The Georgetown Metropolitan

One of GM’s guilty summer pleasures is to read spy novels. This summer was no different, as he returned to John le Carré for a mid period book GM had previously overlooked: The Perfect Spy. The semi-autobiographical work tells the story of Magnus Pym who (spoiler alert) rises up through the British secret service while operating as a double agent for Czechoslovakia. And towards the end of the book Georgetown makes a cameo appearance.

The book is structured intermittently as a book-within-a-book as Pym writes a coming-clean narrative to his family and colleagues explaining his actions. At one point he describes his time in Washington where he lived with his wife in a small Georgetown home. And he explains to his son that one of the locations of the “dropboxes” that he used to communicate with his Czechoslovakian handlers was in Oak Hill Cemetery. Pym writes to his son Tom [it gets a little confusing because in his “book” to his family and colleagues, Pym refers to himself in the third-person. It’s the same tiresome affectation that GM uses.]:

He wandered Georgetown’s beautiful Oak Hill Cemetery and imagined he was with Dorothy at The Glades, confined to the dripping orchard where his guilty face could be hidden from the passers-by. Minnie Wilson was our letter box at Oak Hill, Tom. Our first in all America–go and take a look at her one day. She lies on a curled plinth a short way down the terraced bowl, a small dead Victorian girl in marble drapes. We left our messages in a leafy recess between Minnie’s backside and he protector, one Thomas Entwistle, who had died in later age.

The reference was so specific that GM was convinced that it must be a real place. So recently he headed over for a much overdue visit to Oak Hill and search for the gravestone.

GM immediately found several small sculptures of babies or children, but none with that name. He walked up and down looking, about to give up hope he finally spotted the name Thomas Entwisle (not Entwistle, like in the book).

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Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Georgetown University getting pressure to not only give preferential treatment to the descendants of the slaves the school sold, but also offer them scholarships.
• Speaking of GU, here’s a fascinating story about a class bringing GU students and prisoners together.

1800 block of Wisconsin Ave.

Will Georgetowners and those to the west soon get some relief from airplane noise? They may, if a plan floated by the FAA to change the routes of planes leaving National Airport is adopted.

While planes have been flying in and out of National Airport for generations, locals began complaining about the noise more in the last several years. The problem’s gotten worse, they say, because of the “Next Gen” procedures that allow the planes to cut over land more and not stay directly above the Potomac. Continue reading →

Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• After coming back from a corporate bankruptcy, the Pinkberry is closed again.
• New coffee and juice bar now open on Grace. Sundevich coming soon.

Cady’s Alley

Starting this summer, a new farmers market has been setting up every Sunday morning in front of the old Marvelous Market at P and Wisconsin. It’s by Licking Creek Farms and offers a variety of produce and other items. Maybe you’ve visited it, but chances are you haven’t because the market won’t keep coming unless more customers come. GM has heard that the vendor is considering closing the market unless business improves.

That’s the thing with commercial amenities like farmers markets or specialty grocery stores. Everyone says they want them, but when they do actually open, often there’s not enough actual demand to keep it open. Of course, it’s not solely the fault of the fickle public. Continue reading →

Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU Hospital files its expansion plans.
• In Georgetown, the average price per square foot of housing is around $800.

1800 block of Wisconsin Ave. (in August)

GM had earlier reported on the coming retirements of several of the current ANC commissioners, but now he can say for certain who will be on the ballot to replace them. Here are the names you’ll see in the voting booth:

• SMD 01: The only long-time commissioner not to resign or face a competitor, Ed Solomon will continue to represent Burleith and Hillandale on the ANC
• SMD 02: Ron Lewis is stepping down and the GM-endorsed Joe Gibbons is running unopposed.
• SMD 03: Jeff Jones is also stepping down and there is a real race to replace him. The ANC’s pro bono counselor, Rick Murphy, is on the ballot and also received GM’s endorsement. Rick will face Greg Miller, who is running a strong campaign. Miller is a relatively recent graduate of Georgetown University who has been fairly active in community affairs (he serves with GM on the transportation working group of the Georgetown Community Partnership). With it being an open seat, it really could go either way.
• SMD 04: The older of the student districts, this one has a single candidate running, the incumbent Mara Goldman.
• SMD 05: Bill Starrels is of course running again for his long held seat. But this year he has competition from Lisa Palmer. Taking down an incumbent like Starrels will be tough, especially in a district with a lot of relatively inaccessible apartment buildings. So Palmer has her worked cut out for her. But the ballot box can surprise you!
• SMD 06: Yet another long time commissioner is stepping down from this district: Tom Birch. Jim Wilcox will run unopposed for this seat. Wilcox has long been active in the Georgetown Business Association, and his views will likely be influenced by that experience. That said, GM has worked alongside Jim many times on various issues and even though GM doesn’t always agree with him, he’s found Jim to be a thoughtful advocate.
• SMD 07: Monica Roaché is running unopposed for this seat. Monica first won this seat last election and has been a fantastic addition to the commission. GM is thrilled she’s re-upping.
• SMD 08: This is the relatively new district on the Georgetown campus. Zachary Schroepfer is running unopposed. (Side note: Congrats to Mara and Zachary for getting on the ballot. It’s a real challenge for students to find eligible voters from their SMDs in the middle of the summer to sign their petition. They often fail, so it’s great to see them both succeed.)

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