The Georgetown Metropolitan

Dumbarton Oaks

A new shop has popened* on Wisconsin Ave. near Q St. It’s called Via Umbria, and it is in many ways everything that Georgetowners claim that they want to see in a shop, but whether it will succeed is to be seen.

(*The shop is technically a “pop-up” right now. This term is used for shops that quickly open in vacant spaces without the intent to remain open long. But this doesn’t perfectly describe Via Umbria because they plan to actually open permanently at the same address following renovations which will begin after the holidays. That’s why GM is coining the phrase “popens” to refer to them.)

As described in the Georgetowner article detailing the plans of the owners, Bill and Suzy Menard, the store is essentially an Italian lifestyle store. It will sell food, wine (eventually), cooking equipment, china, cooking classes, a rental villa, and art. All Italian. Continue reading →

Photo by Dave D’Agistino.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Wink turns ten.
• GU giving out moola to entrepreneurial grads.

1500 block of 33rd St.

The BID’s transportation head, Will Hansfield, announced the other day that the BID had successfully installed a bike channel on the stairway that connects the canal down to 34th St.

A bike channel is essentially a tiny ramp that bikers can walk their bikes up a staircase. This will improve the connection between the canal and central Georgetown to the waterfront and the Capital Crescent trail. And improving this connection is one of the goals of the BID’s 2028 master plan. Continue reading →

Photo by Ehpien.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Anyone get the Jason Werth gnomes in and around Georgetown? Oh and GO NATS!!!!
• Also, GOOO to VOLTA PARK DAY!!!!

3100 block of Dumbarton St.

Volta Park Day is this Sunday! As in past years, it will include food, rides, games, a flea market and much more!

The fair begins at 3:00 and runs to 6:00. The famed East vs. West Softball game starts at 2:00.

There will be a special tribute by the band Basement Riot. Ed Lara, the drummer for the band and owner of Georgetown Hairstyling, died suddenly the day after playing for the Friends of Volta Park’s spring cocktail party. It should be an emotional and enjoyable time for all!

See you there! GM promises he doesn’t talk with so many exclamation points!

Photo by M R.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• ANC wants to crack down on dumpsters. We’ll see how people feel once the endless trash trucks start rolling through.
• Fiola Mare still getting raves from Tom Sietsema.

GM received a comment to an old post the other day that serves as a reminder that some things just never change:

I went to Jackson from Sep ’34 to Feb ’39. Had Miss Gaynor in 2nd; Miss Padget in 3rd; Miss Elizabeth Waddy in 4th; Miss Cumpston in 5th; and Miss Louise Waddy in 6th. They were all truly loving teachers. We played “pussy-in-the-corner” in the open gazebo across the street in Montrose Park, which was also great for sledding in the winter. Lots of memories, but one sticks still: the awful smell of the gingko fruit on 30th street in the Spring.

The gingko scourge runs deep in our history!

One thing is different. Nowadays there are no gingkoes on 30th St. (there are plenty on R St. and Avon outside the Jackson School).

Now what exactly is pussy-in-the-corner?