Over the last two weeks or so, two of my favorite Georgetown institutions have closed or announced they are closing. Erwin Gomez Salon & Spa closed after some well publicized drama on Facebook, and my eyebrows have suffered ever since (if you have a good recommendation for an eyebrow master, I am all ears). Earlier this week, The Griffin Market announced that its last day will be February 20th. I live a block from The Griffin Market, and love love love their egg salad sandwich, and often go there for other food emergencies (fresh mozzarella emergency, cornichon emergency, good Italian wine emergency… my kind of emergencies). Having these two places close gave me cause for pause, and made me think about all of the other Georgetown places and boutiques I so love, and why I could never imagine living anywhere other than here. These favorites are listed in the order that they come into my life on a typical day I spend in Georgetown.
1. 5:15 am Home: I love love love the row-houses in Georgetown and thank my lucky stars every day when I awake in my own 900 square feet beauty of a place with hardwood floors, crown molding, and a working fireplace.
2. 6:45 am Downdog Yoga: I love the teachers, especially tanO Mazi, whose teaching style and interest in the physical practice of yoga means that I am sweating profusely even before we do the beginning Oms.
3. 8:00 am The Old Stone House: I walk or drive in front of it every day, the garden is one of my “happy places” and where I go when I need a break from today’s busy world.
4. 8:10 am The Georgetown Dish is my source for local news and keeps me in the loop about the neighborhood. Thank you Beth Solomon!
5. 10:28 am Baked & Wired: My go-to place for coffee when I need a break from my office espresso machine, and when I need a cupcake to make life a little sweeter.
6. 12:15 pm Chadwicks, the DC equivalent of Cheers. More often than not lunch is their Honey Dijon salad with grilled chicken. My favorite there is Nicole; she is a doll, remembers my name, and my white wine preference. Also my favorite place for happy hour deals: $2 wines every evening until 7 pm. Amazing.
7. 3:00 pm The Georgetown Angels in Georgetown Park Mall (they only three reasons other than the DMV to ever go in that mall): Kassie Rempel of Simply Soles, Stephanie Fornash of Fornash Designs, and Heidi Kallett of The Dandelion Patch. Amazing women, amazing shoes, jewelry, and stationery.
8. 4:00 pm Being able to walk to my facial appointments is a luxury. Hela Spa is where I have been going for the last 5 years, and Brianne gives the best facial with glycolic peel.
9. 5:00 pm Time for cocktails. My favorite cocktail bar is Bourbon in the Four Seasons and my favorite bartender there is JP. More than a bartender, he is a master mixologist, a cocktail chef, a true connoisseur of liquor and just an all-around super nice guy.
10. 7:30 pm Dinner time. Where to go? Peacock Café is always fabulous both in terms of the food and the amazing team; Neyla is a favorite for something a bit more exotic.
Most importantly, beyond all of these fabulous places, the Georgetown residents make this place so special to me. I know my neighbors, people in the neighborhood say hi to each other and smile when walking down the street; I guess we just all feel so lucky to be able to live here.
