Author Archives: Topher

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Eastbanc is using AI to make Georgetown a destination. (Honestly that sounds dystopian to me…)
• Inside the new Osteria Mozza.

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Osteria Mozza sent out olive trees to influencers ahead of opening.
• Reminder: ANC meeting tonight.

Happy Halloween! I would like to celebrate as I have in previous years by reprinting a Georgetown ghost story as told by Tim Krepp in his fantastic Ghosts of Georgetown (which you should buy!):

Photo by Victoria Pickering.

Good morning Georgetown and happy Halloween! Here’s the latest:

• Be careful if you’re driving a car tonight! There will be lots a kiddies about and you should drive extra slowly!!
• Osteria Mozza set to open Nov. 10th.

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Murder Mystery dinner at 1310 Kitchen and Bar Thursday night.
• The Post ranks the 8 best restaurants in Georgetown.

The ANC is meeting for it’s November session next Monday night at 6:30 pm at Visitation.

Some of the topics we’ll be discussing include:

• Fall leaf collection
• Implementation of the Georgetown traffic and circulation recommendations
• New lights for Shaw Field on GU’s campus
• New Streatery guidelines released by the city

Here is the full agenda, see you then!

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Cox Row house sells for over $11 million, highest so far in 2024.
• One local newspaper is not afraid to make an endorsement!

Last week it was reported that Eastbanc was finally moving ahead with its long planned residential building at the intersection of Pennsylvania and M (where the Sandlot outdoor bar is now). I thought that was a good opportunity to dig back into this lots history with a Georgetown Time Machine.

Above is a photo from the DC Historical Society. It shows the Boys Club of Washington DC as it stood in the late 40s. Of course, the building itself was not originally constructed for the Boys Club. It was clearly a church. Specifically it was the Peck Memorial Chapel of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant (which later evolved into the National Presbyterian Church).

It was constructed in 1886 and used by the parish until 1938. At that point the building was sold to the Rotary Club, which used it to house the Boys Club until the late 40s when the Boys Club bought the land that later became Jelleff. Although the club sold the land to the city in 2009, it continues to operate the facilities (which are about to get a complete renovation).

The chapel build was demolished in 1951. A Lord Baltimore gas station was constructed in its place. This eventually was purchased by Eastbanc and itself demolished in 2018.

Here are few more photos of the chapel before it was demolished:

An aerial shot from the 40s.

Here is a mash-up of a view of the chapel with the modern day. Prior to the chapel being demolished, there was already a Lord Baltimore service station next door. The whole lot was replaced by a larger (award winning) Lord Baltimore station following the chapel’s demolition:

This was the building torn down in 2018.

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• New Jose Andres-linked hotel moving forward.
• Longtime Georgetowner columnist, Mary Bird, passes away.

The annual Marine Corps. Marathon is this Sunday. And that means certain road closures will be in effect in the morning hours.

Specifically, from about 5:30 AM until about 10:30 AM, Key Bridge, M St. west of Wisconsin, Wisconsin south of M St., and K St. east of Wisconsin will be closed to auto traffic. (Pedestrians can still cross throughout the closures). Rock Creek will also be closed (and for a bit longer than the Georgetown streets).

So if you need to get around by car on Sunday, keep this all in mind and plan ahead. This is particularly true for residents along Water St. No cars will be allowed in or out of this stretch until late morning, after the runners are all through.