"Nothing is unique in DC"

[Anonymous]

DC is a government town and so it inherits the blandness of government. The suburbs do too. Some other capitals are like that too, like Brussels, although Brussels is not as bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Del Ray and no - I would take Chicago or any place in Europe in a New York minute LOL

What a stupid thing to say. I live in Del Ray and have since '99. I could not afford half my house today because the area is that desirable. I bought when I was a Jr. officer and it was 'skwtchy', but I got a SFH, a yard, and a 10 minute commute to the Pentagon.

I married a woman from Genoa, Italy. There is literally not a snowball's chance in Hell anyone would pick Genoa over Del Ray.

You're pleasant.

[Anonymous]

She lives in the place she can afford, and then takes metro into DC on the weekends to do something unique.

[Anonymous]

Grew up in CT and I get it. In New England, each town has a nicely designed "downtown" which DC suburbs just do not seem to have... Live in Fairfax county now where it just feels sprawling and poorly planned. So many roads that are essentially highways with stoplights with random stripmalls rather than (what I would prefer) neighborhood roads and a planned downtown area with local shops and restaurants that are not mostly national chain franchises.

Bethesda and Silver Spring do seem to have this downtown area. Hyattsville has a small couple of blocks that are a little like this by Vigilante coffee.

That being said, Capitol Hill (Eastern market, Stanton or Lincoln Park areas) is my favorite area of DC. Pop into Hill Easy book store and Labyrinth game shop, grab coffee and a snack by Eastern Market and browse the kiosks. Wander through the neighborhood and picnic at Lincoln or Stanton Park. Dinner at Paccis by Lincoln Park. That area is quant and cute and fun with nice DC rowhouse architecture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in CT and I get it. In New England, each town has a nicely designed "downtown" which DC suburbs just do not seem to have... Live in Fairfax county now where it just feels sprawling and poorly planned. So many roads that are essentially highways with stoplights with random stripmalls rather than (what I would prefer) neighborhood roads and a planned downtown area with local shops and restaurants that are not mostly national chain franchises.

Bethesda and Silver Spring do seem to have this downtown area. Hyattsville has a small couple of blocks that are a little like this by Vigilante coffee.

That being said, Capitol Hill (Eastern market, Stanton or Lincoln Park areas) is my favorite area of DC. Pop into Hill Easy book store and Labyrinth game shop, grab coffee and a snack by Eastern Market and browse the kiosks. Wander through the neighborhood and picnic at Lincoln or Stanton Park. Dinner at Paccis by Lincoln Park. That area is quant and cute and fun with nice DC rowhouse architecture.

Isn't FFX Co to Capitol Hill a bit of a hike?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Bay Area native, went to school here in DC, left to go back to the Bay Area for 20 years and recently moved back. Yes, aesthetically most of the DMV is post-world war 2 brick boxes with very little charm. We live in the Bethesda/CC area and - I’ve said this before on here - they have put on a master class of how to destroy what was and could have been a semi-charming suburban downtown. Huge opportunity lost. All that being said, DC absolutely has its charms. It’s fun to play tourist every now and then. There’s a vibrancy in a lot of the DC proper parts of town. It is, in fact, the nation’s capital and there’s a buzz that comes with that. While there’s parts that drive me nuts, I’ve stopped trying to play the comparison game and enjoying it for what it is

Agree. Bethesda and Rockville Pike from Bethesda to White Flint have been ruined.
1990s Bethesda was once my financially unattainable dream. But I found a better version elsewhere at much lower cost outside DMV.

Generally speaking, regarding "meh" boutique shopping, I think little shops are having trouble everywhere in the US except the most dense and high foot traffic areas like NYC and Chicago. Few people shop like that anymore. So it's not very reasonable to expect that kind of neighborhood in US cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a government town and so it inherits the blandness of government. The suburbs do too. Some other capitals are like that too, like Brussels, although Brussels is not as bad.

Brussels is the worst on all fronts.

[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?

Why does your friend live in Bethesda OP? For work? For how expensive it is, Bethesda is really unattractive and utterly lacking in charm. She would be better off in Old Town or DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a government town and so it inherits the blandness of government. The suburbs do too. Some other capitals are like that too, like Brussels, although Brussels is not as bad.

Brussels is the worst on all fronts.

It’s not great but I’d still say it’s better than DC. Matter of opinion I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Why does your friend live in Bethesda OP? For work? For how expensive it is, Bethesda is really unattractive and utterly lacking in charm. She would be better off in Old Town or DC.

For the schools

[Anonymous]

OP if you're friend lived in manhattan Lisbon and the other metro you mentioned duh. Of course DC mush be awful for her. If I were her I'd want to vomit daily. I lined in Manhattan Chicago and Innsbruck and that's how I feel. Unfortunately, I fell in love with a man who won't leave his family here. I can't wait till the kids go to college so I can get the hell out.

To the people who talk about DC v other bland towns. The thing is this is an area of major money and influence. If I go to Springfield or Carbondale IL, I'm expecting a certain environment. When my house costs $1.6M I have certain expectations whether a garage or interior to not be cookie cutter. So it's all about value. There's little value here aesthetically and culturally.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the problem is that your friend actually doesn’t live in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Generalize much? I'm OP. Friend works in the city and has lived in Lisbon, London, Manhattan. Not scared of the city. Just finds DC bland compared with New England.

What areas of actual DC has she explored? You didn't mention any in your original post, just suburban places.

She hasn't explored any neighborhoods in DC proper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in CT and I get it. In New England, each town has a nicely designed "downtown" which DC suburbs just do not seem to have... Live in Fairfax county now where it just feels sprawling and poorly planned. So many roads that are essentially highways with stoplights with random stripmalls rather than (what I would prefer) neighborhood roads and a planned downtown area with local shops and restaurants that are not mostly national chain franchises.

Bethesda and Silver Spring do seem to have this downtown area. Hyattsville has a small couple of blocks that are a little like this by Vigilante coffee.

That being said, Capitol Hill (Eastern market, Stanton or Lincoln Park areas) is my favorite area of DC. Pop into Hill Easy book store and Labyrinth game shop, grab coffee and a snack by Eastern Market and browse the kiosks. Wander through the neighborhood and picnic at Lincoln or Stanton Park. Dinner at Paccis by Lincoln Park. That area is quant and cute and fun with nice DC rowhouse architecture.

Isn't FFX Co to Capitol Hill a bit of a hike?

No, 30 mins depending on where. FFX City is a bit of a hike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP if you're friend lived in manhattan Lisbon and the other metro you mentioned duh. Of course DC mush be awful for her. If I were her I'd want to vomit daily. I lined in Manhattan Chicago and Innsbruck and that's how I feel. Unfortunately, I fell in love with a man who won't leave his family here. I can't wait till the kids go to college so I can get the hell out.

To the people who talk about DC v other bland towns. The thing is this is an area of major money and influence. If I go to Springfield or Carbondale IL, I'm expecting a certain environment. When my house costs $1.6M I have certain expectations whether a garage or interior to not be cookie cutter. So it's all about value. There's little value here aesthetically and culturally.

Now that's provincial. Pretty mountains, but come on. Tyrol didn't even get color TV until the 70s