
My Priorities for Ward 5D02
• Public safety collaboration with Ward 5 police
• Increase and improve existing green space
• Support for local arts and youth programs
• Responsible development in Ivy City
• Report the truth about The Crummell School Project
• Better communication with residents
• Sign the ANC Petition if you are a registered voter in Ward 5D02
• Volunteer to help with neighborhood outreach
• Share this website with neighbors and friends in Ivy City
• Stay connected for upcoming community events
Together we can continue building a stronger, safer, and more vibrant Ward 5D02.
1401 New York Avenue Northeast, Washington, DC, USA
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |

Pete Loftus began playing the piano during his early childhood, but it was not until the age of sixteen that he became truly dedicated to the instrument. While studying at the Dana School of Music in Wellesley, Massachusetts, he trained under several accomplished pianists who helped shape his musical foundation. Among them, his most influential teacher was Laszlo Gardony, Professor of Jazz Piano Studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Gardony’s mentorship inspired Pete to practice relentlessly and instilled in him a lifelong commitment to learning, musical expression, and artistic growth. Loftus was also one of the few students of Dr. Robert Moog, and studied several semesters of music synthesis with Moog. With piano as his applied instrument, he also studied the physics of sound from renowned physicists, Dr. Michael J Ruiz. During the year 1993, Loftus met jazz legend Dave Brubeck in Santa Monica, California who mentored and encouraged him to practice and would later share the same performance arena in 1999 when Pete was booked as a professional juggler performing on the International Auto Show Tour for Toyota and Brubeck was headlined for Nissan.
Although Pete became best known for his juggling skills, he implemented piano performance into his stage show and still practices everyday.
In 2012, Pete Loftus was commissioned by director Jason Sarrey to compose and record the original piano score for the short film Pickpocket.
Because the film tells a tragic love story, Loftus created a dark and atmospheric piano soundtrack to accompany the scene transitions, while composing a lyrical love theme for the opening sequence.
The result is an evocative musical backdrop that supports the film’s emotional arc from romance to tragedy.
You can watch the eleven-minute film and hear the score here.
My Previous Career - I usually performed this routine in the middle of my show. Juggling while playing the piano simultaneously was a lot of information for the brain to process, and for me it was a very difficult achievement. 2 in one hand while playing the chords or melody was tough, but 3 in one hand playing the melody and chords took way more practice and concentration. I used to get headaches from practicing this but it was fun.
Manhattan Serenade was composed by Louis Alter in 1928 a popularized in Paramount Productions “The Godfather” during the famous scene changes when Tom Hagen goes to California to meet with Hollywood movie producer Jack Woltz. Summertime is a classic by George Gershwin in 1934 for the famous musical/opera Porgy & Bess.
Both were arranged and performed by J. Peter Loftus.

J. Peter “Pete” Loftus was born Jerome Peter Loftus on September 20, 1968, at Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, Massachusetts. He grew up with his two sisters, Mimi and Genevieve, and maintained deep ties to Washington, D.C., where his family roots run generations deep. As a child, Pete spent significant time in the District and often visited his grandmother’s grave at historic Mount Olivet Cemetery in Ivy City, a neighborhood that would later become central to his life and career.
During his early years, the Loftus family also lived in Solomons Island, Maryland, while Pete’s father expanded his growing business ventures.
Pete’s father, Richard W. Loftus, Esq., was a pioneering figure in the cable television industry. A Washington native, he graduated from Gonzaga College High School and later from Georgetown University Law Center. His innovative work in early cable television helped contribute to the broadcast infrastructure used during NASA’s Apollo 11 lunar landing in 1969, and he founded AmVideo Corporation, one of the first privately owned cable television companies in the United States.
Known to friends and family simply as Pete, and to audiences by his stage name “PJuggle,” Loftus spent more than two decades performing internationally as a professional juggler and pianist. His unique blend of comedy, music, and juggling made him a sought-after entertainer at festivals, theaters, and corporate events around the world. Pete is fluent in Spanish, having worked and resided for many years in South America and the Caribbean. His credits include appearances on The David Letterman Show, CBS, TELEMUNDO, UNIVISION, National TV Commercials for Old Navy Clothing, NBC Sports, Price Chopper Supermarkets, and was a spokesperson for Toyota on The International Auto Show Tour.
Beyond the stage, Pete dedicated over ten years volunteering with the American Cancer Society, producing special performances designed to bring laughter and joy to children undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer.
After retiring from professional juggling in 2013, Loftus transitioned into the hospitality and food industry.
In 2015, he was recruited by seafood entrepreneur Gregory J. Casten, proprietor of Fish & Fire Food Group, to help develop and launch Ivy City Smokehouse, a multi-dimensional seafood business specializing in premium smoked fish products. The facility opened to the public in 2016 and quickly became a destination restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Since its opening, Pete has worn many hats, serving as Director of Operations, Musical Director, and Acting General Manager of The Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse, and most recently as Social Media Director, helping guide the restaurant’s growth and reputation.
Under Pete's leadership, the restaurant has received numerous accolades, including the Michelin Bib Gourmand (2017–2025) and recognition from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) for Best Casual Restaurant and Best Local Food Producer.
Drawing on his entertainment background, Loftus also created “The Music at Ivy City Smokehouse,” a live performance series that has hosted many celebrated artists, including Rare Essence, Backyard Band, Biz Markie, Rakim, PJ Sin Suela, Eli, helping connect the venue to the vibrant D.C. Go-Go and hip-hop music culture.
Pete currently resides in Ivy City, Washington, D.C., with his wife Anivierkys (“Grace”) Loftus Medina and their Bichon Frise, Milan. Active in neighborhood initiatives and community development, Pete has announced his candidacy for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) for Ward 5D02 in 2026.
Do you have questions about what I can do for your event? Are you interested in collaborating on a project? Send me a message, and I will get back to you soon.
1401 New York Avenue Northeast, Washington, DC, USA
Mon | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Tue | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Wed | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Thu | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Fri | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm | |
Sat | Closed | |
Sun | Closed |
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Vote For Pete Loftus Ward 5D02 ANC Candidate
1401 New York Avenue NE Washington DC 20002
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