Skip to main content

Where to shop and what to do in Georgetown on ‘Independents Day’

By Jeff Clabaugh

WASHINGTON — Georgetown hosts its second-annual “Independents Day” Saturday to showcase its many small, independently owned businesses, some of which have been neighborhood fixtures for decades.

The Georgetown Business Improvement District is sponsoring Independents Day. More than 30 merchants are participating with discounts on merchandise.

Christ Child Opportunity Shop is offering free American flags, Fourth of July stickers and temporary tattoos. Bacchus Wine Cellar will have a spiked lemonade tasting all afternoon.

There will be plenty of family-friendly outside activities.

“In two of the parking lots along Wisconsin Avenue we’ll have lots of fun food like funnel cakes, fried Oreos, lemonade, cotton candy, face painting and balloon sculptures for the kids and some music, so it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Debbie Young at the Georgetown BID told WTOP.

There will also be an Uncle Sam stiltwalker in the TD Bank lot on Wisconsin Avenue.

Restaurants and shops come and go in Georgetown, but many have proven staying power as neighborhood institutions.

“We’ve had some here over 50 years including Georgetown Tobacco which recently celebrated their 54th anniversary and The Phoenix, which is a boutique on Upper Wisconsin Avenue. They’ve been here for over 60 years,” Young said.

Georgetown Independents Day is Saturday June 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are details about specials and events on the Georgetown BID’s website.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
Read Next Story

Related News

Is the US headed for a Black recession? Report details warning signs

DC’s housing market may be shifting in favor of buyers

Fed minutes: Lower inflation needed before many officials will support rate cuts