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Watch "The Sports Fix" - Thom Loverro & Kevin Sheehan - On The Q&A Cafe

Here are Thom Loverro, Kevin Sheehan and myself just after taping The Q&A Cafe. Below is the full show on YouTube. It's a romp - interesting, insightful, gossipy and fun. 

 

Ready For The Weekend

It's been a week of ups and downs. A definite up was Monday and a visit to Potomac, MD., to Congressional Country Club for the launch of the Quicken Loans National golf tournament, aka the "Tiger Woods tournament." Got to watch some golfers get acquainted with the course and also attend a motivational luncheon for businesswomen. 

The next day I got a tip and an exclusive about Donald Rumsfeld putting his Kalorama house on the market for $4.5 million. It's fun when that happens (the tip, not Rummy). Upshot: certified Rumsfeld started following me on Twitter. 

Another big writing moment was putting the story online about the German Embassy's plan to host a soccer viewing party at Dupont Circle. The party turned out to be a big draw, though not a happy result for U.S. soccer fans. 

The Dupont Circle party, btw, was no place for crowd phobics and I'm a crowd phobic. Nonetheless shot the requisite selfie, though don't feel it fully displays my discomfort.

Then there was a party for the Washington Kastles. Their annual tournament begins on July 9 at a new temporary venue, the Smith Center at George Washington University. The party was at a crowded and warm Eno Wine Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel. I had a nice pinot gris and a friendly chat with my friend (and team owner) Mark Ein. If you haven't yet watched Mark's appearance on The Q&A Cafe, it's recommended. Mark is at Wimbledon until his tourney begins.

At the very beginning of the week I learned how to decorate cookies at the home of my friend Larry Calvert, who teaches cookie decorating on a regular basis. I'll have more about that in the next issue of Washingtonian. I decorated six cookies and got a passing grade. My son ate all of them. He gave me an A+.

There was also a nice night out at the Library of Congresss, drinks at Rose's Luxury, and dinners in our garden. All of which combined to make it easier for me to accept/ignore some of the more vitriolic reactions to my coverage of Little Washington, Virginia's upset over development. Here's one from a resident out there who gave her professional affiliation as Time Magazine. "Carol, now that you have abused your membership on rappnet to get your juicy quotes, violated Ben's trust and exhibited execrable journalistic ethics I would think it was time you unsubscribed and left us alone." Sigh. Time's attitude toward journalism has changed a lot since I worked there as a writer in the New York Bureau. 

In sum: TGIF. I'm ready for the weekend.

It's Summer, The (Adult) Children Are Home

As you can probably tell it's embarassing to him ("hey, pose for a photo with your Mom"), but here I am out tonight with my darling son, Spencer, about to arrive at a party hosted by our friend Lyndon Boozer at the Library of Congress. Spencer indulges me by coming to some of these things -- and only some -- but I sometimes press because his GF, Katherine Davis, is in town from Houston and I think she likes to see the sights and sample the random perks. (In truth, they'd rather be in Shaw, at The Yards, or on 14th Street...and I can't blame them.).

The thrill for me was to show them the balcony view of the Reading Room, one of the capital's great and awe-inspiring spaces. 

Here are Spencer and Kate, on the balcony overlooking the Reading Room. And, below, a look up at the gorgeous ceiling, at twilight.

We also stopped by Rose's Luxury for a drink at the upstairs bar. Owner Aaron Silverman said that most nights now the wait for a table is down to one hour from the high water mark of 2-3 hours. If you haven't been, give it a try because the experience is big. One way to do it is stop by at, say 6 or 6:30, put your name down, and then take a walk in the Marine Barracks neighborhood while the time flies by before your table becomes available. I prefer reservations, personally, but that's not the way Aaron does it and its his place!

Getting It Done Without Disturbing The Peace

Since we've made some noise here about neighborhood renovations that have the nearby residents up in arms, props should be given where props are deserved. This house, over the last year and change, was gutted and renovated from top to bottom.  By and large, the project did not disturb the peace. There was one small dumpster, only reasonable claiming of parking spaces. What it proves is that it can be done without making a disruptive mess. 

How Little Washington, VA, Became Peyton Place, But Without The Sex

It was a turbulent stretch of days in Little Washington, VA., last week, after the issue of development seemingly divided the town. Some of my writing got caught up in it. Here is a very personal recap and some backstory on New York Social Diary. 

Staging, Okay, I'll Play, But Why So Dreary?

Every time I visit a "staged" house, as I did today, I'm hit with an overwhelming urge to return with area rugs and color, even chintz, which are out of fashion. The prevailing look is bare floors,  mud or grey colored upholstery and black pressed wood furniture. This is the Great Recession speaking, but wouldn't "all boats rise" with the lift of color? Do we really want the bottom of the economy to be the inspriation for our interior design look book?

