Category Archives: Uncategorized

One of GM’s favorite things about spring in DC is the blossoming of the saucer magnolias. These beautiful pink flowers sprout out with the first real warm days of March. But their early appearance also makes them susceptible to late frosts, which can wipe out the blooms overnight. Luckily the forecast looks good for a solid season this year.

Just two years ago, we had an early warming spell followed by a hard frost. And it did ruin the season’s magnolia bloom. The warming spell we received last week certainly triggered the pink blossoms to emerge, but the ten day forecast indicates that there is no hard frost on the horizon. So it should be smooth sailing! Continue reading →

Photo by Bill Starrels.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU expands its footprint downtown.
• French Market coming back April 26th.

Dumbarton Oaks Park

Photo from Washington Post/Bill O’Leary

Yesterday, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. The Council, prompted by an ever expanding scandal, officially voted to reprimand Evans. In addition, while he held on to his position as chairman of the finance committee, Evans’s oversight of tax abatements, the convention center/Events DC, and the Commission on the Arts and Humanities was stripped from him.

A visibly shaken Evans addressed the Council and the public by saying:

I brought embarrassment to this council, to myself and my family. Going forward, I will work tirelessly to restore the trust of my constituents, of my colleagues here on the council and of the residents of the District of Columbia.

This apology is in line with the sparse previous public statements he’s made on the subject. For instance, on March 8th, on the day that news broke that the U.S. Department of Justice had subpoenaed the Council for emails specifically related to Evans’s dealings with donors and major city contractors, Evans spoke to the DC Democratic State Committee. He had this to say:

I want to take this opportunity to say I’ve made some very big mistakes. In retrospect, I would have done things much differently. I want to take this opportunity to apologize to all of you in this room. Earlier this week I apologized to the residents of the District of Columbia, my colleagues on the city council, to my children for embarrassing them. There’s no one more horrified about what I did than I am. And I’m asking for your forgiveness. I know many of you are angry. And I don’t blame you. My goal now, going forward, is to rebuild the trust that I have lost. And I will worked very very hard to regain the trust of the state committee, the residents of the District of Columbia, and everybody I represent in Ward 2.

No one could doubt the sincerity of Evans’s contrition. And it has surely been a grueling several weeks.

But what exactly is he sorry for? Continue reading →

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The Circulator bus will be free to ride from now on.
• You’ll now be able to find out whether it’s safe to swim in the Potomac in near real time.

3200 block of P St.

Today GM is inaugurating a new series: Ghosts of Markets Past. In it, he will identify homes throughout Georgetown that once held a commercial business (not always a market though). At one time, Georgetown was dotted with such establishments. But after restrictive zoning was put in place in the 1950s, and overall purchasing habits shifted towards larger regional supermarkets, these buildings were gradually converted to housing.

Of course some still remain, and they represent some of the most treasured assets of the neighborhood. But this series is about the ones that didn’t stay open.

And today GM starts with 2701 Dumbarton St. Records indicate that this building was constructed in 1869 and the original owner was Richard A. King.

The property is mentioned in Black Georgetown Remembered as hosting a “mom and pop” grocery. When it was listed for sale in 2014, it was described as one of the area’s first grocery stores. A mention in the Washington Evening Star indicates that as early as 1918, it hosted a market. In this case a market owned by L.H. Ferguson:

In 1927, the market was listed for rent, with listing reflecting the fact the property was at the epicenter of Georgetown’s historic African American community:

In 1933, it hosted a taxicab office:

By the 1950s, however, mentions of any business at this address stop. It would appear that is when the property shifted to solely residential. Continue reading →

Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Would you be interested in a better pedestrian/bicycle link between Georgetown and the Palisades? Take this survey.
• Another canal bridge is going to be closed for a long rehab. This time it’s 31st St.

1500 block of Wisconsin Ave.

This week for Birds of Georgetown, GM will discuss the birds you’ll find plying the waterways of Georgetown. Of course by “waterways” that essentially means just the Potomac river and the C & O Canal. Here’s what you’ll find there:

Canada Goose:

The Canada goose, the scourge of youth soccer players hoping not to slide through poop, is prevalent in the DC area. Although naturally a migratory bird, the Canada goose can be found in the DC area year round.

They are easily recognizable by their white chinstrap set against an otherwise black neck and head. As large waterfowl go, they are not particularly aggressive towards humans (unlike swans, for instance). This is probably because they’ve come to expect little pieces of bread from us.

Mallard:

Probably the most common waterfowl you’ll find along the Potomac, this iconic duck is very likely the image most people think of when they think “duck”.

They also are famously dimorphic, meaning the males and females look very different. The male mallards have glossy green heads with a white ring around their necks. The female mallards are various shades of brown, with no flashy head gear.

Mallards often plant their eggs up in the residential parts of Georgetown. When the ducklings hatch, they have to make their way down at least to the canal. Humans often help. Continue reading →