"Nothing is unique in DC"

[Anonymous]

Plenty of others have said it, but I just have to add that it's mind boggling to me that you mention DC in your title, but then mention places that are NOT DC in your post. The answer is right in front of you and her. She needs to move into DC proper. Yeesh. Plenty of funky shops, old and interesting architecture, interesting things to do. I've lived in DC proper for 30 years and have never thought things here were "bland." Yes, it comes with some drawbacks, but at least it's not boring.

[Anonymous]

White lady from New England is clearly scared of the city. That’s where our charm is located - historical neighborhoods like Georgetown.

Otherwise go out to horse country; I bet she will love Middleberg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of others have said it, but I just have to add that it's mind boggling to me that you mention DC in your title, but then mention places that are NOT DC in your post. The answer is right in front of you and her. She needs to move into DC proper. Yeesh. Plenty of funky shops, old and interesting architecture, interesting things to do. I've lived in DC proper for 30 years and have never thought things here were "bland." Yes, it comes with some drawbacks, but at least it's not boring.

DC seems the enjoy Soviet brutalist architecture.

[Anonymous]

Try Old Town Alexandria. Plenty of boutique stores to walk to there.

[Anonymous]

Don’t forget Glover Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of others have said it, but I just have to add that it's mind boggling to me that you mention DC in your title, but then mention places that are NOT DC in your post. The answer is right in front of you and her. She needs to move into DC proper. Yeesh. Plenty of funky shops, old and interesting architecture, interesting things to do. I've lived in DC proper for 30 years and have never thought things here were "bland." Yes, it comes with some drawbacks, but at least it's not boring.

The comparison still stands if she is living in DC, or comparing Boston metro area to DC metro area.

I feel so seen reading this thread. Not New England native but lived there for over 20 years, recently moved here for work (DC proper). It is so ugly and charmless here. I didn’t realize how beautiful New England and especially the Boston are is until I left it.

Old town and Georgetown are cute. I don’t understand the suggestions of glover park or Cleveland park 😑. CP is a tiny strip of retail on CT which is hard to navigate by pedestrians. The shops are meh and CT is busy with lanes of traffic. Glover Park is several streets of identical looking, brick row houses? I guess it’s close to Georgetown ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best friend just moved to DC from New England and is having a really tough time adjusting. We are both born and bred New Englanders. I moved back from DC to New England a few years ago after a long time in NoVA. Work just took her there and she's really having a rough time. Been a while since I lived there, so - ideas?

Criticisms are - lots of bland condos and not a lot of "neighborhoods" with their own little town squares and small shops. Up here most towns have a main street with independent shops, not planned communities build around retail. She went to Reston Town Center the other day and felt deflated. She is living in Bethesda but feels like it is very homogenous. I suggested looking more in Del Ray area for things to do. It has truly been a while since I lived there and I'm wondering how to help - anyone here know? Looking for charming little towns, stately architecture, sidewalks, etc. Think Concord or Lexington Massachusetts. Not sure what may be comparable. McLean?

Does she spend much time in old town or Georgetown? It’s not quite the same but that’s where I went to feel less depressed before I could move back go Boston (I live in beacon hill now).

I lived in Chevy Chase and Glover Park during my time in DC and emm… they are ok, nice and safe neighborhoods for sure, but not exactly charming or beautiful or even interesting.

Agree with the other posters who say trying to find New england in DMV is a losing proposition. And some people genuinely like it here. My husband likes how clean and wide the roads/highways are compared to the grime of Boston area. He also doesn’t mind the “stateliness” of DC architecture. Pass for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White lady from New England is clearly scared of the city. That’s where our charm is located - historical neighborhoods like Georgetown.

Otherwise go out to horse country; I bet she will love Middleberg.

+1. My husband's family all live in the Boston suburbs. Racist AF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh... none of the places you mentioned are in DC despite your title. It's like going to Jersey and saying you don't like New York City.

