CAPITOL FILE 2014, ISSUE 6 HOLIDAY MEGAN BOONE capitolfile-magazine.com NICHE MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC WHERE TO EAT, DRINK & BE JOLLY WASHINGTON’S BEST HOLIDAY GUIDE BACK TO YOU, BOB THE CBS ICON REFLECTS ON HIS CAREER AND FACE THE NATION TURNING 60 ON THE TOWN WITH WASHINGTON CAPITALS JOHN CARLSON & KARL ALZNER PLUS BUNNY MELLON’S HUNT COUNTRY DONNY AND MARIE WHY THE BREAKOUT STAR OF NBC’S HIT DRAMA THE BLACKLIST HAS PLENTY TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY
Transcript
CA
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NICHE MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC
WHERE TO EAT, DRINK & BE JOLLY
WASHINGTON’S
BEST HOLIDAY GUIDE
BACK TO YOU, BOBTHE CBS ICON REFLECTS
ON HIS CAREER AND
FACE THE NATIONTURNING 60
ON THE TOWN WITH WASHINGTON CAPITALS
JOHN CARLSON & KARL ALZNER
PLUSBUNNY MELLON’S HUNT COUNTRY
DONNY AND MARIEWHY THE BREAKOUT STAR OF NBC’S HIT DRAMA THE BLACKLIST HAS PLENTY TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY
BOSS
BURBERRY
LORO PIANA
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
ZADIG & VOLTAIRE
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LOUIS VUITTON
PAUL STUART
CAUDALIE BOUTIQUE SPA
DAVID YURMAN
CENTROLINA
DOLCEZZA
FIG & OLIVE
MOMOFUKU & MILK BAR
Located at 10th & H Street NW, Washington, D.C.
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Photographed atthe Washington Monument
TEL: 301.987.0095 www.syzygyevents.com
EVENTS INTERNATIONAL
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Holiday traditions may feel timeless, but they have to start sometime and some-
where, and be shaped along the way. The White House hosted its first “official”
Christmas tree in 1929, when First Lady Lou Henry Hoover formally decided
that her duties included trimming the White House tree. While the tradition
was certainly born that year, according to many historical accounts, First Lady
Caroline Harrison decorated the debut tree in 1889. First Lady Jacqueline
Kennedy started a tradition of her own by selecting a theme for the tree in 1961.
Indeed, a long line of first ladies has had an elegant hand in building the tradi-
tion of the White House Christmas tree as we know it today. As we mark its 85th
year, we reflect on the central roles that not only the first ladies but also the first
family and the White House play in rallying together the American people to
celebrate and showcase the best of the country’s creativity and talent during the
holiday season. From my time as deputy White House social secretary, I can
attest that it is a beautiful—albeit, exhausting—process.
Preparation at the White House for the holidays usually begins mere weeks
after the prior season ends. The social secretary works directly with the first lady
to explore themes, designs, and of course, holiday parties, which routinely num-
ber in excess of 23 (often requiring two on any given day). It is a demanding
month for the Social Office, which must coordinate and execute each event from
start to finish, a time line that includes building a guest list and working with a
calligrapher to design invitations. But watching visitors and guests arrive and
experience the natural grandeur of the White House—somehow magically
enhanced by the holiday décor—is worth the sleep deprivation.
Beginning with the horse-drawn arrival of the White House Christmas tree
and the influx of hundreds of volunteers from across the nation to assist in
decorating the mansion, to the unveiling of the Gingerbread White House
designed by the White House pastry chef, to the concert and lighting of the
national Christmas tree on the Ellipse, the joy and positive spirit of the nation
are exemplified in the traditions, both old and new, that brighten 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue every holiday season. cf
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum85 years after the White house hosted its first official christmas tree, decorating it has become
a symbol of americans coming together and shoWcasing their creativity. by ebs burnough
President John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy attend the White House Christmas party in 1962, one year after the first lady began the tradition of a themed Christmas tree.
138Home renovations in newly desirable neighborhoods are turning neglected abodes into high-end habitats—and fast.
haute
property
131 // million
dollar baby
It takes an eye for detail and luxury to
double the resale value of a home in an
emerging neighborhood.
134 // living on the edge
Long-ignored stretches of land between
DC’s most sought-after neighborhoods are
being revitalized, a few blocks at a time.
138 // renovation station
Old homes in newly thriving neighbor-
hoods are getting makeovers to match.
freely
speaking
152 // party planning
Fêting in style—and in compliance—
with Congress.
on the Cover:
Megan Boone Photography by Nigel Parry/CPiStyling by Chloe HartsteinHair by Seiji Yamada/The Wall GroupMakeup by Quinn Murphy/The Wall GroupVideo by Orlando Ferreyra
Gown, Reed Krakoff ($2,190). Saks Fifth Avenue, 5555 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-657-9000; saks.com. “Heritage” earrings featuring diamonds set in 18k yellow and white gold, Van Cleef & Arpels (price on request). Neiman Marcus, Tysons Galleria, 703-761-1600; neimanmarcus.com
Shot on location at the Loews Regency Hotel, 212-759-4100; loewshotels.com/Regency-Hotel
Loews Regency Hotel celebrates the first anniversary of its reopening in January 2015. The reimagined 379-room hotel launched six Signature Suites last fall, which marked the culmination of the hotel’s $100 million transformation.
14 capitolfile-magazine.com
contents Holiday 2014
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WINTER STAYCATION IDEASAs holiday stress sets in, we’ll show you where to relax and recharge without leaving DC.
DC HOMES WITH
GORGEOUS
FIREPLACES
You’ll want to warm up by the
fireplace at these luxurious
homes once winter hits.
real estate
COME FOLLOW US
at capitolfle-magazine.comWe have the inside scoop on Washington’s best
parties, real estate, and more.
JOIN US ONLINE
SEE THE
LATEST FROM
LAST NIGHT’S
EVENTS
Couldn’t attend? Browse
the newest photos from
the most exclusive parties
in Washington, DC.
photos
vacation
Malibu • Newport Coast • LagunaLos Angeles • New York City • Palm Beach
www.HesperaDesigns.com
18 CAPITOLFILE-MAGAZINE.COM
Copyright 2014 by Niche Media Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Capitol File magazine is published six times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited.The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Capitol File magazine’s right to edit.
Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs, and drawings. To order a subscription, please call 866-891-3144. For customer service, please inquire at [email protected]. To distribute Capitol File at your business, please e-mail [email protected].
Capitol File magazine is published by Niche Media Holdings, LLC., a division of Greengale Publishing, LLC. capitol file: 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 925, Washington, DC 20004 T: 202-293-8025 F: 202-293-8022
niche media holdings: 100 Church Street, Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10007 T: 646-835-5200 F: 212-780-0003
Associate Publisher MEREDITH MERRILL
Account Executive FENDY MESY
Director of Event Marketing LAURA MULLEN
Sales Assistant ELENA SENDOLO
SUZY JACOBSPublisher
Managing Editor OUSSAMA ZAHRArt Director ALLISON FLEMING
Senior Vice President and Editorial Director MANDI NORWOOD Vice President of Creative and Fashion ANN SONGCreative Director NICOLE A. WOLFSON NADBOY Executive Fashion Director SAMANTHA YANKS
ART AND PHOTO
Senior Art Director FRYDA LIDOR Associate Art Directors ANASTASIA TSIOUTAS CASALIGGI, ADRIANA GARCIA, JUAN PARRA, JESSICA SARRO Senior Designer NATALI SUASNAVASDesigners AARON BELANDRES, SARAH LITZ Photo Director LISA ROSENTHAL BADER Photo Editors KATHERINE HAUSENBAUER-KOSTER, JODIE LOVE, SETH OLENICK, JENNIFER PAGAN
Senior Staff Photographer JEFFREY CRAWFORD Senior Digital Imaging Specialist JEFFREY SPITERY Digital Imaging Specialist JEREMY DEVERATURDA Digital Imaging Assistant HTET SAN
FASHION
Fashion Editor FAYE POWER Fashion Assistants CONNOR CHILDERS, LISA FERRANDINO Entertainment and Bookings Editor JULIET IZON
COPY AND RESEARCH
Copy and Research Manager WENDIE PECHARSKY Copy Editors DAVID FAIRHURST, JULIA STEINER Research Editors LESLIE ALEXANDER, JAMES BUSS, JUDY DEYOUNG, AVA WILLIAMS
EDITORIAL OPERATIONS
Director of Editorial Operations DEBORAH L. MARTIN Director of Editorial Relations MATTHEW STEWART Editorial Assistant CHRISTINA CLEMENTE Online Executive Editor CAITLIN ROHAN Online Editors ANNA BEN YEHUDA, TRICIA CARR
Senior Managing Editors DANINE ALATI, KAREN ROSE, JILL SIERACKI Managing Editors JENNIFER DEMERITT, MURAT OZTASKIN
Shelter and Design Editor SUE HOSTETLER Timepiece Editor ROBERTA NAAS
ADVERTISING SALES
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing NORMAN M. MILLER Account Directors SUSAN ABRAMS, MICHELE ADDISON, GUY BROWN, CLAIRE CARLIN, KATHLEEN FLEMING, VICTORIA HENRY, KAREN LEVINE, NORMA MONTALVO, ELIZABETH MOORE,
GRACE NAPOLITANO, JEFFREY NICHOLSON, DEBORAH O’BRIEN, SHANNON PASTUSZAK, MIA PIERRE-JACQUES, VALERIE ROBLES, JIM SMITH Account Executives SUSANA ARAGON, MICHELLE CHALA, MORGAN CLIFFORD, JANELLE DRISCOLL, ALICIA DRY, VINCE DUROCHER, IRENA HALL, SARAH HECKLER, CATHERINE KUCHAR, JULIA MAZUR, MARY RUEGG,
ERIN SALINS, LAUREN SHAPIRO, CAROLINE SNECKENBERG, JACKIE VAN METER, JESSICA ZIVKOVITCH Advertising Business Manager RICHARD YONG
Sales Support and Development EMMA BEHRINGER, ANA BLAGOJEVIC, EMILY BURDETT, BRITTANY CORBETT, DARA HIRSH, KARA KEARNS, KELSEY MARRUJO, MICHELLE MASS, NICHOLE MAURER, RUE MCBRIDE, STEPHEN OSTROWSKI, ALEXANDRA WINTER
MARKETING, PROMOTIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations LANA BERNSTEIN Vice President of Integrated Marketing EMILY MCLINTOCK Director of Integrated Marketing ROBIN KEARSE Integrated Marketing Manager JIMMY KONTOMANOLIS Director of Creative Services SCOTT ROBSON Promotions Art Designers KAITLYN RICHERT, CARLY RUSSELL
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Director of Positioning and Planning SALLY LYON Positioning and Planning Manager TARA MCCRILLISAssistant Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Production Artists ALISHA DAVIS, MARISSA MAHERAS, DARA RICCI
Distribution Manager MATT HEMMERLING Assistant Distribution Relations Manager JENNIFER PALMER Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Traffic Supervisor ESTEE WRIGHT Traffic Coordinators JEANNE GLEESON, MALLORIE SOMMERS Circulation Research Specialist CHAD HARWOOD
FINANCE
Controller DANIELLE BIXLER Finance Directors AUDREY CADY, LISA VASSEUR-MODICA Director of Credit and Collections CHRISTOPHER BESTSenior Credit and Collections Analyst MYRNA ROSADO Senior Billing Coordinator CHARLES CAGLE
Director of Operations MICHAEL CAPACE Director of Human Resources STEPHANIE MITCHELL Executive Assistant ARLENE GONZALEZ Digital Producer ANTHONY PEARSON Facilities Coordinator JOUBERT GUILLAUME
Chief Technology Officer JESSE TAYLOR Desktop Administrators ZACHARY CUMMO, EDGAR ROCHE
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
J.P. ANDERSON (Michigan Avenue), SPENCER BECK (Aspen Peak [Acting], Los Angeles Confidential), ANDREA BENNETT (Vegas), KATHY BLACKWELL (Austin Way), KRISTIN DETTERLINE (Philadelphia Style), LISA PIERPONT (Boston Common), CATHERINE SABINO (Gotham), JARED SHAPIRO (Ocean Drive), SAMANTHA YANKS (Hamptons)
PUBLISHERS
JOHN M. COLABELLI (Philadelphia Style), LOUIS F. DELONE (Austin Way), DAWN DUBOIS (Gotham), ALEXANDRA HALPERIN (Aspen Peak), DEBRA HALPERT (Hamptons), GLEN KELLEY (Boston Common), COURTLAND LANTAFF (Ocean Drive), ALISON MILLER (Los Angeles Confidential), DAN USLAN (Michigan Avenue), JOSEF VANN (Vegas)
Managing Partner JANE GALE Chairman and Director of Photography JEFF GALE
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOHN P. KUSHNIR Chief Executive Officer KATHERINE NICHOLLS
g e o rg e t ow n c o n n e c t i c u t av e n u e t ys o n s c o r n e r c e n t e r c h e v y c h a s e a n n a p o l i s t ow n e c e n t r e at pa ro l e
from left: At the Washington premiere of Kill the Messenger at the Motion Picture Association with the film’s director, Michael Cuesta, and its star and producer, Jeremy Renner; with Kevin Spacey at his second annual Kevin Spacey Foundation event in DC—the concert and party raised over $700,000 for arts mentoring and scholarships; it was double-date night at the 2014 Meridian Ball with my husband, Almus, and House of Cards actors Jayne Atkinson-Gill and Michel Gill.
Cozying up to our beautiful and fun cover star, The Blacklist ’s Megan Boone.
Follow me on Twitter at @elizabethethorp and on capitolfile-magazine.com.
Follow me on Twitter at @suzyjacobsdc and visit capitolfile-magazine.com.
suzy jacobs
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from left: With event designer Hillary Miko; coming together with Board of Visitors’ Kim Trundle and Anne Polk and Mulberry’s Memo Faraj for the Care for Kids kick-off; celebrating the release of our annual Men’s Issue with Michael Gallagher of ESA.
We here at Capitol File
love our holiday season
and the many opportunities to put
on a new party outfit: ’Tis the
season for glam and glitz! But it’s
also a good time to remember our
mission: to connect, captivate, and
celebrate with consciousness. While
pursuing this mission, we don’t ever
want to forget those who don’t feel
much like celebrating at the
moment. Throughout the seasons,
we aim to connect our passions—for
food, fashion, the arts, and the
vibrancy of DC—with our goal of
being more conscious of those
around us in need.
In the case of fashion, we were
privileged to partner this year with
a number of amazing charities to
meet this goal. This past spring,
Capitol File was honored to
collaborate with C. Wonder for an
afternoon of shopping to benefit
Skyler’s Gift Foundation, a charity
that helps families who have lost
premature babies. We love sponsor-
ing the Children’s National Medical
Center’s Board of Visitors Care for
Kids Card shopping program,
which brings merchants, restau-
rants, and DC residents together to
benefit the hospital. Mulberry in
Tysons Galleria kicked off this
year’s Care for Kids Card program,
and Sara Campbell Boutique, Ann
Hand, Michael Kors, and many
others also held events to promote
the worthy cause.
More fashion philanthropy was
on stage at Neiman Marcus, Mazza
Gallerie, where Brunello Cucinelli
showcased its fall collections at a
benefit for St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital. And we were
very proud to be the media sponsor
of Luke’s Wings Hero Gala: Where
Fashion Takes Flight, raising money
and awareness for the organization,
which brings family and loved ones
to the side of wounded soldiers
during hospitalization and
rehabilitation.
These and many other causes
motivate us to be more conscious.
With the holiday season upon us, I
ask you, Capitol File readers, to
think about the stories and causes
that move you, and to be conscious
today of a cause or a person who
could use a little extra celebration.
Doing so may end up being a gift
not only to others, but also to you.
Happy Holidays, and thank you
for all of your support of Capitol File
this year.
22 capitolfile-magazine.com
letter from the Publisher
Introducing New Tommy Bahama Compass
Available at Macy’s and macys.com,Tommy Bahama Stores and tommybahama.com
ph
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Vic
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s (b
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The former political director to First Lady Michelle Obama
and onetime deputy White House social secretary, Ebs
Burnough is the president of EBSI, a communications and
brand strategy firm. Burnough, who splits his time between
Chicago, Washington, and New York City, wrote this issue’s
Front Runner (page 4).
Favorite memory of holidays at the White House?
One year, the florist created a large replica of Bo, the White
House dog. As the children streamed through the halls with
their families, it was a delight to see them respond so well.
The most challenging part of writing this? Trying to
put it all into 350 words! Holidays at the White House are
filled with such joy and tremendous work—there is far too
much to talk about. In DC, we can find you… I love Off
the Record at the Hay Adams—it’s so homey, and you’re sure
to have a wonderful cocktail—but I also enjoy the occasional
hot dog and cheesy fries from Ben’s Chili Bowl. Favorite
wintertime meal? Roast chicken, potatoes, and a little
steamed kale on a cold winter night. Most inspiring person you’ve worked with? Ambassador Capricia
Marshall, a great friend and mentor, has always been
generous in imparting her knowledge and expertise to me.
Ebs burnoughwriter
Parry began his career in
London before moving to
New York City in 1994. Since
then, he has been commis-
sioned by distinguished
publications and entertain-
ment companies worldwide
and became the first portrait
photographer invited to
exhibit at the Cannes Film
Festival. He shot this issue’s
cover star, Megan Boone
(page 96).
What was the best part of photographing Megan Boone? As usual,
when meeting TV and
movie personalities, it’s the
fact that you get a chance to
meet the real person and not
the character. And you get
to find out the inside scoop
on what’s going to happen
in the series! And the most challenging part? When
his or her filming schedule
eats into your shoot time
and you have to work
double-quick. Of which career moment are you proudest? Being able to
photograph all the presi-
dents that have been in
power since I’ve lived here
over 20 years. Whom do you consider a mentor?
Tom Ford always has the
best advice—both visual
and sartorial!
Tracy Sefl is a strategic
communications consultant
and senior advisor to the
Ready for Hillary SuperPAC.
She works with advocacy
groups, think tanks, and
candidates, and splits her time
between Washington, DC,
and Chicago, where her
husband is a professor at
Northwestern University
medical school. For this issue,
Tracy wrote Behind the
Scenes (page 62).
How do you spend your time when you’re not writing for Capitol File?
We recently adopted a
rescue dog. She would prefer
to have 100 percent of my
attention, 100 percent of the
time. What’s your proud-est career moment?
Working with the Ready for
Hillary organization. We
have proven that politics can
still be positive. Favorite DC haunts? I’m a sucker for
fireplaces. The Jefferson,
Barcelona, Room 11, the
Georgetown Ritz, Tabard
Inn. What is your must-see event in DC this time of year? I was a
classical musician in a past
life. The holidays aren’t
complete without taking in
the NSO’s performance of
Handel’s Messiah.
nigEl Parryphotographer
Tracy sEflwriter
Melanie Fonder Kaye is a
strategic communications
consultant and former
director of communications to
Dr. Jill Biden, second lady of
the United States. Prior to
that, Melanie was vice
president at the communica-
tions firm GMMB, and she is
also a former political reporter
for The Hill newspaper,
among other publications. For
her Capitol File debut, Melanie
penned “Washington Winter
Wonderland” (page 114).
What was the best part about writing this piece? Washington can be
a grind, so I loved being
reminded of how the city
comes alive around the
holidays—it really is
magical. Whom do you consider a mentor? Dr.
Biden. I feel incredibly
lucky to have worked with
someone so inspiring—in
her public life, as a lifelong
educator, and in her
personal relationships with
family and friends. She sets
a high bar! This holiday season you’ll be sure to… I can’t wait to take my
older daughter to the
musical The Gift of Nothing
at the Kennedy Center.
MElaniE fondEr KayE writer
24 capitolfile-magazine.com
...wiThouT whoM this issue would not have been possible // holiday 2014
24 capitolfile-magazine.com
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26 capitolfile-magazine.com
the list holiday 2014
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Haute HandbagsMaryland naTIVE and handbag
guru DANIELLE DIFERDINANDO
dEbuTs a nEw collEcTIon jusT In
TIME for ThE holIdays.
by hilary phelps
Tucked away on New York’s historic Fashion Avenue,
on the same city block as offices for Ralph Lauren and
Calvin Klein, sits the Danielle Nicole showroom. A sea
of chic, on-trend bags greets each visitor; with custom
hardware and materials sourced from across the globe,
they look like high-end investment pieces, but they
retail for a fraction of the cost.
Creative Director Danielle DiFerdinando founded her
namesake brand in 2008 at the age of 18, offering a fresh
perspective nonetheless rooted in classic design. The
Danielle DiFerdinando, in her New York studio, designs sophisticated bags sold at high-end retailers—while keeping the price under $100.
continued on page 32
capitolfile-magazine.com 31
STYLE Tastemaker
capitolfile-magazine.com 31
ph
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Ma
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Le
Mo
ine
(d
ife
rd
ina
nd
o, s
he
Lv
es
)
“My Muse for this collection is a chic tribeca art gallery owner, and [the
design] exudes Modern style with a polished, sleek, and sophisticated look.”
