The Georgetowner: February 11, 2026 Issue

SELLING GEORGETOWN

Real Estate Special: Top Agents Sold Halcyon House for $28 million, 2025 Sales in Georgetown

D.C. Campaign Races Begin George Washington’s Other Hometown David Tafuri on Ukraine

Kitty Kelley on Dolly Parton

One Morning in Georgetown

THE VILLAGE 11

George Washington’s Other Hometown

Community Calendar

SPRING ARTS PREVIEW: PULL OUT 13-28

Performing Arts

Visual Arts

COVER 29-30

Residential Matchmakers in D.C.’s Oldest Neighborhood

REAL ESTATE 32-34

2025 Sales in Review

At Home: Plumbing

FOOD & WINE 35

Cocktail of the Month

BODY & SOUL 36

Georgetown Massage & Bodywork

SOCIAL SCENE 37

Balls & Galas

KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB 38

Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life & Times of Dolly Parton

ON THE COVER

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Denyce Graves: Georgetown Luminary

In our last issue, we neglected to include Denyce Graves in our Black Luminaries. Graves, who recently retired from opera singing, is directing the opera “Treemonisha,” in collaboration with Damien Sneed. Performances are scheduled for March 7, 8 and 15 at the Washington National Opera’s new home at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University.

We received a Letter to the Editor about this that you can read below.

Let me offer one more name to the distinguished roster in your Jan. 14 article about “Black Luminaries of Georgetown”: Denyce Graves. She did not live in Georgetown (but rather in Southwest, D.C.), but spent some of her formative musical years at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts here, which helped nurture the talents which would make her one of America’s leading operatic mezzo-sopranos of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Her farewell stage appearance occurred on Jan. 24 in the Metropolitan Opera’s performance (broadcast worldwide) of “Porgy and Bess.” More personally, I remember her generosity in giving a recital (free of charge) a couple years ago at the Knollwood Retirement Community in Northwest D.C., where my mother-inlaw and Graves’s former teacher at the Duke Ellington School resided.

— Marc Nicholson

PUBLISHER & EDITORIN-CHIEF

Sonya Bernhardt

MANAGING EDITOR & DIRECTOR OF CONTENT & ADVERTISING

Kate Oczypok

SENIOR

CORRESPONDENT

EMERITUS

Peggy Sands

FASHION & BEAUTY

DIRECTOR

Allyson Burkhardt

Lauretta McCoy

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Katie McKenney

Heather Harris Roemer

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Philip Bermingham

Bill Starrels

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Robert Devaney

ARTS EDITOR & COPY

EDITOR

Richard Selden

CONTRIBUTORS

Susan Bodiker

Allyson Burkhardt

Didi Cutler

Donna Evers

Michelle Galler

Amos Gelb

Wally Greeves

Paulina Inglima

Kitty Kelley

Rebekah Kelley

Jody Kurash

Shelia Moses

Kate Oczypok

Ari Post

Linda Roth

Alison Schafer

Celia Sharpe

Mary Ann Treger

Hailey Wharram

1050 30th Street, NW Washington, DC 20007

Phone: (202) 338-4833

Fax: (202) 338-4834

www.georgetowner.com

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A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION HAS ARRIVED.

AMONG GEORGETOWN’S MOST CLOSELY HELD HOMES, HEIDER’S RECENT SALES INCLUDE:

SOLD $28M | Halcyon House

PRIVATE SALE, PRIVATE SALE,

PRIVATE SALE; THE HIGHEST RECORDED RESIDENTIAL SALE IN DC HISTORY, REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD $18.5M | The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown

PRIVATE SALE, PRIVATE SALE,

PRIVATE SALE; THE HIGHEST RECORDED CONDO SALE IN DC HISTORY, REPRESENTED SELLER & PROCURED BUYER

SOLD $9.827M | 3508 Prospect Street NW

THE SECOND-LARGEST PARCEL SOLD ON PROSPECT ST NW SINCE 2012, REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD $5M | 1641 35th Street NW

PRIVATE SALE, PRIVATE SALE,

PRIVATE SALE, THE THIRD HIGHEST RECORDED SALE OF 2025 IN WEST VILLAGE, REPRESENTED SELLER

SOLD $4.43M | 1409 31 Street NW st

THE THIRD HIGHEST RECORDED SALE ON 31 STREET OF 2025, REPRESENTED SELLER ST

The HEIDER Company has been behind nearly every consequential Georgetown sale in recent history, and we are only just getting started.

As the next era of real estate leadership in Georgetown takes shape, the neighborhood’s most discerning homeowners are choosing a more thoughtful, strategic standard.

Call us today for a confidential conversation.

WHAT’S ONLINE GEORGETOWNER.COM

WOMEN IN JAZZ: YOKO MIWA AT BLUES ALLEY BY LAMARR

FUNN

For two days and four sold-out shows on January 15 and 16, jazz pianist Yoko Miwa returned to Georgetown’s iconic Blues Alley.

JINYA RAMEN BAR BRINGS BIG FLAVOR TO GEORGETOWN BY MIA PECH

JINYA Ramen Bar has added a new location to its roster with the opening of its Georgetown restaurant at 1525 Wisconsin Avenue NW.

AT TUDOR PLACE: NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEW EXHIBITION BY RICHARD SELDEN

Chef Geoff’s on New Mexico Ave. marked 25 years of “great food, libation, merriment and unforgettable memories” on June 2.

SUBSCRIBE

WELCOME, ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA BY

EVELYN KEYES

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) delivered her inauguration remarks from the State Capitol following her swearing-in as the 75th governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

EVANS TO RUN FOR COUNCIL CHAIR AGAINST MENDELSON BY ROBERT DEVANEY

Former Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans announced this week that he will seek the Democratic nomination for District Council Chair — pitting him against former colleague and incumbent Chair Phil Mendelson.

ONSTAGE, GEORGETOWN: FEBRUARY BY MARK EDELMAN

It’s Valentine’s month, time to take that special someone out for dinner, flowers, chocolates and how about a night of theater?

to our twice weekly FREE online Georgetowner Newsletter — simply click or scan the code and enter your email address.

D.C. Campaign Update: Mayor, Congressional Delegate and Council Races

BY THE GEORGETOWNER

THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR MAYOR OF WASHINGTON, D.C., WILL BE HELD JUNE 16 , THE MOST DECISIVE ELECTION DATE FOR DISTRICT VOTERS. THE GENERAL ELECTION IS NOV. 3.

WITH DELEGATE ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON NOT SEEKING REELECTION AND FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER VINCENT ORANGE ENTERING THE MAYOR’S RACE, THE 2026 CAMPAIGN SEASON IS ACCELERATING. BELOW IS AN INTERIM LIST OF DECLARED CANDIDATES AND THOSE WHO HAVE FILED CAMPAIGN PAPERWORK.

Why the June 16 Democratic Primary Matters

In a city dominated by Democratic registration, the June primary often determines who will govern Washington.

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR MAYOR

Mayor Muriel Bowser is retiring after three consecutive four-year terms.

Declared:

Gary Goodweather; Janeese Lewis George; Kenyan McDuffie; Talib Karim Muhammad; Yaida Ford; Vincent Orange.

Filed paperwork:

Regan Jones; Adrian Byrd; Robert L. Gross; Jeffrey Wincott.

D.C. DELEGATE TO THE HOUSE

Declared:

Deirdre Brown; Gordon Chaffin; Greg Maye; Brooke Pinto; Trent Holbrook; Robert White; Kelly Mikel Williams; Kinney Zalesne; Vincent Morris.

Withdrawn:

Jacque Patterson; Eleanor Holmes Norton.

D.C.

COUNCIL

Incumbent Mayor Muriel Bowser is retiring after serving three consecutive fouryear terms. Primary elections to select party

nominees will be held on June 16. The mayoral election will be held on Nov. 3.

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson seeks reelection, challenged by former Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans. Council members Matthew Frumin, Zachary Parker and Charles Allen are also running again.

Candidates are competing for two at-large seats and the Ward 1 seat held by Brianne Nadeau

Independent at-large:

Doni Crawford; Jacque Patterson; Elissa Silverman.

Democratic at-large:

Leniqua’dominique Jenkins; Candace Tiana Nelson; Oye Owolewa; Lisa Raymond; Kevin Chavous; Patricia Stamper; Nate Fleming; Dyana Forester; Addison Sarter.

Ward 1:

Rashida Brown; Miguel Trinidade Deramo; Brian Footer; Terry Lynch; Aparna Raj; Jackie Reyes-Yanes.

What It Means for Georgetown

These races will shape citywide policy affecting Georgetown, including development, historic preservation, public safety, transportation and neighborhood services.

Starting next issue, The Georgetowner begins in-depth coverage of the 2026 D.C. elections, with reporting focused on Georgetown and the District.

Snow, ICE, Tunnel Updates at February ANC Meeting

BY KATE OCZYPOK

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E held its second meeting of 2026 on Monday, Feb. 2.

UPDATE FROM BROOKE PINTO

Council member Brooke Pinto discussed the late-January storm and severe cold spell that crippled the region. “It has been a very difficult eight days, and there are a lot of places and alleys and issues that are still waiting for coverage,” she said. Pinto stressed the need for improved weather-related emergency preparedness, saying that snowstorms, along with extreme heat and summer storms, are “scarily going to continue.”

The city has entered additional contracts for Bobcat tractors with smaller plows attached to create pathways to residential alleys for trash pickup. Pinto encouraged residents to let them know if their alleys have not yet been plowed, so they can continue to follow up with the mayor’s team. She also reminded residents that, per Mayor Muriel Bowser, fines will be issued to residents who are not shoveling their sidewalks.

Pinto gave a public safety update, noting major reductions in crime across the city, which is generally on-trend for the winter

months. She spoke about the Prosper DC legislative plan, which comprises 23 new bills aimed at public safety and economic opportunity, including apprenticeship programs in high-growth industries through local universities. There are also plans to establish teen centers in every quadrant, open on nights and weekends.

Pinto wanted to make sure a Department of Public Works oversight hearing, slated for Feb. 12, was on the community’s calendar. She said that 2E has had “unacceptable progress this year with leaf collection, trash pickup and snow.”

The new trash bins will have sensors to notify DPW when they are 70-percent full. “It shouldn’t be all of our amazing, hard-working commissioners who are calling DPW every weekend, saying the bins are overflowing yet again,” Pinto said.

Q&A WITH PINTO

Commissioner Kishan Putta asked whether the Metropolitan Police Department is cooperating with immigration officials. Pinto responded that Mayor Bowser has said the MPD was not coordinating with ICE, which she understands to be true. Several federal

agencies are authorized to handle immigration enforcement, including the FBI and ATF, but they are mainly focusing on illegal firearms and drug cases.

