A La Carte

Raising the bar at Citronelle

December 1, 2010

You’ve always come to Citronelle when you want the most superb dining experience in Georgetown.

Prosciutto (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Prosciutto "La Quercia"


Now, with their new bar/lounge menu, you’ll find yourself making excuses to stop by on your way home from work, after yoga, before that late flight out, or just because it's Tuesday ... for a glass of wine (try the “Evodia”, a full-bodied old-vine Grenache from Spain) and to sample some of chef Michel Richard’s signature appetizers.

Wednesday night, Michel Richard and Maitr d’ Jean-Jacques Retourne welcomed guests in to to the cozy lounge for samplings of the newest morsels including mushroom cigars, Prosciutto "La Querica,"smoked salmon crab cakes and fried chicken nuggets.

Friends toasted the season with a little bubbly, still wine, and the Citronelle Swizzle, a mix of chamomile-infused rum, faerlnum (almond, ginger & cloves syrup) and pineapple
Bar at Citronelle (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Bar at Citronelle
puree.
Darren Favello and Kate Aberbaugh (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Darren Favello and Kate Aberbaugh

Greg O'Neill, Michel Richard and Leigh Maltese (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Greg O'Neill, Michel Richard and Leigh Maltese

Beth Solomon, Kiki Ryan and Jeff Dufour (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Beth Solomon, Kiki Ryan and Jeff Dufour

No need to wait for a special occasion. The bar is open most afternoons till midnight.
Cocktails at Citronelle (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Cocktails at Citronelle
In Citronelle's kitchen (Photo by: Judith Beermann) In Citronelle's kitchen

Citronelle is at 3000 M Street. Tel: 202.625.2150


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Santa's on the roof...of the Kennedy Center

November 27, 2010

It was during her third chat with Santa that Anna announced, “I’m going to stay here forever and go with you when you deliver toys.” Santa seemed delighted with the prospect of company on what’s always a very, very long ride.

Emma and Anna  with Santa (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Emma and Anna with Santa

If quality time with Santa is on your child’s wish list, before he gets too busy making toys and tending to Dancer and Dasher and Prancer and Vixen, meet him Saturdays for tea at the KC Café

This Saturday, some families arrived after a charming performance of Snow White, Rose Red (and Fred) which re-imagines the Brothers Grimm tale as a musical comedy.

Others came fresh with images of the Sugar Plum Fairy dancing in their heads, after enjoying The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker.
Giselle, Madison, Jackson, Santa (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Giselle, Madison, Jackson, Santa

A nerf gun was what Jackson wanted, for himself and Madison. Asked whether her brother has been good all year, Madison nodded. “And Jackson’s a funny older brother.” Their friend Giselle was happy to come along.
Emmeline, Santa, Grace and Maribelle (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Emmeline, Santa, Grace and Maribelle


Grace wanted a guitar so she could play with dad.
Santa shares a joke with Sophia (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Santa shares a joke with Sophia

Parker's first visit with Santa (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Parker's first visit with Santa
Emory (shown above with sister Caroline) reported that the Sugar Plum Fairy was her favorite Nutcracker character and mentioned she’s hoping Santa brings her a teddy bear.

Three year old Lorenzo was eager to count out his age and to let Santa know that Superman and Rudolph (red-nosed reindeer) were at the top of his list.
 
Lorenzo gives Santa a high three (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Lorenzo gives Santa a high three

For Parker, only the offering of a striped elf could persuade him to give Santa's lap a try.

While Sunday brunch with Santa is totally booked, Restaurant Associates General Manager, Jeff Wingate told us, “you can still make reservations for Saturdays with Santa at the KC Café for tea (or hot chocolate) and cookies until Christmas.”

For reservations, call 202.416.8559

Dessert table with gingerbread, cakes and cookies (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Dessert table with gingerbread, cakes and cookies











Ben McCormick, Joe Gurner, Fred Giacomoni, Santa, Eugenia Bailey, Travis Day, Dominiqe Chesley (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Ben McCormick, Joe Gurner, Fred Giacomoni, Santa, Eugenia Bailey, Travis Day, Dominiqe Chesley


Santa  never comes empty-handed (Photo by: Judith Beermann) Santa never comes empty-handed




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Duke Ellington: Georgetown's dream school

November 19, 2010

You know the big green lawn chair. You know the legend for whom it’s named. You may even know it’s a D.C. public school in Georgetown. But did you know that over 95 percent of its graduates are accepted into the nation’s most competitive universities and conservatories? Or that they have a professional recording studio (one you can rent) and theater with seating for 800?

For D.C.'s aspiring artists in disciplines including dance, vocal, music, theater, and the visual arts, there’s nothing like The Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

Rehearsing (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.”
Former student, teacher and artist Zenobia (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.
Christian Videla, Ron Newman, and Riyad Said (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.”
Marta Reid Stewart with Solomon Howard's (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.”
Head of School and CEO, Rory Pullens (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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