Think of Washington holiday season traditions: The lighting of the White House Christmas Tree. Concerts at the Kennedy Center and National Cathedral. Oh, and the Washington Men’s Camerata’s quartets at 1789 restaurant in Georgetown.
For about 20 years, the carolers have been going from room to room in the historic restaurant nightly in season, serenading diners with harmonic renditions ranging from “Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming” to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”
Guests book far in advance to be sure to catch the tuxedo-clad singers while dining on holiday fare at one of the city’s finest restaurants from 7 to 9 p.m. from Dec. 16 through 24. Some of them return year after year.
Washington celebrities who have joined in the celebration have included Madeleine Albright, Gordon Peterson and Willard Scott. “Willard got up and threw his arms around us and sang along” recalls Brad Spencer, who organizes the gigs for the Camerata. Once, the restaurant asked a Camerata quartet to appear at the James Beard Institute in New York for a culinary event. The event was a presentation of "a Christmas dinner at 1789."