What Pinto was most concerned about was the ramping up of immigration enforcement by Homeland Security Investigations. Her office sent a letter to MPD in December asking how many immigration-related arrests there have been and what is the result of those cases.

After receiving an unsatisfactory response, Pinto followed up with Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll; there will be an oversight hearing with MPD on Feb. 25.

Commissioner Gwendolyn Lohse asked Pinto to help improve communication between local communities and the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Commissioner Mimsy Lindner stressed that while the new trash cans with the technology Pinto mentioned are great, there is an issue with staffing.

The first question from meeting participants concerned the Safe Routes to School Bill and how it took away some much-needed parking spaces. Pinto was also asked about DPW checking on cars to enforce parking regulations. She was told that businesses are suffering because parking meters are being taken over by what are assumed to be commuters or “people that are gaming the system.” Pinto responded that she is hoping to authorize others in the community to help with

parking enforcement, and she is exploring more creative ways to get more action on this. Other questions included frustrations with DDOT about removing parking spots and an alarm going off incessantly at Hardy Middle School.

A resident urged Pinto to “not relent” until she gets a complete response to MPD’s role in the Oct. 24 predawn, multiagency raid at a residential building at 1410 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

MPD REMINDER; MAYOR’S OFFICE UPDATE

MPD briefly reminded people to not leave things in their cars. The mayor’s office gave an update about snow removal and registered complaints about unplowed streets and uncleared sidewalks, including by the National Mall.

POTOMAC RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT UPDATE

A Potomac River Tunnel project representative spoke about the tunnel, which will be approximately 5.5 miles long, connecting Joint Base Anacostia to the Anacostia River Tunnel and ending at Georgetown University on Canal Road. Starting with 30th and K Streets, an underground diversion facility will be built to connect the existing sewer to the tunnel. There will be some construction, with lane closures and traffic pattern changes; notices will go out

in advance. At Georgetown Waterfront Park, the site has been extended into the parking area between Potomac Street and 33rd Street and the bike path has been diverted into Georgetown Waterfront Park.

A public forum about the project is planned on Feb. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. Residents were encouraged to learn more and sign up for email updates at dcwater.com/prt.

OPEN PERIOD

The possibility of getting a food waste dropoff bin closer to Georgetown was mentioned.

OLD GEORGETOWN BOARD

Outerbridge Horsey spoke about his work with Eileen McGrath to place historic markers in Georgetown, presenting a map with 10 possible locations. The cast bronze markers are about $3,000 each. Funding sources have not been determined. Horsey said they would be getting feedback from the Old Georgetown Board that Thursday. Commenting that it was a great idea, Commissioner Lindner praised

Horsey and McGrath for “taking the bull by the horns and trying to get the job done.”

Commercial signage for the new Jinya Ramen Bar; a two-story rear addition, stairs and a trash enclosure at 3111 P St. NW; and a revised concept for a six-story, mixed-use building at 3000 M St. NW were discussed. Also: 2715 M St. NW and exterior alterations to convert commercial buildings for residential use.

The next ANC meeting will be held on Monday, March 2.

Public Safety Updates for 2026

BY MARK MARTINKOV

Washington, D.C., has entered the new year with continued progress in crime reduction and a renewed focus on community involvement. While the District has seen meaningful improvements, city leaders and residents alike are emphasizing the importance of staying informed, connected and proactive at the neighborhood level.

CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AT MPD

Among the most notable recent developments is the leadership transition at the Metropolitan Police Department. Chief Pamela A. Smith departed at year end after firing back at critics who accused her of deliberately manipulating crime data. Named interim chief by Mayor Muriel Bowser, Jeffery W. Carroll, previously executive assistant chief of specialized operations, assumed the leadership of MPD at the start of 2026.

District officials highlighted Carroll’s deep institutional knowledge and his commitment to building on recent public safety gains while strengthening trust between the department and the communities it serves. As the city moves forward under interim leadership, residents can expect continued focus on neighborhood-based policing, accountability and collaboration with community partners.

THEFT FROM AUTOS ROSE SHARPLY

Citywide data shows that overall crime across Washington, D.C., is down, continuing a positive trend from the previous year. Declines in violent crime, including homicides, have contributed to an increased sense of safety in many neighborhoods across the District. However, these improvements are not evenly distributed across all areas or all types of crime.

A notable exception to the overall decline

is theft from automobiles, particularly in Georgetown, where reported incidents increased from 85 in 2024 to 165 in 2025 (a nearly 100-percent increase). In many cases, these incidents are crimes of opportunity. Residents are often surprised to learn that something as ordinary as a backpack with dirty clothes, a gym bag or loose personal items can be enough to prompt a break-in.

Officials and community leaders continue to emphasize that prevention starts with everyday choices. Small, consistent habits can significantly reduce the risk of auto-related theft. Keep in mind that an empty-looking vehicle is far less appealing to opportunistic thieves.

BLOCK CAPTAIN PROGRAM EXPANDS

In addition to citywide efforts, community-led public safety initiatives continue to play a vital role. The Citizens Association of Georgetown’s Block Captain Program is expanding in 2026, with block captains serving as key points of contact between residents, local leaders and public safety partners. Block captains help share timely information, identify emerging concerns and encourage neighbors to adopt preventive practices. The CAG program is increasing its coordination with Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, creating stronger, more consistent communication between residents and local government.

This growing partnership allows community observations to be elevated more efficiently, ensures neighborhood concerns are reflected in ANC discussions and supports a more cohesive, community-driven approach to public safety. By aligning blocklevel engagement with ANC leadership, the program strengthens trust, responsiveness and shared accountability.

One Morning in Georgetown Before the Invasion of Ukraine

BY DAVID TAFURI

Resident Only Parking: A Modest Proposal

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E is exploring a change to how parking is managed in Georgetown that we think will make the lives of residents a little easier. It’s called Resident Only Parking (ROP) and here’s why we think it’s worth introducing to Georgetown.

Since Covid, there has been a surge of people who commute to Georgetown and park all day. Parking enforcement has collapsed as an effective deterrent. We have helped our neighbors call, email, beg and plead for enforcement and our ANC issued multiple resolutions as well. But few improvements have been achieved.

The city is facing steep challenges in staffing that have and will continue to limit how much more enforcement we can expect to see. We have no choice but to consider other available strategies. That’s where ROP comes in.

Currently, anyone can park in any space for two hours. Then they have to leave. Residents with Zone 2 stickers, of course, are exempt from the two-hour limit and can remain for as long as they want. Contractors, nannies, etc., who hold a valid visitor parking permit (VPP) are also exempt and can remain for as long as the permit is valid.

Under ROP, approximately half the spaces on the block would be set aside for residents or

those with a VPP. No one else would be allowed to park there. The other half of the spaces would remain as they currently are, open to anyone.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners must first ask the District Department of Transportation to study the blocks where they wish ROP to be implemented. DDOT will evaluate the need, then affirm or deny the request. After a block gets the ROP designation, if it does not help alleviate the problem as expected, the ANC reserves the right to ask DDOT to switch back to the preexisting Residential Permit Parking for that block.

The city piloted ROP in other parts of the city 10 years ago with success. Residents found it easier to park closer to their homes and not have to worry about carrying heavy groceries or items in and out, or resort to double parking for a minute and face the ire and angry horns of an impatient driver who can’t pass.

Based on that experience, we believe Georgetowners would see a similar improvement. We expect to consider the formal request at our March 2 meeting. We welcome your input about what you are seeing on your block and look forward to hearing from you.

Daniel Chao, Topher Mathews and Paul Maysak serve on Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E.

The Winter of Our Discontent

Have we completely lost our bearings?

Something is rotten in the state of these United States.

A few months from our 250th anniversary, the U.S. has become an unrecognizable dystopia, leaving us and the world agape at the “ambient malevolence” (as MS NOW’s Chris Hayes described it, reporting from Minneapolis) that distorts every aspect of what we thought we knew and loved about our country.

There are no words to describe what we are living through. J6 thugs, born again as ICE and CPB agents, armed to the teeth, hunt, arrest and sometimes murder individuals exercising their First Amendment rights to assemble freely and speak their minds. As of this writing, over 73,000 people, robbed of their due process, are being held in camps and kept from contacting their families or lawyers.

Children are being forced to live out their worst nightmares, kidnapped and terrified by masked monsters, while the offspring of this policy’s perpetrators — Trump, Miller and Noem — live in peace and privilege.

Businesses in the cities of occupation are failing. International tourism has plunged, impacting revenue and jobs. And uninvited

troops strut through our streets as if they owned the place. (A little help here with the snow removal, fellas?)

Meanwhile, the president roams like a demented Godzilla, destroying alliances with on-again, off-again tariffs, threats of hostile takeovers — an actual hostile takeover in Venezuela’s case — and the rejection of every diplomatic norm. To this crowd, the Constitution is merely a suggestion. Divide and rule is the operating principle and tyranny the result.

Yet the stock markets are hitting new highs. Regulations are gutted and our wellbeing is placed a distant second to profits. And expertise? Facts are what the White House says they are; “alternative” doesn’t begin to cover it.

The East Wing is in rubble. The Kennedy Center is being shuttered. Agencies and institutions of long standing have been undermined, if not eliminated. Basic rights, key precedents and our very history are being disappeared. Then there are the Epstein Files, the brazen grifting, the slandering of ICE victims, the arrests of journalists …

We really hope Punxsutawney Phil was wrong about this year’s forecast. We can’t take much more of this midwinter bleakness.

Early one morning – just a few days before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – my phone rang as I Iay asleep in bed. I answered and heard the voice of an old friend, a Ukrainian diplomat with whom I’d lost touch when his tour in Washington ended a few years earlier. “Are you in D.C. now?” Yes. “Can you come to the Ukrainian Embassy in Georgetown, I need to speak with you?”

I was intrigued. What did he want? At this point, Russia had amassed hundreds of thousands of troops near the border with Ukraine and an invasion seemed imminent, although some believed Putin wouldn’t go through with it.

I dressed and was able to get to the embassy very quickly from my home in Georgetown. My friend greeted me at the door, took me through security and brought me downstairs to the bottom floor of the Embassy.

He explained that since I had last seen him, he had returned to Kyiv and become a key aide to the Foreign Minister of Ukraine. The previous night they had arrived together to Washington,

soon after it became independent in 1991 and opened its new embassy in this storied building.

The black iron key is hefty. As I weighed it in my hands, the irony was not lost on either of us that this great symbol of freedom and democracy was in the custody of the one country that was about to become the critical frontline for Western democracy.

