The Georgetown Metropolitan

1500 block of 33rd St.

In the reminisces shared after the passing of Prince, GM happened to notice this funny story about the time Prince caused a shut down of Georgetown, just so he could get a haircut. It’s told by Alan Leeds, Prince’s tour manager during the 80s:

I think the third city we played was D.C., and coincidentally we were staying in the Watergate Hotel of all places. He decided that he needed to get his hair done. And what he would do is have his personal hair stylist find a salon in whatever city we were in and rent out the salon. And when I say “rent out,” I mean basically close it down. Nobody else was in there. We’d ask the proprietors and the other stylists to leave the building, secure it and even put up newspapers on the windows if you had to and then privately do Prince’s hair in this facility. And we’d pay them whatever it took to make them willing to do this. Sometimes it was just an autograph and a couple free tickets because the guys would love to say Prince was there. So I guess his stylist found a hair salon in Georgetown; I didn’t go with him. I was just in the hotel minding my own business doing whatever. And the next thing I knew there’s breaking news on the local TV channel that there was everything short of a street riot in Georgetown: They had closed down Wisconsin Avenue because somebody had spotted Prince getting out of a car and going into this building that housed the salon and basically had shut down Wisconsin Avenue. People had come out of the stores, fans had heard about it on radio and got in their cars and drove there or walked there or whatever. That was the point where I said, “OK, this is out of hand.”

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Photo by Alan Kotok.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Donuts coming to Cady’s Alley.
• The position of Georgetown in an increasingly competitive office market.

1300 block of 31st St.

This week in the Georgetown Current, Georgetowner and former ANC Commissioner Ray Kukulski offered his thoughts on the appropriateness of modern architecture in Georgetown. He raises several interesting points, but the premise of his views is based upon a mistaken view on the role of preservation and its governing principles.

Kukulski asks whether buildings like the one above, which Eastbanc has proposed for the intersection of Pennsylvania and M St., are appropriate for a historic neighborhood like Georgetown. He writes:

To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever asked our community as a whole if Georgetown should retain its historic character. I’m doing so now…Do Georgetowners want new buildings to blend in with the historic fabric of our village, or is modern architecture with materials that do not match the traditional color palette or design of our late-19th- or early-20th-century buildings acceptable? Do international visitors come to immerse themselves in history or to see modern architecture they could see at home?

The Old Georgetown Act was not passed in order to keep the architecture of Georgetown in a style that Georgetowners want. It was passed by the United States Congress on the belief that historic Georgetown is a national treasure and should have almost unique federal protection. While it sometimes acts like one, Georgetown is not a homeowners association. The opinions of Georgetowners are immaterial.

In practice, the Old Georgetown Board and its parent body the Commission of Fine Arts occasionally listen to the opinions of neighbors when deciding to approve or reject a proposed project. But listening to Georgetowners is not in its mandate. Its mandate is to preserve the historic character of Georgetown. Continue reading →

Photo by Steve Conger.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Architectural firm chosen to study gondola proposal.
• Check out the new Korean restaurant Zannchi!

2600 block of P St.

Photo by Ann Wormer.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• New designs for the proposed condo at M and Pennsylvania look pretty much like the last ones, and are still not very attractive.
• The former Cappella Hotel is now the most valuable hotel in DC.

1600 block of 31st St.

The French Market returns this weekend to Book Hill.The festivities start Friday and (for the first time) they run all the way till Sunday. Friday and Saturday, it is from 10 am to 5 pm, and on Sunday it’s noon to 5:00.

This is always a great opportunity for huge crowds to descend on Book Hill, with stores from Q to Reservoir out showing their wares on the sidewalk. Like the past several years, this will also be a great example of temporary sidewalk widening, as the parking lane is shut down.
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