CarolJoynt.com

What's Wrong With This Scene?

What's wrong with this scene? The answer is easy: the Marriott ad, right smack in the middle of one of the best views of the Georgetown ice skating rink, popular for photos.  Seriously. I know it is a prime location for just such an ad, but what's next, a rink ringed with similar ads? Couldn't it have been placed somewhere just a little more discreet, not directly in the center of the photographic money shot. It takes some of the sweetness away from the whole operation.

"No Christmas Music!" says Tommy McFly, and more from The Q&A Cafe

It was an engaging and amusing hour with 94.7 Fresh FM deejay Tommy McFly today at The Q&A Cafe. We covered quite a lot of his life story, starting out in broadcasting at 14 in Scranton, PA., and the path that brought him to his current top-rated success in Washington. Also, his engagement to soon-to-be Maryland U.S. Senate candidate Chrys Kefalas.  And I asked, "have you started playing Christmas music?" "No," he said. "No Christmas music." The program airs on Friday 11/27 at 8pm on Comcast channel 16. 

Here are some other photos from today's taping ...

And after the taping, Tommy with friends 

Elizabeth Thorp on the left, TM and CJ, and to the far right 94.7 Fresh FM co-host Kelly Collis, and Jill Collins. 

We called this "two newly unemployed babes" with their "life coach," Tommy. Its true, this week Elizabeth and I had our jobs  suddenly "eliminated" by our respective employers, both magazines. Fair? No, not fair at all. Which is why we're both talking to lawyers. The flowers are from my former colleagues, who included a card with thoughtful messages. 

Mom Reports Possible Georgetown Car Hijacking Attempt

I share this because a lot of the "Swimming in Quicksand" readers live in Georgetown. It was sent to me after it appeared on the Georgetown Forum ListServe. It was posted by a woman who described herself as a "mother from Wesley Heights." I'm reprinting it, verbatim:

I want to make everyone aware as I know there are many others with young children in the neighborhood.

I took my young daughter to a music class this morning, near the intersection of Wisconsin and Q Street NW. At around 10:30am, I had just gotten her buckled back into her car seat when a group of what seemed to be teenagers started rushing up on me, trying to surround us and our SUV.

We were parked around 33rd St NW and Wisconsin Ave, NW (close to the A Mano store and Gtwn library). I turned quickly as I saw three additional young men headed quickly towards us and was able to slam the door and lock the car, outmaneuvering them as I raced to the other side. By some miracle I was able to jump into the other side of the car, again locking it behind me and evade one of the teens as he tried to get into the car.

As I tried to get out of the parking spot and get away from them, one grabbed what seemed to be a large rock and jumped up on the car and smashed it through my sun roof. Luckily, the cover on the inside of the roof was still closed and none of the glass rained down on us as it would have otherwise. I blared on the horn and they all ran off and I was able to get away with my daughter, to safety.

For those of you that have young children and must buckle them into car seats, please be extra careful and check your surroundings as you do this. I was digging around in the diaper bag looking for snacks when this happened to me, and I'll never make that mistake again.

Note: While I use a "crime scene" photo to illustrate this post, there's no indication the police were involved. 

Derek Brown at The Q&A Cafe: Now on YouTube

Here is Derek Brown's recent appearance on The Q&A Cafe. Derek is a Washington restaurant entrepreneur, and recently acclaimed "Bartender of the Year," who has Eat The Rich, Mockingbird Hill and Southern Efficiency in the Shaw neighborhood. He plans to reopen his Columbia Room at the end of the year in Blagden Alley. Its an interesting and wide-ranging conversation about his life and interests and, of course, the anthropology of cocktails. 

SAVE THE DATE: Georgetown Authors Night on Thursday November 19 @ St. Johns Church

(Please join me for what should be a lively, interesting and amusing night out in Georgetown, sponsored by the Citizens Association of Georgetown.)

The Notice from the CAG website:

An Evening with Georgetown Authors

Thursday, November 19, 2015 - 7:00pm

Location: St John's Episcopal Church - 3240 O St NW

Join us for an evening of lively conversation led by our own Carol Ross Joynt as she expertly explores the lives and literary projects of best-selling Georgetown authors including; Cathy Alter, Elaine Williams Crockett, Jane Stanton Hitchcock, Dr. Isabel Sawhill, and Leslie Morgan Steiner.

The evening will begin at 7pm with a 30-minute wine & light appetizer reception generously provided by Peacock Cafe. The one-hour program will begin at 7:30pm.

Books to compliment your personal library or for holiday gift giving will be available for sale and personal autograph during the reception period (cash & check sales only, please).

Following the event, meeting attendees can enjoy 30% off bottles of wine at Peacock Cafe (3251 Prospect St NW). There is also a wonderful $39.95 three course prix fixe menu. For reservations call 202.625.2740.