The Georgetown Metropolitan

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 →

Photo by Vincent.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Great write-up of the past, current and future state of Georgetown dining.
• How Covid highlighted the inequality among GU students.

Tudor Place

A new liquor store is coming to 1515 Wisconsin Ave., the former site of the John Rosselli antiques shop.

The store posted notice of the liquor license transfer in mid-August. The application indicates that this is not really a brand new liquor store but rather a liquor store that’s moving locations. The store, Logan Circle Liquors, used to be located at 1018 Rhode Island Ave. NW. It shut down last year.

It’s unclear to GM that there’s a market for a new liquor store in Georgetown. The store’s prior location was not really an upscale spot; it cashed checks, for instance. So it’s unlikely to compete with places like Bacchus Wine Cellar or Hop Cask and Barrel. It will probably be more in line with Towne Wine and Liquor at Wisconsin and Dumbarton, a couple blocks south of the new spot.

But then again, 2020 has driven a lot of people to drink more, so who knows? Maybe they’ll do splendidly.

Photo by Vincent.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Some of the changes coming to Lutèce, the old Cafe Bonaparte.
• Two individuals residing on GU’s campus have tested positive for Coronavirus.

1200 block of 29th St.

Fall is here. And with the pandemic still in full swing, Georgetown University has gone fully virtual. But as you might have noticed, that doesn’t mean that Georgetown students haven’t returned to the neighborhood. While there’s nothing preventing them from returning here to take their classes online, you can still help prevent them from spreading the virus by being a bit vigilant.

That’s because while students are permitted to live in off-campus housing this fall, they are prohibited from gathering in groups of ten or more And that is inclusive of housemates. So if there’s a party with, say, 15 people at an off-campus house, that’s a violation of the rules, regardless of how many attendees live in the house. If you observe such a situation, call SNAP at 202-687-8413 to report it. Continue reading →