No.1 January 02, 2008 - Washington, DC
Transcription
No.1 January 02, 2008 - Washington, DC
THE CURRENT Restaurants WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008 St. Albans Swim Program SWIM CLUB/ SWIM LESSONS SWIM CAMP / LIFEGUARDING POOL PARTIES / RENTALS NORTHWEST CHEFS Indebleu chef travels for authentic taste ROBERT GREEN Aquatics Director MARK LEWIS Assistant Aquatics Director 202-537-6462 322/ www.stalbansschool.org/swim By JULIA WATSON Current Correspondent T o extend his research into Indian cuisine, Ricky Moore is taking a couple of weeks off to immerse himself in spices at the hands of a master Indian chef. In India? No, in Toronto, with the renowned owner/chef of Cuisine of India, Shishir Sharma. Established at Indebleu since November as executive chef, Moore isn’t anticipating turning the Penn Quarter restaurant into a destination for fiery rogan josh and eye-watering biryani. Instead, he describes the cuisine this way: “It’s going to be seasonal American, Indian-inspired. Not too much frou-frou.” So mussels come curried, with a kaffir lime aioli. Scallops are cardamom-glazed. Lamb chops arrive with garlic mashed potatoes, the Indian angle found in the accompanying green lentils, mojito reduction and the fact that they’re roasted in a tandoori oven. “I’m going to be true to what India brings in terms of heat, but not in every dish,” Moore says. He emphasizes the seasonal more than the Indian slant: “I want to make sure when someone eats here, whatever the preparation, they are going to feel and know what time of year it is by the ingredients.” Moore came to Indebleu from Agraria, the Washington Harbour restaurant owned by the family farmers that supply its produce. So he’s deeply committed to seasonality and careful sourcing. His other attachment to the land comes through the youth leadership program Green Youth Farm, for which he is an adviser. The volunteer organization encourages teens to develop business skills and self-confidence through running two organic farms in Chicago. His Chicago ties go back to time as executive chef at the Parrot Cage Restaurant and South Water Kitchen. From there the North Carolina native came to Washington to work with Roberto Donna at Galileo, Jeffrey Buben at Vidalia, Todd Gray at Equinox and Gray Kunz at Lespinasse, now closed. He credits his mother, Arlene McClease, with his enthusiasm for cooking. (His other influences are an interesting mixed bunch: Sidney Poitier; Norman Rockwell; James Baldwin; Fernand Point, the greatest culinary influence on modern French cuisine; Grandmaster Flash; Ayn Rand; and Alain Chapel, one of the fathers of “Nouvelle Cuisine.”) Raised in New Bern, N.C., by a strong set of matriarchs, he describes his grandmother as a multitalented woman who taught the family to enjoy the Sunday meal. “Supper started at 12 noon and ended around 6 o’clock. There were usually 12 around the table, eating good Southern country cooking.” Later, studying at the Culinary Institute of America, he wrote a report comparing his family’s cooking with the cooking of rural France. “I grew up with chicken in a pot with onions and herbs, a dish similar to coq au vin; one-pot dishes, good country fare.” He cites cassoulet, the slow-cooked French casserole of beans, Chef Ricky Moore shared with The Current his recipe for Tandoori Marinade. It can used for baked fish, chicken, steak or chops. 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 2 teaspoons red chili powder 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (available at Whole Foods) 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, peeled and grated 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and 15 Mount St. Alban Washington, D.C. 20016 FOR OVER 37 Friendship Terrace Retirement Community Bill Petros/The Current Indebleu executive chef Ricky Moore grew up with Southern country cooking. sausages and joints of meat and fowl, as another example. “We had kidney beans with ham inside — so similar. And we’d eat it with killer crusty bread,” the same way the French serve it, he says. Moore, his three brothers and his sister always enjoyed eating, he says, and they threw big parties. Still, he didn’t immediately attend culinary school, instead going to college to major in graphic arts. But soon he decided he’d rather go see the world. So he left and joined the military. For the next seven years he was stationed all over the world. “I learned to eat the way the locals did. There were a lot of common denominators with here. In Germany, they had rotisserie chicken. Same as here, on a spit; came with french fries and garlic mayonnaise.” In Korea he discovered kimchi, brined pickled vegetables served with every meal. “For me it was so cool to know people buried cabbage in the ground with spices and let it ferment.” On Sept. 11, 2001, he was cooking at Le Tarbouche (now Restaurant Kolumbia). “I worked all that day. All of a sudden I thought, I know where this is going. I said to my wife, ‘You know what? We need to take a sabbatical.’” He had watched French chef Michel Husser, owner of Le Cerf in Alsace, a two-Michelin-star restaurant, battle “the king of Iron Chefs,” as Hiroyuki Sakai was dubbed, on the popular TV show. “I said, ‘I think I want to work there.’ So I e-mailed him and set it up.” Thus began a six-month stay in France, working first with Husser, then in Paris at Apicius and Le Violin d’Ingres. His wife, who is an information technology specialSee Chef/Page 25 CHEF’S CHOICE grated 1 cup yogurt, thick Butter for basting 1 onion, sliced thin 1 lemon, cut into wedges 1 teaspoon chaat masala (from Indian markets) Mix cilantro, lemon juice, chili powder, paprika, garlic, ginger and yogurt in bowl. To use, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Apply marinade to fish, chicken, steak or chops. For chicken or fish, place on a baking tray and bake (about eight minutes for fish, 30 minutes for chicken). Baste with butter and bake five minutes more until done. For steak or chops, broil or grill to desired degree, removing to baste about two to three minutes before the end. Serve hot with thinly sliced onions and lemon wedges. Finish with a sprinkle of chaat masala. Studios rent for $936 including dinner, utilities, weekday shuttle bus, activities and more. • No Income Maximum • Tenleytown Location • Close to Metro YEARS Affordable Apartments for Active Seniors OPEN HOUSE 4201 Butterworth Place, NW 202-244-7400, Ext.18 Thursday, January 10th 1:30-3:30pm www.friendshipterrace.org A service of Episcopal Senior Ministries Thursday, January 24th 1:30-3:30pm YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO FEEL BETTER NOW!!! Relief... from Stress, Pain & Joint problems 10% OFF 1st Visit for New Clients • • • • • • • • • • • • Back / Leg / Neck / Hip Pain Headaches/Fibromyalgia Carpal Tunnel/Arthritis Auto/Orthopedic Injuries Scar Tissue Rehab Deep Tissue / Swedish Massage Thai Yoga Massage Myofascial / Trigger Point Craniosacral Therapy Acupuncture Lymphatic Drainage Posture Re-education WE CARE ABOUT YOU! Physical & Massage Therapy ASSOCIATES 202.966.2033 www.physicalmassage.com 4000 Albemarle St., NW, #501 Tenleytown / AU Metro (Red Line) INSURANCE/MEDICARE ACCEPTED Sat. Avail. – by Appt. Only 16 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008 N CH THE CURRENT Northwest Real Estate Now Offering $25 Tuition Discount & Tuition Rebates REALwww.shouldisellrealestate.com ESTATE CAREER? For information about REALTOR™ pre-licensing class and free career seminars, Call Today. d Call Brenda Small - Manager Limiteng! 202.362.3400 Seati 4050 Chesapeake St. NW BROTHEL From Page 3 trafficking. Citizens association president Jackie Blumenthal said her neighborhood group has encouraged neighbors for the past two years to write to the property’s landlord and has contacted the police about TRAIL From Page 6 Susan Jaquet tearing down trees or rerouting the path through the center of the southern portion of the park. “It’s such an objectionable idea,” said Russell Katz, a member of Friends of Rose Park and the Citizens Association of Georgetown. “And I find it frustrating that it’s even being posited.” Bicycles frequently use the path, and they should not, said Katz, who called himself an avid biker. “It’s really dangerous. ... There’s not enough room for two bikes to pass each other all the time.” But Rock Creek Park superintendent Adrienne Coleman said she does not understand why residents are discussing the issue, because the path is already mixed-use for bicycles and pedestrians. Part of the path is owned by the Park Service and part by the city, she said. “It’s always been mixed-use,” Coleman said. “It has never been designated for one particular use.” She noted that all of the paths in Rock Creek Park are mixed-use. Coleman said that the D.C. Venus Spa and OK Spa. The group was also in communication with Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh about the establishment, and Blumenthal said Cheh’s involvement was “instrumental in targeting the property as a nuisance property.” “The police did a really remarkable job in tracking this down and fixing this,” Blumenthal said. Department of Transportation has submitted a proposal to the National Park Service for rehabilitation and restoration of large sections of the Rock Creek Park trail, which stretches from Georgetown to Broad Branch Road. The Rose Park path is part of the project. Coleman said the Park Service is continuing to review the proposal. Georgetown activists say they have waited a long time for rehabilitation but hope that widening the path is not part of the plan. Georgetown advisory neighborhood