The Georgetown Metropolitan

Monday is Presidents Day, the day Generation X recalls vaguely that used to be two separate holidays: Washington’s Birthday and Lincoln’s Birthday. And while we ponder the lost extra day off, lets explore what connection these two presidents–arguably the two greatest presidents–have to Georgetown.

George Washington

As we all learned in grade school, George Washington never lived in the White House, nor any other Presidential house in DC. The first capital of the country following the ratification of the Constitution was New York.

But as president, Washington was given the power to choose the location of the new capital. And for various reasons (including the proximity to his own home in Mount Vernon) Washington chose to place DC on the banks of the Potomac and the Anacostia. This new 100 square mile diamond engulfed the existing cities of Georgetown, MD and Alexandria, VA.

And since Georgetown was the only developed part of the new DC north of the rivers, it was there that Washington set up shop when overseeing the planning of the new city. Specifically he met in the legendary Suter’s Tavern. This tavern is lost to history, but was located close to what is now 31st and K St. Continue reading →

Photo by Kent MacElwee.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The redevelopment of the Gypsy Sally’s building is in doubt as the owner puts it up for sale.
• 85 Georgetown students forced to relocate after a roof threatened to collapse.

1000 block of 29th St.

Photo by Mike Bitzenhofer.

So you’ve waited till the last second to make Valentine’s reservations, there’s still hope! Here are some date-worthy restaurants around Georgetown that still have openings tonight (at least, as of last night):

• Risorante Piccolo
• Bodega
• Dyllan’s Raw Bar
• Cafe Milano
• La Chaumiere
• Das Ethiopian
• Bistrot Lepic

Hurry up you slacker!

Photo by Kyle.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Georgetown one of the top “loved” neighborhoods in DC.
• Hyde-Addison construction still targeting a summer finish.

3100 block of K St.

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 →