The Georgetown Metropolitan

Today on Know Your Trees, GM is discussing a tree that is not currently seen on Georgetown streets, but will be soon: the smoketree.

The smoketree is really more of a large shrub that can in some cases be trained into a tree form (somewhat like hydrangea). The tree is going to be included in future tree plantings around Georgetown, so you will see them soon.

And what will let you know that you’re looking at a smoketree is the characteristic flowers the tree blooms in the spring. They are extremely puffy and light flowers that, well, look like smoke:

The colors of the flowers don’t always look that brown though. Sometimes they’re more pink like the photo on top. Or even a redder color:

So keep an eye out next spring for the smoke!

Photo by Kent MacElwee.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The Take Care shop is adding a co-working space.
• How to have a date day in Georgetown.

3100 block of M St.

This week for Now and a Long Time Ago, GM is visiting the waterfront. Typically when GM explores waterfront pictures for Georgetown, the time period is the early to mid-20th century when it was an industrial area. But today he’s going further back: to June 1865.

What you see in the old photograph is a pontoon bridge between Georgetown and what was then called Analostan Island. Here’s a better view of the 1865 photo: Continue reading →

Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Yesterday was the anniversary of the abolition of the Georgetown municipality in 1895.
• Why places like Georgetown’s Pizzeria Paradiso have pinball now.

1300 block of 33rd St.

Electric vehicles might be one of the key tools we need to use in order to limit the impact of disastrous climate change. But they present a tough problem for neighborhoods like Georgetown. How do people keep their Teslas charged when they don’t have any off-street parking?

For most Americans this isn’t a problem. They either have a garage or at least a driveway to store their cars at home when they’re not using them. They can easily locate a charging unit at this location and conveniently use it. But in dense neighborhoods like Georgetown garages or parking pads are the exception not the rule. Most Georgetowners with cars store them on the street.

So how would they charge their EVs? Well one resident has simply run a cord out the front of his or her house and out to the curb. They use a cord cover for the three feet the cord needs to cross the sidewalk. But it is still a tripping hazard. And would result in a whole lot of sidewalk clutter if everyone else did the same. Moreover, for this plan to work, the owner needs to be able to reliably park in one of the three or so spaces in front of his or her house. Most Georgetowners don’t have that situation. Continue reading →