Anonymous
Post 04/30/2012 15:57     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
NP here, was watching this thread with great interest as we are considering Mclean as one of our choices. Reading a few posts, not just this thread, seems like Mclean has a bad rep among DCUMs. It is portrayed by some posters as a suburban wasteland with zero walkability that exists in some sort of a space/time warp that prevents its inhabitants from getting into the car and driving for 20 min into the heart of the city. Is it really that bad? we will be moving from NYC with 100% walkability and prior to this we used to live in Dupont area. Moving back for family reasons, family is in the district, so looking for the close-in suburb with excellent public schools and easy drive to the east village in Gtown. Don't want to be miserable, but cannot afford to live in any urban part of DC and at this point after living in highly urban environment with crowds and lines everywhere, we are looking for something else, more relaxing, more space and not stress about schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2012 08:28     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

How is Salona relevant to your everyday life? I'd rather be able to easily get my morning coffee than pontificate about Dolley Madison as people roll their eyes. Why are you so down on GP? It's a safe, pleasant, leafy neighborhood where people can walk, and those aspects appeal to many. Or are you just a hater of the District in general and everything about it must be summarily dismissed?


It's a historical building, something not to be found in GP. I walk by it often.

Anyway, why are you hijacking this thread and turning it into a referendum on GP? Maybe it's a good starter neighborhood for some people.


Your absolute scorn for GP is palpable in your previous posts. Now you're saying that the back and forth was a hijack?
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2012 07:48     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:

How is Salona relevant to your everyday life? I'd rather be able to easily get my morning coffee than pontificate about Dolley Madison as people roll their eyes. Why are you so down on GP? It's a safe, pleasant, leafy neighborhood where people can walk, and those aspects appeal to many. Or are you just a hater of the District in general and everything about it must be summarily dismissed?


It's a historical building, something not to be found in GP. I walk by it often.

Anyway, why are you hijacking this thread and turning it into a referendum on GP? Maybe it's a good starter neighborhood for some people.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 22:41     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:



The commute thing is hilarious! You can't lump all of DC into having a good commute. I have a colleague who moved to upper northwest reentry. Her commute is about the same or sometimes longer than my commute from Falls Church (which is comparable to McLean distance wise). SO living in the District does not always mean a shorter commute. Oh and by the way, I have better metro access than my colleague. I can walk and she must drive.


sorry but I think this is bs. if you are working downtown, pretty anywhere in NWDC is going to be a much better commute than Falls Church. In normal morning/evening traffic, it's a 45 minute commute to Falls Church at a minimum. Yes, it may take only 25 minutes other times but not during rush hour.


Absolutely untrue. My colleague and I have been timing and comparing. Leaving at 5:00, I can be home by 5:30 or 5:40. If I leave it 6:00 or later, it will take 45 minutes. Colleague's commute is 40-45. Our commutes are virtually identical, although mine is, on occasion, shorter.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:53     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Is that how you judge neighborhoods? Whether "anyone of note" has lived in them? You've revealed a lot just in that statement.


It's relevant to the "sense of place," or lack thereof in Glover Park's case.

Hickory Hill gives McLean a sense of place, since it was the RFK/Ethel Kennedy compound for many years. The Salona estate gives McLean a sense of place, since it was the refuge for Dolley Madison during the War of 1812.

I guess you think Glover Park has a "sense of place" because you can walk to a Starbucks and a second-rate Tex-Mex restaurant. BFD.



How is Salona relevant to your everyday life? I'd rather be able to easily get my morning coffee than pontificate about Dolley Madison as people roll their eyes. Why are you so down on GP? It's a safe, pleasant, leafy neighborhood where people can walk, and those aspects appeal to many. Or are you just a hater of the District in general and everything about it must be summarily dismissed?
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:46     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:

Is that how you judge neighborhoods? Whether "anyone of note" has lived in them? You've revealed a lot just in that statement.


It's relevant to the "sense of place," or lack thereof in Glover Park's case.

Hickory Hill gives McLean a sense of place, since it was the RFK/Ethel Kennedy compound for many years. The Salona estate gives McLean a sense of place, since it was the refuge for Dolley Madison during the War of 1812.

I guess you think Glover Park has a "sense of place" because you can walk to a Starbucks and a second-rate Tex-Mex restaurant. BFD.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:46     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, I love GP. Just by merit of being in the city GP is more interesting than McLean. Richer history, sense of place.



Glover Park has no historical significance and little sense of place. It's a boring collection of drab rowhouses and ugly apartment buildings that could be in any East Coast city.

Has anyone of note ever lived there?





I think a lot of people here disagree with you: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/215412.page


A neighborhood is so much more than SF homes on big lots. And it doesn't need famous people to make it a nice place to live.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:37     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, I love GP. Just by merit of being in the city GP is more interesting than McLean. Richer history, sense of place.



Glover Park has no historical significance and little sense of place. It's a boring collection of drab rowhouses and ugly apartment buildings that could be in any East Coast city.

Has anyone of note ever lived there?





Yes, Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye.



Also Charles Carroll Glover.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:35     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, I love GP. Just by merit of being in the city GP is more interesting than McLean. Richer history, sense of place.



Glover Park has no historical significance and little sense of place. It's a boring collection of drab rowhouses and ugly apartment buildings that could be in any East Coast city.

Has anyone of note ever lived there?





Yes, Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:34     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, I love GP. Just by merit of being in the city GP is more interesting than McLean. Richer history, sense of place.



Glover Park has no historical significance and little sense of place. It's a boring collection of drab rowhouses and ugly apartment buildings that could be in any East Coast city.

Has anyone of note ever lived there?





Is that how you judge neighborhoods? Whether "anyone of note" has lived in them? You've revealed a lot just in that statement.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:33     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:I live in McLean and have never heard it called "interesting." But when were Obama and Clinton here?


Today.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:31     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, I love GP. Just by merit of being in the city GP is more interesting than McLean. Richer history, sense of place.



Glover Park has no historical significance and little sense of place. It's a boring collection of drab rowhouses and ugly apartment buildings that could be in any East Coast city.

Has anyone of note ever lived there?


Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:27     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In my defense, the seats of the car are heated and the Sirius radio comes through Bose speakers. So the ride to Giant is a nice one.



I'd rather have the wind in my hair, the sun on my back, and the squeaking of my granny cart. Not to mention burning off some calories in the process. But to each their own.

Agree that the sun is nice but I do get my steps in by walking up and down and around my house and yard all day.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:25     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Hey, I love my snooze fest Glover Park. Just as safe and boring as McLean, but we can walk places unlike your asses being glued to your car seats.


McLean is far more interesting than Glover Park.

When do Obama and Clinton both come to Glover Park at the same time?

I live in McLean and have never heard it called "interesting." But when were Obama and Clinton here?
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2012 21:16     Subject: Re:Move to McLean for our kids?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Hey, I love my snooze fest Glover Park. Just as safe and boring as McLean, but we can walk places unlike your asses being glued to your car seats.


McLean is far more interesting than Glover Park.

When do Obama and Clinton both come to Glover Park at the same time?



Your question sounds like the beginning of a raunchy joke.

Anyway, I love GP. Just by merit of being in the city GP is more interesting than McLean. Richer history, sense of place.