—danielle diferdinando
young designer describes her current holiday collection as “city bella.” “My muse for this collection is a chic Tribeca art gallery owner, and [the design] exudes modern style with a polished, sleek, and sophisticated look.”
Born and raised in Columbia, Maryland, the designer honed her craft at an early age by sewing handbags and ties for friends and family, before enrolling at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Just like the two fashion and lifestyle titans she now calls her neighbors,
DiFerdinando’s talent was first noticed by a high-end retail buyer. During an internship at Bergdorf Goodman, she was asked to create a line of cosmetic bags for the store. She entered the market as a purveyor of high-end handbags, but quickly adjusted her business model in light of the reces-sion. These days her collections—carried at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Piperlime, and Amazon—have a luxe look at an affordable price point.
“The entire line retails for
under $100!” enthuses DiFerdinando, who keeps costs down by developing her own leather-like materials. “I work very closely with my suppliers to achieve the soft and luxurious hand feel and texture of leather.” Colors are pulled from contemporary collections to keep the bags current, and the shapes are inspired by small boutiques scattered throughout Europe and Asia. “I combine what I see in both art and contempo-rary collections for my color story, and this is how the bag hues are developed,” she says.
The daily schedule of a young handbag designer is a whirlwind of business calls and production and design team meetings. DiFerdinando herself visits sales associates, and most nights, before catching a cab home, she closes out the day with evening events that range from buyer dinners to charity fêtes. She sits on the Board of Associates for Ronald McDonald House New York and has raised funds for the American Heart Association, among other charities.
When the handbag maven visits DC, which is often, she finds herself in Georgetown, where her neighborhood haunts include CUSP by Neiman Marcus, Pizza Paradiso, and of course, Georgetown Cupcakes. Ultimately, DiFerdinando plans to develop Danielle Nicole into a lifestyle brand. “The brand continues to grow season after season and will begin to expand into new product categories,” she says. “This is a very exciting time, and I look forward to sharing it!” CF
clockwise from left: Danielle DiFerdinando takes inspiration from art and contemporary fashion for her designs; style variations on a palette theme; the Eva clutch, available at CUSP by Neiman Marcus Georgetown.
32 capitolfile-magazine.com
Style tastemaker
32 capitolfile-magazine.com
SIX CASK FINISHES.
ONE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT.
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IN DETAILThe musT-have parTy
pieces of The Dc gala
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precious sTones.
photography by bill diodato
fashion styling by faye power
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HEAVY DUTYBold metals and
feminine crystals create the
perfect contrast.
Embellished sleeve with removable
leather glove, Rochas (price on request). rochas.
com. Lanvin Dahomar snake link
and crystal necklace, Lanvin ($3,990). Neiman
Marcus, Tysons Galleria, 703-761-1600; lanvin.com
34 capitolfile-magazine.com
STYLE Accessories
34 capitolfile-magazine.com
Real Jewelers Inc.
1. Emerald Pearl and Rhinestone Bubble necklace in brass, Balenciaga ($4,950). Barneys New York, 3040 M St. NW, 202-350-5832; barneys.com. Hangisi pump, Manolo Blahnik ($965). Saks Fifth Avenue, 5555 Wisconsin Ave., 301-657-9000; saks.com. 2. Leather embellished gloves, Dolce & Gabbana ($3,995). Nordstrom, Tysons Corner, 703-761-1121; nordstrom.com. 3. Faceted floral and pearl embroidered box clutch, Marchesa ($2,495). Saks Fifth Avenue, 5555 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 301-657-9000; saks.com. Crystal feather necklace, Oscar de la Renta ($1,195). Neiman Marcus, Tysons Galleria, 703-761-1600; oscardelarenta.com. 4. Green crystal open Horsebit bracelets ($1,650 each) and green crystal Horsebit bracelets ($1,350 each), Gucci. The Collection at Chevy Chase, 301-986-8902; gucci.com. Metal and crystal floral minaudière, Ralph Lauren Collection ($4,500). 1245 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-965-0905; ralphlauren.com
1
3 4
2
KEEP IT COOLIcy blues make sleek decorative accents.
GOLDEN RULEGilt details offer a
timeless touch.
GLOVED PERFECTIONLuxe leather and
vintage embellishments are a perfect match.
CAGED GEMSGlittering crystals adorn this
season’s must-haves.
36 capitolfile-magazine.com
STYLE Accessories
36 capitolfile-magazine.com
S H O P O U R S T O R E S I N A N N A P O L I S , W A S H I N G T O N D C / C H E V Y C H A S E , T Y S O N S C O R N E R , F A I R O A K S ,
W H I T E F L I N T & L A K E F O R E S T A N D L O R D A N D T A Y L O R . C O M
LORD & TAYLOR 424 FIFTH Metallic dress, $248
Cashmere blend beanie, $119
EXCLUSIVELY OURS
Democracy of Diamonds today’s Watchmakers are
using classic diamonds in
modern and sophisticated Ways—
and Washington Women are
taking note.
By RoBeRta Naas
photogRaphy By Jeff CRawfoRd
There is undeniable truth in the statement
“diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” Watchmakers
are well aware of this and have created diamond
timepieces to ref lect the wishes and lifestyles of
women who want to sparkle this season. These
watches offer everything from a touch of dia-
monds on the bezel to go easily from day to night,
to pieces enrobed in diamonds, from dial to case
to bracelet—perfect for making a scintillating
statement. Not your mother’s watches, these
diamond timepieces offer a variety of modern
design options and a hint of sex appeal with
sophisticated black and white designs.
For more watch features and expanded coverage go
to capitolfile-magazine.com/watches. CF
from top: All new from Montblanc, the Bohème Date ($3,945) is part of a collection made expressly for women. The classically elegant watch is crafted in stainless steel with a diamond bezel. Montblanc at Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Dr., McLean, VA, 703-734-5101; montblanc.com
This Fendi Chameleon Diamonds watch ($2,895) is crafted in steel and features a lustrous black
enamel inlay ending at the bottom of the case, with the Fendi logo set with 106 diamonds. Bloomingdale’s at Tysons Corner, 8100 Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA, 703-556-4600; fendi.com
From Rado, this HyperChrome ladies’ quartz watch ($3,575) is crafted in ceramic with 56 diamonds around the bezel. Diplomatic Duty Free, 1818 North St. NW, 202-466-4239; rado.com
st
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by
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38 capitolfile-magazine.com
STYLE Time Honored
2
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// BRITISH INVASION //
FAST, FUN FASHIONBeloved British import
Topshop adds another
outpost to its roster with
the opening of its new-
est location at Spring-
fi eld Town Center. The
5,000-square-foot store
boasts its signature, hip
women’s clothing, foot-
wear, makeup, and acces-
sories. Springfi eld Town
Center, 6500 Springfi eld
Mall, Springfi eld, 703-822-
8091; us.topshop.com
Custom-designed, handmade ring with cultured pearl
and diamonds, Jorge Adeler ($6,898).
SEA
SPARKLERS
introducing
When writer, entrepreneur, and socialite Susanna Quinn real-
ized there were beauty services she wanted but didn’t have the
time for, the DC native and her partner, Monica Spaller, cre-
ated a solution for on-the-go Washingtonians. Enter Veluxe,
the duo’s mobile app, launching this holiday season in the
Washington area. The app allows users to instantly book a
bevy of services online, including blow-outs, mani-pedis,
makeup application, and personal training, which are then
conducted in the user’s home or office, to “make everyone
from a Congressional staffer to an investment advisor to a stay-
at-home mom feel like a movie star, in the comfort of their own
space,” says Quinn. We’ll take it. veluxe.com
A Personal EntourageWITH THE NEW APP VELUXE, BUSY WASHINGTONIANS CAN ORDER IN BEAUTY SERVICES FROM HOME.
Internationally known
local jeweler Jorge
Adeler brings yet another
beautiful piece into his
Great Falls flagship
location. This exclusive
ring features a cultured
pearl that served as its
inspiration. Adeler
showcases the stone’s
natural elegance in a
diamond surround and
yellow-gold setting. The
Argentinean-born
designer, who has had a
presence in the area
since 1975, also debuted
a men’s collection earlier
this year inspired by
ancient Rome. 772
Walker Road, Great Falls,
703-759-4076;
adelerjewelers.com
WONDER WALLPaint, wallpaper, and color expert Farrow & Ball
opened its fi rst Washington, DC, showroom this fall
in Friendship Heights. The 2,300-square-foot space
offers the full range of the brand’s stylish papers
and eco-friendly exterior and interior paints—all
of which are made in Dorset, England—as well as
its color consultancy program, in which retail and
trade customers can interact with color, paint,
and fi nish. 5221 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-479-6780;
farrow-ball.com
Marc Jacobs ($1,350). Saks Fifth Avenue, 5555 Wisconsin Ave. NW,
Great Falls | 9867 Georgetown Pike | Great Falls, VA 22066
Cameron Station | 4907 Brenman Park Drive | Alexandria, VA 22304
Madison Avenue | 768 Madison Avenue | New York, NY 20065
STUDIO THEATRE
Studio T eatre’s three-play holiday package is easy to buy and easy
to give! Call 202.332.3300 or visit studiotheatre.org/holiday to order
yours today. Starting at just $99, choose three of the remaining
shows in the 2014-2015 season:
Bad Jews, by Joshua Harmon, directed by Serge Seiden
Choir Boy, by Tarell Alvin McCraney, directed by Kent Gash
Laugh, by Beth Henley, directed by David Schweizer
Jumpers for Goalposts, by Tom Wells, directed by Matt Torney
WHAT A SUITE EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON, DC
Atrio Café featuring Willie’s Bar and All New Suites for the Holidays in Washington, DC!
The Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavilion is all new after a Multi-Million Dollar renovation.
Celebrate the Holidays with family and friends in our luxurious new suites, featuring hardwood floors,
all new furnishings and two premium levels. We have an expanded lobby with a one-of-a-kind video
lounge and our new Atrio Café featuring Willie’s Bar, where 1% of our revenues are donated to the
ALS Association to make a difference in the fight against ALS.
Create your own Suite experience with packages and specials running now through the New Year
at www.embassysuitesdc.com.
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 48
After a personal tragedy
in 2010, Marie and
Donny Osmond created
an ever-evolving holiday
show to take on the road
each year.
“The blueberry pie—shut up, so good.” When I
first meet Marie Osmond in the Helen Hayes
Gallery at the National Theatre, where she is
being photographed for Capitol File, she’s raving
about the lunch she just had at Joe’s Seafood, just
a few blocks away. Warm and upbeat, she seems
excited to talk about the tour—dotting sincere
conversation with playful jabs at her brother—and
she’s as gracious as you’d imagine, happy to chat
with a couple of fans along the way. For the first
and likely last time ever, The Donny & Marie
Christmas Tour is coming to DC this holiday sea-
son, where the duo will play seven shows in six
days. In between photos, we chat about the show,
the holidays, and what she loves about DC.
You and Donny have been performing at the
Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas five nights a
week since 2008. You grew up doing original
family holiday TV specials in the 1970s, and
then did your own Christmas shows for
years. How did the idea for this holiday
show, now in its fourth season, come about?
Once I had my children, Christmas was always
sacred. The actual truth of how this show
happened: My son passed away [in 2010], and I
didn’t want to be home for Christmas. I said, “I’m
going to go out and do a show,” and Donny said,
“Well, let me do it with you.” We went and did a
show on Broadway in New York, and it got really
nice reviews. And my children loved it, because
they didn’t want to be home either, so it’s become
our tradition now. The show has evolved since the
first year, but that’s how it started.
A Family That Sings TogetherMARIE OSMOND DISHES ON HER FAMOUS HOLIDAY SPECIAL WITH BROTHER DONNY, WHICH COMES TO THE NATIONAL THEATRE THIS DECEMBER. BY AMY MOELLER
CAPITOLFILE-MAGAZINE.COM 47
CULTURE Hottest Ticket
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This season, Donny and Marie Osmond bring their three-stop-only holiday show to Washington for the first time.
You use old footage as part of the show. How reminis-
cent is it of the Christmas TV specials?
Well, you can’t create snow outside and horses pulling a
sleigh, right? But we have video that some will remember,
and video that no one has seen before. It’s holiday-based,
but we won’t have all Christmas numbers because I think
some people want to hear “Puppy Love” and “Paper
Roses,” things like that. I sing many styles of music, so I’m
putting in some opera pieces, soprano, country, pop…
Maybe a jazz piece. Over five decades I’ve challenged
myself to learn different styles of singing. Donny can only
sing one way. [Laughs] I’m so horrible!
You only play a handful of cities each year.
We’ve only played a few markets—this is the first time
we’ve been here in DC—and we don’t go back. We’ve been
up in Canada, we’ve played in Los Angeles, Detroit. We
only play [a few places] because we only have four weeks
[of the holiday season]. And of course, you know, with
Donny, he’s so old… [Laughs] No! He looks great!
Tell us about the audience.
People come from all communities, all walks of life. One
family said, “This is our Christmas present to each other.
We don’t want gifts; we want something that we can sit and
talk about.” I read the tweets after the show. People say,
“We went out to dinner after… we laughed and talked
about when we were kids to our kids… we just bonded.” At
a meet-and-greet in Las Vegas, this 27-year-old girl said, “I
grew up hearing about the Osmonds from my mother, and
she took me to the Christmas show in Los Angeles, [where]
I became a fan. So for her birthday, I bought her tickets for
a mother-daughter trip to Las Vegas.” I think Donny and
Marie [spans the generations].
You love the idea of experiences in lieu of gifts.
To me, especially as a mom, you can give stuff, or you can
give meaningful gifts. I like it because it’s an event. These
shows don’t come around often, and the one thing I can
honestly say is this: People leave happy. They really get a
respite from life. They get to go back to something that’s like
apple pie and comfort food, and it’s a time out. You have to
take time for family. You have to take time for friends.
Speaking of family, you must have great holiday traditions.
We worked together all the time, so the biggest tradition
over the holidays was that we didn’t want to see each other.
[Laughs] A tradition with my children that really started
with my mother is pajamas. We open one present on
Christmas Eve, and it’s always pajamas. We usually stay in
them all day. And you know they’ll never wear them again,
but my kids look forward to it, it’s so cute. Also, I needle-
point a stocking—petit point—for all my kids, and they love
that. The stockings are a big deal in our house. One of the
things I really like to do on Christmas Eve—if we can do it,
it depends on where we are—is feed the homeless. I think
it’s important for children before they’re blessed, to serve.
Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?
Before we had families, when we were siblings at home,
Donny and I rented out a storage facility and decorated it.
[Laughs] Then we got this big U-Haul truck; we tweaked it
with pillows and lights, and we played Christmas music.
We went to everybody’s house and picked them up and
their kids, and then we all went out to this storage unit. It
had like five Christmas trees, all the presents, couches; we
had it catered, and we all stayed there all night long and
helped the kids with the toys, and it was just really fun. We
had to get a storage unit, because there’s nothing else big
enough to hold all of us!
Donny & Marie: Christmas at the National hits the stage
December 2–7 at the National Theatre. For tickets and other
information, visit donnyandmarietour.com. cf
Favorite DC spot:
“The National Museum of American
History. I especially love the exhibit
with the frst ladies’ clothes. I love to go,
and my husband loves it because I can’t
buy any of them. [Laughs] It’s so fun to
take your children. There are so many
incredible things to see. There’s such
incredible history here, and our children
need to know. Every time I’m here, you
can’t get me to enough places to see.”
aDDing to the Family:
“[After the Cherry Blossom Festival,]
I went to the Washington Humane
Society’s beneft Fashion for Paws… and
I adopted a dog, George. He’s defnitely
a politician—he works the family. We
love him. His name was Jorge, and I
thought, well, how perfect. My dad’s
name was George, and [there’s] George
Washington, so we named him George.
He’s so cute.”
last trip to DC:
“I was the Grand Marshal for
the [National] Cherry Blossom
Festival in 2012.”
Ms. OsMOnd
GOes tO
WashinGtOn
48 capitolfile-magazine.com
CULtURe hottest ticket
IN 1928 HARRY WARDMAN DEVELOPED HIS MOST ICONIC BUILDING
AND ESTABLISHED A STORIED LEGACY IN WASHINGTON'S HISTORY.
S A L E S B E G I N T H I S W I N T E R WA R D M A N T OW E R . C O M
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of us policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or sources of income.
IN 2015 THIS LANDMARKED RESIDENCE WILL REOPEN ITS DOORS TO UNVEIL
DEBORAH BERKE PARTNERS ' LAVISH RESTORATION OF 32 HISTORIC HOMES.
Rest on the Flight into Egypt, also known as Madonna of the Cherries, by Federico Barocci, 1570–73.
Gracing cathedrals and canvases the world over,
the Virgin Mary is an immortal muse. A subject
of inspiration for artists since the sixth century,
her image is iconic and universally seen as a
symbol of womanhood and maternity, devotion
and eternal love.
An exhibition at the National Museum of
Women in the Arts, “Picturing Mary: Woman,
Mother, Idea,” looks through the lens of Mary’s
likeness to reveal the influences of her image by
bringing together more than 60 Renaissance- and
Baroque-era masterpieces—many on view for the
first time in the United States—on loan from the
Vatican Museums, Musée du Louvre, and other
museums, churches, and private collections.
Visitors to the exhibition may immediately
recognize Mary as a metaphor for spirituality,
though the museum hopes viewers will discover
the layers of political and social significance,
even in well-known works by greats such as
Botticelli or Michelangelo.
“One of the things I think the exhibition is
going to do is deepen our understanding of the
works we know and love,” says Kathryn Wat, chief
curator at NMWA. “I hope that visitors to
‘Picturing Mary’ will appreciate the depth of
content and meaning in these works. While they
are beautiful and familiar, they also convey a very
profound idea about womankind.”
For the first time, the museum created an online
exhibition to complement the in-gallery experi-
ence, showing a “global Mary,” Wat says. The site
illustrates, through an interactive map, how the
image of Mary has been adapted around the world,
including the Virgin of Guadalupe and Black
Madonnas from Europe and the Caribbean.
Wat and exhibition curator Monsignor Timothy
Verdon, director of Museo dell’Opera del Duomo,
also studied the difference between how men and
women artists have depicted Mary. The exhibition
features four women artists—Sofonisba Anguissola,
Artemisia Gentileschi, Orsola Maddalena Caccia,
and Elisabetta Sirani—at an institution that
typically only shows the work of women artists.
Wat explains that “Picturing Mary” is part of an
ongoing program of ambitious, large-scale loan
exhibitions organized by NMWA that “study the
humanist view of womankind… and this exhibition
extends that focus.” December 5–April 12, 1250 New
York Ave. NW, 202-783-5000; nmwa.org CF
Mother and MuseThe NaTioNal MuseuM of WoMeN iN The arTs’s new exhibit looks at depictions of Mary through the
ages and how they reflect the tiMes in which they were created. by kristin guiter
50 capitolfile-magazine.com
culture Art Full
Into my designs I convey my expertise, my passion, my name.
Jorge Adeler
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AN ALL-AMERICAN NUTCRACKERFor many, a production of Tchaikovsky’s ballet
The Nutcracker is the quintessential holiday experi-
ence, with its visions of the Land of Sweets and
the enchanting beings who reside there, from the
Spanish and Arabian dancers bearing chocolate
and coffee to the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier
dancing an exquisite pas de deux. But Washington
Ballet’s much-admired production, which turns 10
this year, transports the audience to a very differ-
ent time and place—the United States throughout
its 238-year history, with notable stops in the
revolutionary and Victorian eras. Artistic director
Septime Webre’s clever concept puts a red, white,
and blue spin on the fantastical adventures of every
generation’s favorite Christmas toy, complete with
Washingtonian nods such as cherry blossoms and
an 1882 Georgetown setting. Noteworthy historical
characters make cameos, as well, including George
Washington as the Nutcracker, who does battle
with King George III, instead of the usual Rat King.
’Tis the season to continue old traditions—or put a
twist on them. Warner Theatre, December 4–28,
513 13th St., 202-397-7328; washingtonballet.org
Festive FoliageTHE US BOTANIC GARDENS GOES NAUTICAL
FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
From November 27 through January 4, the US Botanic
Gardens once again presents a unique holiday display, which
Washingtonians and visitors from all over the world have
come to adore. This year’s seasonal exhibit invites guests to
explore the seven seas, and, by the gleam of more than a dozen
lighthouses, discover sea creatures, mermaids, and a pirate
ship, all crafted by plants. In addition to the “nautical wonder-
land,” visitors can also check out the elaborate toy train in
action. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings in December,
enjoy extended hours, children’s activities, and live holiday
music. US Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Ave. SW,
202-225-8333; usbg.gov/plan-your-holiday-visit
new in town
exhibit
Holiday light lovers,
rejoice! If you missed the
lottery for the National
Christmas Tree Lighting
tickets, don’t fret. In its
first official holiday
season, CityCenterDC has
you covered—and it’s
totally ticket-free. On
Saturday, November 29,
guests are invited to
attend the lighting of the
inaugural CityCenterDC
holiday tree—which is
rumored to tower more
than 70 feet tall—and
enjoy live music, sparkling
décor, and delicious
treats in the complex’s
Rockefeller-Center-
meets-DC pedestrian area,
also known as The Park.
