You probably have noticed that due to the unseasonably warm weather, plants and flowers have concluded that spring is here, despite what the calendar says. On the one hand, this is a foreboding sign of possibly cataclysmic climate change. On the other, it’s a perfect chance to pull one over on Harvard University.
See, Harvard owns Dumbarton Oaks. And admission to the gardens is free during the winter. But on March 15th, which is almost always right as the spring fireworks kick off, the gardens start charging admissions. So in normal times, you have to pony up to get to see sights like these:
The ANC will be meeting for its March session next Monday, starting at 6:30 pm via Zoom. There are some pretty interesting items on the agenda, so I hope you will join us!
The most notable item, in my opinion, is a proposed new alley dwelling in my district. A homeowner who lives in a house in the center of the block confined by R St., 34th, 35th, and Filmore School has purchased some adjacent parking pads along an alley that comes off 34th:
The homeowner is proposing to combine the parking pads into a single lot and build a two-bedroom house on it. It is proposed to look like this:
Although it would legally be a free standing house, it would for all intents and purposes serve as an accessory dwelling of the primary home. The backside would open freely into the homeowner’s backyard. When I first saw this proposal, I assumed it would actually formally be an accessory dwelling. But the main home is itself technically an alley dwelling. (It’s actually the original home on the block and ended up somewhat stuck in the middle since the owners over the years sold off the surrounding lots.) And as an alley dwelling it’s legally not allowed to itself have an accessory dwelling.
While a great deal of Americans’ wardrobes consist of clothes made in Asia, it’s rare for the clothes to come from fashion designers actually based there, particularly Chinese designers. One new shop is trying to change that and is opening up a brick and mortar store in Georgetown at 1057 Wisconsin Ave. (currently an AT&T store).
The shop is called Fangyan. It has two other shops in Bethesda and Westfield, NJ. It also had a pop-up here Georgetown, but this will be a permanent shop. From their website:
FANGYÁN 方言 (fāng yán) is a brand and US-based multi-label retail e-commerce. The name is inspired by the language diversity in China, paying homage to the brand’s aim of curating pieces from all around the country.
FANGYÁN is translated as “dialect”, meaning a variety of Chinese languages.
It is a representation of the country’s melting pot culture where chaos meets order. In this context, FANGYÁN arises in its true colors, as a fashion project that delivers not only great designs but actively plays a role in this trend of redefining what China actually is to a new and curious global audience.
The website lists twenty different Chinese brands that it will offer. Personally, I’m not terribly well informed on fashion trends, let alone international ones, but it does seem like nice new option for people looking for something new.
With the opening of Maman, which is directly next to another coffee shop, I think it’s fair to suggest that the coffee shop boom has resumed in Georgetown.
As you can see from the chart I pulled together above, the number of coffee shops in the neighborhood has fluctuated quite a lot over the last ten years. Starting early last decade, the numbers of coffee shops opening in Georgetown seemed to defy all rules of supply and demand. No matter how many opened, they were immediate packed at all hours.
Councilmember Brooke Pinto submitted her annual budget request to the mayor yesterday. The items included several requests that would directly benefit Georgetown.
One large item is the acquisition of the former Key Bridge Exxon site. The city already budgeted $14 million to purchase this property last year, and Pinto’s request would add $500,000 to that total. The city has targeted the location for electric vehicle charging, bus turn-arounds, and a possible gondola station. A developer owns the property and is in the process of getting approval to build condos, but most observers believe this is just an attempt to up the price that they’ll get if and when the city uses eminent domain to acquire the lot.
Another important item on Pinto’s request list is $1.5 million to provide critical repairs to Mt. Zion Church in east Georgetown. This prominent and historic African American church is in dire need of repairs and these funds will help secure the physical integrity of the building.
Looking to sweeten up your sweetheart on this Valentine’s Day? Buy local! If there’s one thing Georgetown doesn’t lack it’s places to buy tasty treats. Here are some of my favorites:
L.A. Burdick
This beautiful chocolate shop had the tough luck to open right before Covid, yet has thrived despite the adversity. Stop by and pick up some of their adorable mouse-shaped chocolates or another of their wide array of chocolates and fudges:
And don’t miss their incredible hot chocolate. It’s incredibly rich and will stick to your ribs like a ribeye steak.
The Georgetown Metropolitan 
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