Category Archives: Uncategorized

1200 block of 34th St.

In order to fix Lock No. 3 in Georgetown, the C & O Canal was drained. Through the early part of this summer, that left the canal bed a dry and cracked layer of mud. But now it’s something entirely different.

What has emerged from the mud is a virtual savanna of grasses and other leafy plants. And despite the canal being drained, a natural stream of river water has emerged, winding its way through the new pasture. Sit along the canal now, and you can see the vibrant ecosystem that typifies natural wetlands.

Continue reading →

Photo by the Library of Congress.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GM was always curious what it looked inside the (currently condemned) Washington Canoe Club. Here’s a series of photos inside from the Library of Congress.
• Nice article updating on the effort to save the streetcar trestle just west of Georgetown.

1400 block of 34th St.

Some serious work is being done to two of the buildings that previously long housed cheap suit stores. 1357 and 1359 Wisconsin Ave. (the two storefronts north of Tugoo Toys) have been getting worked on for months. And while the facades remain, there’s basically nothing left behind them.

If you peak through the paper blocking the windows, you’ll see the scene above. Some of the structure remains, but not much.

This is actually a great sign. These buildings had been allowed to decay over the decades. Now that serious money is going into the effort to restore the buildings, they will hopefully be more attractive to more upscale shops than places that will sell you two suits for $75.

Of course, that was the plan for the Georgetown theater, and yet Robert Bell struggled to find a tenant to take the space. Last GM heard it was a Foot Locker spinoff, which is not exactly what most people had hoped for. Oh well, we’ll see.

Photo by John Weiss.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Sad story of when ten people drowned at a rowing regatta in 1904 along the Georgetown waterfront.
• GM expanded upon the Georgetown alley that was bought story here.
• New skin care shop, Take Care, now open at 1338 Wisconsin (the former Helia’s space).

3500 block of O St.

When you’re walking by N and Wisconsin, look up. A new mural has been painted on the building above Paolo’s. It’s a trompe l’oiel, which is French for “deceives the eye”. In other words, it’s a mural that’s meant to slightly trick you into thinking it’s real. In this case, it’s meant to fool you into thinking several windows line the west side of the house, which really is just a blank brick wall.

This is a new version of the mural that used to be on this wall, and which was definitely showing its age:

It’s a lovely addition to the neighborhood, and will hopefully bring a smile to passers-by for many years.

Photo by Beyond DC.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The story behind the planned restoration of Julia Child’s Georgetown house.
• Interview with Virginia Burton, the woman behind Georgetown’s Burton Optician.

Georgetown Waterfront