While you’re there, get a
little holiday shopping
done, and grab pre- or
post-lighting dinner and
drinks at DBGB Kitchen
and Bar, one of the
Center’s dining partners.
CityCenterDC, 825 10th
St. NW, 202-289-9000;
citycenterdc.com
1
// MUST SEE //
LIGHT UP
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// be heard // LIFT YOUR VOICESOne of the city’s most beloved Christmas rituals, the Messiah Sing-Along at the Kennedy Center has been a
mainstay of the DC holiday season for more than four decades. This season, conductor Barry Hemphill leads the
Opera House Orchestra and professional soloists, along with an enthusiastic audience, in Handel’s Messiah
on Tuesday, December 23, in the concert hall. The two-hour event is free but requires tickets, which can be
picked up beginning at 6 PM on the day of the performance. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
2700 F St. NW, 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
52 CAPITOLFILE-MAGAZINE.COM
CULTURE Spotlight
Nestled on the Caribbean shores of T e Dominican Republic, T e Estates At Puntacana of er a relaxed, Eco-Chic way of life. Puntacana Resort & Club has worked meticulously for 45 years to develop socially and environmentally responsible communities in harmony with the lush surroundings of the Dominican Republic. Come join neighbors like Oscar de la Renta and Julio Iglesias as you Master-Plan your dream home or luxury apartment perched above the Caribbean Sea or overlooking scrupulously manicured golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and P.B. Dye. Arriving and departing owners are whisked through customs via VIP service at Punta Cana International Airport, with direct f ights to and from over 98 cities worldwide, as
well as private terminals to service the needs of discerning residents.
T is family oriented, low-density resort community has a variety of high quality activities to of er: sports adventures including kite surf ng, f shing, tennis, snorkeling, PADI scuba diving center, horseback riding and an ecological reserve with walking trails and 12 natural springs, as well as AAA T ree and Four Diamond awarded restaurants and the Six Senses Spa.
T er Estates at PUNTACANA | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | 809.959.7325 | www.puntacana.com
PUNTACANA Resort & Club @PUNTACANARESORT
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 703.744.3999
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A NEW TAKE ON AMERICAN CLASSICS
BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY DINING AND PARTIES AT OUR AREA RESTAURANTS:
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follow us on
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EvEryman anchorman As he mArks the 60th AnniversAry of Face the NatioN And 45 yeArs At CBs, BoB Schieffer—the geniAl unCle of sundAy morning tAlk who speCiAlizes in the CurveBAll question—hAs plenty of his own stories to tell. by steve clemons
Out of thousands of interviews he’s done in four and a half decades at
CBS, the gleefully wry Bob Schieffer confesses that one of his favorites
may not be appropriate for primetime capitol File. Testing my nerve,
just as his was on live TV, Schieffer says that when he tactfully tried to
raise the question of anatomical disclosures made by alleged Bill
Clinton dalliance Paula Jones during a Face the nation spot with
Clinton’s lawyer, Bob Bennett, Bennett responded, “The President is
normal in size, shape, and direction!”
“I almost slid under the table,” Schieffer recalls. “So stunned that I
forgot to ask the obvious follow-up, ‘How did he know?’”
While wildly successful news pop-ups like Vox, Buzzfeed, and Vice are
knocking down yesterday’s media giants, Schieffer’s brand seems undi-
minished—as iconic as Walter Cronkite—after 23 years hosting Face the
capitolfile-magazine.com 57
PEOPLE View from the Top
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ion
)
Nation, now celebrating its 60th anniversary.
While Schieffer and his predecessors on Face
the Nation—eminences like Howard K. Smith, Paul
Niven, and Lesley Stahl—have asked the tough
questions of every US president since Dwight D.
Eisenhower, along with America’s pantheon of the
powerful, Schieffer has kept his humor and his
head, entertaining and informing millions of
Americans. He defies the self-serious lugubrious-
ness of many of his top-tier peers, tacking snickers
and earthy quips onto his tough-edged queries
that somehow make him the most human of
America’s political media elites.
Of his secret life, he says, “I’ve always loved writ-
ing poetry—most of it bad, I guess—but I decided
bad poetry makes good country music.” And sure
enough, in a band he anchors called Honky Tonk
Confidential and on an album, Road Kill Stew and
Other News, his Texas twang and ode to the every-
man yield these lines in the self-deprecatingly fun
“TV Anchorman”:
Well I left this job that I just took,
Started practicing my “sinceeere” look,
They said I had the face of a man with heart.
They wrote me some lines, taught me to smile,
drew a happy face on the script where
I should smile,
and the key demographics went right
off the chart….
Selling tractor hats and pumping gas,
That’s all part of my long ago past,
Now I just sit there and read the news.
He became a TV anchorman!
Like pork fat on ribs, it’s tough to get it out of
your head.
On the more serious side, Schieffer shares his rat-
ings of presidents. “The best politician I ever knew
was the first one I knew—Lyndon Johnson. He made
a terrible mistake on Vietnam, but his achievements
on civil rights were monumental. He knew how to
get things done in Washington, which has become a
lost art…. The president I liked most personally was
Gerald Ford, just one of the nicest people I ever met
in public life—and the most normal.”
Schieffer started at CBS in 1969 and says that the
Kennedy assassination and 9/11 are the hardest sto-
ries he ever covered. “I knew 11 people who were
killed or who lost close relatives [on September 11].
When Kennedy was killed, we didn’t know if it was
the beginning of World War III or what it was—
nothing like that had ever happened in our
lifetime,” says the newsman. “That awful weekend
in Dallas changed America forever. I am not sure
we are over it. It is one of the biggest stories that I
from far left: Bob Schieffer moderates the final campaign debate between Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama in
2012; Schieffer performs with his band, Honky Tonk Confidential; the Face the Nation host shares a laugh with President Bill Clinton
in an interview from 1997.
“The besT poliTician
i ever knew was
The firsT one ThaT
i knew—lyndon
Johnson. he knew
how To geT Things
done in washingTon,
which has become
a losT arT.”
ever covered, and it is one of those stories that I
want everyone to know about and learn from.”
Along those lines, Schieffer says that the show he
was most proud of was the Emmy Award-winning
program CBS did for the 50th anniversary of the
Kennedy assassination.
Schieffer still considers Lee Harvey Oswald the
interview he would most liked to have conducted—
not that he’s complaining. “If my life ended
tomorrow, I would not feel shortchanged,” he
says. Asked what question he’s always wanted to
answer but never been asked, he replies, “I have
been a reporter for more than half a century now....
I think I have been asked every question you could
possibly be asked.” Schieffer offers plenty of other
gems, including a bit of advice to up-and-coming
journalists. “You have to work a lot of Christmases…
and when the phone rings, answer it. It may be your
big story.” cf
58 capitolfile-magazine.com
PEOPLE View from the Top
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INSIGHT
best of both worlds:
“I was very much blessed with my
mother’s culinary acumen. And my dad,
a pretty successful businessman here
in DC, taught me a lot of invaluable
entrepreneurial lessons.”
It has been a very good year for Ryan Hansan.
The 28-year-old founder of Scratch DC is in the process of moving his din-
ner kit empire into an 8,000-square-foot facility in Northeast Washington, a
space he has gutted and renovated to include a huge commercial kitchen.
When we meet at the beginning of October, the handsome entrepreneur is
beaming—and flaunting a shiny new wedding band, having
just days before married his college sweetheart, realtor
Lisa Lamont, whom he affectionately calls “Scratch DC’s
chief unofficial taste tester.”
The couple plans to spend the month of December on
their honeymoon abroad, taste-testing together on a culi-
nary tour of India. In his absence, Hansan leaves his
two-year-old company in the hands of his 20-something
staff, even as the business is on the verge of expansion.
It’s the same relaxed, yet self-assured attitude that has led
the Reston native and American University graduate to his current success.
Hansan boasts no culinary background, but until now has unabashedly devel-
oped all of Scratch DC’s well-reviewed recipes himself. “I never worked in a
restaurant,” says Hansan, “and I think that has actually helped significantly,
because I look at things from the eyes of a home cook.”
Now, as part of his development plan, Hansan has hired Katie Haughey, a
L’Academie de Cuisine–trained chef who’s had stints at Blue Duck Tavern
and Fiola Mare. He’s hoping Haughey can lead his kitchen staff from prep-
ping and delivering 600 to 800 deconstructed, ready-to-cook meals a week,
to thousands. Hansan envisions expanding the company’s service area to
cater to busy professionals in Richmond, Philadelphia,
and beyond, but he keeps mum on the details, saying only
he’s “working on an innovative and exciting new distribu-
tion technology to bridge the gap between the magic of
the growing, web-based convenience economy and the
real-world realities of delivery.”
Asked about other popular dinner kit websites such as
Plated or Blue Apron, he insists he’s not competing.
Rather, Hansan considers Scratch DC to be higher-end,
with boxes, or “bundles” (portioned for 2 servings), full of
fresh, locally sourced ingredients delivered on the day they’re assembled.
In the short-term, the company will add Friday delivery to its current
Monday-through-Thursday line-up, and is looking into weekend-brunch bun-
dles along with beer and wine pairings, giving Washingtonians even more
reason to skip the trip to the grocery store. 202-549-1421; scratchdc.com cf
Gourmet on-DemanDNative WashiNgtoNiaN Ryan Hansan celebrates tWo years of locally sourced aNd ready-to-cook
gourmet meals With scratch dc. by virginia coyne
Ryan Hansan’s Scratch DC offers dinner kits with high-quality ingredients and short prep time— delivered straight to your door.
60 capitolfile-magazine.com
PEOPLE Talent Patrol
Gather and
celebrate
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Historic Carriage Rides l Gingerbread House Classes l Family Holiday Crafts
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Christmas Eve 5-Course Dinner l Holiday Spa Specials l Christmas Day Brunch
Toast to the New Year Celebration l Hot Chocolate & S’mores by the Firepit
Make Salamander Your Home Away from Home for the Holidays
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Julie Shanklin of Syzygy Events International takes a moment to unwind in between producing high-profile, dazzling events around town.
Party Mavena bright Star ON thE DC EVENt SCENE, JULIE SHaN LIN gEarS UP FOr a bUSY hOLiDaY gaLa SEaSON. by tracy sefl
carved Lucite panels for the Four Seasons Hotel, along
with a 100-foot, reverse-Kabuki drop at the 125th anniver-
sary gala for National Geographic at the National Building
Museum, where guests’ tables were individually carved
with topographic maps.
One of Syzygy’s highest-profile achievements is the
majestic, 28-foot-tall, ruby-red AIDS ribbon that has
graced the North Portico of the White House annually for
the past seven years. In fact, the final AIDS ribbon to
appear at the Obama White House will be archived in the
Obama presidential library, securing Syzygy a place in
Washington history.
“It looks like people have bigger budgets this year,”
Shanklin observes. “Budgets have been growing over the
last three years, since the economy had been down. And
this year we’re hearing from people much earlier—usually
clients come in around Thanksgiving, but right now we are
already deep into proposals.”
Syzygy’s designers and producers strive to make their
productions memorable for DC’s discerning gala regulars,
but Shanklin is every bit as proud of her company’s pro
bono work. “Every year we pick a few charitable events—
there are so many—to produce,” she says. “It’s important to
us that the money the charities are raising actually goes to
help that charity.” She donates design work each year to the
Lupus Foundation of America’s gala at the Mellon
Auditorium. “My daughter has lupus. It feels so good to
give back to something that someday may hold a cure,” she
says. She also mentions the Fashion for Paws Runway Show
for the Washington Humane Society; two of the napping
dogs in her office were rescued at a Fashion for Paws event.
And what about Syzygy’s own holiday party? “We make
that one much, much more homespun,” she laughs. “It’s
not in our nature to relax at [our clients’] events, so we
keep ours simple!” cf
When Julie Shanklin launched a new event-planning business in 2005, she had
a three-person staff—including her daughter, who was right out of college—and
just one client on her roster. But it was enough to develop momentum. “With
each job we did, based on the reputation of what we were providing for the
clients, we kept getting more work,” she recalls. Nearly a decade later, her com-
pany, Syzygy Events International, is designing the Washington gala circuit at
warp speed.
Syzygy—which refers to the rare and nearly perfect way in which the sun,
moon, and Earth align to create a solar or lunar eclipse—is known for the
intricate and creative details of events that seem to fall perfectly into place.
The company’s showstoppers have included a Christmas tree created out of
“With each job We
did, based on the
reputation of What
We Were providing
for the clients,
We kept getting
more Work.”—julie shanklin
62 capitolfile-magazine.com
PEOPLE Behind the Scenes
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A Place at the Table for EveryoneAS MARTHA’S TAbLE PREPARES TO COMMEMORATE 35 YEARS nOuRiSHing WASHingTOniAnS WHO nEED iT MOST, OPPORTuniTiES TO SuPPORT AbOunD, inCLuDing THE AnnuAL ALiCE WATERS–HELMED bEnEfiT, SiPS & SuPPERS. by patty stonesifer
The holidays are a time of bounty for families in our area gathering around the table to feast as they build memories and traditions. But there are still so many in our community who go hungry. During this giv-ing season, and indeed all year round, Martha’s Table is a part of the critical safety net for disadvan-taged children and working families. Our range of programs begins as early as infancy, providing the environment and resources necessary so that chil-dren grow up confident, healthy, and prepared to achieve success, with a heavy focus on healthy eating habits to be carried through life.
A very important event for Martha’s Table is com-ing up in January: Sips & Suppers. Now in its sixth year, Sips & Suppers began as the brainchild of renowned chef and author Alice Waters to raise awareness around homelessness and hunger in the nation’s capital, and to promote efforts to develop
Martha’s Table CEO Patty Stonesifer talks with pre-K students at the nonprofit’s Child Development Center,
which offers a bilingual program based on the dictum
“learn through play.”
continued on page 66
sustainable and local solutions to these challenges. It has grown from an intimate event featuring one sup-per in a private home into an incredible weekendlong fundraiser. Proceeds from that weekend support the DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table, and we have been floored by the generosity of our city.
Often I am asked why and how I moved from
working at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which grants over $3.6 billion a year to organizations around the globe, to Martha’s Table, which has a yearly operating budget of just over $6 million and focuses solely on low-income children and working families in DC. For me, the move is logical.
I grew up one of nine children in a Midwestern family with a strong commitment to social justice. I went on to be a young working mother in school (and later dropping out), while trying my best to provide for my children. I was lucky enough to enter the tech industry at a point in which someone with a wealth of grit and commitment—but few qualifications—could have the opportunity to move up the ladder.
When I moved from working at Microsoft to focus-ing full-time on philanthropy with Bill and Melinda, our first intentionally impactful project was to increase
“i have always found one
issue to be pervasive,
persistent, and
relatively unmoved:
child poverty.”
—patty stonesifer
64 capitolfile-magazine.com
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above: Patty Stonesifer, Joan Nathan, Alice Waters, and Mike
Curtin speak at a Sips & Suppers fundraiser at the Newseum in
2013. below: Children participating in Martha’s Table programs
receive nutritional, family, and educational support.
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knowledge access for all by bringing the Internet to all
libraries in the US. Of course, we went on to build the
foundation, and our work provided critical service
and support throughout the world. So when I stepped
down from the Gates Foundation, it was intuitive for
me to apply for a job at Martha’s Table, a local institu-
tion with a long history, a great brand, and a
commitment to providing programs with opportu-
nity, dignity, and social justice in mind.
Throughout and beyond my time at the Gates
Foundation, I have always found one issue to be per-
vasive, persistent, and relatively unmoved: child
poverty. In the US, the “needle” on child poverty has
remained unchanged throughout my life. Martha’s
Table runs programs for DC neighbors from birth to
adulthood—but I truly believe the solution lies in
transforming the experiences and outlook for our
youngest neighbors. I have also found in my work that
none of the barriers to leading healthy and successful
lives can be divorced from one another—hunger
affects the ability to succeed in school, low-paying jobs
impede parents’ abilities to buy healthy groceries and
to eat healthy, and the need to pay rising housing and
childcare costs narrows the amount of time in a day
low-income parents and children can spend improv-
ing health and nutrition. Our work at Martha’s Table
isn’t just logical—it’s essential.
This winter’s Sips & Suppers is proudly hosted by
celebrated chefs José Andrés, Joan Nathan, and Alice
Waters. The weekend kicks off on Saturday, January
24, with Sips at the Newseum, celebrating the contri-
bution young people make to feeding and supporting
their community. That Sunday, Suppers will feature
some of the country’s finest chefs preparing meals in
private homes throughout the city, followed by
important discussion surrounding hunger in the
District. I invite you to participate in Sips & Suppers
this year—and to be part of the solution for ending
hunger by raising the critical resources we need to
move the needle on hunger and child poverty in DC.
Sips, January 24, 7 pm, at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; tickets start at $95. Suppers, January 25, 6 pm,
at 29 homes throughout the DC metro area; tickets are $600; sipsandsuppers.org cf
Charity registerOpportunities to give.
KENNEDY CENTER HONORS
Join The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts as they recognize singer Al Green, actor and
flmmaker Tom Hanks, ballerina Patricia McBride,
singer-songwriter Sting, and comedienne Lily Tomlin at
the 37th annual national celebration of the arts.
When: December 7
Where: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
Contact: 202-416-8366; 202-636-8748;
kennedy-center.org
WASHINGTON WINTER
ANTIQUES SHOW
Help support the Bishop John T. Walker School for
Boys, St. John’s Community Services, and THEARC at
the Annual Washington Winter Antiques Show. With
this year’s “Ports of Call” theme, you’ll be sure to fnd
exquisite nautical antiques while making contributions to
three deserving charities in the greater Washington area.
When: January 9–11
Where: The Katzen Arts Center, 4400
Massachusetts Ave. NW
Contact: 202-248-7159;
washingtonwintershow.com
NUTCRACKER TEA
Join the Washington Ballet in celebration of the holiday
season for a performance of The Nutcracker with a
tea-party reception to follow at the JW Marriott Hotel.
Now in its 30th year, proceeds from the event support the
Ballet’s artistic and educational programs that reach
over 800 DC public school children in the community.
LOUIS VUITTON | MI COCINA | RALPH LAUREN | TIFFANY & CO.
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Film FêteSpecial gueSt Jeremy renner
joinS Capitol File for Kill
the Messenger Screening.
Capitol File and the Motion Picture
Association of America hosted a private
screening of Kill the Messenger with actor
Jeremy Renner and director Michael
Cuesta on September 23 at the MPAA
theater. Following the screening, Jeremy
Renner and Michael Cuesta sat down
for a Q&A with MSNBC Hardball’s Chris
Matthews. Notable attendees included
CNN chief Congressional correspondent
Dana Bash; The Hill COO Sheila Casey;
The New York Times Pentagon correspon-
dent Helene Cooper; Senator and MPAA
Chairman and CEO Chris Dodd; Politico
COO Kim Kingsley; Technology Policy
Institute President Tom Lenard; The New
York Times national security correspon-
dent Mark Mazzetti; Time
Congressional correspondent Jay
Newton-Small; and White House
Visitors Office Director Ellie Schafer.
Jeremy Renner at the screening of his new movie Kill the Messenger.
CoNTiNued oN page 72
capitolfile-magazine.com 71
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Wendy Adeler Hall and
Matt CraineDana Bash, Edie Emery,
and Jay Newton-Small
Joanne Turner and Mid Montgomery
Sen. Chris Dodd and Ned Muskie
Anna Finnerty and Rena Jabbour
Gina Abate and Claudia Kelley
Kathryn Key and Michelle Schoenfeld
CAPITOL FILE AND David Yurman celebrated the exclusive debut of
the Fall 2014 campaign and a retrospective of 10 years of collaboration
with Kate Moss and Peter Lindbergh on September 16 at the Tysons
Galleria location. Hosted by friends of Becky’s Fund—a nonprofit dedi-
cated to preventing domestic violence—a portion of the proceeds from the
evening’s sales were donated to the organization.
DAVID YURMAN:
ENDURING STYLE
Heather Rothenberg and Ellie Schafer
Director Michael Cuesta
Hollyn Schuemann, Stacey Dansky, and Todd Flournoy
Jeremy Renner sits with Chris Matthews during a Q&A.
Lauren A. Reamy and Amelia Wang
Angela Sitilides, Hillary Curtin, Stephanie Abraham, and Jeniffer Adeii
Becky Lee and Dawn Espinoza
Kristin Cecci, Micky Farivar, Angela Steever, and Jennifer Harlow
72 CAPITOLFILE-MAGAZINE.COM
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CAPITOL FILE AND HUGO BOSS toasted the
featured gentlemen of the Late Fall Men’s Issue on
October 1 at an intimate seated dinner at Long View
Gallery. Models lined the gallery donning Hugo
Boss’s fall styles as guests were invited to enjoy a
three-course, black-and-white-themed dinner by
Windows Catering and styled by Syzygy Events.
