DC neighborhood recommendations? Where do the artisanal-jerky-making hipsters live?

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park or Glover Park.

[Anonymous]

Also, DC has some ethnic eateries but most of truly ethnic, weird, authentic restaurants are sadly located in the 'burbs. DC dining scene is great, but not for ethnic cuisine (unless for glamorised version of ethnic). There are SOME ethnic places but

nowhere near what the burbs offer.

This has been true since at least the mid 90s, probably earlier. Not sure why it's "sad" though. I personally think it's great that there are so many vibrant, thriving ethnic pockets in the metro area. The fact that a fedora'd hipster can't easily get to the very best Asian food in the area on a fixed speed bike isn't inherently sad. In fact, I'd argue the dearth of pontificating scraggly beard SLAC recent grads keeps those excellent restaurants authentic and low-rent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Also, DC has some ethnic eateries but most of truly ethnic, weird, authentic restaurants are sadly located in the 'burbs. DC dining scene is great, but not for ethnic cuisine (unless for glamorised version of ethnic). There are SOME ethnic places but

nowhere near what the burbs offer.

This has been true since at least the mid 90s, probably earlier. Not sure why it's "sad" though.

I meant sad for the OP, since it sounds like she'd like them in DC proper.

[Anonymous]

NP here. OP, have you ever lived outside California? On the East Coast? There are cultural differences that I don't think you appreciate yet. When you get here try and appreciate it for what it is and not look for the LA analouges.

Bike activist hipsters here live anywhere they can in their 20s. Once they are too old for group houses, the current housing market is driving them out of the city and even the area (in the last year three friends who fit this description moved to Chicago and Minneapolis). You'll find people who look like bike activist hipsters, but will discover that they are living in the hot neighborhoods because they are really K Street consultants and/or have help from their parents.

If you are a young family, plan ahead. Expect that rent/housing prices and CoL will rise steadily for a while, and think about schools and neighborhoods where your kids have room to grow. http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-05-25/opinions/35456628_1_playground-urban-areas-newcomers

Re Bloomingdale, http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-08-25/local/35490910_1_zip-code-floods-sewer-lines

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dupont Circle

No artisanal jerky makers in DuPont circle, sorry. Try Bloomingdale, Le Droit Park or Mt. Pleasant. The only reasons to pay a premium to live in DuPont are schools (patrs IB for Ross ES) or an aversion to the rougher edges some of these other hoods still have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Also, DC has some ethnic eateries but most of truly ethnic, weird, authentic restaurants are sadly located in the 'burbs. DC dining scene is great, but not for ethnic cuisine (unless for glamorised version of ethnic). There are SOME ethnic places but

nowhere near what the burbs offer.

This has been true since at least the mid 90s, probably earlier. Not sure why it's "sad" though.

I meant sad for the OP, since it sounds like she'd like them in DC proper.

This is why the Columbia Pike suggestion was actually a pretty good one

[Anonymous]

True, Columbia Pike has, for the moment, that decent mix of (waning) authenticity, walkability and price. That'll change with all the luxurry condos in the pipeline, but for now ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:definitely Bloomingdale. I live there and am an artist with three kids. Very diverse, very artsy, tons of new ethnic restaurants and hip businesses opening up all around. It is awesome here. We own and havent regretted buying for a single second and it's been 5 years now. Things just keep getting better and better. It was a little rough at the start and it is still transitional in spots but for the most part, it is a great place to live.

Agree on Bloomingdale. Some of the other suggestions are ludicrous. Lots of families with kids a handful of restaurants, beautiful homes and walking distance to a ton more ethnic restaurants on U street or in Shaw but without feeling like you're living in the midst of a busy night life district. Also much more of a community than somewhere like Adams Morgan. Close to metro and buses and also great access to 395, downtown (walkable to Chinatown, for example) and other parts of the city, VA and MD. Tons of artists and a nice community. I've lived there since 2003. It wasn't always like that (used to be that there were no restaurants for example, since then we've had several, bars, yoga studio and a ton of families most with kids under 5 or so).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. OP, have you ever lived outside California? On the East Coast? There are cultural differences that I don't think you appreciate yet. When you get here try and appreciate it for what it is and not look for the LA analouges.

