A Bit of France (and Some Other Places) in Georgetown

We spent a very pleasant Saturday afternoon at the Georgetown French Market. This is an annual showcase/festival/sidewalk sale for the upscale Book Hill neighborhood. The market is meant to be “European style”, and features displays by the neighborhood’s shops and restaurants along a heavily-sloped section of Wisconsin Avenue. There are several French-style bakeries and patisseries, and we got to hear some very Parisian music, but overall the French theme is more of a vague suggestion than anything else. We had some very tasty and creative boba at Kung Fu Tea, sampled some edible cookie dough, and picked up some Banh Mi for lunch. The most French thing about the festival was probably this dog, which, let’s be honest, was probably enough.

The most common types of businesses at the Georgetown French Market are either boutique clothing shops, art galleries, or antiques dealers, which led to an eclectic mix of sidewalk sales. Some of the items on sale were very expensive, even at some pretty big discounts, but we were able to find some good deals. The Market is very popular, with some areas nearly impassible due to the crowds, so if that bothers you this might not be your scene. But even outside of Market weekend, this area is worth a visit, and has something of a European feel, with old row houses lining leafy streets. After climbing the hill we stopped for a rest at a small pocket park at the top that gives the neighborhood its name. It’s meticulously landscaped and features steps instead of the usual paths.

On our way back down the hill, we met a friendly old man giving out cookies and dog biscuits outside an old stone church. This more relaxed side of the Georgetown French Market, showcasing the friendly, eclectic nature of Book Hill, is probably what really makes it worth climbing the hill.