The Georgetown Metropolitan

This week, many people have taken note of the new feature that Google has added to it’s Streetview feature of Google Maps: the ability to flash back in time. It’s pretty neat, although the clock only goes back to 2008 or so. (Here are the instructions)

Nonetheless it enables us to quickly visit (virtually) old friends that have recently left us.

For instance, here’s old Nathans:

Beloved Furin’s:

Photo by William Colindres.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• It’s always a bit dodgy to swim in the Potomac, but for the next week or so it’s really, really a bad idea.
• Tour the construction inside the Georgetown post office.
• Tomorrow from 12:00 – 3:00 pm, there will be a “pop-up” meeting at Wisconsin and M (probably more like an information table) to discuss possible changes to the Circulator and to solicit comments. Stop by!

Dumbarton Oaks

Photo by William Colindres.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Albrecht Muth gets 50 years for the murder of his wife Viola Drath.
• Lots of construction on the Key Bridge coming.

Eastbanc announced Monday that it will be filling the spot recently vacated by Qdoba at 3303 M St. with Alice and Olivia, a women’s fashion store.

While the announcement was hardly a surprise, it is still worth noting that this is yet another M St. storefront that will officially go from restaurant use to retail use. This is a subject GM has discussed before. It is probably too early to get alarmist about the situation. There are still at least 30 restaurants on M St. But we’re losing a net of several a year, with no end in site. Continue reading →

Photo by Andrew.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Sad news: Marvelous Market is closing down today. It was hardly perfect, and could be so much better, but it was still a decently useful shop. GM hears that the Neams family, which still owns the building, is looking for a new market to fill the space. Let’s hope!
• Some newer drawings of the proposed Exxon condos.

Dumbarton Oaks

Last night, the ANC met for its May session. As has been the case for a while now, GM could only stay for the first hour or so, but he still caught a lot:

So Long Peter

Sadly, last night marked the last meeting for Commissioner Peter Prindiville. Peter is a GU senior and he is graduating. The winds will blow him beyond our shores after the ceremony, so he must step down.

Peter gave a heartfelt address offering his perspective as a student and a commissioner. As he put it, he represents a minority within the larger community, and his voters often feel disenfranchised by the local process. Peter gave strong testimony that despite those outward appearances, the inner-workings of the commission are respectful and productive, with a multitude of opportunities for collaboration. He called it the “epitome of good democracy”. Continue reading →

Photo by Oren Levine.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Nice piece by WCP on the BID’s “waterfront district” strategy.
• That $100k garage is already off the market. Is that really the going rate?

Dumbarton Oaks