music of another. While Stuart’s Gaelic is magical, his vocabulary is mind-blowing: scheets, thrawn, skived, rickle,

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26 OCTOBER 14, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER

eccie, ungulate, colostrum, creeling, dreich, smirr, rantallion, korma, pakora, sean m hai r, melismatic. Stuart’s writing in “John of John,” his third novel, transports readers with sentences gritty yet graceful: “The seams were fraying under the armpits and the red lining needed to be pinned in place or else it hung beneath her hemline, wagging like a pervert’s tongue.” “Innes was never pushy, but he had the quiet determination of water — he could flow around a thing, coming at it gently, insistently, until he got his way.” “He pressed his lips against a mole that sat between her bare shoulder blades and closed his eyes like a lamb at the teat.”   “That sound you hear is the last gasp of my self-respect.” “The road clung to the hillside and skirted round it apologetically, like a schoolboy round a bully.”   “The Sabbath bled by like a slow tide.” “He had done nothing to her, but then he had done nothing for her, so in this, he had harmed her twice.” “Without the mortar of women, the men came apart.” “All their dead were buried on the Atlantic coast, in the fertile, sandy machair, the rolling grasslands that had seeded over the millennia of crushed shells and sea salt and flourished every spring in a riot of hareball, eyebright, and golden buttercups.” Understandably, reviewers were challenged to scratch for superlatives, practically exhausting “Roget’s” for plaudits. The New York Times Book Review called “John of John” “a stick of dynamite waiting to go off in your hand” and the Boston Globe described it as “a muscular narrative with scrupulous technique,” written by a “generational talent.” Such genuflections sky-rocketed “John of John” to be named one of the “25 Best Books of the 21st Century” by the U.K.’s Sunday Times — “Like the warp and weft of a beautiful garment, ‘John of John’ achieves a deft balance between detail and drama, sadness and comedy” — as well as a finalist for both the 2026 Orwell

Prize for Political Fiction, the National Book Award and the 2026 Booker Prize, which Stuart won in 2020 for his first novel, “Shuggie Bain.” Stuart’s second novel, “Young Mungo,” also a national bestseller, was longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal. Struggling writers might take heart to learn that Stuart’s first book was rejected by 44 publishers until it found acceptance by Grove Press. To date, that book has sold over 1.5 million copies. Born working-class poor and queer in Glasgow, Stuart, 50, lives in Manhattan with his husband, Michael Cary. Following a successful fashion career, working for designers such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, he writes full time, a godsend for those who revere the magic of words. Georgetown resident Kitty Kelley has written several best-sellers, including “The Family: The Real Story Behind the Bush Dynasty.” Recent books include “Let Freedom Ring: Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the March on Washington.” She serves on the board of BIO (Biographers International Organization) and Washington Independent Review of Books, where this review first appeared.

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