The Georgetown Metropolitan

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Photo by Mike Maguire.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The new Korean restaurant, Zannchi, is open now. GM has already heard a very positive review.
• Speaking of restaurants, when Bangkok Joe’s returns, it will be more adventurous.

1600 block of 31st St.

Next Monday, the ANC will meet for its April session at the usual location at Georgetown Visitation.

GM normally scours the agenda to these meetings looking for a first head’s up as to new stores, etc., that might be coming to the neighborhood. Sadly, this month is not one of those fruitful months. About the only bit of news GM sees is that there is a new restaurant called Georgetown Golden Chicken at 1027 31st St. This is the former Zenobia Lounge space.

Other than that, not much… Continue reading →

Photo by John Weiss.

Good morning Georgetown, GM’s back from London so here’s the latest:

• GU gets approval for hospital expansion (although OGB design approval is still outstanding).
• Church-themed restaurant coming to Georgetown Park.

GM is still on vacation in London, but wanted to pass on a brief call to action on the matter of Hyde-Addison.

To help, please sign this petition calling for the preliminary work to begin this summer so that the time the children will be off the campus will be limited. And it also calls for the city to come up with better swing space than halfway across town.

Here’s a summary of where we are at this point and why we need your support:

On March 11, 2016 DC Public Schools (DCPS) blindsided the Hyde-Addison Community with new delays and unacceptable recommendations for the long overdue renovation of Hyde-Addison Elementary School.

The most recent expectations of the local community for this necessary renovation project, which has been consistently delayed since 2012, had been for a single year of construction throughout the 2016-17 school year during which students could remain in the school. However, in December 2015, DCPS notified the Hyde-Addison community that students would need to relocate after all and a relocation swing space would be necessary for up to two years. This was the first blindside for parents who had previously been assured their children would not need to relocate and that the project would impact only a single school year.

Given the unexpected news that a swing space would be necessary, the Hyde-Addison School Improvement Team, in conjunction with parents, strongly stated to DCPS the preference for the vacant, local, and DCPS-owned Duke Ellington School of Arts (DESA) field.

Nonetheless, on March 11, DCPS blindsided the Hyde-Addison community a second time by stating that no acceptable local swing space could be found for 2016-17 and thus the project is delayed yet again while an acceptable swing space is sought. DCPS did not provide compelling reasons, but mentioned the opposition of Burleith residents, who put forward various non-compelling arguments for why the vacant and DCPS-owned property should remain empty and not be used as a temporary location for its neighbor community elementary school students. At the same time and in complete disregard of Hyde families’ request for a local swing space, DCPS also issued its recommendation for the swing space, starting in August 2017, to be Meyer Elementary School, on 11th Street far across town and through the worst of DC traffic. Additionally Meyer Elementary School is currently used by DESA students while their $250 million renovation occurs, which thus eliminates this option as a valid option in 2017 should that mammoth undertaking fall behind schedule.
Needless to say, the Hyde-Addison community finds this new delay and the DCPS swing space recommendation unacceptable. We strongly ask your support in adding your name to this petition.

GM’s off for a family trip to London for a week. Make sure there are still some cherry blossoms by the time he gets back!

Photo by John Bense.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Instead of trying to change all zoning laws, Eastbanc will look for a single exception for their project at M and Pennsylvania (plus the building will be smaller).
• 1789 and the Tombs will be closed for a couple months this summer.

1500 block of 31st St.

Sure you could celebrate St. Patrick’s day today getting drunk on Guinness at a chain bar, but why not take an opportunity today to explore Georgetown’s Irish history?

As you may know, during the early 20th century, parts of Georgetown were heavily Irish. The center of it was on the west side, close to the Catholic landmarks of GU, Trinity and Visitation.

The Irish concentration is long gone, but with the help of old photos you can imagine the ghosts still walking the streets. In the 30s, photographer Carl Mydans walked through the poor and heavily Irish blocks of west Georgetown and captured the scene of children treating the sidewalks as their playroom:

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