We can all safely breathe: The National Pinball Museum will stick to its current location in Georgetown until at least Sept. 5. Just days before its lease was to expire—when it expected to be given the boot—the non-profit received a short-term extension. Director of Operations Tiffani Huskey tells Arts Desk that all it took was an earnest letter to the property management company.

"I think it shows perseverance and commitment for a property management company to keep a community organization open as long as it can," she says.

While the National Pinball Museum looks for a new, permanent home, patrons will still be able to stay and play for reduced rates. That hopefully means a winning tourist season for the museum, but Huskey has also seen a lot more District residents lately. "Locals were coming out in droves, which has been a really great thing because the museum, for all we know, will not be here in the state it is in now [after September]," she says.

Until then, operations will remain as normal as possible, with 200 machines remaining on exhibit in the museum's galleries.

Photo courtesy of Bernie Kelms.

Not the Right Look: Bill Starrels, the ANC commissioner who represents the bank's single member district, says the mural "wasn't keeping with the nature of the neighborhood." Starrels says that the mural is "too big, too bold" for the area. But Thomas Murphy, the president of retail banking at Eagle Bank, says the Old Georgetown Board rejected the mural proposal was because they felt "it was an advertisement for our bank." Murphy says:  "Our intent was to make an artistic gift to the neighborhood...the design in no way included our eagle logo or name ... [the mural] could be on any bank in the city." Peck also defended his design: "We have been doing murals with wildlife and eagles around the city for years," he says. This isn't the first time one of Peck's proposed murals has caused a tussle: Residents of Mount Pleasant bickered in January over his proposal for a community mural in that neighborhood. Members of the Old Georgetown Board did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

What's Next: It seems doubtful that there will be mural at 1044 Wisconsin Ave. in the near future. Murphy says that the bank will "likely not do a mural if it does not have an eagle," and it is unlikely that the Old Georgetown Board will give its approval as long as there is one present.

Designs courtesy Byron Peck

Brookland
This unassuming, family-friendly neighborhood in the shadow of Catholic University isn't the trendiest part of town, but that's not what its residents are looking for, anyway–they want value and a solid place to live long-term. Accordingly, the clothes they wear will be reasonably priced, classic pieces they'll still have in their closets ten years from now, from brands like Levis, L.L. Bean, and Eddie Bauer.

Capitol Hill
Filled with congressional staffers who wear suits on weekdays and play cornhole and beer pong on weekends, the residents of this 'hood are more likely to take chances on the flag football field than in fashion. They'll shop at sartorially safe, reasonably priced places like the Gap and the Brooks Brothers outlet at Potomac Mills on the way down to UVa for reunion weekend.

Columbia Heights
With a diverse, youthful population that heavily trends toward hipster, the residents of Columbia Heights typically have style–but not necessarily cash–to spare. Target is a convenient and affordale option, obvs, but the urban bohemians will also fill out their wardrobes at American Apparel and thrift stores.

Dupont Circle
Though City Paper dubbed Georgetown "Banana Republic Republic" two years ago in the Hoods & Services issue, the moniker might be more appropriate for Dupont. With career-oriented late-twenty-somethings and early-thirty-somethings whose tastes are preppy but with a bit of a Euro edge, Banana Republic–along neighborhood haunts like Benetton and G-Star RAW–is a natural shopping destination.

Georgetown
Contrary to popular perception, the 25-year-old prepsters roaming M Street in their Topsiders and Madras shorts aren't usually the inhabitants of Georgetown. No, it usually takes a few more decades for one to contemplate the purchase of one of the multi-million dollar homes that abound in the neighborhood. The well-heeled middle-aged-and-better residents have classic tastes, and price isn't an object: Look for them to shop designers like Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Oscar de la Renta.

Brent Patrick Keuch, creative director for Charles and Patrick, previously worked for Lilly Pulitzer, whose bright-patterned dresses are staples in the closets of preppy woman everywhere. During this time he gained plenty of experience working with prints, which prepared him well for designing Derby ties. He actually designed 250 prints for the Derby, both conservative and "Lilly Pulitzer-esque prints with lots of colors," he said. "They ended up choosing two of the more conservative prints."

The licensing agreement between Churchill Downs and Charles and Patrick is the first in the history of the 136-year-old race. “We wanted to test the waters with ties,” said Casey Cook, vice president of brand development and licensing. “When on thinks of the Derby, one thinks of a very classy, Southern genteel charm. Charles and Patrick really captured that essence.”

A native of Alexandria, Keuch attributes his appreciation for this aesthetic to his days as a boarder at the Christchurch School, about 75 miles east of Richmond on the Chesapeake Bay. “I had friends from places like Alabama and Georgia," he said. "I became accustomed to the classic ways that older Southern men used to dress.”

Keuch considers D.C. an inherently stylish locale: “With history comes style and fashion and class.” He is critical, however, of the more relaxed dress standards in present-day workplaces. “I see guys walking around in Georgetown after work, and they're wearing slacks and a button-down," he said. "They're not even wearing a jacket. Men used to wear a three piece suit everyday, even if they didn't have a job.”

Patrick and Charles ties are available on the Kentucky Derby website. Though the ties are not yet available for retail elsewhere, the company also makes custom-designed ties for boarding schools, social clubs, and yacht clubs.

Last Saturday night I was one of the few folks under the age of 60 in a crowd of around 80 people seeing them at Winston’s in Rockville.  I would have thought that more young DC rock fans would have been curious to check out the group.  Perhaps the hefty ticket price, the lack of publicity, and the not on Metro location kept folks away.  The band once featured the late Roy Buchanan (better known for his bluesier efforts and for reportedly being invited to join the Rolling Stones) on guitar.  At Winston’s the 67-year-old Howard, the one original member, was joined by onetime Walkers Steve Lacey (drums), Jack Brooks (bass) and Geoff Richardson (guitar, who later was a member of DC band Crank).  Billy Hancock sat in with the band on guitar and vocals. Members of onetime DC group Fallen Angels attended the gig as did Kim Kane from the Slickee Boys.

Howard had once played with Link Wray and led a prior group called Bobbie & the Hi-boys, but reportedly had not sung in years.  At Winston’s he alternated on vocals with Billy Hancock.  Howard apparently needed to rest his voice.  When he did take the mic, he sang with a raspy, early Rod Stewart-like blue-eyed soul approach.  The group did Bo Diddley's "Diddley Daddy," the early soul and rock standard “Shake,” “The Girl Can’t Help It,”and some garage-rocked-up Stax and Motown compositions just like the old days.  Ideally, for their second set of reunion gigs, Howard will be able to sing more.  Hancock is not bad, but he is not whom people are coming to see.

The British Walkers July 19 and July 20  at JVs, 6666 Arlington Blvd. (Rt. 50) Falls Church  Va. (sold out)