Every year, restaurants and bars in the Georgetown neighborhood gather on a closed-off K Street for Taste of Georgetown, a local food festival and foodie’s paradise that is as tasty as it is packed.

In 2020, however, with the coronavirus pandemic taking a bite out of large gatherings and events left and right, the Georgetown Business Improvement District switched things up and launched a four-week promotional event, Taste and Shop Georgetown, a pandemic-safe alternative to its annual Taste of Georgetown festival.

Running from Oct. 5 to Oct. 31, the event provides Washington, D.C. locals with outdoor dining deals and shopping and service discounts at over 65 restaurants and retailers in Georgetown. 

Planning for Taste and Shop Georgetown began in July with the District Department of Transportation. In conjunction with DDOT, the BID built 25 new streateries — outdoor seating in sidewalks, streets or parking lots — for restaurants within the commercial Georgetown district. Having expanded the outdoor dining options, the BID was able to retain many of the restaurants that had participated in the event in previous years. 

The reformatted event also includes a wider variety of businesses, such as shops and salons, and allows customers to engage with the promotions in a safe manner, according to Lauren Boston, communications director for the BID. 

“It really opens it up to the entire business community, and spreading it out over three weeks also gives everyone a chance to come several times and to not all come on one afternoon, making it a lot more pandemic friendly,” Boston said. 

The event offers promotions at over 35 restaurants in four different categories: Breakfast Club, Happy Hour, Family Matters and Treat Yourself.

As part of the Happy Hour promotion, Martin’s Tavern on Wisconsin Avenue is offering discounts on its oysters, draught beers and a number of specials. Even after having participated in Taste of Georgetown for years, Martin’s Tavern believes this year’s format will draw in more people, according to Chrissy Gardner, the restaurant’s marketing manager. 

“We felt the combination of dining and shopping this year would bring people from the Metro area to spend a day in Georgetown,” Gardner wrote in a statement to The Hoya. 

New establishments like Levain Bakery, which opened an M Street location Sept. 16, have also joined the Taste and Shop Georgetown event. The bakery hopes the event will further connect the business with the Georgetown community, according to Pamela Lewy, director of marketing and communications at Levain. 

“We’re brand new to the neighborhood, so when we heard about Taste and Shop Georgetown we knew we’d want to participate,” Lewy wrote in a statement to the Hoya. “What a fantastic way to meet our new neighborhood and connect with the community!” 

Retailers and salons are also presenting store-individualized discounts and deals. Stores include familiar names such as J. Crew, Intermix, South Moon Under, Escape Room Live, United Bank and more. Depending on the store and the services offered, customers can receive a variety  of different promotions. 

Women’s apparel store Veronica Beard on Wisconsin Avenue is offering private in-store events and at-home trunk shows. As a first-time participant in Taste and Shop Georgetown, Veronica Beard is excited for the opportunity to engage more with its clients and do so in a safe way, according to General Manager Erika Stempel. 

“We wanted to be part of the event because it brings the Georgetown community together,” Stempel wrote in a statement to the Hoya. “It allows us to reach clients and inform them of the various safe-shopping options we have to offer.”

Founded in 1993 by Grace Episcopal Church, Taste of Georgetown has provided the D.C. community with restaurant deals and promotions for the past 26 years.

In past years, the ticket sales generated from Taste of Georgetown were donated to Georgetown Ministry Center’s initiative in helping the homeless. Although this year’s event is free, Boston says the BID encourages customers to donate to the center. 

“Georgetown Ministry Center has always done incredibly important work in Georgetown to those who are experiencing homelessness,” Boston wrote. “Although this year’s event has shifted, we still wanted to spread the word and support Georgetown Ministry Center.”