The Georgetown Metropolitan

It’s normally this time of year when GM looks back to see what articles he wrote garnered the most attention. So here it goes, from 10th to 1st:

10:     Boulangerie Christophe to Open this Weekend

GM wasn’t sure what to expect with this restaurant, given its long delay in opening and its location in a bit of a no-mans-land for restaurants. But it’s good! And people seem to agree because this whole year it is buzzing with activity. Even though Georgetown has lots, and lots of pleasant cafes, there was still demand for another. Bienvenue!

9:      Capital One Buys The Old Nathans Building for a Metric Ton in Cash

The neighborhood was shocked to find out that not only was Under Armour not going to occupy the newly renovated old Nathans building, but a bank was buying it. And while it wasn’t clear right away, it sure seemed likely that the bank was going to turn it into some sort of a weird cafe/marketing platform.

GM’s seen what the future Capital One Cafe could look like and it’s….not bad? Certainly not good, in the sense of what great potential that property has. But another ok coffee shop is not the worst thing in the world. Continue reading →

Photo by Joe Flood.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Bouche de Noel’s are incredible and you can get them in Georgetown.
• In case you’re wondering, the Georgetown GLOW installations will run till January 7th.

The C & O Canal

Welp, look at that. Nine years ago this very day, the Georgetown Metropolitan began its new life (after having been a newspaper in the 1820s and 30s).

Lots has happened to Georgetown and GM over that time period that it’s hard to really take it all in. In many ways, Georgetown is lesser than it was in 2007. We’ve lost so many great stores and restaurants. Just think what was still around back then: Nathans, Furins, a freaking full-service professional photo lab, a bunch of college bars (well ok, they’re not all losses), and countless small but priceless stores like Appalachian Spring or Antiques of Georgetown. Continue reading →

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The story behind Moby Dick’s House of Kabob.
• The life of a Four Seasons concierge.

3200 block of M St.

GM will be shutting down for the holidays later this week, but in honor of the snow from last weekend, here’s his little film he made a couple years ago from a similarly beautiful snowfall. Enjoy!

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Georgetowner rounds up some of the recent openings and closings around town.
• Opioid abuse among some of the larger issues to be tackled by Halcyon House incubator.

3300 block of O St.

This week on Georgetown Time Machine, GM visits (again) the intersection of M St. and 34th. This photo has a nice view of the north side of M between 34th and Bank, which is what GM will focus on.

As for time, GM believes this photo is from the early 1960s.

The first thing that jumps out at you when you look closely is the shops just east of what would become the Cellar Door:

The first building on the left was the Eagle liquor store. That’s not too unusual, although the large neon sign is clearly long gone. (There were once tons of neon signs through Georgetown. It’s a real shame so many of them are now gone.) But next door was a bait, tackle and sports good shop. (It’s unclear what the name was. Look even closer and you can see it sold guns too. GM’s not sure what is harder to conceive of being sold on M St.: fishing bait or guns.

The liquor store had a parking lot just to the east of the gun shop.

Next to the parking lot was a Little Tavern burger shop. This was a regional chain that opened up dozens of small burger shop with the same green and white distinctive look. There were actually two Little Taverns in Georgetown, both of which are still standing. This one is occupied by the original Sweet Green. The other was incorporated into Paolo’s.

Beyond the Little Tavern you can see that the east corner of Bank and M St. was occupied by an Esso gas station. This was just one of the many more gas stations that used to dot Georgetown. Continue reading →