Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what is wrong with chain restaurants and coffee shops. They have all grown to be chains because what they offered was good.

It’s a lot of the same food - Chili’s is not that different than Applebee’s. But neither has Thai food or (as I ordered tonight from my city home) Pho. If you want fine dining or a menu that doesn’t have a chicken finger option you can’t go to a chain.

Good grief. The best Pho you can get (delivered or pick it up yourself) is in the suburbs of DC. Some of you are insufferable.

I didn't say you can't get Pho in the suburbs. I was responding to someone who asked why people are always knocking on chain restaurants. I think the knock is that they are very similar, not that they are bad, but if you want something different you don't go to a chain.

OP here- as I go through all these comments I realize I just REALLY like being part of my community. Living in the city for the first 26 years of my life I knew our butcher, the local diner owner, the bartenders at the pubs, the neighborhood grandma that owns the Italian deli, the ramen shop owner whose kids were always helping around the restaurant, the owner of the independent book store who gives back SO much to the local kids. I still go back and pop in those places and they ask about my kids, how my parents are, say they remember when I was first allowed to walk to those places with friends, etc. It's nothing like walking into a Chilis, having a bored teen as your waitress, and eating crappy deep fried food.

This isn’t unique to living in a city. It’s unique to NOT living in a soulless suburb.

I live in a small town and have a local butcher, farmers market, can walk/bike to parks, an independent book store where we always buy kid birthday parties, etc. No chains since they aren’t allowed. Actually we do have a CVS and that was controversial.

I do find city people a bit delusional about chains. They eat at sweetgreen and can’t understand that it’s a chain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(1) How's the middle school in the city? You're right that many urban elementaries are good to great, and there are many application options for high school, but the choke point is often middle school. That said, if you're saving money, private may be an option for middle and high school.

(2) How small is SMALL? Under 1,000sq or over? If you're comparing it to a sprawling 5 bedroom suburban house, then it may feel small but actually be a perfectly livable size for many city dwellers. 2 bedrooms + den sounds like it would be big enough for me, particularly since you have the den to use as a second kid bedroom if they don't like sharing and because you have your grandparents' unit to spill into.

(3) Instead of selling, could you rent out your current house? That way you hold onto your interest rate and have the ability to move back if the city life doesn't work out. I would tell you to sell and go if rates were lower, but you are absolutely right that you may be shooting yourself in the foot if you'll have to move in the next 5-10 years because of schools or the house being sold.

Do not worry about moving your older child more than once. She's still SO young that she'll forget in a few months max (mine switched between pre-K4 and K, and by 1st grade could not remember any of the kids she went to two years of pre-K with even though we ran into them occasionally). And it's totally different to switch school locations with your entire grade than move school districts.

Thanks so much for all the thoughts! The school across the street is actually PreK through 8th grade so no worrying about middle school.

I think the apartment is 1400sqft. It was actually the butler and maids quarters in the original house

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what is wrong with chain restaurants and coffee shops. They have all grown to be chains because what they offered was good.

It’s a lot of the same food - Chili’s is not that different than Applebee’s. But neither has Thai food or (as I ordered tonight from my city home) Pho. If you want fine dining or a menu that doesn’t have a chicken finger option you can’t go to a chain.

Good grief. The best Pho you can get (delivered or pick it up yourself) is in the suburbs of DC. Some of you are insufferable.

I didn't say you can't get Pho in the suburbs. I was responding to someone who asked why people are always knocking on chain restaurants. I think the knock is that they are very similar, not that they are bad, but if you want something different you don't go to a chain.

OP here- as I go through all these comments I realize I just REALLY like being part of my community. Living in the city for the first 26 years of my life I knew our butcher, the local diner owner, the bartenders at the pubs, the neighborhood grandma that owns the Italian deli, the ramen shop owner whose kids were always helping around the restaurant, the owner of the independent book store who gives back SO much to the local kids. I still go back and pop in those places and they ask about my kids, how my parents are, say they remember when I was first allowed to walk to those places with friends, etc. It's nothing like walking into a Chilis, having a bored teen as your waitress, and eating crappy deep fried food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in the city, I find being a “city person” sort or laughable, especially if you have kids. Who cares at some point? Are you really going to a lot of killer restaurant and bars if you have kids? Even if you are, isn’t there a point in your life where that all starts to seem a bit shallow? I would stay where you are. Frankly, op, you sound a bit childish to me.