We discussed a number of initiatives that might help Ukraine. Would the Biden Administration consider something like the Lend Lease Act, which the Roosevelt Administration used to help equip Great Britain to defend itself against Nazi Germany? What economic measures could be taken to paralyze Russia’s economy? How might Ukraine get access to Russian state funds that were sure to be frozen by the US and European countries if it invaded?

Each of these ideas became policies of the U.S. over time and were hard fought by the many American officials and Members of Congress who understood the necessity to come to Ukraine’s aid in the defense of democracy

“I’ll never forget that morning when my knowledge of Georgetown’s historic past collided with Ukraine’s very dire future.”

on invitation from the Biden Administration, to discuss what they might need from the U.S. if Russia invaded. He wanted to hear my thoughts on what they should ask for but said, “First, let me show you around the embassy.”

Ukraine’s Embassy is on M Street in Georgetown’s commercial district and in one of Georgetown’s most historic buildings. It was originally the home of General Uriah Forrest, a good friend of George Washington. The two gathered several prominent landowners and met on the bottom floor of Forrest’s home to secure commitments for the land they needed to plan America’s capital.

My friend ended our tour in the room where that planning session happened, now known as the “Washington Room.” Before we sat to talk, he took me to a credenza, opened a box and handed me an exact replica of the main key to the French Bastille, which had been bestowed upon President George Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette. The original is displayed at Mount Vernon, and this replica was given to Ukraine

and our own security. While both the Biden Administration and the Trump Administration have helped Ukraine, neither has done enough. Presently, the Trump Administration is focused on securing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.

For what it’s worth, I do not think a lasting ceasefire is possible until Russia is further weakened. Putin’s demands now are almost identical to those he made at the beginning of the war.

Meanwhile, the same initiatives we discussed in February 2022 remain critical today. Only a twopronged approach that ensures both Ukraine gets sophisticated weapons systems and a ratcheting up of sanctions on Russia will break Putin.

I’ll never forget that morning where my knowledge of Georgetown’s historic past collided with Ukraine’s very dire future.

David Tafuri is an international lawyer at ArentFox Schiff and a former State Department official.

George Washington’s Other Hometown

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

If George Washington were to reappear in the nation’s capital during the nation’s 250th anniversary, he would barely comprehend the Town of George, let alone the rest of the city he helped to create.

He would recognize “presidential confidential agent” Benjamin Stoddert’s Halcyon House on Prospect Street. Along Bridge Street (M Street), the City Tavern and the Forrest-Marbury House — the Embassy of Ukraine since the 1990s — would be familiar. He’d be pleased, perhaps, to learn that the Fountain Inn, aka Suter’s Tavern, on High Street (Wisconsin Avenue) was reborn in the 21st century.

The old general would smile upon viewing Tudor Place, the home of Thomas Peter and Martha Parke Custis Peter, a granddaughter of Martha Washington. Now a museum, the site interprets six generations of the family along with their laborers, enslaved and free. The exhibition “Founding Fortunes: The Estate Sale of Martha Washington” opens today. Indeed, here and across these United States, Washington is still a leading man. Christy Pichichero, president of Tudor Place’s board of trustees, tells The

Georgetowner: “George Washington was an impressive, complex and paradoxical man. He was born into wealth and privilege, but dutifully suffered privation, disease and despair while risking life and limb throughout his long military career.

“He was a Freemason and man of Enlightenment who advocated for religious toleration, civic virtue, strong morals and, above all, liberty. Yet he was an eager, self-interested businessman who demonstrated no qualms about driving Indigenous tribes out of their native lands or deceiving military veterans to expand his landholdings. He enslaved scores of people and drew great profits from their labor, though he felt increasing regret and willed their freedom upon Martha Washington’s death.”

Traveling from his beloved Mount Vernon estate and adopted town of Alexandria, Virginia, Washington often came to nearby Georgetown for business. His carriage route to New York City for the first presidential inauguration in 1789 took him along our own 34th Street from the ferry. In 1797, he visited Georgetown College, where his grandnephews had been students, and spoke from the steps of Old North (only two years old at the time).

However, it was his activities to forge the new capital and maintain the unity of the young republic that merit the most notice.

President Washington signed the Residence Act into law in 1790, establishing the permanent U.S. capital on the Potomac River in 10 years’ time. He himself took control of the planning and building with Pierre Charles L’Enfant, who had served on Washington’s staff at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Washington City — with Georgetown in Maryland and Alexandria in Virginia — became part of the 10-mile-square federal district. By 1791, 19 original landowners made deals with Washington at Suter’s Tavern and the Forrest-Marbury House to sell to the federal government.

The old surveyor died in 1799, just months

before the federal government’s official relocation from Philadelphia. His widow carried on his home and legacy.

“He married an amazing woman in Martha and was a loving father to his stepchildren and adopted step-grandchildren (he never had biological children), though he sacrificed domestic life at Mount Vernon to be a father of this nation,” Pichichero concludes.

“George Washington’s life not only tells the story of the man and his epoch, but the story of America and our deeply rooted paradoxes that continue to this day.”

Happy birthday, Mr. President. We have a few new restaurants to show you.

Community Calendar

VALENTINE’S DAY 5K & HALF MARATHON  Sunday, Feb. 15

These runs, along the C&O Canal path, benefit Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. & Northern Virginia. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. at Fletcher’s Cove Boathouse, 4940 Canal Road NW. The half marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. near the Potomac Boat Club, 3530 Water St. NW. Registration is $40 for the 5K and $75 for the half marathon. Visit bishopsevents.com.

MARCEL PENZES CELEBRATES MARDI GRAS  Tuesday, Feb. 17

To celebrate Mardi Gras and New Orleans jazz, Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW (rear), will present two sets, at 7 and 9:30 p.m., by trombonist and composer Marcel Penzes and his band. Tickets are $30 plus $7 fees and $15 food-and-beverage minimum. Visit bluesalley.com.

CAG COMMUNITY DIALOGUE

Thursday, Feb. 26

The Citizens Association is hosting a free Community Dialogue from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church, Georgetown, 3116 O St. NW. Zoning expert Sara Bronin, Council member Brooke Pinto’s office, ANC 2E Chair Topher Mathews and CAG President Amy Titus will offer remarks, followed by smallgroup discussions. Register at cagtown.org.

ANC 2E MEETING

Monday, March 2

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, representing Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale, will hold its March meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Georgetown Visitation School, 1524 35th St. NW, and via Zoom. The agenda will be available one week in advance at anc.dc.gov.

OLD GEORGETOWN BOARD

Thursday, March 5

The Old Georgetown Board–Commission of Fine Arts will meet at 9 a.m. at 401 F St. NW, Suite 312. Meeting documents are posted on the Monday afternoon prior to the meeting. Visit cfa.gov.

INS & OUTS

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

IN: JINYA RAMEN BAR

Restaurateur Sam Shoja has opened a seventh location in the Washington area, bringing Jinya Ramen Bar to 1525 Wisconsin Ave. NW, formerly home to Italian restaurant and market Via Umbria.

“Known for its rich broths cooked for hours,” per the website, “the Jinya is ideal for locals, students and visitors

bulk … Today we are 3rd generation familyowned business and we are proud to bring this great concept to the us [sic].” There are more than 15 shops in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Along with the Dubai chocolate, we have already enjoyed the superlative halvah.

IN: COTTAGE HOUSE ETHIOPIAN CUISINE

Cottage House Ethiopian Cuisine has opened at 1529 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The building most recently housed City Sliders — and before that, Zannchi, Yummi Crawfish

looking for authentic ramen, small plates and craft cocktails in a stylish, energetic setting. Whether you’re craving classic tonkotsu, chicken ramen or vegetarian options, Jinya Ramen Bar Georgetown offers a bold, flavor-forward destination for ramen lovers in D.C.”

IN: NUTS FACTORY

Next to the Georgetown Inn, Nuts Factory opened last week at 1326 Wisconsin Ave. NW, former site of Towne Wine & Liquor, which moved up the avenue a few years ago.

Nuts Factory offers “a large selection of nuts, dried fruits, spices, olives, chocolates, candies, coffee, tea, legumes and more in

and Puro Cafe.

The new restaurant recounts: “Born and raised in the vibrant heart of Ethiopia, our founders bring a lifelong love of hospitality to Cottage House Ethiopian Cuisine. With

CHEVY CHASE FLOOR WAXING SERVICE

a background as a registered nurse — a profession rooted in care and compassion — our founder discovered a deeper passion for sharing that same spirit through the rich traditions of Ethiopian culture, food and one of its greatest gifts to the world: coffee.”

IN: LUMIER’S CHIMNEY CAKE

A shop named for a traditional European pastry opened last month at 3279 1/2 M St. NW. A chimney cake — Kürtőskalács in Hungarian — is made from sweet yeast dough spun like a cylinder, filled with ice cream and fruit and covered with cinnamon, sprinkles, nuts ... you name it.

Lumier’s tells us: “Originally founded in Georgia, our family-owned small business has proudly expanded the tradition of Chimney Cakes and sweet treats … With over 10 years of experience in the ice cream industry, our passion for dessert led us on a journey to the heart of America — Washington, D.C. — where we set out to share our love for fresh, handcrafted delights with locals and visitors alike.”

IN: RM BALANCE ON GRACE

RM Balance, a new restorative wellness studio, is set to open its doors at 3210 Grace St. NW. Founded by Regina McLinden, owner of RM Wellness at Hamilton Court on 31st Street — the only person under 30 to operate two brick-and-mortar businesses in Georgetown — this meditation and movement studio combines traditional yoga methods with “the background of bodywork,” as well as Pilates, sound baths and meditation.

IN: SOURCED BY SCOTTIE

What’s not so old is new again. Sourced by Scottie, at 3144 Dumbarton St. NW, is a curated vintage clothing store that specializes in European designer fashion from the 1990s to the 2000s, we’re told.

OUT: LOS CUATES

Los Cuates (slang for “the Pals”), the festive Mexican restaurant located at 1564 Wisconsin Ave. NW since 2008, closed its doors two weeks ago; its furniture and kitchen appliances went to auction.

OUT: ALLBIRDS

Allbirds will close all of its full-price stores in the U.S. — including its Georgetown store at 3135 M St. NW — by the end of February, the footwear retailer announced last month in a press release. Allbirds had 21 stores nationwide. It continues online and with two discount stores.

COMING: UNIQLO

After a little bit of musical chairs with some storefront locations, Japanese casual-wear retailer Uniqlo is set to return to Georgetown at 3262 M St. NW, the former address of J. Crew, which moved to 3077 M St. NW. J.Crew’s new corner spot was previously occupied by Brooks Brothers and Showfields.

