What New York City foodie haven is moving into this spot at the corner of M Street and Wisconsin? Read on and find out!

2010 was a difficult year for businesses in Georgetown, much like virtually every other area throughout the country. Some might think that the upscale shops that line M Street and Wisconsin Avenue would be immune to an economic downtown…but they would be wrong.

“The main challenge facing Georgetown businesses right now is diminished cash flow due to declining sales,” Said Rokas Beresniovas, the Vice President of the Georgetown Business Association. “In some ways, this economic downturn has brought business owners together to form groups and business forums to help strategize how to remain competitive in this kind of market. But practically, some businesses still could not make it.”

The results are evident, as boarded-up storefronts continue to appear in a community that’s used to filling space with posh shops and chic, pricey restaurants.

“In the past year, about 20 businesses closed their doors in Georgetown,” Beresniovas said. “Other businesses are behind on their rent, running sales and specials, trying to renegotiate their leases and rents with their landlords. Businesses are all having to be leaner and meaner, doing more with less.”

There is good news in Georgetown, though, as several new establishments are moving in, including New York City’s own eatery Serendipity.

“Everyone is excited about Serendipity opening up in late January,” Beresniovas explained. “This is great, because it is going to bring a famous New York institution right into the heart of Georgetown with special touches just for the unique Georgetown, D.C. market. This venue has a history of being a warm, welcoming, fun place to be, and it will have over 70 employees from the D.C. area, and will contribute to the Georgetown economy, (via) shopping, parking, patronizing other venues, and so on.”

Business movement like this has Beresniovas and others in Georgetown approaching the New Year with cautious optimism and hope.

“I feel that 2011 will be a great year for Georgetown,” He said. “Revitalization is on the horizon and consumer confidence appears to be increasing as well. More shops, restaurants and nightlife will breathe new life into the business side of Georgetown.”

Foursquare Mayor of Citronelle, Rokas Beresniovas, shares his thoughts on the prestigious honor and one of his favorite places for a drink.

   

Photo by Neshan H. Naltchayan

Christine and Rokas Beresniovas at The City Tavern Club

Georgetown’s media, business and political leadership turned out pre-New Year’s to wish a happy birthday to Wells Fargo exec and Georgetown Business Association Vice President Rokas Beresniovas.

House music and a florescent disco ball amped up the quiet atmosphere at the City Tavern Club.

When it was built in 1796, the City Tavern served not only as a traditional lodging house but also as the meeting place for Georgetown’s governing body, the Georgetown Corporation.

Georgetown’s current civic leadership updated that tradition Wednesday, raising a glass to an indefatigable friend of Georgetown, universally known as “Rokas.” We wish him a glorious 25th birthday, and many more!

Photo by The Georgetown Dish

John Dreyfuss, Halcyon House, Assistant Chief Patrick Burke, Beth Solomon, and Officer Robert Ferretti receive awards

Members and friends of the Georgetown Business Association filled Dumbarton House with music, dancing and holiday celebrating as the GBA held its annual meeting and holiday party, naming The Georgetown Dish“Business of the Year.”

President Joe Giannino led the festivities, inviting ANC Commissioner Bill Starrels to present John Dreyfuss of Halcyon House the Art Schultz Communitarian Award. ANC Commissioner Ed Solomon  presented Officer Robert Ferretti and Assistant Chief Patrick Burke of the Metropolitan Police Department the Joe Pozell Public Safety Award.

“Georgetown is in great shape,” D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans told the annual meeting,

thanking the GBA for all its contributions. He urged Georgetowners to do their holiday shopping in Georgetown — pointing out that it helps local merchants, the health of the community, and leads to tax revenues for the cash-strapped District.

Beth Solomon, publisher of The Georgetown Dish, echoed that theme as she accepted the award for “Business of the Year,” joining contributors Tina Alster, Judith Beermann, Mary Bird, Quinn Bradlee, Frida Burling, Bonnie Cain, Patti Cumming, Page Evans, John Divney, Janet Donovan, Wendy Gordon, Robb Hoffheins, Tricia Huntley, Leslie Maysak, Katie Manning, Neshan Naltchayan, and Bill Rice, who were  honored for their work in Georgetown. The Dish was launched one year ago today, Dec. 16 at Hook in Georgetown. It now attracts over 30,000 visitors per month.

“It’s been a challenging time for all Georgetown businesses, so please get out there and shop for the holidays here in the neighborhood,” Solomon said, thanking GBA officers Joe Giannino, Rokas Beresniovas,  Riyad Said and Elizabeth Webster for their hard work over the year. “We’re delighted to support Georgetown and its merchants, and we want to do more.”

