OT: Moving to D.C.

[OttoMets]

Yeah, there's a distinction to make: sober Ben's vs. late-night Ben's. I've only done the former once. Either way, a burger or half-smoke with that weird watery chili will have you taking quick steps to the nearest bathroom. But it can hit the spot after a few beers. And it's not a Cosi, so there's always bonus points for being a locally-owned historic place.

U Street's gotten a little much in recent years (it's what 18th Street was a decade ago, a lot of bridge and tunnel folks with a hint of violence in the air), but I'm partial to Oohs and Aahs for late-night eats down that way. Good mac and cheese. Also, unlike Ben's, they're not cash-only.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Yeah, there's a distinction to make: sober Ben's vs. late-night Ben's. I've only done the former once. Either way, a burger or half-smoke with that weird watery chili will have you taking quick steps to the nearest bathroom. But it can hit the spot after a few beers. And it's not a Cosi, so there's always bonus points for being a locally-owned historic place.

U Street's gotten a little much in recent years (it's what 18th Street was a decade ago, a lot of bridge and tunnel folks with a hint of violence in the air), but I'm partial to Oohs and Aahs for late-night eats down that way. Good mac and cheese. Also, unlike Ben's, they're not cash-only.

That's right. Ben's is cash only. Yeah, I've outgrown U Street for sure. Seems like there is some altercation somewhere there every night I am around that area. Cops galore. There is this swanky sort of hidden cocktail bar called The Gibson on 14th but nearly on the corner of U Street. I walk there from DuPont Circle. You see all kinds of stuff around there. Always looks like athletes are getting in trouble around there also.

 

[Bill Orange]

I think Sign of the Whale is still a Syracuse bar. Down between Dupont and Foggy Bottom (both still fairly fun neighborhoods, not totally Disney-fied quite yet).

Penn Quarter Sports Tavern is the new official alumni game watching place. Been there a couple of times and they do a good job. A sand wedge (7 iron for skinny jeans Bayside) from the Archives Metro Station.

As others have said, Brookland would make the most sense in relation to your office. I've lived in Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase, MD for years and I love it. 8 minute walk to Metro, although I bike commute to work everyday and don't use it that often and when I do, it's just to go to The Palm. Gave up my car 8 years ago and don't regret it a bit.

Good luck with the move.

 

[OttoMets]

Penn Quarter Sports Tavern is the new official alumni game watching place. Been there a couple of times and they do a good job. A sand wedge (7 iron for skinny jeans Bayside) from the Archives Metro Station.

As others have said, Brookland would make the most sense in relation to your office. I've lived in Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase, MD for years and I love it. 8 minute walk to Metro, although I bike commute to work everyday and don't use it that often and when I do, it's just to go to The Palm. Gave up my car 8 years ago and don't regret it a bit.

Good luck with the move.

Friendship Heights is a great place to live in a traditional neighborhood with all the benefits of city living. I often walked from work in Bethesda to home in Cleveland Park to unwind after a long day; those blocks east of Wisconsin are all very pleasant.

 

[suttree]

Friendship Heights is a great place to live in a traditional neighborhood with all the benefits of city living. I often walked from work in Bethesda to home in Cleveland Park to unwind after a long day; those blocks east of Wisconsin are all very pleasant.

You guys are killing me. Now I need to visit again.

 

[Eric15]

Penn Quarter Sports Tavern is the new official alumni game watching place. Been there a couple of times and they do a good job. A sand wedge (7 iron for skinny jeans Bayside) from the Archives Metro Station.

Has Sign of the Whale been officially replaced?

 

[Melancer46]

I'm 25 and just moved down to Alexandria a couple months ago. I live in what they call the Del Ray neighborhood. It's really nice. I work down in Old Town and I'm in love with that area. If you need any suggestions for places to eat in the Alexandria area, I've been putting in a lot of research on that topic. I also collected a ton of info on the different apartment complexes in Alexandria if you're interested in that. It also depends on how much of a commute you want. I wanted to stay within 20ish minutes of my work so that shrunk my target area down considerably.

Edit: Also, if you ever need someone to go to a Washington Wizards game with, I'm down I've never lived somewhere with major league sports teams so I try to take advantage of it as often as I can haha

 

[Bill Orange]

Has Sign of the Whale been officially replaced?

Correct.

