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VOLUME 72 NUMBER 12
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SEPTEMBER 16 – OCTOBER 13, 2026
Here Comes the Sun Robert Allbritton: Georgetown’s Un-Bezos
John Thompson HS Opens RIP: Gloria Steinem Alsop House, Site of Rose Park Gala Haute & Cool at L’Avant Garde
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Friends of Rose Park Annual Fundraiser Gala THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1ST 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM AT THE HISTORIC
ALSOP HOUSE
TICKETS AVAILABLE ON ROSEPARKDC.ORG
PRESENTING SPONSORS Ellen & Howard Eisenberg
2026 HOST COMMITTEE Gail Daubert · Sarah Wade & Rich Rosenzweig · Cailin Monahan · Jennifer Bisceglie Liz & Phil D'angio · Tereza & Tony Jawhar · Alexandra Moskowitz · Emily Small · Gwendolyn Lohse · Nancy Taylor Bubes · Jane Matz · WTC Builders · Zoe Feldman Design · The Poppy Georgetown · Jackie & William Weldon · Stefanie Scott · Margaret & Dave Dunning · Russell Bridges & Dudley Cannada · Chelsea & Nathan Nair · Tina Nadler · Constance Zimmer & Robert Hetem · Anne Stevenson · Manisha & Roy Kapani · The Drawing Board Inc Ellie Rogers Concierge · Soo Chu Yee & J. Peter Pham · Karen & Eric Dickman Illustration by Sally Melgar Vallenas
THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
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IN THIS ISSUE
ON THE COVER
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT EMERITUS Peggy Sands
Town Topics
FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR Mira Adwell
EDITORIAL & OPINION 10
GRAPHIC DESIGN Jill Madsen Katie McKenney Heather Harris Roemer
The Kennedy Center; Defending Democracy
THE VILLAGE 11
Robert Allbritton: Georgetown’s Un-Bezos
APPRECIATION 14
PHOTOGRAPHERS Mira Adwell Philip Bermingham Bill Starrels Andy Cline
MIRA ADWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
COVER STORY 12-13
Robert Allbritton of the Washington Sun at his Arlington newsroom.
Gloria Steinem, 1936-2026
ARTS PULLOUT 15-26 REAL ESTATE 28-31 Auction Block / Sales Figures / At Home
FOOD & WINE 32-33 The Latest Dish / Cocktail of the Month / Inside the Oak Room and Bernadette’s
BUSINESS 34 IN COUNTRY 35 Hunt Country’s Grace Church Concert Season
SOCIAL SCENE 36 Georgetowner Gala Guide
HAUTE & COOL 37 Fashion at L’Avant-Garde
KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB 38 ‘Smut: An 1883 Obscenity Trial and Its Echoes Today’
4 SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER
EDITOR-AT-LARGE Robert Devaney ARTS EDITOR & COPY EDITOR Richard Selden CONTRIBUTORS Susan Bodiker Allyson Burkhardt Donna Evers Michelle Galler Amos Gelb Wally Greeves Kitty Kelley Jody Kurash Lauretta McCoy Shelia Moses Ari Post Linda Roth Alison Schafer Celia Sharpe Mary Ann Treger INTERNS Natalie Gordon Donnelly Rodgers Francis Rienzo Callie Solomon Caroline Woodward
1050 30th Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (202) 338-4833 Fax: (202) 338-4834 www.georgetowner.com “The Newspaper Whose Influence Far Exceeds Its Size” — Pierre Cardin
Fall Visual & Performing Arts Preview
Ins & Outs
CONTENT COORDINATOR Matilde Herrera ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Madeleine Brito
NEWS 6-9
Fabled Alsop House to Host Rose Park Gala
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-INCHIEF Sonya Bernhardt
The Georgetowner Welcomes Mira Adwell as New Fashion Editor We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mira Adwell as our new Fashion Editor, bringing more than 15 years of experience in fashion and commercial photography, editorial storytelling, and creative direction to the publication. Adwell joins The Georgetowner with a fresh and distinctive perspective at a time when the fashion industry—and Washington’s creative landscape—is continually evolving. Her vision extends well beyond fashion itself. At the heart of Adwell’s approach is a belief in the power of storytelling, collaboration, and meaningful relationships to bring communities together.
Thirty years! Where did the time go? Thank you to everyone who reached out with such wonderful congratulations. What an amazing journey it has been! And a special shoutout to Robert Devaney, who started it all by selling me an ad at The Georgetowner 30 years ago. Who knew where that one little ad would lead? Three decades later, Robert and I are still here — and I wouldn’t have it any other way. What a ride! —Sonya Bernhardt
The Georgetowner is published in print monthly with an online newsletter supplement posted twice per week — On Mondays we highlight news and on Thursdays goings on about town. The opinions of our writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect the editorial and corporate opinions of The Georgetowner newspaper. The Georgetowner accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. The Georgetowner reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for errors or omissions. Copyright 2026.
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TOWN TOPICS
Community Calendar BY RICHARD SELDEN
September ANC 2E Meeting Report BY TH E GE ORGETOW N E R Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E held its “September” meeting on Monday, Aug. 31. The following report summarizes what was discussed.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The Metropolitan Police Department’s Lt. Danielle Vitatoe reported a significant increase in robberies and burglaries in the Georgetown area, noting that many robberies involve the theft of personal items and e-bikes. Regarding residential burglaries, Cmdr. Christopher Dorsey noted that many incidents occurred due to unlocked doors, particularly in student housing. Residents expressed concern over an individual living in a white Mitsubishi; Vitatoe clarified that police require direct witnesses to confirm public urination or indecent exposure before intervention. Reports of drag racing on K Street have shifted to the Whitehurst Freeway. Com missioner Mimsy Lindner requested that residents call 911 when these events occur so officers can identify vehicles. Discussion occurred regarding high-end vehicle thefts involving electronic security bypasses.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Jimika Williams from Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office announced several upcoming events, including the Sept. 12 DC Bike Ride and a construction kickoff for the new Commanders Stadium. A representative from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection will attend a future meeting to address concerns about short-term rentals; Commissioner Gwen Lohse suggested coordinating specific questions in advance.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Brian Romanowski from Council member Brooke Pinto’s office discussed legislative recess, local school renovations and
the Georgetown DMV closure due to flooding. Interim Department of Transportation representative Christian Piñeiro addressed issues with long-term “no parking” signs used by contractors; he committed to reviewing coordination with the operations team to ensure signs are posted no later than 72 hours before work begins.
ZONING DECISIONS
The commission reviewed several applications involving land use and institutional modifications. Georgetown University Campus Plan: The commission supported modifications to the Hilltop Campus Plan, allowing a 1.5-percent increase in undergraduate enrollment and a phased increase in medical school enrollment. A new condition was added: if off-campus undergraduate housing exceeds 970 students, the enrollment cap will be reduced. Residential Zoning: The commission approved a special exception for a resident’s home addition involving minor lot occupancy and setback increases. Liquor Licenses: The commission decided not to protest Kyojin Sushi’s expansion into an adjacent unit in Cady’s Alley as it does not change usage or hours. However, it voted to protest a substantial change application for a wine club/restaurant due to concerns regarding potential rooftop decks and noise disruptions.
UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
Georgetown University student conduct and neighborhood impact were the primary focus of the discussion. An attendee expressed significant frustration regarding a past incident involving a student whose behavior caused health issues for neighbors, specifically regarding secondhand smoke. The speaker argued that GU must provide written assurances and follow its own code of student conduct to prevent future occurrences. Adrea Turner, GU vice president for
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government relations and community engagement, stated that marijuana use is prohibited in the student code of conduct and that the university is upgrading its tracking and communication processes through the Office of Neighborhood Life. An at tendee questioned why previous incidents were not handled more effectively. Turner noted that FERPA privacy laws prevent discussing specific student cases. The commission ultimately voted in favor of the application, but noted that the university should continue collaborative efforts to address community concerns, including providing timelines for parking enforcement and new housing programs.
PERMIT REVIEWS
The commission reviewed a permit application for a dormer expansion at 1689 34th St. NW. The architect presented plans for a dormer expansion featuring snow guards and a three-inch copper gutter designed to manage rainwater runoff. Two concerns were raised: the lack of clear documentation on how runoff will be retained within the existing drainage system and privacy issues resulting from an increase in windows from one to three, which creates sightlines into an adjacent child’s bedroom. The commission passed a resolution taking no position on the permit but encouraging the Old Georgetown Board to ensure that drawings clearly show the drainage path and to consider window configurations that lessen privacy impacts.
PROJECT UPDATES
Updates were provided on several upcoming agenda items. The 30th Street project was removed from the upcoming agenda because the applicant failed to complete six required items requested by OGB in June. Discussion occurred regarding high-end vehicle thefts involving electronic security bypasses.
DUMBARTON HOUSE CELEBRATION Friday, September 18 Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW, will toast the nation’s 250th birthday — and the Federalperiod house museum’s reopening after more than a year’s closure for urgent renovation work — at “Sparkling for the Semiquincentennial: A Celebration of Dumbarton House” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $266 on Eventbrite. GU GALLERIES OPENING RECEPTION Friday, September 18 The Georgetown University Art Galleries, 3535 Prospect St NW, will host a free opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. for their Fall 2026 exhibitions, “Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Look Alive” and “Professor E. Brady Robinson: Studio Hours/After Hours.” The reception will include live music and light refreshments. Visit guartgalleries.org. DANCING ON THE WATERFRONT Tuesday, September 22 In partnership with Dancing on the Waterfront, the Georgetown Business Improvement District is offering free weekly outdoor dance classes in Georgetown Waterfront Park for participants of all ages and skill levels. Each week, a DJ spins a mix of music. The closing summer session will take place on Sept. 29. Visit georgetowndc.com. TUDOR PLACE LANDMARK LECTURE Tuesday, September 22 Molly Kerr, founding director at History Revealed, Inc., will give a free Landmark Lecture, “A Digital Gateway: Researching the Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon & Beyond,” at 6:30 p.m. at Tudor Place’s Dower House, 1670 31st St. NW. Her talk will focus on how Mount Vernon’s Slavery Database is being used to recreate the community enslaved by the Washington and Custis families. Visit tudorplace.org. MT. ZION COMMUNITY DAY September, September 26 Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 1334 29th St. NW, presents Dr. Thornell Page Community Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event, celebrating 210 years of Mt. Zion, will include live music and entertainment; food, fashion, beauty and small business vendors; family activities; a community resource fair; church and historic site tours; health and wellness resources; and fitness classes. Visit mtzionumcdc.org.
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TOWN TOPICS
Black Georgetown Foundation Cites DDOT Errors at Historic Cemeteries BY CAROL INE W OODWA R D Lisa Fager, executive director of the Black Georgetown Foundation, is sounding the alarm on the District Department of Transportation’s alleged carelessness in carrying out drainage work next to two historic cemeteries. BGF held an Aug. 4 town hall at the Georgetown Public Library regarding work done by DDOT near 27th Street, Mill Road and Lyons Mill Road. These roads are located beside the oldest remaining intact Black cemeteries in Washington, D.C., the Mount Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemeteries in Georgetown. Recently, the Black Georgetown Foundation was made aware that DDOT excluded the Female Union Band Society Cemetery property from a 2025 Lyons Mill Road remote-sensing study area. Done in preparation for a drainage project to improve stormwater runoff, the study, along with 2023 survey data, identified seven sites of potential burial in areas of recent construction. According to BGF, even after these sites were discovered and identified, DDOT proceeded to place construction vehicles and equipment on and around the immediate area. BGF also claims it was not made aware of artifacts found by DDOT employees at these sites until November of 2025, when their discovery was mentioned in a report relating only to Lyons Mill Road. This prompted Fager to request a report, and subsequently make a public records request, after a lack of timely response from DDOT. BGF, which manages the two cemeteries, located at 2501 Mill Road NW, supports the improvements but is highly concerned about DDOT’s management of the project and disregard for historical and cultural significance, she said. “When the city treats this place as empty space, that becomes neglected on the ground,” Fager told NBC4. In a media summary from BGF, the foundation outlined three primary concerns with the situation. First, the foundation would like clarification on whether the seven sites marked by the 2023 survey data are within the cemetery or under the jurisdiction of DDOT. Due to DDOT not properly marking the cemetery’s borders in the survey, their exact locations are unclear. Second, BGF is requesting a report of the additional findings from the 2025 Lyons Mill Road survey. The foundation notes: “The seven locations marked by DDOT on July 23 were based on 2023 survey data. Our concern about the 2025 Lyons Mill Road survey is that DDOT has not disclosed and field-marked all the probable burials, targets and anomalies extending toward Rock Creek.” Finally, BGF would like a response as to why deep excavation by DDOT proceeded for more than 30 days without an onsite archaeologist. Due to this lack of oversight, DDOT used a different standard of distance, working within only five feet of the cemetery instead of the 50-foot radius that is the archaeological standard. BGF is requesting that DDOT directly
Lisa Fager, executive director of the Black Georgetown Foundation.
respond, addressing these questions and concerns via reports, source data and burial protection and future treatment plans with independent archaeological oversight. Days before the town hall, all the equipment from the site was removed and a curb was constructed to protect the land, according to both DDOT and the foundation. BGF adds: “The curb was part of a design prepared approximately a year ago. Although DDOT completed it shortly before the town hall, it was not newly designed to protect the burial-sensitive land.” DDOT also acknowledged certain mistakes, including not keeping community members informed and storing construction materials on the grounds. “We focus a lot on being culturally relevant, but I think we also have to work on being culturally sensitive,” said Olivia Dedner, DDOT’s head of external affairs, at the Aug. 4 town hall. “Hindsight being 20/20, and this is terrible, but we should have just put the time into finding another location.” The incident points to a larger problem that impacts the interaction of construction and historical sites around the city. While D.C. archaeologists can recommend protections, DDOT and other citywide agencies are not required to follow them. In response, BGF is calling for official burial policies, requiring notice, mapping, consultation, archaeological monitoring, protection, maintenance, enforcement and accountability when probable burial sites and other historic places are identified in places of potential construction. Such policies, says the foundation, are an essential step to ensuring the dignity and protection of these sites. “Humans remain,” said Joseph Jones, professor of anthropology and director of the Institute for Historical Biology at the College of William & Mary, at the Aug. 4 town hall. “Not human remains, but humans remain. They are people.” See follow-up story at Georgetowner.com.
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TOWN TOPICS
Mayor, Officials Celebrate Thompson High on First Day of School
September 2026 Crime Report BY G REG LO VE
PHOTO BY BILL STARRELS
BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY
PHOTO BY BILL STARRELS
At newly renamed John R. Thompson Jr. High School: Dylan Thompson, grandson of John Thompson Jr., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Delano Hunter, director of DC General Services.
Mayor Muriel Bowser with Thompson HS principal Harold McCray.
On Monday, Aug. 24, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined DC Public Schools and Department of General Services representatives — along with District leaders, Georgetown University officials and community members — to celebrate the first day of school and cut the ribbon at the newly expanded and renamed John R. Thompson Jr. High School, formerly MacArthur High School. First opened in 2023, the school is the newest DCPS high school in 50 years. Following a $91-million expansion, the school now serves up to 800 students in grades 9 through 12. Located at 4530 MacArthur Boulevard NW, the school was renamed to honor legendary Washingtonian, educator and Georgetown University men’s basketball coach John R. Thompson Jr., whose impact extended far beyond the basketball court. “I want to thank all the educators, administrators, school staff, station managers
8 SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER
and bus drivers, crossing guards — all the people who are working together to welcome our students to school and make the first day of school a great one,” said Bowser. “John R. Thompson Jr. High School is a beautiful space for our students and teachers. It represents the billions of dollars we have poured into our school facilities over the past two decades, and we are so proud to honor Coach Thompson here.” Over the course of several construction phases, the expansion project increased the school’s capacity from 200 to 800 students and, in this most recent phase, added a new 33,000-squarefoot building. The new facilities comprise an entire floor of science classrooms, two art rooms, two music classrooms, an administrative space, technology-equipped learning spaces and an outdoor classroom. Other features include an indoor courtyard and Potomac River views.
