Georgetown Dish Launches, Promising to Do Just That

The Georgetown Dish, a Web site  launched Dec. 17 , held its inaugural party the night before at Tackle Box, a restaurant on M Street. Its founder and publisher, Beth Solomon, says its mission is "to inform, entertain, and amuse . . . You’ll find dispatches from and photos of the social scene, community news in Georgetown, local politics, and a platform to express and exchange ideas."

With such well-known contributors as Mary Bird, Carol Joynt, Janet Donovan, Wendy Gordon, Quinn Bradlee, Frida Burling and Tina Alster, M.D., the site displays a lively media mix, powered by a trio of former AOL guys who know their business -- along with chief photographer Jeff Malet.  Resembling The Daily Beast Web site, The Georgetown Dish looks like it is planning to bring some of that Tina Brown vibe to the hip, historic village. It's time to catch up and log in: www.GeorgetownDish.com.

Photos above: Georgetown Dish publisher Beth Solomon with Washington Post staff writer Jura Koncius, who worked with Solomon's aunt -- Nina Hyde, beloved fashion editor of the Washington Post; Lynly Boor with John Arundel of Washington Life and photographer Neshan Naltchayan; the Dish's chief software engineer John Divney with the Web site's main photographer John Malet; Solomon with the Dish's main social scene writer, Mary Bird, author of "Bird's Eye View."

Georgetown Biz: Awards, Elections and Party at Dumbarton House

The Georgetown Business Association celebrated the end of 2009 and Christmas during its annual meeting at Dumbarton House on Que Street, Dec. 16, with awards and elections of a new president and officers.

The group's 2010 president is Joe Giannino, general manager of The Latham Hotel at 30th and M Streets, N.W. Georgetown Cupcake, with its new flagship store freshly opened, was named "business of the year." [Note: See earlier post.]

The Art Schultz Communitarian Award went to Gunther Stern of the Georgetown Ministry Center. The Joe Pozell Public Safety Award went to Full Stride Officers of the Second District of the Metropolitan Police Department, Officers Kathryn Fitzgerald, Doug Mason and Tanisha Thomas.

The festive business members enjoyed food from Clyde's Restaurant Group and music by the Radio King Orchestra.

Visit the site: www.Georgetown.bz

Photos above:

Advisory neighborhood commissioner Bill Starrels with awardee Gunther Stern of the Georgetown Ministry Center and his daughter Mollie; M.P.D. awardees, Officers Doug Mason, Tanisha Thomas -- with D.C.'s chief of police, Cathy Lanier -- and Kathryn Fitzgerald; GBA directors Marcie Connolly (EastBanc) and Keith Lipert (Keith Lipert Gallery); Ed Solomon (A Wedding Creation) with GBA's new head Joe Giannino.

Georgetown Cupcake Debuts M Street Shop

 

Georgetown Cupcake opened its new flagship location at 33rd and M Streets, N.W., this morning, to a steady line of customers who got a free sample and purchased more.  

Congratulations to co-owners and sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne (shown above), whose sweet establishment has been named "Business of the Year" by the Georgetown Business Association.

Yuletide Party for Community Influencers at G.U.'s Riggs Library

At the Dec. 10 event: May Lonergan, a student at Our Lady of Victory School, with M.P.D. assistant chief Patrick Burke; Linda Greenan, vice president for external affairs, with  Natalie Young and David Howie; Georgetown University president John DeGioia with son J.T; Holy Trinity School Choir sings from the book balconies of Riggs Library; Tom and Sarah Strike with their children, Ryan, Katelyn and Jordan, along the Hoya prez Jack DeGioia; sculptor John Dreyfuss of Halcyon House with Grace Bateman and husband Worth; DeGioia with advisory neighborhood commissioner Bill Starrels.

Such Merriment!

At halftime of the Redskins/Saints football game (it was tied 17-all),we decided to take a stroll down Wisconsin Avenue to see whatmerriment Georgetown held for us. It was, afterall, three p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, and the Georgetown Business Improvement District was hosting its "magical holiday celebration for all" from 3 to 6 p.m. at Wisconsin and M.

You know, they say if you stand at Wisconsin and M inGeorgetown long enough, you'll see everyone you know pass by. We waited half and hour, didn't see anyone we knew ... except for ...wait a minute is that? yes it is! It's Santa Claus. He's here! In Georgetown! Quick, take his photo! Wow! And over there, those Madrigal Singers....or people dressed up like Madrigal singers....take their picture too.

Hey, lots of people here. The sun is shining brightly. Not like yesterday, sleet, snow, rain, cold. Today, it is cheery, sunny. A perfect day for Merriment. Lots of holiday music performances, andlater, candlelight caroling with the National Philharmonic. Great. I'll come back down after the football game. Can the Redskins knockoff the undefeated Saints? If you believe in miracles, yes they can. If you believe in Santa Claus, just know this, we saw him, live!, at Wisc. and M.

The New Pet Gallery Is A Delight!

Photos by Constance Chatfield-Taylor

On the evening, (December 3rd) the newly re-located Georgetown PetGallery, had a very neighborly gathering at the larger and bright,new location at 3236 P Street. After a dozen or more years on 'O'Street, the new shop is a very cheery and fun place to visit and for finding the special gift for pet owners and friends.

The invited friends came to enjoy the new shop and greet others whoare and have been long-standing customers of the owner Woody Neilsen.A few furry folks showed up too. And there were snacks and treats forall. Best of all was the spirited and fun conversations and meetings. An evening well-spent and all at 'twenty-five per cent sale' of suchitems as Burberry all weather coats, collars and leashes, and food and treats. Interspersed here are also original works of art in service ofour pets, like sculpted-by-breed water and food dishes with otherdecorative and functional items for the home. Truly worth a visit.

Hours are 10 to 6 daily and 11 to 5 on Sunday.

Party Crashers: From the White House to the Big House

By Dave Roffman

In a recent poll of college students, when asked what they most would like to achieve in their careers after school, over 50 percent replied they want to be famous.

They want to be famous.

Just like the party crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi? Better watch what you ask for. The reality TV wannabees who have made a habit of crashing parties in the metro area, not paying their bills, scamming people and lying. Yeah, they are really famous now. And for what?

It appears the only reason they go to parties -- or rather, crash parties -- is to be photographed so that they can then post their photos on Facebook. How sad, how very pathetic.

Crashing parties without invitations. We've met quite a few people like this in our years covering the social scene in DC. You can usually spot the party crashers . . . the ones who are eating way too much from the buffet tables, the ones who can't seem to get enough photographs of themselves posing with the well known guests, the ones who don't seem to have a place setting at the dinner tables.

The Salahis turned down the invite from the House Homeland Security Committee investigating their breach of protocol in crashing a White House State Dinner. We figure they will eventually be sworn in to testify about how they lied and posed their way into the White House that night. They better take the fifth to all questions, because if they are caught in a lie here, they'll end up in prison (which is probably where they belong anyway).

But then again, they'll probably soon be dining at the warden's table for all special occasions, and Michaele will probably sweet talk the warden into letting Erwin Gomez come in from the outside to do her hair once a week, and Tareq and his wife will probably soon be organzing the first-ever Prisoner Polo match and have their picture taken with each and every member of the parole board.

No, the best punishment for this dastardly duo would be to sentence them to thousands of hours of community work . . . like cleaning up after and horses and dogs in the Middleburg Christmas Parade.