HUGO BOSS MEN’S
ISSUE DINNER
CAPITOL FILE CELEBRATED its annual Men’s Issue on October 1 with the
Entertainment Software Association and Criswell Maserati at Long View
Gallery. The chic soirée, styled by Syzygy Events, featured the Entertainment
Software Association’s gaming stations offering Forza 5 and FIFA 2014, and
a Criswell Maserati photo booth. The sophisticated crowd enjoyed
gourmet hors d’oeuvres by Windows Catering and Belle Isle Moonshine
cocktails as DJ Gavin Holland kept the music going late into the night.
CAPITOL FILE 2014 MEN’S
ISSUE CELEBRATION
Men’s fall looks from Hugo Boss
Sim Khan and Grant Oines
Gwen Holliday and Amb. Stuart Holliday
Robert Ransom and Meg Smith
Ashley Arias and Kenny Cook race at the ESA gaming station
Eduardo and Nikki De Pandi
Hugo Boss showcasing its
women’s fashion.
Justin Herman and Natalie Andrews
Ava Deylami and Nicholas Karnaze
Sebastien Courret
Guests smile for the camera in the Criswell Maserati photo booth.
James Harris and Gianna Kellee
Dr. Peter and Andrea Rinaldi
Omar Stwodah and Mary Gilbert
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A STYLISH CROWD gathered at Neiman Marcus
Mazza Gallerie for the annual Heart of Fashion runway
show and benefit for St. Jude’s Hospital. Co-chairs
Rachel James and Jocelyn Greenan welcomed guests
to an exclusive fashion presentation of Brunello
Cucinelli’s 2014 Fall/Winter collection. Attendees then
had the opportunity to bid on exciting items in the silent
and live auction emceed by NBC4’s Doug Kammerer,
raising funds for the children’s organization.
HEART OF
FASHION
Rachel James, Doug Kammerer, and Jocelyn Greenan
AJ Zarndt and Sloane Hurst
RIGHT: A Fall/Winter lookfrom Brunello Cucinelli.
Davide Baroncini, Elif Gezgec, Danielle Codel, and Bonnie Chang
Craig McCullough and Taylor Wolfson
Heather Shaw Menis and Silva Lalayan
ABOVE: The runway featuredtailored sportswear.
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THE SEWALL-BELMONT
HOUSE & Museum celebrated its
Alice Award Luncheon on September
17 at the Washington historic property.
The annual event honored Senator
Barbara Mikulski with this year’s
Alice Award along with Rick and
Susan Goings as the recipients of the
2014 Voice for Women Award.
ALICE
AWARDS
Sen. Susan Collins
Sen. Barbara Mikulski receiving the Alice Award from Debby McGinn
Lucy Calautti, David Lipsey, and Mary Ripley
Elinor Steele and
Yolanda Londano
Jean Baderschneider, Jeanne Mitchell, and Susan Carter with
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continued on page 82
A TAsTe of Home BRYAN VOLTAGGIO’S FAMILY MEAL, WHICH OFFERS COMFORT FOOD CLASSICS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, OPENS NEW LOCATIONS IN ASHBURN, VIRGINIA, AND BALTIMORE. by nevin martell
It’s a sunny Friday morning in early October. Bryan
Voltaggio is sipping a mug of coffee at the counter of his
deluxe diner, Family Meal, in Frederick, Maryland.
Plates brimming with bourbon-glazed sticky buns,
crab-packed waffles gussied up with Benedict fixin’s, and
biscuits drenched in sausage gravy come out of the
kitchen regularly. Later in the day, the menu focuses on
hearty heartland favorites, such as mama’s-style meat-
loaf, deviled eggs, and fried chicken. “It’s approachable,
recognizable food that you can feel good about feeding
your family,” says Voltaggio. “Better yet, you don’t need
to do any work at home.”
Dressed in jeans, a plaid shirt, and an insulated vest
to ward off the snappy fall air, the 38-year-old chef-
restaurateur could be mistaken for a customer fueling up
before heading to the office. Though he still spends a lot
of time in chef whites at his establishments—including
modernist f lagship Volt nearby in Frederick, the
sweeping European market-style Range in Chevy Chase,
and its restaurant-within-a-restaurant Aggio—he is
spending a growing amount of time expanding his
epicurean empire.
Bryan Voltaggio brings elevated—but still recognizable—comfort food dishes, including deviled eggs (pictured), to his Family Meal restaurants.
capitolfile-magazine.com 81
taste this Issue: Cozy Up
PH
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CO
UR
TE
SY
OF F
AM
ILY
ME
AL
the
recipe
for a
great
family
meal
You need a professional
culinary degree to make
most of the dishes in Bryan
Voltaggio’s frst cookbook,
Volt Ink (Olive Press,
2011). The Top Chef
Masters star’s latest
project is the exact opposite.
Home: Recipes to
Cook with Family and
Friends (Little, Brown
and Company, April
2015) focuses on homey
comfort food. Think glazed
bacon biscuits and chicken
potpie fritters.
It’s the kind of fare
Voltaggio puts out at
Family Meal or when he
has an actual family meal.
Not that the busy toque has
many chances to sit down
for supper with his wife
and three kids. While over-
seeing the photography for
the cookbook, he did spend
some time in the kitchen
with his seven-year-old
son, Thacher, who created
a dish on the fy—Coca-
Cola-braised potatoes.
“They tasted good,” says
the proud father. “They
were seasoned well. I
was foored.”
clockwise from
left: Bryan Voltaggio; fried chicken withbuttermilk biscuits, pickles, and sides, including braised collard greens; a garden grows outside a Family Meal restaurant.
His latest efforts include debuting a bevy of new Family Meal locations, which will all be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, just like a classic roadside diner. Ashburn, Virginia, and Pier 4 in the Baltimore Harbor are set to open by the end of this year, while an outpost in Richmond, Virginia, is coming in early 2015. There are further plans to open another on DC’s waterfront, but the particulars haven’t been finalized. “Family Meal hits a sweet spot for everyone,” he says. “My goal is to create a chef-driven brand that works in the suburbs and can be an everyday restaurant for a variety of people.”
It’s a concept rich with nostalgia—and not just for the days of slurping milk-shakes while listening to Buddy Holly on the jukebox.
“The American family is not getting to the dinner table as much as it used to anymore,” explains Voltaggio, “so I’m trying to create a spot where people get to do that again. When [business partner] Hilda [Staples] and I were talking about what we wanted this restaurant to be, we believed we were creating these restaurants for our families, because we are so busy ourselves.”
Menus will contain a set number of standard dishes complemented by regionally and seasonally inspired fare. Voltaggio is quick to say that he isn’t trying to create a chain restaurant, though he fully admits he is trying to compete with them. “I can’t do a three-course dinner for $9.99 like they do,” he says, “but you do know you’ll get a better product when you come here.”
To hone the menu, he has
been vigorously recipe testing with his team of chefs in the kitchen at Range. “Every dish, we’re dissecting it, ripping it apart, and putting it back together to make sure that it’s the best we can do,” he says.
Part of the reason he is expanding Family Meal now is because he has a robust staff on his payroll, including many people who have been with him since the days when he only owned Volt. “I have the chefs that are going into
all of them,” he says, “so I can knock all these new locations out with people I know and trust in charge of them.”
Perhaps when these new spots are up and running, Voltaggio will be able to take a step back and enjoy some well-earned time with his family. Until then, there’s work to be done. He takes a last sip of coffee, says his good-byes, and heads out into the autumn day. 880 N. East St., Frederick, MD, 301-378-2895; voltfamilymeal.com CF
“The AmericAn fAmily is
noT geTTing To The
dinner TAble As much...
so i’m Trying To creATe
A spoT where people
geT To do ThAT AgAin.”—bryan voltaggio
82 capitolfile-magazine.com
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Gather ’Round the HearthAS TEMPERATURES DROP, THESE SIZZLING RESTAURANTS INVITE GUESTS TO HAVE A VIP EXPERIENCE COZYING UP NEAR BLAZING FIREPLACES. By NeviN Martell
A Colonial AffairThere are six antique-
bedecked dining rooms at
1789, a storied Georgetown
institution (1226 36th St.
NW; 202-965-1789;
1789restaurant.com).
However, only the John
Carroll Room boasts a
fireplace. “You can’t beat
the ambience; it’s some-
thing special,” says general
manager Rich Kaufman,
who recommends request-
ing table 14 or 15 directly in
front of the f lickering
f lames. Celebs and political
heavyweights are a
common sight. When
Julianne Moore stopped in,
she was so smitten by the
hearth that she asked for a
corner seat close by.
Licensed to Thrill Vintage maps decorate the
walls of the private dining
room tucked away in the
rear of Nopa Kitchen + Bar
(800 F St. NW; 202-347-
4667; nopadc.com). London,
Paris, and Florence—three
of restaurateur Ashok
Bajaj’s favorite cities—are
all represented. The snug
Gallery Room space sports
just six tables, each with a
great view of the roaring
fireplace. “It adds a lot of
romance to the place,” says
Bajaj, who noted that
the room is a hot spot
on Valentine’s Day.
The American–accented
brasserie attracts
A-listers year round:
Pierce Brosnan, Bill Maher,
and Nancy Pelosi have
all supped there.
Sparks Fly Under the StarsThe aroma of a blazing
bonfire and wisps of smoke
escape Barcelona Wine
Bar & Restaurant (1622
14th St. NW; 202-588-5500;
barcelonawinebar.com) into
the night air. The source?
An oak-fueled fireplace in
the first-come, first-served
open-air courtyard. “It
creates an atmosphere that
attracts people, sometimes
from blocks away,” says
director of design Rocco Di
Leo, who had the hearth
forged out of concrete and
steel to match the surround-
ing industrial aesthetic. The
crackling hot wine bar is
FLOTUS-approved—
Michelle Obama was seen
there last year.
A Night to RememberThe lights are low and the
shadows of f lames dance
high in the tasting room at
above: With only six tables, Nopa
Kitchen + Bar’s Gallery Room
offers a well-tended
fireplace in an intimate space. left: Barcelona
Wine Bar & Restaurant
keeps an oak-fueled fire
going in its open-air
courtyard.
Iron Gate (1734 N St. NW;
202-524-5202; irongate
restaurantdc.com). Tucked
away beyond the carriage
house bar—where ’N Sync’s
Lance Bass was spotted
enjoying a cocktail—and
the alfresco garden patio,
the backroom is the perfect
rendezvous point for
lovebirds. “We wanted to
create a place that was
warm and romantic, but
still comfortable,” says
chef-partner Tony Chittum.
To win some serious points
on date night, put in a
special request for table
eight directly in front of the
vintage brick fireplace. CF
The John Carroll Room, tucked away in the back
of 1789 Restaurant, boasts a roaring fire in a
timeless setting.
84 capitolfile-magazine.com
taste Cui-scene
202.638.6600 | WWW.HAYADAMS.COM | OFF THE RECORD BAR AT 16TH & H STREETS NW | WASHINGTON DC 20006
ph
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Champagnes of ChoiCe
Le Diplomate’s Erik Segelbaum recommends bottles of bubbly
with high value for the price and multilayered flavors.
Beyond Veuve Clicquot: An eclectic variety of Champagnes has been descending upon DC, including those made with rosé, whose festive color makes it perfect for the holiday season.
Get Your Bubbles Onchampagne lovers have a lot to celebrate this season with new
grower-producer varietals popping up across the city. by kayleigh kulp
’Tis the season for bubbles. Just the sound of a cork being sabered is enough reason
for Washingtonians to celebrate year-round—DC is one of the 10 top Champagne-
consuming cities in the country, according to the Wine Institute—but the holidays
give even more excuse to pop brut and vintage bottles... and lots of them.
“In DC, there is a special affinity for status and stature,” says Le Diplomate (1601 14th St. NW, 202-332-3333; lediplomatedc.com) sommelier and beverage
manager Erik Segelbaum. “People holding Champagne smile a little brighter.”
Since more than 40 percent of Champagne is sold from October through the
year’s end, says Sam Heitner, director of the Dupont Circle–based Champagne
Bureau, now’s the time to take advantage of well-stocked wine lists and invento-
ries and try something new.
“We’re seeing huge growth in by-the-glass lists,” Heitner says. “There are many
more labels, brands, and producers in every store. You’ve never had more choices.”
Champagne’s “versatility is appealing,” explains Inn at Little Washington (Middle and Main Streets, 540-675-3800; theinnatlittlewashington.com) sommelier Bill Harris,
who features an impressive roster of purveyors like
Champagne Peters, Vilmart & Cie, Geoffroy, and 15 varieties
from the “Special Club,” a group of récoltant-manipulants,
or grower-producers, focused on promoting Champagne’s
diverse expression of terroir (that is, the specific environ-
mental factors that impart to the wine its distinct flavors).
Champagne can be made with up to six grapes, Segelbaum
says. It can be highly acidic or cloyingly sweet, buttery,
round, or mineral, making it pair harmoniously with all
types of food. Non-vintages, which demonstrate a wine style
by blending various harvests, and blanc de blancs, which are
made with chardonnay grapes, especially complement the
seafood and oysters Washingtonians love so much.
Uniquely defined by their “house style,” or the spin each
producer puts on the process, Champagne brands achieve
loyal followings no matter the grape used. For example,
Krug’s longer fermentation of all varietals in oak results in a
creamier, richer mouthfeel with smaller bubbles, along with
notes of toffee, brioche, and pound cake, Segelbaum says.
In addition to grower-producer varieties this season, the
driest varieties, brut nature—or zero dosage—are on the
rise. But don’t knock others such as rosé, which now make
up more than 16 percent of all Champagne sold here. They
aren’t all supersweet, thanks partly to the ability of wine-
makers to blend red and white wines to achieve them,
offering more control over flavors.
Want to get the true essence of any Champagne? Let the
wine go flat before tasting, since the bubbles make you per-
ceive it as drier and more acidic than it actually is, Harris
says. Then forgo the Champagne flute for a regular wine
glass, which allows the notes to blossom better. CF
brut force:“Of all the bigger Champagne
houses, Perrier-Jouët’s Grand brut NV ($35–$45)
consistently delivers higher
quality and more drinking
enjoyability relative to compa-
rable non-vintage Champagnes
within a similar price point.”
rosé-coLoreD GLasses: “bruno Paillard is a fan-
tastic grower. The ‘Première cuvée’ brut rosé ($50–
$65) is very complex and
heady with wonderful aromas
of berry pie (think blackberry,
strawberry, and vanilla pie
crust), backed with orange zest
and citrus blossom notes.”
DraWING a bLaNc: “There are very few Blanc de
Blancs Champagnes better
than taittinger ‘comtes de champagne’ blanc de blancs 2004 ($125–$160),
and certainly none of them
even close in price and value.
The texture and bubble are rich
with wonderful brioche and
toffee notes, carrying the wine
to a long and elegant fnish.”
86 capitolfile-magazine.com
taste Cheers!
10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!
“Simply gorgeous!” ~The Washington Post
DECEMBER 4–28 at the historic WARNER THEATRE
tickets available at washingtonballet.org or 202.397.SEAT*includes $2 Warner Theatre preservation fee.
Pictured: Ariel Breitman and Maki Onuki by Dean Alexander
Tickets start at
$32*
PH
OTO
GR
AP
HY
BY
PA
RK
HYA
TT W
AS
HIN
GTO
N (B
LU
E D
UC
K T
AV
ER
N K
ITC
HE
N); A
NJA
LI P
INTO
(R
PM
ITA
LIA
N); M
IA D
ES
IMO
NE
/TA
A P
R (FIO
LA
AP
PL
E); J
OS
H C
OG
AN
(D
OLC
EZ
ZA
)
RPM REVS UP FOR DC ARRIVALRPM Italian, the Chicago restaurant that is the
brainchild of celebrity couple Giuliana—a
Washington–area native—and Bill Rancic and
their partners, is coming to Washington. Under
the umbrella of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises,
which owns seven other DC–area restaurants,
including Joe’s Seafood and Wildfi re, the modern
Italian restaurant, which was still under construc-
tion at print time, will open at 601 Massachusetts
Avenue near Mount Vernon Square in 2015.
CANDY APPLE 2.0Fiola pastry chef Tom Wellings’s intricate take on
the holiday staple is a blown-sugar sphere fi lled
with apple espuma and served on buckwheat den-
telle with cider-poached Honeycrisp apples, warm
gingerbread, and vanilla gelato. 601 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, 202-628-2888; fi oladc.com
2
DC favorite Dolcezza adds a sixth store to its ice cream mini-empire.
Effortless Holiday Feasts at Home THESE FESTIVE GOURMET MEALS ARE
READY FOR PICKUP. BY AMY MOELLER
Enjoy the best of both worlds this holiday season by gathering the family for a delicious meal at home, while leaving the cooking and prep to someone else. Blue Duck Tavern and BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant are offering traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts to-go this year. At BDT, the six-to-eight-person menu for both occasions is $350 and includes a roasted, free-range turkey, two freshly baked breads, and four traditional sides, plus pies for dessert. BlackSalt’s menus are à la carte and feature tur-keys, oysters, soups, sides, pies, and more. Order early—both restaurants require reservations in advance. Blue Duck Tavern,
What started in a 300-square-foot kitchen in Georgetown 10 years ago has blossomed into a DC dessert staple. Dolcezza, the small-batch and made-fresh-daily gelato that locals have come to treasure, is opening a new location in December
at CityCenterDC. Just in time for the holidays, the company’s sixth shop—other locations include 14th and P, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Bethesda Row, and Fairfax—offers seasonal flavor favorites as well as coffee and espresso. Give the gift of
gelato this year with the company’s Nostalgic Wintertime pack ($60), which includes one pint each of Pistachio Siciliano, Georgia Butter Pecan, Nocciola del Piemonte, and Peanut Butter Stracciatella. 904
Palmer Alley NW; dolcezzagelato.com
feel-good eats
This holiday season, gift
chocolate—and keep it
local. A hidden gem in
the Washington area,
SPAGnVOLA Chocolatier
gourmet chocolates are
made from sustainably
sourced premium cocoa
and are handcrafted right
in our backyard at the
SPAGnVOLA chocolate
factory in Gaithersburg.
In addition to prioritizing
quality control, the
brand’s ingredients are
harvested through
sustainable farming
practices that offer
economic and empower-
ment opportunities for
farmers. Take a tour of
the Kentlands factory
and boutique or pop into
the outpost at National
Harbor. 181 Waterfront
St., Oxon Hill, MD, 240-
493-4609; factory tours
are free but require
reservations, 360 Main St.,
Ste. 100, Gaithersburg,
240-654-6972;
spagnvola.com
LOCAL
CHOCOLATE
88 CAPITOLFILE-MAGAZINE.COM
TASTE Spotlight
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Dinner on iceWASHINGTON CAPITALS DEFENSEMEN ARL ALZNER AND JOHN CARLSON DISCUSS FOOD, FRIENDSHIP, AND THE FUTURE OF DC’S FAVORITE HOCKEY
TEAM OVER DINNER AT BOURBON STEAK. by amy moeller
clockwise from above: Best friends Karl Alzner and John Carlson unwind on the patio at Bourbon Steak before dinner; the steakhouse boasts one of the best single-malt Scotch lists in the city; Bigeye Tuna Rossini with pommes dauphinoise and summer truffle.
Washington Capitals John Carlson, 24, and Karl
Alzner, 26, haven’t missed a game in four years. A
leading blue line duo, they’re such a pair, in
fact—they room together on the road, and even
their wives and dads are friends—they have
earned the nickname Carlzner. At the start of this
season, the Capitals’ 40th, speculation soared that
the duo might split up after the team acquired two
new defenders, Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik.
But despite a break—at least on the ice—Carlson
and Alzner couldn’t be more excited for what the
season has in store. When I meet up with the pair
at Bourbon Steak, they’re looking ever so dapper,
sipping Scotch on the patio by a fire.
You guys could have picked anywhere in the
city for this dinner. Why Bourbon Steak?
Karl Alzner: I’ve never been—first-timer.
John Carlson: The first time I came here was for
brunch—we stayed here after my wedding—and
I’ve been here one or two other times for dinner.
It’s a great location with good food, and I wanted
to come back.
John, you just got married in September, and
Karl, you’re having a baby girl in December.
Congratulations!
JC: Thank you!
KA: Thank you! I’m so excited. Can’t wait.
December 17. We play only four home games that
month, so I’m a little nervous that I’m going to
have to f ly back from wherever we are. And we
have this streak… we haven’t missed many games.
You haven’t missed any, right, in four years?
KA: Yeah, so I’m a little bit nervous about the
timing. If [having a baby] is what does it, it’s going
to be funny.
JC: He’s always jabbing me about sitting one out
just in case.
Tell me about the first time you met.
KA: [Laughs] It’s not quite like the first time you
meet your girlfriend or eventual wife.
JC: We were kind of thrown together. Our first
summer camp.
KA: We’d go to Cold Stone Creamery quite a bit.
JC: We built a pretty good friendship eating.
KA: I know his Cold Stone order. It’s “All Lovin’
No Oven” [cake batter ice cream and chocolate
cookie dough with whipped cream and fudge].
JC: Best one there is.
A server walks by with the complimentary trio of duck
fat fries.
