The Georgetown Metropolitan

This week, WMATA floated what it is referring to as a “Draft Visionary Network” for its extensive Metrobus system. The plans would dramatically redraw the entire existing network across the whole service area. And consistent with that, the changes suggested by the plans would significantly impact bus service through Georgetown.

It’s important to state first that this is a very preliminary plan. It was drafted looking at the data and prioritizing faster services between the most frequented destinations. And WMATA is soliciting feedback from the public. One of the tools they released lets you plan a trip and see how your time would compare between the current network and the proposed one. (More on that down below).

The new system would represent a clean break from the current one. All the old route names (including the historic streetcar route numbers) would apparently be tossed. In their place would be brand new route numbers consisting of the route’s origin jurisdiction and a three digit number (e.g. DC100, VA203, etc.)

Just for reference, here is the existing bus map for Georgetown:

The bus routes are as follow:

• 31,33 – The main Wisconsin Ave. routes that go either to Foggy Bottom or downtown, depending on which bus you catch
• D2 – The bus to Dupont Circle, which travels in a loop up to Glover Park and back. Through Georgetown it’s mostly on Q St.
• D6 – Long haul bus line that travels from Sibley to RFK. Through Georgetown it mostly overlaps with the D2, thus increasing the bus options between Georgetown and the Dupont Metro stop
• 38B – Orange Line With a View! This bus travels between Ballston and downtown. It travels along M St. in Georgetown
• G2 – This bus links two universities: GU and Howard. It winds its way through west Georgetown and then travels along Dumbarton and P towards Dupont, and beyond
• Circulators – Of course there are also Circulator bus routes (some of which are on the chopping block), but WMATA doesn’t control them and so are not part of its future network

As stated, none of these routes would, per se, remain. Some would largely remain under a new name. For instance, the 30 series buses would fall into the new DC101 line (DC’s Alternative Rock Bus Line!) It appears the DC101 line would travel to Farragut North. The 38B will also be largely replaced by the VA283.

Separately, the D2, D6 and G2 would effectively be merged into the DC100. This new line would start at Sibley, like the D6, and follow that bus’s route through Georgetown. However, instead of traveling along Massachusetts Ave., it would head down to P St. and travel east on that street until New Jersey Ave. At that point it would head south and terminate somewhere near Union Station.

Continue reading →

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Transformers vs. the Neighbors.
• Blank Street Coffee is trimming back its expansion into DC, but is still going to open a Georgetown location this summer.

An explosion of color is now occurring at 1513 35th St. The residents there planted a gobsmacking 1,000 tulip bulbs, and we all get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

And better yet, the display was created for a worthy cause. As you can see from a sign posted next to the flowers:

So if you’d like to pay it forward, consider donating to the cause!

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Probably should’ve have mentioned this yesterday, but remember that due to Emancipation Day, trash and recycling get shifted a day this week.
• Remember the House Tour is this weekend!

Plenty of ink is spilled over the sight of cherry trees blossoming each spring. But I’d like to submit for your consideration another reliably beautiful bloom from Asian lands: the wisteria. And nowhere are the wisteria blooms as impressive than at Georgetown’s Dumbarton Oaks gardens.

While the peak was last week, there is still time to enjoy these scene if you scurry over there (not today, since it’s closed, but definitely tomorrow).

Continue reading →

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Some fantastic vintage shots of the dearly departed Booeymonger’s.
• GU Capital Bikeshare station relocated.

Forchrisakes another goddamn bank is moving into a large property to utterly waste it. In this case, Citibank appears to be moving in to the old Gap building on Wisconsin at N.

That is, at least according to designs submitted to the Old Georgetown Board. No word on when it would open. But, honestly, who cares? Open or closed, this will be useless to the community, much like the Chase on P, into which I have literally never seen a customer venture.

So even though we’re otherwise seeing an ebb in the inundation of banks with the closing of a handful over the last couple years, there are still giant New York banks like Citi and Chase that want to turn buildings that have tons of potential into billboards and vanity projects.

Continue reading →

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• More on the Garden Tour.
• What’s it like to attend Georgetown as a heathen.

Dumbarton Oaks

After two years of pandemic-driven closures, the spring traditions of Georgetown are returning this year. Check out the details below:

The Georgetown House Tour

First of the two grand dame tours, the Georgetown house tour will be held this year on April 22nd (it’s 90th year!) It is held every year to benefit St. John’s Episcopal church. As the title states, this tour gives you a chance to walk through 8-10 of Georgetown’s nicest homes. The patrons party is always the place to hobnob with the nobbiest hobs.

The Georgetown Garden Tour

Of the two tours, the Garden Tour is probably my favorite. Like the house tour, you get a chance to look behind the gates of 8 or so homes, but I just think there’s something more interesting about gardens than interiors. This year the Garden Tour will occur on May 13th. This year will feature a rare opportunity to tour Everymay’s grounds!

Continue reading →