Anonymous wrote:Bloomingdale!! It's right next to Howard and young, fun, diverse, family friendly, close to nightlife. It's awesome. The schools are a little iffy past first grade or so but you are years from worrying about that.

If you want a more urban environment then maybe 14th street could be fun.

I can't believe people are recommending suburbs to you. Please don't listen. Come to the city.

Actually just reread your OP and you mentioned grocery and bar options. Bloomingdale is a little bit more residential... About a 15 min walk from the commercial stuff around U st. Maybe ledroit park would be better but Idk what the rental market is like there.

Bloomingdale!! It's right next to Howard and young, fun, diverse, family friendly, close to nightlife. It's awesome. The schools are a little iffy past first grade or so but you are years from worrying about that.

If you want a more urban environment then maybe 14th street could be fun.

I can't believe people are recommending suburbs to you. Please don't listen. Come to the city.

Anonymous wrote:mixed race definitely stick to MD or DC. Takoma Park? Silver Spring? What's your budget?

I'm in Del Ray (alexandria, VA) and I think OP would be very happy here. It's not a bad commute either since you can take the Yellow line straight to the Shaw/Howard U. stop, no transfers.

I would recommend the U Street corridor.

thanks everyone. that's a lot of good ideas.

I’m the Hill poster. If your job is near Howard, you should at least walk through Ledroit Park. I LOVE the feeling of that neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay in DC for sure! Why not? There are tons of nice AirBnBs in my neighborhood (Capitol Hill) and staying in someone’s house will give you a good sense of what a neighborhood feels like.

Just looked at Capitol Hill on a map. It doesn't seem like there's much green or park space on first glance? Just trying to learn more about it.

Capitol Hill has a lot of green space, just as not concentrated the way it is around Rock Creek Park area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay in DC for sure! Why not? There are tons of nice AirBnBs in my neighborhood (Capitol Hill) and staying in someone’s house will give you a good sense of what a neighborhood feels like.

Just looked at Capitol Hill on a map. It doesn't seem like there's much green or park space on first glance? Just trying to learn more about it.

Well, it abuts the National Mall. There are lots of neighborhood parks but if you want, like, a hikeable area, you’ll need to be next to Rock Creek Park.

You would love Capitol Hill. There's green space for a city!

Look at the Capitol Hill Hotel -- 3rd and C SE. Walk down to Eastern Market, check out the neighborhoods. Go over to Barracks Row and Navy Yard.

You can go up into NE if that's more vibrant for you -- H st corridor and Atlas District. (Note that if you're at Sibley, the Hill is not a good location for you! Georgetown would be easy from SE.)

People definitely live in Dupont and you'd have great access there to many of the hospitals, plus Virginia. Same with Georgetown, tho that's going to be pricier. IF you're interested in going farther up, check out Cleveland Park, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay in DC for sure! Why not? There are tons of nice AirBnBs in my neighborhood (Capitol Hill) and staying in someone’s house will give you a good sense of what a neighborhood feels like.

Just looked at Capitol Hill on a map. It doesn't seem like there's much green or park space on first glance? Just trying to learn more about it.

DC doesn't really have green space or park space.

Anonymous wrote:OP where is your job?

near Howard University

OP where is your job?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay somewhere fun in DC proper and rent a car to look at close-in suburbs. Staying at a hotel in the suburbs is depressing. Look at Hotel Monaco (right in the middle of Penn Quarter and near tons of great restaurants); the Graham in Georgetown; or the Hotel Carlyle off Dupont Circle.

Thanks! Are those also residential neighborhoods? Of course, I know them as touristy areas.

Dupont and Georgetown are residential, but expensive. I was thinking you could stay somewhere nice and get a sense of how much DC has changed and then explore residential areas.

Anonymous wrote:Stay in DC for sure! Why not? There are tons of nice AirBnBs in my neighborhood (Capitol Hill) and staying in someone’s house will give you a good sense of what a neighborhood feels like.

Just looked at Capitol Hill on a map. It doesn't seem like there's much green or park space on first glance? Just trying to learn more about it.

mixed race definitely stick to MD or DC. Takoma Park? Silver Spring? What's your budget?