Businesses come together for bargains, deals and food

The Georgetown Business Improvement District (BID), funded by the neighborhood’s homeowners and merchants, throws four main neighborhood events every year: the French Market in spring, Fashion’s Night Out and Taste of Georgetown in fall and Merriment in Georgetown in winter.

{mosads}The Taste of Georgetown filled Wisconsin Avenue just recently, on Oct. 15. The event featured 30 of Georgetown’s classiest restaurants offering nearly 60 delicious dishes. The tasting is a bargain, too, since each dish cost one ticket, and five tickets were just $20.

Offerings included tender steak sandwiches at the Morton’s Steakhouse tent, juicy burgers from Clyde’s of Georgetown and an array of wings from the Georgetown Wing Co.

“I think it was a beautiful day. It was really crowded and busy, so the merchants were very happy,” said Nancy Miyahira, marketing director for the Georgetown BID.

The flow of hungry attendees was also eased by spreading out the food tents down a longer portion of a blocked-off Wisconsin Avenue. “We spread everything out a little bit more, so logistically that was helpful,” Miyahira said.

The fun did not stop with main courses, though, as Georgetown’s sweets shops were out in force. Sugary options included fudgy chocolate pecan brownies from bakery Baked and Wired and fresh cannoli from Ristorante Piccolo. The famous Georgetown Cupcakes set up shop too, of course.

While the next Taste of Georgetown will not happen until next fall, those on the lookout for fun at Georgetown shops can look forward to the holiday event “Merriment in Georgetown,” Dec. 9-20. This festive gathering features special deals from a range of Georgetown’s prime shopping destinations, right when it’s coming down to the wire on checking off all the items on your gift list.

It is not just about shopping, either. Carolers fill the air with the sounds of the festive season, and a roaming Santa Claus, reindeer and other costumed personalities add fun for children and adults alike.

The fun will go on even longer this year, since the Georgetown BID expanded it to 12 days from just one last year.

Come the thaw of spring, music and the aroma of food will once again fill the Georgetown air at the French Market. Area shops and boutiques will offer deals of up to 70 percent off designer goods, art and antiques. To complete the atmosphere of an open-air European marketplace, strolling mime artists and musicians will entertain those browsing. Of course, no French-themed event would be complete without French food, so Georgetown’s abundance of restaurants and cafes will pitch in.

Finally, next fall will be Fashion’s Night Out, where in past years over 100 of Georgetown’s trendiest shopping destinations threw parties or other special events.

A multitude of smaller events are always going on as well, often run by individual member businesses of the Georgetown BID. For example, Oct. 27-29 is the Ledbury DC Pop-up, a chance to meet designers and get special deals on Ledbury shirts.

Nov. 12 is the next walking tour of the Civil War-era house Tudor Place, a specialized tour commemorating the war’s 150th anniversary. At another historic home, Dumbarton House, the recurring chamber music series returns Nov. 15 with pieces by Abel, Bach and Pleyel.

On special event days or a normal weekday, there is always excitement to be had in Georgetown. For more information on the BID, visit http://m.georgetowndc.com.