COMING: POPUP BAGELS

Westport, Connecticut-based bagel-andschmear shop PopUp Bagels is rolling into 1078 Wisconsin Ave. NW, formerly the location of Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls and, before that, Paul Bakery. The winner of the top award at Brooklyn Bagelfest two years in a row, PopUp Bagels offers specialty cream cheeses with its “no frills, perfect” creations.

COMING: PUREE JUICE BAR

Set to open in the former Sobiato space at 1511 Wisconsin Ave. NW is Puree Juice Bar, which has other locations in Virginia and Maryland.

COMING: THE SALTY

Setting up at the former Peet’s Coffee shop at 33rd and M Streets NW, the Salty is a doughnut shop from Miami with intense flavors. Here’s more: “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. A place you could have a first date, celebrate a birthday or cheer you up after a long day.”

COMING: LOVE COUTURE BRIDAL

Love Couture Bridal, a bridal shop in Potomac, Maryland, will open a second spot at 1523 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Previous businesses at that location also celebrated weddings: Modern Trousseau and Hitched.

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SPRING ARTS PREVIEW

PERFORMING ARTS

Performing Arts

BY RICHARD SELDEN

Coming up at

Kurt Elling:

In the Brass Palace

with the Strathmore Jazz Orchestra

Fri, Feb 13

Bold vocals meet big band, featuring some of the nation’s top jazz artists

Tango After Dark

Sun, Feb 22

Authentic, electrifying Argentinian tango

RENT in Concert

Wed, Feb 25

Concert-style symphonic production with Broadway vocalists

An Evening With Yotam Ottolenghi

Tue, March 3

A night of culinary inspiration, James Beard Award-winning chef dishes on his newest cookbook, Ottolenghi Comfort

Pilobolus

Other Worlds Collection

Thu, March 5

Modern dance exploring strength and emotion

OPERA

Part of Great Performances at Mason: Virginia Opera’s production of “Intelligence,” a Civil War opera with music by Jake Heggie and a libretto by Gene Scheer (Feb. 14 and 15). Washington Concert Opera’s productions at Lisner Auditorium, conducted by Antony Walker, Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers” (March 14) and Mozart’s “Idomeneo” (May 9), are followed by cast parties at the Arts Club of Washington. Opera blossoms at Lisner this spring, with Washington National Opera returning to

its original home to present Scott Joplin’s “Treemonisha,” directed by Denyce Graves and conducted by Kedrick Armstrong (March 7, 8 and 15), and Robert Ward’s adaptation of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” (March 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29), directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Robert Spano. To be announced: the venue for Menotti’s “The Old Maid and the Thief,” performed by Cafritz Young Artists (April 16), and the dates and venue for “West Side Story.”

National Symphony Orchestra Music Director Gianandrea Noseda conducts two concert performances in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall of Puccini’s “Il trittico” (April 29 and May 1).

TREEMONISHA

Experience the Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents’ Tony Award®-winning classic on a grand scale.

THEATER

The end is near for “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” directed by Nick Martin for Constellation Theatre Company, now at the Atlas (through Feb. 15). Next up: “Or,” a play about Restoration playwright Aphra Behn by Liz Duffy Adams, directed by Allison Arkell Stockman (May 15 to June 7).

Also at the Atlas, as part of the Intersections Festival: “Recess,” in which fifth-graders are played by adults (March 1); “Color Me (Curly) – Detangled Stories,” about Black hair (March 6); Jaemi Theatre’s “dystopian developmental staged reading” “Baal” (March 6); and the comedy-drama “Seeing Maya,” set in Tel Aviv during the Gulf War (March 8).

Herndon’s NextStop Theatre Company presents “Drowner Renword,” a laugh-andshrieker by Nia Akilah Robinson, directed by

At The Keegan Theatre, Josh Sticklin directs the world premiere of Angelle Whavers “John Doe,” with two characters, one dead (through Feb. 22). Another world premiere: “Midiculous,” a play for young audiences about middle school by Drew Anderson and Dwayne Lawson-Brown (Feb. 24 to March 8). Later on, Keegan takes audiences to Big Cherry in Tracy Letts’s black comedy “The Minutes” (April 4 to May 3).

Scena Theatre unspools Samuel Beckett’s one-act “Krapp’s Last Tape” at the DC Arts Center (Feb. 12 to March 1).

José Zayas directs Federico García Lorca’s “La Casa de Bernarda Alba” at GALA Hispanic Theatre (through March 1), followed by the world premiere of Luis Salgado’s “Aguardiente: Soul of the Caribbean,” with music by Daniel

Heather Lanza (through Feb. 22).

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop becomes a mead hall for Taffety Punk Theatre Company’s “Beowulf: A Retelling,” directed by Chris Curtis (through Feb. 28).

Gutiérrez (April 30 to May 24).

Now at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, in partnership with Theater J: Ali Viterbi’s “The World to Come,” set in the SeaBreeze Hebrew Home for the Aging, directed by Woolly co-founder Howard Shalwitz (through March 1). Sasha Velour’s “Travesty” follows (March 24 to April 12).

Opening mid-month at Theater J: Jonathan Spector’s “Eureka Day,” about a mumps outbreak at a day school, directed by Hayley Finn (March 11 to April 5).

Bethesda’s Round House Theatre Company is about to present “Nothing Up My Sleeve” by Aaron Posner and master illusionist Dendy. Posner directs (Feb. 11 to March 15).

Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre welcomes Irish Repertory Theatre’s production of “On Beckett,” starring Bill Irwin (Feb 11 to March 15). The Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel “Hamnet” then sets up in Harman Hall (March 17 to April 12).

Three actors play dozens of roles in a spoof of “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” directed by Brian Isaac Phillips (Feb. 26 to May 17), playing in repertory at the American

Shakespeare Center in Staunton with “Twelfth Night,” directed by Nana Dakin (Feb. 19 to May 3). Opening in April: “A Bold Stroke for a Husband,” a rediscovered 1783 comedy by Hannah Cowley, directed by Emily Lyon (April 9 to May 2).

Bard help us! Synetic Theater brings Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili’s wordless adaptation of “Antony & Cleopatra” to Arlington’s Thomas Jefferson Theatre (Feb. 21 to March 8). Soon after, Folger Theatre presents Karen Ann Daniels’s D.C.-infused take on “As You Like It,” directed by Timothy Douglas (March 10 to April 12).

Out at Tysons, 1st Stage offers Stephen Adly Guirgis’s “Between Riverside and Crazy,” directed by José Carrasquillo (Feb. 19 to March 8), then Lauren Yee’s “Young Americans,” directed by Nadia Guevara (April 9 to 26).

Fictional versions of Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan face off over evolution at Arena Stage in “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee (not that Robert E. Lee), directed by Ryan Guzzo Purcell (Feb. 27 to April 5).

“Appropriate” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins at Olney Theatre Center, is anything but. Jason Loewith directs (March 18 to April 19).

Studio Theatre presents “Jonah” by Rachel

Bonds, “a story of rage, resilience and the radical possibilities of trust,” directed by Taylor Reynolds (March 11 to April 19), then “Purlie Victorious” by Ossie Davis, directed by Psalmayene 24 (May 6 to June 14).

At The Little Theatre of Alexandria, Adam Konowe directs Todd Kreidler’s adaptation of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” set in San Francisco in 1967 (March 28 to April 18).

Drama in Your Face at Dupont Underground (see In Series, above) continues with the Streetcar Project’s prop-less, set-less “A Streetcar Named Desire” (April 20 to May 4).

Will “Shear Madness” move to a real Georgetown hair salon when the Kennedy Center closes?

THEATER FOR KIDS

Next at Glen Echo Park’s Adventure Theatre MTC: “Freckleface Strawberry The Musical,” with a book by Gary Kupper and Rose Caiola, based on the Julianne Moore books illustrated by LeUyen Pham, with music and lyrics by Kupper. Shanara Gabrielle directs (Feb. 13 to March 29)

Imagination Stage in Bethesda presents “Balloonacy” for all ages (through Feb. 15), “Havana Hop” (Feb. 14 to March 7) and “Cat Kid Comic Club” (March 21 and 22) for ages 5 to 10 and “Good Morning, Good Night” for ages 1 to 4 (March 21 to April 19).

The Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater invites kids to “Come Rap with Mr. Root!” (Feb. 19 and 20). Science-oriented shows follow: “Walloping Weather!” (March 11 to 13), “Powerful Pollinators” (March 24 to 27), “Mother Earth & Me” (April 28 to May 1) and “Once Upon a Moon” (May 6 to 8).

Ahoy, Matey! For gourd’s sake don’t miss Captain Jack Sparetire (a trash puppet) in “Recycling Pirates” (Feb. 15) and Family Fun Day with the Great Zucchini (human, we think) at The Atlas (March 7).

Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Directed

Ryan Guzzo Purcell

MUSICALS

Regret nothing! See “Piaf! The Show” at Lisner (Feb. 17).

Now at Studio Theatre: “Octet,” Dave Malloy’s “a cappella chamber musical,” directed by David Muse (through Feb. 22). At The Little Theatre of Alexandria: “School of Rock,” directed and choreographed by Kristina Friedgen, with music direction by Aimee Faulkner (through Feb. 28). And at The National Theatre: “Stereophonic,” which “zooms in on a music studio in 1976” (through March 1).

Ford’s Theatre will zoom in on the Second Continental Congress in “1776,” directed by Peter Flynn (March 9 to May 19).

the book on Derek Connolly’s film (March 3 to April 12). Then, because everything has its season: “Pippin,” directed by Matthew Gardiner (May 12 to July 26).

In Series’ three world-premiere “Passion Plays,” performed at Dupont Underground, are: “Only the Air,” directed by Tim Nelson, based on Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” (March 6 to 8); “Passio,” directed by Maribeth Diggle, with music by Lucie de Saint Vincent (March 13 to 15); and “For Women Serving Time,” by poet and scholar Fatemeh Keshavarz and jazz pianist and composer Adrienne Torf, directed by Nelson (March 20 to 22).

Olney Theatre Center is presenting Joriah Kwamé’s “Little Miss Perfect,” directed by Zhailon Levingston (through March 8), and the world premiere of “I & You: The Musical,” adapted by Lauren Gunderson from her play about a Walt Whitman homework assignment. Music and lyrics are by Ari Afsar and Sarah Rasmussen directs (April 22 to May 24).

At Signature Theatre, Oliver Butler directs “Safety Not Guaranteed,” an indierock musical about time travel with music and lyrics by Ryan Miller. Nick Blaemire based

CHORAL

This Sunday at Strathmore: “Living the Dream ... Singing the Dream,” The Choral Arts Society of Washington’s tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., co-presented with Washington Performing Arts, conducted by Marie Bucoy-Calavan (Feb. 15).

