This week for Georgetown Time Machine, I’m still deep into the pile of 1993 photos. This one is of 1254 Wisconsin. Nowadays it’s the Veronica Beard shop. But 30 years ago it was the Georgetown location of Kemp Mill Music.
Anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s in the DC area probably has fond memories of buys records, tapes and cds from various Kemp Mill stores. As the Post wrote when the last store closed in 2017:
Instead of chasing a hipster trend, Kemp Mill, founded in the early 1970s, offered something else: community, particularly for the region’s R&B, gospel and go-go fans. A business that once had 275 employees and $30 million in annual sales, with outlets from Dupont Circle to Springfield Mall, also consigned records by local artists and hosted in-store performances.
I’m not sure when the Georgetown location closed. I’m fairly sure it was gone by the time I moved here in 2003. Anyone remember its departure?
It’s that time again, I’m providing (and slightly updating) my annual Intern’s Guide to Georgetown:
As year-round Washingtonians know, it’s that time of year again. Eager young interns will soon arrive in earnest droves to fill those couple inches on their resumes between their GPAs and their “other interests”. Many of these interns will be drawn to live and/or play in Georgetown. I publish the below crash course for interns each year:
To Live:
There’s a movement to pay interns more, in order to allow a wider swath of the population to participate in career enhancing experiences. But that said, if you’re an intern you’re still probably living on little to no pay. Can you afford to live in Georgetown? Maybe. But you’ll have to look hard. You’re young, so you probably can’t even remember a time before Craigslist, so no need mention that. But there are other places to look too. The City Paper still has decent listings, but for the short term rentals that you’re probably looking for you may try off campus housing listings like you’ll find here. I’ve also heard good things about Facebook Marketplace. Good luck.
To Eat:
The Safeway should be on your weekly checklist. You can load up on groceries without going totally broke. For some variety, go to the newly re-opened Whole Foods in Glover Park, or the Trader Joe’s just up the block from the Safeway. Or you could sign up for Carsharing and head out to Costco at Pentagon City to really make your dollar go far.
Restaurants in Georgetown get a bad wrap. But there are plenty of relatively cheap options for a weekly night out. Here are some of GM’s old reliable options:
Mexican – Los Cuates
Falafel – Falafel, Inc.
Pizza – Pizzeria Paradiso
Spanish – Bodega
When your parents come to visit and are paying the bill, make a reservation at Chez Billy Sud or, if you’re a traditionalist, 1789.
To Work:
There are over twelve bus lines that go through Georgetown. They all come pretty frequently, particularly during rush hour. The main crosstown corridors are Q St. to Dupont and M St. to Foggy Bottom. Get yourself a Smartrip Card and put on about $70 month and you’ll be set.
Georgetown also has nine different Capital Bikeshare stations around the neighborhood. Of course there are now dockless bikeshare and e-scooter options too. (The best way to browse them all is to install the Transit app.) The best thing about bikeshare is that unlike riding your own bike, you don’t have to worry about getting the bike home at night. You can ride to work in the morning, then go out drinking as interns are wont to do and you can walk or take a cab home.
To Play:
GM doubts you need much advice from some barely-still-a-30– sadly 40-something where to find intern-friendly bars. You’ll find them. The only advice GM has on that account is to branch out from Georgetown. Although nowadays even that is advice that 20-somethings hardly need to hear from some middle aged guy. That said, if you are looking for tips for places beyond Georgetown, the obvious locations are 14th St. (I recommend Bar Pilar, Churchkey, and Etto), Shaw (Dacha is a fun beer garden, but really crowded, I also recommend the Passenger, and Right Proper), and H St. (hit the Pug). Finally, check out the new Wharf development, especially the Anthem.
Beyond booze, there’s plenty of fun stuff to do in Georgetown. Check out these ideas:
Rent a Boat – The Key Bridge Boat House on K St. below Key Bridge will rent you a canoe or kayak for a cheap price. Grab a picnic and head over to Roosevelt Island for lunch sometime. Thompsons Boat House is another option. They offer rowing shells on top of kayaks and canoes. If you’re experienced, they’ll let you rent them. If you want to learn, they offer week-long classes after which you’ll be certified to row. But you need to be an early riser!
Play Some Sports – There are tennis courts all over Georgetown. Try Volta Park (34th and Q), Rose Park (27th and O), or Montrose Park (Avon Pl. and R). The newly renovated Montrose Park courts are definitely the nicest, but the Rose Park courts are also in great shape, but both of them can get crowded. The Volta courts are less crowded but not nearly as nice. Beyond tennis, Volta Park and Rose Park both have basketball courts and small ballfields. Finally, go to Volta Park or Jelleff to cool off in the pool.
Hang out – The Georgetown Waterfront Park is a great place to spend an afternoon. Bring a book and a Frisbee and spend a few hours here. Also, make sure to stop by Dumbarton Oaks at least once this summer.
To Read:
Of course you should read the Georgetown Metropolitan for all your Georgetown news. But since you probably don’t know what an ANC is, you may want to branch out to the links on the right for other Georgetown and DC blogs. DCist is a must!
In my recent monthly ANC update, I solicited my constituents’ opinions on the streateries in Georgetown. And the responses have been fantastic (feel free to keep them coming at 2e02@anc.dc.gov!). I’ve got lots of thoughtful (and passionate) messages on the topic, which will definitely guide me going forward.
But it’s also good to get pure data. And for that the BID has created a survey for residents, visitors and business-owner/worker to take on the topic. So even if you’ve commented to me, please take a few minutes and complete the applicable survey below! It will definitely influence what steps are taken next.
The performances in Georgetown will take place at four different venues, each given a lemon themed name:
Each space will host six to eight shows over the course of the run, as well as dozens of non-play performances, such as stand up or magic shows, etc. (Not to mention the additional shows being put on at the JCC and Caffritz Hall). In other words, you’ve got no excuse to be bored in mid-July!
This week for Georgetown Time Machine, I’m honoring an historic restaurant spot that recently became vacant after the &Pizza left: Au Pied de Cochon.
The photo above is from my pile of 1993 shots and show the restaurant squarely in its middle age. It lingered on until 2005 when it closed. It was replaced first by a Five Guys burger shop, which was itself replaced by the &Pizza. Unfortunately the old French bistro interior was removed by the last tenant. It was hardly spectacular, but it had some character. Hopefully a new restaurant can come in and bring it back to its former, if not glory then at least status.
Here’s an excerpt from a piece I wrote in 2012 on the building itself:
According to the Historical American Building Survey, this structure was constructed around 1890. Interestingly, the survey came to this conclusion based upon a 1960 interview with George Scheele from the Georgetowner. Scheele stated that he believed that the first business to occupy the new building was Robert Weaver who ran a meat market.
There was a bit if confusion on Friday and Saturday about when trash would be picked up. An alert sent by DPW on Thursday said it would slide a day due to the smoke, but then some residents who had put it out for Friday morning nonetheless had it picked up. While the crews appear to have returned on Saturday, did anyone end up missing the pick up due to this?
The Georgetown Metropolitan 
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