KA: That’s what we need right there. That’s what
we order on the road all the time. I love French
fries. Sometimes, depending on the meal we’ll
have, it does not fit at all, or the menu is set, but
all of a sudden comes a plate of French fries.
A sommelier comes by to determine the bottle for
continued on pAge 92
90 capitolfile-magazine.com
taste On the town
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“This is The besT dinner i’ve ever had. iT’s like a rookie dinner.”—karl alzner
the evening.
KA: This is the best dinner I’ve ever had. It’s like a rookie dinner.JC: Those are the best.What’s a rookie dinner?
KA: The rookies treat the whole team to a meal and a night out. My rookie dinner? I still have the receipt; it’s that long [indicates length with hands]. One of the things on there: Brazilian lobster tails. Nine of them for $900. JC: It does seem like a lot, but the next year, you’ll get to enjoy it. KA: When you think about it, it’s a big waste of money, but it’s tradition. Some guys get away with it much lighter than others.
JC: We order a nice meal, nice drinks, enjoy the finer things that we would never otherwise—except on a super special occasion. Waiter brings over the fries and
explains the different season-
ings and sauces. JC: The ultimate taste test. I think this one is mine, right here—the Creole seasoning. KA: All the sauces are really good. John orders the eight-ounce rib
eye, medium rare. karl orders the
bone-in new York strip, medium.
The two decide to start with the
tuna tartare and Chesapeake
chowder soup, and to share the
brussels sprouts and truffle
macaroni and cheese.
Do you have to keep a
special diet when you’re
in season?
JC: You picked a great time to ask that.KA: There are some guys who are super strict, and some guys who don’t care at all. We fall in between. When we need to, we eat clean, but at the same time, we enjoy ourselves. I think that’s what you need for durability—you need to be able to bounce off guys and not have straight muscle. [Points to the black truff le butter rolls.] Those are unbelievable. JC: Buttery.They are served a 2001
Château olivier bordeaux.
How’s the wine?
JC: Awesome.
KA: [Takes a picture of the bottle with his phone] We have this app, Vivino—you snap a pic of your wine and the app shares it with others you follow. We’ve been so into it since last year. It gives you a breakdown of the wine, too.This is the 40th anniver-
sary for the Caps, and
there have been so many
changes for this season.
JC: Forty years is cool for the organization, but I think the new changes mean a lot more to the players, just to see what’s next for us. We’ve always had good teams, always been talented, but we never really succeeded the way we should have. Always left behind. Now I think
Bourbon Steak’s Chesapeake chowder with poached oysters, crab, and smoked potato confit. left: Karl Alzner and John Carlson discuss rookie dinners—when the newbies treat their team to a decadent meal—over bigeye tuna and a glass of a 2001 Château Olivier Bordeaux.
Food For
ThoughT
WHAT:
a guys’ high-end
steakhouse dinner
WHEN:
a brisk autumn night
WHERE:
bourbon steak at the Four
seasons, 2800 Pennsylvania
ave. nW, 202-944-2026;
bourbonsteakdc.com
everyone feels really good about the direction we’re heading in. KA: I’m excited about it, seeing it all happen, seeing it all come together. CF
92 capitolfile-magazine.com
taste On the town
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Boone Boom Megan Boone, star of the breakout crime
drama The Blacklist, talks Pee-wee Herman, family, holiday recipes, and what
it feels like to inspire a Twitter hashtag.
by elizabeth thorp photography by nigel parry
capitolfile-magazine.com 97
when Megan Boone appeared on the Today show this past September to promote the second sea-
son of her hit NBC show, The Blacklist, she told Al Roker that she had a surprise for him. She cued
the producers to roll footage of Today’s coverage of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from
the year before, wherein Roker introduced a young, still-unknown Boone—who was there to
boost her brand-new crime show—and called her “Megan Brooke.” The Today cameras cut back
to Boone for the punchline: “Right after that, he pronounced [castmate] Diego Klattenhoff’s
name perfectly.”
It’s not a mistake that people will be making again. The Blacklist—in which Boone stars as tough
rookie FBI agent Elizabeth Keen opposite James Spader’s fedora-wearing criminal mastermind
Raymond “Red” Reddington—was the breakaway hit of NBC’s 2013 pilot season. The crime
drama, set in Washington, DC, is dark and full of unexpected twists, but it also focuses on the
unlikely partnership of its heroine and anti-hero. “Our relationship working together was analo-
gous to the two characters working together,” says Spader. “There was this anticipation. I was very
curious about her. And I think just the mix of age and experience has been great—the balance of
that between the two of us. I am certainly older than she is and have been doing this for a long time.
But she is very facile. And I think that mirrors the character. It’s proving to be great fun. We’re
becoming friends just like in the show.”
We spoke with the 31-year-old Florida native at The Loews Regency in New York, not too far
from where she was filming that day with Spader and new villainous cast member Paul Reubens
(otherwise known as Pee-wee Herman). Two hours past call time—thanks to a grueling filming
schedule—she arrives. She greets everyone, apologizing for being late, and introduces herself to
the cadre of people present for the photo shoot, including the hired guns guarding the jewelry.
Boone oozes charm and friendliness. One of the tough guys mouths to me, his eyes widening,
“Oh, my God. The Blacklist?”
The Blacklist, wow! You’ve always been a working actress, but do you feel that your rec-
ognition boomed overnight with this role? How has life changed for you?
It has in a lot of ways, but to say I’m some overnight success—if that were true, it has been a long night.
Go on.
I’ve worked really hard, just like most people who aren’t born into the nepotistic side of the indus-
try. I had a hard time finding a toehold in the industry; it’s very impenetrable for the most part. I
am not very social in Hollywood—I didn’t go out and schmooze people.
Interesting. I recently interviewed Jeremy Renner, who talked about the parallels
between DC and Hollywood—the ambition, the lobbying.
There’s that same kind of hierarchical social atmosphere, and there is definitely always something
that someone has that can benefit you, and it’s hard to put it out of your mind when socializing.
That’s why I prefer to live in New York rather than Los Angeles. I don’t know that I will ever be
able to successfully navigate the political side of my business.
So you like the East Coast?
I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m in the same time zone as my family now, and that’s a very important part
of my life, and it has become even more important as life has become more demanding. Being
successful is always much more enjoyable when you’re near family.
With such a busy work schedule, are you dating anyone?
I’m a very social creature, and I try to go out on the weekends with friends. I love going to a din-
ner party where I don’t know everyone, and I get to know people. There are a lot of really
interesting and intelligent people in New York City doing amazing things—or at least proclaim-
ing to do them—and I love hearing the stories. As far as my personal life, so much of my time is
spent on the show that I feel like that social atmosphere is where my vested interest is right now.
Now that I have a handle on it, I’m open.
Life is good?
I’ve found it to be a much more palatable life than the one I was living prior to this. I found it
SWEET THANKS
Megan’s Thanksgiving plans include
spending the day with friend (and
Blacklist guest star) Mary-Louise Parker
at her country home. Never one to arrive
empty-handed, she says she’ll bring her
salted caramel pudding, with hand-
whipped cream, in tow. Naturally, we had
to have the recipe.
SALTED CARAMEL PUDDING
(MODIFIED FROM JOSEPH LEONARD)
Ingredients:
1 qt. whole milk
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1½ oz. corn starch
8 oz. sugar
½ tsp. salt
3 eggs
8 oz. unsalted butter, chopped into chunks
In a medium-size bowl, combine corn-
starch, eggs, and two tablespoons of the
sugar. Whisk until thoroughly incorpo-
rated and the starch
and sugar are dissolved.
In a second, larger bowl, combine milk,
vanilla bean, and salt. Mix well.
Place a heavy-bottomed saucepan on
the stove over medium heat and add the
remaining sugar. Continuously stir until
the sugar caramelizes and is an even,
amber-brown color. Be careful not
to burn it! Remove from heat.
Slowly temper the milk mixture into the
saucepan, a little at a time, to dissolve as
much of the caramel as you can. Return
to the stove and simmer on medium-low
and stir until all the caramel is dissolved.
Add the butter and stir the mixture until the
butter has completely melted.
Remove from heat.
Whisk a little of the heated mixture into
your bowl of eggs and starch, just to warm
them up, then add the entire contents to
the saucepan and whisk well. Once it cools
a bit, adjust the taste with your favorite sea
salt and pour into ramekins, small canning
jars, or whatever you like. Refrigerate to set.
Serve with fresh whipped cream.
98 CAPITOLFILE-MAGAZINE.COM
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“To say I’m some overnight success—if that were true, it has been a long night.”
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Wall GroupMakeup by Quinn Murphy/
The Wall GroupVideo: Orlando Ferreyra
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100 capitolfile-magazine.com
perplexing and daunting. I remember at a certain point I said to a dear
friend of mine, “I don’t know how to take what’s good in me and put it into
the world anymore.” And now that I have this show… I feel like I have a
place where I am needed. What living on the East Coast represents to me is
being a person that is of use to something that millions of people around the
world are entertained by.
When you first got this script, how much did you know about govern-
ment work or the FBI?
In the past I’ve played police officers and prosecuting attorneys, and I’ve shad-
owed police officers and the DA. I was not able to sit in on everything, but I still
felt like I had great access. But with the FBI, that doesn’t happen. I don’t get to
shadow an FBI agent, so it’s guesswork for me. I can’t follow an agent, but I can
at least understand the dynamics of her relationships, the situations that she’s
entering into.
At the end of last season, I felt empathy for Liz Keen, all alone in her
empty house in Arlington after allegedly
killing her hot husband.
Yes, but I think in that loneliness she gained an
independence she never had before. Hopefully
the pendulum will swing for her, and she’ll learn to
trust people again and be less autonomous in her
decision-making, more trusting of the people in
her task force, like Ressler and Aram.
There’s some good fighting between you and
your crazy fake husband, but he’s a cute fake
husband to have.
He’s one of my closest friends. I love Ryan [Eggold]
so much. But his transition from the bookish
teacher to the spy was brilliant. It was interesting
how the female population actually liked him
more when he was a jerk.
I’m sensing a little sexual tension between
Liz and Ressler.
I think it’s just a bond, like a partner bond.
Or because you’ve almost died with each other 20 times over?
The producing director of our show is a military man, so he really brings a lot
of insight on how soldiers bond during times like that. He helps us understand
that brotherhood and play it out in little ways throughout the scenes.
The Blacklist shoots in New York instead of DC, but have you been to
Washington?
We went to DC one day during the pilot to shoot the scene where Ressler
finally corners Zamani, and Zamani jumps off the rooftop. I think they were
able to get an exterior of the Washington Monument, but they found it so hard
to get the historical architecture because everything had zoning restrictions.
It was really hard to film there, unfortunately, so we shoot in New York.
Can you give us any hints or insight about this season? I’m sure you
know there are message boards and superfans rewatching and dis-
secting every part of the show.
I know! Well, there’s a big secret that’s going to be revealed about Elizabeth
Keen; she has a source for information and that source is going to be revealed.
Also, you will see we’re going to have everything disbanded by the end of the
season. I think we’re going to lose the structure of the tactical unit being a unit,
but I say that with hesitance. Not because it’s too big of a spoiler, but because
it’s subject to change; our writers are so responsive to social media.
How does the process work? I noticed last season that current events were
woven in and references added to the dialogue to make it very timely.
I really think that social media has changed the medium of television in a
huge way. We are in the golden age of television. The interesting thing about
network TV is that we are developing and shooting episodes at a much faster
rate [than cable or streaming], so that means our air date and our wrap date
are very close. When we get a response from our fans, we’re able to almost
instantly respond to that within our story. Within a couple of episodes, fans
will see something play out that they wished for, or something that they
noticed will be somehow woven into the story.
That’s very cool. I’m going to tweet that you should weave Capitol File
into your story line.
[Laughing] It’s very cool! Because Cheers certainly wasn’t experiencing that.
Were you even alive when Cheers was on?
I binge-watched Cheers. I had a big crush on Ted
Danson last year.
Well, really, who doesn’t?
But I mean like, Cheers’s Ted Danson—no offense
to current Ted.
Do you watch The Blacklist in real-time on
Monday nights?
I get a feed the week before of a cut that I watch.
Mondays are a little late for me, actually, because—
not to sound like a dullard—I have to work really
early in the mornings.
So you’re not staying up until eleven at night?
No, but everyone else should!
Let’s talk about James Spader—such an icon.
What did you think when you first signed on
and learned he was your costar?
He wasn’t signed on when I first signed up!
Really?
I didn’t know who Red was going to be for a while, and then he signed on. I
was already in New York ready to shoot. They said, “We think we might get
James Spader.” And I thought, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” And then I got the
text from [director] Joe Carnahan, “Babe, Spader’s in. It’s about to get weird.”
And it has gotten weird! Was his character written with the hat, or is
that his own flair? I feel like he brought that himself…
You know, I think he fought for it because they have this rule in network TV
for some reason: no hats and no short hair on women. They definitely fought
him on that, but he was like, “Nope, I’m doing it!”
I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about Pee-wee Herman.
I know! I love Paul. We’re friends now! We e-mail, and we talked on the
phone for 20 minutes the other day.
Stop it!
And we’re getting lunch the next time I’m in LA.
I’m weirdly and completely jealous.
It’s so weird, right?
What a difference a year makes.
I feel so lucky this year because Elizabeth Keen is a very strong, fierce woman, and
people on social media respond very positively to that, and they are giving me all
this love. There’s even a hashtag #loveformegan. It’s really sweet. cf
Megan Boone and James Spader form
an unlikely alliance in NBC’s The Blacklist.
capitolfile-magazine.com 101
Art Deco the hAllsThis season’s vintage-inspired platinum and diamonds are the perfect
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photography by bill diodato styling by betim balaman
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opposite page: 18k gold Kwiat Vintage Collection diamond and blue sapphire earrings
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Avenue, 5555 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 301-657-9000; saks.com. Platinum and gold French Art Deco sapphire and diamond
link bracelet, Macklowe (price on request). 1stdibs.com
capitolfile-magazine.com 107
One of the three heated greenhouses on the Mellon estate in the Virginia countryside.
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The estate of Paul and Bunny Mellon is on the market, preserving the legacy of two luxurious lives well lived.
by stephanie green
estatea royal
capitolfile-magazine.com 109
Rachel “Bunny” Mellon was a woman who loved simple luxuries.
When she died this past March at the age of 103, she was surrounded by the most coveted and expensive of luxuries: privacy.
Her Virginia estate, with its vast vistas, pastoral settings, and sol-emn quietude, was where she and her husband, the late Mellon banking scion Paul Mellon, created their own oasis of natural beauty and serenity—and now it’s on the market for $70 million.
But could the next owner possibly live up to the legacy of the Mellons, perhaps the country’s most elegant couple?
“We’ve been talking to a number of potential buyers already,
inside and outside the market,” says Thomas B. Anderson, presi-dent of Washington Fine Properties, which is managing the sale, expected to be the largest ever in the Mid-Atlantic region. “Just as important as the buyer’s ability to purchase the farm is his or her appreciation of the mystique of this extraordinary property—and the [people who built it].”
She was a world-class gardener and horticulturist whom Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis looked to as her guiding light on all matters of style. Bunny’s friend architect I.M. Pei praised her as a rare amalgam of “sensitivity and imagery.” Paul, whom Bunny married in 1948, was the formidable horseman and art collector who put the National Gallery of Art on the map.
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Paul and Bunny’s homes, especially their primary resi-
dence, Oak Spring Farm in Upperville, which encompasses
thousands of acres of horse country, were mirrors of their
own character: regal, yet humble.
“I always chuckle when people say they went to parties there, because
probably it never happened,” explains Anderson.
The Mellons did make some exceptions to their low-key attitude on
entertaining—throwing one of the largest debutante balls and enter-
taining Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip—but mostly they were
satisfied living the lives of quiet Virginia country residents, even pro-
ducing their own cheese at their property’s dairy, Oak Spring Dairy,
which is still sold in local grocers today.
“One of the most engaging features in all our houses is their friendli-
ness,” Paul Mellon wrote in his memoir, Reflections in a Silver Spoon,
published in 1992, seven years before he died.
“Major works of art live side by side with small objects of art, chil-
dren’s drawings, and bronzes of favorite horses. Bunny’s quest for
comfort and informality has been nurtured with care; a little natural
shabbiness in an old chair cover is sometimes purposely overlooked.
The result, I think, is that the houses feel lived in and loved. More
important to me than anything else, they are cheerful.”
This cheerfulness is due in large part to the woman Mellon took as
his second wife in 1948.
Rachel Lambert Mellon, always known as “Bunny,” was like her future
husband, to the manor born, as the heiress of the Listerine fortune.
Their wealth, however, could not protect Bunny, born in 1910, and Paul,
born in 1907, from the pain of their parents’ divorces—still a taboo subject
from their childhoods—or from unexpected tragedies: Bunny’s sister died
in a plane crash and Paul’s first wife, Mary, suffered a fatal asthma attack.
Bunny and her first husband, Stacy Barcroft Lloyd Jr., were friends with
Paul and Mary, and they would often socialize together as young couples.
Bunny “was very kind and understanding over my distress,” Paul
wrote about Mary’s death. “Mary had always admired Bunny for her
warmth and intelligence. The consequences of the war [World War II]
had left Bunny sad about her marriage. She was devoted but bewil-
dered by the changes in Stacy’s attitude brought by his long absence
overseas. It was clear that their marriage had come to an end.”
Oak Spring represented a new chapter for both of them and the oppor-
tunity to pool their mutual passion for beauty in its simplest forms. A
brochure for the sale describes Oak Spring as “the closest thing to the
English Cotswolds, with lush, green pastures lined with stone walls and
board fencing with distant views of three mountain ranges: the Blue
Ridge, Cobbler, and Bull Run Mountains.”
Paul Mellon had been buying up land in Northern Virginia around
1935, on a prescient quest of early conservation.
“The preservation of land in large estates has effectively, so far, pre-
vented the countryside from being ruined through development in
spite of its proximity to Washington,” he wrote.
Oak Spring’s 2,000 acres was used by the Mellons to indulge in out-
doorsy pursuits such as horse breeding, horse racing, cattle raising, and
fox hunting.
A giant bronze of Sea Hero, Paul’s Kentucky Derby winner, stands
on the field at Oak Spring.
“I don’t think there is anyone who enjoys racing [horses] more than I
do,” he wrote, “or the sight of mares and foals grazing in green fields, or
yearlings running wild and throwing themselves about. The sights and
sounds of the countryside, as well as the color and action and excite-
ment are what turn me on.”
110 capitolfile-magazine.com
Oak Spring represented a new chapter for both of the Mellons and the opportunity to pool their mutual passion for beauty in its simplest forms.
clockwise from above: Jacqueline Kennedy’s guesthouse at Oak Spring; the estate’s extensive
library; Paul and Bunny Mellon at their Rokeby Stables in Virginia.
“It’s important that [the buyer has] an appreciation of the mystique of this extraordinary property—and the [people who built it].”
—thomas b. anderson
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The property’s sale includes numerous paddocks, “Old Yearling Barn” with its 24 stalls, examining and tack rooms, and a Round barn for storing hay and equipment.
Bunny also set about putting her mark on the place the best way she knew how: with flowers “from tiny plants in little pots and jars to large informal arrangements. In fact, informality and lightness are the key-notes, which may be seen in everything from the bright, printed fabrics and colorful rugs to the softly painted walls and woodwork,” Mellon wrote.
This effect is what Georgetown novelist Jane Stanton Hitchcock calls Bunny’s “orchestrated neglect.”
“She loved simplicity,” says Hitchcock, who got to know Bunny when she married a Mellon cousin, visiting the farm often.
“Everything was downplayed. She was all about non-pretension. She didn’t need any pomp or circumstance. You would never know she was one of the richest women in America.”
Bunny Mellon oversaw Oak Spring’s three heated greenhouses, plant-ing workrooms, planting and cutting gardens, and an orchard of fruit trees, in addition to a one-of-a-kind collection of books and manuscripts on gardening, now protected by her foundation.
In January 1961, in one of their first social events, the Kennedys called on Bunny “to bring not only the flowers from Oak Hill, but her garden supervisor and maid to create arrangements in the informal style of a Flemish still life, quite unlike the previous stiff f lorists’ displays,” Sarah Bradford wrote in her biography of Onassis, America’s Queen.
“now the white house is a home,” rang the headlines the following day.Later, Bunny became responsible for the White House Rose Garden
and for selecting the floral arrangements for President Kennedy’s funeral.Hitchcock, who also was a friend of Jackie’s, said the two women “were friends who complemented each other because they shared a passion for the history of beautiful things. Bunny was the shadow behind Jackie’s sun.”
Bradford writes that Jackie, like Paul and everyone who knew her, leaned on Bunny as “an arbiter of good taste, a perfectionist with an unerring eye for beauty.”
Like the Mellons, Jackie was a voracious rider of horses, especially dur-ing hunt season, when she would stay in one of the many Mellon guest cottages at Oak Spring. The Log House, which Bunny created for Jackie, is one of more than 20 homes at Oak Spring included in the sale.