Overall crime within the boundaries of Georgetown’s Police Service Area 206 was slightly down in August compared to July. According to data provided by the Metropolitan Police Department, overall crime fell to 53 total incidents for the month, a small decrease from 56 reported incidents in July. The biggest decrease was in incidents labeled “theft/other,” down from 48 incidents in July to 38 in August. While the total number of reported incidents was lower for August, there was one violent crime (robbery) reported, up from zero incidents in July. There were also 11 reported incidents of car break-ins, a significant increase from just six incidents in July. As in July, a majority of reported incidents were along the M Street and Wisconsin Avenue commercial corridors, including shoplifting and other retail-related crime. However, at least seven incidents were reported in residential areas around Q Street in Georgetown’s east village, including thefts and car break-ins. Although crime continues to be generally low in Georgetown, there has been a yearover-year increase in both robberies and burglaries, with MPD data showing 14 total year-to-date incidents for 2026, compared to only three total incidents for the same period last year. MPD urges residents to make sure doors and windows are secure and to be aware of their surroundings when out in public, particularly after dark. Installation of home security cameras is also recommended, both to prevent incidents and to help identify perpetrators. Georgetowners interested in learning more about CAG’s Block Captain program, or becoming a Block Captain for their block, can find information at cagtown.org.
TOWN TOPICS
News Bytes
TRENDING
BY FR A NCIS RIENZ O
Bergen Donates Al-Qaeda Archive to GU
Teenage Girl Dies After Falling into Potomac On Aug. 22, 15-year-old Serene Tayari of Arlington died after being pulled from the Potomac River near Georgetown Waterfront Park shortly after 7:45 p.m. by officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Harbor Unit. Unconscious and not breathing, Tayari was transported to a nearby hospital by DC Fire and EMS. According to MPD, she “slipped while sitting on a ledge.” Her family set up a GoFundMe page for medical and memorial expenses.
MPD Officer’s Death Believed Self-Inflicted A Metropolitan Police Department officer died on Aug. 31, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooting took place around 5 a.m. at the Second District police station at 3320 Idaho Ave. NW, near Washington National Cathedral. The officer, who has not been publicly identified, died after being transported to George Washington University Hospital.
take place in McDonough Arena. Both events will be livestreamed.
Fallen Dupont Circle Tree Mourned With Notes After an intense thunderstorm on the night of Sept. 3, a decades-old tree snapped in half and fell in Dupont Circle. Many residents of Dupont and other neighborhoods — and even out-of-town visitors — have attached poems, photos and handwritten notes of mourning to the still-standing trunk. The National Park service is responsible for cleaning up after the storm; residents have urged them not to remove the tree.
Peter Bergen, a CNN reporter since the 1990s who produced CNN’s 1997 interview in Afghanistan with terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, donated his archive of al-Qaeda materials to Georgetown University on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The trove comprises some 150,000 pages of digital and physical items on the network; its name means “the base” in Arabic.
GU President Peñalver to Be Inaugurated Oct. 9 Eduardo M. Peñalver, 49th president of Georgetown University, will be inaugurated on Friday, Oct. 9. At 10 a.m., a Mass honoring Jesuit and Catholic traditions will be held in historic Healy Hall’s Gaston Hall auditorium. Dr. Peñalver’s installation, featuring musical performances and his inauguration address, will
from pursuing elective jobs and internships that are not required for their degrees.
International Students’ Work Approvals Halted Following two memos from the Department of Homeland Security, Georgetown University will refuse to allow international students, F-1 visa holders, to work off-campus unless it is necessary for graduation. This restricts them
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EDITORIAL & OPINION
Defending D.C. Means Defending American Democracy The Kennedy Center: Dead or Alive? Mr. President, Please Don’t Assassinate the Kennedy Center The Kennedy Center is in crisis. On Sept. 15, its board voted to close the main building immediately, citing serious structural problems and an increasingly dire financial situation. Center officials have warned that the institution could be unable to meet payroll and routine maintenance obligations “within a matter of weeks.” At the same time, a federal judge again blocked efforts to put President Donald Trump’s name on the Kennedy Center’s exterior, ruling that such a change requires congressional authorization. Lost amid the legal motions, financial warnings and political maneuvering is something Washingtonians understand instinctively: the Kennedy Center belongs to all of us. For 55 years, millions of people have walked through those halls to hear the National Symphony Orchestra, see Washington National Opera, attend a musical or dance performance, celebrate a birthday or simply stand on the terrace overlooking the Potomac. For Georgetown, it is a neighbor. Visible from countless spots in the neighborhood, the Kennedy Center dominates that breathtaking bend in the river. It is part of our everyday landscape — and our collective memory. Again, it’s personal. One Georgetowner editor remembers his first visit just a month after the center opened in 1971. His high school girlfriend was visiting him at Georgetown University, and they went to see Cat Stevens, who looked around the brand-new building and told the audience: “I love your new houseboat.”
Over the decades, our editors have attended countless performances and encountered everyone from Plácido Domingo and Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Jerry Seinfeld, Jonathan Winters and Queen Noor. Author Kitty Kelley put the current predicament more pointedly: “Trump saying he’ll let the Kennedy Center go into bankruptcy unless they put his name on the building reminds me of the old lawyer story about asking the defendant who killed his parents and begs for leniency because he’s an orphan.” But sentiment alone cannot save an institution. If the Kennedy Center needs major repairs, repair it. If its finances need rescuing, rescue them. If Washington needs to rally around one of its most important cultural institutions, now is the time. What should not be lost is the identity of a national memorial created in honor of President John F. Kennedy and his commitment to the arts. This Friday, Sept. 18, at 6:30 p.m., Hands Off the Arts plans a gathering at the Kennedy Center, culminating in a human chain around the building. Whatever one’s politics, the Kennedy Center’s future matters far beyond this moment. Save it. Restore it. Reopen it. Keep it the Kennedy Center. In the words of JFK: “Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.”
BY R OBERT C . WH ITE JR . For more than a year, Washingtonians have lived under a military presence that we did not request and our elected local government cannot end. We see troops in Metro stations, on sidewalks and throughout the public spaces where we work, raise our families and gather as a community. The most alarming part is how quickly an extraordinary sight can become ordinary. We adjust our routes. We lower our voices. Parents search for words to explain the uniforms and weapons to their children. We keep moving because life requires it, but the questions remain: Who decided this for us? How long will it continue? Why do Washingtonians have so little power over what happens in our own city? This is what the erosion of democracy feels like. It feels like looking over your shoulder in the place you call home. I am a fifth-generation Washingtonian. I know this city beyond its monuments and federal buildings. Washington is go-go music spilling from an open window. It is neighbors checking on seniors after a storm. It is small businesses that fuel our economy, children racing through recreation centers and families building lives across generations. D.C. is home. Our city faces real challenges. Families struggle to find affordable housing. Parents need stronger schools, young people need safe places to go and workers need jobs that allow them to build stable lives. National Guard troops cannot build homes, teach children, expand mental health care or create economic opportunity. In August of 2025, President Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops into Washington and temporarily assumed control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Thousands of Guard members from the District and several states have since served here. D.C.’s mayor does not control the District’s National Guard. Congress could give the District that authority, but it has not. That lack of control carries a direct consequence: the president can deploy D.C.’s Guard in our city without the consent of our mayor or residents. Because each state’s governor controls its National Guard, I wrote to the governors that
sent troops from their states to Washington and urged them to bring them home. But the Guard deployment exposes a larger problem. The same political structure that denies D.C. control of its Guard also denies our residents full representation and complete authority over our local affairs. More than 700,000 Washingtonians pay federal taxes, serve in the military and participate in our democracy. Yet we have no voting senators, no vote on final passage in the House and no final authority over our local laws or budget. Congress can intervene in decisions made by the mayor and Council that D.C. residents elected. Appealing to governors can address the issue of troops sent from their states. However, protecting D.C.’s broader right to govern itself requires us to confront members of Congress who threaten home rule. That is why I launched Defend D.C. We are taking this fight beyond D.C.’s borders and into the districts of representatives who attack our autonomy while neglecting the needs of their own constituents. If they insist on governing Washington, they should answer to the people they were elected to serve. Defend D.C. is a coalition of D.C. home rule and civil rights organizations that have always carried Washington through difficult moments. We share a fundamental belief: D.C. cannot defend home rule alone. We need durable relationships inside and outside Washington. Coalition-building turns individual frustration into an organized and sustained defense of the District. If the federal government can override the will of an entire city because its residents lack equal representation, then that failure belongs to our national democracy. Defending D.C. means defending the people who call it home and affirming that we deserve what democracy promises everyone else: a meaningful voice in the decisions that govern our lives. Robert White, an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia, is the presumptive D.C. Delegate to Congress, beginning in January.
Letters to the Editor & Comments: Responding to “A Year of National Guard Deployment in D.C.,” Monica Morin wrote: There are 5,000 of them, so it’s a wide variety. They are all making really great money and earning time towards VA loans, G.I. bill benefits and military retirement. They are all also on what’s called TDY so they are also all earning a very good per diem. It’s absolutely a terrible return for the money spent and useless at that. It’s absolutely security theater. Definitely know that their superiors are
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telling them that they are essential to our safety and that they are very important. In this information economy, most people believe either the first thing they heard or the last thing they heard. Responding to “Encountering the New Grand Egypt Museum,” Betsey Apple wrote: A terrific piece by Margaret Dunning … only wish I could get back to Egypt again to visit this marvel she describes so well!
VILLAGE
Alsop House: Historic Rendezvous for Friends of Rose Park Gala BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY A great Washington party, Susan Mary Alsop told a reporter, “is a question of electricity. It’s also luck. If you’re fortunate enough to get the secretary of state and the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the night of an international crisis ... it sounds ghoulish, but it’s something you want to have.” The “Second Lady of Camelot” was married to influential Washington columnist Joe Alsop, who built the unique cinderblock house on Dumbarton Street in 1948, which scandalized the neighborhood.
Howard and Ellen Eisenberg. Georgetowner photo.
It is at this fabled Georgetown residence — courtesy of current owners Ellen and Howard Eisenberg — that the Friends of Rose Park will rendezvous for the organization’s Annual Fundraiser Gala on Thursday, Oct. 1. “The Eisenbergs have graciously opened their home to benefit the Friends of Rose Park,” said Gail Daubert, the group’s president. “We are grateful to the Eisenbergs for continuing a
In the back yard, a dead cherry tree reborn as an artful totem. Georgetowner photo.
tradition of hospitality that Susan Mary Alsop made famous. To celebrate this fabulous house and Rose Park, we will be serving a new cocktail that we named the Rose Blossom!” The cocktail, she explained, is a spritz, made with Italian aperitif Sarti Rosa. Active in the community, the Eisenbergs — co-founders of United Sortation Solutions and Eurosort, Inc., companies in the materials handling industry — are both Entrepreneurs in Residence with Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business; Ellen is an adjunct professor at the business school. Why all this hubbub for a public park? Well, neighbors know what an exceptional park they have at 26th and O Streets — the first of the District’s parks to be integrated — with its basketball and tennis courts (the latter named for the Peters sisters, doubles champs), rec center, children’s playgrounds, farmers market and dogs. The need for maintenance of Rose Park, which runs parallel to Rock Creek Park from M Street to P Street, is continual, coordinated by the Friends group with the District and federal governments. Insect-damaged rose bushes are being moved and new ones are being added, along with high-tech trash cans that keep the rats out. As for the Alsops, consider, for starters: “The Georgetown Set: Friends and Rivals in Cold War Washington” and “Taking on the World: Joseph and Stewart Alsop – Guardians of the American Century.” The Alsops lived in Georgetown during the years — from the mid-’40s to the mid-’70s — when “The hand that mixes the Georgetown martini is time and again the hand that guides the destiny of the Western world,” as Henry Kissinger observed. Think Kennedys, Bradlees, Grahams, Harrimans, Achesons and Bruces. It was also an era of “Elegant Deceptions,” to
A portrait of Joe Alsop along the stairs with “Let’s create a lifetime of adventures” by Nelson De La Nuez. Georgetowner photo.
Living room of the Eisenberg residence. Georgetowner photo.
borrow a term from William Patten, who wrote the book “My Three Fathers: And the Elegant Deceptions of My Mother, Susan Mary Alsop.” Jack Kennedy’s philandering was ignored. Joe Alsop’s capture in a man-baited KGB honey trap got the deep six. The married Susan Alsop’s affair with another man (upon the request of his wife) was utterly discreet, even as she bore a baby by him. All this while containing the Soviet Union and averting nuclear war. So, bring your CIA remote viewing device to the Alsop/Eisenberg House and disrupt the
timeline. “Oh, look, there’s Jack and Jackie and Ben and Tony!” “Dammit, Joe is so vociferous, but this martini is worthy of 007.” We don’t know Marco Rubio’s or Jim Risch’s plans for the evening of Oct. 1, but we’re sure that Gail Daubert, Russell Bridges, Sarah Wade, Dave Dunning, Eric Dickman, Annabeth Foley, Jared Jones and Sarah Dean will be on hand. To wit, the tip perfect hostess Alsop gave her daughter about parties: “Oh, just give them plenty of booze and hope it will go.”
Dining room of the Eisenberg residence. Georgetowner photo.
THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
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Robert Allbritton: Georgetown’s Un-Bezos
PHOTO BY MIRA ADWELL
BY AMOS GELB
Robert Allbritton in the Washington Sun newsroom.
T
here is something disarming when a local billionaire’s response to a question about whether he does his own grocery shopping is a concern shared by everyone who shops at the Wisconsin Avenue Trader Joe’s: “I feel like I’m going to kill my car getting in and out.” Grabbing groceries or meeting a reporter for breakfast without cameras or an entourage is clearly important to Robert Allbritton. His desire for anonymity dates to watching strangers recognize his father, founder of the Allbritton empire. “I saw people recognize my dad on the street,” he recalls, “and I would ask, Do you know him? And he would say no. That just seemed so strange to me. I didn’t like it.” Welcome to Georgetown’s un-Bezos. He may be the District’s other media mogul and reside in the financial stratosphere, but that is where similarities stop. Washington, D.C., is Allbritton’s home, not just a place he has a home. Paparazzi aren’t shadowing him. In fact, he almost turned down an invitation for a photo shoot to accompany this article. Allbritton answers texts and arranges his own schedule. He doesn’t flaunt his wealth with
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well-publicized mega-yachts. His first and only marriage is to a doctor who has her own career. Together, they are raising three children at home (one is off to university). Nonetheless, the man is one of this century’s great journalistic entrepreneurs. Allbritton obviously loves building journalism companies — because, he says, “I like newsrooms, they are filled with curious people.” His father laid the foundation, owning a newspaper and television stations, as well as Riggs Bank. But Allbritton took his father’s empire and raised the stakes, bringing us Politico — changing the face of political reporting in doing so — and then taking it a step further, modernizing and increasing the economic success of the traditional industry newsletter model with Politico Pro (“making it something readable,” he says). Next, he sold them for a billion dollars. He sold the family collection of television stations, including WJLA, for half a billion. Three years ago, Allbritton started again, because running the family’s investment portfolio wasn’t fulfilling. He dismisses his inability to stay away from journalism, claiming he’s not able
COURTESY PHOTO.
Robert Allbritton and his newsroom team in Arlington celebrate the launch of the Washington Sun.
to help himself. “I call myself the recidivist publisher,” he says, adding less coyly: “People like to build things or people don’t. People like taking risks or they don’t.” Allbritton clearly does. This time it is a twist on the newsroom, a journalism education endeavor he personally funded with $20 million because he believes education will be his lasting impact. One of the few overt expressions of pride comes when Allbritton notes how many of his early career journalists at Politico went on to become journalistic stars.
PHOTO BY TONY POWELL
“I like newsrooms, they are filled with curious people.”
Robert and Elena Allbritton at a White House Correspondents’ pre-party in 2024.
