D.C. is about as clueless as Ann Hathaway sporting a cerulean sweater in The Devil Wears Prada when it comes to ever-changing foodie trends. Even NPR declared, “cupcakes are so 2005”—and they said that two years ago.

Georgetown Cupcake may still attract hoards of tourists to their sickeningly sweet lair on M street, but chic pastry shops in New York and LA switched to serving macarons several years ago. The French confectionaries are devilishly hard to make, but when the meringue-based cookies come together with a sturdy ganache or buttercream, they’re worth all the fuss.

Deborah Kim and her husband Han have thankfully launched D.C. into the present with their new macaron shop on Wisconsin Avenue. The two met at the other CIA—New York’s Culinary Institute of America—where they learned all the skills to craft the delicate confectionaries.

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One of France’s oldest bakeries has just opened its newest location right here in Georgetown. With over 120 years of service and 453 shops worldwide, authentic Parisian bakery PAUL has clearly done a thing or two right over the years. Settled on the corner of Wisconsin and M Street right behind Banana Republic, PAUL fits in perfectly with the cutesy Georgetown atmosphere. What’s more, it’s snug location used to house the kitchen of the historic City Tavern, a place frequented by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson back in the day.

So would our man George look fondly upon what’s become of one of his favorite 19th century hangouts? Vox unequivocally says yes. From the cinnamon pear tart to the gooey strawberry macaroon to the buttery chocolate croissant to the tender apple danish, PAUL offers a delicious variety that is sure to satisfy the sweet tooth of every customer. And if you’re more in the mood for savory flavors, that’s no problem.

PAUL also offers a selection of salads, quiches, and sandwiches that will make your mouth water. All of the items that Vox and our companions munched on during our dinner at PAUL were pretty solid—you can’t really go wrong with anything you try.  However, what stood out most among the group were the chocolate croissant, the spinach-salmon tart, and a quiche filled with broccoli, turkey, bacon, and Swiss cheese.

The classic bakery set-up makes it easy to grab a quick yet delicious bite when time is scarce. But don’t get the wrong idea—this bakery is not just a spot to grab and go. It also features an upstairs café that offers classic French dishes for a sit-down breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The café is small and cozy, with the capacity to seat just around 30 customers. However, it’s this intimacy that makes the place so charming. This cozy ambiance is further enhanced by traditional French artwork and a collection of vintage baking items used for decoration.

Of the 30 customers the bakery can hold, a lucky four will have the pleasure of dining next to the grand floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the quaint streets of Georgetown. Can you think of a better way to start your day than to relax with coffee and a crepe in the upper window of PAUL?  Didn’t think so.

Photos: Alex Rice

Update, 7:20 p.m., November 25: According to Georgetown Patch, an inspector from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs has condemned the property at 1424 Wisconsin Avenue after yesterday’s partial collapse.

Patch also reported that Major, a store located at 1426 Wisconsin has been closed “until further notice” due to damage caused by the collapse of the neighboring building.

Update, 7:55 p.m.: Wisconsin Avenue has been reopened to traffic in both directions, except for one southbound lane, according to MPD.

Update, 7:00 p.m.: This photo (right) was tweeted by the DC Fire Fighters Association. It shows the rear of 1422 Wisconsin, with visible damage done to the roof.

In May, Georgetown Metropolitan reported a reliable rumor that Z Burger would be opening a third restaurant at 1424 Wisconsin (it already has two restaurants on Wisconsin in Tenleytown and Glover Park), one of the structures affected by the collapse.

Original post, 6:09 p.m.: Late this afternoon, the building located at 1422 Wisconsin Avenue partially collapsed, potentially compromising the structure of 1424 Wisconsin as well. MPD and DC Fire responded to the scene, and traffic on Wisconsin between Dumbarton and Q Streets has been diverted indefinitely. According to the Twitter account of the DC Fire Fighters Association, the gas company is still working to shut off the building’s gas supply.

Hours later, the smell of gas remained in the area, but DC Fire said that a gas explosion was not the cause of the collapse. Firefighters told ABC7 News that the building likely collapsed because its construction was unsound. The owner of a neighboring business told ABC that the building had been vacant and under construction for the last three months. DC Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of the collapse.

This post will updated as we gather more information.

Photo: Jackson Perry

Commander Salamander, the Wisconsin Avenue clothing store that’s been perpetually “closing” since January, is set to close at the end of the year.