Bike activist hipsters here live anywhere they can in their 20s. Once they are too old for group houses, the current housing market is driving them out of the city and even the area (in the last year three friends who fit this description moved to Chicago and Minneapolis). You'll find people who look like bike activist hipsters, but will discover that they are living in the hot neighborhoods because they are really K Street consultants and/or have help from their parents.

If you are a young family, plan ahead. Expect that rent/housing prices and CoL will rise steadily for a while, and think about schools and neighborhoods where your kids have room to grow. http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-05-25/opinions/35456628_1_playground-urban-areas-newcomers

Re Bloomingdale, http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-08-25/local/35490910_1_zip-code-floods-sewer-lines

Not a reason to discount Bloomingdale, but possibly a reason to ask questions about flooding when you look for somewhere to live. MOST people in Bloomingdale have not suffered flooding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is from Brooklyn and we just returned from a holiday week communing with the hipsters of Williamsburg and Bushwick. I agree with pps that hipsters are fewer and farther between in these parts -- but they can be found! Look for them in Columbia Heights (east of the CH metro -- along 12th and 13th streets) and H St., NE. H St. is a huge hipster dining/bar destination.

One intriguing spot for very adventuresome hipsters is the area around Union Market near the Galludet metro stop. The market is cool by DC standards and a lot of new development is on the way. It's a bit shady now, however.

I also like Takoma Park, DC. It's quaint and is a mixture of hipster and granola as some pps mentioned.

Good luck!

Seriously looking for hipsters? Try Big Bear Cafe in Bloomingdale. Looking for hipster families, go to the Bloomingdale Farmers Market on a Sunday (closed now until May).

[Anonymous]

PP here - Bloomingdale is a good suggestion, but the flooding is a problem (and it does still have more crime than you might like, and doesn't yet have a ton of restaurants).

Eastern Market is another good suggestion. It's not in the least hipster-y, but it is walkable, lovely, has some nice restaurants, etc. Eastern Market as a market is also a big attraction. And it's walking distance from the more hipstery bars and restaurants on H Street.

My husband and I live in Old Town Alexandria. It might be the least hip place in the world, but it's very walkable, really beautiful and there are a lot of restaurants and things around here. Greatest place on earth for dogs. Nice place for kids, too. Might be worth considering, anyway. (I am in no way trying to import more cool people to Old Town to try to make it a slightly hipper place. Not at all. No way.)

All things considered, the Logan area might be your best bet. If you don't want to move to Old Town.

[Anonymous]

Topic for a spin off perhaps, but where do you get good Chinese food in dc. I have been to two or three places in china town. All terrible.

[Anonymous]

Mt pl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here - Bloomingdale is a good suggestion, but the flooding is a problem (and it does still have more crime than you might like, and doesn't yet have a ton of restaurants).

Eastern Market is another good suggestion. It's not in the least hipster-y, but it is walkable, lovely, has some nice restaurants, etc. Eastern Market as a market is also a big attraction. And it's walking distance from the more hipstery bars and restaurants on H Street.

My husband and I live in Old Town Alexandria. It might be the least hip place in the world, but it's very walkable, really beautiful and there are a lot of restaurants and things around here. Greatest place on earth for dogs. Nice place for kids, too. Might be worth considering, anyway. (I am in no way trying to import more cool people to Old Town to try to make it a slightly hipper place. Not at all. No way.)

All things considered, the Logan area might be your best bet. If you don't want to move to Old Town.

Again, the flooding has impacted a minority of homes only. There was no flooding during Sandy. Few homes South of Rhode Island have flooded, and DC/WASA are working on a fix that the entire city will be paying for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True, Columbia Pike has, for the moment, that decent mix of (waning) authenticity, walkability and price. That'll change with all the luxurry condos in the pipeline, but for now ...

Development is concentrated on the east side now, might help. http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/planning/plan/page69520.aspx

Not that I can imagine OP in VA.