Stanley Thurston’s Heritage Signature Chorale honors Black composers with “Our Heritage ... Our Strength” at First Congregational UCC (Feb. 21). The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC celebrates Black excellence with “Heart & Soul” at the Howard Theatre (Feb. 21). Thomas Colohan leads Washington Master Chorale in “I, Too, Sing America,” a program devoted to composers of color, at St. Ann Catholic Church (March 15).

At Washington National Cathedral, Edward Maclary guest-conducts a Cathedral Choral Society program featuring Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” (March 1).

Eugene Rogers leads The Washington Chorus in “Faith, Hope and Light” at National

The National’s spring lineup continues with: “The Simon & Garfunkel Story” (March 14 and 15), “Beauty and the Beast” (March 18 to April 5), “The Wiz” (April 7 to 12) and “The Book of Mormon” (April 28 to May 3).

Good trouble comes to the Atlas in the form of Mosaic Theater Company’s “Young John Lewis,” with a book and lyrics by Psalmayene 24 and music by Kokayi, directed by Reginald Douglas (March 26 to April 26).

“Chicago” will blow into The Kennedy Center Opera House (March 31 to April 5).

Presbyterian Church. On the program: Dvořák’s Mass in D Major, Holst’s “Nunc Dimittis” and works by Ysaÿe Barnwell, Bernice Johnson Reagon, William Grant Still and Timothy Takach (March 14).

Under Dana Marsh’s direction, the Washington Bach Consort performs Monteverdi’s “Vespro della Beata Vergine” at National Presbyterian Church (March 22) and Bach’s Mass in B Minor at National City Christian Church (April 25) and National Presbyterian Church (April 26).

GMCW moves to National City Christian Church for “Body Beautiful” (March 25) and Choral Arts crosses the river to the Schlesinger Arts Center for “From Darkness to Light,” an interactive choral discussion featuring Vaughan Williams’s “Dona Nobis Pacem” and Holst’s “Two Psalms” (April 18). Also at the Schlesinger Center: The City Choir of Washington’s concert version of “The Music Man” (April 12).

JAZZ, COUNTRY, ROCK AND POP

Blues Alley welcomes soprano saxophonist Marion Meadows this weekend (Feb. 12 to 15) and soprano and alto saxophonist Kim Waters next weekend (Feb. 20 to 22). In March, the Mimi Fox Organ Trio kicks off an International Jazz Guitar Series that also features Stanley Jordan (March 2 to 5). Much of the second half of April is a multi-night celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s birthday, officially April 25. Later on, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis performs with the U.S. Army Blues (April 30) and the Paul Carr Quartet (May 1).

Also this weekend: Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival at the Bethesda Marriott, with appearances by performers including Jeff Antoniak, Gary Bartz, Cyrus Chestnut, Jon Faddis, Wycliffe Gordon and Jason Marsalis, along with high school and college ensembles (Feb. 13 to 15).

The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra performs at the National Museum of American History (Feb. 28); Ladino singersongwriter Nani Vazana appears, courtesy of JxJ, the Washington Jewish Film and Music Festivals, at the Edlavitch DCJCC (Feb. 15); Dumbarton Concerts presents cabaret

Ann Hampton Callaway with pianist Billy Stritch (March 14); and Emmet Cohen’s quintet pays tribute to Miles Davis and John Coltrane at 100 at Strathmore (March 21).

More Strathmore artists and acts of note: Dublin Guitar Quartet (Feb. 15), Ravi Shankar Ensemble (March 19), Diana Krall (March 24), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (March 26), Meshell Ndegeocello (March 27), Angélique Kidjo (April 9) and Natalia Lafourcade (April 14 and 15).

The Birchmere switches up eras and genres without batting a fake eyelash. A few

artists on the calendar: Mohini Dey (Feb. 19), Esperanza Spalding (Feb. 20), Bilal (Feb. 28), The Stylistics (March 8), Rhye (March 19), Tom Rush (March 20), SGGL (April 11), Patti LaBelle at DAR Constitution Hall (April 18), Los Lobos (April 19), 10,000 Maniacs (April 24 to 26) and BoDeans (May 9).

Blasts from the Past: Journey at Capital One Arena (March 4), Paul Anka at The Warner Theatre (April 14), Mickey Dolenz at Wolf Trap (April 15-16) and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at The Lincoln Theatre (May 7).

Other familiar names at Capital One: New Edition, Boyz 2 Men and Toni Braxton (March 13), Lady Gaga (March 23 and 24), Cardi B (April 8) and Demi Lovato (April 16).

Wolf Trap highlights: Christian McBride (Feb 21), Duane Betts (April 17 and 18) and the District of Raga series, focusing on “South Asian music traditions and innovations” (March 20; April 4 and 22).

Finally, the ever-surprising Atlas Performing Arts Center presents, among others: Fairouz Foty aka Classical Screamer, Malikat Al Dabke and Quartertonez Music (Feb. 20), blues artist Carly Harvey (Feb. 22), Qi Yu Quartet’s blending of jazz and traditional Chinese music (Feb. 28) and Project Fusion Saxophone Quartet with the Good Beats Ensemble (March 1).

VOCAL

Act fast to catch Opera Lafayette’s “Queen of Hearts: A Valentine’s Day Revel” at St. Francis Hall (Feb. 12). Later this spring, soprano Lauren Snouffer sings 18th-century arias in a program titled “New Woman” at Sixth & I (April 30).

Vocal Arts DC’s 35th anniversary season continues with baritone Quinn Kelsey and pianist Craig Ketter (March 1), then “songSLAM DC,” hosted by composer Lori Laitman, both at Live! at 10th and G (April 11).

The Washington Bach Consort’s free Noontime Cantatas ring out at St. Mark’s Capitol Hill on Mondays and the Church of the Epiphany on Tuesdays (March 2 and 3; April 13 and 14); countertenor Reginald Mobley sings 17th-century English works at the Library of Congress (April 21); and the Russian Chamber Art Society closes its 20th anniversary season with “Songs of Passion & Love” at the French Embassy (April 17).

CLASSICAL

Upcoming National Symphony Orchestra Kennedy Center concerts: David Robertson conducts Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 and Reena Esmail’s Double Concerto with Gil (violin) and Orli (piano) Shaham (Feb. 26 to 28); Gianandrea Noseda conducts SaintSaëns’s Piano Concerto No. 5 with Simon Trpčeski (March 6 and 7) and the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s Double Concerto Suite with Hilary Hahn (violin) and Seth Parker Woods (cello), along with Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 (March 12 to 14).

Visiting orchestras: Washington Performing Arts presents the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Klaus Mäkelä, at Strathmore (Feb. 27) and Andris Nelsons conducts the Vienna Philharmonic at The Kennedy Center (March 4).

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s spring “Earth|Songs” programs at Strathmore include: Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring,” Lili Boulanger’s “D’un matin de printemps” and Tan Dun’s “The Tears of Nature” with percussionist Edouard Beyens (Feb. 28); Mahler’s “Das lied von der Erde,” Dvořák’s “In Nature’s Realm” and a world premiere

by Grace-Evangeline Mason (March 8); and Copland’s Suite from “Appalachian Spring,” Brett Dean’s “Fire Music” and Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony (April 16). Jonathon Heyward conducts the first two and Marin Alsop the third.

Chez Strathmore, Andrew Grams leads National Philharmonic in “French Masters: Ravel, Debussy & Tailleferre,” with harpist Bridget Kibbey (March 7). In May, Deanna Tham conducts “The Blue Hour,” a song cycle by five women composers, sung by soprano Shara Nova (May 9).

José-Luis Novo mounts Strathmore’s podium for an Annapolis Symphony Orchestra performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Olga Kern and works by Silvestre Revueltas and William Dawson, (March 1).

At the Atlas, Johannes Visser conducts the Capital City Symphony concert “Hope!” (Feb. 21) and Victoria Gau conducts “Shout!” (March 22).

The formidable list of string quartets (and one quintet) stopping in D.C.: at The Phillips Collection, Cuarteto Casals (Feb.

15) and the Toomai String Quintet (Feb. 22); at the Library of Congress, the Leonkoro Quartet (Feb. 20) and the Catalyst Quartet with mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and pianist Terrence Wilson (April 1); at Dumbarton Oaks, the Thalea String Quartet (Feb. 22 and 23); at Strathmore, the Overlook Quartet (March 12); at St. John’s, Georgetown, the Goldmund Quartet (March 22); at the National Museum of Asian Art, the Shanghai Quartet (April 9); at Sixth & I, the Pacifica Quartet with Sigourney Weaver (April 12); and at the

Church of the Epiphany, the Danish String Quartet with the Danish National Girls’ Choir (April 18). The last two are presented by Washington Performing Arts. Concerts by the consorts: Folger Consort reanimates “Love Songs of the 15th Century”

(Feb. 13 to 15); 21st Century Consort bends ears at the Hirshhorn Museum (Feb. 21 and April 18 and 19); and the Washington Bach Consort gets bowing at Live! at 10th & G (March 6) and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (March 7).

The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society’s Masterworks of Three Centuries Series plays on at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Feb. 21) and the National Museum of American History (March 15).

Here in Georgetown, Dumbarton Concerts presents violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and guitarist Jason Vieaux (Feb. 28), violinist Randall Goosby (April 10) and the Royal Concertgebouw’s Camerata RCO (May 2). Sandbox Percussion, Matthew Aucoin and Conor Hanick are coming to Dumbarton Oaks (April 19 and 20) and the Sinta Saxophone Quartet to St. John’s (May 3).

Strathmore hosts the Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell (March 6).

PostClassical Ensemble returns to the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater with “Berlin in Lights: Cabaret, Jazz and Radical Theater in Weimar Germany” (March 11). Also in the Terrace: the Kennedy Center Chamber Players (March 15).

Performing at the Library of Congress: violinist Benjamin Beilman and pianist Steven Osborne (Feb. 18), violist Tabea Zimermann and pianist Javier Perianes (March 13) and Isata (piano) and Sheku (cello) KannehMason (March 16).

Also of note: Wolf Trap’s Chamber Music at the Barns series (March 1, 8 and 27 and April 24) and two groups visiting GMU, Irish ensemble Danú (March 20) and Silkroad with Rhiannon Giddens (March 22).

Keyboard Lightning Round (all pianists unless otherwise indicated): The Washington Bach Consort presents organist James O’Donnell at St. George’s Episcopal Church (Feb. 27) and harpsichordist Adam Pearl at Live!

at 10th & G (April 10) and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (April 11). Dumbarton Oaks presents Dénes Várjon (March 8 and 9). Washington Performing Arts presents Mishka Rushdie Momen at Hopkins Bloomberg Center (March 14), Jean-Yves Thibaudet at Strathmore (April 23) and Vadym Kholodenko at Sixth & I (May 5). GMU presents a Jeffrey Siegel Keyboard Conversation (March 15).

