The Georgetown Metropolitan

Photo by WCP.

Back in September, GM was saddened to pass along the message he received from a Dolcezza worker: that once the store’s production equipment was moved to Union Market, the Georgetown location would close.

At the time, GM did a little digging and discovered that that was not exactly true, but learned that the store was nonetheless considering leaving this location (where it was founded in 2003).

GM noticed this week that the for sale sign was taken down and seating was added to the second floor. He reached out and received confirmation that they are planning to remain. And the new seating upstairs in fact reflected the store’s expanded coffee service (the Dupont Dolcezza is much more of a coffee shop than the original shop, and this is probably a move to bring some of that innovation home). Continue reading →

Photo by Oren Levine.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Great profile of Jean-Pierre Sarfati of Jean-Pierre Antiques.
• Georgetown gets a couple mentions in a list of ways to enjoy the water. One of GM’s favorites is taking the water taxi back from a night Nats game.

Potomac River

As you may have noticed, it has rained a ton this week. Which means that contrary to GM’s message up and to the right, you do not need to water your young street trees this week.

And this is a good time as any to remind you to check with the Casey Tree’s website right here to see an updated forecast on watering needs. For this week they tell us:

Watering is not needed.Mother Nature to our rescue. Despite a dry month so far, with a relatively substantial precipitation accumulation from last week and roughly another 1.5″ headed our way…watering is not necessary.

Too much watering can be as harmful as too little. So if you’re not sure, check with the experts at Casey Trees!

Photo by Drpavloff.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Cafe Puro space to become a crawfish place call Yummi Crawfish. GM’s less than excited, but maybe cuz he’s a New Englander and crawfishes just remind him that he’d rather be eating lobster.
• Somewhat true to type, yet really impressive nonetheless: Hoyas are wicked good sailers.

Photo by Michael Cisneros.

Whew, GM really needed that break. But now he’s back and getting used to life no longer on vacation.

In the meantime, here are just a few of the Georgetown-related news items that passed by in GM’s absence:

• Workers find bones (probably old ones) at Hyde-Addison during renovations.
• Who was Francis Scott Key anyway?
• A Quiznos may replace the Darrell Dean. BOOOOOOOO!!!!
• Buy a piece of Citronelle.
• New chef at 1789.
• Nice list of non-touristy restaurants in Georgetown.

GM’s too bummed about the US Men’s loss yesterday to write anything. And besides, he’s got to get packing for his road trip. He’ll be out the rest of this week and all next week. He’ll be back the following week (somewhat but not really) tanned, rested and ready.

Happy Fourth of July!

1700 block of Wisconsin Ave.

Last night the ANC met for its July meeting (the last till September) and while GM had to duck out again before it was finished, he caught several noteworthy items.

Gasman Goeth?

Last week when the news hit that Eastbanc had a contract to purchase the gas station at M and Pennsylvania, GM speculated that it was just a matter of time before they looked into acquiring one or both of the remaining gas stations at Q and Wisconsin. Well it may be even sooner than he thought.

At the ANC meeting, Commissioner Ed Solomon announced that the Exxon station at Q and Wisconsin was for sale. He brought it up to solicit public feedback and to determine how much of a grassroots feeling would there be to try to preserve the station.

GM lives practically around the corner from both these stations. In all honesty, he’d like to see at least one of them close. It’s a visual blight that really breaks up the pedestrian flow from lower to upper Georgetown.

But as long as there are still gasoline-powered cars, there will need to be some gas stations. And GM will admit that it is awfully convenient to drop off a car for service and walk home. But query whether we really need two immediately next to one another for that purpose? (And price competition doesn’t seemed to be served either, since the Exxon routinely has much more expensive prices than the Shell).

Ultimately, it’s not really a matter of what GM or anyone else wants. If the property is worth a lot more to a residential or commercial developer then it’ll be bought and developed. Needless to say, GM will keep a close eye on this.

Continue reading →

Photo by Tera Brown.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• President Obama is speaking at the Waterfront Park today.
• Yay, GM’s favorite realtor, Nancy Taylor-Bubes, is named one of the top in the nation.