Category Archives: Uncategorized

Back in May, GM encouraged readers to do their civic duty and respond to the Census. At that point, Georgetown’s response rate was pretty bad, compared with the rest of the country. Georgetowners had responded at a rate of only 51%, compared with 56% percent city-wide response, and a 60% national rate. Now four months later, Georgetowners have made some progress, but time’s running out.

As of yesterday, East Georgetowners had responded at a rate of 58% and 65% (more below on why there are two numbers). West Georgetowners still have only responded at a rate of 54%. Ten years ago, both sides of the neighborhood eventually responded at a rate close to 70%. But you only have until September 30th to self-respond. And this year the Census is curtailing its in-person door-to-door counting. So you may simply not count if you don’t respond. Continue reading →

Photo by Vincent.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• How the pandemic is destroying retail, including in Georgetown.
• John Thompson’s virtual memorial service is planned for Oct. 3.

3200 block of O St.

After many, many years of disregard and disrepair, the Montrose Park tennis are back in pristine condition. The three courts have been rehabilitated as part of a wider renovation project for the lovely park. While they are not officially open yet, the nets are up and GM has already observed tennis players sneak on to get a sneak peek.

The more eastern two courts (across from the old Hurt Home) have been restored in the same alignment they have been all along. The two courts that were along the Parrot Rope Walk have been consolidated into a single court, which was the original alignment. Continue reading →

Photo by Joe Flood.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Nice guide to pick-up and delivery spots around Georgetown.
• Speaking of good restaurants, Chez Billy Sud offers reservations for their lovely outdoor patio.

Towpath

Photo by Ben Shumin.

This week on Georgetown Time Machine, GM is going back only a very short time ago: to 2006. The above photo was taken in December of that year, and shows what the Georgetown Waterfront Park used to look like. GM came across it recently, and was taken aback by it.

This was so recent. Most readers probably can even remember this. Hell, GM started the Georgetown Metropolitan only two years after this photo was taken. He remembers this clearly. It may be 14 years ago, but it still feels like yesterday.

But still, even having seen it with our own eyes, it’s shocking to be reminded just how awful this scene was so, so very recently ago. Where Fords and Toyotas once parked, a lush tree-filled park now stands:

Continue reading →

Photo by Vincent.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Interesting tidbit: the reason the DC police department is called the Metropolitan Police Department is that it was formed at a time when there were separate jurisdictions in DC with their own police forces, such as the city of Georgetown. The Metropolitan descriptor was mean to reflect it being a force for the whole District.
• A little more on why the city is considering removing some historical figures’ names from DC properties, including in Georgetown.

3200 block of P St.

This week, Mayor Bowser’s administration had an incredibly unforced error concerning the problematic histories of several revered historical figures. But in doing so, the adminstration also flagged several prominent names from Georgetown’s history. And even after the immediate controversy passes, the neighborhood ought to grapple with these figures and their role in the suffering of others.

But first, the unforced error. This came with the issuance of a report from the DC Facilities and Community Expressions (DCFACE) working group. This group was created to assess a variety of public assets around the city to determine which of them are named after individuals who participated “in slavery, systemic racism, mistreatment of, or actions that suppressed equality for, persons of color, women and LGBTQ communities and violation of the DC Human Right Act.” This would be done with the goal of removing, renaming or recontextualizing those assets to better reflect the city’s current beliefs and ideals.

One of the sections of the report flagged some iconic DC memorials and monuments, including the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. The section included them as properties that should be either moved, renamed or recontextualized. Obviously they were not going to either moved or renamed, so a fair reading of their inclusion would be that they should be recontextualized with the addition of a plaque, or whatever, that point out that “hey, they great men also owned human beings, including children.” Continue reading →