It was easy for the Mellons to receive out-of-town guests with the milelong airstrip, with its own waiting lounge, one of the highlights of the sale, Anderson says. “Rarely do you see an airstrip of that size on a private property, especially in the middle of the countryside.”
Guests, like Jackie, could ride, meander the property, reflect by the ponds, or swim in the pool with a pool house.
The neo-Georgian mansion, the Brick House, was designed in 1941, and became a virtual museum for the Mellon’s expansive collection of British art, like paintings by Sir Alfred Munnings, a Mellon favorite for his impressions of horses.
In November, in a separate sale managed by Sotheby’s in New York, the Mellons’ vast art collection is being auctioned. A Pissarro, “unframed, like a flea-market find,” as one art writer put it, will be sold along with larger works by Rothko and van Gogh, as well as quaint antique porce-lains of vegetables, demonstrating Bunny Mellon’s quirky aesthetic.
The collection of paintings, drawings, jewelry, and other personal items is expected to draw $10 million at the nine-day sale, where all nine floors of Sotheby’s will be used to display the thousands of gems.
Anderson says that the people who are drawn to Oak Spring and every-thing in it see it as an “American treasure. It’s just like when you go to an auction of things owned by Princess Diana or Mrs. Onassis. You want to be the custodian of something that can never be recreated. You want to carry that mystique forward.” CF
above: Good friends Jacqueline Kennedy and Bunny Mellon step into the lobby of the Colonial Theatre in Boston during intermission of Noel Coward’s musical Sail Away in 1961. below: A bronze statue of Sea Hero, Paul Mellon’s Kentucky Derby–winning horse, stands near the road at Oak Spring.
capitolfile-magazine.com 113
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A wintertime view of the Jefferson Memorial along the Tidal Basin.
114 capitolfile-magazine.com
DC does holiday magic like few other places, so we asked five local tastemakers to give us their insider tips on how to make the most of the season—from holiday dining and festive outings to must-see musicals and spa retreats.
by melanie fonder kaye
winterwonderland
washington
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Whether it’s après skiing,
skating, or shopping,
Jefferson Hotel concierge
Chris Adcock’s top choices
for a mug of hot cocoa be-
gin with Oyamel’s Chocolate
Caliente, a spicy blend of
Mexican chocolate, cin-
namon, vanilla bean, and
cloves (401 7th St. NW,
202-628-1005; oyamel
.com). He also suggests
Dolcezza—but don’t let the
gelateria’s reputation for fab
frozen treats fool you: They
brew an excellent cup of
cocoa with Valrhona dark
chocolate (multiple loca-
tions, 202-333-4646;
dolcezzagelato.com).
Artfully Chocolate’s range
of Belgian hot chocolates—
white, milk, dark, bitter-
sweet—accounts for its
reputation as a “chocolate
destination” well worth the
trip to Old Town Alexan-
dria (506 John Carlyle St.,
Alexandria, 703-575-8686;
thecocoagallery.com).
Hot
CHoColate
tasting
above: Dolcezza’s hot chocolate.
A blanket of snow lends an air of magic
to the Capitol Building around the holidays.
“the city is very peaceful during
the winter, especially when it
snows. strolling on the mall is
amazing!” —chris adcock
an insider’s itineraryLead concierge at the iconic Jefferson hoteL,
Chris ADCOC guides visitors and LocaLs aLike
through Washington’s Winter Wonders.
Lifelong DC native Chris
Adcock says that his deep
love for the city translates
directly into the best part of his
day—sharing some of DC’s best-kept
secrets with guests at the Jefferson
Hotel. When pressed to narrow
down the “best of” list for DC
around the holidays, the Clefs
d’Or–certified concierge begins
with the US Capitol Building
Christmas Tree (capitolchristmas
tree.com). “The People’s Tree, as it is
named on the US Capitol grounds,
is decorated by craftsmen, artisans,
and elementary school students
from the state chosen each year,”
says Adcock, noting that this year’s
tree is from Minnesota.
He also points to another of his
much-loved seasonal traditions, the
10th annual Downtown Holiday
Market (November 28 to December
23, centered at 8th and F Streets NW,
202-215-6993; downtownholiday
market.com). The market is filled with
“handcrafted items from small,
independent merchants,” with
something new every year. From
jewelry and candles to toys and
hand-knit items, there is something
for everyone on your gift list.
Lights are a festive must, and for
Adcock, there are three essential
stops on any local holiday lights
tour: ZooLights (The National
Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW,
202-633-4888; nationalzoo.si.edu);
King Street in Old Town
Alexandria (703-746-3301;
visitalexandriava.com); and the
Mormon Temple Grounds in
Kensington, Maryland (9900
Stoneybrook Dr., 301-587-0144;
dctemplelights.lds.org).
The ice-skating rink inside the
National Gallery of Art
Sculpture Garden, where
visitors can enjoy works by Joan
Miró, Sol LeWitt, and Roy
Lichtenstein in between figure
eights, is “a personal favorite”
(202-216-9397; pavilioncafe.com/
ice_rink.html). Still, there’s nothing
quite like a beautiful blanketing of
snow to put one in the holiday spirit,
so Adcock recommends a winter-
time walk on the National Mall
(nps.gov/nama). “Washington is very
peaceful during the winter,
especially when it snows,” he says.
“Strolling on the mall is amazing!”
116 capitolfile-magazine.com
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A Festive FeAstWashington Post food writer
DaviD HageDorn recommends the best
places to go for a high-end holiday meal.
When asked to name his
number-one recom-
mendation for a
holiday dinner, David Hagedorn,
a chef and restaurateur turned
author and columnist, doesn’t
need a moment to think. “Chef
Fabio Trabocchi’s Fiola in Penn
Quarter and Fiola Mare, with
its stunning Potomac River view
of the Kennedy Center, are the ne
plus ultra destinations for
Christmas Eve dinner,” he says.
“At the former, the Feast of the
Seven Fishes includes Belon
oysters, osetra caviar, baccalà,
barbecued eels, Nantucket bay
scallops, Nova Scotia lobster,
Japanese Madai snapper, and
halibut with truff les. Expect
rarified ingredients at Fiola Mare,
where shavings of fresh Alba white
truff les can be added to anything
upon request.” (Fiola, seven-course dinner for $160, premium wine pairings for $110, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., 202-628-2888; fioladc.com; Fiola Mare, 3050 K St. NW, 202-628-0065; fiolamaredc.com)
If a more traditional Christmas
dinner is a must, Hagedorn
suggests the “amazing” feast at the
Inn at Little Washington
(309 Middle St., Washington, VA, 540-675-3800; theinnatlittle washington.com). If the first thing
you want to do Christmas morning
after opening presents is eat, then
his recommendation is Blue
Duck Tavern in the Park Hyatt
(1201 24th St. NW, 202-419-6755; blueducktavern.com). This year,
newly appointed Executive Chef
Ryan LaRoche and Chef de
Cuisine Brad Deboy will offer
a three-course holiday menu
from 11:30 am to 9 pm.
For those looking to create
their own DIY holiday feast
using everything DC has to offer,
Hagedorn points to Union
Market (1309 5th St. NE; unionmarketdc.com), “which gives
you a really good idea of how far
Washington has come to be a
food town.” It’s the place to go,
he says, for bubbly from Cordial
Fine Wine & Spirits; cheeses from
Righteous Cheese; oysters from
Rappahannock; charcuterie
and tomahawk steaks from Red
Apron Butchery; lobster from The
District Fishwife; and chocolates
and hot chocolate sticks from
Co Co. Sala.
For those entertaining guests
over the holidays, Hagedorn
recommends the dim sum brunch
on Saturday at Wolfgang Puck’s
The Source (575 Pennsylvania Ave., 202-637-6100; wolfgangpuck.com),
“a total Washington insider
destination”; sunset cocktails on
the roof of the W Hotel
(515 15th St. NW, 202-661-2400; wwashingtondc.com); and oysters
in the Oyster Bar at Old Ebbitt
Grill (675 15th St. NW, 202-347-4800; ebbitt.com).
above: The spider-glass chandeliers at Fiola add a touch of effervescence to the space. below: Patrons flock to Red Apron Butchery in Union Market for its charcuterie and tomahawk steaks.
Residence man-
ageR and social
secRetaRy foR
Vice PResident
joe biden and
the second lady, Carlos
Elizondo assembles holiday
affaiRs with local flaVoR.
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Jingle ondestination dc’s atE Gibbs tells us
wheRe to go and what to see foR the best
family enteRtainment this holiday season.
“Washington is
synonymous with
meaningful family
entertainment—and so much of it is
free,” says Kate Gibbs. “What’s
happening at the holidays really
magnifies what goes on in the
Washington area throughout
the year, both for visitors and
for locals.”
She calls the annual National
Christmas Tree lighting on the
Ellipse “a traffic stopper” (December
4; thenationaltree.org). Those who
didn’t win the ticket lottery can still
visit the tree daily from dusk until
10 pm, or start a new tradition with
Christmas Illuminations at
Mount Vernon, a holiday-
themed fireworks show in its
inaugural year (3200 Mt. Vernon
Memorial Hwy., Mt Vernon, 703-780-
2000; mountvernon.org).
For theater-going families, Gibbs
points to two stage adaptations of
beloved children’s books at the
Kennedy Center (2700 F St. NW,
202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org):
Rachel Portman’s The Little
Prince at Washington National
Opera (December 19–21; kennedy-
center.org/wno); and the world
premiere of Andy Mitton’s musical
The Gift of Nothing (November
19–December 28, appropriate for ages
4 and up), based on the best-selling
book by Patrick McDonnell, in
which a cat searches for the perfect
present for his best friend, the dog
who has everything.
For the grown-up crowd, Gibbs
recommends the eye-popping,
Tony-winning revival of Pippin at
the National Theatre (December
16–January 4, 1321 Pennsylvania
Ave., 202-628-6161; thenationaldc
.org), which mixes Broadway belters
with aerialists and acrobats.
Every year, dozens of friends
and family members volunteer
over Thanksgiving weekend to
help put up the lights, hang the
stockings, and trim the eight trees that
transform Vice President Joe Biden
and Second Lady Jill Biden’s home for
the holidays. The stockings on the
living room mantle are hung annually
for their five grandchildren, as well as
their dog, Champ. From room to
room, Carlos Elizondo infuses local
touches from across America into
every year’s theme.
His entertaining and decorating
advice is simple. “Holidays are all
about family and tradition,” Elizondo
says. “People can look around their
own home and be creative.” Elizondo
likes to find innovative ways to use
everyday items—such as creating a
tree entirely from books to showcase
the Bidens’ love of reading. Think of
how to incorporate your family
traditions into your celebrations,
Elizondo says.
For holiday décor, Elizondo works
with Rachel Gang, co-owner of Helen
Olivia Flowers (128 N. Pitt St.,
Alexandria, 703-548-284; helenolivia
flowers.com). Each summer, Elizondo
meets with Gang to plot out the
holidays, from designing spectacular
magnolia-leaf garlands to repurposing
sheet music into holiday wreaths.
Elizondo also went antiquing at The
Old Lucketts Store in Leesburg,
VA, a treasure trove about an hour
northwest of the city, where dozens of
vintage and antique dealers set up
shop. (42350 Lucketts Road, Leesburg,
VA, 703-779-0268; luckettstore.com)
Elizondo takes care with selecting
menus, which are often provided by
the renowned Susan Gage Caterers
(7411 Livingston Road, Oxon Hill, MD,
301-839-6900; susangage.com). The
social secretary has collaborated with
When Kate Gibbs is in the
mood for a sumptuous
small-group outing, she
and her friends head to the
Willard interContinental’s
afternoon tea, served in the
refned Peacock Alley cor-
ridor. With live harp music
and delightful pastries—
think pistachio fnanciers
and blackcurrant short
cake—served on elegant,
three-tiered silver trays,
it’s no wonder that the
InterContinental has been
holding teatime for more
than a century. $45 per per-
son, $59 with Champagne,
1401 Pennsylvania Ave.,
202-628-9100; washington
.intercontinental.com
HigH
TEaTimE
Holiday tea service at the Willard InterContinental.
below: The first family at the 2012 lighting of the National Christmas Tree. bottom left: Francesca Zambello’s well-traveled production of The Little Prince, which has appeared in London, San Francisco, and Houston, lands in Washington.
118 capitolfile-magazine.com
Luxe ReLaxationNaked BotaNicals fouNder aNd spa
regular Mary ong-DeVito tells us
where to go for some much-Needed
Breaks from holiday stress.
Mary Kong-DeVito of Naked
Botanicals—and the
original “Girl” on popular
DC blog Girl Meets Food—has been
playing with skincare products and
essential oils for more than a decade.
After a full day of holiday shopping
in Georgetown, she recommends
sneaking away to The Boutique
Spa at the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown.
“The nice thing about the Ritz-
Carlton Georgetown is that you feel
like you’re away from the hustle and
bustle,” she says. “It’s a nice escape
from the stress of holiday shopping.”
The Historic Chimney Stack
Couple’s Retreat features a 70- to
110-minute aromatherapy couples’
massage beneath a 130-foot
smokestack, finished with private
time to enjoy strawberries,
Champagne, and the stunning
views. (Starts at $900, 3100 South St. NW, 202-912-4100; ritzcarlton.com)
Rae Bakes (202-333-4967; rae bakes.com), whose creative cookies
always surprise and suit the occasion.
Finally, what holiday party is
complete without the sounds of the
season? The vice president’s resi-
dence often hosts military musicians
and local school ensembles, and in
the past, Elizondo has drawn talent
from Washington’s Best, a
consortium of musicians who
represent a range of styles, from jazz
trios and swing bands to solo
violinists, and who are available by
the hour for parties and events.
(Prices vary by ensemble, 202-232-4942; washbest.com)
Many of the most memorable
moments of Elizondo’s work have
taken place during the holidays. “The
best part is sharing the magic of the
vice president’s residence with so
many people at the holidays.”
The relaxation room at the Mandarin Oriental Spa.
cannabusiness[ [by erin Lentz with additionaL
reporting by doug brown
120 capitolfile-magazine.com
capitolfile-magazine.com 121
Nearly half of all states have legalized medicinal marijuana,
with Colorado and Washington serving as bellwethers
for recreational use, and the US is seeing the end to a
prohibition on par with that of alcohol. But just how will
the Green Rush grow? And why is it attracting some
surprising advocates among doctors, entrepreneurs,
politicians, attorneys, and businesspeople?
Weed. Ganja. Marijuana. Pot. During the opening session of the heady 2014 Aspen Ideas Festival, held in June of this year, refer-ences to the potent plant were the keynote kicker.
An intellectual with enviable wit, David G. Bradley, owner of Atlantic Media Company, delivered an opening mono-logue that imagined some 250 type-A festival speakers, high on Colorado cannabis, enlivening a crowd of CEOs, politicians, doctors, and thinkers with fictional scenarios such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pulling her tempted husband into a car with an allusion to her memoir: “We’re making hard choices, Bill.”
But all jokes aside, this international platform—which eventually staged a very serious conversation on mari-juana between Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Katie Couric—is illustrative of an escalating national debate about medical marijuana and its rapid-fire indus-try growth. And for many close to the cause, weed is no laughing matter, posing hard choices indeed.
Pot chatter is pervasive in the US, from dinner parties to the floor of Congress. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and CNN’s chief medical correspondent, who was once vocally antipot, passionately discusses the benefits of can-nabis in his second documentary film, Weed 2: Cannabis
Madness. In Nevada, Congresswoman Dina Titus and State Senator Tick Segerblom are championing bills that support research into marijuana as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and that protect the rights of legal users. In Los Angeles, Ricki Lake is producing a new docu-mentary, Weed the People, about cancer-stricken children and the use of cannabis as medicine. In Denver, Tripp
Keber, founder and CEO of Dixie Elixirs and Edibles, is launching his latest edible marijuana product, Dixie One. And a 20-minute drive from Keber’s new 40,000-square-foot Colorado headquarters, Governor Hickenlooper has repeatedly been quoted as stating that we are in the midst of one of the “great social experiments of the 21st century.”
On late-night talk shows and in countless jokes, the enduring dope-fiend stereotype propagandized in the 1936 film Reefer Madness continues to be perpetuated, but in fact the growth of the marijuana industry is predicted to outpace that of smartphones: A projected $2.34 billion worth of legal weed will be sold in the US in 2014, accord-ing to the State of Legal Marijuana Markets (2nd Edition), produced by ArcView Market Research. The same report projects a whopping $10.2 billion market by 2018.
In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 215, a mile-stone ballot initiative that legalized cannabis for medicinal use. Since that time, more than half of all US states have either followed suit—in July, New York became the 23rd state to sanction medical marijuana—or taken steps to decriminalize the substance, making possession of a small amount on a par with a traffic violation. And referenda on legal recreational use of marijuana have been cropping up on ballots nationwide since voters in Washington State and Colorado approved the practice in 2012. In fact, residents of Oregon, Alaska, and the US capital voted to legalize mari-juana on November 4, as this issue was going to press.
In the case of DC, the measure in question garnered nearly 65 percent of the vote. Initiative 71 legalizes adult (at least 21 years old) possession of up to two ounces of canna-bis in addition to in-home husbandry of up to six marijuana plants for personal use. It’s merely the latest move in can-nabis’s swift campaign through the city: DC legalized medicinal marijuana in 2010 and opened its first medical
DaviD Rheins
Founder of Seattle’s Marijuana Business Association
On Marijuana PrOhibitiOn:
“We’ve had the discussion about
prohibition. We’ve given it well past
its due with 80 years of a war on not
drugs, but on people, in a culture where
pharmaceuticals are every other
commercial and ad page.”
FOunding the Mjba: “We
chronicle and promote the industry. The
best way to build a sustainable industry
is by providing reliable information
and the network of experts and folks
that every small and start-up business
needs. [They] just happen to also have
an extra layer of compliance and
regulation to contend with.”
tax talk: “We’re told we can’t
afford to fund teachers in schools, to fx
the roads, to clean the air, to develop
alternative energy. The reality is
that with these extra dollars, we can
apportion this in such a way that we
can say, ‘Yes, let’s address these social
issues.’ I would rather pay a higher
tax to fx the economy and reinvigorate
these communities and stop the sense-
less prosecution and the wasted lives
that are victims of this war on drugs.”op
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122 capitolfile-magazine.com
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marijuana dispensary three years later. Earlier this year, the DC council replaced the criminal penalty for posses-sion of small amounts of marijuana with a $25 fine, which the Washington City Paper pledged to pay for the first five people who contact the publication.
Although all indications point to full legalization of can-nabis (the ballot initiative did not include retail sales), all laws passed in Washington, DC, must be submitted to Congress for approval. “Congress can undo our laws, essen-tially,” DC Councilmember David Grosso told National
Journal. Many observers and supporters believe Initiative 71 is screaming for Congressional intervention.
One thing is certain. We are witnessing the end to a pro-hibition on a par with that of alcohol. As Keith Stroup, founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, says, “It is the most exciting political change I’ve seen in my lifetime. You almost can’t keep up with the change that’s going on.”
But first, the power of a plant.
Weed 101
The preferred scientific term for this lauded and condemned botanical is “cannabis,” from the Greek word kánabis. It relishes sunlight, is an annual, and can flourish in nearly any environ-ment, thus the slang, “weed.” According to Martin A. Lee’s book Smoke Signals, most scholars agree that cannabis arrived in our neck of the woods during the 16th century. Ships carrying slaves, explorers, and immi-grants were outfitted with rope, sails, and netting made of hemp, while slave passengers also carried seeds for marijuana (hemp’s psychoactive cousin) in their pockets.
Lee notes that “Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Sir Francis Drake all sailed ships equipped with hemp products. And in 1619, eight years after colonists first planted hemp in Jamestown, the Virginia assembly passed a law requiring every house-hold in the colony to cultivate the plant because it had so many beneficial uses. Hemp farming and processing played an important role in American history (as evi-denced in the name of towns from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest, such as Hempstead and Hempfield). Several of our Founding Fathers, in fact, were hemp farmers, including George Washington.” By the 1850s, hemp was the third-largest crop behind tobacco and cotton.
As the plant made its way across the globe in many forms—and was ingested via inhaling, tinctures, and medi-cal experiments among various social ranks—it gained a particular stronghold in Mexico, where, according to Lee’s research, farmers discovered the power of “Rosa Maria.” During the Mexican Revolution, smok-ing weed was prevalent in small Texas towns like El Paso, which in 1914 became the first city to ban both the sale
and possession of marijuana. Thus the national debate on this botanical’s potent power began as a murmur, which has since evolved, at times, into a screaming match. Today, although new state laws are being enacted rather quickly, on the federal level cannabis remains a Schedule I substance, a designation for “the most danger-ous” drugs, “with no currently accepted medical use.”
ReefeR Madness & PRohibition
Prior to 1906, the federal government had yet to regulate any psychoactive drug. In that year, Congress enacted the Pure Food and Drug Act, the first legislation that included cannabis among the ingredients that had to be noted on a product label. In 1914, the Harrison Act tightened nar-cotic control, stating that a nonmedical user could not possess cocaine or opiates; with this, the first line was
drawn in the sand between medi-cal and recreational drug use.
