Don't Get Me Started ...
BULL...nose
September 7, 2010
It all started with a simple request. Bullnose awnings. Should be a no-brainer, right? They’re elegant. They’re a much higher level in commercial adornment then your average awnings. THEY’RE AWNINGS. But here’s where it gets really interesting. At a Thursday meeting of the OGB, they became a symbol—a symbol, perhaps of leaders gone jjjuuussstt a little awry.
Take a walk down the streets and side streets of Georgetown, and you’ll find a good six to eight or more of these hanging on commercial property. “So what?” you say, “I hardly noticed.” Maybe not. But apparently neither did the ANC 2E, because just recently, the ANC passed a resolution to allow these on another commercial building. Still you feign indifference. But when the community speaks and its leaders can’t even uphold their own decisions and that of the people, perhaps we have a little problem.
Let us harken back to this past Monday. Yes…eons ago. It was still August—the 30th, to be exact, when the principals of the soon-to-open Serendipity 3, which is to be located in the space that formerly housed Nathan’s, appeared before the ANC 2E to gain approval for the awnings in question. As its former identity Nathan’s, the building in question sported the culprit, the dreaded bullnose awning, above their door. Under new restaurant ownership, and now as its new incarnation, Serendipity 3, that would be redone and matching awnings would be installed on the two (count ‘em) windows on the M Street side of the building, two doors on the Wisconsin Avenue side of the structure, and the recovering of the already existing awning over the main entrance to the building. Easy. No taking away from the venue’s historic architecture or significance. Simple awnings. Bullnose awnings. The same as many other businesses in the area. The plan was presented and the votes counted. No pushback from residents, and a unanimous vote to pass by the ANC 2E. Resolution passed. One more hurdle to go…the OGB.
Fast forward to Friday’s OGB meeting. Presentations were made. The awnings should have been a shoo-in. Historically, the OGB has usually approved projects with a resolution to go ahead attached. But it seems something was missing at this vote though…the resolution by the ANC. On top of that, an OGB member stated “We don’t allow bullnose awnings in Georgetown.” Tom Burch, who was the acting commissioner of the ANC at the time the original resolution had passed, concurred. Wait. Was there not a unanimous vote by the ANC to pass this resolution? Could the law have changed between Monday and Friday? Doubtful—but one has to wonder how the anti-bullnose sentiment could be legal on Monday, but not on Friday? And what of all those other buildings in the same area that have those awnings up as we speak? One has to wonder…does this ordinance apply only to instances arbitrarily selected by the OGB? One has to query…was a resolution not passed? Why was it not introduced at the OGB gathering?
These are bullnose awnings, Ladies and Gentlemen. In the grand scheme of things, bullnose awnings are insignificant. But there are larger issues here. How will difficulties like this, that seem to incessantly arise, effect new businesses and residences that may be considering Georgetown as a place to be; a place to which to pay taxes and offer other value? How will it be someday when residents can’t get cable or wireless because someone decides to throw power around and just say no to an antenna? How are these decisions made and in whose best interest are they? There are even more questions that could be asked here.
No one is suggesting or even wants to jeopardize the beautiful and charming architecture of Georgetown. No one has the desire to add to noise or traffic or question to the quality of life of the residents. But let’s think about minor tyrannies; needless power struggles and blatant disregard of the democratic process. I’m just sayin’……..
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Chefs Move to Schools
July 16, 2010
Ellen Kassoff Gray remembers marching around the playground of Murch Elementary School. She was in second grade and the song the class was singing went somewhat like this: “March is the time farmers will start to bring out their tractors….it’s spring time again…”
This spring, as she joined her husband Chef Todd Gray in harvesting vegetables from the school’s organic garden—a garden they helped plot and plant; a garden tended to by students, teachers and parents; a garden that would serve as the model for Michelle Obama’s ‘Chefs Move to Schools’ Program.
It was this past winter when Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass personally approached Chef Gray to gather a handful of DC’s top toques to discuss how the nation’s chefs could be involved in creating menus that included healthier fare, education on nutrition, and generally taking the first step toward changing both students’ and parents’ outlook on meals from the schools—filtering into the home and vice versa. Among the ideas discussed was the adoption of local schools by each chef. Gray chose Murch and developed a program that he was asked recently to speak about at The White House and to be an integral part of a forthcoming ‘tool kit’ to be utilized across the nation.
