The Burlei Th Bell
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Welcome New Residents! Village in the city The Burleith Bell December 2006 BURLEITH CITIZENS ASSOCIATION www.burleith.org EVENTS Scenes Some events have a fee ($) or require from the Nov. 9th reservations. Please call ahead. Check the Community Gathering organizations’ Web sites for additional at Duke Ellington School events. for the Arts: Dec. 3, Capitol Woodwind Quintet ($) First of four 2006-07 concerts; afterwards Top: At the barbeque table, meet the musicians and enjoy refreshments, Judith McCaffery chats with 5-7:30 pm. Temple Micah, 2829 Wisconsin Ave. Ellington School principal Rory 703-636-9492; capitolwoodwindquintet.org Pullens. Dec. 7, Olmsted Woods Center: Jen Perry and daughter Claire share a plate. Moonlit Walk Stroll paths, discuss restoration strategy, and view Lower left: Ellington school new outdoor amphitheater, 7 pm. Washington students entertain the crowd. Natl. Cathedral; 537-2319; www.cathedral.org Lower right: Chuck Vansant, Director of the Office of Off Dec. 7, 8, Amahl and Campus Life, discusses efforts The Night Visitors to ensure safe housing for off- Concert Choir’s seasonal celebration, 7:30-11 pm. Duke Ellington School of the Arts, 3500 R St. campus students. NW; 333-2984; www.ellingtonarts.org Dec. 8, Holiday Open House SEEKING NEW & ($) Visit decorated period rooms, learn about lo- RENEWED MEMBERS cal Christmas traditions during the Federal period, and enjoy holiday treats. Children may create holi- Has your membership day crafts and decorations, 7-9 pm. Dumbarton lapsed? Are you new to House, 2715 Q St. NW; 337-2288 x450; www. dumbartonhouse.org the neighborhood? Can’t remember if you are a current Dec. 8, Handel’s Messiah member or not? Check the ($) Conducted by Michael McCarthy, the back page for your name. Washington National Cathedral Choir and Baroque If you don’t see it, consider Orchestra present the holiday classic, 7:30 pm (also Dec. 10, 4 pm). Washington Natl. Cathedral; sending in the membership 877- 537-2228; www.cathedral.org form and supporting the BCA’s ongoing effort to keep Dec. 9, Guy Mason Classes Burleith a unique, friendly, ($) Registration opens for art, bridge, dance, exer- cise, language, and music classes. Winter Session safe and livable place. classes start week of Jan. 8. Register in person, by phone, or online. Guy Mason Center, 3600 Calvert St. NW; 282-2180; www.guymasonstudioarts. A Special com Invitation Dec. 9, Children’s Workshop ($) Nature painter Susan Hostetler helps students from G.U. (8-12) create their own mixed-media landscape screen, 9:30 am-noon. Kreeger Museum, 2401 Georgetown Uni- Foxhall Rd. NW; 338-3552; www.kreegermu- versity’s President Jack seum.org DeGioia will host the Dec. 9, Nutcracker Christmas annual holiday party in ($) Enjoy a festive musical evening with The Riggs Library, Healy Hall, Washington Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. Stroll decorated rooms, mingle with costumed Thursday, Dec. 14th, ballet dancers, listen to Christmas music and 6 to 8 pm; Carolling by readings of the Nutcracker; and enjoy refresh- the Holy Trinity Choir. ments, 4-7 pm. Tudor Place, 1644 31st St. NW; 965-0400 x109; www.tudorplace.org RSVP: 687-5677 PHOTOS BY WALTER HILLABRANT AND PATRICIA DAVIES — EVENTS continued PAGE 3. The Burleith Bell, December 2006 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Tis’ the Retail Sales Season The BCA’s November community gathering was a smashing event with a fine turnout. Rocklands fed us delicious barbeque and It’s that time of year again. Duke Ellington’s students provided wonderful entertainment. Colored lights, joyful music, laughing children, and of course, Principal Rory Pullens welcomed us with open arms. Neighbors the annual barrage of news stories about the most important topic came early and stayed late to help with setup and cleanup. The of the year. The topic we’ve been waiting for all year long. Move lineup of speakers eloquently addressed the concerns of the neigh- aside Tom Cruise’s wedding. Out of my way Iraq War. Get lost borhood. A big thank-you to Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Congressional Democrats. the speakers, board members and neighbors who Because we’re about to taste the sweetest nectar the Information helped make this a special event. Age has to offer. Yes, that’s right: endless, repetitive, glib, point- At two recent meetings of the BCA and GU’s less, irrelevant, recycled, breathless, formulaic, canned and bottled Alliance for Local Living, Police Commander “analyses” of . what? Solberg and Lt. Lucas have spoken about safety You got it: retail sales figures. The annual right of passage be- issues. Both forecast a spike in robberies and tween Thanksgiving and the New Year. Information