is it worth it to you and your husband to have coffee and edgy non-chain retail and a nyc-ish feel in your 'hood, if the trade off is a commute that is often an hour or an hour +, crawling on highways?

If so, Mt. Pleasant, Bloomingdale, or other similar areas will work for you. If not, try Takoma Park (easy access to 495 and Georgia) or consider trading off and living in an AWESOME house that is in the suburbs, closer to Columbia.

I think the answers here vary so widely because the answer is that the things you want aren't really possible. You're going to have to give one up: Nyc-feel, ok commute, or proximity to city.

For what it's worth, I live in Takoma Park and it can take 15-20 minutes just to get thru lights to the beltway, so yeah, it's a reverse commute, but it's still a bad commute.

What about Hyattsville, as a PP mentioned? Relatively easy reverse commute up to Columbia from there.

Anonymous wrote:If you don't have a job - rent in Columbia at first.

I think its kind of strange that you are considering a 35 mile commute TO Columbia.

I don't know if you've found a place yet but just want to say that if you are at all concerned about missing an urban area DO NOT MOVE TO COLUMBIA!!! It is a soul sucking bedroom suburb. Sure it has gorgeous trees, open spaces, cheaper housing stock, and a bazillion big city transplants but it also has a "town center" featuring the mall (I wish I were kidding), nowhere to get a decent latte (yep, I hate myself for prioritizing this too but we moved from Seattle so it's been rough), and, as winter approaches, we are really wondering what we are going to do to entertain our 3 year old all winter long that does not involve driving to Baltimore on every day she is home from preschool. My husband works in Bethesda and we are breaking our lease, taking a financial hit, and moving closer in because we just cannot cope. Or, rather, I just cannot cope- he gets to see city-like areas all week. None of the close-in suburbs feel like Brooklyn. We've looked. At best you get a small version of Berkeley in Takoma Park. Silver Spring feels better to us than Bethesda and Chevy Chase. But, to each their own. If you are looking for city, though, you have to be in the city here. Lamentably, that commute is absolute hell. We are 8 months in and, though we are not doing the reverse commute as your husband will be doing, my husband commutes 3 hours some days from Columbia to Bethesda (i.e. he doesn't even have to get into the city). So, I would be quite wary of making him do that too. For us, I think we'll be in Silver Spring or Takoma Park soon. It isn't ideal but it meets most of our needs and I can see the city by hopping on the metro just 1 mile away from most desirable neighborhoods. Good luck!

Why not look at Baltimore? It's MUCH closer to Columbia?
Federal Hill and Fells Point come to mind. It's a ton cheaper and more city than Bethesda or Silver Spring.
Bethesda is much nicer than Silver Spring.

I live on Cap Hill and suggested it above, but Ellicott City is a great idea. I love that town.

A year in Capitol Hill, then Ellicott City.

She doesn't want to love in the suburbs. Is the a train from columbia to union station? I for, I suggest Capitol Hill.

13:39: Not till July 1...

Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill was actually where we were thinking of looking originally. This is all coming full circle. So it's settled: a year in Capitol Hill, realize how painful the commute is, then move to SS. Done and done!

When are you moving? Our 2Bd/2Ba rowhouse 3 blocks from Eastern Market will be available May 1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also surprised that more people haven't suggested Capitol Hill as an option since it is so near/easy to get on 295. I think if the OP's family is willing to commute, the commute from Capitol Hill won't be any worse than any of the other suggestions and it isn't always bad. Now my husband doesn't do the commute all the time but he often drives up to Baltimore one day a week and he has no real complaints. Full disclosure though in that the commute is typically more like 45 minutes.

Some houses on the Hill are definitely in the OP's price range (although renting first is advisable) and the neighborhood is super walkable.

OP, I think you should check out Capitol Hill as might meet your needs.

+100. OP, I am also very surprised that more people haven't suggested Capitol Hill. Although everything down here is a far cry from NYC and Brooklyn, CH is your best best for replicating your Brooklyn experience -- lots of pretty, historic, and somewhat affordable brownstones; many families with strollers and dogs; good local places for food and drink - including indie coffee shops; a great farmer's market; and very walkable. It's the kind of place where you can wake up on a weekend morning, plop the baby in the stroller, walk to a cute place for brunch and coffee and maybe even sit outside. I think that what makes it ideal for you is that unlike the other DC neighborhoods mentioned, Capitol Hill is on the east side of DC (it spans the NE and SE quadrants), which is a good location for trying to reduce the hassle and distance of your husband's commute to Columbia. Either way, the commute from DC to Columbia is going to be crappy, but at least Capitol Hill gets you started on the side of town that is a little bit closer.

Also, while I think that Silver Spring might be a good location for its proximity to both Columbia and DC, based on what you've indicated you may find SS to be depressing. It might be more appealing further down the line once you've gotten used to this area and are ready for a more suburban experience, but it will be a shock to your system to move to SS from Brooklyn. Just to give you an idea, this is what you'll find in the downtown Silver Spring shopping area -- Whole Foods, Panera, H&M, Coldstone Creamery, Red Lobster, Macaroni Grill, Baja Fresh, Chick-Fil-A, Marshalls, Loft, Office Depot, and DSW. I think Silver Spring has a lot to offer, but I don't think it fits what you are looking for.