Strathmore presents Charlotte Hu (April 2); National Philharmonic presents Brian Ganz in “Extreme Chopin: The Finale” (April 11); the Library of Congress presents Zlata Chochieva (April 15); and the NSO presents Alexandra Dovgan (March 14) and Khatia Buniatishvili (April 24).

BERLIN IN LIGHTS

Guided by guest curator Drew Lichtenberg, step into 1920s Berlin, a hotbed of artistic innovation inspired by a newfound spirit of openness, and radically inclusive

Celebrate the sounds and sights of this fascinating period before it was cut short by an oppressive crackdown on expression, with works by Weill, Shostakovich, Holländer, and more, with soprano Melissa Wimbish

DANCE

Following “Dance For All” at the National Portrait Gallery (Feb. 14), The Washington Ballet presents Artistic Director Edwaard Liang’s “Giselle” in Sidney Harman Hall (Feb. 27 to March 8) and his “Cinderella” in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

(May 14 to 17).

More at The Kennedy Center: American Ballet Theatre’s “The Winter’s Tale,” choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, in the Opera House (Feb. 11 to 15); Le Patin Libre’s “Murmuration,” outdoors on ice

(Feb. 17 to 22); and two avant-garde projects from Hiroaki Umeda in the Terrace Theater (March 17 and 18).

Moveius Contemporary Ballet’s 10th anniversary season includes “Love Language,” curated by Alvaro Palau (Feb. 14 and 15) and a performance at the National Portrait Gallery (March 14). In the Dance Loft Presents series, also at Dance Loft on 14: Compañía Medusa (Feb. 21 and 22), DMV Adavus (April 3 and 4), Brandon Marcelas (April 18 and 19) and Gabriel Mata (May 2 and 3).

Companies performing at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts: Les Ballets Africains (Feb. 20) and Doug Varone and Dancers (April 25).

The Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company celebrates choreographer Michio Itō at the Library of Congress (March 26) and presents “An Asian American Dance Journey” in two parts at Woolly Mammoth (April 24 and May 1).

Atlas Intersections showcases more than a dozen dance groups, for instance: Glade Dance Collective (Feb. 15); Galax Movement Duo, Capitol Movement Inc. and

PERFORMING

Carter Williams Dance Theatre (Feb. 27); Percussion Discussion (March 7); Furia Flamenca Dance Company (March 8); and Aerial Ignition (March 13).

On Strathmore’s calendar: Pilobolus (March 5). Appearing at Dance Place: Prime (March 6 to 8), Effervescence Collective (March 13 to 15) and VTDance (March 21 and 22). DC (District Choreographers) Dance Festival arrives in April (April 17 to 19).

Step Afrika! makes a not-far-from-home stop on “The Evolution Tour” at Maryland Hall in Annapolis (April 17).

BY RICHARD SELDEN

Visual Arts

Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

Feb. 14 to Aug. 30

Marking 100 years since the death of the Pennsylvania-born artist who participated in four of the eight Impressionist exhibitions, including the first in 1879, “Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris” is an intimate, three-gallery display of some 40 paintings, drawings and prints, largely drawn from the National Gallery of Art’s extensive holdings of her work (five of the museum’s Cassatt paintings were newly cleaned and studied). Preparatory drawings, multiple states and unique proofs will offer keys to her infrequently exhibited color prints, inspired by an 1890 exhibition of Japanese woodcuts in Paris. During “An American in Paris,” an installation of archival photographs, rare catalogs and documentation, including Cassatt’s correspondence, will be on view in the National Gallery of Art Library.

Adorning the Horse: TextilesEquestrian for Power and Prestige

THE GWU MUSEUM AND THE TEXTILE MUSEUM

Feb. 21 to June 20

Coinciding with the Lunar Year of the Horse, “Adorning the Horse” will feature a selection of intricately designed and woven horse covers, saddle blankets and other equestrian textiles from the past 1,300 years. Civilizations from Türkiye to Japan have elaborately costumed these prized animals, whose beauty, strength and majesty have captivated humans for millennia. Among the objects to be displayed, from a collection donated by former Textile Museum trustee Judy Brick Freedman and Allen R. Freedman, are a 5th-to-7th-century Central Asian horse cover, late 19th-century/early 20th-century horse covers from Uzbekistan and Japan, a saddle cover from Iran dating to the early 19th-century and another from Azerbaijan dating to the second half of the 19th-century.

Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS

Feb. 27 to July 26

Drawn entirely from the contemporary art collection of Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg, “Making Their Mark” — curated by Cecilia Alemani, director and chief curator of High Line Arts — illustrates women artists’ vital role in abstraction. Juxtaposing contemporary works with their historical antecedents, the exhibition also bridges personal and political narratives and generational and geographic divides. “Making Their Mark” brings together some 80 sculptures, paintings, textiles, ceramics, prints and mixed-media works created since 1946. Featured artists include: Magdalena Abakanowicz, Cecily Brown, Sheila Hicks, Jenny Holzer, Julie Mehretu, Joan Mitchell, Faith Ringgold, Tschabalala Self, Amy Sillman, Lorna Simpson, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Pat Steir, Sarah Sze, Kara Walker and Zarina.

GLENSTONE

Opening Feb. 12

To mark the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Potomac, Maryland, museum will display works by Ruth Asawa, Willem de Kooning, Kerry James Marshall, Jackson Pollock, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol and other 20th-century American artists.

On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting

HILLWOOD ESTATE, MUSEUM AND GARDEN

Feb. 14 to June 14

Beginning with examples from antiquity and the Renaissance and concluding with sections on digital clocks, traditional watchmaking and horology in contemporary art, “On Time” will showcase Hillwood’s collection of lavish timepieces, supplemented with loaned objects.

KENNEDY CENTER TO CLOSE FOR 2-YEAR OVERHAUL

In the wake of a subscriber, donor and artist boycott, President Donald Trump — who reconstituted the Kennedy Center board, which named him chairman and voted to insert his name (in defiance of propriety if not legality) before JFK’s — declared that the center would close July 4 for a two-year overhaul. The last straw: Kevin Couch, named senior vice president of artistic programming in midJanuary, resigned two weeks later. How this will affect the National Symphony Orchestra, which under Music Director Gianandrea Noseda declined to follow Washington National Opera’s lead (see below), remains unclear.

NEW VENUES FOR WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

Washington National Opera, which last month announced its disaffiliation with the Kennedy Center, its home since opening in 1971, will present “Treemonisha” and “The Crucible” at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium in March. WNO’s new adaptation of “Treemonisha” is directed by famed mezzosoprano and Duke Ellington School of the Arts alumna Denyce Graves, who sang her final Metropolitan Opera performance Jan. 24. Dates and venues for WNO’s gala, co-hosted by Stephen Schwartz and Jamie Bernstein, and its season-closing production of “West Side Story” have not been released.

WOOLLY MAMMOTH NAMES NEXT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Reggie D. White will become Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s third artistic director early this spring, succeeding Maria Manuela Goyanes, who left last September to join Lincoln Center Theater in New York. A California State University, East Bay, graduate, White is senior director of artistic strategy and impact at Arena Stage, where his play “Fremont Ave.” premiered last fall. From 2022 to 2024, he was associate artistic director of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Woolly moved to its D Street NW home in 2005.

POST WRITES OFF CRITICS, ALONG WITH 300 OTHERS

Among the 300-plus Washington Post journalists laid off Feb. 4 — amid coverage cutbacks and the purge of the sports and books sections — were Chief Theater Critic Naveen Kumar, Classical Music Critic Michael Andor Brodeur and Art Critic Sebastian Smee. Their replacement appears unlikely. The dance critic position, last filled by Pulitzer Prize winner Sarah Kaufman, was dropped after the Post wrote her off in 2022.

PLANS TO SELL BUILDING PUT NEW DEAL ART AT RISK

The Trump administration’s plans to dispose of the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, completed in 1940, have alarmed historians of American art and others concerned about

the nation’s cultural legacy. Underutilized and inaccessible, a half-dozen blocks from the Capitol at 330 Independence Ave. SW, the building holds social-realist frescoes, murals and relief sculpture by Ben Shahn, Philip Guston and other New Deal–era artists. Responsibility for these works falls to the much-reduced Fine Arts staff of the General Services Administration.

AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM TO MARK HALF A CENTURY

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, which opened July 1, 1976, during the U.S. Bicentennial, will celebrate its 50th birthday during America 250, inaugurating five new galleries July 1. Two more will open Oct. 30 and Nov. 11, completing a multiyear renovation. The museum will also present a monthly 50th anniversary IMAX film series. Plans to move the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly to Houston have been placed on hold due to cost, logistics and risk.

ARTS, HUMANITIES ENDOWMENTS RETAIN FUNDING

Both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities were funded by Congress last month at $207 million each, despite the administration’s call for their demise. Mary Anne Carter received Senate confirmation as the NEA’s 14th chairman Dec. 18, succeeding Maria Rosario Jackson. General Counsel Michael McDonald remains acting chairman of the NEH.

SELLING GEORGETOWN

Real Estate Special: Top Agents Sold Halcyon House for $28 million, 2025 Sales in Georgetown

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

Georgetown means different things to different people. This year, during its 275th anniversary, the oldest neighborhood in Washington, D.C., gives us a big history lesson with the $28-million residential real estate transaction of Halcyon House.

The sale also shines a light on Georgetown’s real estate market. For a closer look, The Georgetowner spoke with the Heider Company of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty on P Street and McFadden Partners of Compass on 31st Street — the two firms involved in the Halcyon House purchase by Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, who will maintain the property as a private residence.

But first, in brief, the backstory of 239-yearold Halcyon House, which occupies 3400-3410 Prospect St. NW.

The 30,000-square-foot Federal-style mansion — with a back garden, a studio and

a pool — is one of Washington’s most historic. The builder and original 1787 occupant was Benjamin Stoddert, the first Secretary of the Navy and a friend of George Washington. Halcyon House is integral to the founding of Washington as the young republic’s permanent capital.

Altered at different times over the many decades, Halcyon House was given its most significant renovation toward the end of the 20th century by John Dreyfuss, whose family owned the property from 1966 until March of 2012.

The 2026 seller, Sachiko Kuno, who made the mansion the headquarters of her Halcyon nonprofit, said in a statement: “I’m grateful to have been a steward of such a special property for 15 years, and for it to have done so much good for entrepreneurs.” Dr. Kuno also owns Evermay on 28th Street.

For Daniel Heider, representing the purchaser, it’s all about an integrated team, private listings and a strong social media presence.