commissioner Tom Birch, whose district includes Rose Park, said that widening the trail would consume green space that is otherwise there for park enjoyment. “Our position is the same that it was a year ago, which is to maintain the path the width that it is now,” Birch said, noting that the neighborhood commission voted in December 2006 to support the path’s rehabilitation but not its widening. Katz said he hopes that the city can soon get the project under way but that neighbors have not heard specifics from the Transportation Department. ce Counts. Now more than Eve n e i r e p r. Ex 4 3 1 2 7 8 2 4 0 2 FIRE From Page 1 about 50 percent if his or her home has a smoke alarm, he explained. In July, the D.C. Fire Department launched an ambitious program to ensure every home in the District has working smoke alarms. The Smoke Alarm Verification and Utilization (SAVU) Program was started after 5year-old Asia Sutton died in a house fire where no working smoke alarms were present. Under the program, which Crosswhite is heading, firefighters and volunteers go door-to-door once a month to check on whether the homes have working smoke alarms. If they do not, alarms will be installed free of charge. Residents may also request that a smoke alarm be installed in their home by calling 202-727-1600, going to www.fems.dc.gov, or visiting their local fire station. The smoke alarms that the department is giving out “are not the cheap kind either,” said Crosswhite. Supported by corporate and private donations, the department provides two types of alarms. One alarm is a combination smoke and carbon-monoxide detector. The other is designed to help wake children during a fire. It records the sound of a relative’s voice, which is far more effective in waking up children than the typical, highpitched beeping, Crosswhite said. “There’s no reason why every home in the District doesn’t have a smoke alarm,” Crosswhite said. “We need to get out there and protect our citizens.” Teare said she was particularly struck by the kindness shown by one of the members on the fire prevention team, who visited the block several hours after the fatal midmorning fire had been extinguished. “And then, I think because she [the firefighter] realized this had been so traumatic for the block, she said, ‘Give me a hug.’ And we had this very nice embrace.” Homes for the New Year 5208 41st Street, NW Chevy Chase, DC 5358 43rd Street, NW Chevy Chase, DC Specializing in NW DC Homes 202-365-8118 (Direct) 202-686-0029 (Home Office) Habla español • Parle français For All Your Real Estate Needs susanjaquet@aol.com 301-229-4000 DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH. Vintage 3BR/2BA stucco Colonial with inviting wraparound porch and beautiful architectural details. Detached 3-car garage with in-law suite/office/studio above. Wonderful expansion potential. Offered at $929,000 BOTH M INU TO MET TES R AND W O ORLD CLASS SHOPP ING! Wishing you a Happy New Year, SOPHISTICATED CITY HOME. Exquisite 8-year-old 4-level end unit townhouse with great character and charm. 3 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB, includes spacious master suite with fireplace, gourmet eat-in kitchen, family room with fireplace, deck, 2-car garage, three exposures, lovely views throughout. Offered at $1,250,000 OPEN SUNDAY, JANUARY 6TH FROM 1–4 202-276-6902 301-907-7600 (o) Pam.Ryan-Brye@longandfoster.com PROVEN RESULTS • CREATIVE MARKETING 23 YEARS EXPERIENCE N 18 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008 Begin an excellent new career! LET OUR 103 YEARS OF REAL ESTATE SALES PROVIDE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO HELP YOU EXCEL. Begin in small classes with our Director of New Agent Training, and continue with unparalleled company support and mentoring. CLASSES BEGIN FEBRUARY 2008 Call Louise Holland, 202.243.0400 or lholland@hagner.com for additional information. Randall Hagner Ltd. www.hagner.com THE CURRENT Northwest Real Estate ANC 1C ANCMorgan 1C Adams ■ ADAMS MORGAN The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 2 at Mary’s Center, 2355 Ontario Road NW. Agenda items include: ■ police report. ■ consideration of Alcoholic Beverage Control licensing matters. ■ discussion of the National Marathon. For details, call 202-332-2630 or visit anc1c.org. ANC 2A ANCBottom 2A Foggy ■ FOGGY BOTTOM / WEST END The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16. The location has not been determined. For details, call 202-736-1775. ANC 2B2B ANC Dupont Circle ■ DUPONT CIRCLE Thinking of changing careers? Like the flexibility and earning potential of real estate sales? Confused by brokers’ claims that all sound the same? Only one broker can be #1 in producing Top First Year Licensees: Ricki Gerger, of Long & Foster’s Friendship Heights Office. More agents who