No, you don't go to the killer restaurants and bars but you are able to take your kids to world class museums, theater, diverse schools, high-quality extra curricurlers, etc without having to drive everywhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in the city, I find being a “city person” sort or laughable, especially if you have kids. Who cares at some point? Are you really going to a lot of killer restaurant and bars if you have kids? Even if you are, isn’t there a point in your life where that all starts to seem a bit shallow? I would stay where you are. Frankly, op, you sound a bit childish to me.

No, you don't go to the killer restaurants and bars but you are able to take your kids to world class museums, theater, diverse schools, high-quality extra curricurlers, etc without having to drive everywhere.

as someone who lives in the city, being "a city person" does in fact mean going to lots of restaurants and bars with my kids. Our street closes to cars on the weekend half the year and restaurants set their tables up outside and the kids are biking and chalking and bumping into friends while we're hanging out, eating, listening to live music, etc. This is all happening like 800 feet from my apartment. Our life feels rich, spontaneous, and healthy.

Stop bragging!! lol This sounds so nice like somewhere European frankly not the suburbs where we are all isolated in our large McMansions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in the city, I find being a “city person” sort or laughable, especially if you have kids. Who cares at some point? Are you really going to a lot of killer restaurant and bars if you have kids? Even if you are, isn’t there a point in your life where that all starts to seem a bit shallow? I would stay where you are. Frankly, op, you sound a bit childish to me.

No, you don't go to the killer restaurants and bars but you are able to take your kids to world class museums, theater, diverse schools, high-quality extra curricurlers, etc without having to drive everywhere.

as someone who lives in the city, being "a city person" does in fact mean going to lots of restaurants and bars with my kids. Our street closes to cars on the weekend half the year and restaurants set their tables up outside and the kids are biking and chalking and bumping into friends while we're hanging out, eating, listening to live music, etc. This is all happening like 800 feet from my apartment. Our life feels rich, spontaneous, and healthy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in the city, I find being a “city person” sort or laughable, especially if you have kids. Who cares at some point? Are you really going to a lot of killer restaurant and bars if you have kids? Even if you are, isn’t there a point in your life where that all starts to seem a bit shallow? I would stay where you are. Frankly, op, you sound a bit childish to me.

No, you don't go to the killer restaurants and bars but you are able to take your kids to world class museums, theater, diverse schools, high-quality extra curricurlers, etc without having to drive everywhere.

as someone who lives in the city, being "a city person" does in fact mean going to lots of restaurants and bars with my kids. Our street closes to cars on the weekend half the year and restaurants set their tables up outside and the kids are biking and chalking and bumping into friends while we're hanging out, eating, listening to live music, etc. This is all happening like 800 feet from my apartment. Our life feels rich, spontaneous, and healthy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in the city, I find being a “city person” sort or laughable, especially if you have kids. Who cares at some point? Are you really going to a lot of killer restaurant and bars if you have kids? Even if you are, isn’t there a point in your life where that all starts to seem a bit shallow? I would stay where you are. Frankly, op, you sound a bit childish to me.

No, you don't go to the killer restaurants and bars but you are able to take your kids to world class museums, theater, diverse schools, high-quality extra curricurlers, etc without having to drive everywhere.

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in the city, I find being a “city person” sort or laughable, especially if you have kids. Who cares at some point? Are you really going to a lot of killer restaurant and bars if you have kids? Even if you are, isn’t there a point in your life where that all starts to seem a bit shallow? I would stay where you are. Frankly, op, you sound a bit childish to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what is wrong with chain restaurants and coffee shops. They have all grown to be chains because what they offered was good.