Totally!
And I'm from NJ.
Your friend doesn't live in DC.

[Anonymous]

OP - there is no reason to live around here unless you are a lawyer, lobbyist or defense contractor, I’m serious. This is the most expensive city of crap I’ve ever been to. I got more joy from living in Ann Arbor. Because my expectations in Ann Arbor and how much things cost were on the same plane. My expectations of a $30 pasta dish is that it better be something I can’t make at home! But I’m always underwhelmed by just about everything here with very very very few truly gracious, friendly, sophisticated people. Sure they are casually nice but not sincerely kind. I find New Yorkers to be more admirable than people in DC. The only thing people know about here is cost. They thing if it looks fancy and expensive it’s good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White lady from New England is clearly scared of the city. That’s where our charm is located - historical neighborhoods like Georgetown.

Otherwise go out to horse country; I bet she will love Middleberg.

+1. My husband's family all live in the Boston suburbs. Racist AF.

Omg yes, finally someone brought this up. OP may not need to worry about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DC area simply did not develop the same way as New England. Where they were at one time villages, the WW2 and beyond population growth overtook them.

There are still some charming towns in the far outskirts but not places you'd live if routinely working in DC. There are neighborhoods remaining that are walkable and have their own charm - Old Town Alexandria, Capitol Hill, Del Rey in Alexandria, Westover in Arlington, Takoma Park.

But, really, expecting a New England experience in DC is silly. Time to embrace the different things DC offers.

This is the only clothes in the place that has that charming feel is Old Town Alexandrua.
You need to go farther out to locations that were actually towns at one point like Ellcott City MD or Middleburg or Leesburg VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - there is no reason to live around here unless you are a lawyer, lobbyist or defense contractor, I’m serious. This is the most expensive city of crap I’ve ever been to. I got more joy from living in Ann Arbor. Because my expectations in Ann Arbor and how much things cost were on the same plane. My expectations of a $30 pasta dish is that it better be something I can’t make at home! But I’m always underwhelmed by just about everything here with very very very few truly gracious, friendly, sophisticated people. Sure they are casually nice but not sincerely kind. I find New Yorkers to be more admirable than people in DC. The only thing people know about here is cost. They thing if it looks fancy and expensive it’s good.

You sound pretty new here and are looking at it from the lens of someone hoping to find what they had back home.

[Anonymous]

He's right. Most places around here are very bland. Reston/Herndon/Sterling are all dumpy. Vienna and Falls Church have nightmare traffic. Tysons is ghetto now. Mclean and Great Falls are not what they once were. Fairfax City is somewhat interesting but rough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of others have said it, but I just have to add that it's mind boggling to me that you mention DC in your title, but then mention places that are NOT DC in your post. The answer is right in front of you and her. She needs to move into DC proper. Yeesh. Plenty of funky shops, old and interesting architecture, interesting things to do. I've lived in DC proper for 30 years and have never thought things here were "bland." Yes, it comes with some drawbacks, but at least it's not boring.

The comparison still stands if she is living in DC, or comparing Boston metro area to DC metro area.

I feel so seen reading this thread. Not New England native but lived there for over 20 years, recently moved here for work (DC proper). It is so ugly and charmless here. I didn’t realize how beautiful New England and especially the Boston are is until I left it.

Old town and Georgetown are cute. I don’t understand the suggestions of glover park or Cleveland park 😑. CP is a tiny strip of retail on CT which is hard to navigate by pedestrians. The shops are meh and CT is busy with lanes of traffic. Glover Park is several streets of identical looking, brick row houses? I guess it’s close to Georgetown ?

Have you lived in Central square? Two block strip, industrial buildings heading out towards MIT. Most of those Cambridge neighborhoods are two block strips. If you don’t like the one in Cleveland Park go north on Connecticut. There’s the strip with Comet and the one with the toy store. CP does have metro access though and the Giant complex on Wisconsin, all walkable.