have achieved Top First Year Licensee honors have been from Ricki’s office than from any other office in the Metropolitan area. If you have a record of success in your past endeavors, can make a full-time commitment to our business, and have a strong work ethic, call me. Ricki Gerger Ricki Gerger, CRB Branch Manager 202-364-5200 • 301-652-2777 5101 Wisconsin Ave, NW • Washington, DC 20016 • www.MetroDCHomes.com SEXY IN THE CITY! You won’t believe the price! Space, light and location make this Dupont Circle 2BR/2BA a perfect co-op unit! Located in a 1917 Beaux Arts Wardman building, this city chic unit boast 9.5’+ ceilings, a huge master bedroom, full size w/d, renovated kitchen w/professional SS appliances, stained glass wall art, and a marble entry foyer! Classic bath with clawfoot tub, and renovated bath with marble tile shower offer style and character. PETS OK! SAVE $$ on settlement costs by buying a co-op! Plus, RE Taxes and all util. except. elec are included in fee! Polly Driscoll 202-607-7042 Courtney Sopp 202-607-5652 202-326-1300 Take a virtual tour at www.expertsinrealestate.com The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. For details, visit dupontcircleanc.net. ANC 2D2D ANC Sheridan-Kalorama ■ SHERIDAN-KALORAMA The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church, California Street and Phelps Place NW. For details, call 202-744-5770, email ancperlmutter@aol.com or visit dcnet.com/anc/2d. ANC 2E ANC 2E Georgetown ■ GEORGETOWN / CLOISTERS Cloisters BURLEITH / HILLANDALE The commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 1524 35th St. NW. Agenda items include: ■ police report. ■ transportation report. ■ election of officers and appointment of committees. ■ community comment. ■ discussion of the National Park Service’s environmental impact statement on the Georgetown University Boathouse. ■ discussion of the Rose Park pedestrian path. ■ discussion of the voluntary agreement with Epicurean and Co. ■ consideration of zoning and planning matters: 1671 Wisconsin Ave., Expertise Landscape sign scheme, including wall-mounted, gatemounted and projecting signs (existing permit); 1514 34th St., residence, shed at rear of property; 3401 Dent Place, residence; 1525 34th St., residence, two-story rear addition; 1310 Wisconsin Ave., TMobile, replacement of cellular antennas on roof or replacement of chips on equipment console; 3034 M St., Juicy Couture, sign scheme, back-lit brass letters on M Street, pin-mounted on Thomas Jefferson Street; 3270 M St., Shops at Georgetown Park, alterations and additions for mixed-use residential and retail building; 3245 M St., Tackle Box, new storefront; 3303 M St., Qdoba Mexican Grill; 3429 M St., Dixie Liquor, replacement of storefront window, existing deck and alterations; 3509 M St., commercial, Spinal Arts Institute, rear addition, alterations; 1063 Thomas Jefferson St., commercial, replacement of front door; 1046, 1048, 1050, 1052 and 1054 Potomac St. and 1025, 1027 and 1029 33rd St., RB Properties Inc., Caton’s Walk alterations, rear addition, rooftop additions; 1516 29th St., residence, partial demolition, two-story rear addition, shed-dormer; 1206 30th St., Sotheby’s, sign, alterations to storefront and planters; 3103 P St., residence, new window openings, alterations, rear side addition to replace covered porch; 1229 Wisconsin Ave., Apple, facade alteration (concept); 3045 N St., multifamily residential, rear and side window and door alterations, rear roof deck (in progress); and 2727 Q St., residence, site alterations, driveway, parking lot. For details, call 202-338-7427 or visit anc2e.com. ANC 2F ANCCircle 2F Logan ■ LOGAN CIRCLE The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle NW. Agenda items include: ■ election of officers. ■ reports from the Metropolitan Police Department, the Executive Office of the Mayor and the D.C. Department of Transportation. ■ community announcements. ■ consideration of D.C. Department of Transportation matters. ■ consideration of crime and public safety matters. ■ consideration of Alcoholic Beverage Control matters: HR-57, 1610 14th St., application for restaurant-class license, sidewalk cafe, entertainment endorsement; and El Sauce, 1227 11th St., pending protest. ■ consideration of Community Development Committee matters. ■ consideration of 2008 meeting dates. For details, call 202-667-0052 or visit anc2f.org. ANC 3B ANCPark 3B Glover ■ GLOVER PARK/CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert St. NW. Agenda items include: ■ election of officers. ■ police report. ■ discussion and vote regarding the Glover Park liquor-license moratorium. ■ update on plans for the Stoddert Recreation Center (tentative). For details, call 202-338-2969, contact anc3b@aol.com or visit dcnet.com/anc/3b. ANC 3C ANC 3CPark Cleveland ■ CLEVELAND PARK / WOODLEY PARK Woodley Park AVENUE HEIGHTS MASSACHUSETTS Massachusetts Avenue Heights CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the 2nd District Police Headquarters, 3320 Idaho Ave. NW. For details, call 202-232-2232 or visit anc3c.org. ANC 3D ANCValley 3D Spring ■ SPRING VALLEY/WESLEY HEIGHTS Wesley Heights PALISADES/KENT/FOXHALL The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, at Ernst Auditorium, Sibley Memorial Hospital, 5255 Loughboro Road NW. The meeting was rescheduled due to the holidays. Agenda items include: ■ police report. ■ community concerns. ■ consideration of a public-space application to permit installation of a parking pad and removal of five feet of an existing retaining wall at 2836 Arizona Ave. ■ election of officers. For details, call 202-363-4130 or visit anc3d.org. ANC 3E ANC 3E Tenleytown ■ AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK American University Park FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS/TENLEYTOWN The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 42nd and Fessenden streets NW. For details, visit anc3e.org. ANC 3F ANCHills 3F Forest ■ FOREST HILLS/NORTH CLEVELAND PARK The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Capital Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 3150 Chesapeake St. NW. For details, call 202-362-6120 or visit anc3f.org. ANC 3/4G ANCChase 3/4G Chevy ■ CHEVY CHASE The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Chevy Chase Community Center, Connecticut Avenue and McKinley Street NW. For details, call 202-363-5803 or send an e-mail to chevychaseanc3@verizon.net. ANC 4A ANC 4A Colonial Village ■ COLONIAL VILLAGE/CRESTWOOD Shepherd Park SHEPHERD PARK/BRIGHTWOOD The commission will meet at 7:15 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Fort Stevens Recreation Center, 13th and Van Buren streets NW. For details, call 202-291-9341. THE CURRENT Real Estate DOG From Page 1 is under investigation. Morauw declined to give specific details of the incident, but he said he was in view of the dog when the officer shot it and the dog did not approach him in a menacing way, either by lunging or attacking. “At this stage of where we stand, I’m waiting to see the results of that investigation of the police. ... To me it wasn’t necessary to shoot the dog,” Morauw said. He said his dog had never attacked a person or an animal. “Scooby was like an overgrown puppy. He was the most gentle dog — not only with humans, but with other dogs. He didn’t have an ounce of aggressive activity.” Morauw confirmed that the dog was not on its leash, but he said that’s common in the West End park, which has become a de facto off-leash area. D.C. law requires owners to keep dogs on their leashes except in certain planned dog parks, which have not yet been established. The dog shooting was not the first such incident in Northwest D.C. In August 2005, an officer shot a Weimaraner in the Palisades, and in September 2006 a police officer shot a dog in Dupont Circle’s center park. In the 2005 incident, the officers had responded to a false alarm at the house, and they were in the driveway when the owner arrived home. The owner opened the garage door, and her dog ran out into the front yard. It stood and barked at the officers, who took out their guns and aimed at the dog. The officers told the owner to control her dog, but she hesitated to approach while the officers’ weapons were drawn, according to a family friend, and one of the officers shot the dog. The incident outraged many neighbors, who said it was cruel and that the police department should better train its officers in dealing with dogs. In the 2006 shooting, bystanders said the dog was harmless and reported being shocked at the use of a firearm in the circle park. The Washington Humane Society has said that it would not press animal-cruelty charges for such a shooting, explaining that a charge of cruelty is tagged to only deliberate or long-term neglect. The society reported that many police officers are afraid of dogs and that it offers training for officers to help them learn to respond to barking dogs and to understand signs dogs give. A blog that appears to have been created on Dec. 26, at dogsdc.blogspot.com, descibes the Dec. 24 shooting. It calls for residents to “help stop unnecessary killings of dogs and help protect police officers by giving them proper training.” N CH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008 19 THE CURRENT MARKET From Page 14 in front of a soda counter from the late 1950s, with the original stools and even some original soda fixtures behind the counter. It looks like something straight out of an old movie or TV show, with characters sitting around ordering milkshakes and hamburgers. This shop on my block has a full deli menu, with items made to order