According to Chris Peterson, a store manager who spoke with Washington City Paper, all Commander Salamander employees received final notice of the store’s closing last Thursday. Employees weren’t surprised about the news, though.

“There were lawyers going in and out of the store all week,” Peterson told City Paper.

Alas, poor Salamander. We’ll miss walking past your storefront and gawking at your steep, going-out-of-business sales.

Monday’s Advisory Neighborhood Committee meeting was short on entertainment, but awfully long on just about everything else.

Topics included how to ease the traffic jams at the intersection of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, a monthly public safety report, some complaints about the Alcohol Beverage Control Board’s moratorium, and a University’s ten-year plan—but sadly, it wasn’t Georgetown’s 2010 Campus Plan. Let’s get to the wrap:

Ed Solomon: Private Eye

In what we can only imagine was a long-gestating dream, Commissioner Ed Solomon delivered the evening’s public safety report after MPD Lieutenant Jon Hedgecock couldn’t attend the meeting.

“As far as crime in our area, it’s still basically what we reported last month,” Solomon said as he presumably imagined himself chasing down petty crooks and arresting bank robbers. “It’s trending down but there’s been some high-visibility crime in our neighborhood.”

According to Solomon, who we hope dons a mask and fights crime on the streets of Georgetown, MPD plans to move extra police officers from Friday and Saturday nights to “other higher crime nights.”

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Safeway’s reopening at the beginning of May may have brought a new face to the grocery store, but it seems they has even more changes in store for us—plans revealed last week by Georgetown Metropolitan show future redevelopment of several stores in the immediate area surrounding Safeway.

The first major change to the shopping center will be the construction of a new building on the plot of grass to the south of the new Safeway. It is unclear as of yet what this building will house, but the GM notes that the concept art looks similar to a CVS.

The building next to Safeway, currently home to an Einstein Bros Bagels and a pawn shop, will receive a “re-skinning” to make the complex look more modern. The building will also feature some of the glass work seen in the new Safeway.

In addition to having the goods on the construction plans, GM laments these changes, arguing that they do not mesh with the architecture of the rest of Georgetown and that the fancy remodeling would likely force out current tenants.

For the record, Vox isn’t going to take sides, but could possibly be swayed if a certain pizza place is looking to rent.

Break out your hoop skirts and bow ties, ladies and gents! The latest trend in pedestrian movement may soon be at your local intersection!

Okay, so the Barnes Dance isn’t actually a dance. Also known as the ‘pedestrian scramble,’ it’s a traffic light system where, at a certain point in the pattern, all traffic comes to a halt. This allows pedestrians to cross wherever they want, in any direction. Think of Hachiko Square, the famous intersection in Tokyo.

While it’s not certain that this innovation will come to Georgetown’s busiest intersection, some plans have been set in motion. The District Department of Transportation recommended the Barnes Dance at the corner of M and Wisconsin.

According to the Georgetown Metropolitan, ANC Commissioner Ron Lewis wants to focus first on allowing east-bound traffic to turn left onto Wisconsin, but he did not rule out the Barnes Dance. The Dance is already on its way to Chinatown, at the corner of 7th and H. Its success or failure may determine if Georgetown gets to dance as well.

This week, Georgetown Metropolitan, ever more meticulous in his reading of long, boring Advisory Neighborhood Commission agendas than Vox Populi is, discovered that UGG Australia is opening up a shop on Wisconsin Avenue.

The store of the eponymous bootmaker (or as GM likes to call them, the “purveyors of a canklefied silhouette”), will be located at 1249 Wisconsin Avenue, which was formerly home to clothier Diesel. But GM is not as concerned with UGG’s future location or impending arrival as he his with the curiosity that is UGG fashion:

“If there’s one thing GM doesn’t get, it’s the appeal of Ugg boots. They’re bulky and not particularly flattering for most women,” he wrote.

Seriously, ladies, do not dress down around GM.

Photo by Flickr user UggBoy (photographer without borders) used under a Creative Commons license.

Adrian Fenty, bus savior

Cheap, reliable transportation fans rejoice: The Wisconsin Avenue portion of the Georgetown—Union Station Circulator route that was slated to be discontinued this Friday has been saved, according to The Washington Post‘s Dr. Gridlock.

According to the Post:

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is scheduled to go to the D.C. Circulator bus stop at Whitehaven Place NW on Tuesday morning to announce that the extension of the route up Wisconsin Avenue will be preserved.

Huzzah!