The Stones

By Janet Donovan

At 1310 Kitchen in Georgetown, an evening unfolded that felt less like an event and more like a perfect night out — where rock ’n’ roll history, fine art and a memorable meal moved in sync.

At the center of it all was Chris Murray, the guiding force behind Govinda Gallery, whose ongoing series of presentations on iconic musical artists has become something of a cultural fixture. This time, Murray turned his attention — and his unmistakable enthusiasm — to The Rolling Stones, his favorite performing band. That personal connection set the tone: What followed was not just a presentation, but a lively, deeply felt celebration.

About the book: Rolling Stones 50 x 20 celebrates the remarkable fifty-year career of “The World’s Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Band” with images captured by twenty of the world’s greatest music photographers. Featured are more than eighty exceptional photographs that document the longevity of one of the most influential, enduring and controversial bands in rock history.

Through a dynamic audiovisual experience, Murray brought the Stones roaring into the room — decades collapse as Mick struts and the mythology of the band flickers vividly across the screen. But Murray doesn’t simply present; he animates. Stories surface with the ease of memory, rich with backstage texture and the kind of detail that transforms legend into something almost tangible.

Threaded through the evening is a meal by renowned chef Jenn Crovato, whose cooking adds its own layer of warmth and rhythm. The dinner is as thoughtfully composed as the presentation itself — inviting, generous and designed to be shared. Guests lean into conversation, into the images, into the moment as Georgetown’s usual polish gives way to something looser, more electric.

And just when the night seems to crest, it lingers.

After the presentation, guests were welcomed into a more intimate final act: The opportunity to meet Murray, have him sign copies of his book, The Rolling Stones: 50×20, and spend time with a selection of original signed prints featured in the program. These images — iconic, rare and alive with history — offer a tactile connection to the stories just told.

It’s a fitting close to an evening that refuses to feel finite. Because this isn’t just about The Rolling Stones — it’s about the enduring pull of culture, the way music and image and memory collide, and how, for a few hours in a Georgetown dining room, it can all feel thrillingly present again.

A good time, as promised, was had by all. And like any great Rolling Stones set, the night didn’t end so much as fade out ……………