The Georgetown Metropolitan

This week on Georgetown Time Machine, GM visits the oldest structure still standing in Georgetown and the day it was knocked down a few pegs, historically-wise.

The building, obviously, is the Old Stone House, which appears now pretty much exactly as it appeared in this article, dated July 5, 1932. The reason for the article was that the owners of the building decided to take down a plaque from the building claiming that it had served as George Washington’s headquarters while the city was being surveyed:

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Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• History of Georgetown, circa 1820.
• Kojo Nnamdi announced his retirement yesterday from his WAMU radio show, which gives GM an excuse to repost his appearance on the show.

1600 block of Wisconsin Ave.

Quite the real estate listing hit the market yesterday. It is for one of the penthouse units in the Georgetown Ritz-Carlton Residences, and it would smash records if a buyer shows up.

The property is actually two different units, but it might as well be ten different units considering its size. It’s 6,400 square feet, spread over two different levels, including a massive terrace (and another terrace to boot).

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Photo by Sergey Galyonkin.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Georgetown students want the school to investigate whether any students participated in the insurrectionist riots at the Capitol.
• The Georgetown Safeway is the only location west of Rock Creek where Covid vaccines will be offered. (All the reservations have been taken as of now. More will be released next week.)

Montrose Park

If you like to track your exercise regime with the popular app Strava, you may have noticed from time to time that it gives your workouts some odd suggested names. For example, above is from a row that GM did a few months ago. (For those who don’t use the app, it basically uses sensors in your phone or other devices to track your workout, including where you went, how fast, etc. When you save each workout, it suggests a name for the workout, which is where the workout took place.) It suggested that GM’s row workout be called “Potomac Boat Club Building – Hamburgh”.

The first part makes sense. That’s were GM left from (and returned). But where the heck is Hamburgh?

Well it’s a former town founded by German immigrants in the 18th century. It was where Foggy Bottom is now (here’s a cool map from the Library of Congress showing the original town in red superimposed over the Washington street grid that eventually replaced it:

But why in the world would an app in the 21st century suggest you use a name of a long gone town of German immigrants? Continue reading →

1300 block of 33rd St.

Photo by Vincent.

Do you need to get a Covid test? Do you like spa-like experiences? Why not both? That’s what’s waiting for you in the storefront of a former shoe store on M St.

Same Day Testing has set up shop at 3237 M St. in the former Aldo Shoes. Last week GM, in an abundance of caution following (masked and outdoor) exposure to someone who later tested positive for Covid, decided to give the service a try and here are his observations:

Setting up an appointment was super easy. Literally a half hour after Googling for the company, GM was in the waiting area. And he was blown away at how the how experience was like some sort of a spa:

The seating area is tastefully decorated with a random assemblage of stuff, including what looked to be an antique chestnut roaster. And quiet EDM music was piped in through unseen speakers. Within ten seconds of entering, GM was checked in by way of a QR code texted to him when he made the reservation. He was then directed to take a seat in one of the faux leather chairs along the wall. Continue reading →

Photo by Vincent.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• New look for the proposed new apartment building on Prospect.
• A little bit more of Georgetown’s small role in the new Wonder Woman movie.