The Georgetown Metropolitan

Starting next year, Hyde-Addison School will enroll three year olds in a new pre-K3 class. If you have a child who will be three by September 30th, 2015, you should consider enrolling in the lottery to at least have the option to enroll him or her this fall.

Hyde has for years offered the standard Pre-K4 program, which is obviously just open to four year olds. These children graduate on to kindergarten the following year, and so on. DC public school have also offered a pre-K3 program at some schools (which used to be called pre-school) mostly in neighborhoods with higher rates of poverty. The idea is to target early education where it is needed most. But, at least one school with a demographic closer to Hyde has recently added a three year old program (that’s Francis-Stevens in Foggy Bottom).

Like pre-K4, you are not guaranteed a spot for pre-K3 even if you live in the neighborhood. You have to enter the lottery. You have until March 2, 2015 to enter the lottery, and results will be announce in late March. Continue reading →

Photo by Richard Burger.

Happy New Year Georgetown! Here are a couple stories GM missed on his extended break:

• Inn planned for space at P and 27th, which previously housed a small law firm.
• The Georgetown Pinkberry is closed due to the bankruptcy of the region’s franchisee.
• Tom Sietsema is high on Chez Billy.

GM’s going to sign off a little early for the holidays this year. So enjoy this film he made last year!

3000 block of O St.

Photo by Rust Bucket.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Nice roundup of the inaugural GLOW.
• The story of John Moran, Georgetown doctor.
• GM is probably going to be a little light this week as he gets all his shopping done and packs up.

3300 block of P St.

Today on Now and a Long Time Ago, GM explores the curious Southworth Cottage. It was a gingerbread-style house that stood at the corner of Prospect St. and 35th. It was famously the home of E.D.E.N. Southworth, who is virtually unknown today but who was the Danielle Steele of the early 19th century.

Read an extensive history of Southworth and her beloved cottage over at Streets of Washington. But here’s a bit:

All of Southworth’s novels were widely read, but The Hidden Hand was a particular blockbuster, both in the U.S. and abroad. It was reprinted numerous times, both in periodicals and in book form. Everyone loved Cap Black. When Southworth arrived in London at the invitation of her British publisher, she found “Capitola as popular there as in America. There were Capitola boats, Capitola race horses, Capitol hats for ladies and other Capitola fads,” she later recounted. The book was turned into a play that ran in several productions simultaneously on the London stage, including one version starring John Wilkes Booth. The novel remains in print to this day…

[Southworth] spent the rest of her life living and writing in Prospect Cottage, where she died in 1899. Her son inherited the house but died the following year, leaving it to his sister. Charlotte, who lived in New York, seems to have not had much interest in the house. Within years, it became something of a tourist trap. A Washington Post article from 1905 observed that “Now the sitting-room that Mrs. Southworth planned is an ice cream parlor, and the handsome, old drawing-room serves as a cafe. On the verandas visitors sit and chat as they wait for the [street]cars. Their talk is of Mrs. Southworth, and it is claimed that they cut great splinters out of the porch and side of the house, and even capture the bugs and grasshoppers in the yard for souvenirs….” There is talk of people seeing the ghost of Mrs. Southworth walking up and down on the veranda, wringing her hands.

Continue reading →

Photo by anokarina.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Nothing really newsy, but good to see the permits moving forward for the Georgetown Theater restoration.
• Chef of dearly departed Palena coming to Capella hotel.

1100 block of Wisconsin Ave.

This weekend, the BID is staging the inaugural GLOW holiday event. Check out the details:

Friday, December 12
The 42nd Street Singers classic holiday carolers, 6:30-7 p.m. performance at Grace Church (1041 Wisconsin Ave. NW) and roaming performances throughout Georgetown until 9:30 p.m.
Laissez Foure New Orlean-style jazz, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Dean & Deluca patio.

Saturday, December 13
The Georgetown Phantoms Georgetown University a capella group,  6:30-7 p.m. performance at Grace Church (1041 Wisconsin Ave. NW).
Laissez Foure New Orlean-style jazz, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Dean & Deluca patio.

Sunday, December 14
St. Lucia Swedish Youth Choir, 6:30-7 p.m. performance at Grace Church (1041 Wisconsin Ave. NW).

On top of the music, there will be a contest to select the best decorated shop window among the neighborhoods over 400 shops. Continue reading →