Although alcohol prohibition occurred all at once on the national level, marijuana prohibition was enacted in stages. By the mid-1930s, cannabis was regulated as a drug in every state. It was around this time that Harry Anslinger helmed the newly created Federal Bureau of Narcotics, a post he held for 32 years. Anslinger was both idolized and villainized, with many alleging that his antimari-juana campaign was fueled by a desire to increase his department’s budget: If he could successfully vilify weed, his bureaucratic power would result in further funding for the bureau. There are
also scores of reports that pot prohibition was fueled by big business, a premise referred to as the “hemp conspiracy theory.” It’s been reported that the Hearst and DuPont empires felt threatened by hemp, worried that it would com-pete with their wood-pulp paper and nylon products, and that belief played a major role in campaigns and propa-ganda against pot in all its forms.
Love him or hate him, Anslinger was central to the American public’s perception of the plant. He coined the term “devil’s weed,” championed such antipot propa-ganda as Reefer Madness (today a cult comedy often watched ironically by college students as they get high, along with its 2005 musical parody version), and was instrumental in the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act, which heavily regulated the plant and served to drasti-cally limit doctors’ ability to legally prescribe cannabis.
Today, many physicians, including the outspoken Gupta, are realizing that this little green plant could have a huge impact across several medical fields. “This is legitimate medicine,” Gupta argues.
the LittLe PLant that CouLd:
MediCaL MaRijuana
“I am not backing down on medical marijuana; I am
Ricki Lake
Celebrity, producer of Weed the People
Ricki Lake, who was introduced to a
young fan with cancer during her stint
on Dancing with the Stars, is flming a
documentary with director Abby Epstein
about ailing children, including a cancer
patient named Sophie, and the effects of
medical marijuana.
GettinG involved: “[Pot] was
not something that I did. I looked at it
like a gateway drug. I didn’t want to be
paranoid, out of it, like a couch potato. I
was really turned off to it. I fell in love
with this girl via social media, and I went
on this quest for her, to heal her.”
Cannabis Curve: “I’m still learn-
ing with cannabis—the ratio, the dosing,
the CBD versus THC and what kills the
cancer cells and what keeps the bad side
effects at bay. But it’s fascinating to me. I
want to know more, and I want the public
to know more. A whole new world opened
up to me because [before], I was sheltered
and judgmental.”
Her Film: “It shows a lot of amazing
characters who are all relatable, par-
ticularly Tracy and her daughter, Sophie.
Baby Sophie [represents] our biggest fear
with our own children. And this mother
will do anything to get her baby healthy
and to keep her from suffering. We
have great results from the last scan.
Hopefully, we will see continued cell
death in the tumor.”
ProCeed witH Caution:
“There are a lot of people in this industry
that take advantage, and that is really
scary. There are people selling cannabis
oil to desperate families, but you have
got to know what you are getting and
you need to test, and that takes money.
There are so many advantages, but I
think people still need to take a lot of
precautions.”
vision Quest: “I would love to be
able to prove that cannabis is killing
cancer cells. It’s so much better than doing
a talk show. We have more than enough
people who want to be documented and are
willing to tell their stories.”
Several of our
Founding Fathers,
in fact, were hemp
farmers, including
George Washington.
[ [
capitolfile-magazine.com 123
doubling down,” proclaimed Gupta in a March CNN
column. When asked to explain his 180-degree turn
on the benefits of cannabis, he’s quick to explain, “The
tipping point was when I started to look at the research
coming out of other countries and smaller labs. [When] I
started to spend time with patients who were convinced it
was helping them, I realized it was a very large group of
patients who seemed to be getting objective benefits. And
that’s what really started getting me researching it again.”
His research led him to Charlotte Figi, the central figure
in his provocative 2013 film, Weed. Charlotte, who was 6
years old at the time, had been plagued with complex sei-
zures—nearly two an hour—since she was an infant, and
the film follows her family on a harrowing journey to save
her life after she was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome.
Also known as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy, this
rare and catastrophic form of epilepsy was at one point
causing Charlotte 300 grand mal seizures a week. As a
last resort, the Figi family turned to medical marijuana,
pitching Charlotte into the center of a national debate as
the youngest medical marijuana applicant in Colorado.
And although Charlotte’s story has become known across
the country, what many may still not fully understand,
Gupta explains, is that young patients such as Charlotte
are not getting intoxicated. “This isn’t getting them high,”
he says. Particular strains of medical marijuana “are high-
CBD concentration; they may become a little bit sedated,
like they would with other antiepileptic drugs. The big-
gest misconception is that kids are getting stoned or high
or psychoactive.”
Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the principal
psychoactive component of marijuana, the element
responsible for highs, whether it’s smoked or ingested
via edible products. On the other hand, cannabidiol, or
CBD, is one of at least 60 active cannabinoids identified
in cannabis; when isolated, CBD can have a wide scope of
medicinal uses and does not get patients high like THC.
Charlotte Figi was given a very specific, highly concen-
trated CBD strain cultivated by the Stanley brothers—one
of Colorado’s largest marijuana growers—at their Garden
of Eden grow house. The six brothers crossbred mari-
juana with industrial hemp, and the resulting strain,
Realm Oil (which Charlotte would ingest under her
tongue in an olive oil blend, not as smoke), was renamed
“Charlotte’s Web” by the Stanleys. It was so successful in
combating her seizures that families with similar stories
have relocated to Colorado in order to legally obtain
medical marijuana. Today, Charlotte is reported to have
about three to four seizures a month. The Stanleys have
since created Realm of Caring, a nonprofit that provides
free or low-cost cannabis therapies to families in need.
It’s not just celebrity doctors such as Gupta who are
championing the potential of medical marijuana. Ed
Bernstein, a prominent Las Vegas attorney and talk-show
host, has applied for a dispensary license for La Casa
Verde Operating, in which he has a 33 percent stake. As a
successful businessman, he sees opportunity, but the
impetus for this new venture is his 25-year-old daughter,
Dana, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 3.
“She’s had about 200 hospital day trips,” says
nevada State Senator
tick Segerblom
Author of SB 374, which allowed the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries
Why Senate Bill 374?: “People
didn’t have the ability to actually purchase
medical marijuana that they were entitled
to use under the state Constitution.”
touriSt tokeS: “Las Vegas is going
to be the Amsterdam of the West. Everyone
is going to want to have their picture taken
in front of a marijuana dispensary.”
allocating tax revenueS:
“Education. The money frst goes to offset
administrative costs, then to police costs,
then it goes to education.”
PoliticS & Pot: “Support for medical
marijuana is at 90 percent. It’s incredible.”
congreSSwoman
dina tituS
Nevada, District 1
PtSD & Pot: “As a member of the
Veterans Affairs Committee and the
ranking member of the subcommittee on
benefts, I began to hear more and more
about the potential of medical marijuana
for treating PTSD. I am circulating
now to get signatures that will go to the
US Department of Health and Human
Services, asking them to lift the limitations
on studying the effects of marijuana. It’s
very restrictive now. We need to study it
just like any other kind of medicine, or any
other kind of drug.”
BuDS & Banking co-oPS:
“I have signed on as a co-sponsor to
[Colorado Rep.] Ed Perlmutter’s bill that
will change the banking laws so that we
could have legitimate marijuana busi-
nesses operating through bank accounts.”
Dr. Sanjay Gupta with Josh Stanley at Stanley’s family’s booming Colorado grow house, in a still from Gupta’s new documentary Weed 2.
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124 capitolfile-magazine.com
Bernstein. “She’s had a couple
dozen surgeries. Over the years,
she’s had her intestines removed.
She is in constant pain, 24/7.”
While living in California dur-
ing high school, Dana applied
for a medical marijuana license
and discovered that the drug sig-
nificantly decreased her pain.
Now a Nevada resident, she has
had difficulty obtaining mari-
juana for medicinal use, thus her
father’s quest to fight for her
rights and open a dispensary.
“Medical marijuana has been
legal here for a number of years,
but there was no way to access
it,” he says. “So we immediately
looked into getting a dispensary
here.” Bernstein hopes to open
a boutique that features quality
medical marijuana, a shop “that
has a welcoming environment,
that can offer the very best strains
scientifically possible. You want to
be able to have strains of the high-
est CBD and variances of those
strains that work well with differ-
ent medical conditions. We are
going to focus on doing research
with the strains, with universities,
with hospitals. My partners all
have the same interest in helping
people who suffer.”
Both Bernstein and Gupta are quick to point out the
harmful side effects of conventional painkillers (in Dana’s
case, the opioid Dilaudid). “The abuse of pain medica-
tions is the most tragic thing in our country,” says Gupta.
“Someone dies every 19 minutes from an accidental
prescription-drug overdose. It’s now the number-one
preventable cause of death in the United States.”
Gupta also notes that epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and
pain are particularly responsive to cannabis-based medi-
cines. Another hot topic in both medical and political
circles is the effect of medical marijuana on post-trau-
matic stress disorder. “We are following the trial of
marijuana for PTSD among veterans,” says Gupta. “I
think the initial research will be promising. Survivors of
the Holocaust are being treated for PTSD with cannabis
right now. It’s the initial drumbeat, and very positive.”
Use & AbUse: The NexT
GeNerATioN
As the medical benefits of CBD strains are further
researched, there’s still considerable apprehension
among medical experts (Gupta included), law enforce-
ment authorities, and politicians surrounding marijuana
and young users. Now that teens have easier access to the
drug, the potential for abuse and the effects on the young
brain are particular concerns.
A groundbreaking study published by The Journal of
Neuroscience in April is the first to show that frequent use
of marijuana is related to major brain changes.
Researchers—including experts at Harvard Medical
School and Massachusetts General Hospital—conducted
MRIs on 40 people: 20 recreational users who smoke an
average of 11 joints per week and 20 nonusers. The sci-
entists found that the shapes and sizes of two neural
regions essential to motivation and emotion were signifi-
cantly altered in users.
Concerns about marijuana’s negative effect on the
growing brain have spurred leaders to create forums—
such as the Valley Marijuana Council, begun by Sheriff
Joe DiSalvo of Colorado’s Aspen Pitkin County—to dis-
cuss its impact and warn young users of its dangers.
Although he supports the legalization of both medical
and recreational pot, during an address to the annual
NORML Legal Seminar in Aspen, DiSalvo stated,
“Marijuana is not a product for brains under construc-
tion. The message we are giving students is ‘delay, delay,
delay.’ The longer you delay, the better your chances of
not compromising a brain under construction. We want
to increase awareness and lower adolescent drug use.”
Governor Hickenlooper is in agreement. “We have a
moral responsibility to regulate it properly,” he says.
“That means making sure kids under 21 don’t get it.
Keith Stroup
Founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
smokers’ rights: “As long as it
was a crime, there wasn’t a lot you could
argue for consumer rights. Now we’re
beginning to focus on the real consumer
issues. If a private employee tests positive
for THC, even though there is no indica-
tion you were impaired on the job, they can
fre you. What they need is an impairment
test, not a test that says, ‘Have you smoked
in the last six weeks?’”
the DUi Debate: “We all agree
that we don’t want people driving while
impaired. But THC adheres to your
fatty tissues and can be detected days or
even weeks after smoking. We’ve got to
convince legislators to use science so we
test impairment.”
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Neurosurgeon, CNN chief medical correspondent
Cannabis ConneCts: “There are
cannabis receptors in the body. So it’s more
natural than a lot of drugs, which simply
inhibit the transmission of neurons cell to
cell. This binds to something that already
exists in the body.”
Farming For the FUtUre:
“You are going to have the CBD strains
become more in demand as a medicine. It’s
harder than people realize to breed these
plants up to specifc strands of CBD versus
THC. But there is going to be higher
demand, and it will continue to be
very necessary.”
on reCreational Use: “This
is legitimate medicine, and I wouldn’t
take it away from people because of the
concerns of recreational use.” Tripp Keber at Dixie Elixirs and Edibles.
capitolfile-magazine.com 125
[Neuroscientists say] if they smoke high-THC-content pot, it can hurt their memories. But kids think because it’s legal, it’s less dangerous. We are arguing caution.”
So just how does the industry tackle potential abuse among young users, and even adults? Certainly there are scores of medical marijuana licenses issued to “patients” who are in fact using the license simply to get high. As with alcohol—or any substance that enters the body, for that matter—abuse is almost inevitable. To navigate this minefield, most advocates suggest extensive educational outreach. In August, the Colorado governor’s office launched a controversial public education campaign titled “Don’t Be a Lab Rat,” in which human-size rat cages were dropped around Denver in an effort to warn teens that Colorado is a testing ground for marijuana legalization and there is still uncertainty about pot and its effects on the young brain.
The MighTy edible
“The only thing consistent in this industry is change,” says Tripp Keber. “It’s at hyperspeed.” Standing in what will soon be the sleek reception area of his new 40,000-square-foot headquar-ters in Denver, the founder and CEO of Dixie Elixirs and Edibles has recently received plenty of attention himself on shows such as 60 Minutes and HBO’s Vice. Keber says the booming marijuana busi-ness has experienced “hockey-stick growth”: from flat to straight on up.
While leading a private tour of his impressive new facility, he candidly explains, “We are not marijuana people. We are busi-nessmen and -women that have applied what we have learned professionally to the cannabis space. There has never been a nationally branded line of THC-infused products like Dixie. Our intention is taking this company not only national, but potentially public.”
A successful entrepreneur who served in the Reagan administration, Keber has been called the Gordon Gekko of ganja. But nicknames aside, he helms a serious, and seriously lucrative, business, squarely in the spot-light of edible entrepreneurs (the industry is moving so fast that at a recent Las Vegas “cannabusiness” conven-tion, one business proposal was a Domino’s-style pot delivery service).
Founded just four years ago, Keber’s Dixie Elixirs has grown from a 400-square-foot office and two employees making one product (an orange elixir) into his new indus-trial marijuana mansion, which currently has some 50 employees and serves as the assembly line and grow house for Dixie’s more than 40 THC-infused products and 100 different SKUs.
Most cannabis sold in Colorado dispensaries comes in one of four forms: as the buds of the plant; as liquid
extractions meant to be used in vaporizer pens; as edibles, such as gummy candies, chocolates, and sodas; or as salves and lotions for rubbing into sore muscles and joints.
The latest Dixie Elixir? Dixie One, a soda that, unlike most edible products, offers a single, measured five-milli-gram dose of THC. Which raises the question: As the edible business booms, how does one properly package and regulate dosages? This growing debate among edible entrepreneurs, marketers, and state legislators was thrust into the national spotlight when New York Times col-umnist Maureen Dowd alleged in her “Don’t Harsh Our Mellow, Dude” column back in June that she, unaware of its potency, accidentally ate too much of a THC-infused candy bar, resulting in a panic-stricken hotel stay in Denver. Dixie’s chief marketing officer, Joe Hodas, responded with an op-ed piece in the Times, and Keber adds, “Dosing is the single greatest focus that we should be looking at as an industry. Now you have your average soccer mom from Ohio, who may or may not have had a relationship with cannabis in 20-plus years, and [today] cannabis is dramatically different. What was pre-
viously 3 or 4 percent is now 23 or 24 percent [THC].” As a potential answer to the growing concern about the packaging and marketing of dosages, Keber and his team developed Dixie One to eliminate the guess-work: One soda, one dose.
Keber touts his new HQ’s state-of-the-art security, a nec-essary feature when few banks are willing to provide accounts and other services to marijuana businesses (due to the drug’s fed-eral Schedule I classification) and most dispensaries have to conduct business in cash. He notes that two dispensaries in his area were recently robbed. But his sometimes risky business also
means serious tax revenue—numbers, he opines, that can-not be ignored by the government at both the state and federal levels, given the money’s potential for funding edu-cation, city infrastructure, additional medical research, and much more. And headway is being made, particularly in Colorado, with regard to banking institutions and the marijuana industry, as politicians and banking co-ops quickly realize that reform is necessary and inevitable.
In February of this year, Governor Hickenlooper stated that the taxes and fees from recreational and medical marijuana sales in Colorado would total $134 million in the coming fiscal year. And although some may criticize his choice of industry, Keber says, “You cannot argue with taxes and jobs. The revenue reported from April [2014] was up 17 percent from the month before, and up 53 percent since the month of January.”
There’s no doubt he believes in the industry’s skyrock-eting potential. “You are seeing this real steep growth. Sometimes we feel like we have the tiger by the tail.” CF
DC’s ballot measure
to legalize pot
possession garnered
nearly 65 percent
of the vote on
November 4.
[ [
Tripp Keber
Founder and CEO of Dixie Elixirs and Edibles
tie-dyed Businessman: “This is
not a fool’s business. You have to be intel-
lectually charged, committed, and funded
to succeed, because you can’t go to the bank
and get a loan.”
a kinder drug: “There may be two
[marijuana-related] deaths in Colorado
since January. How many hundreds of alco-
hol- or opiate-related deaths are there?”
Potent Packaging: “We as
manufacturers have to set the tone, to make
sure that the packaging is not attracting
children. Our products are designed to look
like a luxury consumer packaged brand.”
ed bernsTein
Las Vegas attorney and talk-show host
daughter dana & crohn’s
disease: “When she smokes medical
marijuana, oftentimes before going to the
hospital and going through that cycle with
the Dilaudid, it takes the edge off her pain.”
Betting on Business: “The
law is still unsettled regarding lawyers
and doctors and their professional licenses
around dispensaries. But legislators in
our state are very positive about medical
marijuana. The voters certainly are.”
gateway drug: “A lot of people
don’t understand the medical benefts
and have been so brainwashed about
marijuana being the gateway drug that
they are not in favor of it. In the past, to
buy it you had to go underground, dealing
with people who are selling cocaine,
crack, marijuana, and heroin. Legalizing
marijuana will have the opposite result.
If you have a legal, safe place to purchase
medical marijuana, you will not come into
contact with the stereotypical pusher.”
E V E N T S • H A P P E N I N G S • P R O M O T I O N S
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SPEND THE HOLIDAYS
WITH INTERMIX
Visit INTERMIX Georgetown and shop this season’s latest must-haves, occasion dressing and exclusive gifs. Plus, sip Champagne and enjoy an exclusive ofer at INTERMIX’S annual holiday event on the evening of December 10th. A portion of proceeds from this event will beneft the Children’s National Medical Center.
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PAUL STUART
Savoring the Season. Taking a moment to embrace the luxury of repose as we come together with lovers and friends and family, bundled-up (stylishly, of course; this is Paul Stuart, afer all) against the chill. Happy Holidays to all.
And remember to look for us at CityCenter DC come Spring!
Visit www.paulstuart.com
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Give the perfect holiday gif of great performances and lasting memories with a Wolf Trap Gif Certifcate or an Annual Membership. Members receive outstanding year-round benefts including the opportunity to buy tickets before the general public and invitations to members-only events.
Get in the spirit and see our current schedule at wolfrap.org.
SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 29, 2014
10AM - 5PM
We’re kicking off the holidays with a day of festive
music, local crafters, carriage rides around the vineyard
and of course—an early visit from Santa!
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4 5 o u t s t a n d i n g d e a l e r s • g u i d e d w a l k s & d e a l e r t a l k s • s p e c i a l e v e n t s
Thursday, January 8
Preview Night
Friday, January 9
Lecture & Luncheon
Saturday, January 10
Appraisals • Lecture
Saturday Soirée
euge ̀ne boudin, yacht basin at trouville-deauville, (detail) ca. 1895/1896
courtesy national gallery of art, washington dc
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children and families through services provided by
bishop john t. walker school for boys, thearc, and
the founders board of st. john’s community services
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A newly renovated home on 9th Street NW in Shaw, which sold in 2006 for $370,000, is on the market now for nearly $1 million.
Million Dollar BaByIt takes an eye for detaIl and
luxury to double the resale
value of a home In an emergIng
neIghborhood. by james servin
On a quiet block in Shaw, a two-story home at 1521 9th Street NW stands out from its neighbors with its freshly pressed appearance, thanks to new cedar siding (necessary, due to the home’s designation as a historical landmark) and gleaming, energy-efficient windows. In January 2006, it sold for $370,000. Last February, the home landed on the market at $550,000. Now it’s listed at close to $1 million.
“I don’t like to refer to this property as a ‘flip,’” says Jennifer Knoll, who is representing the home for Sotheby’s International Realty. “A lot of devel-opers who flip homes will quickly go in, take out what’s there, put in stuff that’s nicer, but not that nice. This home was gutted to the studs, outfitted
continued on page 132
capitolfile-magazine.com 131
Haute ProPerty News, Stars, and trends in real estate
“I desIgn homes to be the way I’d want
to lIve In them.” —michael crisci
1521 9th Street NW boasts a new roof deck with high-grade, maintenance-free materials and is outfitted for a wet bar.
Shaker-style maple cabinets and a rolling butcher block create a
light and spacious kitchen.
with new wiring, new plumbing, and high-end, qual-
ity finishes. No expense was spared.”