So, he doubled down. The Allbritton Journalism Institute gives starting journalists two years of paid, old-fashioned political reporting apprenticeships (“You can’t learn this stuff in a classroom”). Young reporters, who work with hardened professionals, have already broken a handful of big stories. Their work has appeared in the online political publication NOTUS (News Of The United States — a take on SCOTUS, Supreme Court Of The United States, and POTUS, President Of The United States). NOTUS has now relaunched as a full-fledged local journalism enterprise: The Washington Sun. (“The Washington Star” was dropped following a lawsuit over the name that Allbritton didn’t think worth fighting.) This new enterprise comes at a fascinating time in media, when private owners like Bezos and Ellison (of Paramount infamy) are being pilloried, legacy brands like CBS News are having very public identity crises, a passel of hyperfocused
publications have appeared in the political journalism world that Allbritton reshaped and many of the small, nonprofit local publications that popped up in a post-Covid tsunami face financial extinction. But Allbritton harrumphs at the idea that American journalism is in crisis. Rather, he is bullish. And he sees opportunity in D.C. (It would be foolish to bet against him. Allbritton has repeatedly demonstrated a gift for seeing a journalism wave coming and starting to paddle so he can ride it before it breaks.) In this case, it is not only due to what he sees across town: the Washington Post receding from local coverage. It is also because Allbritton has identified two trends he believes can be the foundation of a new kind of financially sustainable local news organization. The first is that he sees an opportunity to build on the Politico advertising model — funded by corporations willing to spend lavishly to get their interests under the noses of D.C.’s players — by adding a nonpolitical, local content dimension. “Those chiefs of staff are just people. They’re called human beings, and they actually live here. And they’re interested in what goes on in their backyard, local news. Is it going to dump snow? How are the Nats doing? I believe nobody is serving that and it makes for a stronger news bundle.” Allbritton is confident that adding local reporting will differentiate his project from those other relatively new outlets with a hyperfocus on politics, like Punchbowl. The question is, What does Allbritton mean by “local coverage?” He says he’s not looking to cover every town hall meeting, but rather the big communal issues that the town hall is meeting about. The second trend, almost heretical in the world of journalism, is the idea that the “Chinese wall” that traditionally divided newsroom editorial and sales has been crossed. “Smart revenue guys today realize they need to sell quality. It is not just the old-fashioned quick-sell-and-get-out as in the past. And now the journalists are too often trending towards the quick sale — the clickbait — because of the focus on numbers.” In Allbritton’s new world, the journalists and the sales teams collaborate, creating quality journalism for which people will pay. In short: RIP, the first law of traditional journalism. Put together, Allbritton believes these trends mean there is a sustainable D.C.-based journalism model to be had of marrying quality political and community reporting, done on a realistic scale (implying, but not directly criticizing, the Post as having gotten too big). But Allbritton is clear: The Washington Sun is not a charity project. It has to make money, with all profits reinvested in the Allbritton Journalism Institute. The key, he says, is quality. So, he raided the Post and just about everyone else to create an A-team of reporters. He credits his editor-in-chief, Tim Grieve, with being a genius at identifying talent. He even lured the D.C. food scene-defining Tom Sietsema out of retirement to again start “eating mediocre food so you don’t have to” (as Sietsema once put it). It’s just one more act for the proven journalism impresario. The constant in Allbritton’s strategy and execution? The man is a true Washingtonian. Check out this lightning round: Which sports team? “Nats, of course. I am a baseball guy.” Cupcakes (the real test)? “Baked and Wired.” Could he do this anywhere else? “Absolutely not.” Chicago? “Too cold.” L.A.? “Who would want to?” Georgetown is his home. Allbritton has lived for two decades in the Georgetown house his wife put in a bid for while he was on a business trip (“I married up”). She has hinted at downsizing when the last of their kids is out of the house, which is known for its over-the-top Halloween decorations. “But where to? Florida? Ick! And besides, at least one of my kids will likely end up living at home.” Spoken like a 2020s parent, who does the grocery shopping.
THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
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Gloria Steinem, BY R ICHA RD S E L DE N
1936-2026
The Western High School Alumni Association (Go, Raiders!) lists 35 “notables,” including author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings ’14; financial journalist Austin Kiplinger ’35; defensive lineman Ray Krouse ’44; Edward White ’48, the first American to walk in space; and TV news anchor Kaity Tong ’65. Two more who achieved fame after leaving Western’s majestic building at 35th and R Streets NW, which became Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the 1970s: Margaret Gorman ’23, the first Miss America; and Gloria Steinem ’52, who died on Sept. 2 at age 92. Steinem attended Western only for her senior year, while living on Reservoir Road with her older sister Suzanne and her mother Ruth, who was separated from her father. Nine years apart, both sisters attended Smith College, one of what were then the Seven Sisters women’s colleges. A third Smithie, four years before Suzanne: Betty Friedan, author of “The Feminine Mystique” and co-founder of the National Organization for Women, Gloria’s predecessor and embittered rival as a feminist leader. Born in 1934 — on March 25 in Toledo, Ohio — in her 20s Steinem lived through a dramatic shift in how American society viewed women and how American women viewed themselves. In 1957, aged 22, she broke up with her fiancé and, on the way to India as a Chester Bowles Fellow, had an abortion, performed illegally by a London doctor. A piece by Penelope MacRae in the Guardian underlined the importance of Steinem’s two years in India, noting (with a photo): “She adopted the sari as everyday dress, writing: ‘Saris make one stand straighter and walk more slowly and worry less about time and efficiency.’” Traveling and interacting with followers of Mahatma Gandhi, Steinem came face to face with poverty, women’s struggles, the aftermath of caste violence and grassroots political organizing. “India was not entirely unfamiliar territory,” explained MacRae. “Her mother and paternal grandmother had been Theosophists, part of a spiritual movement that drew heavily on Hindu and Buddhist ideas such as karma and reincarnation, and at college Steinem had written a paper on the Communist party of India. “When her fellowship money ran out, she supported herself by writing for Indian newspapers, doing advertising work and taking occasional modelling jobs — including posing in saris.” In the West, the turbulence of the 1960s, triggered by the assassination of President Kennedy, with others to follow, tracked the intensification of the Vietnam War (which Steinem publicly opposed), the sexual revolution and the civil rights and women’s movements. Steinem’s writing suggests how she and the world around her were evolving.
It was the decade of both the miniskirt and the pantsuit, credited to British designers Mary Quant and Ossie Clark, respectively. Based in New York, Steinem wrote for the New York Times and more often for women’s magazines including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, McCall’s and Vogue. She published her first book (other than a 1957 guidebook, “A Thousand Indias”), “The Beach Book,” in 1963. Sari Edelstein described it last year in Public Books: “In this massive compendium of stories, poems, song lyrics, riddles, games and drawings, Steinem offers detailed instructions on how to build a sandcastle, how to tan, how to peel if you burn, how to bury someone in the sand, how to build and fly a kite and more. The original dust jacket was made of foil — so it could double as a tanning aid. The pages are sprinkled with loopy, whimsical drawings.” The same year, Show magazine published Steinem’s attention-getting exposé “A Bunny’s Tale,” describing how she uncovered to go undercover as a Playboy Club hostess. Steinem was a founding contributing editor of New York magazine, launched in 1968, also the debut year of “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby” women’s cigarette brand Virginia Slims. A few years later, she and others founded Ms. magazine, which began as an insert in New York’s December 1971 issue. (The honorific “Ms.” officially replaced “Miss” and “Mrs.” in the New York Times in 1986.) The first regular issue of Ms., in July of 1972, included a “We have had abortions” petition signed by 53 prominent women, including Steinem, calling for the procedure’s legalization. 1972 was a landmark year both for Steinem and for second-wave feminism, a term popularized by a 1968 New York Times Magazine article by Martha Lear, “The Second Feminist Wave: What do these women want?” Congress enacted Title IX and passed the Equal Rights Amendment (though the ERA failed to meet the ratification deadline). Oral contraceptives became legally available to unmarried women in every state. And “That Girl” Marlo Thomas’s children’s album “Free to Be … You and Me” was released. It was also the year of the Democratic National Convention in Miami, at which the National Women’s Political Caucus, which had elected Steinem as its spokesperson over Friedan, failed to get a pro-abortion plank into the platform. Nora Ephron wrote at the time: “It is probably too easy to go on about the two of them this way: Betty as Wicked Witch of the West, Gloria as Ozma, Glinda, Dorothy — take your pick. To talk this way ignores the subtleties, right? Gloria is not, after all, uninterested in power. And yes, she manages to remain above the feud, but that is partly because, unlike Betty, she has friends who will fight dirty for her. Still, it is hard to come out anywhere but squarely on her side. Betty Friedan, in her thoroughly irrational hatred of
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The journalist and feminist activist attended Western High School—now the Duke Ellington School of the Arts—in the 1950s. Steinem, has ceased caring whether or not the effects of that hatred are good or bad for the women’s movement.” Despite George McGovern’s backpedaling on abortion, and the Nixon landslide, abortion was legalized in the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision of 1973 (overturned in 2022). Also in 1973: the initial commercial publication of “Our Bodies, Ourselves: A Book By and For Women.” The Friedan-Steinem split (some of which seems to have been due to a chip on Friedan’s shoulder) contributed to the collapse of secondwave feminism, criticized as the creation of — and thus mainly relevant to — white, straight, middle-class women and divided on issues such as pornography and prostitution/sex work. The hipness (long hair, jeans and oversized Ray-Bans) and whiteness (half Presbyterian, half Jewish) that made Steinem a photogenic public figure became seen as passé and limiting. Yet from her home on East 73rd Street in Manhattan she continued to travel and speak widely, against apartheid, the Gulf War and, in 2015, the ongoing division of Korea. In January of 2017, she was a speaker at the Women’s March on Washington. Third-wave feminism is thought to have begun around the time of Anita Hill’s testimony — dismissed by the Senate Judiciary Committee — during the 1991 confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. “Becoming the Third Wave” by Rebecca Walker (daughter of Alice) was published in Ms.
magazine in 1992. A fourth wave, said to have begun around 2012, flowered during the #MeToo movement. In 2000, Steinem, who had dated a number of well-known men (and called Ford Foundation head Franklin Thomas the love of her life in an interview with the New York Times last January), married David Bale, who died in 2003. Though never a mother — other than to Christian Bale, who became her stepson — she helped the Ms. Foundation for Women start Take Our Daughters to Work Day in 1992. First held in 1993, the event, on the fourth Thursday in April, was extended to boys 10 years later. In contrast to Friedan, who seems to be represented only by a volume in the young adult series “Women of Our Time,” the picture books and YA books about Steinem include: “Gloria Takes a Stand,” “Gloria’s Voice,” “The Story of Gloria Steinem,” “Gloria Steinem” in the “Little People, Big Dreams” series and, co-written by Steinem with 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, “Rise, Girl, Rise: Our SisterFriend Journey Together for All.” Steinem was the author of 10 books, give or take, including several collections of her essays, notably 1983’s “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions,” and a 1988 book about Marilyn Monroe with photos by George Barris. Her memoir “An Unexpected Life” will appear on Sept. 22.
ARTS
FALL ARTS PREVIEW
Jazz vocalist Samara Joy will appear with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at its season-opening gala concert on Sept. 25 at Strathmore. THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
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ARTS BY RIC HA RD SE L DE N
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC With the National Symphony Orchestra performing at Strathmore — second home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and home of the National Philharmonic — there are backto-back orchestral concerts in North Bethesda this fall, including two season-opening galas: the BSO’s, with jazz vocalist Samara Joy, conducted by Music Director Jonathon Heyward (Sept. 25) and the NSO’s, featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Respighi and Carlos Simon, conducted by Music Director Gianandrea Noseda (Sept. 26). Two more back-to-backs: the NSO with Noseda (Oct. 2) and the BSO with Heyward (Oct. 3); and the NSO with Leonard Slatkin (Oct. 24) and the BSO with Giancarlo Guerrero (Oct. 25). In between, BSO Music Director Laureate Marin Alsop returns to conduct a program for the 25th anniversary of 9/11: Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique,” Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” and John Adams’s “On the Transmigration of Souls” with The Washington Chorus (Oct. 17). The NSO is playing other halls, too. For example: George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax, where Noseda will conduct “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “Scheherazade” and “Boléro” (Oct. 1) and Adams will conduct his “Scheherazade.2” with violinist Leila Josefowicz (Oct. 15 and 16); and George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium, where Teddy Abrams will conduct the world premiere of Sarah Kirkland Snider’s “Urge” with bass-baritone Will
Liverman (Nov. 12 and 14). First up from the National Philharmonic: “From the New World: Dvořák, Karpman & Beethoven,” conducted by Carolyn Kuan, with Inon Barnatan playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (Sept. 19). In November, soprano Danielle Talamantes will sing Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” and George and Ira Gershwin tunes at “Postcards from America,” with Daniel Hege conducting (Nov. 7). Artistic Director Victoria Gau opens the Capital City Symphony’s season at the Atlas Performing Arts Center with “Mysterious Landscapes,” featuring Mozart’s Piano Concerto in B-flat Major, played by Novik Competition winner Caroline Su, and works by Alan Hovhaness, Doreen Carwithen and Maria Grenfell (Oct. 4). An instrument petting zoo precedes Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” at “The Mighty Pines: An Orchestral Forest Adventure” (Nov. 15).
CHAMBER MUSIC Two golden anniversaries: Artistic Director Robert Eisenstein launches Folger Consort’s 50th season with a seminar (Sept. 9) explicating the following weekend’s “Monteverdi’s Legacy” concerts (Sept. 11 to 13). Also hitting the big 5-0: the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, presenting works by Telemann at the National Museum of American History (Sept. 27). Counterpoint Concerts shouts “AMERICA!” in Dupont Underground, featuring works by
Rachmaninoff, Schoenberg, Bartók and Lera Auerbach (Sept. 18). Ever-innovative PostClassical Ensemble, led by Music Director Ángel Gil-Ordóñez, presents “The Song Is You: The Classic American Popular Song and Its Sources” in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre (Sept. 23). PCE next ponders “Your Brain on Music: Sound, Science and Soul” at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center (Nov. 16 and 17). The Phillips Collection’s 86th season of Sunday afternoon concerts — entirely sold out, with rush and standby options — opens with the Ariel Quartet, joined by pianist Orion Weiss (Sept. 27). More quartets: the Escher at St. John’s, Georgetown (Oct. 4), Poiesis at Strathmore (Oct. 15), Attacca (Oct. 30) and the Bennewitz with pianist Arsentiy Kharitonov (Nov. 13) at the Library of Congress and, presented by SCMS, the Axelrod at NMAH (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1).
Strathmore presents Poiesis Quartet on Oct. 15.
The 21st Century Consort’s “An Unsecret Garden” program at the Hirshhorn includes Schoenberg’s “The Book of Hanging Gardens” for mezzo-soprano and piano, a string trio by Helen Grime, a string quartet by Caroline Shaw and works for solo flute by Peteris Vasks, for solo piano by Mikhail Johnson and for clarinet, violin, cello and piano by Paul Novak (Oct. 3 and 4). At the Library of Congress: Musicians from the Teatro Royal of Spain (Oct. 19) and “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band Chamber Orchestra (Oct. 21). Georgetown boasts not one but two Dumbarton series. Music at Dumbarton Oaks opens with cellist Eric Jacobsen & Friends (Oct. 25 and 26) and Dumbarton Concerts presents cello and piano duo Tommy Mesa and Olga Kern, playing Beethoven, Debussy and Barber (Oct. 17), and Trio Zimbalist, playing Ravel, Smetana and Robert Schumann (Nov. 14). Fortas Chamber Music Concerts relocated from the Ken Cen to the Corcoran. Artistic Director Jennifer Koh plays violin works by Bach, Missy Mazzoli and Philip Glass (Oct. 4). Later on, PubliQuartet performs a contemporary program named for Janet Jackson’s album “Rhythm Nation” (Nov. 14). Washington Performing Arts presents violinist Itzhak Perlman and pianist Rohan De Silva at Strathmore (Oct. 14) and Wolf Trap’s Chamber Music at the Barns welcomes violinist Daniel Hope and pianist Maxim Lando (Nov. 1).
The Song is You:The Classic American Popular Song and its Sources Wed, Sep 23, 2026, from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Hosted by Tony Award-winning lyricist, playwright, and host of WAMU’s The Big Broadcast, Murray Horwitz, this concert explores the roots of classic American popular songs, their creators, the roles of theater, film, and recording technology in their development, and how and why they have provided —and continue to provide— significant musical material for artists ranging from Louis Armstrong and Hank Williams to Ella Fitzgerald and Lady Gaga.
Tickets Here:
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ARTS Finally, pianists: Washington Performing Arts brings Élisabeth Pion to the Hopkins Bloomberg Center (Oct. 3) and Simone Dinnerstein (Oct. 18) and Minsoo Sohn (Nov. 14) to Sixth & I; Leah Claiborne opens the National Women’s Foundation’s concert series at the Whittemore House, playing works by Florence Price (Oct. 8); GMU hosts Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel in Fairfax (Oct. 11) and at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas (Nov. 8); and Music at Dumbarton Oaks presents Benjamin Hochman (Nov. 8 and 9).
Oliver Wass joins British countertenor Iestyn Davies to perform European and American songs and a cycle written for Davies by Nico Muhly (Oct. 23). Speaking of that vocal range, Anthony Roth Constanzo gives a talk and recital at the Library of Congress in connection with his book “Countertenor” (Nov. 9). GMU is presenting two a cappella ensembles: British octet Voces8 in Fairfax (Oct. 17), and AllIreland champion Kevin Elam’s sextet Ars Populi in Manassas (Nov. 10).