behind the counter. There is also a grocery section, with a few aisles of essential items. I first heard about The Massachusetts Avenue Deli & Market from a fellow build- INDEBLEU From Page 15 ist, didn’t need persuading to move. She’s his food companion, he says. And he had no problem with the language. “The fun part is, you go to another country and the language of the kitchen is cooking. Everybody does the same thing wherever you go. Sauté is the same everywhere. It’s all about cooking at the end of the day.” What most impressed him about French cooking was its respect for regionality. “They don’t get caught up in trends. They say, ‘This is my version of choucroute,’ not because this other person is doing it this way. The food is un-fluffed-up.” SHOPPING From Page 13 too small. No amount of tugging or shoehorning (“Go ahead, yank!” urged Casey, my sales assistant, with exquisite concern for any pain I might be in. “You can’t hurt the boot!”) would get my ugly-stepsister-sized foot into that 38 Dries Van Noten. Finally even Casey admitted defeat. (Usually he only concedes minor skirmishes, such as when he approaches the dressing room — “I’m really excited about this idea; are you decent?” — swaths me with pieces that sum to way too much fabric, then stands back, cocks his head and says, “I hate it!”) Of course once I acknowledged that the boots didn’t fit and Relish had no more in my size, they were all I wanted. Casey surreptitiously wrote down the names of three other places I could look — all in New York. “Try Barney’s first,” he advised conspiratorially. When I called Barney’s, they were very mean. “We’re all sold out in the larger sizes.” Hey, this is America, not Belgium. Eight and a half is not a “larger size.” My resolve stiffened; I was determined to find these boots no matter how many insults I had to endure. I contacted the Dries public relations people and got in touch with Maria, who said she was going on vacation but would turn my request over to someone else, who had an extended-absence greeting on his email. As Nancy, I don’t give up. I don’t care if the stories about me ing resident — the ever-friendly Clint, who has been walking over every morning for 25 years or so to sit on a stool at the counter and have his morning coffee. Clint and another fellow resident of my building, Jane, are regulars at the shop, friendly faces always happy to say hello and talk. I stop in from time to time to pick up some groceries, but my favorite time spent is at the counter. Something magical happens when customers sit on those stools. The fast pace of life seems to slow down. Perhaps it’s the friendly atmosphere. Perhaps it’s feeling like a character in an old movie. Or perhaps it is just the energy in there. I always leave feeling happy. Moore and his wife live in Arlington with their daughter, Hunter Johanna, age 3. “She has a great palette,” he says. “She eats what we eat. There’s no such thing as child food in our house.” They have another baby on the way, and Moore now finds himself at a stage in his career when he can focus more on his family. “I believe at this point where I am, everybody in this business has worked really hard. Now you have ability to plan, to teach your team to execute work for you. At the end of the day, the family comes first, everyone else second.” Indebleu (202-333-2538; Indebleu.net) is located at 707 G St. NW. Main courses cost $17 to $32. are formulaic and identical, written according to a strict prescription by skilled workers in Mumbai and churned out by a factory somewhere in China under the magical nom de plume of Carolyn Keene. If that’s all you can see, you’re missing the point. Much more important, the spirited titian-haired detective would never be daunted by some weenie Europeans who don’t make big-enough boots. The week between Christmas and New Year’s found me in Los Angeles, where every single person except for me was wearing fabulous boots. (As well as little tam o’shanter-style hats, I might add, but that’s a separate story.) Finding myself with a free morning and few clues to pursue, I decided to place the key in the ignition and direct my roadster to Barney’s in Beverly Hills. Arriving in person, my plan was to give them my best Nancy, polite yet firm. I would ask for the boots and the helpful sales clerk would fetch the boots. In my size. And oy gevult if it didn’t work. As Randy Newman says, “We love L.A.” Although it wasn’t the exact same pair (sorry, Casey, I am cringing), they were the color, the look, the designer I wanted. Christmas guilt absolved, Barney’s forgiven, Casey’s vision realized (mostly), retailers on the rebound. Nancy rules. I love and adore my new boots. Next year for Hanukkah I will have to give them to myself in a different color. (NB: Nancy never aged beyond 18, but instinct tells me that the Ned thing never panned out and she married his roommate, Ben.