06/29/2012
Here's another excerpt from our grant application -- this part talking about who we are:
With a Masters in Public Administration, Leslie has spent most of her career as a small business owner. From 1985 to 1997, she owned and operated the highly regarded Le Caprice – a French restaurant of only 45 seats that rated at the top of the “Best of DC” lists every year and was profiled in many publications, including the New York Times and USA Today. She came to the restaurant business with a love of French food and professional cooking skills honed at the Lycee Hoteliere de Strasbourg where she earned a Certificat d’Aptitude Professionel degree following a two-year course of study. After departing the restaurant business in 1997, Leslie returned to her interest in the public sector and, with business partner Jeff Agnew, has worked with a broad spectrum of clients over the past fifteen years in the communications firm Blakey & Agnew, LLC.
Joe received a degree in Environmental Design from North Carolina State University and has been a practicing independent architect licensed in DC and Virginia since 1979. His clients include a number of schools, churches, hospitals, foreign embassies, as well as commercial buildings and private homes. His talent for working with people to understand and visualize just what they want and how that desire can be realized in an appealing and practical way has fueled a word-of-mouth market for his services based entirely on referrals. Because much of his work in DC with embassies and consulates has involved historic buildings, he has extensive knowledge of the restoration process and a large network of capable construction and skilled-labor contractors. He is also well versed in building codes and safety regulations as well as the permitting process for historic properties.
Joe’s commitment to the environment has fostered a love of gardening that is evident in the Mt. Pleasant Shabby Chic BnB grounds. Since purchasing the property in 2002, he and Leslie have planted 18 fruiting and flowering trees along with scores of shrubs, flowers and ground fruit. From these trees and plants comes the fruit – peaches, pears, cherries, figs, strawberries, and apples – that each season is used to make memorable jams and preserves served all year to B&B guests. A habitat for birds has blossomed in the garden that is also frequented by local honeybees kept by backyard apiarists nearby.