VOCAL MUSIC
CHORAL MUSIC
Vocal Arts DC delivers tenor Ben Bliss and pianist Christopher Allen, celebrating American song at Live! At 10th & G (Oct. 4), then tenor Matthew Polenzani and pianist Ken Noda, performing Schubert’s “Schwanengesang” and Italian songs and arias at the Embassy of France (Nov. 9). Also at the Embassy of France, the Russian Chamber Art Society opens its 20th anniversary season with “Timur: Songs of Love & Satire,” featuring the Kazakh American tenor, pianist Matt Podd and violinist Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth (Oct. 9). In the Fortas series, bass-baritone Davóne Tines performs “Recital No. 1: MASS,” a reimagining of the Catholic Mass incorporating music from several centuries (Oct. 14). In the Dumbarton Concerts series, harpist
In partnership with the Embassy of Germany, the Choral Arts Society of Washington convenes an Oktoberfest Community Sing, with a performance of the fourth movement of Brahms’s “Ein deutsches Requiem,” at Sauf Haus Bier Hall, 1216 18th St. NW (Sept. 20). The following month, “In Search of Home,” at the Church of the Epiphany, “integrates multiple perspectives on refuge, identity and human connection” (Oct. 25). Led by Artistic Director Matthew Robertson, The Thirteen performs “Ein deutsches Requiem” and Margaret Bonds’s “Credo” with pianists Brian Ganz and Eric Conway (Oct. 16 at Schlesinger Concert Hall, Oct. 17 at National Presbyterian Church and Oct. 18 at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church). Washington Master Chorale, led by Artistic
Director Thomas Colohan, sings works by Dvořák, Bartók and others at “Pathways of Light” at the Church of the Epiphany (Oct. 18). “Heated Revelry,” the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s fall cabaret at the Keegan Theatre, targets sports and games with songs such as “We Are the Champions,” “Playing Catch” and “Show Off” (Oct. 24). At Washington National Cathedral, the Cathedral Choral Society presents Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle” (Oct. 25). With a focus on “women composers exploring women’s voices over the centuries,” Tapestry Vocal Ensemble performs at Strathmore (Nov. 5). “The Road to Ferrara,” a program of Renaissance choral music, brings the DC Singer Collective to St. John’s, Georgetown (Nov. 8). Conducted by Artistic Director Erin Freeman, the City Choir of Washington, with its orchestra and Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artists, performs the world premiere of Artistic Director Emeritus Robert Shafer’s “Hymn to God the Father,” Mozart’s “Vesperae solennes de confessore” and Tarik O’Regan’s “Critical Mass” at National Presbyterian Church (Nov. 8). “Connecting the Dots … Telling Our Story,” the Heritage Signature Chorale’s seasonopener at First Congregational United Church of Christ, “explores the powerful connection between poetry, history, storytelling and music,” performing music by Black composers including Clarence Cameron White, Margaret Bonds, Ulysses S. Kay and Adolphus Hailstork (Nov. 14).
OPERA In Series’ Sic Semper Tyrannis season opens with “The M.A.K.A.DO (Make America Kingly Again!), a buffo take on “The Mikado” with new texts by Bari Biern, at 340 Maple Drive SW. Stage direction is by Artistic Director Timothy Nelson and musical direction by Dana Scott (Oct. 10, 11 and 15 to 18). Washington Concert Opera presents Haydn’s “Armida” in Lisner Auditorium. Appearing: Lauren Snouffer, Fran Daniel Laucerica, Shannon Crowley, Jonathan Pierce Rhodes and Andrew Wilkowske. Artistic Director Antony Walker conducts (Oct. 24).
Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner Amber R. Monroe will appear with Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson at a Nov. 22 Washington National Opera concert event, “We the People.”
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Having disengaged from you-know-where, Washington National Opera brings “Madama Butterfly” to DAR Constitution Hall, outfitted with a thrust stage. Conducted by Erina Yashima and directed by E. Loren Meeker, the production features soprano Karah Son as Cio-Cio-San, tenor Matthew White as Pinkerton and mezzosoprano Michelle Mariposa as Suzuki (Nov. 7, 13, 15, 18 and 20). Also at Constitution Hall: John Adams’s “Nixon in China,” conducted by Robert Spano and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer, with Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson as the Nixons (Nov. 14, 19 and 21); and “We the People,” a concert event with Fleming, Hampson and Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner Amber R. Monroe (Nov. 22). Note: The Library of Congress hosts “An Evening with Composer John Adams and the Washington National Opera” (Oct. 13). Opera Lafayette’s 32nd season, themed “Crazy in Love,” hits the Folger stage with a modern world premiere of Rameau’s 18th-century opera-ballet “Les Surprises de l’Amour” (Nov. 13 to 15).
MUSICALS
OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 15
For the 9/11 anniversary, Ford’s Theatre is presenting Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s Newfoundland-set musical “Come From Away,” directed by Kevin S. McAllister and choreographed by Katy Tabb (through Oct. 18). Stephen Sondheim’s 1981 musical “Merrily
We Roll Along” is rolling along at Signature Theatre, directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner with music direction by Jon Kalbfleisch (through Nov. 1). Ahead, also with Gardiner directing: Adam Gwon’s new musical about a closeted math teacher, “All the World’s a Stage,” with music direction by Marika Countouris (Oct. 20 to Dec. 20).
Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along” is at Signature Theatre through Nov. 1. Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Jason Loewith is directing the Marc Shaiman (composer and co-lyricist) and Scott Wittman (co-lyricist) adaptation — with a book by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin — of the Marilyn Monroe classic “Some Like It Hot,” with choreography by Karla Puno Garcia and music direction by Christopher Youstra (Sept. 18 to Nov. 8). Partly overlapping: a new production of “Les Misérables,” directed by Stephen Brackett with choreography by William Carlos
NOVEMBER 17 - 22
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A Celtic Christmas
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ARTS Angulo and music direction by Youstra (Oct. 30 to Jan. 31). Here’s The National Theatre lineup: “Dirty Dancing” (Sept. 29 to Oct. 4), “Maybe Happy Ending” (Oct. 6 to 11) and “Mamma Mia” (Oct. 27 to Nov. 15). Also, for one night only: “The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration” (Oct. 17). Dupont Underground pulls up the gate for “Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie,” presented by Voices Festival Productions and Woodrow Theatricals and starring David M. Lutken (Oct. 8 to 25). To The Keegan Theatre, celebrating its 30th anniversary season, comes the musical “Hundred Days,” a “true story about embracing uncertainty, taking a leap and loving as if you only had 100 days to live.” The music and lyrics are by indie-folk-punk duo the Bengsons, who wrote the book with Sarah Gancher (Oct. 10 to Nov. 15). Cross the river for the Little Theatre of Alexandria’s production of Bock and Harnick’s “She Loves Me” (Oct. 17 to Nov. 7). Postponed: The new musical “Nikola” at Arena Stage.
THEATER Closing this weekend: Noël Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at the Little Theatre of Alexandria, directed by Ward Kay (through Sept. 19). At the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Taffety
Punk is wrapping up the world premiere of “Freddie: A Girl” by Kelsey Mesa, directed by Lise Bruneau, about the teenage Oversteegen sisters, who joined the Dutch Resistance and became spies, saboteurs and assassins (through Sept. 19). \ On the spy front, Gala Hispanic Theatre’s tells the hard-to-believe-but-true story of a World War II double agent in Artistic Director Gustavo Ott’s “Garbo: El Actor Que Salvó al Mundo/The Actor Who Saved the World,” directed by Carlos Celdrán (through Sept. 27). Now at Woolly Mammoth: Steve Yockey’s “Venus,” directed by Artistic Director Reggie D. White, in which two women on a first date “find themselves haunted by a woman in a red raincoat” (through Oct. 4). Max Posner’s “Hanukkah Spectacular,” directed by David Cromer, follows (Nov. 14 to Dec. 13). Also underway: Atlas-based Mosaic Theater Company’s production of “Somewhere Over the Border” by Brian Quijada, directed by Raymond O. Caldwell (through Oct. 4). From the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Hannah Khalil’s “My English Persian Kitchen” — from a story by Atoosa Sepehr — will have its U.S. premiere, directed by Chris White and produced by Mosaic and Irish arts organization Solas Nua (Nov. 12 to Dec. 6). Round House Theatre opened its 50th anniversary season with August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” with Nicole Michelle Haskins as the Mother of the Blues, co-produced
2026/27
FALL SEASON
Timothy O'Leary General Director Francesca Zambello Artistic Director Robert Spano Musical Director
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Through Oct. 18: Brian Cox of “Succession” plays J.S. Bach in “The Score,” at Shakespeare Theatre Company. with Olney Theatre Center and directed by LiliAnne Brown (through Oct. 11). Now playing in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall: Oliver Cotton’s “The Score,” directed by Trevor Nunn and starring Brian Cox of “Succession” as Johann Sebastian Bach (through Oct. 18). Coming to STC’s Klein Theatre next month: “Frida ... A Self Portrait,” written and performed by Vanessa Severo. Joanie Schultz directs (Oct. 8 to Nov. 8). Psalmayene 24 directs Mekala Sridhar’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” at Folger Theatre, with choreography by Tony Thomas and music by Kokayi (Sept. 22 to Nov. 1). More Bard: Doreen Bechtol and Matt Radford
Davies direct “The Tempest” at American Shakespeare Center in Staunton (through Nov. 13), playing in repertory with “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” directed by Aidan O’Reilly (Oct. 1 to Nov. 14), and “Witch” by Jen Silverman, directed by Jemma Alix Levy (Oct. 8 to Nov. 14). NextStop Theatre starts “Reimagining Resiliency” in Herndon with the U.S. premiere of “The Second Best School Shooting” from Edinburgh Fringe, a dark comedy by Alice Stanley Jr. with the following advisories: “discussions of gun violence and self-harm, gunshot sound effects.” Producing Artistic Director Heather Lanza directs (Sept. 17 to Oct. 11). The company’s next stop: Kristoffer Diaz’s “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” directed by Stefan Sittig, about Macedonio “The Mace” Guerra, a wrestler paid to lose (Nov. 5 to 29). Sanaz Toossi’s “Wish You Were Here” will arrive at Studio Theatre, directed by Sivan Battat (Sept. 23 to Nov. 1), followed by “Handle With Care” — “No actors, no technicians. Just a box. And you.” — by Ontroerend Goed (Oct. 14 to 25). At the Atlas: ExPats Theatre presents “Coming to America: An Immigrant Cabaret,” conceived and directed by Karin Rosnizeck, with “songs, stories and satire” by Vidyuth Sreenivasan, Jacqueline Youm, Karin Rosnizeck and Erick Acuna (Sept. 30 to Oct. 18); Solas Nua presents Meghan Tyler’s “Crocodile Fever,” directed by Jeda de Bri, “celebrating sisterhood
whilst reminding us that the pressure cooker of The Troubles is closer than we imagine” (Oct. 17); Ukrainian American event agency MoLoKo presents “Kyivska Perepichka,” a one-woman performance by Irma Vitovska “that explores the lives, dreams, and resilience of Ukrainians in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion” (Oct. 18); and the Atlas itself presents “The Room Where It Happened: Songs of Protest and Patriotism,” conceived by Rachel Potter with music from “Hamilton,” “Spring Awakening” and other shows (Oct. 20). At press time, Arena Stage added the Red Scare docudrama “Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?” by Eric Bentley, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, to its fall lineup (Oct. 17 to Dec. 6). Synetic Theater’s wordless adaptation by Nathan Weinberger of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” directed by Paata Tsikurishvili and choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili, is coming to Olney (Oct. 7 to Nov. 1). In Tysons, 1st Stage will mount Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal,” directed by Alex Levy (Oct. 8 to 25). AAPI-centered Jaemi Theatre Company presents “Spotlight,” a cabaret at Busboys and Poets in Takoma, to raise funds for an Asian Theater Festival next May (Oct. 19). Now a resident partner at the Atlas, Constellation Theatre looks skyward with PigPen Theatre Co.’s “The Old Man and The Old Moon” (Nov. 19 to Dec. 13).
THEATER FOR KIDS Adapted from the book by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert, “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical,” written and directed by Nina Meehan with music and lyrics by Austin Zumbro, is coming to Imagination Stage (Sept. 26 to Oct. 18). Glen Echo Park’s Adventure Theatre MTC opens its 75th anniversary season with a world premiere: “Beatrice Likes the Dark” by Dani Stoller, based on April Genevieve Tucholke’s picture book. Patrick Flynn directs (Oct. 2 to Nov. 1). In the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center, Discovery Theater offers morning performances of “Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly!” (Oct. 27 to 29) and “Dance Stories” with Kalanidhi Dance (Nov. 5 and 6). GALA’s fall family show is “Pancho Villa y los Niños de la Bola/Pancho Villa and the Children of the Revolution” by Antonio Zúñiga, directed by Mauricio Pita (Oct. 17 to 31).
JAZZ, ROOTS, WORLD, POP, ROCK AND HIP HOP At Georgetown’s own Blues Alley, trumpeter Nicholas Payton celebrates the Miles Davis/ John Coltrane centennial (Sept. 26 and 27). Next month’s highlights: pianist Arturo O’Farrill with his quintet (Oct. 3 and 4), a Cuban Jazz Series
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ARTS (Oct. 11 to 18) and Hammond B-3 Week (Oct. 19 to 23). Performing at the Library of Congress: jazz harpist Edmar Castañeda (Nov. 5) and — as part of the library’s “Miles Davis at 100” programming — jazz pianist John Beasley (Nov. 6). Some Wolf Trap shows of note: The Avett Brothers (Sept. 18 and 19), Erykah Badu (Sept. 20), Art Garfunkel at Capital One Hall in Tysons (Oct. 30), Jim Messina and Orleans (Nov. 4) and Red Baraat (Nov. 7). The Birchmere presents, among others: mandolinist Sierra Hull (Sept. 21), Robin Trower (Sept. 24), John Hiatt (Oct. 6 and 7), Dweezil Zappa (Nov. 1) and ukulelist Jake Shimabukuro (Nov. 8). Farther out in the Commonwealth, GMU’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax welcomes Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer [Google her] Orchestra (Oct. 3). Coming to the university’s Hylton Center in Manassas: Bernadette Peters with the American Festival Pops Orchestra (Sept. 19), the Maximilian Jacobs Trio, playing a blend of jazz, classical and Balkan folk (Oct. 13), a live taping of “Mountain Stage” hosted by Kathy Mattea (Oct. 18) and electric blues vocalist Shemekia Copeland (Nov. 7). Strathmore standouts: Jacob Collier (Sept. 28), UB40 (Sept. 30) and Chucho Valdés’s 85th birthday (Oct. 18). Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band will be at
23), Tamar Braxton (Oct. 11), 2 Chainz (Oct. 12) and Skilla Baby (Oct. 23). Screenings: “Little Shop of Horrors” with Ellen “Audrey” Greene (Sept. 25) at the Lincoln and “Hedwig” with John Cameron Mitchell at the Howard (Sept. 29). MGM National Harbor presents The Roots with Junkyard Band (Sept. 18), Roger Daltrey (Sept. 24), New Jack Swing Birthday Bash with Teddy Riley and Guy 2.0 (Oct. 11), Kool & the Gang (Oct. 15), Jodeci (Nov. 12) and Air Supply (Nov. 13). More big names, natch, at Capital One Arena: Garth Brooks (Sept. 18 and 19), Charli xcx (Sept. 28), Phoebe Bridgers (Sept. 29), The Jonas Brothers (Sept. 30), Weezer (Oct. 2), Olivia Rodrigo (Oct. 3 and 4) and Rush (Oct. 25 and 27).
The festival season at Merriweather Post Pavilion bows out with the All Things Go Music Festival (Sept. 25 to 27) and the Power To The People Festival (Oct. 3). One more: sitarist Niladri Kumaar, presented by Washington Performing Arts at Sixth & I (Oct. 24).
DANCE Arena Stage is stepping up with StepAfrika!’s “The Fruits of Our Labor,” a “visceral new dance piece [that] examines what it means to believe in a nation still in the making,” directed by Jakari Sherman with Conrad R. Kelly II and Vusi Mdoyi (through Nov. 1).
A highlight of Capital One’s fall lineup: Charli xcx on Sept. 28. The Anthem (Sept. 28), followed by Shaboozey (Sept. 30), Indigo Girls (Oct. 4), The Chicks (Oct. 6), Morrissey (Oct. 15), Steve Lacy (Oct. 18) and Beck (Oct. 25). The Lincoln Theatre lineup includes Men at Work (Sept. 20), Lucinda Williams (Sept. 29), Vitamin String Quartet and Girl Named Tom (Oct. 7) and the Longest Johns (Nov. 6). Coming to The Howard Theatre: Cabaret Voltaire (Sept.
At Arena Stage through Nov. 1: StepAfrika!’s “The Fruits of Our Labor.”
