The Georgetown Metropolitan

Photo by LaunchOurRocket.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GM walked around yesterday and most sidewalks were clear. Good job everyone!
• Snowy Georgetown from above.

1600 block of 33rd St.

Cross-country skiing on Wisconsin, as one does.

Braving the elements

Huge flocks of robins picked this tree clean of berries hours later.

French bulldog, in his element.

Sunset, Sunday night.

Montrose Park hill was jumping.

Lots of shops on Wisconsin were pretty good about clearing the snow.

Others, like Cafe Divan, were not good neighbors. It’s particularly annoying when places like Cafe Divan clear out the sidewalk to their entrances, but leave the rest of the sidewalk fronting their building covered in snow. GM heard that other places, including Vinyard Vines, Paolo’s, Nine West and Reebok were also being bad neighbors.

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Photo by Launchourrocket.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• With all the snow, there’s not much news to report. But report in the comments where any bad neighbors or stores aren’t shoveling their sidewalks. Name and shame!

It’s going to be a mid-winter jicker out there starting tonight, so GM thought he’d dig into the archives a bit a remind you what it looked like the last time a storm (or two) like that came through Georgetown, enjoy!:

Potomac River

Now beginneth GM’s annual plea to neighborly decency: Shovel Your Sidewalks!

And this year, GM has a bit more of the force of law behind him. Starting this winter, DC will start fining residents who don’t shovel the sidewalk in front of their house within 24 hours of the end of the storm. The fine will be $25 for residents and $150 for businesses. It’s long been the case that the law mandated the shoveling, but the process of actually obtaining a fine against the scofflaw was so cumbersome that it was literally never used.

But you shouldn’t shovel your sidewalk because of the fine. You should shovel the sidewalk because you’re a decent human being, or at least aspire to be one. Not shoveling can impact the mobility of your neighbors or other people trying to pass by. Elderly residents and families with strollers are particularly affected by such selfishness.

But the thing is, not everyone has the physical strength to move the snow (particularly the amount they’re now forecasting). The city will not fine elderly people for failing to clear their sidewalk. That’s where you healthy people come in. If you’re under 40 and don’t have a chronic injury that limits you, don’t stop at your own sidewalk. Clear your neighbors too. And your neighbors’ neighbors while you’re at it. GM typically tries to do his whole block if someone doesn’t beat him to it.

You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to, but if you’ve got elderly residents or vacant houses on your block, just try to organize with your neighbors to make sure the path gets cleared. It’s the right thing to do.

Photo by Zach Stern.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• “Sampler” created by Georgetown native born in 1795.
• Permits making their way through for the new Turkish breakfast spot on lower Wisconsin.

1700 block of 32nd St.

A good blow of snow is in the forecast for this Friday. And if it is strong enough, you might be looking for a place to sled. But if you’re new to town, you might not know the best sledding hills. GM will help you out (at least for areas in and around Georgetown).

Probably the best location in Georgetown proper is the hill off the north side of Montrose Park (seen above). It’s fairly steep. The only tricky part is avoiding the giant tulip poplar that stands at the bottom of the hill. Steering ability is a must here.

The hill off of Reservoir Rd. just west of Georgetown Hospital also gets some use on snowy days. It’s not nearly as steep as the Montrose Park hill, but it’s much longer (if you can get your speed up). Continue reading →