Searching for the perfect Ivy League Look? Last week, Uscoop, a website for college students to get deals on the latest overstock clothing, just launched an online boutique called Tuckernuck.

The idea started with a group of graduates from Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, and Trinity College. Their mission is to “update the traditional” style reminiscent of Northeastern, upper-class families to the “timeless look based on ease, traditions, and American cool.” Oh yeah, and provide students with the inspiration they gain from sailing, croquet, and according to the description: ”Derby Days”, “wood-paneled Wagoneers” and “parties in big weathered barns.”

Wait, what was that last bit? Derby Days are fraternity and sorority charity events, and one can only guess this is a Wagoneer, and the last item … didn’t render much in a Google search.

Incidentally, six out of the seven models are our very own Georgetown peers, who describe their styles as everything from “modern but laid back” to “classic chic” to “a blend of Euro and prep.” The models are friends of the co-founders and provide some brief quotes on what items inspire their style choices.

And why the name “Tuckernuck”, you might ask? Tuckernuck is a privately-owned island in the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, with a whopping 35 houses. Well of course!

Surprisingly enough, Vineyard Vines didn’t make the cut in the list of designers, but a company called Salmon Cove did so that probably does the trick.

Look’s like there’s gonna be a new sheriff in town. Georgetown is looking for a new Chief of Police. Last week, the University posted a job opening for the position of Police Chief in the Department of Public Safety on various websites, including the Washington Post.

What this means for the current Chief of Police is unclear. Since June 2010, Vice President of University Safety Rocco DelMonaco (pictured) has exercised operational command of DPS. In his capacity as GU Chief of Police, DelMonaco has recently begun writing a column as a part of Georgetown’s effort to appease the neighbors. In “Rocky’s Reports”, DelMonaco heroically ”separates fact from fiction, sets the record straight, and keeps you in the know on campus and neighborhood public safety matters.”

The search for a new Chief of Police indicates that DelMonaco may be returning to a more limited administrative portfolio. Asked if the search means a reduction of DelMonaco’s authority, Stacy Kerr, University Assistant Vice President for Communications, issued this statement in an e-mail to Vox:

The safety of our students and members of the university community is the top priority for Georgetown. The enhancement of a DPS Police Chief reflects how seriously we take the responsibility of campus safety.

Read the rest of this entry »

Iiiiiitttt’s that time again: College ranking season is upon us!

To kick off the 2012 season of ranking our nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Georgetown is now America’s No. 2 best college town, according to Princeton Review.

Now the prize is really for that collection of townhouses surrounding Thirds and Rhino, but we’ll take credit even though I’m sure CAG is thrilled that Georgetown is considered a college town.

The funniest part? George Washington is #4. Oh what a difference 1.7 miles makes. This just lends weight to my theory that “Density of high-end cupcake bakeries” is one of the contributing factors.

On the flip side, Georgetown University itself holds the No. 2 slot in “Most Politically Active Students,” falling behind only GW. I’m going to venture that the criteria for this doesn’t include “turnout in student government elections.”

Did we at least improve from last year? We were bumped up from tenth and ninth place in the respective categories. Here’s hoping that 2013 sees a “best dorm room drug lab scene” category added to the list.

It seems that Georgetown restaurants can’t get enough of college students. More and more establishments now offer half price specials, almost guaranteeing that their lines go out the door on those special days.

So, we’ve compiled a list, including happy hour specials for those of-age. (After all, even upperclassmen can be cheap.) Let us know if we missed any!

[Editor's Note: Asterisked restaurants require a weekly "secret word" that is found on Hoya Connection.]

Read the rest of this entry »

Georgetown’s Business Improvement District (BID) has never seen an opportunity to laud Georgetown that it didn’t like. With that in mind, we present to you … Georgetown BID’s map of Georgetown. [PDF]

Have you ever wondered where they filmed Dave? Or where JFK and Jackie Bouvier made their wedding plans? The BID map identifies them both—on self-guided walking tours!

In between columns of advertisements that promote Georgetown businesses, the map has nifty little guides for “discerning explorers,” which explain what to do, where to eat, where to shop, and where to stay. We assume that only the most discerning of explorers would be allowed to enter the Swedish embassy, for example. (The Swedes would never tolerate the boorish attitude of traditional American tourists.)

Surprisingly, the map does not feature a giant cupcake at the intersection of M and 33rd Streets, accompanied by the words, “WAIT IN LINE HERE, SHEEPLE.”

Maybe we’re being a bit hard on Georgetown BID. We’re sorry, BID members—we’re just upset. When our parents visit, they’ll inevitably use this map instead of listening to us.

H/t We Love DC

We’ve all seen the empty property on the 3300 block of Prospect Street. Well, it’s about to get filled.

Yesterday, DCmud reported that Encore Development is ready to build six townhouses on the Wormley School property. When finished, the townhouses will cost at least $3.95 million. Encore expects to finish construction within a year.

Although Encore began to sell condominiums in the Wormley School in 2007, sluggish sales led to a five-year wait between purchase and construction. Only after it sold the last condo on “Wormley Row,” could Encore being to build the townhouses.

As construction begins, we wonder what might have been if Georgetown never sold the Wormley School. (Imagine how it would’ve impacted the 2010 Campus Plan!)

In 1998, the University purchased the property from the D.C. Public School System for $1.5 million. After residents blocked plans to move Georgetown’s Public Policy Institute into the Wormley School, however, the University let the property lie vacant. In 2005, the University sold it to Encore Development for $8.3 million.

It’s finally happening, folks. On September 1, D.C. Circulator will replace the Dupont-Rosslyn Metro Connection “blue buses.”

But don’t despair, ye olde nostalgics, because the buses are practically the only thing changing, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Circulator buses will follow the same Georgetown-to-Dupont route, while running every ten minutes. Fare will be $1, although, riders transferring onto the connector buses will only pay 50 cents.

After the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) takes over the program from Georgetown BID, electronic fare boxes will be incorporated into the system as well.

Let’s chalk one up for streamlined efficiency, Georgetowners!

Holy shit, astronauts are coming to Georgetown! What’s next? Pirates? Ninjas?

NASA and the McDonough School of Business have collaborated to bring the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis to Georgetown. On Monday, July 26th, the six astronauts will sit down in the Lohrfink Auditorium to present a video about their 12-day mission and answer questions from the audience.

According to NASA’s website, the crew’s mission, STS-132, delivered a Russian module to the International Space Station last May. The module increased storage space and provided a new docking port at the ISS. The mission, which was the last scheduled for the Atlantis, also included three spacewalks to repair and replace components outside the station. The full event information can be found here at NASA’s website.

The event is free and open to the public, but you have to RSVP here. Sign up sooner rather than later, because the eight-year-old boy in all of us makes this a hot ticket.

Our trip into Burleith yesterday got us thinking about a few things. Why should the residents be the only ones who get to have fun with signage? How can students get involved with the 2010 Campus Plan? And why has it been months since our last contest?

And so, in the spirit of fairness, we’re launching a “2010 Campus Plan” sign contest. All next week, we’ll be checking blog@georgetownvoice.com for submissions. If you’d like to enter, don’t forget to include your name, school, year, and a little bit about what inspired your sign.

Next Friday, we’ll choose our favorite signs and then pit them against one another in a vote. That’s right—you choose the winner! Lucky you!

The winner will receive a yet-to-be-determined prize.

After the jump, we’ve posted a sample sign to spark your creativity.

Read the rest of this entry »