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Washington Performing Arts presents Dance Theatre of Harlem’s “Firebird” at the National Theatre (Sept. 25). In residence at the Kreeger Museum, the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company celebrates kinetic sculptor George Rickey’s “Two Lines Oblique Down III” with “Vectors” (Sept. 26). The Embassy of Sweden presents Hiroki Ichinose at Dance Place (Sept. 23 and 24), where the season continues with the Latinx Movement Festival (Oct. 9 to 11), In Flight Theater (Oct. 17) and Family Spooky Disco (Oct. 24). Moveius Contemporary Ballet performs “Prelude: A Season of Migration” at Dance Loft on 14 (Oct. 10 and 11). A South Asian Dance Festival arrives the following month, courtesy of Dance Loft Presents! (Nov. 6 and 7). International offerings: Ballet Hispánico New York performs “Mujeres” at the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre (Oct. 2); Lisner Auditorium hosts Georgian National Ballet “Sukhishvili” (Oct. 28); and GALA’s XXII Fuego Flamenco begins with “La Velada,” created, choreographed and performed by Marta Gálvez (Nov. 5 to 8). The Washington Ballet marks its golden anniversary with a 50 Forward Celebration at the National Union Building (Sept. 26) and “Go-Go 50” at the Warner Theatre, featuring choreography by Trey McIntyre, Choo San Goh, Artistic Director Edwaard Liang and Chanel
DaSilva, set to music by Etta James, Samuel Barber, Michael Torke and Black Alley (Oct. 30 to Nov. 1). And there is dance aplenty on GMU’s campuses this fall. In Fairfax: Music From The Sole tap company (Sept. 26), Compagnie Hervé Koubi (Oct. 24) and the Shanghai Ballet performing “Butterfly Lovers” (Nov. 7) and “Giselle” (Nov. 8). In Manassas: Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Oct. 4) and Manassas Ballet Theatre (Oct. 23 to 25).
GALA Hispanic Theatre’s XXII Fuego Flamenco opens with Marta Gálvez’s “La Velada” on Nov. 5 to 8.
ARTS
VISUAL ARTS
Weaving an Empire: Textiles of the Inka World The George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum Through Dec. 19, 2026 “Weaving an Empire,” which opened on Aug. 15, displays nearly 50 colorfully patterned garments from communities under Inka rule during the 15th and 16th centuries. Centered on the Cuzco Valley in modern-day Peru, the Realm of the Four Parts grew to occupy portions of what are now Ecuador, Bolivia, Columbia, Argentina and Chile. The objects on view, including men’s tunics, women’s dresses and shoulder mantles, belts, headbands and sandals, were made from the hair of llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos, cotton and feathers. Curated by Dr. Shelley Burian, Lisa and Bernard Selz Curator of Textile Arts of the Americas, the exhibition explores how these garments — most from the museum’s collection — reflected local styles and traditions as well as their wearers’ allegiance to the empire. A virtual roundtable discussion on Inka textiles will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5.
YEARS
Silk brocade evening pumps by Joseph Box, Ltd., 1900s. Photo Courtesy Hillwood Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens Through Jan. 3, 2027 Throughout her life, Marjorie Merriweather Post revered textiles, preserving antique lace samples, apparel from her girlhood and textile work by the women in her family. She collected handmade lace pieces and liturgical vestments and textiles from the Russian Orthodox Church, furnished her homes with sumptuous fabrics and attired herself and her three daughters in the finest fashions. “Interwoven,” which opened in June, presents centuries’ worth of lace, embroidery, needlepoint, quilts and coverings, along with commemorative textiles. Among the outstanding items are a 17th-century point de France lace panel replete with ornate iconography and an 18th-century embroidered Russian liturgical textile trimmed with pearls and glass beads. In addition, the exhibition features works by contemporary textile artists such as Manca Ahlin and Sophia Narrett.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Look Alive Georgetown University Art Galleries Sept. 18, 2026 – April 11, 2027 “Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Look Alive” brings together several installations by the acclaimed Mexican Canadian artist, born in 1967. The exhibition features the newest work in LozanoHemmer’s “Pulse” series, “Pulse Map,” a sitespecific installation created for the Maria and Alberto de la Cruz Gallery. Visitors will traverse a labyrinthine field of nearly 3,000 polycarbonate lightbulbs, each of which glimmers in sync with the recorded heartbeat of a prior visitor. Concerned with the act of looking, the works in the Lucille M. & Richard F. X. Spagnuolo Gallery use cameras to detect visitors’ presence and location. In “Surface Tension” of 1992, one is followed by a large human eye. In “Reporters With Borders” of 2007 (on view through January), hundreds of TV news anchors from the U.S. and Mexico appear in a constantly changing mosaic, their voices activated by visitors’ silhouettes.
Light Is a Plastic Medium: The Photography of Carlotta Corpron Hirshhorn Museum Oct. 16, 2026 – March 14, 2027 “Light Is a Plastic Medium” showcases 48 recent gifts by Herbert Lust to the Hirshhorn, along with loans from his collection. The exhibition positions American photographer and educator Carlotta Corpron (1901-1988) in the artistic vanguard through six bodies of photography that she made in Texas from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Corpron moved to Denton, Texas, in 1935 to teach art history and design at Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women’s University). Yet she aligned herself with internationally influential photographers such as Alfred Stieglitz, László Moholy-Nagy and György Kepes, who sought to elevate photography to fine art status. Corpron’s inquiry into light’s impact on form was central to the bodies of work on view: “Nature Studies,” “Light Drawings,” “Light Patterns,” “Light Follows
“Pulse Map,” 2026. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Photo Courtesy Georgetown University
“Chambered Nautilus Space Composition,” 1949. Carlotta Corpron. Photo by Rick Coulby. Courtesy Hirshhorn.
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Chanel DaSilva and DC’s own Black Alley unite for the world premiere of An Artist’s Prayer Choo San Goh’s Configurations Edwaard Liang’s The Art of War Trey McIntyre’s Blue Until June *Venue and processing fees may still apply TWB Dancers by Tony Powell
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ARTS Form,” “Space Compositions” and “Fluid Light Designs.” Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea Phillips Collection Oct. 24, 2026 – Jan. 24, 2027 Telling the story of the enduring friendship among three towering figures in American art — Milton Avery (1885-1965), Adolph Gottlieb (19031974) and Mark Rothko (1903-1970) — “By the Sea” highlights the inspiration they derived from summers in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Cape Ann, a rocky peninsula about 30 miles northeast of Boston. Through approximately 90 paintings, drawings and watercolors from the 1920s to the mid-1960s, including loans from more than two dozen collections, the exhibition reflects in depth for the first time on the artistic exchange among these three artists, two of whom, Gottlieb and Rothko, came to embrace abstraction. Curated by Eliza Rathbone, chief curator at the Phillips
Collection from 1992 to 2014, “By the Sea” was organized by the Phillips in partnership with the Cape Ann Museum, where the exhibition is on view through Sept. 27, before heading to Washington, D.C. Photographic Memory: Fifty Years of Photography at the National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery Nov. 14, 2026 – Nov. 7, 2027 The exhibition “Photographic Memory” marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Portrait Gallery’s photographs collection, which — at over a quarter-million images — now accounts for nearly half of the museum’s holdings. Encompassing more than 100 works, from the Daguerreian era of the mid-19th century to our own digital age, the exhibition explores the evolution of photographic portraiture, highlighting the role that photography has played in expanding the collection to include likenesses of those who have shaped the nation’s history but never posed for painted or sculpted portraits. Works by leading American photographers, including Mathew Brady, James Van Der Zee, Richard Avedon and Annie Leibovitz, portray some of the country’s most significant individuals, among them Abraham Lincoln, John Steinbeck, Georgia O’Keeffe and LinManuel Miranda.
“Sea Grasses and Blue Sea,” 1958. Milton Avery. PHOTO Courtesy MoMA.
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Adorned in Gold: Japanese Lacquer from the Jacqueline Avant Collection National Museum of Asian Art Nov. 21, 2026 – May 31, 2027 Since the 10th century, Japanese artists have turned everyday objects into luxury items, depicting plants, birds and scenes from stories in gold powder on wet lacquer, an art form known as maki-e — literally “sprinkled picture.” Visitors to “Adorned in Gold” at the National Museum of Asian Art will learn how maki-e intertwined with fashion, literature and identity in Japan’s Edo period (16031868), viewing dazzling designs on hairpins, combs, decorative boxes and a litter that carried a princess. The exhibition draws from the collection of the late philanthropist Jacqueline Avant (a murder victim in her Beverly Hills home in 2021), whose lifelong fascination with Japan shows how the arts can serve as a cultural bridge. A former Ebony Fashion Fair model who was married to music executive Clarence Avant, she personally identified with the technique’s gold-on-black aesthetic. Also of note ... American Icon: The US Flag in Art National Gallery of Art Through Dec. 6 With works by such artists as painters Childe Hassam and Jasper Johns; painter and textile artist Faith Ringgold; and photographers Dorothea Lange and Gordon Parks, “American Icon” traces our flag’s journey through art to reveal a nation constantly redefining itself.
Revelation: A Journey into Abstraction National Museum of African American History & Culture Opened June 12
“Untitled (Triple Consciousness),” 2022. Rico Gatson. Courtesy National Museum of African American History & Culture. Organized into five thematic sections, “Revelation” highlights the various ways that African American artists such as Alma Thomas, Al Loving, Simone Leigh and Theaster Gates have used abstraction as a language of cultural memory, protest, identity and transformation. Much Here Is Beautiful: Photography Surveys of the U.S. Bicentennial Smithsonian American Art Museum Sept. 18, 2026 – April 18, 2027 Assembling 225 photographs, “Much Here Is Beautiful” puts images taken by over 70 photographers as part of the Surveys Grant Program — a Bicentennial initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts — in the context of earlier federal photography surveys.
DC ARTSWATCH
DC ARTS WATCH
BY R ICHARD S E L DE N a 24-foot sculpture Joel Shapiro had donated to the Kennedy Center’s 2019 expansion, the Reach. Kennedy Center curator Josef Palermo, laid off last March, told the New York Times the work was “targeted early on” by the Trump administration. Deaccessioned, “Blue” was acquired from the late artist’s foundation by ousted Ken Cen board chair David Rubenstein for display at the National Gallery of Art. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch Will Step Down
Lonnie G. Bunch III, 73, who became the Smithsonian Institution’s 14th secretary in June of 2019 — having served as founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture — announced his resignation on Sept. 8. He is expected to step down by the end of 2026. An interim secretary has not been named. That person and the next secretary will be appointed by the institution’s 17-member board of regents: three members of Congress from each party, nine private citizens (three seats are vacant), Vice President JD Vance and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., the board’s chancellor. Susan Fisher Sterling to Retire as NMWA Director
Blue ‘Blue’: Evicted from Ken Cen, Rescued by Rubinstein “Wednesday, September 2, 2026 will forever be known as the day the United States government tore down a piece of public art at the behest of a petulant crybaby.” Hands Off the Arts’ Instagram post referred to “Blue,”
Lonnie Bunch
Susan Fisher Sterling, Alice West Director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, will retire at the end of the year after 37 years at the museum, beginning as an associate curator. Dr. Sterling, who completed her bachelor’s at Washington University in St. Louis and her master’s and Ph.D. at Princeton, specializing in modern and contemporary art, was named director in 2008. Founded in 1987 by Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, NMWA, which
Susan Fisher Sterling is not a Smithsonian museum, will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year. It occupies a 1908 Masonic Temple on New York Avenue NW designed by noted architect Waddy Butler Wood.
Tickets start at just $51! VISUAL ARTS STUDIOS & GALLERIES
Subscriptions start at just $89! H A YD N
Armida October 24, 2026
BLOWN GLASS
with Lauren Snouffer, Fran Daniel Laucerica, Shannon Crowley, Jonathan Pierce Rhodes, Andrew Wilkowske, and Jason Gonzalez
CERAMICS DRAWING & PAINTING
MA SSE NE T
Don Quichotte
Artists at Work
March 14, 2027
Art & Jewelry Sales
with Christian Van Horn, Elizabeth DeShong, and Le Bu
Support Local Arts & Fine Crafts
B ELLIN I
Open Every Weekend!
FINE JEWELRY KILNFORMED GLASS MIXED MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHY SCULPTURE SILVERSMITHING
Il Pirata May 2, 2027 with Angela Meade, Lawrence Brownlee, and Will Liverman
concertopera.org 202-364-5826
For more information and hours:
GLENECHOPARK.ORG/EXHIBITIONS THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
25
ARTS Latino Museum to Occupy Arts and Industries Building
the Latino Museum, now operating within the National Museum of American History.
To avoid a battle over the museum’s location on a National Park Service-owned site on the National Mall, and reduce its construction budget, the Smithsonian announced last
Redesigned Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden to Open Oct. 31
André Mazelin Executive Director André Mazelin Out at Dance Place André Mazelin, executive director of Dance Place since 2023, departed the company in August. As reported in City Paper, after a July 19 town hall meeting at Busboys and Poets in Brookland at which attendees accused Mazelin (who was not present) of creating an unsafe work environment, Friends of Dance Place called for the board of directors to remove him and to reinstate the artistic director position. Mazelin had eliminated the position after firing Artistic Director Tariq O’Meally in late May. Board member Erin A. Skinner will lead Dance Place during the search for an executive artistic director, again a single position.
Following a four-year reconstruction project, the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden — and a long-closed tunnel from the museum — will reopen on Saturday, Oct. 31, with free public programming that day and on Sunday, Nov. 1. Designed by Hiroshi Sugimoto “with deep respect for Gordon Bunshaft’s original design,” the 1.3-acre garden, now with drystacked stone walls, will display nearly 60 sculptures (up from about 40) in spaces landscaped with new trees and planting beds. Recently acquired contemporary pieces have joined works by Rodin, Matisse, Miró, Moore,
Latino Museum month that the National Museum of the American Latino, established by Congress in 2020, would occupy the existing Arts and Industries Building, an 1881 structure next to the Castle. The museum’s founding director is Jorge Zamanillo. Smithsonian antagonist Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, has taken particular issue with
Hirshhorn Garden
Giacometti, Hepworth, David and Tony Smith and others.
Laura Schiavo New Director at GW’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design Laura Schiavo began her tenure as director of George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design on July 1. She succeeds Lauren Onkey, who became director in 2021 and remains a member of the music faculty. Formerly deputy director, Dr. Schiavo holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. from George Washington. Earlier, she led the graduate program in museum studies, in which she is an associate professor. GW took ownership of the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s landmark building and began to merge the former Corcoran College of Art and Design with its own school of the arts in 2014.
Season 2026–27
ARTS by George!
Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra Saturday, Oct. 3 at 8:30 p.m. Don’t miss this wickedly entertaining performance, featuring reimagined jazz classics and American Songbook favorites with Goldblum’s signature charm and swing.
This event that is part of the annual ARTS by George! benefit, supporting the College of Visual and Performing Arts on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University.
Tickets: 26 SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER
703-993-2787
cfa.gmu.edu
FALL
Coming up at
20 26
Fall highlights coming to the Music Center UB40
The Unstoppable Tour 2026
Las Migas Sun, Nov 8
Leslie Odom, Jr.
The Christmas Tour 2026 Sat, Dec 5
Wed, Sept 30
Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood
The ‘From Whose Line is it Anyway?’ Tour
American Ballet Theatre Studio Company Tue, Nov 10
Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2026 Wed, Dec 9
Sun, Oct 4
Gravity & Other Myths Ten Thousand Hours
Big Head Todd and the Monsters Winter Tour 2026 Tue, Nov 17
Sun, Oct 18
An Evening of Alton Brown Mon, Oct 26
Afro-Cuban All Stars
Strathmore and Washington Performing Arts Present
Terence Blanchard + Ravi Coltrane: Miles Davis & John Coltrane Centennial
Strathmore Jazz Orchestra Christmas Daniel Jamieson, conductor Fri, Dec 18
Sat, Nov 21
Cherish the Ladies Celtic Christmas
Thu, Oct 29
Tue, Dec 1
Coco Live-to-Film Concert
Voctave
Sat & Sun, Oct 31 & Nov 1
Thu, Dec 3
The North American Tour
Seasons of Hope Tour Sat, Dec 12
Thu, Oct 15
Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration
The Tenors
It Feels Like Christmas
Fresh AIR
Tomás Jonsson, Andrew Smith, Julius Bjornson, Ray Winder, Michael Ventura, Marie Tatti Tue, Nov 3
Alex Edelman: What Are You Going to Do Wed, Nov 4; Thu, Nov 5—sold out!