You will also find:

Adega Wine Bar
Metamorphosis women's clothing and accessories
Kefa Cafe (Ethopian coffee shop)
The Fillmore (concert venue)
Roundhouse Theater
DeMarco Italian restaurant
Fenton Cafe (crepes, coffee)
Several Ethiopian restaurants
Gar-E-Kebab (Indian/Nepalese)
Gaylord Indian restaurant
Ray's the Classics Bistro (steak)
Local small candy chain, Velatis (mostly caramels)
Frozen Yo (frozen yogurt)
Alliance Comics & Books
Dale Music
Dor-Ne Corset Shop
Joe's Record Paradise
Plaza Art
Strosnider's Hardware
Jackie's Restaurant
Footlights dance wear
Quarry House Tavern (local dive)
Mandalay
Moorenko's Ice Cream

OP, once you settle on a Capitol Hill house, make sure to get on the Moms on the Hill Yahoo group asap. (You have to be referred by a current MOTH, but that's easy.) It's incredibly helpful and much nicer in tone than this forum.

I would personally look at PG County -- Hyattsville, University Park, Greenbelt. It's not the quite lifestyle you want, but it will be easy morning drive to Columbia. I would KILL to commute from my place in Greenbelt to Columbia.

Capitol Hill was actually where we were thinking of looking originally. This is all coming full circle. So it's settled: a year in Capitol Hill, realize how painful the commute is, then move to SS. Done and done!

Anonymous wrote:I'm also surprised that more people haven't suggested Capitol Hill as an option since it is so near/easy to get on 295. I think if the OP's family is willing to commute, the commute from Capitol Hill won't be any worse than any of the other suggestions and it isn't always bad. Now my husband doesn't do the commute all the time but he often drives up to Baltimore one day a week and he has no real complaints. Full disclosure though in that the commute is typically more like 45 minutes.

Some houses on the Hill are definitely in the OP's price range (although renting first is advisable) and the neighborhood is super walkable.

OP, I think you should check out Capitol Hill as might meet your needs.

+100. OP, I am also very surprised that more people haven't suggested Capitol Hill. Although everything down here is a far cry from NYC and Brooklyn, CH is your best best for replicating your Brooklyn experience -- lots of pretty, historic, and somewhat affordable brownstones; many families with strollers and dogs; good local places for food and drink - including indie coffee shops; a great farmer's market; and very walkable. It's the kind of place where you can wake up on a weekend morning, plop the baby in the stroller, walk to a cute place for brunch and coffee and maybe even sit outside. I think that what makes it ideal for you is that unlike the other DC neighborhoods mentioned, Capitol Hill is on the east side of DC (it spans the NE and SE quadrants), which is a good location for trying to reduce the hassle and distance of your husband's commute to Columbia. Either way, the commute from DC to Columbia is going to be crappy, but at least Capitol Hill gets you started on the side of town that is a little bit closer.

Also, while I think that Silver Spring might be a good location for its proximity to both Columbia and DC, based on what you've indicated you may find SS to be depressing. It might be more appealing further down the line once you've gotten used to this area and are ready for a more suburban experience, but it will be a shock to your system to move to SS from Brooklyn. Just to give you an idea, this is what you'll find in the downtown Silver Spring shopping area -- Whole Foods, Panera, H&M, Coldstone Creamery, Red Lobster, Macaroni Grill, Baja Fresh, Chick-Fil-A, Marshalls, Loft, Office Depot, and DSW. I think Silver Spring has a lot to offer, but I don't think it fits what you are looking for.

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe a year of the killer commute will change our mind, but for now, it seems like the best choice for us.

Yes. I guarantee a year of this commute will change your mind. This is not snark, and I wish you no ill will. But, it's horrible.

I lived this myself with a 2 year old, after H moved us "away from all family and friends" for an "opportunity he couldn't refuse" in a large cosmopolitan west coast city/megalopolis. We chose a charming 1920s hipster neighborhood, even, full of the >>original<< hipsters -- the people who served as the model for, yes, Red Hook/Ft. Greene AND 11th St. in DC.

Then DC proceeded to be gone 15 hours a day due to a $$ job + that killer commute. He didn't know his kids and missed their toddler and early preschool years. He left when they were sleeping, missed all their meals, returned home after 8-9 pm bedtime. He was exhausted on the weekends and cranky and only went through the motions of "family time," I assume because he understandably wanted a little Me Time.

So please, think very very carefully about being glib about kissing away 2-3 hours -- yes, HOURS --a day on a commute, should you live in Columbia Hts type location.*




* personally, vibe-wise, I think you'd do best in Logan Circle brownstone floor-thru condo.

This person is very wise, OP. Please listen to her. Commutes in the DC area are NO JOKE.

My DH is an attorney and I am essentially alone with DD before and after work every day -- daddy is only around on the weekends (he leaves before she wakes up and comes home after she's asleep). It is no life for a child to not see their father. Unlike me, you don't have to deal with this if you don't force your DH to do it. (And even I have put my foot down and demanded DH come home for dinner one night a week at least.) It's hell. Don't do it to your family, please.

Consider also that you are leaving your family and friends and the "life you've built for 11 years" and having your partner home with you and your child as much as possible only makes sense.