S/O of "I Hate DC" thread: Recommend your friendly, active neighborhood

[Anonymous]

since so many people seem to be living in unfriendly neighborhoods where folks don't hang out spontaneously, help each other, etc. Maybe a positive response to that might be to share places that ARE friendly, outgoing and actively social. So...if you live in a neighborhood, or even on a particular street (since its anonymous, you don't have to worry about giving out your street), please share! We're looking for places where neighbors gather spontaneously as well as having some organized activities, kids play outside spontaneously, etc.

Hyattsville Hills was mentioned in the previous thread, as well as River Falls, in Potomac. There must be more!

[Anonymous]

Mt Pleasant in DC. Love it!

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill. Best neighborhood in DC.

[Anonymous]

Woodridge, DC

[Anonymous]

Crestwood in DC - not only are the people wonderful, there are tons of families, great diversity and we back onto Rock Creek Park

[Anonymous]

Can somebody point me to the "I hate DC" thread?

[Anonymous]

University Park, Maryland. In any neighborhood you have to be proactive and put yourself out there. My pick-up line at the park was "I don't think we've met yet. I'm (name)." Felt funny, especially when it was group of women, but definitely worth it.

[Anonymous]

my experience is that the diverse neighborhoods are the least open, as people unfortunately tend to stick to themselves.

[Anonymous]

Mt. Rainier, MD! Great neighborhood with lots of good neighborly activity. And to disagree with the PP above, it is very diverse and this seems to add to the friendly-ness.

[Anonymous]

Now how many of these areas are available to mortals with HHI's under $200k?

[Anonymous]

To the PP at 11:01:

The areas mentioned so far are not the more expensive areas around DC. For example, Hyattsville, University Park, and Mt. Rainier are in PG County, where a family can definitely buy a nice house and live well on less than $200,000 per year.

I'm the one in Mt. Rainier, and my HHI is about $115. We live very well here.

Woodridge, in NE DC was also mentioned and that is one of the more affordable DC neighborhoods.

My feeling is that the areas with more working class people in them are generally more friendly. Less pretentious.

[Anonymous]

bethesda - we live on westbard - right on the crescent trail and can walk in to downtown - and pass a playground on the way. i work FT, as does hubby, so we don't spend much time in and around our neighborhood on weekdays, but i have to say, just walking out to our car, at least one or two neighbors will stop us to say hi, to see our two kids, to ask our toddler if he likes school, to comment on the weather... basically, to have a nice chat. if anything, i find i seem pretty unfriendly, since i'm always running out the door to work... i can also rely on having someone to borrow an egg from in a baking emergency! we have a nice common green space for playing in and no one minds if our kids leave their toys outside.

we can also walk to the grocery store and to starbucks, where i have frequently noticed mom-and-kid groups meeting on the weekdays.

[Anonymous]

Glover Park, DC. And no, we're not "North Georgetown." Much friendlier, affordable, more children. Stoddert ES is a 7 minute walk for us.

[Anonymous]

For the people in Mt. Rainier and University Park, do your kids go to public school or private? We are looking for a home in the $400,000 range but would like to do public school too if possible. Thoughts on the schools in your neighborhoods (I'm not afraid of diversity, just want a safe school with good teachers and a positive vibe)?

[Anonymous]

We're in Rockville (not DC, I know, but there were some other suburban neighborhoods mentioned in this thread).

Specifically English Manor/Aspen Hill. One of the streets by us has a block party every year. Our neighbors are great.

HHI of $120K and houses here are easily less than $400K. About an hour commute to DC via Metro. Also Manor Woods has a pool.