L–R: The Tenors; Afro-Cuban All Stars; Leslie Odom, Jr.; Las Migas; Alton Brown; Chucho Valdés; Coco
STRATHMORE.ORG | 301.581.5100 | 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
27
REAL ESTATE
AUCTION BLOCK BY R ICHARD S E L DE N In this month’s Auction Block: a copy of the most famous American World War I recruitment poster, an Art Nouveau clock, a cuff bracelet by Native American artist Marian Denipah, a print by master glass artist Dale Chihuly, a Keith Haring piece made with marker on roller skates and, to start off, a Porsche auctioned in Pebble Beach, California.
Concours d’Elegance (Christie’s acquired Gooding & Company in 2024). With coachwork by Heinkel, the car is accompanied by its original engine case, heads and crankshaft. Doyle Keith Haring Roller Skates Estimate: $7,000 – $9,000 Sold for: $23,040 In 1983, artist Keith Haring (1958-1990)
Christie’s 1964 Porsche 904 Estimate: $1,800,000 – $2,200,000 Sold for: $1,682,500
This 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS — which was raced in 1964 and 1965 at venues including Sebring, Daytona, Bridgehampton and Nassau — was sold at the Aug. 14 and 15 Pebble Beach Auctions of Gooding Christie’s, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach
used a marker to create “Untitled (Roller Skates),” which sold for well over twice the high estimate at Doyle’s ’80s New York auction, featuring Julia Markus’s Keith Haring Pop Shop Collection. Haring studied art in
SEPTEMBER AUCTION SERIES
POTOMACKCO.COM
Alexandria VA ashington .C. SANDY LERNER COLLECTION FROM AYRSHIRE FARM, UPPERVILLE, VA. ,
|
,
September 22 | 10AM
Pittsburgh and at New York’s School of Visual Arts. He expanded the imagery of his subway chalk drawings in more than 50 public murals. Openly gay, Haring died of AIDS-related complications aged 31. Sotheby’s Tudric Architectural Clock Estimate: $1,000 – $1,500 Sold for: $2,560 About seven inches tall, this “Tudric Architectural” clock was crafted around 1910
by London’s Liberty & Co. Clock Company. Made of polished pewter, enamel, hammered copper and brass, it had been part of the Talmor Collection of Liberty Clocks. The brand name “Tudric” was probably meant to refer to the Tudor dynasty, rooted in Wales, though the style is Art Nouveau. The clock’s sale price was significantly above the high estimate.
mixed media created by Dale Chihuly. Born in Takoma, Washington, in 1941, Chihuly earned a bachelor’s at the University of Washington and two master’s degrees in sculpture, one under Harvey Littleton at the University of Wisconsin and the other at Rhode Island School of Design. Freeman’s J. M. Flagg Recruitment Poster Estimate: $4,000 – $6,000 Sold for: $17,920
Bonhams Marian Denipah Cuff Bracelet Sold for: $25,600 This gold, coral and diamond cuff bracelet, part of Bonhams’ Aug. 26 Modern Native
HEIDER Real Estate & Niblock St dios
Ronald Stevens Pink Opal Carved Persian Cat
Edouard Manet, French, 1832 Cat and Flowers from Les Chats 1869
James Balog, American B. 1952, Ocelot Fiera, Fourteen Month Old Female
Spode Patter No. 2573 BlueGround Two-Handled Chocolate Cup, Cover and Stand, Circa 1825
North European, Probably Netherlands/Flanders Brass Mounted Iron Half-Chamfron, Possibly 16th Century
Spode ‘Chelsea Bird’ Modern Part Service, 108 Pieces
Fine Louis XV Style Table by Émmanuel Zwiener, Circa 1890
(703) 684-4550
28 SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER
William Hugh Jennings, American B. 1963, 'Kyloe Lady' (Highland Cow), Bronze Mounted on Polished Granite Base
1120
N. airfax t. xandria,
American Art & Jewelry auction, was made by Marian Denipah (b. 1946), an artist of Diné (Navajo) and Ohkay Owingeh Tewa heritage. Its face is inlaid with trapezoid-cut coral stones above a round 0.50-carat diamond. The interior has a cast hummingbird motif and a cast signature. The lot included a first-prize ribbon from the 2003 Santa Fe Indian Market. Weschler’s Dale Chihuly Serigraph Estimate: $600 – $800 Sold for: $3,200 Selling for four times the high estimate at Weschler’s Aug. 4 Metro Online auction, “Spring Fling” is an undated serigraph — a limited-edition silkscreen print — with
This 1917 color lithograph of the classic “I Want You For U.S. Army” poster — one of more than four million copies printed during World War I — has the ink stamp of the recruitment station at 3 Tremont Row in Boston. It sold for nearly three times the high estimate. Born in Westchester County, New York, artist James Montgomery Flagg (18771960) studied at New York’s Art Students League in the 1890s and in London and Paris. A key figure in the Golden Age of American Illustration, he worked for the Saturday Evening Post and Collier’s.
REAL ESTATE
See the full list at georgetowner.com. Listed from highest to lowest close price.
PROVIDED BY WASHINGTON FINE PROPERTIES
AUGUST 2026 REAL ESTATE SALES
ADDRESS
BEDS
FULL BATHS
11 6 5 4 5 4 6 5 6 6 5 5 7 2 2 3 2 3 4 3 3 5 5 3 1 1 2 2
10 6 5 4 5 5 6 4 5 5 3 3 6 2 2 2 1 2 3 3 4 2 3 2 1 1 2 2
4220 Nebraska Ave NW 3313 O St NW 3127 N St NW 1418 33rd St NW 3420 P St NW 4101 Parkglen Ct NW 4631 49th St NW 3533 Winfield Ln NW 4905 45th St NW 4923 Brandywine St NW 3066 Q St NW 3929 Highwood Ct NW 4230 46th St NW 2918 O St NW 2714 P St NW 2313 37th St NW 1676 32nd St NW 2456 39th Pl NW 2201 Observatory Pl NW 4501 Garrison St NW 1705 34th St NW 3714 T St NW 4832 46th St NW 4530 Harrison St NW 3303 Water St NW #3B 3251 Prospect St NW #304 2323 40th St NW #6 2606 41st St NW #6
HALF BATHS
THE TANNERY
414 N MONROE STREET
Historic late-1700s country estate on 93 private acres | Original native fieldstone residence seamlessly joined w/1831 & 1850 hand-hewn log cabins | 5 BR, 7 full BA, 2 half BA | 2 primary suites | 7 FP | Large covered rear porch, pool & cabana | Mature specimen trees, stone walls, boxwood gardens | 6-stall stable w/multiple fenced paddocks | Separate 4-BR, 2-/BA log residence | Privacy and scenic views
2023 custom-built Craftsman | 5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | Open floor plan, gourmet kitchen & high-end finishes throughout | Ideally situated in the Ashton Heights | Easy access Virginia Square Metro, Clarendon & Ballston | 5,300 square feet across 3 finished levels | This exceptional home offers the benefits of new construction without the hassle of finishing work after move-in.
Lynn Wiley
Brian MacMahon
The Plains, Virginia • $6,250,000
540.454.1527
REED STREET
Arlington, Virginia • $2,595,000
703.609.1868
1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0
0
LIST DATE
CLOSE DATE
LIST PRICE
CLOSE PRICE
8/6/26 2/29/24 5/18/26 7/11/26 4/30/26 7/23/26 5/13/26 5/28/26 8/6/26 5/7/26 7/9/26 8/4/26 6/28/26 6/3/26 8/6/26 7/10/26 7/11/26 7/20/26 7/16/26 8/13/26 7/30/26 7/24/26 5/4/26 8/1/26 9/5/25 6/28/26 7/17/26 4/21/26
8/7/26 8/18/26 8/31/26 8/11/26 8/12/26 8/14/26 8/31/26 8/11/26 8/11/26 8/14/26 8/17/26 8/25/26 8/7/26 8/21/26 8/28/26 8/5/26 8/12/26 8/14/26 8/6/26 8/27/26 8/11/26 8/25/26 8/21/26 8/21/26 8/24/26 8/28/26 8/31/26 8/6/26
$8,750,000 $7,995,000 $6,850,000 $4,595,000 $4,250,000 $3,400,000 $3,495,000 $3,150,000 $2,750,000 $2,495,900 $2,450,000 $2,200,000 $2,200,000 $1,850,000 $1,595,000 $1,249,000 $1,425,000 $1,325,000 $1,225,000 $1,249,000 $1,270,000 $1,150,000 $1,049,000 $1,025,000 $899,000 $799,990 $650,000 $539,900
$8,750,000 $7,700,000 $6,500,000 $4,500,000 $3,975,000 $3,629,510 $3,450,000 $3,150,000 $2,750,000 $2,350,000 $2,350,000 $2,140,000 $2,070,000 $1,750,000 $1,657,000 $1,437,000 $1,410,000 $1,360,000 $1,325,000 $1,300,000 $1,270,000 $1,220,000 $1,060,000 $1,025,000 $875,000 $750,000 $635,000 $539,900
BURNLEY VINEYARDS
Barboursville, Virginia • $2,500,000
One of Albemarle County’s oldest farm wineries | 35 acres on 3 parcels | 22 acres of producing vineyard | 3 residences w/mountain views: main house, guest house & manager’s residence | Winery building w/tasting room, office, kitchen & event space | Production facility plus 40’ x 60’ warehouse | Turnkey operation w/potential for events & expansion.
20.3 acres | Minutes to Middleburg, Creighton Farms & Dulles Airport | Zoned AR2 – ideal for horse farm, country inn, or estate | 5BR / 4 BA frame & brick contemporary | High ceilings, 2 fireplaces, light-filled interiors | 4-stall barn with tack room | 4-car garage, storage building | Inground pool | Private setting w/mountain views.
Paul MacMahon Brian MacMahon
Paul MacMahon Brian MacMahon
703.609.1905 703.609.1868
MAPLE CREEK
HOPEWELL COTTAGES
4BR, 4.5BA, built in 2019 | High-end finishes throughout | Gourmet kitchen: Wolf, Sub-Zero, Miele | Family room with fireplace & 9’ ceilings | Custom millwork & plantation shutters | Front porch and rear deck | Detached garage and private rear parking | High-speed internet | Walk to shops, dining & town amenities.
Private 10.92-acre with Cobbler Mountain views | Wellmaintained 4 BR /5.5 dBA home featuring high ceilings, maple floors, great room with stone fireplace, media room, & in-law apartment | Equestrian-ready with paddocks, barn, fencing, and run-in shed | Custom deck and screened porch.
Paul MacMahon Brian MacMahon
Paul MacMahon Brian MacMahon
Two charming cottages on 10 acres | 2 spring-fed ponds | Renovated main cottage w/ gourmet kitchen, fireplace, 1 bedroom & 2 full baths | Separate 2 bedroom cottage offers exceptional privacy for visitors or multigenerational living | Stone wall, terraced patios | Ideal weekend getaway, full-time residence, or family compound | Peaceful natural setting w/abundant wildlife & timeless charm.
Middleburg, Virginia • $1,975,000
703.609.1905 703.609.1868
info@sheridanmacmahon.com www.sheridanmacmahon.com
Marshall, Virginia • $1,325,000
703.609.1905 703.609.1868
(540) 687-5588
GERMANIA FARM
Aldie, Virginia • $2,400,000
MORELAND ROAD
Deleplane, Virginia • $875,000
The Plains, Virginia • $1,275,000
Helen MacMahon
703.609.1905 703.609.1868
540.454.1930
Circa 1875 farmhouse, fully restored | 3 BR, 2 BA, 1 fireplace | Stucco-over-frame; longtime family property | 9.50 acres, open and rolling | Mountain views; surrounded by large conservation easement farms | Natural spring on property (possible pond site) | Historic barn and family cemetery | Family connection to Mosby’s Rangers.
Paul MacMahon Brian MacMahon
703.609.1905 703.609.1868
110 East Washington Street Middleburg, Virginia 20117
THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
29
REAL ESTATE
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30 SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 | THE GEORGETOWNER
AT HOME: The Roof Over Our Heads
BY M IC H EL L E GAL L ER Roofs are like time capsules - one can read an entire era from what people put over their heads. The past speaks to the present via the warm shades of faded, sunbaked terracotta roof tiles in Phoenix or the sound of the patter of rain on a metal roof in Philadelphia or Boston. Many of roofing techniques and materials of yore are replicated today in present-day buildings that showcase the same styles found earlier throughout America. Although in nascent coastal America, roofs were made with stacked leaves and thatch, those same roofs would have cracked and leaked in early Southwest structures. Old-school materials like thatch were, indeed, breathable, locally available and surprisingly insulating, but just not a great match for the parching sun, pests and fire that easily destroyed entire villages in the west and southwest. Hence, the S-style clay roof tiles, or pantiles, which held cooler night air became popular in early southwestern homes. Alongside pantiles, which were brought to the New World by Spanish settlers, flat clay tiles were also used in early American construction, as they were simpler in shape and often used where local clay sources were abundant. The plain or flat rectangular tiles most commonly used from the 17th through the beginning of the 19th century measured about 10 inches long and had two holes at one end for a nail or peg fastener. Sometimes mortar was applied between the courses to secure the tiles in a heavy wind. Wooden shingles were also a popular option throughout the early American colonies, made of western red cedar and pine, they were durable
and could be easily shaped. They were often treated with pine pitch, linseed oil, or brick dust to protect them against weather and to achieve the desired colors like gray, brown, or red. Wood shingles, clay roofing tiles and durable, but breakable, slate shingles, were the predominant roofing choices until the mid-19th century. By the industrial revolution, they were often replaced by sheet-metal roofs, with the evolution of new techniques for metal roofing. Copper with standing seams covered some of the more notable early American roofs and flatseamed copper was used on many domes and cupolas. Up until the late 18th century, copper sheets had been imported from England, but the development of metal rolling mills made it possible to mass-produce sheets of iron for roofing in America, enabling its widespread use, especially since it was durable and fireresistant. The 1820 invention by Thomas Dunlap of the power roller enabled continuous rolling of sheet iron, laying the foundation for modern sheet-metal rolling mills. Corrugating stiffened the sheets, and allowed greater span over a lighter framework, as well as reduced installation time and labor. By the mid 19th century, the method for making metal roofs included galvanizing it with zinc to protect the base metal – lead, copper or iron - from rust. Once the rolling mills were well established in this country, low cost, light weight, and low maintenance tin plate, known as tin roofing, became popular. Embossed tin shingles, with their myriad patterns, were used throughout the
REAL ESTATE country in the late 19th century. Terne, a cheaper version of tin shingles, was a thinner steel sheet coated with an alloy of lead and tin. Tin roofs were kept well-painted, usually red or, green - to imitate the green patina of copper. Historic roofing materials continue to be used today on modern roofs. Metal roofing has again become popular in residential markets in recent decades, but even today’s metal roofs can corrode from “galvanic action. Corrosion occurs when dissimilar metals, such as copper and iron, are used in direct contact, or when the metals react chemically against each other in the presence of an electrolyte such as rainwater. This can happen when either a copper roof is decorated with iron cresting, or when steel nails are used in copper sheets. However, experienced contractors can prevent corrosion by inserting a plastic insulator between the dissimilar materials. As American society evolved, timber framing ushered in varying pitch and structure, and different periods in American architecture brought varying roof forms and lines. Roofing materials - slate, wood shingles and metal changed to suit the application. For instance, colonial-era houses often had steeply pitched roofs to shed snow and rain effectively. Gable roofs, with two slopes meeting at a central ridge, were common in New England. During the mid1800s, gabled roofs with Doric columns became widespread, and styles like Greek Revival and Gothic Revival often featured steeply pitched gables. Gothic Revival, with its pointed arches and decorative wood trim on gabled roofs showed up in the 1830s, echoing the vertical emphasis of medieval Gothic structures and allowing for dramatic silhouettes on churches, schools, and homes. During the Victorian era (1830s to 1900s), those gabled roofs were designed with steeper pitches and ornate bargeboard trim. Craftsmanstyle roofs from 1905 to 1930, featured pitched gables with wide eaves and decorative brackets, and from the 1880s through the 1950s, Colonial Revival roofs were symmetrical, mediumpitched roofs with regular dormers. During the 20th century, the rise of synthetic materials, such as asphalt and rubber, transformed the roofing industry. Asphalt shingles were developed for low- and steep-sloped roofs, as they were lightweight, easy to install, and cost-effective. Asphalt roofing became widely accessible, and homeowners could finally count
on predictable maintenance cycles and installers could work faster. Literally, the rows of reliable asphalt roofs changed the American streetscape. After a period of market experimentation with various shapes, patterns, and textures, midcentury improvements introduced fiberglass, improving fire ratings and moisture resistance. Laminated shingles provided enhanced aesthetics and extended lifespans, maintaining their market dominance for many American homes. In recent decades, standing seam steel, aluminum, and copper roofs and advances in coatings and thermal breaks reduced noise and improved energy efficiency, making metal competitive with traditional asphalt shingles. Currently, green roofs are very popular due to their sustainability – they are artificial ecosystems that provide solutions to environmental challenges such as climate change and urban heat and aid in the conservation of both cooling and heating energy. They mitigate air pollution, promote control of runoff and promote biodiversity, thus, the scientific literature of the last several decades has shown a remarkable number of associated benefits spanning a broad range of sustainability areas, popularizing green roofs. The myriad modern-day roof styles and materials emphasize resilience to climate extremes and energy generation and include selfhealing membranes, embedded sensors for leak detection, and recyclable composite roofing. The next chapter of roofs respect the past and are also future focused - still honoring dependable shelter that looks good and lasts. Michelle Galler is an antiques dealer, writer and painter residing in both the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and in Maryland.