that rolls off burglaries during the holidays when criminals the teleprompter and into our living rooms every December. Even watch for opportunities. People are shopping Santa Clause is not this reliable. Lenore and leaving packages in their cars. Folks walking But seriously, is anything more useless—more meaningless—than the streets after having had a few drinks are more vulnerable. this “news”? Picture it. You’re sitting there on a cold winter’s Take your iPods, computers, global positioning systems, cell night, TV dinner in hand, can of Coke resting against your hip, phones and packages out of the car. If they must be left behind, about to hit the Tivo and catch up on old put them in the trunk. Keep your doors on the house and cars episodes of “The O.C.,” when the dramatic locked at all times, even if you’re just walking your dog or running music hits your ears. A news reader (f/k/a a a quick errand. The police have told us that many crimes occur “journalist”) theatrically swivels toward the cam- when burglars simply open unlocked doors! era. Your heart begins to race. Maybe someone In recent weeks, police officers have been injured in our famous is dead. Or maimed. Or at least caught neighborhoods from events that originated at student parties. drunk driving. MPD has told us there will be a no tolerance policy for behavior The music stops, you stop chewing. And that contributes to putting both residents and officers at risk and Brett then: “Big news today. Retail sales are up one MPD will be making the necessary arrests and cracking down on quarter of one-half of a half percent over last illegal behavior. year’s gains in weekend, pre-holiday, post-Thanksgiving shopping.” Be safe and aware during this holiday season. You can’t move, caught in a trance. Coke dribbles from your lip, Lenore Rubino splashing off the remote. You reach for the bottle of gin. [email protected] Yes, that is what we have to look forward to. A full season of 202-262-1261 this. And I have to say, I don’t get it. Who cares if retail sales are up or down some miniscule amount over last year? If it won’t get in the way of my ability to shop online and avoid the idiots lined Burleith Citizens Association up to kill each other over the new xBox, it doesn’t matter to me. www.burleith.org And on top of that, who even knows what it all means? Sales are Board of Directors Newsletter up half a percent? Down a quarter percent? I’d wonder if this Lenore Rubino Editorial Committee should mean something to me, but I’m afraid to ask. - President Patterson Clark And meanwhile, life goes on. We dress ourselves up for the com- Jennifer Perry Lenore Rubino pany party, stock - Vice President/Web master Advertising Director up on eggnog and Judith McCaffrey Michael Farquhar (338-2921, - Treasurer [email protected] pine for the days Walter Hillabrant Circulation when “Christmas” - Co-recording Secretary Marjorie Wolfe - call 965-1699 meant three weeks Sara Revis off. - Corresponding Secretary Now if only we Members at large: Mark Gisler, Ed Soloman, knew how to turn Jennifer Jarratt, Dwane Starlin off the TV. May Vaughan Seasons Greet- ings! Send your opinions and comments to: Brett Walter Burleith Citizens Association, P.O. Box 32262, Calvert Street Station, [email protected] D.C., 20007 . or send an email to [email protected] Page 2 The Burleith Bell, December 2006 — EVENTS continued from PAGE 1. Tis’ the Retail Sales Season A Pooch Is Good for the Paunch Dec. 9, Motown Holiday Concert 7:30-11 pm. Duke Ellington School of the Arts; It’s inevitable: the post-Thanksgiving social networks, but also helps with stress 282-0123 lethargy that sweeps over us and leaves us management and feeling less lonely. Dec. 10, Hanukkah Gift Fair dog tired. Many of us are still chewing that Having to walk a dog ensures time exer- Jewelry, candles and menorahs, dreidls, toys, last bite of pie as we plop down cising outside, even in bad weather books, crafts by Israeli artists, Judaica, and gelt, on the sofa and settle in for an- or depressed moods, when one nor- 9:30 am-4pm. Temple Micah; 342-9175; www. templemicah.org other tradition: football, parade mally would prefer to stay inside. highlights, or Christmas-themed Walkers often report feeling better Dec. 10, Victorian Kissing Ball made-for-tv movies. The dishes once they’re outside, and having a Workshop ($) Create a traditional favorite from Cathedral box- can wait, but in 40.6 million US loving companion only bolsters that wood and trimmings, 1 pm (also Dec. 17, 1 pm). households, a dog, full of scraps more positive frame of mind. Washington Natl. Cathedral; 537-6263; vine@ snuck to him by your bratty little The physical benefits of walking cathedral.org; www.cathedral.org cousin, can’t. Linda with a dog are not surprising: im- Dec.