It’s a lot of the same food - Chili’s is not that different than Applebee’s. But neither has Thai food or (as I ordered tonight from my city home) Pho. If you want fine dining or a menu that doesn’t have a chicken finger option you can’t go to a chain.

Good grief. The best Pho you can get (delivered or pick it up yourself) is in the suburbs of DC. Some of you are insufferable.

I didn't say you can't get Pho in the suburbs. I was responding to someone who asked why people are always knocking on chain restaurants. I think the knock is that they are very similar, not that they are bad, but if you want something different you don't go to a chain.

OP here- as I go through all these comments I realize I just REALLY like being part of my community. Living in the city for the first 26 years of my life I knew our butcher, the local diner owner, the bartenders at the pubs, the neighborhood grandma that owns the Italian deli, the ramen shop owner whose kids were always helping around the restaurant, the owner of the independent book store who gives back SO much to the local kids. I still go back and pop in those places and they ask about my kids, how my parents are, say they remember when I was first allowed to walk to those places with friends, etc. It's nothing like walking into a Chilis, having a bored teen as your waitress, and eating crappy deep fried food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what is wrong with chain restaurants and coffee shops. They have all grown to be chains because what they offered was good.

It’s a lot of the same food - Chili’s is not that different than Applebee’s. But neither has Thai food or (as I ordered tonight from my city home) Pho. If you want fine dining or a menu that doesn’t have a chicken finger option you can’t go to a chain.

Good grief. The best Pho you can get (delivered or pick it up yourself) is in the suburbs of DC. Some of you are insufferable.

I didn't say you can't get Pho in the suburbs. I was responding to someone who asked why people are always knocking on chain restaurants. I think the knock is that they are very similar, not that they are bad, but if you want something different you don't go to a chain.

OP here- as I go through all these comments I realize I just REALLY like being part of my community. Living in the city for the first 26 years of my life I knew our butcher, the local diner owner, the bartenders at the pubs, the neighborhood grandma that owns the Italian deli, the ramen shop owner whose kids were always helping around the restaurant, the owner of the independent book store who gives back SO much to the local kids. I still go back and pop in those places and they ask about my kids, how my parents are, say they remember when I was first allowed to walk to those places with friends, etc. It's nothing like walking into a Chilis, having a bored teen as your waitress, and eating crappy deep fried food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what is wrong with chain restaurants and coffee shops. They have all grown to be chains because what they offered was good.

It’s a lot of the same food - Chili’s is not that different than Applebee’s. But neither has Thai food or (as I ordered tonight from my city home) Pho. If you want fine dining or a menu that doesn’t have a chicken finger option you can’t go to a chain.

Good grief. The best Pho you can get (delivered or pick it up yourself) is in the suburbs of DC. Some of you are insufferable.

I didn't say you can't get Pho in the suburbs. I was responding to someone who asked why people are always knocking on chain restaurants. I think the knock is that they are very similar, not that they are bad, but if you want something different you don't go to a chain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what is wrong with chain restaurants and coffee shops. They have all grown to be chains because what they offered was good.

It’s a lot of the same food - Chili’s is not that different than Applebee’s. But neither has Thai food or (as I ordered tonight from my city home) Pho. If you want fine dining or a menu that doesn’t have a chicken finger option you can’t go to a chain.

Good grief. The best Pho you can get (delivered or pick it up yourself) is in the suburbs of DC. Some of you are insufferable.

I didn't say you can't get Pho in the suburbs. I was responding to someone who asked why people are always knocking on chain restaurants. I think the knock is that they are very similar, not that they are bad, but if you want something different you don't go to a chain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand what is wrong with chain restaurants and coffee shops. They have all grown to be chains because what they offered was good.

It’s a lot of the same food - Chili’s is not that different than Applebee’s. But neither has Thai food or (as I ordered tonight from my city home) Pho. If you want fine dining or a menu that doesn’t have a chicken finger option you can’t go to a chain.

Good grief. The best Pho you can get (delivered or pick it up yourself) is in the suburbs of DC. Some of you are insufferable.