Woodley Park is gorgeous, would be walkable to your job (about 30 mins), and the Oyster Spanish/English school is in the neighborhood. And it's on the Red Line. However, it is super expensive at least for houses -- probably over $1 million for anything decent -- and although there are a number of restaurants, they're not particularly great. You can walk into Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, or Cleveland Park, though, all of which are about a mile away and all of which have lots of interesting restaurants. Cleveland Park also has a library and a movie theater. It could be a good place to live as well; housing budget is probably similar, and there are two grocery stores (regular and organic), and it's only one stop further on the metro. Probably about a 45-minute walk to your job if you prefer walking over metro or bus. (I work approximately where you do and the major thing I miss from our move from Cleveland Park to Bethesda is the ability to walk to work.)

Anonymous wrote:I'd vote for silver spring. SS is family-focused and progressive with a highly educated and diverse population. There is a growing gay community and you'll get more for your money in SS vs. some of the other locations. With your budget I would target Woodside park and get yourself a very charming 1930's or 1940's home of decent size that is a 5 minute walk to the urban center and red line metro / marc.

source: i've lived in the area for 15+ yrs, 7 yrs in SS.

+1

Surprised more people aren't recommending Columbia Heights. There are a lot of gay families/couples here, and it is probably more diverse than any of the other places you're considering. It is also more walkable than any of the places mentioned. At 17th and K, you could walk to work from CH. Go to bloombars and check out what CH is like.

I would avoid Bethesda and Chevy Chase MD. There is nothing like the vibe you are looking for in those areas and schools are def not progressive.

I'd vote for silver spring. SS is family-focused and progressive with a highly educated and diverse population. There is a growing gay community and you'll get more for your money in SS vs. some of the other locations. With your budget I would target Woodside park and get yourself a very charming 1930's or 1940's home of decent size that is a 5 minute walk to the urban center and red line metro / marc.

source: i've lived in the area for 15+ yrs, 7 yrs in SS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern Market is very gay friendly, if that's the right way to put it. I have no idea how the school there is, but if schools weren't a factor, that would probably be the #1 spot for you. Maybe somebody else on here could tell you.

Forget chevy chase - that's just a bunch of snobs and not very progressive either. but nice.

silver spring is a lower echelon (sp?) than what you are looking for.

Wit your budget, I think you can do much better than takoma park too.

There are a lot of less-than-flattering things to say about CHevy Chase DC, but no one who knows the neighborhood would describe it as snobby or not progressive.

I can't believe someone would actually post "silver spring is a lower echelon than what you are looking for" and "chevy chase is just a bunch of snobs" in the same post.

I happen to be from S.S. You couldn't pay me to move back, and I certainly wouldn't live there if I had $900K budget. I'm so glad to be gone!!!!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern Market is very gay friendly, if that's the right way to put it. I have no idea how the school there is, but if schools weren't a factor, that would probably be the #1 spot for you. Maybe somebody else on here could tell you.

Forget chevy chase - that's just a bunch of snobs and not very progressive either. but nice.

silver spring is a lower echelon (sp?) than what you are looking for.

Wit your budget, I think you can do much better than takoma park too.

There are a lot of less-than-flattering things to say about CHevy Chase DC, but no one who knows the neighborhood would describe it as snobby or not progressive.

Whatever. You sound like a snob. next.

Also consider AU Park in northwest DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern Market is very gay friendly, if that's the right way to put it. I have no idea how the school there is, but if schools weren't a factor, that would probably be the #1 spot for you. Maybe somebody else on here could tell you.

Forget chevy chase - that's just a bunch of snobs and not very progressive either. but nice.

silver spring is a lower echelon (sp?) than what you are looking for.

Wit your budget, I think you can do much better than takoma park too.

There are a lot of less-than-flattering things to say about CHevy Chase DC, but no one who knows the neighborhood would describe it as snobby or not progressive.

I can't believe someone would actually post "silver spring is a lower echelon than what you are looking for" and "chevy chase is just a bunch of snobs" in the same post.

Anonymous wrote:Eastern Market is very gay friendly, if that's the right way to put it. I have no idea how the school there is, but if schools weren't a factor, that would probably be the #1 spot for you. Maybe somebody else on here could tell you.

Forget chevy chase - that's just a bunch of snobs and not very progressive either. but nice.

silver spring is a lower echelon (sp?) than what you are looking for.

Wit your budget, I think you can do much better than takoma park too.

There are a lot of less-than-flattering things to say about CHevy Chase DC, but no one who knows the neighborhood would describe it as snobby or not progressive.

I think the PP that pointed out that commute and schools should drive your choice is about right. DC commutes are awful even compared to NY and, like NY, schools uneven. Whereas I think you'll find all of the Maryland suburbs and much of DC solidly progressive, so don't need to shop around too hard for that characteristic. I also think you're specific enough about what you want and can afford that you could just contact a realtor and tell them to show you houses less than $900k in places with good transit and public school where marriage equality is enshrined in law and you'll be good to go.

OBTW - there are a bunch of good charters for what you want in schools in DC but I think that's a kind of opaque system to navigate if you're not already local. I'd just look places where the local schools that you're zoned for are good.

Oh gosh, Mt Pleasant, Tenlytown, and Easter Market would def be my top choices. Good luck!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Takoma Park. Leafy, walkable, great schools, easy access to downtown, lots of gay and multiracial families.

Yeah, there are literally pink houses in takoma park.

Don't forget about the porch with the seasonal maniquin tableaux.

I think you would love Takoma Park. DC proper schools are not as good.

14:41 again - I forgot that VA doesn't recognize gay marriage - my bad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of families with small children near Van Ness metro but they tend to go private once they hit elementary. I believe there are good elementary schools in the area but make sure you research it carefully.

The Cleveland park/DC area is closer to the greener parts of NYC (assuming you were living in NYC proper or Brooklyn). If you leave the district, there are tons of walkable areas but you will need to live near a metro.

Not true about kids near Van Ness, at least north of the metro station, which feeds Murch and Deal. Most kids in that neighborhood go to Murch, and many/most stay on to Deal. It is true that people in the Hearst neighborhood (south of Yuma, I believe?) are more likely to go private.

I think Cleveland Park is also a great choice--Eaton is a very nice school--although $900K is probably not realistic there.

Also want to reinforce what others are saying about Virginia. It's true that Arlington and Alexandria are progressive enclaves, but Virginia is still unremittingly conservative at the state level, and Arlington and Alexandria are not exempt from the retrograde policy decisions--about LGBT issues, immigration, health care, women's health, voting rights, etc.--made in Richmond.

Yes - I agree. I was referring to Hearst.

Last I heard, Arlinton and Alexandria were # 2 and 3 for most gay places in America. I definitely would not rule-out Alexandria. I wouldn't consider Arlington personally though - not with a family.