Moving to DC. Which neighborhoods should we look at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to Capitol Hill

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/capitol-hill-assault-heightens-crime-concerns-wife-says-victim-fighting-to-live/2012/08/20/70749e32-eae5-11e1-b811-09036bcb182b_story.html

Ha! Nasty McLean lady is back. Got your power back, huh hon? Too bad for all of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand why you would move the DC in order to feel like you are in Portland. Stepping out of your comfort zone and associating with women who had medicated hospital births might do wonders for your understanding of the world. As other PPs noted your budget is modest for DC. You could live in Columbia Heights, Alexandria, Silver Spring but probably could not afford better locales like Arlingon, DuPont, Bethesda.

Better locales like Arlington and Bethesda. Right.....

[Anonymous]

Welcome to McLean, Virginia

http://washingtonexaminer.com/police-2-teens-sexually-assault-in-mclean/article/feed/2027163#.UIrgp8XA_3M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Portland. I think the closest is Takoma Park, hands down. Near the Metro. Very crunchy. Nuclear free zone. Also the housing stock is similar to SE Hawthorne and many other parts of Portland.

If you can afford inner Capitol Hill, that has lots of amenities. Very different feel architecturally. Lots of cool folks/families. IN DC you get free preschool.

In VA, I think Del Ray would be the closest. Good luck. It's a lot more expensive and the weather is a big adjustment. The summers here suck.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't really understand why you would move the DC in order to feel like you are in Portland. Stepping out of your comfort zone and associating with women who had medicated hospital births might do wonders for your understanding of the world. As other PPs noted your budget is modest for DC. You could live in Columbia Heights, Alexandria, Silver Spring but probably could not afford better locales like Arlingon, DuPont, Bethesda.

Alexandria is cheaper than Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Portland -- (mostly Sellwood but NW too) and I can tell you, without a doubt, you will not find anything here in DC like it. The closest would be Takoma Park. That's it. This area is going to feel way more conservative and conformist than Portland. You will not like NoVa at all, so cross that off your list.

Capitol Hill would be a great way to experience the city for a year or two. I strongly recommend being close enough to downtown cultural events to actual enjoy them on a regular basis. And I live in Bethesda.

Del Ray is the Virginia version of Takoma Park. Definitely more low-key, funky and friendly than friggin' Bethesda.

Umm, that was my point. That even though I live in Bethesda I would not recommend it to the OP. I was trying to point out that as a suburbanite, I recommend city living for someone who is only here a year or two and wants some vibe similar to Portland.

But thanks for being nasty. Wouldn't expect anything less from DCUM.

P.S. Del Ray is not the "Virginia version of Takoma Park." TP is its own nuclear-free-zone thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to Capitol Hill

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/capitol-hill-assault-heightens-crime-concerns-wife-says-victim-fighting-to-live/2012/08/20/70749e32-eae5-11e1-b811-09036bcb182b_story.html

Ha! Nasty McLean lady is back. Got your power back, huh hon? Too bad for all of us.

Why do you assume anyone who's critical about Capitol Hill lives in McLean?

I live in McLean, and like it very much, but (1) wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a "Portland-lite" in this area; and (2) don't really know Capitol Hill well enough to have a positive or negative impression of it.

[Anonymous]

In Virginia, I'd also recommend Del Ray, which is close to a Metro station and bus routes.

In Maryland, check out Takoma Park and in DC, Takoma. Both neighborhoods are right near the Takoma Park metro station. Takoma and Takoma park come close to that Portland vibe.

The Victorian-era Bloomingdale neighborhood in DC has an awesome weekend farmers market.

[Anonymous]

Check out takoma village cohousing (near takoma metro)and/or eastern village cohousing (near SS metro)

At takoma village there are units for sale that depending on timing, the owner(s) may rent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys are being so weirdly alarmist about Capitol Hill. Yes, what happened to the Maslins was horrible. And there are occasional muggings, like in most other urban neighborhoods. But I've lived in a very transitional part of Capitol Hill for 7 years and never once felt in danger. The worst thing that's ever happened to us is having our car window broken and our change stolen.

