i hate the dc burbs! are there ANY like philly or boston burbs?

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a small suburb of Boston and the town center was pretty boring and sleepy- the town was also very homogeneous. The streets were walkable, but there was nothing really to walk to. Now I live near downtown Silver Spring and I think it is a much more walkable and dynamic area. That said, when I go back to Mass., there is a charm factor in the towns that we don't have here.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'd love to find a DC 'burb (or city neighborhood) like Brookline MA. Good schools, charming shops, good restaurants, well-served by public transport and you can walk to Boston on a nice day. Glover Park has a somewhat similar feel, but the public transport options are worse.

I blame it on the fact that Boston suburbs like Brookline and Newton seem to have grown organically over time while DC 'burbs have more of a planned by a developer feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd pick DC any day over Philly. Honestly, the entire PA state makes me depressed.

That's rude and, frankly, ridiculous. (In fact, identical to all of the idiotic posters who talk about [insert hometown] being SOOOO much better than DC. Really? Then why did you pick up and leave, and more to the point, move here?) Philly is gorgeous and a wonderful city.

Anyway, I am from the suburbs of Philly (northeastern) and I don't know what you're talking about, OP -- from my memories of lots of tall trees, rolling hills, big and nice old homes, there is plenty of that where I live right now in North Arlington. Indeed, I am often struck by the similarities. You just need to look for older, more established suburbs closer into town or, as many posters have suggested, look in Upper Northwest DC, most of which looks and feels like the "older" suburbs of northeast cities. That said, these places are very expensive. Philadelphia and Boston have more reasonable prices on real estate than DC. Philly, in particular, is way undervalued.

To the poster that talked about "smiles" and "education" in Philly and Boston versus DC, are you on crack or have you just never been to these places? DC is far more educated than either of these cities (although Boston clearly takes the edge over Philly), and "smiles"? Northeasterners -- New Englanders in particular -- are not known for being friendly. And as a former Philadelphian, I can assure you that, with your condescending-bordering-on-delusional views, you'd be punched right out of any one of my town's sports stadiums. Twice if it were after the Blackhawks victory.

Pennsylvania is Alabama with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh on either end. Philadelphians (i) booed Santa Claus, and (ii) cheered whan an opposing player got hurt during a football game. Lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be in heaven if I could find a place like Maplewood, NJ.

Love Maplewood, Montclair, Westfield -- all those northern NJ towns along the NJ Transit RR line into Penn Station. I grew up there and my sister still lives in Montclair. We love going to visit them -- they can easily walk or bike to a mixed-use downtown area, including an art museum, a bagel place, a couple of chi-chi restaurants, a family-owned pizza place, a good wine shop, an old-fashioned sporting goods store, the hardware store, two beautiful parks with well-maintained tennis courts, the YMCA, CVS, a stationery store, the GAP, a fabulous women's clothing shop, the library, Whole Foods, etc. We live in Chevy Chase (MD) and can easily walk to Friendship Heights or Bethesda, but that's like walking into an outdoor mall -- it's all about spending money on luxuries and eating. There is very little in the way of stores that stock necessities, it's not very pedestrian-friendly, and the sense of community all seems to come from commercial entities, rather than any civic presence.

I don't know the Main Line very well, but northern NJ also reminds me of the Boston suburbs I know from my college days -- particularly Newton, Wellesley and Belmont. Around here, the closest you're going to get to that is probably Chevy Chase (agree with PP that CC,DC feels much more organic than CC,MD) and Edgemoor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I blame it on the fact that Boston suburbs like Brookline and Newton seem to have grown organically over time while DC 'burbs have more of a planned by a developer feel.

I think that's true for a lot of areas in the Northeast and is lacking in some ways here - you find pockets of it here & there but far less prevalent. The DC area is such a relatively "young" city and missing some of the history/texture. Boston & Philly were around way before someone got their eyes on this swampland.

[Anonymous]

NP here.

People are allowed to live elsewhere and make observations and comparisons. We (thankfully) were not all raised to be "seen and not heard" like PP's. Is that a Southern thing?

Face it, D.C. lacks character, charm, and humility. Assuming it has anything to be humble about. If PP's got out more, they would know that.

Before you claim what area is "known for" what, you need to spend time (elsewhere) yourself. There are plenty of other areas that are more educated, hospitable and (imagine this) happy.

To some, D.C. is a journey not a destination. PP must not be satisfied with their own journey, which is why mentioning other areas/journeys offends them so.

The good news is that some day we'll be off enjoying elsewhere, while PP will still be here b*tching at newcomers and wondering why they don't like it here. HAHAHAHAH!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here.

People are allowed to live elsewhere and make observations and comparisons. We (thankfully) were not all raised to be "seen and not heard" like PP's. Is that a Southern thing?

Face it, D.C. lacks character, charm, and humility. Assuming it has anything to be humble about. If PP's got out more, they would know that.

Before you claim what area is "known for" what, you need to spend time (elsewhere) yourself. There are plenty of other areas that are more educated, hospitable and (imagine this) happy.