Inside, brightly painted walls (at first glance they
look white, but are actually a light gray by Duron)
and four-inch red oak floors bring classic charm to
the 1900 townhouse. A floor plan with flow, where
the kitchen and living room occupy the first floor
and three bedrooms are on the second, confers a
feeling of spaciousness to the narrow, 1,500-square-
foot structure. In the kitchen, an island was avoided
in favor of a rolling butcher block, so that the space
could be completely open if desired. A 200-square-
foot roof deck has flooring and railings done in
high-grade, maintenance-free Trex composite.
Basic sink plumbing has been outfitted to the roof-
top, should new owners want to install a wet bar.
“Outside space in DC is hard to come by. I design
homes to be the way I’d want to live in them,” says
Michael Crisci, owner of 202 Development, who says
this property caught his eye because of its location in
Shaw, “one of the hotter areas right now.” “A lot of other
DC neighborhoods, like Trinidad, are starting to grow,
but still have a long way to go to be considered hot. In
Shaw, there are plenty of homes that are of good value.”
A perusal of the 202 Development website
(202development.com) reveals that Crisci favors the
white wall, white cabinetry, wood floor look, an aes-
thetic that he refers to as “traditional modern.”
A modern feel can be detected here in the gallery-
style, recessed ceiling lighting on the first floor and
the custom steel stairway railings, Spark Fire gas
fireplace, and 55-inch Samsung flat-screen TV in
the living room (the two black rectangles stacked
upon one another against a white brick backdrop
resemble a Rothko painting). There are also high-
end KitchenAid appliances, not to mention home
automation controls—for TV, lighting, music, and
thermostat—that can be worked with a smartphone.
A tankless hot-water heater stored in a closet is the
size of a suitcase, says Knoll. “It heats water when
you’re going to use it,” she says, “and because it’s
instantly heating, you can take a shower for two days
and it wouldn’t run out of water.”
Traditional elements that balance the modern gad-
getry include Shaker-style maple kitchen cabinets
and white marble bathrooms. “Carrara marble is a
timeless look that people were using 20 years ago and
love to this day,” says Crisci. “I placed the tile all the
way up to the ceiling, to give it a cleaner line.” But as
much as Crisci redesigns to please himself, the goal is
attracting a buyer and justifying a million-dollar price
tag with quality finishes throughout. “I do these proj-
ects to make money,” he admits, “and this home, with
what I think of as a transitional look—traditional mod-
ern, simple, clean, slim fixtures—is a style that better
suits the masses.” CF
It’s shaw tImethe Northwest neighborhood is in the midst of a major upgrade.
Renovating and
reselling
properties makes
sense right now
in Shaw, one of
the fastest-
growing
neighborhoods in
DC, where
restaurants
(Cashion’s Eat
Place, Bistro
Bohem, Eat the
Rich), nightlife (Dacha Beer Garden), and
supergrocers (Giant) are plentiful and resale
values are high. A 924-square-foot, two-
bedroom house at 923 West Street NW, on the
market for $510,000, sold in 2003 for
$305,000, a 67-percent increase (realtor:
Giovanni Santa Ana, 571-482-4932). At 1507
Caroline Street, a three-bedroom with a
freplace and a kitchen updated with granite
countertops and stainless steel appliances is
listed at $799,000, up 33-percent from its last
sale of $600,000 in 2009 (and double its
2001 price tag of $400,000).
“It used to be just Georgetown that was
popular, and then Dupont Circle, Logan
Circle, and the U Street Corridor; it keeps
expanding,” says realtor Daryl Judy, who
represents the Caroline Street property for the
Kimberly & Daryl Team (202-361-3228). “Our
city is the fastest-growing city in the United
States.” Adds Jennifer Knoll of Sotheby’s
International: “If you had been to the eastern
part of Logan or Shaw ten years ago, you
wouldn’t recognize it. There were a lot of
dilapidated properties within a lot of vacant
structures and empty lots. All of that is being
flled in with higher-end real estate. There’s a
lot of upgrading going on.”
Case in point: A three-bedroom at 1406
Swann Street NW is listed by the owner on
Zillow.com with an abundance of high-end
extras—a six-burner Viking range, a home
stereo system with in-wall controllers, an
Internet-accessible security system, Vola fau-
cets, a four-head shower, three skylights with
motorized blinds, and fve freplaces. The list-
ing price is $1.49 million, up 35-percent from
$1.1 million, its selling price one year ago.
132 capitolfile-magazine.com
haute property
The Fleisher Groupw/Long & FosTer reaL esTaTe, Inc.
thef leishergroup
Marc Fleisher www.thefleishergroup.com
202.364.5200 x 2927 (O) 202.438.4880 (C)
SPECTACULAR CRAFTSMAN MASTERPIECE
ASPEN IN BETHESDA
BETHESDA. Welcome to this extraordinary custom-built masterpiece with unparalleled design incorporating the fnest materials with expert workmanship. Constructed by award-winning Sandy Spring Builders and sited on an exquisite double lot, this incredible and distinctive home is ideal for both full-scale entertaining as well as comfortable family living. From the stunning open entry foyer with interior waterfall feature, to the banquet-sized din-ing room with secondary seating area, to the gourmet chef’s kitchen with expansive center island and sun-flled morning room with freplace, no detail has been compromised in pre-senting this home refecting the pride of ownership. Complementing the outstanding main level is a sensational family room, spectacular year-round conservatory/enclosed porch with freplace and private library with custom picture windows. The upper level is adorned with a fantastic second library with custom millwork, built-in cabinetry/bookcases and private deck. In addition, this level boasts 6 bedrooms including a deluxe master bedroom suite with freplace, sitting/yoga room and luxury bath. Secondary bedrooms are all oversized and unique in their ceiling design. The fully fnished lower level is enhanced by an indoor basketball court, full service bar, exercise room, spa bath, recreation room and guest suite with kitchenette. Multiple decks and patios provide for special outdoor living. Located next to a public walkway with park-like setting, the home retains its wonderful privacy and is ideally located only minutes to the vibrancy of downtown Bethesda. Offered at S7,200,000.
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“The creaTive
class and The
arTs communiTy
need To have a
legiTimaTe seaT
aT The Table as
we develop
TransiTional
neighborhoods.”
—Jim Abdo
mean it’s easy to get them there in the first place.
“Grocers in the Washington market have taken
some time to figure out what a successful urban
store looks like,” says A.J. Jackson, senior vice
president at the development company EYA. “As
opposed to just saying, ‘Since we can’t have the box
we’re used to in a more suburban location, we’re not
going to go there,’ the stores have had to ask, ‘How
do we operate a store in a smaller location with
The revitalization surge that has taken over DC has
now reached such a fever pitch that developers are
having to turn to smaller and smaller parcels to
accommodate both retail and residential growth.
Activity along the U Street Corridor, for example,
has stretched all the way to 8th Street and into Shaw.
In no time at all, what was formerly a no-man’s land
between two neighborhoods has become a thriving,
walkable community. This trend of a few square
blocks becoming the connective tissue between two
established neighborhoods is taking place in every
quadrant all over the city—from within the H Street
boundaries to Brookland, the Waterfront, Half
Street, and NoMa/Eckington, just to name a few. But
how does an in-between space transform into a
beloved neighborhood? We talked to the experts to
determine some of the key elements at play.
Welcoming the Arts Most of these micro neighbor-
hoods on the borders typically have one thing in
common: The first people to move into the territory
are from the arts community. Driven by the low rents
in exchange for large warehouse-size spaces,
everyone from dance troupes to musical groups is
seeking out affordable buildings to do their work.
Abdo Development was one of the first groups to
bring a major investment of capital to the H Street
Corridor, and company president Jim Abdo says not
only was the existing arts scene a harbinger of
potential, but he learned that they provide an
untapped economic draw most people dismiss too
quickly. “What people need to recognize is that the
creative class and the arts community need to have a
legitimate seat at the table as we develop transitional
neighborhoods. It is not simply from an altruistic
standpoint that I say it. I say it because I believe
wholeheartedly it is good business.”
Never Discount the Neighborhood Grocer
Even though it starts with artists, a neighborhood’s
transformation accelerates at a much faster pace
once a grocery store moves in. But that doesn’t
Living on the edgeThe long-ignored sTreTches of land beTween dc’s mosT soughT-afTer neighborhoods are being reviTalized, a few blocks aT a Time. by amy rose dobson
clockwise from top left: Chancellor’s Row is a new townhome community in Brookland; Giant at City Market at O Street; the Duncan townhome offers a classic, traditional design.
continued on page 136
134 capitolfile-magazine.com
haute property real estate repartee
COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE!3000 K Street, NWáWashington, DC 20007á202.333.6100
Art BAsel MiAMi BeAch | Aspen peAk | Austin WAy | Boston coMMon
cApitol File | GothAM | hAMptons | los AnGeles conFidentiAl
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In prInt. onlIne. In lIfe.
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different loading and less parking?’”
A further challenge Jackson mentions is the need to demon-
strate that there will be a critical mass of customers. “No matter
how big of a project you build—whether it’s one hundred or
three hundred condo units above a grocery store—it is not going
to make the economics work for the grocer.”
Embrace Authenticity In order to attract the big name
grocery stores, both Jackson and Abdo agree developers have to
prove they are changing the entire feel of an emerging block, or
several blocks. Jackson calls this “creating a sense of place” and
says EYA spends much of their planning phase thinking about
what other types of retailers would best fit the incoming
clientele. For example, EYA has seen success in working with
Busboys and Poets to draw people to the new Arts District
development in Hyattsville. “It’s about creating an environment
that is unique and authentic and serves the needs of folks, as
opposed to putting in a bank or a dry cleaners,” says Jackson.
“Great urban planning,” continues Abdo, “has a dovetail-
ing of all sorts of intermixed uses and people. You should go
neighborhood to neighborhood to feel their cores and get a
sense of the basic flavors of each one.”
Any patch of land within walking distance of a major traffic
route in the city is now a contender for a revitalization project,
even if it means just a few small boutique condo buildings
replacing the blighted structures that are already there. Despite
the smaller scale of these projects, they have an impressive
impact on the city since they bridge the gap between existing
neighborhoods, create both construction and retail jobs, and
establish long-term opportunities for revenue on square
footage that was once just empty land. These emerging spaces
might be micro, but they’re mighty all the same. cf
clockwise from top left: A Chancellor’s Row townhome is designed for comfort as well as maximum sunlight and views; colorful murals nod to Brookland’s creative arts scene; Capitol Quarter, a new development on the Capitol Riverfront, was once a shipbuilding hub and is now a bustling neighborhood and entertainment spot.
136 capitolfile-magazine.com
haute property real estate repartee
EASTON, MARYLANDSpectacular, waterfront Federalist-style home nestled on 3.88
acres with pool, nine bedrooms, and open foor plan offers almost 7,000 sq.ft. of living space.
$2,975,000
Represented by: Joseph ZorcOffce: 202.333.6100 / Direct: 301.351.5274
BETHESDA, MARYLANDAmazing 5 bedroom, 4+ bath Craftsman by Meridian Homes
with luxury details throughout. Beautiful, spacious entertaining rooms, gourmet kitchen plus offce opens to the screen porch.
$1,999,900
Represented by: Jane FairweatherOffce: 301.718.0010 / Direct: 240.223.4663
WASHINGTON, D.C.Fully renovated with an addition, this elegant six-bedroom,
four and a half bath is located in the Forest Hills area of Washington, D.C. just steps to the Metro and restaurants.
$2,000,000
Represented by: Erich CabeOffce: 202.387.6180 / Direct: 202.320.6469
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIAClassic 1920 brick center hall 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath colonial
with grand room sizes, high ceilings, 2 freplaces, library and detached 3 car garage.
$1,695,000
Represented by: Donnan C. WintermuteOffce: 703.518.8300 / Direct: 703.608.6868
CHANTILLY, VIRGINIAThree-acre estate boasting 9,000 sq. ft. with 6 bedrooms, 7.5
baths, 5-car garage, gourmet kitchen, detached offce and lower level with theater, sports bar and au pair suite.
various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verifcation. Any affliation by you with the Company is intended to be that of an independent contractor licensed real estate sales associate.
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A glance at the DC skyline reveals dozens of cranes marking new construction, but not all good real estate options right now are new builds. There are many via-ble options in burgeoning neighborhoods boasting a new look or new features. In areas where there were once only dilapidated developments, homebuyers are seeing a key trend in real estate: renovation. From repurposed spaces to fully gutted redos, these projects in newly desirable neighborhoods are turning once-ignored abodes into high-end habitats—and fast.
One only has to look at the streetscaping project along Columbia Heights’ Sherman Avenue, which turned several blocks of a major thoroughfare into a more neighborhood-friendly space, serving as a game changer for the surrounding real estate. Just one example is a nearly 2,000-square-foot condo; it took less than two weeks to find a buyer (2532 11th
St. NW, $799,900). Outfitting the kitchen with commercial-grade appliances and adding spa-level bathroom fixtures were a few of the high-end altera-tions, as well as installing custom cabinetry and NEST thermostat technology that appeals to today’s tech-savvy clientele.
David Gorman, principal at the firm Lock 7 Development, has worked on renovation projects in almost every emerging neighborhood in Washington and says one of his biggest challenges is creating as much square footage as possible. One secret Lock 7 relies on is installing space-efficient furnaces, so-called “pancake units,” above the bathroom so they don’t have to give up a closet for a more traditionally sized unit. The new furnaces are only 12 inches deep, mak-ing them perfect for narrow row homes. Lock 7 also buys all-in-one washer-dryers that fit underneath kitchen counters and uses short water heaters to maxi-mize available space.
Over on H Street NE, another locale on the upswing, a renovated Victorian sold for a tad over $1 million after going for $657,000 pre-renovation—proof of just how high the standard of living has increased. The home now meets all the modern stan-dards without losing the original feel of the house; highlights include the updated kitchen and bath-rooms that balance well with the exposed brick and subway tile, which maintain a classic feel.
With the surging popularity of the U Street
Corridor, spread as far east as 8th Street and beyond, it’s now common to see homes like a four-bed, three-and-a-half-bath townhouse with an asking price few would have seen around here 10 years ago (923 T St. NW, $1,125,000, James Downing,
Real Living At Home, 703-244-3971).
A half dozen or so emerging neighborhoods around our city are finally gaining some recognition as livable communities with great amenities, so it’s only natural that homes in those areas would follow suit. While everyone is wondering where the next big frontier will be, we can still take the time now to marvel at these new additions to the luxury scene. CF
clockwise from below: 1817 Riggs Place NW underwent a complete renovation by Lock 7 Development; 923 T St. NW in the U Street Corridor has seen its value soar; while not
brand-new, 1221 12th St. NW offers high-end appliances and modern finishes.
Renovation Stationold Homes in newly tHriving neigHborHoods are
A RenAissAnce chRistmAsDecembeR 16-23Music of Flanders and Italy circa 1500
enjoy expressive seasonal melodies by enduring composers of the Renaissance. Featuring vocal quintet, winds, viol, and lute
the RoAD to cAnteRbuRyJAnuARy 9-10 At WAshington nAtionAl cAtheDRAl
Music of Medieval England
With vocal ensemble LIONHEART, medieval fddles, citole, lute, and winds
Folger Consort early music ensemble in Residence at the Folger
202.544.7077 folger.edu/consort
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Carter and Amanda Hood
Betsy Cooley, Eileen
McGrath, and Dana
Landry
Sharon Lockwood and Gay Truscott
Sarah Kuhn and Alisa Schafer
This year’s award was
presented to Jocelyn Dyer
ON OCTOBER 16, Sarah Kuhn, Andrew Law,
Avery Miller, Deborah Winsor, and the Board of
Directors of the Georgetown Ministry Center
hosted its annual Spirit of Georgetown Benefit.
Gathered at the Georgetown home of Deborah
Winsor, guests honored Jocelyn Dyer for her
unwavering commitment as a board member
for the organization.
GEORGETOWN MINISTRIES
Mr. Spacey performed to a sold-out crowd.
Mert and Alev Bakan
Adrienne Arsht
ACADEMY AWARD WINNER and former CF cover star
Kevin Spacey performed big band classics like Frank Sinatra’s
“You Make Me Feel So Young” and “New York, New York” at
his eponymous foundation’s gala event on September 29, hosted
by Adrienne Arsht, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, and Rep. Steny
Hoyer. Attendees were treated to a concert by Mr. Spacey at the
Shakespeare Theatre in the Harman Center before heading to a
VIP after party at Poste.
KEVIN SPACEY
IN CONCERT
Chris Matthews and Kevin Spacey
chat at Poste.
Nickie Currie and Rep. Aaron
Schock
Wendy Reyes, Page Evans, and
Gunther Stern
Jocelyn Dyer and Deborah Winsor
Rep.Steny Hoyer
Lyndon Boozer, Catherine McDaniel, and John Tinpe
Sam DePoy and Steve Winter
142 CAPITOLFILE-MAGAZINE.COM
INVITED
&
G W L I S N E R P R E S E N T S
JANUARY 30 | 8PM
/GWLISNER @GWLISNER
LISN_1415_2
20 YEARS OF FREEDOM: HUGH MASEKELA & VUSI MAHLASELA Co-presented with Washington Performing Arts
FEBRUARY 22
MULATU ASTATKE
MARCH 6
ZAKIR HUSSAIN Celtic Connections Co-presented with Washington Performing Arts
MARCH 17
GILBERTO GIL
APRIL 24
LILA DOWNS
MAY 1
PH
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GR
AP
H B
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ON
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Aneta Kondratowicz and David Meit
Guests shopped at fashion pop-ups, including
Hespera Jewelry Co.
Nina Arnold and Robert Arthur
CAPITOL FILE AND DESTINATION
HOTELS celebrated the grand reopening of the Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavilion with a lively affair at the hotel’s newly renovated restaurant and bar, Willie’s, named in honor of their late long-time employee who lost his battle with ALS. Undergoing a $10.5
million renovation, the hotel now boasts a newly designed entranceand lobby, expanded restaurant and bar, and upgraded suites. Guests were treated to fashion pop-up shops from Ella Rue, Georgetown Optician, and Hespera Jewelry Co.
EMBASSY SUITES
GRAND REOPENINGJohnna Rowe, Alicia Malone,
and Ashil Kimenker
Doug Kammerer, Adam Gorman, and
Jason Pugh
Juliette, Pierce, and Joost Voorthuis with Samantha Steele
Jeff Brainard
Stephanie Roma
Brown and Stephanie Corcoran
INVITED
Kim Trundle and Anne Polk
Mark and Joy Price
Mary Amons, Cameron Bond, Jeff O’Neil, and Ryan Van Sickel
Shana Lawlor and Katie Kleeblatt Mulberry’s
winter collection on display for
the kick-off celebration.
Mulberry’s Memo Faraj and Kirsty Welch
ON OCTOBER 9, Mulberry welcomed guests to the official 2014 Board of
Visitors Care for Kids kick-off celebration benefiting Children’s National
Medical Center. Attendees including cochairs Anne Polk and Kim
Trundle and honorary cochair Housewives’ Mary Amons shopped the
Mulberry Tyson Galleria store for the great cause.
CARE FOR
KIDS KICK-OFF
Lloyd and Ligaya Ntuk
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Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Video games are providing future innovators with the critical STEM skills
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For true Washingtonians, the day after Election
Day is the unofficial start of the holiday season.
Make that the holiday party season. That means
eggnog lattes, obligatory office gifts, and
Neiman Marcus’s desperate efforts to maintain
a politically correct ratio of Christmas to
Hannukah decorations.
Hopefully, everyone has been to a great
holiday party at least once in their lives. Party-
savvy Americans generally follow the same
blueprint when celebrating the season—lots of
food, lots of drinks, beautiful decorations,
and great music. There will always be one guy
wearing a kitschy Christmas tie with a red and
green sweater, while another is wearing a
Black Watch plaid jacket, Hermès tie, and vel-
vet shoes. There are no rules. Anything goes.
Except, of course, if you happen to live in
Washington, DC.
In Washington, we can’t just have a party.
We have to follow rules to have a party. Why?
Because in Washington we live and work with
Congress. And when dealing with Congress,
we are dealing with rules. Otherwise, it might
just appear unseemly to have a member of
Congress and a lobbyist, who most likely used
to work in Congress, sharing some holiday
cheer in front of a political journalist (blogger),
who depends on the very same Congressional
offices for their political news (gossip). Make
sense? Of course not!
Regardless, there are rules you need to follow
when throwing a fabulous shindig and angling
for the all-important RSVPs of Congressional
members, West Wing staffers, or Cabinet secre-
taries. Here, I leave you with a list of helpful hints
for how to make sure your party is the talk of the
town—and legal!
1. The event should be widely attended.
This means a minimum of 25 people. Start
with a member or two of Congress—adding
wine and K Street will take care of the rest.
2. Follow the “toothpick rule.” To keep meals
from appearing too lavish, stick to passed finger
foods and make everyone eat standing up.
3. Pick a cause and call it a “benefit.” The
legislative history of the party rule states, “an
event may not be merely for the personable
pleasure or entertainment of the member.”
4. Always know who’s coming to the party.
This way Politico’s Mike Allen has plenty of
time to get an anonymous “spotted” e-mail.
Cheers! cf
Party Planningfêting in Style—and in ComplianCe—with CongreSS. by shari yost gold