Sponsors included Dumbarton House, Sugarplum Tent Company, Colonial Parking, Georgetown University Hospital/Medstar Health, Bank of Georgetown, Cox Graae + Spack Architects, EastBanc, MRP Realty/Washington Harbour, Altman’s Parking, Cafe Bonaparte, Paolo’s/Capital Restaurant Concepts, and Clyde’s.

The Radio King Orchestra filled the party with fabulous jazz standards and holiday tunes.

Photo by The Georgetown Dish

Rokas Beresniovas, our favorite photo subject, at the party in Riggs Library

Georgetown University President Jack DeGioia, also a resident of Hillandale, welcomed the community and the beautiful voices of the Holy Trinity School Choir as the university welcomed guests to an Open House at Riggs Library Thursday. Linda Greenan and Charles

DeSantis of the Office of External Relations entertained hundreds of community leaders who gathered to toast the season and see friends.

Current Newspapers publisher Davis Kennedy and D.C. Inspector General Charles Willoughby were among the high-profile guests.

“Is this a set for Harry Potter, or what?” opined Georgetown Business Association vice president Rokas Beresniovas. The Riggs Library, renovated under the direction of former President Timothy Healy and his deputy at the time, DeGioia, is now a magnificent treasure, complete with a dark stairway to real church bells that ring.

“This renovation was Tim’s idea,” said DeGioia, a protege of Healy’s starting when he was a student in the late 1970s. “It was a mess.” It’s beautiful now.

Rev. Timothy S. Healy, S.J. was a Jesuit priest who straddled religious and secular life in a career that included the presidency of Georgetown and leadership of the New York Public Library.  Healy was born in New York City in 1923. During his 13-year tenure at Georgetown, the university emerged into the national spotlight as a top institution. Admissions doubled, the endowment increased from $38 million to nearly $228 million, and campus facilities expanded.

Healy’s tenure was not without controversy. Healy sold the WGTB broadcasting license to the University of the District of Columbia for $1 in 1979 in order to silence its generally liberal voice. UDC would resell the license to C-SPAN for $25 million two decades later.

In 1989, Healy accepted the position of President of the New York Public Library where he served until 1992.

Click below to hear the Holy Trinity School Choir sing:

Photo by Neshan H. Naltchayan

Sally Quinn, Katharine Weymouth and Steven Siegler, CEO of J.McLaughlin

J.McLaughlin has always stood for classic design with flair, much like Georgetown. This holiday season the M St. boutique — one of 45 sister stores nationwide — took its affinity with Georgetown one step further, hosting a holiday event to benefit the Georgetown Ministry Center in a ceremony featuring Sally Quinn, Katharine Weymouth, Publisher of the Washington Post, Frida Burling and the Ministry Center’s director, Gunther Stern.  

“It’s important to us to be part of the community,” said President & CEO Steven Siegler, who flew in from New York to attend the event organized by Store Manager Lauren Colyer. “It’s always been what we’re about.” He said Colyer “has made a big difference” in attracting an exceptional clientele to the store.

Neighbors were drawn in by J.McLaughlin’s community spirit and, literally, followed suit. With J.McLaughlin donating 15% of sales to the Ministry Center, it was an event that did good as it was doing well.

Burling, known as Georgetown’s “patron saint,” described the diverse nature of the Ministry Center, which galvanizes the churches and synagogues of Georgetown to help the homeless — providing shelter and services all year. “We’re Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, black and white,” she said. “Everybody gets along.”

Quinn, for her part, expressed her admiration for the tireless charitable work of Burling. Having known Georgetown Ministry Center’s Gunther Stern and his father for many years, Quinn said authoritatively, “I think Gunther is a saint.” The prize-winning writer and author founded the “On Faith” section of The Washington Post. Recognized for her contributions to Literature & Style, she received a vase from Keith Lipert Gallery designed by artist Cec LePage, who is known, appropriately, for creating “sculpture with a purpose.”

Fans of the honorees filled the store, including Maggie Shannon, Kate Michael, Pallavi Kumar, Alix Sundquist, Mary Frances Monroe, David Harrison, Diane Peacor, Donna Christenson, Heather Previn of Adolfo Dominguez, Christine Warnke, Nancy Taylor Bubes, Jennifer Altemus, Page Evans, Mark Cohen, Lesley Murphy Lee, Leslie Maysak, Stephanie Slewka, Wendy Gordon, Rokas Beresniovas, Sue Hamilton, Mel Davis and Paul Fogg.