Two Roofing Legacies. Same Trusted Craftsmanship. Jack’s Roofing Company is now part of the Wagner Roofing family, combining nearly 200 years of local craftsmanship.
301-585-4985 | jacks roofing.com THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
31
FOOD & WINE
Cocktail of the Month: The Espresso Martini BY JODY KURA S H “Necessity is the mother of invention,” according to a proverb that evolved from an ancient concept expressed by the Greek philosopher Plato in “The Republic.” The idea is that human needs will spark creation. This theory could apply to the creation of one of the most enduring cocktails of the last 50 years. Let’s travel back to the mid-’80s in London’s Soho. With the David Bowie film “Absolute Beginners” being shot in the area, everyone who was anyone was flocking to the trendy enclave. During this time, a top model wandered into the Soho Brasserie and requested “something to wake me up, then f*** me up.” Bartender Dick Bradsell complied, generating a new cocktail on the spot. By chance, the bar had just installed a new Illy coffee machine, which was situated next to his station. He combined espresso with vodka — the dominant spirit back then. Coffee liqueur rounded out the flavor, adding depth and sweetness. Bradsell’s first draft was served over ice and christened “The Vodka Espresso.” There is still speculation about who this famous model was. Despite rumors claiming that it was either Naomi Campbell or Kate Moss, they would have been too young at the time. As Bradsell moved around the London bar scene, his concoction evolved. It was later called “The Pharmaceutical Stimulant.” Then, during the 1990s, when any drink served in a V-shaped
LATEST DISH BY LIN DA ROT H
stemmed glass was labelled a martini, it was renamed “The Espresso Martini.” It officially hit menus under that moniker in 1997. This tipple is traditionally garnished with three coffee beans, taken from the Italian tradition when serving sambuca. Each bean represents a wish for the person drinking it: health, happiness and wealth. The growth of coffee culture made it continuously popular throughout the 21st century. Thanks to its “energy-boosting” effect, the Espresso Martini remains a club favorite. Following the tradition of coffee after a meal, it’s also an excellent dessert drink. Another advantage is its adaptability. While the cocktail in its simplest form can be ordered at bars throughout Washington, some have added their own personal spin. Kitchen + Kocktails has a silky and indulgent toasted marshmallow adaptation with a dessertlike finish. Shaw’s Alchemist DC serves a bright and floral lavender rendition, along with a heartier butterscotch version. And if your taste leans more toward tea, try the acclaimed Chai Espresso Martini at Dupont Circle’s Residents Café & Bar. With only three ingredients — vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso — it’s an uncomplicated tipple to make at home, and easily customized. Plain vodka is preferred, but if you have a serious java jones you can substitute flavored spirits such as Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka,
ESPRESSO MARTINI 1.5 oz. vodka 1 oz. espresso coffee 2/3 oz. coffee liqueur Add ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with three coffee beans.
with a bold and dry profile, or Belvedere Dirty Brew, blended with coffee bean macerations for a savory, complex taste. Coffee liqueurs vary wildly. The most popular, Mexico’s Kahlúa, which is forged from coffee beans, rum and sugar, has a sweet profile. A less cloying option is Tia Maria, made from Jamaican coffee and rum, which has a rich vanilla undertone. Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur is made from an Arabica coffee and vodka base with roughly half the sugar of mass-
Bill Thomas (The Blue Room to Bourbon to Jack Rose Dining Saloon) and business partner John Roberts are slated to open Carla at 2001 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan, where the The Imperial and Dram & Grain used to be. Carla will offer the neighborhood a place to eat, drink, hang out and listen to music. It will include a twotiered rooftop bar. An opening late in the third quarter is targeted. Anthony, Kamal and Joseph Azzouz of Keystone Hospitality Group (Urban Roast, ZOOZ Cocktail Garden) plan to open Chandelier, featuring steak and seafood, at 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, where Del Frisco’s Grille was. Chris DeFelice (Dirty Water, Rhino Bar) aimed to open The Boogiedown, featuring New York sports, on 9/11 for the first game of a Yankees-Mets Subway Series (the Bombers won 6-4). At 2321 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan, the new bar is where Death Punch was. He also plans to relaunch Rhino Bar this month at 1301 H St. NE, where Flight Lounge used to be.
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Quick Hits: Twosome Place, a South Korean coffee and dessert shop, plans to open its first U.S. location at 404 King St. in Old Town Alexandria late in the third quarter … Alex McCoy and Justin Ahn reopened Alfie’s, a northern Thai restaurant and wine bar at 1223 ½ 31st St. NW in Georgetown, a newly created space in an alley off Wisconsin and M … Dolcezza Gelato — founded in Georgetown by Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman in 2004 before relocating to Union Market — will reopen in Georgetown at 1300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, where Pressed Juicery used to be, in the fourth quarter. Openings Update: Café Tulúm, a Mexican seafood bar, opened in Grace Street Collective at 3210 Grace St. NW in Georgetown … Commercial real estate veteran Marcus Gooodwin opened Proper Café, a coffee shop and breakfast spot, in the former Oasis Coffee space at 1545 New Jersey Ave. NW ... Heikwan Cheng opened MoMoGoGo at 2501 9th Road S. in Arlington’s Penrose Square, serving allyou-can-eat sushi, sashimi and nigiri ...
market brands, delivering an intense, authentic espresso punch. For the espresso component, there are a plethora of options, including brewing at home or buying from one of D.C.’s respected coffee shops and roasteries. If you’re looking to sample local products, you’re in luck. The fourth annual DC Coffee Festival will be held on Oct. 3 and 4 at Union Market. If you don’t have any fancy martini glassware at home, serve it straight up in a highball glass or over ice like the original.
Seki Sushi opened in Crystal City at 480 11th St. S. Steve Salis of hospitality group Catalogue acquired the downtown Bethesda property where Woodmont Grill was at 7715 Woodmont Ave. He plans to open a Ted’s Bulletin there by the second quarter of 2027. He also plans to open a Ted’s Bulletin in Alexandria in the fourth quarter of this year. In the Collection at Chevy Chase at 5741 Wisconsin Ave., Metropolitan Hospitality Group plans to launch Open Road, where The Hunter’s Hound used to be, and Cove, an allday wine bar and café, where Junction Bistro, Bar & Bakery used to be. Both are slated to open in the fourth quarter. Linda Roth is the founder and CEO of Linda Roth Associates, a D.C.-based public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the food service and hospitality industries. Follow her at: @LindaRothPR, #LindaRothPR or lindarothpr.com.
FOOD & WINE
Inside the Oak Room and Bernadette’s BY C AL L IE S OL OM O N
A month after opening their doors, the Oak Room and Bernadette’s are settling into Georgetown’s dining scene, with a combination of elevated dining, cocktails and live entertainment. Located at 1218 Wisconsin Ave. NW, the Oak Room draws inspiration from the Gilded Age private clubs of New York and London, offering a menu of steaks, seafood and other classic American dishes. Upstairs, the supper club Bernadette’s features red velvet-draped furniture and live entertainment. Both spots come from the hospitality group Ten Five Hospitality, which is behind Union Market’s Desert 5 Spot. Ten Five Managing Partner Dan Daley emphasized the ability of the Oak Room and Bernadette’s to transport guests. “There’s something powerful about stepping off a busy street corner and walking into an entirely different world, a different era, a different pace, for a few hours,” he told The Georgetowner. “People want that experience. They want to escape their day-to-day, even if it’s just for a night.” The Oak Room builds its menu around elevated versions of classic American dishes,
such as prime rib, seafood towers, steak cuts and Dover sole. Leading the kitchen is James Beard Award-winning chef Tim Hollingsworth, previously chef de cuisine at the French Laundry. “Our mantra with Chef Tim when we built the menu was simple: the best version of your favorite dish,” said Daley. “We tried to stick to that all the way through — take the dishes everyone already knows and loves, and execute them at the highest level.” The Oak Room interior features dark wood paneling and plush leather seating. It creates a refined yet comfortable atmosphere suitable for celebrations, date nights and gatherings with friends and family. The walls are lined with a variety of landscape paintings and portraits. According to Daley, Ten Five Chief Marketing Officer Kim Walker handpicked every art piece, sourcing them from antique shops and dealers herself. “The idea is that these rooms should feel collected over decades, not decorated in a month,” Daley said. Above the Oak Room, accessed through a separate entrance, is Bernadette’s. Inspired by chic European locales, such as Hôtel
Costes in Paris and Harry’s Bar in Venice, it features red velvet drapery, warm lighting and a grand piano. Its menu is smaller than but similar to the Oak Room’s, with a raw bar, appetizers, house signatures and desserts — along with extensive cocktail and champagne options. Bernadette’s features live music Thursday through Saturday. As the evening progresses, the room becomes livelier as the music picks up. “Bernadette’s works at any hour, but really, it’s dinner and theater. You eat well, and then the night turns into something else entirely,” Daley said. A Georgetown University graduate, Daley noted that the neighborhood experienced hardship after the Covid pandemic, as many storefronts sat empty. Although retail has recovered, he said much of Georgetown’s dynamism comes from its bars and restaurants. “A lot of M Street today is commoditized retail. That’s fine during the day, but neighborhoods need a real mix of businesses to have energy, culture, character,” he said. “We wanted to bring some of those qualities back.”
THE OAK ROOM PRIME CÔTE DE BOEUF
PHOTO CREDIT MICHEAL MUNDY
THE OAK ROOM GRAND PLATEAU
PLAT DU SOIR French Classics Menu Tuesday
Canard À L’Orange Roasted Duck Breast, sauce Bigarade, Grand Marnier & orange, pommes Anna, glazed baby carrots, braised endive, orange confit $ 56
THE OAK ROOM
Wednesday
Steak Frites New York Steak Unlimited clarified butter French fries and three sauces Au Poivre - Béarnaise - Roquefort $45
Thursday
Carré D’Agneau à la Provençale Roasted rack of lamb, garlic & Provençal herb crust, eggplant caviar, tomato confit, pommes fondantes, rosemary jus $65
Friday
Sole Meunière Dover Sole, meunière-style, brown butter, lemon, capers, parsley, pommes vapeur $69
Saturday
Loup en Croûte de Sel for two Mediterranean sea bass baked whole in a sea-salt crust, presented and carved tableside, sauce vierge, seasonal vegetables $62 per person
(20 2) 6 5 2-185 5 I NFO@ LAVAN TGARDE DC. C OM
BERNADETTE’S PIANO
2 9 1 5 M S TR EE T N W W AS H IN GTO N, D C
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BUSINESS
Ins & Outs BY R OBE RT DEVA NEY As previously forecast, we’re seeing an interesting mixture of retail and restaurants making their Georgetown debut: Uniqlo, Beso Besu, Garage, Joe & The Juice, Dayglow, Puree Juice Bar, Spicewalla, East Fork, Jones Road, Pop Mart, Dutch Darlings and Thursday Boot Company, as well as those listed here. Get ready for a busy fall season. “The momentum just keeps building for Georgetown’s retail scene,” wrote the Washington Business Journal last month, as if to underline what this column has been headlining for a while. Citing several top-name, soon-to-open stores, WBJ continued: “All that activity has helped make Georgetown one of the District’s tightest retail markets, per a spring market report from Dochter & Alexander Retail Advisors. The retail vacancy rate on M Street, Georgetown’s main retail drag, came in at just shy of 7.66%, and Georgetown as a whole came in at 8.34%. That compares to a District-wide average of 13.96%. It’s a far cry from how things stood in the Covid-19 pandemic, when Georgetown was one of the hardest hit parts of the city for retail vacancies.”
IN: UNIQLO
Uniqlo Georgetown at 3262 M St. NW made its flashy debut on Aug. 28. The 22,618-squarefoot store brings Uniqlo’s LifeWear philosophy “to one of Washington, D.C.’s most iconic neighborhoods, offering thoughtfully designed everyday apparel alongside unique local collaborations and community experiences,” the company tells us. Opening festivities included Japanese Taiko drum performances. People were seen walking around with Uniqlo bags all weekend.
IN: ADRIANA HOYOS
Adriana Hoyos — high-end residential and commercial interior design, alongside luxury furniture collections — opened at 3328 M St. NW, part of the design-center vibe of the 3300 block of M Street and Cady’s Alley. Founded in 1994 by Ecuadorian interior designer Adriana Hoyos and her husband, Eduardo Pérez, the company is based in Miami with manufacturing facilities in Quito, Ecuador.
IN: BOMBAS
“The comfort-focused apparel brand known for its One Purchased = One Donated mission,” Bombas opened its first Washington, D.C.,
flavors and lively atmosphere of southern México.” The restaurant joins the Grace Street Collective at 3210 Grace St. NW.
IN: FLAVOR HIVE
The popular Northern Virginia food truck Flavor Hive has opened a brick-and-mortar location at 3287½ M St. NW in the former Harmony Café space, offering samples to passersby to celebrate its debut.
IN: O STREET COLLECTION
O Street Collection is a new art boutique at 3213 O St. NW that had a soft opening for Art All Night. It boasts a curated collection of 50-plus original artworks and artist-designed goods from more than 10 contemporary artists, with pieces ranging from $50 to over $10,000. The collection occupies a historic property that once housed the offices of Max N. Berry, Esq. — also a significant art collector — and, before that, a popular café.
IN: DELHI BELLY
“including exclusive Crab Socks, available to the first 150 customers.”
IN: ALFIE’S
Chefs Alex McCoy and Justin Ahn opened Alfie’s — a northern Thai restaurant and natural wine bar — in the alley section of Hamilton Collective at 1228½ 31st St. NW on Sept. 2. Warning: It’s spicy. “It’s got a bit of that feel of a hole-in-thewall wine bar in Europe, but it also has the feel of a shophouse in Thailand,” McCoy told Washingtonian. “This wasn’t a restaurant before, but we worked really hard to make this place feel like it had been here for 40 or 50 years.”
Owned by Vikas Kakkar and Raj Manroy, Delhi Belly, which opened last month at 1560 Wisconsin Ave. NW, brings a casual dining experience inspired by the urban food culture of India. The spot at Wisconsin and Q — the original location of Dolcezza Gelato, now returning to Georgetown — has seen a lot of operators, also including La Jolie Bleue, Bharati and Oakberry.
RETURNING: DOLCEZZA GELATO
Once a Georgetowner, always a Georgetowner. Dolcezza Gelato, founded here in 2004 by Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman, is slated to open
PHOTO BY BILL STARRELS
Bombas executives and associates Elizabeth Wasserman, Pablo Escotto, Eevee Vargo and Madison Yohe gave away socks on opening day.
store at 1400 Wisconsin Ave. NW. on Aug. 14. The socks-and-more retailer was co-founded by Georgetown University alum Randy Goldberg in 2013. To celebrate the opening, Bombas offered opening-day surprises,
IN: CAFÉ TULÚM
Bringing beach vibes to Georgetown, Café Tulúm opened last month, offering “the vibrant
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Michael Rafidi — who owns Albi and La’ Shukran, along with Yellow cafe and its “(not) pizza” on Wisconsin Avenue — is bringing Bizzeria to the back of 3246 Prospect St. NW, the same address as the upcoming Skillette, a cooking school by Kelly Singer. The pizza spot will have an entrance in the alleyway, entered from Potomac Street.
COMING: POP MART
It’s another cult favorite. Pop Mart, a Beijingbased toy company, is heading to 3221 M St. NW. Think Hello Kitty and beyond — toys like Labubu, Harry Potter, the Powerpuff Girls and other pricey designer toys.
COMING: KITH
“Plans filed with the Old Georgetown Board show that Kith, the cult sneaker-and-streetwear label, is moving into 3040 M St. NW, adjacent to Barnes & Noble,” reports Urban Turf, which added: “Kith has built a devoted following since Ronnie Fieg opened his first store in New York in 2011, growing into one of the more prominent names in the streetwear-meets-luxury space through collaborations with brands like Nike, Adidas and New Balance.”
