The Georgetown Metropolitan

Georgetown has become absolutely inundated with bank branches in recent years. As of last week, there were 18 of them open in the neighborhood, with no signs that we’ve remotely flattened the curve on them. Well perhaps there is now a glimmer of hope: the HSBC has closed.

The now former branch, located at 1715 Wisconsin Ave., is probably closing as a result of the bank’s decision to trim 30% of its branches. (This slimming was announced even before the COVID-19 pandemic.) Would that other banks would follow them! Continue reading →

Photo by Bill Starrels.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• CAG’s nightly patrols will continue through the COVID-19 crisis.
• A driver apparently fired a gun at another driver Sunday afternoon at 31st and P in a road rage incident.

1200 block of Wisconsin Ave.

This week for Georgetown Time Machine, GM is checking out lower Wisconsin Ave. at the turn of the last century. The photo comes from the Historical Society of Washington, DC, and is part of the Henry Wagner collection.

The photo is looking south down Wisconsin from just above Grace St., which you can see to the right. You can also just make out the front lawn of Grace Episcopal. Continue reading →

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Why you might have noticed some teddy bears in windows.
• Updated list of restaurants offering take out and delivery.

3400 block of Water St.

While there are certainly more important things going on, the decennial Census for 2020 is still moving forward. And it’s important that you be counted.

You should have received one or more letters in the mail from the Census. One would contain the small number of questions that are required, including name, age, sex and race/ethnic background. You can fill it out manually and mail it back and you’re all done!

If you’d rather go the online route, that is also accepted. Go to my2020census.gov/login and type in the 12-digit Census ID number that is in the mailing (not your social security number, or other ID number you might have). If you can’t find that number, or you’ve lost the mailing, you can also fill it out by giving your address. Continue reading →

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• How Georgetown is coping.
• How the hippies of Georgetown and Dupont made kites legal in DC.

Dumbarton Oaks

GM took the shot above on Tuesday at 3 pm. There was hardly and soul, car, bike, or whatever in sight. It’s truly eerie, although it is also encouraging to see that everyone is taking this seriously.

It wasn’t until GM got back home that he realized that the photo was taken in almost the exact same spot as this startling shot from 1959:

Nearly the same barren scene, yet obviously for starkly different reasons.