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008 I have sat at the counter next to Clint and Jane, eating my breakfast, poring over papers, studying for graduate school exams. I have dropped in for an afternoon sandwich and sat chatting with fellow customers and employees long after I finished. I have run into friends there and even a former professor. Many of the 4000 Massachusetts Ave. building’s residents — who have lived there for decades — rely on the grocery store and the owner, Alex, for necessary items on a regular basis and when getting out to a larger grocery store proves too difficult. Alex knows all his customers by name, and even their specific tastes and needs. He has been ANTIQUES From Page 14 25 years — and who normally charges $175 an hour for a written evaluation. Another event that might be of general interest at the show is the loan exhibition, which concentrates on this year’s show theme of “Inspirations From the Garden.” Curated by Gretchen Bulova of Gadsby’s Tavern Museum in Alexandria, the exhibit includes items from 14 area museums and historic houses, as well as from private collections that are otherwise not on public view. Because the theme is so broad, Bulova decided to concentrate on pieces that not only had floral imagery or garden associations, but also connections to local residents. These range from the possessions of relatively ordinary citizens — like a sampler made by a 12-yearold Alexandria girl in the early 19th century — to those of well-known historical figures — like a watering can from the estate of George Washington. And the period covered extends up to the 20th century, 25 known to carry groceries up to apartments of residents unable to carry them themselves, and to take special requests for products. Where else in our modern and hurried lives can we find such history, charm and character? One of the wonderful things about D.C. is that these distinctive little historical treasures are around to be discovered and enjoyed. They can be stumbled upon from time to time — if you keep your eyes open. So next time you are somewhere in the city that seems ordinary, look a little closer. Don’t be afraid to explore and see what might really be there, beyond the surface. You just might come across a gem of your own. including, for example, a pair of floral brocade slippers belonging to Marjorie Merriweather Post, famous for her gardens at her Forest Hills estate, Hillwood. The types of objects in this exhibit are varied, from “very utilitarian, ordinary things” embellished with floral imagery to elaborate decorative pieces. From Georgetown’s Tudor Place, said Bulova, “there’s a beautiful presentation urn that was given to them for their garden in 1835. It’s made of Tucker porcelain — the first American porcelain maker.” From Henry Francis du Pont, there’s a more practical item: “his own garden shears, in a monogrammed pouch.” Famous for his house and garden, Winterthur, in Delaware, du Pont also has a local connection: He lived for a while in Georgetown, according to Bulova. The show will feature 45 dealers with antiques of all kinds, including furniture, artwork, china, silver and jewelry. Show organizers say they have offerings for everyone. “The show is for collectors of every level,” said Helen Burnett, who has been a publicity committee volunteer with the show for three years. The show also offers two lectures. The New Collector’s Lecture on Saturday is by author James Archer Abbott, expert on the Parisian decorating firm of Maison Jansen (1880-1989). The Friday luncheon and lecture extends the garden theme with a talk by Chip Callaway, specialist in historic garden restoration and design. The show will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St., from Jan. 11 through 13, with a preview night on Jan. 10. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Antiques appraisals will be offered from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Advance reservations are required for the New Collector’s Lecture on Saturday ($75) and Friday luncheon and lecture ($80). Tickets cost $15 per day or $25 for the whole run. Proceeds will go to Thrift Shop Charities, a nonprofit incorporated in the District in 1930 that supports the Children’s National Medical Center, the Rosemount Center and St. John’s Community Services Inc. More information is at washingtonantiques.org. Come Join Us... H lun ave wi ch th us ! Great times. Good friends. People who care. Distinctive retirement living. 1SJWBUF4VJUFTt'JOF%JOJOHt4PDJBM$VMUVSBM"DUJWJUJFT $IBVČFVSFE4FEBOt"TTJTUFE-JWJOH4FSWJDFTt/P&OUSBODF'FF The Georgetown 24USFFU/88BTIJOHUPO%$tXXXUIFHFPSHFUPXODPN Call us for a tour: 202-338-6111 ".FEBMMJPO$PNNVOJUZ ASSISTED LIVING FOR INDEPENDENT PEOPLE