COMING: POP MART
It’s another cult favorite. Pop Mart, a Beijingbased toy company, is heading to 3221 M St. NW. Think Hello Kitty and beyond — toys like Labubu, Harry Potter, the Powerpuff Girls and other pricey designer toys. Edikted, the women’s clothing retailer popular with Gen Zers, plans a 3,890-square-foot store in the space at 3135 M St. NW formerly occupied by Allbirds, according to the Washington Business Journal. Founded in Tel Aviv in 2020 by entrepreneurs Dedy Shwartzberg and Zvika Alon, the Los Angeles-based company lists 18 U.S. stores in 10 states.
Flora Pizzeria, which opened next to Alfie’s on Sept. 14, tells us: “We craft our artisanal pizza dough using a natural leaven, premium organic flour and authentic sea salt from Sicily.” Diliziusu! Sommelier and restaurateur Elli Benchimol opened Ellizabetta La Strega in the West End on Sept. 9 at 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, transforming the former Marcel’s space into a bar, restaurant and private dining destination. Benchimol also owns Georgetown’s Apéro and La Bohème on P Street.
COMING: BIZZERIA
COMING: EDIKTED
IN: FLORA PIZZERIA
IN: ELLIZABETTA LA STREGA
& it feels so sweet. we can’t wait to delight you georgetown. we’re coming home.”
COMING: BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU
in late fall or early winter in the former Pressed Juicery space at 1300 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Their return makes this corner spot their seventh location. Dolcezza Gelato wrote on social media on Sept. 3: “the prodigal son & daughter are returning back to where it all began .. over 22 years ago when we set out on this beautiful titanic journey, it was in a 300 sq ft kitchen on wisconsin avenue & q street nw. we left our georgetown kitchen in 2013 to open our factory in the union market neighborhood .. & now we return .. down the street from where it started
Original Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts is coming to 3270 M St. NW, near Gold’s Gym, downstairs from the primary entrance. Think “discipline, community, self-defense, better humans” — offered at all levels, with private lessons as well.
HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO …
Amorino Gelato (3401 M St. NW), Andy’s Pizza (1065 Wisconsin Ave. NW), Flor Coffee + Books (1220 31st St. NW) and It’s a Secret Med Spa (1365 Wisconsin Ave. NW). xThank you all for choosing Georgetown — you make us better.
IN COUNTRY
Hunt Country’s Grace Church Concert Season Opens Oct. 16
BY LELAND S CHWA RT Z , H U N T C O U N T RY N E T WO R K One of Virginia Hunt Country’s signature music events, the Grace Church Concert Series kicks off its five-performance season on Friday, Oct. 16, with Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble Voces8, the world’s top-streaming classical vocal group. Performed at 7 p.m., Voces8’s “Give Me Your Stars” program will explore the “profound and diverse beauty of music inspired by the heavens, human connection and the places we call home.” Endowed 25 years ago by Jacquie Mars and chaired by former Washington Performing Arts board chair Lena Scott, the concerts are held at Grace Episcopal Church on Main Street in The Plains, two minutes from Exit 31 on Interstate 66, 35 minutes west of the Beltway. Charm City Junction, a Baltimore-based acoustic quartet that plays music at the crossroads of the Irish, old-time folk and bluegrass traditions, will perform on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. The concert is dedicated to the memory of Malcolm Matheson, a longtime Angel patron who helped sustain the series for many years. “His love of bluegrass music made Charm City Junction a natural choice for this tribute,
and we are honored to celebrate his life through an afternoon of the music he so deeply enjoyed,” Scott told The Georgetowner. Matheson, a resident of The Plains who died in February, was a legend in Hunt Country, particularly in his role as Master of the Orange County Hunt. Charm City Junction’s latest album, Salt Box, released in 2024, debuted at number one on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts, “further establishing the band as a compelling force carrying tradition forward while continuing to push it into new territory.” On Sunday, March 14, at 5 p.m., baritone Thomas Dreeze and pianist Matthew Umphreys will take attendees on what reviewers have called “a musical odyssey,” featuring songs from the Golden Age of Broadway and other ports of call, such as the American Songbook and operetta. Dreeze and Umphreys were a smash hit at the series’ Archangel Dinner this past spring — the reason they were asked to join the 2026-27 lineup. The Katarina String Quartet — grand prize winner of the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and winner of the Concert Artists
Guild’s Louis and Susan Meisel Prize, both in 2025 — will perform on Sunday, April 11, at 5 p.m. The tightly knit ensemble currently serves as the Juilliard School’s graduate resident string quartet, exploring the complete chamber music repertoire. Known for its personable concert presentations and community leadership, the quartet plays regularly at community centers around New York City as recipients of Juilliard’s Gluck Fellowship. Finally, on Sunday, May 16, musicians with the Washington National Opera Orchestra — the nation’s only orchestra dedicated solely to the performance of three musical genres: opera, ballet and musical theater — will travel to the Virginia countryside to give the season’s closing performance at 5 p.m. In an afternoon of chamber music, also featuring a singer from the WNO’s Cafritz Young Artists Program, the musicians will “explore delightful and unusual combinations of instrumental timbres.” The full orchestra’s 63 full-time musicians, selected through rigorous international auditions, hail from 11 different countries and 22 U.S. states. Scott said the organizers of the series
“are thrilled to invite everyone to our 27th anniversary season,” adding that “for more than a quarter century, we have been honored to bring exceptional artists from around the world to our community, creating unforgettable musical experiences in the beautiful setting of Grace Church.” Tickets, including a post-concert reception with food and wine, are available by visiting gracetheplains.org/music/concert-series. The Grace Church Angels program is an opportunity to further support the Grace Church Concert Series. Angel contributions enable the series to offer discounted tickets to students and free admission to those under 18. Those readers interested in being added to the mailing list for the series should email the Concert Committee at concertseries@ gracetheplains.org. Author’s note: This piece is part of an experiment in local journalism, to see if we can build a new Hunt Country Network and hard-wire it to Georgetown. Get more of us in there and more Georgetowners out here.
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SOCIAL SCENE
GALA GUIDE Tony Powell’s Fall Picks Starred
SEPTEMBER 2026 Friday, Sept. 25 The 2026 Wolf Trap Ball — Tony’s Pick 7 p.m., Filene Center, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia “The Rhythm of New Orleans” marks the nation’s 250th anniversary with a black-tie evening on the Filene Center stage, a menu curated by chef David Guas and an appearance by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Dominic and Nedda Dragisich and Kevin and Kate Robbins co-chair. Friday, Sept. 25 2026 Dinner of Champions: Nation’s Capital 6 to 11 p.m., Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, Presidential Ballroom, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s premier fundraising event returns as the organization celebrates 80 years of progress in the fight against multiple sclerosis — and invests in the breakthroughs still to come. Saturday, Sept. 26 2026 Human Rights Campaign National Dinner Welcome reception at 5 p.m., program at 7 p.m. HRC’s annual black-tie dinner celebrates advances in the fight for full LGBTQ+ equality and regularly draws cabinet officials, members of Congress and headline entertainers. The Mayflower is the official dinner hotel. Saturday, Sept. 26 50 Forward! — The Washington Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Celebration 7 p.m., National Union Building, Downtown Washington, D.C. The Washington Ballet celebrates its landmark 50th anniversary season with 50 Forward!, an evening looking back at five decades of dance — and ahead to its next chapter. Guests can explore interactive historical galleries, enjoy cocktails with Artistic Director Edwaard Liang and Company dancers, and dance to live music by Black Alley, followed by an exclusive speakeasy after-party.
OCTOBER 2026 Thursday, Oct. 1 Friends of Rose Park Annual Fundraiser Gala 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Alsop House Friends and neighbors gather at the historic Alsop House for Friends of Rose Park’s annual fall fundraiser, supporting one of Georgetown’s most beloved neighborhood parks. Thursday, Oct. 8 The Spirit of Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia The annual benefit supports Mount Vernon’s education and historic preservation mission. The Spirit of Mount Vernon is marking its 25th anniversary alongside the nation’s 250th.
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Saturday, Oct. 10 The Virginia Fall Races 12:30 p.m., Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Virginia A fixture of the Hunt Country calendar since 1955, with steeplechase racing, tailgates and some 10,000 spectators at the oldest continuous racecourse in Virginia. Thursday, Oct. 15, to Sunday, Oct. 18 2026 Middleburg Film Festival Middleburg, Virginia (see website for specific times and venues) Four days of narrative and documentary films — festival favorites, world and regional premieres, foreign films and Oscar contenders — screened in intimate theaters and followed by conversations with filmmakers and actors. Friday, Oct. 16 The 58th Annual Meridian Ball — Tony’s Pick Meridian House, 1630 Crescent Place NW Washington’s last true ball. Guests begin the evening at an intimate ambassador-hosted dinner or the White-Meyer Dinner on Meridian’s campus, then gather for dancing, dessert and conversation at Meridian House. Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. chair. Saturday, Oct. 17 National Italian American Foundation Gala Campari aperitivo at 5:30 p.m., dinner and awards at 7 p.m., after-party at 10 p.m., Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW Black-tie. A special performance by Sebastian Maniscalco, guests from both sides of the Atlantic and a dinner inspired by NIAF’s 2026 Region of Honor, Lombardia. Additional honorees to be announced. Monday, Oct. 19, to Sunday, Oct. 25 Washington International Horse Show The Show Place Arena, Prince George’s Equestrian Center, Upper Marlboro, Maryland (times vary by class) At the USEF Heritage Competition, established in 1958: nearly $1 million in prize money and a lineup of Olympic-caliber athletes. Thursday, Oct. 22 Rock Creek Conservancy’s Party in the Park 5:30 to 8 p.m., Carter Barron Amphitheater, 4850 Colorado Ave. NW More than 300 guests from business, the arts, government and conservation gather in Rock Creek Park’s “jewel in the crown” for drinks, music, appetizers and park views under the stars.
Use QR Code for the full list of Galas, regularly updated.
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Sitar Arts Center Gala 6:30 p.m., The Mayflower Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW Cocktail attire. “Ready to Create the Future” pairs a reception and seated dinner with student performances, an art gallery and silent and live auctions. Jessica Denson and Christopher Wingert co-chair. Proceeds support Sitar Arts Center’s arts education and workforce development programs for D.C. children, teens and young adults.
NOVEMBER 2026 Sunday, Nov. 1 Capital Jewish Museum Annual Gala Capital Jewish Museum Annual Gala “Preserving Our History, Building Our Future,” hosted by NPR’s Nina Totenberg, is the museum’s third annual gala. It honors National Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Nurit Bar-Josef, Covington vice chair Lanny A. Breuer and the Hon. David Tatel, who served 30 years on the D.C. Circuit. Sunday, Nov. 8 Woodley House 30th Annual Movie BenefitMount AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD CNN anchor and chief political correspondent Dana Bash, a former Woodley House board member, emcees the 30th edition of the benefit, which pairs a VIP reception with a film screening. Board vice president Diane Murray receives the Donald A. Brown Rose Award. Proceeds support Woodley House’s crisis stabilization, group homes and supportive housing for people living with mental illness in the D.C. region. Tickets from $75 Wednesday, Nov. 11 Whitman-Walker Gala The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C., 1150 22nd St. NW The gala supports Whitman-Walker’s health and legal services. Attire is festive cocktail. Thursday, Nov. 12 D.C. Central Kitchen’s Capital Food Fight The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW The rising stars of D.C.’s culinary scene battle on stage with tastes from dozens of top regional restaurants. Confirmed celebrity guests include Andrew Zimmern, Rocco DiSpirito, Tiffany Derry, Eric Adjepong, Karen Akunowicz, Spike Mendelsohn and Tommy McFly. Tyson Foods returns as presenting sponsor. Last year’s edition drew 1,300 guests and raised more than $900,000.
HAUTE & COOL BY MIRA ADWELL
TOP to BOTTOM: Magda Butrym shearling jacket, $4,775, NET-A-PORTER Nour Hammour Hadley calf hair jacket, $2,120, NET-A-PORTER Gucci Beauty Velvet Matte Lipstick in 509 Rosso Ancora, $49, Sephora Khaite Audrey suede clutch, $2,200, NET-A-PORTER Aquazzura Bellezza 105 velvet pumps, NET-A-PORTER Gianvito Rossi Sofia D’Orsay 95 pumps, $995, NET-A-PORTER ILIA Multi-Stick in Tenderly, $36, Sephora THE GEORGETOWNER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
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KITTY KELLEY BOOK CLUB
‘Smut: An 1883 Obscenity Trial and Its Echoes Today’ REVIEW ED BY KIT T Y K E LLE Y Controlling women then; controlling women now. The title of this book grabs your attention with huge letters screaming: “SMUT.” As provocative as a monkey-grinder in church is its bright red cover, with a photo of a proud young woman sitting on an old-fashioned chair, arms clasped around her bare legs down to her black stockings and satin heels, ribbons lacing up her ankles. She looks directly at the camera, almost defiantly, with a half-smile and a cigarette dangling from her lips. As author Carol Kammen explains, the woman and her stripteasing sisters were reviled by the Society for the Prevention of Crime, founded in 1877 in New York City, and hounded by Anthony Comstock, the most prominent Puritan in 19th-century America. A onetime salesman in Manhattan, the deeply religious Comstock, a special agent of the U.S. Post Office, became outraged by the advertisements for birth control in newspapers and by the availability of what he deemed “obscene materials.” He banged his drum so loudly that Congress passed the Comstock Act
of 1873, which criminalized the use of the U.S. Postal Service to transfer such materials and banned the mailing of contraceptives and abortifacients. Though “Comstockery” became a term of derision meaning overzealous moral censorship, the Comstock Act remains in effect today. Now comes Kammen, a retired senior lecturer in history at Cornell University, who has written in “Smut” a breezy tract on prurient sex. She’s found bits and pieces of an obscure obscenity trial that allow her to compare the mores governing morality in 1883 to those of 2026. Sadly, she concludes, there’s not much difference between then and now. No progress. Little enlightenment. The Society for the Prevention of Crime, an all-male committee of 100, functioned as the community chastity belt in the late 19th century, not unlike those in President Trump’s orbit who — following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, eliminating nearly 50 years of federal protections and returning the matter of women’s bodily autonomy to the states — imposed sweeping new restrictions on abortion.
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Professor Kammen centers her story on the trial of Jefferson and Helen Beardsley of Ithaca, New York, who were arrested for “selling and exhibiting obscene pictures.” The Beardsleys were found guilty, fined $300 (approximately $10,000 in 2026) and spent somewhere between four and six months in prison. The author believes that the outcry for “social purity” then is just as earsplitting today. As the French proverb posits, “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.” The more things change, the more they stay the same. Pornography exploded following the invention of photography in the early 19th century. When Jefferson Beardsley attended the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, the first official world’s fair to be held in the U.S., he purchased several pornographic French photos. These he distributed and sold back home in Ithaca, leading to his arrest and the trial Kammen documents. At one point during that trial, a witness was asked to describe some of Beardsley’s photographs. He responded: “One was a female sitting in a chair and playing with her private parts with her fingers, trying to get them into it as much as anything else. Another one was a lady in a hammock without any clothes on, lying there as if she was asleep or waiting for somebody to come along. Then there was another with a bottle, I think it was, sitting there with a bottle between her legs or something of that kind. A bottle or something else.” A few paragraphs later, Kammen interrupts her narrative as follows: “At this point, we have to say wow! In an era when piano legs were covered so as not to offend anyone, and limbs were not mentioned if they belonged to a female, and women’s skirts were long to conceal their extremities, this testimony is starkly frank. I would doubt that we would hear the same words in a courtroom today. But in 1883 in New York it was necessary to describe the obscenity observed in order to make the case. And to do so under oath.”
The last words in this review go to Kammen, a grandmother, who writes that her grandson suggested she publish this book under a pseudonym. The professor admits she does not find pornography interesting, but feels that the Beardsley trial offers a valuable way to discuss public morality, social control, the role of women in society, the dissemination of knowledge and the growth of the village of Ithaca, now world-renowned as the home of Kammen’s own Cornell, which sits high above Cayuga Lake. “‘SMUT’ is also a caution,” she warns, “because today it is frightening to see the talk of those who refuse to accept women in modern society and laws that intend to yank women back into the nineteenth century. That, of course, is the echo and the threat inherent in ‘SMUT.’” Georgetown resident Kitty Kelley has written several best-sellers, including “The Family: The Real Story Behind the Bush Dynasty.” Recent books include “Let Freedom Ring: Stanley Tretick’s Iconic Images of the March on Washington.” She serves on the board of BIO (Biographers International Organization) and Washington Independent Review of Books, where this review first appeared.
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