To some, D.C. is a journey not a destination. PP must not be satisfied with their own journey, which is why mentioning other areas/journeys offends them so.

The good news is that some day we'll be off enjoying elsewhere, while PP will still be here b*tching at newcomers and wondering why they don't like it here. HAHAHAHAH!!

You're a complete joy. Can you leave sooner rather than later? Don't need any more haters.

[Anonymous]

no you can't find that here. Philly and Boston are older and somehow maintained their small towns. DC area is just sprawl sprawl sprawl. I looked and looked for what you are searching for and eventually gave up. All my local restaurants are in mini malls. yuck!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here.

People are allowed to live elsewhere and make observations and comparisons. We (thankfully) were not all raised to be "seen and not heard" like PP's. Is that a Southern thing?

Face it, D.C. lacks character, charm, and humility. Assuming it has anything to be humble about. If PP's got out more, they would know that.

Before you claim what area is "known for" what, you need to spend time (elsewhere) yourself. There are plenty of other areas that are more educated, hospitable and (imagine this) happy.

To some, D.C. is a journey not a destination. PP must not be satisfied with their own journey, which is why mentioning other areas/journeys offends them so.

The good news is that some day we'll be off enjoying elsewhere, while PP will still be here b*tching at newcomers and wondering why they don't like it here. HAHAHAHAH!!

You are the exact same poster posting the exact same crap on every thread that may or may not even relate to comparisons between DC and other cities. There are no other areas that are statistically better educated than DC, but I imagine that you are single-handedly dragging that statistic down. You have little writing or comprehension ability, which leads me to wonder what kind of employment you hold in this city and why your bus-driving skills wouldn't translate just as easily to one of those "happier" places.

And to the PP who insulted Philadelphia, screw you. That is all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here.

People are allowed to live elsewhere and make observations and comparisons. We (thankfully) were not all raised to be "seen and not heard" like PP's. Is that a Southern thing?

Face it, D.C. lacks character, charm, and humility. Assuming it has anything to be humble about. If PP's got out more, they would know that.

Before you claim what area is "known for" what, you need to spend time (elsewhere) yourself. There are plenty of other areas that are more educated, hospitable and (imagine this) happy.

To some, D.C. is a journey not a destination. PP must not be satisfied with their own journey, which is why mentioning other areas/journeys offends them so.

The good news is that some day we'll be off enjoying elsewhere, while PP will still be here b*tching at newcomers and wondering why they don't like it here. HAHAHAHAH!!

You lack character, charm and humility you miserable cow.

[Anonymous]

"And to the PP who insulted Philadelphia, screw you."

Responding to factual statements about Philadelphians with a personal insult (and not a very creative one). You're pretty much proving the point, you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Old Town side of Mt Vernon...not past the Mansion. Lots of old trees and small town feel and then you are like 5 minutes from Old Town.

Agree with this. I actually grew up in Mt Vernon but right past the Mansion. You will find nice homes on big lots there as well, especially some of the older neighborhoods on or near the Potomac. Takes about 15 minutes to get to Old Town.

We live 3 miles south of Old Town off the parkway and absolutely love it! Older neighborhoods, big old trees, and very close to both Old Town and DC. I also like Rosemont/Delray, with the big old homes and trees, and it's walking distance to Old Town.

[Anonymous]

20:22 - I do not have to justify my education or upbringing to you, peasant.

But I do know you are the the smug, borish, caustic, acidic, undereducated, frustrated local schmuck (who, by definition drives to endanger others on top of everything else) local who needs to insult "individuals" to make themselves feel better. I can only imagine how you act in public. Or if it snows - the horrors!

If you don't like my writing, don't read it. You would not have been sitting next to me in any of my universities, for certain - they would not have you even as a guest.

I spit on you.

[Anonymous]

Does she think only one person is not from here? That's funny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:22 - I do not have to justify my education or upbringing to you, peasant.

But I do know you are the the smug, borish, caustic, acidic, undereducated, frustrated local schmuck (who, by definition drives to endanger others on top of everything else) local who needs to insult "individuals" to make themselves feel better. I can only imagine how you act in public. Or if it snows - the horrors!

If you don't like my writing, don't read it. You would not have been sitting next to me in any of my universities, for certain - they would not have you even as a guest.

I spit on you.

Honey, you're not even bright enough to connect the fact that I am not a "local" as I am also the poster who explicitly commented that I'm from Philly - up North, the area you think is so great, remember? I certainly "would not have been sitting next to [you] in any of [your] universities, for certain" - on that, we agree, because I didn't have any complete imbeciles in my universities. We had high standards and low acceptance rates, generally barring people that couldn't make sense of basic concepts that five year olds should be able to master (see above, for example). I imagine that the reason you think we are all local is because, from the vantage point of your bus route or janitorial position, you wouldn't be exposed to us non-locals.

Also, to the PP who told me my "screw you" was unoriginal, yes, it was - and I wasn't trying to prove the point that Philly was friendly, just that you are incredibly rude. Luckily, I am too, and have no problem giving as good as I get. Call it a Philadelphia thing.