WaPo Retells the Apple Saga

The news was first broke by us bloggers, but it was The Washington Post that pulled all the strings together to retell the whole Apple store saga, with more photos to boot. Paul Schwarzman’s article and the DC Wire’s post show the evolution of Apple’s designs. The most interesting point for GM was that WaPo reached out to the U.S. Fine Arts Commission and got copies of Apple’s previous proposals.

First of all, how close was GM’s Photoshop sight-unseen hacksaw job to the actual proposal? Surprisingly close:

 

Apple's on the left, GM's on the right

Apple's on the left, GM's on the right

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ANC Gets Fox 5 Treatment

Last night at the ANC meeting, there was a presence you don’t see too much at the meetings: a local news film crew. It’s not clear whether they were there just to report on whatever, or whether they had something in mind. Either way, Fox Five reporter Roby Chavez latched on to the fire hydrant donnybrook and ran with it. Check it out here. (Sorry for the lack of embed, Fox Five doesn’t seem to allow it).

Update: Roby Chavez points us to Fox 5’s new website that allows embeding:

Vodpod videos no longer available.

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The Approved Apple Designs

While Vox Populi may have gotten the DCist link love it’s the Georgetown Metropolitan that has the actual approved most recently rejected* designs for the new Apple store at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. Check them out:

The Approved Apple Store Design

Courtesy of ANC2E

As described in GM’s ANC round up, the approved design fits in with the 19th century buildings around it. The roofline matches the building housing Nine West and is decorated by dentil mouldings, echoing its neighbors. Hopefully the actual structure won’t be the blinding white light that the designs make them out to be. More after the jump:

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Lost Pets on the Rise?

Lost Pets on the Rise?

Is it GM, or have there been a spate of lost pets notices up recently. Above are notices for a lost cat and a lost beagle. Specifically, a lost “shy” beagle (as if the story of a lost dog wasn’t sad enough). GM has also seen a sign for a lost Newfoundland. A Newfoundland! Those guys are the size of a small moose. How does a Newfee get lost? Is someone stealing pets?

Lost pet signs are one of saddest common sidewalk scenes. GM thinks there ought to be a law that requires owners who have been reunited with their pets to put up signs saying “Found him. Don’t worry about it anymore.”

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ANC Roundup: An Apple Falls in Line

Quick and efficient, yet thorough, ANC meeting tonight. We had farmers markets, beer, grocery stores, pistols, and fire hydrants. And that was just the first half. It all led up to the finale, when Apple showed up with the tail between their legs and proposed a more traditional design. How did the Commission respond? Find out after the jump.

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10,000th Visitor

At some point today, Georgetown Metropolitan expects its 10,000th visit. For only one month of business, GM’s not sure if that’s a lot or not much at all, but thanks for reading and hopefully the Georgetown Metropolitan will continue to improve and grow and better document this odd neighborhood of ours.

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Retail Tenants Finally Gaining the Upper Hand?

Well probably not, but there was an interesting article in the New York Times yesterday discussing the fact that with the economic downturn, a lot of smaller retail shops who would have otherwise been cast aside for higher paying tenants are able to negotiate acceptable terms with their landlords. Does this describe Georgetown as well?

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Dumbarton Oaks Needs More “Flintiness”

Not Flinty

Anyone like GM who likes to visit Dumbarton Oaks frequently has surely had the frustration of seeing Dumbarton Oaks closed for weak reasons. Today they were closed do to “ice covered walks and pathways”. They are always closed after a snowfall, no matter the lightness of the accumulation. This is particularly frustrating for us photographers who would love to capture some shots of the gardens draped in snow.

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Warm Weather Brings Life to Waterfront

Today’s warm weather has brought life to the new waterfront, offering hope that this long awaited for project will be a popular destination this coming spring. Some fuzzy shots after the jump:

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Around Town

Ugly Dolls

Seen on Wisconsin Ave.:  UglyDolls. Anyone know the correct term for a grouping of UglyDolls? Is it a gaggle? A bevy? A school?

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