The Georgetown Metropolitan

Montrose Park

The city recently started replacing some of the lightbulbs in the streetlights in Georgetown. And, in GM’s opinion at least, the new bulbs are way, way too bright and cast an ugly sterile blue light. Either way, you’ve got to get used to them because they’re getting installed everywhere.

If you want a taste of the new lights, head over to Volta Place at night. It’s part of a long contracting saga in which the city is replacing the bulbs with LED bulbs. They’re definitely more energy efficient than the old bulbs, but the light the produce is incredibly glaring. Continue reading →

Photo by Ehpien.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• There are signs up in the old Benetton confirming GM’s earlier reporting that a store called COS is moving in there.
• Georgetown students elect a popular sandwich to their student senate.

3200 block of Reservoir Rd.

It’s that time of year again, when people start to wonder what the hell are those giant grain brain-shaped fruit around Georgetown. As in past years, GM is ready with the answer, as reprinted below:

This time a year, if you wonder around Montrose or Volta Parks you’re bound to find on the ground weird softball-sized green fruit like the one above. People are often so struck by the sight of the fruit, they pick up one or two of them and bring them home. But what are they, you ask?

Despite their green color, they’re oranges. Osage oranges, to be specific. They are grown by Osage trees, which line the Parrot rope walk. These trees are prevalent in the Great Plains states, where they are often planted along hedgerows. Traditionally, the pliable but strong nature of this tree’s wood made it valuable for fence posts and archery bows. Continue reading →

Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Big redevelopment planned for the old Holiday Inn hotel just north of Georgetown.
• Canal, circa 1910.

Dumbarton Oaks

Shocking parents who arrived at a meeting expecting good news about the “swing site” location for its upcoming construction, the Deputy Mayor of Education announced Wednesday night that DCPS would use a school halfway across the city instead of a local option.

As GM wrote about recently, there was a strong push from Hyde parents to use a local spot for the temporarily location of the school. After our supposed friends in Burleith stopped one viable option (the Duke Ellington field) the only viable local option was to use space at Hardy that will be vacated by the Fillmore Arts program.

This push appeared to be successful when the mayor told Councilmember Jack Evans last week that a local option would be selected. Apparently Deputy Mayor Jenny Niles didn’t get the memo. She appeared before the School Improvement Team Wednesday night and announced that the decision is final and Meyer School (which is at 11th and Euclid, four miles away) was the choice. Continue reading →

Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• House where Jackie Kennedy briefly lived in after JFK’s assassination is up for sale.
• Finally, a store that sells preppy clothes is opening in Georgetown.

3200 block of R St.