by Kaitlin Morio
Although it’s only February, the stylish students of Georgetown University are taking full advantage of the unusually warm weather. They’re doing away with coats and scarves in order to show off a variety of fashionable looks.
Alex Rice (MSB ’15) and Stephanie Cai (MSB ’15), a dynamic roommate duo, depict the best of the East and West Coast. Alex looks flawless in her laid back Cali ensemble and Stephanie is simply adorable in a knitted sweater and ballet flats – classic NYC.
by Elaine Li
Ever wondered what went down in the Car Barn before Georgetown professors and students began making use of it? Well, the next time you’re sitting in class, minutes away from dozing off, think about how less than 50 years ago, the Car Barn didn’t house any classrooms. Rather, it housed streetcars that were undergoing maintenance. Also, it was actually super close to becoming a Union Station.
So why the mention of the building that many students dread walking to? Streetcars, that’s why. The first streetcars in D.C. appeared in 1862 and were literally horse powered. After a little under 100 years of operation, streetcars were replaced by buses and the Metrorail system. Now, fifty years after that fateful decision, D.C. residents welcome the return of a streetcar system.
by Erin Collins
Today is Fat Tuesday, which means it’s also Mardi Gras. It is a day for your glutinous habits to win over before the Lent season begins. While Georgetown is certainly no New Orleans, we still expect to see beads, masks, and lots of purple and green. D.C. is here to help you to celebrate the day with several Mardi Gras events.
by Martin Hussey
After the D.C. Zoning Commission delayed judgment on Georgetown’s 2010 Campus Plan until April, relations between neighbors and students continued down their path of public frustration. Unfortunately, the hostile relations seem set to continue until the final judgment comes after a date for the hearing is set on April 30.
But, as the Washington City Paper pointed out last week, Georgetown’s situation is not unique, among universities either nationally or locally. Yet, the paper points out, poor town-gown relations have a unique situation in the District.
In addition to Georgetown’s problems, parking battles have flared around The George Washington University’s Mount Vernon campus and American University. The District’s historically poor relations between campuses and neighborhoods reveal a lot about the District’s internal politics. According to the Paper, “Washington is also a place that has never, unlike some other big cities, been quite comfortable with becoming a bustling, urban center. Ours is a town where there’s no agreed-upon answer to the basic question of whether we really want to allow a bunch of quiet-seeking residents to stifle a university’s growth.”
Furthermore, the District’s poor town-gown relations at Georgetown, GW and American are intricately related to the fact that neighbors enjoy an amazing amount of say in local politics, especially on issues concerning zoning regulations, parking rules and the like. At American, neighbors objected to minute details over the construction of a new dormitory — from the color of stone to the amount of trees surrounding the building.
D.C.’s town-gown relations are not so unique in other respects. Though our political environment may be different than in other towns, students in close proximity with other neighbors causes inevitable problems. Several neighbors interviewed complained of vomit on their stoops, finding drunken students on their front lawns and vandalism on their homes during weekend nights. All in all, given the structure of local politics and student demographics, struggles between the university and neighbors seem posed to continue. While the City Paper hesitates to pick a side in the current dispute over the Campus Plan, it does highlight neighbor concerns, both legitimate and ridiculous.
Photo credit: Washington City Paper
by Erin Collins
With President’s Day tomorrow, the weekend is far from over. However, many of you have probably spent the past few days traveling and enjoying the long weekend, so Sunday Night Wrapup is here to catch you up on all the news that you’ve missed.
by Kaitlyn Morio
Still looking for things to fill the three-day weekend? We’ve got you covered with this week’s Best Bets to ensure that you have an awesome President’s Day Weekend!
FRIDAY
Are you a scary movie fanatic? If so, head out to the Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW) for Friday Night Frights from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. They’re showing two episodes of the HBO American horror anthology, Tales from the Crypt. Admission is free and, if you’re over 21, there are some awesome drink specials. Black Cat is only three blocks from the U Street/Cardozo Metro Station which makes it a convenient hot spot for all Georgetown students. Bring some friends because you won’t want to walk home alone after a night of terror.
SATURDAY
You don’t have to go far to have a great Saturday night – in fact, you can stay right on campus (which is convenient given the frigid winter weather). Head over to Bulldog Alley in the Leavey Center from 9:00pm to 1:30am for a Murder Mystery party and the showing of the movie Clue. Come prepared with your best detective skills to try to piece together the mystery as you search for the murderer. Dress in 1920′s themed attire in order to better immerse yourself in your role.
SUNDAY
The Next Big Thing Tour, which features over twenty local alternative and punk acts, has its next stop at the 9:30 Club (815 V. St. NW). The concert starts at 11:00 a.m. and lasts all day with a new act every twenty to thirty minutes. Stop by, even if for only a little while – you never know when one of these undiscovered bands will make it big. Tickets are $15 and are only available at the door the day of the concert.
MONDAY
It’s well worth it to trek out to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia from 1:00pm to 3:00pm to watch what’s being touted as “the largest parade celebrating Washington’s birthday in the USA!” The parade features bands, floats, wagons, horses, historic reenactment units, youth groups and special performances. Take the Yellow Line to the Eisenhower Avenue Metro Station, where a DASH bus will shuttle people downtown to the parade between 11am to 4pm, free of charge. During the day, everyone will have free admission to various historic Alexandria sites.
Photo: princeofpetworth.com