Have you noticed how unnaturally quiet things are? We no longer have planes flying right over our homes, and people talk in subdued voices. It is time to get planes flying back into National, particularly now that many noisy, fuel inefficient 737-200’s have just been permanently retired.

With the reduction in tourism, our local restaurants need our support, and we need such places to gather together in small groups: to begin to relax, share, encourage and laugh all over again.

One obvious place to get together is Georgetown, but which restaurant? Well, this coming Sat. Sept 29 there is a great opportunity to check that out which is both fun and inexpensive. Come to the 9th, free, Annual "Taste of Georgetown" at Grace Church, on Wisconsin just below C&O Canal. From 1-4 p.m. over 20 restaurants will sell samples of their best food. There’s a great variety of "tastes": American, BBQ, French, Indian, Italian, Pastries, Vegetarian, etc. All the money raised including a Silent Auction in the church’s yard, goes to support Georgetown Ministry Center for the homeless. (For complete information, see www.gracedc.org)

Or check out one of Foxhall’s own jewels, Entotto restaurant at 1609 Foxhall Road. This unique Ethiopian restaurant features its original layout with traditional round tables and shared platters, an outdoor grassy area with picnic tables and umbrellas, and investment in a recent expansion with conventional European-style dining. This small business has grown thanks to hard work by the French and Ethiopian-born couple who created Entotto’s. Through trust they developed with the neighborhood, this couple was able to obtain a new rare type of liquor license for residential areas that allows them to serve food with wine etc until midnight, but with no bar.