“They kicked off their real estate search with me some time ago,” he told us. “When I heard that Halcyon House was being quietly shopped, I picked up the phone and said: ‘You’re not going to believe this, but one of the most historically significant properties in

all of Washington is available.

“It’s 30,000 square feet. It faces the Potomac River. It’s got some of the most interesting provenance of anything in its caliber. It’s on a half an acre. It has a pool, a tiered garden. It has a huge ballroom. It’s got the largest amount of off-street parking and garage parking of any house in Georgetown.’”

At 30,000 square feet, that comes to under $1,000 a foot, Heider noted. “So, he [Josh Harris] acted decisively. They came in, they saw the value and they bought it.”

He adds: “I sold the most expensive condo of all time for $18 million in Georgetown recently. That was a private transaction.

Then Halcyon House just closed this year. But I have 100-percent participation in the Washington market above $20 million. Every deal that has transacted in Washington, for now going on a third year in a row, I have either represented the buyer or the seller” (or both).

“Georgetown is an aspirational neighborhood and for all the right reasons,” says Heider. “It’s so charming and perfect and quaint … and now there’s so much variety on the food scene.”

The 38-year-old started his career almost 20 years ago. A family member advised him to start at the most elite firm, “if they’ll hire

you — even if you have to work for free,” Heider recalled.

“So I began my career at Washington Fine Properties. I was the assistant’s assistant, working in a restaurant at night and trying to learn the real estate practice during the day. I became the youngest agent in the history of their company. I then moved over to TTR Sotheby’s with Jeff Wilson. Shortly thereafter, I decided to start my own practice group, about 10 years ago.”

“I have to say, I don’t know how I got to be so lucky,” he remarked. “I somehow magnetized these people to me.” Sean New is the chief marketing officer, with eleven advisors or agents. The sold and pending figure for 2025 is $621,089,004.

And don’t forget those 3.7 million followers on TikTok.

“I should say we were very fortunate that we were the first folks in Washington to really embrace social media the way that we did,” Heider said. “It’s paid us dividends. To be the most followed residential real estate YouTube page, in addition to being the most followed residential brokers on TikTok and the area’s most followed residential brokers on Instagram.

“I mean, that’s a level of proprietary marketing that nobody in our industry has, let alone anybody in our local area. It’s become a very important part of our business and the exposure that we give the properties that we serve and the clients that we work with.

“I really want to be seen as somebody who deeply understands the new market that we have and the new level of possibility that Washington carries globally. There are a lot of options in the world when it comes to residential real estate. There’s a lot of a lot of real estate agents everywhere. And I want the Heider Company to be associated with the most elite properties and the most elite agents.”

For Mark McFadden, representing the seller, it’s all about relationships.

boys played ice hockey together. That’s how we all got to know each other.”

Among McFadden’s biggest sales were Marwood in Potomac, to Ted Leonsis, and Evermay and Halcyon House, to Dr. Kuno.

As far as working with his 35-year-old son, McFadden said: “It’s absolutely a crowning achievement in my career path. We did not encourage him to get into real estate. That was solely his decision. It’s just been an

your father so closely and even rarer to enjoy it for as long as we have. We wouldn’t be where we are today without my mother, Lyn, being the glue that holds our team together.”

He continued: “This is one of the few careers that allows you to converse with all walks of life, making every day unique and exciting. Seeing my father’s success, I knew I had big shoes to fill, which has been a driving motivator on so many levels. Really makes me get out of bed in the morning with an extra fire inside me to succeed and provide for my amazing wife and new baby boy.”

“ This is one of the few careers that allows you to converse with all walks of life, making every day unique and exciting. Seeing my father’s success, I knew I had big shoes to fill, which has been a driving motivator on so many levels. ”

“I’ve been in the business 35 years, started with Pardoe Real Estate in Old Town,” said the 64-year-old McFadden, who heads the firm, in which his wife Lyn and son Hunter play key roles. “I would say one of my first pivotal individuals that was instrumental in my business quadrupling was Jack Davies, who is a personal friend of mine, but at the time, he was the president of America Online International. Our

“It was definitely a highlight of my career, I mean, because as you pointed out, we’ve sold it several times, right? We sold it to Dr. Kuno, Dr. Ueno and then, of course, we’ve sold it again,” said McFadden, adding, “I’ve had the privilege of selling three statement properties and I think it’s important to note, just it’s an interesting fact, that the capital region doesn’t have a large portfolio of historically significant trophy properties.”

amazing addition to my business, and he’s just a joy to be with. He’s professional. He’s also a very talented athlete. So, there’s a lot of crossover with the sports community because we’ve sold many of the team owners their homes. We’re working with Michele Kang, who owns the Washington Spirit.”

For his part, Hunter McFadden said: “It’s rare to have the opportunity to work with

“Ninety-five percent of success is building relationships with people,” the elder McFadden commented. “People have many choices for real estate agents, but they’re not going to go and retain somebody’s services if they don’t personally like them. My life advice in general is to do unto others as you’d have them do to you. It’s never about one transaction. So never compromise your ethical standards on anything, because all you have is your reputation.”

2025 GEORGETOWN REAL ESTATE OVERVIEW

PROVIDED BY WASHINGTON FINE PROPERTIES

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

2025 Real Estate Stats

10/24/2025

Closed Date

Total Sales 204

Total Sales 204

Prospect House, a Federal, Georgian style home, the 2nd highest priced sold for $9,827,000 M.

Prospect House, a priced for

listed at $10 million at

Two homes listed at $10 million plus, but only one closed at $12,500,000.

13 homes closed over $5 million.

15 homes closed over $4 million

15 homes closed over $3 million

13 homes closed over $5 million. over $4 million over $3 million

36 homes closed over $2 million

70 homes closed over $1 million

41 closed over $500,000

13 closed under $500,000

36 homes closed over $2 million closed $1 million closed over $500,000 closed $500,000

In 2025, Halcyon House, was privately listed and just sold for $28M.

Georgetown had 204 homes close in totaling $455.7M.

Georgetown had 204 homes close in 2025, totaling $455.7M. 2025, Halcyon House, privately listed and sold $28M.

Own this piece of history,The Alexander Graham Bell House, at 1527 35th St NW. piece of history,The Graham Bell House, 35th NW.

This French Manor residence on R St. sold for $12.5 m was the highest sale in 2025

This French Manor residence on R sold for $12.5 m was highest sale in 2025

Currently For Sale C.1854 1/31/2025

Closed Date

At Home: The Fascinating History of Plumbing

BY MICHELLE GALLER

Although we use running water every day, it’s easy to take it for granted.

Indoor plumbing for drinking water was a rarity in Colonial America. Some colonists regarded water as “lowly and common,” better suited to barnyard animals than humans. Perhaps that explains why it took nearly a century for indoor plumbing to develop.

installed under New York City’s streets; the first floor of the White House received running water three years later. Nonetheless, cast-iron pipes were prone to corrosion, leading to leaks, blockages and other potential health hazards.

By the Industrial Revolution, with masses of people entering cities, there was a need to ensure higher levels of water quality by rerouting waste that was being dumped into bodies of water that

Those colonists relied on digging wells and utilizing readily available natural, unpolluted water sources like springs, streams and ponds — sources that in most European cities had already been fouled. Even if water was not the favored drink in early America — many people preferred something stronger, perhaps brandy or ale — water was the standard drink for most.

Hollowed out tree logs, connected to each other to form a network, were a common method for transporting water. In 1652, the first city waterworks system was created in New York using such a log network; at first, it helped the fire brigades fight fires, but with the advent of steam-powered water pumps the pressure rose too high for wooden pipes. Water supply technologies, including lead pipes, continued to progress through the 1700s. (It was not until 1986 that lead water pipes were banned, though millions are still in use.)

One of the most significant advances in plumbing was the introduction of cast-iron pipes, allowing for safer transportation of water over longer distances and at higher pressures. Philadelphia became the first city in the world to use cast-iron pipes for its water and the first in the U.S. to build a citywide waterworks. About two decades later, in 1829, Boston’s Tremont Hotel installed indoor plumbing for its guests, with indoor toilets and running water — the first of its kind.

In 1830, the first public water main was

have changed surprisingly little). Once the codes were created, new housing was built with complete plumbing facilities: hot and cold piped water, a bathtub or shower and a flush toilet. The 20th century also saw the standardization of plumbing fixtures, making it easier for homeowners to repair and replace them.

These advances laid the foundation for modern plumbing. Although the trends of change were present prior to the year 2000, the rate of change has accelerated. Plumbing has evolved into a statement of style. Technological features demanded by market forces include touchless faucets, voice activation, audio systems, mood lighting, water-saving devices, sweatless piping systems and push-fit connections.

Personal electronics — such as shower valves that automatically set temperatures and individualized spray modes — are also complementing plumbing products and system designs. In addition, integrated systems can alert the homeowner of adverse conditions such as constantly running water or breaks/leaks in pipes.

From the colonial period forward, Americans found it natural to drink water, even if they also drank alcohol (apparently with gusto). From a simple hole in the ground, civilization has developed elaborate citywide systems and sophisticated devices that make our lives healthier, easier, more comfortable

and much more pleasant. Just like the flow of water through pipes, the history of plumbing in America has been a parallel journey of progress and transformation.

Antiques dealer, columnist and painter Michelle Galler resides in both Maryland and Virginia.

supplied drinking water. The first integrated sewer system was built in Chicago in 1856, but only after a deadly outbreak of waterborne diseases that claimed many lives.

Plumbing improvements proliferated during the mid-to-late 1800s. Flush toilets were invented and, though installed primarily by the wealthy, greatly improved sanitation and hygiene. However, the principals of venting were still not fully understood. Double doors were commonly installed between the bathrooms and the main living areas to help keep sewer odors from befouling the air. But it was the advancement of venting sewers that allowed waste to flow freely without causing nasty back-pressure events.

There was a significant transformation in plumbing systems in the 1890s and early 20th century. Gas utility services in large cities led to automatic water heaters and plumbed hot water. Temperature and pressure relief valves were added later to prevent spectacular accidents. However, there were still many challenges to resolve, like system failures and contamination. In 1920, only one percent of U.S. homes had indoor plumbing. Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover started the Materials and Structures Division of the National Bureau of Standards and appointed Dr. Roy Hunter to the plumbing division. Dr. Hunter conducted a series of research studies on how to best handle various aspects of plumbing, forming the basis of modern plumbing codes (which

Cocktail of the Month: The Americano

BY JODY KURASH

While digging out of the DMV’s lateJanuary blizzard may have felt like an Olympic sport, the true Winter Games kicked off with opening ceremonies last Friday.