There is so much to love about this area, from Eastern Market to H Street's restaurant scene to all the parks and improving schools, it seems crazy to dismiss Capitol Hill because of crime. It just isn't that bad.

Bullshit, the two most crime infested wards (7 and 8) are just across the river and Hill residents end up being nothing more than prey to the thugs coming across for a quick B&E, mugging, or worse. The Hill has more than its share of section 8 housing, low income housing projects and the former DC General hospital is now a homeless center. It will take years for this section of the city to be considered safe by most peoples standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to Capitol Hill

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/capitol-hill-assault-heightens-crime-concerns-wife-says-victim-fighting-to-live/2012/08/20/70749e32-eae5-11e1-b811-09036bcb182b_story.html

Ha! Nasty McLean lady is back. Got your power back, huh hon? Too bad for all of us.

Never lost it and unlike Capitol Hill, no fear of looting when we do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys are being so weirdly alarmist about Capitol Hill. Yes, what happened to the Maslins was horrible. And there are occasional muggings, like in most other urban neighborhoods. But I've lived in a very transitional part of Capitol Hill for 7 years and never once felt in danger. The worst thing that's ever happened to us is having our car window broken and our change stolen.

There is so much to love about this area, from Eastern Market to H Street's restaurant scene to all the parks and improving schools, it seems crazy to dismiss Capitol Hill because of crime. It just isn't that bad.

Bullshit, the two most crime infested wards (7 and 8) are just across the river and Hill residents end up being nothing more than prey to the thugs coming across for a quick B&E, mugging, or worse. The Hill has more than its share of section 8 housing, low income housing projects and the former DC General hospital is now a homeless center. It will take years for this section of the city to be considered safe by most peoples standards.

Oh my god, babe. What is up with your obsession? Come and visit us. Enjoy some pizza or burgers with young families or older couples on 7th Street. Grab a glass of cabernet on 8th. You seem so scared of city life, but it's great out here and you would probably have a ball. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to Capitol Hill

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/capitol-hill-assault-heightens-crime-concerns-wife-says-victim-fighting-to-live/2012/08/20/70749e32-eae5-11e1-b811-09036bcb182b_story.html

Ha! Nasty McLean lady is back. Got your power back, huh hon? Too bad for all of us.

Never lost it and unlike Capitol Hill, no fear of looting when we do.

and again:
Oh my god, babe. What is up with your obsession? Come and visit us. Enjoy some pizza or burgers with young families or older couples on 7th Street. Grab a glass of cabernet on 8th. You seem so scared of city life, but it's great out here and you would probably have a ball. Really.

I feel like you're living in another decade. So strange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Id say Arlington, Takoma Park or close in Silver Spring. If you want to live IN DC, then look at the NW quadrent of the city.

ex: silver spring, takoma and NW/DC http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/apa/3347297337.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/3357142452.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/3371367135.html

I agree with this.

There is a lovely Waldorf nursery school in close-in Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to Capitol Hill

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/capitol-hill-assault-heightens-crime-concerns-wife-says-victim-fighting-to-live/2012/08/20/70749e32-eae5-11e1-b811-09036bcb182b_story.html

Ha! Nasty McLean lady is back. Got your power back, huh hon? Too bad for all of us.

Why do you assume anyone who's critical about Capitol Hill lives in McLean?

I live in McLean, and like it very much, but (1) wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a "Portland-lite" in this area; and (2) don't really know Capitol Hill well enough to have a positive or negative impression of it.

I personally don't know anything about McLean other than it's an area I have to drive through sometimes when I'm going far out of town. I don't think the PP was assuming that ANYONE who is critical about Capital Hill is from McLean. There is clearly one anti-capital hill poster who is a head case.