Photo by Judith Beermann

Rokas Beresniovas with Duke Ellington’s Ellen Copley and Tia Powell Harris

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Rehearsing “DreamGirls”

The Georgetown Business Association, hosted a reception and tour of the school Thursday evening.

Rehearsals were underway (with a live orchestra) for their upcoming production of “DreamGirls” opening Dec. 2, while a student/faculty art exhibition, a vibrant display of sculpture, costume, paint and photographs, filled the halls.

With three upcoming invitations for his students to perform at the White House in December, Rory Pullens, head of the school and CEO told the crowd of over 60 business leaders and patrons of the arts, “the First Lady calls us her private glee club.”

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Former student, teacher and artist Zenobia

“All graduates leave one piece of art behind,” Pullens explained as he pointed to  an especially large canvas. Why this one, he asked the student? “Because it‘s too big to take in the Metro” the student answered. Pullens lead the group down to the full recording studio and into a student lounge where Duke Ellington donated one of his own pianos.

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Christian Videla, Ron Newman, and Riyad Said

Former student and singer, Ron Newman, now the school’s operations manager explained, “more than anything else, Duke Ellington helped me understand the importance of discipline to be a great artist.”

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Marta Reid Stewart with Solomon Howard’s “Chocolate Lover”

Marta Reid Stewart proudly shared the story of a former photography student Solomon Howard, a “kid from Southeast who had failed at Ballou High School, but because of his talent was accepted into Duke Ellington, and went on to graduate from the Corcoran.”

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Head of School and CEO, Rory Pullens

For more information and tickets to “DreamGirls” (original DreamGirl Jennifer Holliday makes a special appearance Gala Night, Dec. 9) visit Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

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Photo by Kate Michael

Guests gathered around gaming tables at the 5th Annual High Rollers Night to benefit CSAAC

DJ Kirk McEwen of Classic Rock Radio 105.9 The Edge and special guests including Miss DC 2010, Stephanie Williams and H.E. Nelson Lewis, two time Emmy award winning Fox News producer, currently staff columnist for Rolling Stone, and Special Arts Ambassador at the Bahamas Embassy hosted High Rollers for Autism,

the 5th Annual Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) Honors Gala this past Friday at the Bethesda Marriott.

Guests including GBA VP Rokas Beresniovas, Janine Schoonover of Tic Tac Toe Global, Miss DC, Stephanie Ariel Williams, K Street Kate, Kate Michael, Jessica James Golden of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, CSAAC Director of Community Development, Ayda Sanver and CSAAC founder, Jane Salzano, along with many prominent Washingtonians who hit the tables and the dance floor to benefit this worthy cause.

A live auction featured items such as an Eric Clapton signed guitar, airfare and accommodations for four to Santa Fe, NM, trips to Paris, Key West,

and San Diego to ride the Stars and Stripes America’s Cup Yacht,  and jewelry from Adleler Jewelers.  Between event donations, auction and ticket sales, the event raised $120,000.

Founded in 1979 through the vision of four families in Montgomery County, Maryland, Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) is a private, non-profit agency which provides direct services to children and adults with autism across the lifespan.  CSAAC’s mission is “to enable individuals with autism to reach their highest potential and contribute as confident individuals to their community.”  CSAAC’s founders saw a future where adults with autism lived and worked in the community and not in institutions, and they were the pioneers of this effort.  Today, CSAAC is the largest provider in the nation to serve individuals with autism exclusively with comprehensive programs from early childhood through retirement.

CSAAC is a nationally recognized leader in developing state-of-the-art services for people with autism and serves as a model for other agencies developing community based housing, employment, and other related services.  CSAAC’s Supported Employment program was the first of its kindin the United States and, today, enables many CSAAC individuals to perform jobs within the community and at over 40 different employment locations, including The Gazette Newspapers, TJ Maxx, Todd Allen Printing, Shoppers Food Warehouse, and The Home Depot.

For further information and to donate, log into CSAAC.

(Georgetown Dish – Wendy Gordon)

Before the traffic picks up and all of us hightail it out of the city for the long holiday weekend, what better thing to do than to know that there has been some a little fun, a little glitz, a little fancy footwork and a lot of good done for a great cause? The Washington Club glittered Saturday evening as guests donned black tie attire for The Capital City Ball, one of the most anticipated galas of the season.

Among the guests were mommy-to-be Angie Goff and husband Robert Ellis, Hanover Research’s Laura Webb, Rokas and Christine Beresniovas, Janine Schoonover of Tic Tac Toe Global, and H.E. Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri of the Republic of Yemen.