Unfortunately, Caps fans unable to watch D.C.’s adopted local hero Alex Ovechkin march in the Parade of Nations. Despite the NHL’s return to the Olympics, Russia has been barred from competing in team sports due to ongoing international sanctions, preventing the Great 8 from participating.

Another controversy is Trump sending his ICE goons across the Atlantic to provide security, a move that caused Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, to say the agents were not welcome in the city. “This is a militia that kills,” he said. “We don’t need ICE.”

Americano cocktail to be made stronger by replacing soda water with gin.

Many Americans feel the same way. The only ice needed at the Winter Games is at the venues ... and in your cocktails.

There is one tipple that is a perfect match for these Games, co-hosted in northern Italy by Milan and Cortina. Simply by its name, the Americano cocktail shows your support for Team USA, while offering a tribute to the host country via its Italian origin and ingredients.

Invented in the 1860s by Gaspare Campari in his Milan café, the drink was originally named the Milano-Torino (or Mi-To) because it blended Campari liqueur from Milan with sweet vermouth from Turin, which coincidently hosted the Winter Games 20 years ago, in 2006.

The Yankee moniker stems from its popularity with American tourists during Prohibition. However, the 50/50 formula was altered with the addition of soda water, creating a lighter, less bitter drink, more in tune with American tastebuds. It’s also been said that U.S. soldiers stationed in Italy during World War I and II favored the diluted drink.

As a cocktail aficionado with a god-like reverence for Campari, I highly recommend making a patriotic toast with this concoction. An acquired taste, bright-red Campari boasts a thick, bitter, sharp and herbaceous profile. While the exact formula is top secret, its 70-plus ingredients include chinotto (bitter orange), cascarilla bark, rhubarb and gentian root. A bit heavy when taken neat, it makes a nice slow-sipper on the rocks.

More commonly, Campari is a building block for other cocktails. It’s often described as a precursor to my all-time favorite drink, the Negroni, which got its name from Count Camillo Negroni, who requested his

In the Americano, sweet vermouth, a fortified wine infused with botanicals, adds sweetness and complexity, club soda brings a light and bubbly aspect to the drink, making it crisp and refreshing. For those accustomed to sweet drinks, the Americano can be considered a gentle introduction to the unique smack of Campari.

The Americano has also found its spot in pop culture. James Bond got in on the action before he was known for martinis.

The Americano was the very first cocktail 007 ordered in Ian Fleming’s debut novel, “Casino Royale.” In the 1999 psychological thriller “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” Tom and Dickie drink Americanos in Rome.

Like the Negroni, the Americano is traditionally garnished with an orange slice to complement its bittersweet elements, though it is sometimes finished with a lemon twist, adding a fresh, zesty note.

If you’re imbibing while watching the international snowy sports competition, you can add a red, white and blue swizzle stick or a cute, cocktail-size American flag as an adornment.

The Americano

1.5oz. Campari

1.5 oz. Sweet red vermouth (such as Cinzano or Martini & Rossi)

1 to 2 oz. Chilled club soda or sparkling water

Fill a glass — rocks, oldfashioned or highball — with large ice cubes. Add Campari and vermouth. Top with soda to taste. Gently stir the ingredients. Garnish with an orange slice or a lemon twist.

Good for What Ails You: Georgetown Massage & Body Work

BY SUSAN BODIKER

It’s been a year, has it not? After 12 months (and more) of turbulence, we could all use a little break or — as Club Med used to frame it — an “antidote to civilization.”

If you’re thinking “Same,” consider 1726 Wisconsin Ave. NW, the address of Georgetown Massage & Body Work, your portal to paradise.

in 2004

in botany and the natural world,” the fullservice spa offers a wealth of self-care options, including an apothecary/gift shop for scented candles, essential oils, stylish new age jewelry and crystals; a personalized aromatherapy bar

The studio has been through many incarnations and locations, all within the same few blocks on upper Wisconsin Avenue. Covid was, of course, a challenge. “You can’t do massage on Zoom,” says Alison with a laugh. And DOGE put a crimp on discretionary spending. But the spa’s range of services and relationships with wellness practitioners keeps attracting new and long-time clients to the soothing space, refreshingly scented (fennel on the day we visited).

Alleva notes that in the current angsty environment, preventive selfcare and stress management are more important than ever. “We’re all about helping clients take care of small problems like tight muscles before they become locked up and painful. All our treatments are therapeutic in some way and are customized to help you relax, prevent injury and just feel good in your skin.”

Beyond the physical, Georgetown Massage focuses on supporting clients’ emotional well-being. “You know, the body is an amazing thing, and with the right touch it can heal itself. With our massage and aromatherapies, we can facilitate that healing process in a way that clients can see and feel. That’s powerful.”

Discover What Moves You

TO LEARN MORE, SCAN CODE OR VISIT WWW IRCDC ORG

In the heart of DC, Ingleside at Rock Creek is where culture and connection thrive Whether through inspiring art, incredible music programming, or engaging lectures, every day offers a new chance to explore and grow At this not-for-profit, life plan community, inspiration isn’t just found; it’ s created through experiences that matter A not-for-profit, life plan community

For me, the star of the studio was something I had never heard of.

The Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) treatment uses a textured, heated and crystal-filled (tourmaline and amethyst) mat that delivers low-frequency, time-varying vibrations, supporting cellular function and physiological

regulation. I don’t completely understand how it works, but all I can say is that after 10 minutes on the mat, I felt fabulous!

Later this year, Georgetown Massage will open a second, larger location in Falls Church, Virginia, where Alleva plans to add more services and product offerings.

“IF I WANT TO GET OUT OF MY APARTMENT, I JUST HOP ON MY BIKE AND HEAD INTO ROCK CREEK PARK. ”

Ed, Ingleside at Rock Creek Resident

Balls & Galas February 11 – March 11

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20

WISH BALL 2026

6:00-12 a.m., Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW

The Wish Ball supports the mission of MakeA-Wish Mid-Atlantic by raising critical funds to grant life-changing wishes for local children facing serious illness across the DMV area.

78TH ANNUAL AFFAIR OF THE HEART LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW

11:00 a.m., Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW

A stylish and inspiring afternoon of fashion, philanthropy and connection featuring a runway show, luncheon and survivor stories in support of women’s heart health through the American Heart Association.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

THE 26TH ANNUAL VIRGINIA BLACK HISTORY MONTH GALA

There will be multiple events across two days to celebrate the work of the Virginia Black History Month Association.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

FINE WINES STRONG BONES GALA

6:00-10:00 p.m., Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd, McLean, VA

A celebratory 55th anniversary gala featuring dinner, drinks, live and silent auctions and community support for the mission of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

2026 N STREET VILLAGE GALA & AUCTION

Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW

An inspiring event raising critical funds to support housing, healing and hope for women served by N Street Village, with powerful stories and a shared commitment to ending homelessness in DC.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

A VINTAGE FAIR

6:30-10:30 p.m., Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW

An elegant 27th anniversary evening of wine, global cuisine and exclusive auctions benefiting young patients at Children’s National Hospital.

of Dolly Parton’

REVIEWED BY KITTY KELLEY

We will always love her.

A biography of Dolly Parton ought to cartwheel out of bookstores. If ever there was a life story to celebrate, it’s the one about the little girl from the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee who grew up as one of 12 children in a tar-paper shack with no indoor plumbing.

“We wet the bed sometimes just to keep each other warm,” Dolly would tell audiences, laughing at the memory. Years later, though, she admitted: “The worst thing about poverty is not the actual living of it, but the shame of it.”

Today, the singer’s net worth is $650 million, proof of magnificent talent matched to monumental ambition.

Following high school graduation, Dolly Rebecca Parton grabbed her guitar and headed for Nashville. She heaped big blond wigs atop her little frame and slipped into four-inch heels and low-cut dresses spangled with sparkles. Then she sang her way to stardom at the Grand Ole Opry.

Within a few years, Dolly was named “Queen of Country.” Decades later, the “Queen” had produced 50 studio albums

and earned 11 Grammys, three Emmys, two Academy Award nominations, six Golden Globes and a Tony. Music historian Robert K. Oermann said if she’d been born in a different era, Dolly would have been Mozart. “She was touched by something.”

Fueled by ambition to showcase her gifts, Dolly took her country music to Hollywood to become a movie star and, in 1980, made her big-screen debut in “9 to 5,” costarring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and featuring some of Dolly’s songs. Two years later, she starred in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” followed by “Steel Magnolias.”

When lasting movie stardom eluded her, she created Dollywood, an amusement park — complete with resort and spa — in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, spanning 160 acres and offering more than 60 rides and slides.

“Welcome to my home, my mountains,” reads Dolly’s sign on DreamMore Way at the park, which has been described as “a living monument to her life.”

In the fall of 2025, Dolly was set to cap her 80th birthday with a six-week residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. But the and experienced

appearance was suddenly postponed. Just months after her husband, Carl Dean, died at 82, she was rushed to a hospital in Knoxville. Her family was frantic. Her sister Freida begged people to pray for Dolly; another sister, Stella, said her “kidney stones had become infected.”

The next day, the star herself spoke to her fans: “I just need a little time to get show-ready, as they say … And don’t you worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet. But I believe he is tellin’ me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with you all.”

When she then had to cancel even more public appearances, Dolly again tried to reassure her fans, and perhaps herself. “I ain’t dead yet, and I ain’t stopping. I got plenty more to do before God calls me home.”

Now comes Martha Ackmann with “Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton,” which tries to capture the star’s ineffable magic. But without new sources, fresh information or access to the singer herself, the biographer is hamstrung and forced to fall back on previously published material.

That material included Parton’s 1994 memoir, “Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business,” plus her three autobiographies: “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics,” “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones” and, most recently, “Star of the Show: My Life on Stage.” Consequently, this work is larded with endnotes, chapter notes and footnotes on almost every page.

Ackmann praises Dolly’s founding of her Imagination Library, which provides free books to children around the world, and commends the singer’s philanthropic support of health organizations, which helped lead to the creation of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.

Although there will be nothing new to Parton’s fans in this book, it’s moving to read that her most famous song, “Jolene,” reached Nelson Mandela when he was imprisoned on Robben Island for battling South Africa’s apartheid system. Whenever the guards gave Mandela permission to play music over the prison’s loudspeaker, he always chose “Jolene,” which Ackmann movingly describes as “two hundred words of vulnerability and hurt.”

Dolly Parton’s music — the songs she wrote

and sang while accompanied by her dulcimer or autoharp or guitar — reverberates with life’s sadness, joys and triumphs, a kind of magic that’s challenging for any biographer to convey. While readers might wish that Ackmann had given them a more inspiring story, they’ll always have Dolly’s music — as true and everlasting as the Great Smoky Mountains. Kitty Kelley is the author of seven numberone 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 AntiCensorship 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.

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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