The Georgetown Metropolitan

Dumbarton Oaks Park

The other day, GM linked to an article that offered to list 25 places around DC for a tourist to do non-touristy things. The lone Georgetown mention on the list was of Dumbarton House, which is a fine mention (most famous for hosting GM’s wedding). But there are many other spots around Georgetown that a tourist ought to hit to be able to say they got to see a local’s view of the neighborhood. So GM decided to do it himself.

The list is structured loosely around how to spend a day taking in the sights. Starting with morning:

Morning

Hopefully you skipped the too expensive breakfast at your hotel and arrived at Georgetown hungry. That’s great because there are lots of fantastic options to satisfy that hunger. Yes you could go looking for senators or NBC talking heads at Four Seasons, or you could join the visiting college parents at Clyde’s, but you’re here to experience the neighborhood as a local. And there are several spots that you’ll find them.

The first is the relatively recently opened Boulangerie Christophe at 1422 Wisconsin Ave. This French bakery offers pastries and bread and other European delights, along with the obligatory coffee. Or you could go to their more formal upstairs dining area where they serve more fancy fare. Either one will be a great way to start the day.

Staying on the French theme, you should also consider Patesserie Poupon at 1645 Wisconsin Ave. They also offer tasty breaded pastries and quiches, etc. You’ll almost certainly find yourself sitting next to some old friends meeting up for a coffee, and they’ll probably be speaking a foreign language. In fact there is probably no place in Georgetown that more feels like it’s not in America than Patesserie Poupon. Continue reading →

Photo by Joe Flood.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• NPS is looking for ideas to improve Roosevelt Island. How about a bridge to Georgetown!
• If you’re upset about the dockless bikes, you’re going to be livid about this other dockless system.

2700 block of Pennsylvania Ave.

GM has written a bunch about the decline of M St. dining. And the numbers tell a stark tale of a precipitous fall in the number of restaurants open on or just off M St. But the patient may be showing some signs of life, with several restaurants recently opening (or announcing an opening) on or immediately near to M St.

As for the openings already open, there are several. The first is the mini-food court at Potomac and M St., which contains a District Pizza, a Subway, and an Acaiberry. This opened up in the space vacated several years ago by Capitol Prague. While it the offerings are hardly going to win a Michelin star, the need for cheap eats is as important as the need for fancy eats. So that’s a nice addition. The other opening is far more recent: Church Hall. This one is barely a restaurant, as it is much more of a beer hall. But it does serve food, so there’s that. Continue reading →

Photo by Alyson Hurt.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU allows for a graduate student union election.
• For a list of non-touristy places to visit in DC, GM could probably come up with more Georgetown places than just Dumbarton House, like for instance Oak Hill Cemetery, which you see above.

Dumbarton Oaks Park

Where once they had roamed free–like the mighty herds of bison–and then were brought near to extinction, a new head shop arrived in Georgetown.

Head shops are essentially shops to sell everything you need to smoke marijuana, save for the drug itself. They sell pipe and bongs, of course, but all the other accouterments that come from a pot positive lifestyle, like vaguely “ethnic” sculptures, velvet print posters, and lots and lots of incense. The pipes and bongs, however, are almost always described as intended for tobacco or other legal-use only.

Once there were a bunch of head shops around Georgetown. But until recently only Havana Max on M St. would qualify (although Village Arts and Craft also sells pipes). The new shop is just down the street at 3289 M St. It’s DC Glass Gallery (which also has a location in Woodley Park). Continue reading →

Photo by Mark Andre.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Some more details on the forthcoming Capital One Cafe.
• The trustingest part of Georgetown. (Seriously do people really leave out their garage door openers like that?)
• How to get to the new Church Hall bar.

GM’s heading off to Austin for Spring Break for the rest of the week. Catch up with you after Easter!