I understand the staging concept, but I'd rather see an empty house than one with a lot of non-aspirational rooms. Real estate is crazy right now. Seller's market in the extreme. But c'mon, even hungry buyers want to be romanced. 

 

ESPN's Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro Do A Lively Q&A Cafe Interview

  

Thank you to Thom Loverro, left, and Kevin Sheehan, right, hosts of ESPN's The Sports Fix, for taking the time yesterday to do an interview with me for The Q&A Cafe. As expected, it was a lively and amusing discussion about DC sports, with the greatest amount of time spent on the Washington football team and its name controversy, less time on the Nationals baseball team and some quick hits on the Wizards, the Caps and Johnny "Johnny Football" Manziel, as well as some other famous names. 

We had a good turn-out, and I just want to say here -- when the Q&A tapings resume in September, if you haven't been, do try out our new venue at the George Town Club. If you were a fan of Nathans, you will like the clubby barroom where we tape the interview. It's intimate and the price is right: $35, all inclusive. 

What did Thom and Kevin have to say about the subjects discussed? A lot. You'll get your chance to watch them when the program airs Friday, June 27, on DCN, channel 16 on Comcast. A week after that it will be on YouTube and I will post it here.

In the meantime, tune in to Kevin and Thom's show, which is broadcast live daily from noon to 2pm on 980AM and also streamed online.

An Interview with Little Washington's Mayor, John Fox Sullivan

The developer-vs-the-town drama playing out in Little Washington, Virginia, has not abated as the calendar moves toward a crucial town meeting called for tomorrow night. In advance of that, I did an interview this morning with the town's mayor, John Fox Sullivan. Here is is: John Fox Sullivan Interview. 

Angry Little Washington Townsfolk Will Meet Thursday To Debate Development

MAIN STREET IN LITTLE WASHINGTON, VA. NOT AS PEACEFUL AS IT APPEARS

Little Washington, Virginia, is one of the most peaceful communities in the Washington area. I know. I've been visiting there since the mid 1970s and owned a home on Main Street from 1999 to 2004. But the calm demeanor has cracked loudly in the face of development plans from a big Washington developer. The vitriol has reached a point where the town's newspaper has organized a community meeting for this Thursday night. Read all about it at washingtonian.com.

On NYSD Today: Amb. Francois Delatttre Departs DC for the UN

AT THE HILLWOOD GALA, ELLEN CHARLES AND ADRIENNE ARSHT WITH AMB. DELATTRE

Today on New York Social Diary we look at Francois Delattre, the French ambassador to Washington who has been reassigned to the United Nations. Also, who will replace him at Maison Francaise? 

What Can You Do To Reclaim Your Life?

I POST A PHOTO FROM A ROAD TRIP, BECAUSE THIS IS A ROAD TRIP KIND OF QUESTION

Today's question: what can you do to relcaim your life? It's existential, of course, but timely.  Once upon a time I had a friend who was both Russian and French, who said to me, in one of those moments, "sometimes you just have to throw a bomb into your life, blow it up and start over." I understood the message. Stop, boom, reboot. I hope this helps answer the question.

Now that I have your attention...

PLEASE make a reservation for this Thursday's Q&A Cafe. Omigod, we will be talking NBA, NHL, Nats, the Washington NFL team, that owner, the name issue, maybe even some tennis and golf. 202-333-9330. $25 buys you the whole show, plus beer and ballpark food.

 

Julia Reed At The Q&A Cafe: Watch The Full Show Now

 

Mix yourself a drink (we chose Bloody Marys), sit back, sip and enjoy this show -- my long-form Q&A Cafe interview with author, columnist and general ranconteur Julia Reed. We had a good time, as did the live audience, and you will, too. What's discussed? Life and love, of course, but also New Orleans, Washington, Jean Harris (remember?), Garden & Gun magazine and lots of food. 

On New York Social Diary Today: Balls, Galas, Plus A Horse and a Caftan

 This may well be my favorite party photo of the week just passed, a week that included a gala, a barbecue, and a ball, as well as some friends winning the Belmont Stakes. It's all on New York Social Diary, where I also take a moment to praise a caftan. 

Here's What's On My Mind: RATS

Saw this little guy on the sidewalk near my house. Still alive, but barely. Maybe suffering the woes of rat poison. I don't see a rat a day, but I see a rat nearly every other day. Most often they are skittering along the edges of buildings or front gardens (they don't see very well) or they are dead. The rats live in tunnels underneath us, throughout Georgetown. They come up where there is food. 

Don't hate me for posting this photo. It's part of the world.