After observing and assessing what the kids were eating for lunch, Gray noted that most of the small amount of fresh fruits and vegetables they were eating was going in the trash, not in their mouths. “It dawned on me that as chefs; what comes so naturally to us is not so accessible to kids – many of them are not invited into a kitchen or a garden on a regular basis’” said Gray in his speech. “Food is something that is put in front of them and they are told to eat it. But they have tremendous curiosity – it was not hard to get them excited. This is where a chef can have the most impact in a school – bringing this opportunity to the entire venue’s population.”
The Grays held several meetings at the school with participating parents to plot the year and they would work together in planning the garden and teaching the children. The teachers at Murch began to incorporate the idea of a school garden and cooking into the classroom where they could utilize math and science in growing and recipes.—adding to the overall educational experience.
Ellen and Todd plotted out a garden at Murch where parents, children and teachers planted greens and other vegetables. He then visited the school in time for the harvest , speaking to demonstrating ; setting up stations in the gym and outside where set up several stations in the gym or on the playground and gave kids simple tasks to do while preparing a meal for the entire group. Under the chef’s guidance they prepared an entire meal—hands on. Being involved in the process and participating in the meal from garden to table generated a new interest and excitement in creating healthy fare. “
“This ‘community cooking class’ allows for greater awareness of the importance of growing products and cooking together,” Ellen Gray said. “There is greater awareness of families and communities growing and cooking together.”
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Bend It Like...
June 16, 2010
It’s world cup time—and that can mean one thing… yes, Wise Guy, I know it means soccer. But, it also means diverse group gatherings, friendly competition—much more friendly than in some of the international stadiums –restaurants and bars open at odd hours of the morning and flags being flown, colors being displayed and a myriad of brightly colored jerseys being worn. Embassies are getting into it as well. Yup—DC is the perfect spot for a little world-wide celebration of athleticism.
So what better thing to do on a scorching 90-some-odd degree day complete with about 3000% humidity, than to stand packed like sardines, shoulder to shoulder with over 2,000 people outdoors for World Cup Soccer. For those whose motto is “never let ‘em see you sweat,” this was probably not the best place to be. I’ll just leave the “yuck” factor there.
Of course, given the amount of individuals, those not arriving for a plumb seat by 7 a.m. are probably out of luck as far as any significant sight lines of even a large screen. Even when a glimpse here or there is possible, the players look like M & Ms kicking a Tick Tack. But this is where the real fun begins. Here’s where strangers become entertainment; where people you didn’t know an hour prior become friends. It all begins with the nickname.
“Hey! Red-Shirt Guy…down in front!” Red Shirt Guy happened to be about 6’2”. To his credit, he apologetically moved a little to the left, affording those of us smaller in stature and farther away a clear shot to the screen without compromising his view of the game. Thank you Red Shirt Guy. Soon to follow included “Gesture Guy,” “Big Hat Man,” “Bikini Woman,” and our favorite “Angel from Heaven,” a little girl equipped with a spray bottle and cold clean water who was kind enough to alternately spray our group and random passersby for the best heat relief of the day.
“Great. So you hang with a group of very dubiously clever people,” you say. Not the point. The point is that in a group of multi-thousands brought together in a somewhat impromptu show of spirit, there was not one angry word uttered, not one incident of violence; and conversation with fellow humans of diverse countries, backgrounds. There was sharing of water, food, (ahem) high-test liquids and good cheer. There were Vuvuzelas being blown without noise complaint, cheering and camaraderie.
At this point, I could make the obvious and probably trite note that if we could solve all the world’s issues with soccer balls, there would be a lot less carnage and tragedy…and maybe, for better or worse, coaches instead of generals. Of course this is unrealistic, even if a better alternative to war. Not to sound Pollyanna-ish though, I do often wonder how it’s possible to show such an ability to engage in friendly competition and why, as human beings we can’t be equally as rational when it comes to larger issues? Rhetorical question—Discuss. Talk amongst yourselves, “Multiple Opinion Guys.” Maybe over some cold beverages and a little ‘football.’
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