The Georgetown Metropolitan

3200 block of P St.

If you’re like GM, you’ve always assumed the bridge that P St. travels over as it travels over Rock Creek was simply called “P St. Bridge”. You’d be forgiven in thinking this primarily because A) that’s what it is and B) there’s an old copper sign along the bridge that calls it that.

Well apparently the bridge has a fancier name too: Lauzun’s Legion Bridge. This name was generated by the Dupont ANC way back in 2006. The name was chosen to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. Lauzun’s Legion was, according to Wikipedia:

Lauzun’s Legion was a specially constructed unit that was formed in March 1780 from various detachments of French and many foreign volunteers in the French army and navy. Most of the Legion was composed of units from the Volontaires Etrangers de la Marine (Foreign Marine Volunteers) created in September 1778 by the naval minister Gabriel de Sartine, and ‘propriétaire’ status had been granted to Armand Louis de Gontaut, due de Lauzun. The corps comprised three legions, each consisting of four companies of grenadiers, chasseurs and fusiliers, plus artillery, cavalry and pioneer detachments. As with other 18th century “legions” the intention was to create a miniature army which could campaign as a single entity. As indicated by the title, the corps was recruited primarily from German, Polish and Irish mercenaries.

Continue reading →

Photo by Wagner Tamanaha.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The night U2 played Georgetown.
• New book celebrates Georgetown’s historic saloons.
• Beloved former dean of GU’s foreign service school passes away.
• Don’t forget the CAG Gala this Friday.

1600 block of 31st St.

Legendary Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee passed away last night. Obviously known more for his professional career, Bradlee’s name was for decades synonymous with Georgetown. Fittingly he died in his stately home on N St.

GM won’t bother trying to draft his own obituary for such a figure, so he’ll do what bloggers do best, link to better articles:

• The Post’s obit
• Great piece by Marc Fisher
• From David Carr
• Times obit
• Short film on his professional accomplishments

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Investigation into Rabbi Freundel expands.
• The Hoya comes around to an idea GM espoused a while back.
• Don’t forget the CAG Gala this Friday!

1400 block of 33rd St.

Last night, DDOT held an open house on the Circulator here in Georgetown at Pinstripes. GM was particularly interested to attend as he is unhappy with some of the proposed changes to the lines. The good news is that the changes won’t be bad as GM worried, at least not for a while.

In short, GM is worried about the proposal to chop up the Circulator line that currently goes through Georgetown. Under the plans GM was originally worried about, the line would be extended to National Cathedral and then split in two, with the National Cathedral leg traveling through Georgetown but only as far east as McPherson. The line from Union Station would still come to Georgetown, but only lower Georgetown. It would no longer head north of M St. Continue reading →

Photo by Wagner Tamanaha.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• US Women’s National Team practicing at GU.
• The Hilton brothers want Chez Billy Sud to be your neighborhood hangout.