 

[Bayside44]

I'm 25 and just moved down to Alexandria a couple months ago. I live in what they call the Del Ray neighborhood. It's really nice. I work down in Old Town and I'm in love with that area. If you need any suggestions for places to eat in the Alexandria area, I've been putting in a lot of research on that topic. I also collected a ton of info on the different apartment complexes in Alexandria if you're interested in that. It also depends on how much of a commute you want. I wanted to stay within 20ish minutes of my work so that shrunk my target area down considerably.

Living the dream!

 

[Waltdods]

Not sure if this is the best forum to post in, but I will be moving to D.C. shortly. Just looking for any tips/suggestions/recommendations on the best places to live/eat/drink/visit; places to watch cuse games etc.

Thanks in advance and Go Orange!

Coincidentally, I'm moving from DC. I recommend moving to Capitol Hill, where I can sell you a wonderful 3-BR townhouse.

Don't listen to the person giving you the 1990 view of DC. The city itself has a ton of great neighborhoods, many of which are outside Northwest, including in Southeast. Brookland probably is the best bet for a place for where you're working. Petworth and Shaw might also be worth looking at. Capitol Hill is great if you have or soon will have a kid. (It's a great neighborhood to have a child in or to be a 23-year old Hill intern, but there are many better areas if you don't fall into either of those categories.)

On the east side of the city, the H St. area has some great restaurants/bars.

 

[Cramz]

Welcome! I've lived in DC for almost 20 years now, lived in Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Alexandria, Courthouse, Shirlington and now Shaw. It sounds like your office will be out near the big Costco off of New York Ave, NE. You will grow to hate New York Ave for it's constant traffic. No Metro over there, but I'm sure you'll figure out a good way to navigate.

There's been a lot of good suggestions already posted but where you live really depends on what you want to do and how you want to spend your time. I'm happy to provide any suggestions or give feedback if you're looking at neighborhoods etc.

FYI I LOVE the Shaw neighborhood where I've lived for the past few years. SO many great restaurants and bars and things to do and it allows me to walk anywhere I need to go. Best of luck!

 

[OttoMets]

I'm 25 and just moved down to Alexandria a couple months ago. I live in what they call the Del Ray neighborhood. It's really nice. I work down in Old Town and I'm in love with that area. If you need any suggestions for places to eat in the Alexandria area, I've been putting in a lot of research on that topic. I also collected a ton of info on the different apartment complexes in Alexandria if you're interested in that. It also depends on how much of a commute you want. I wanted to stay within 20ish minutes of my work so that shrunk my target area down considerably.

Edit: Also, if you ever need someone to go to a Washington Wizards game with, I'm down I've never lived somewhere with major league sports teams so I try to take advantage of it as often as I can haha

Eamonn's is still there, yeah?

Haven't been there in over 5 years, but I loved that place.

 

[Bayside44]

Eamonn's is still there, yeah?

Haven't been there in over 5 years, but I loved that place.

It is, $20 for fish and chips!

 

[OttoMets]

It is, $20 for fish and chips!

Yikes, better be very good at that price...guess they've capitalized on their popularity.

 

[UGHV]

I'm 25 and just moved down to Alexandria a couple months ago. I live in what they call the Del Ray neighborhood. It's really nice. I work down in Old Town and I'm in love with that area. If you need any suggestions for places to eat in the Alexandria area, I've been putting in a lot of research on that topic. I also collected a ton of info on the different apartment complexes in Alexandria if you're interested in that. It also depends on how much of a commute you want. I wanted to stay within 20ish minutes of my work so that shrunk my target area down considerably.

Edit: Also, if you ever need someone to go to a Washington Wizards game with, I'm down I've never lived somewhere with major league sports teams so I try to take advantage of it as often as I can haha

Thanks for the info. I am guessing the commute to my office in NE from here would be around 45 mins?

 

[690West]

Can any of you DC/NVA peeps comment on MGM National Harbor? I'm hearing horror stories about $25 min BJ with 6:5 and $25 min craps in the middle of the day? W T F. Maybe its because its new but that is crazy high. I'm going next week for a business trip and was thinking about heading over. Good restaurants there? bars?

 

[Bayside44]

Can any of you DC/NVA peeps comment on MGM National Harbor? I'm hearing horror stories about $25 min BJ with 6:5 and $25 min craps in the middle of the day? W T F. Maybe its because its new but that is crazy high. I'm going next week for a business trip and was thinking about heading over. Good restaurants there? bars?

$25 to $50 minimums depending. And it's done for a good reason. Haven't been yet, hearing great things about the MGM restaurants. Not a fan of the National Harbor restaurants at all.

 

[OttoMets]

$25 to $50 minimums depending. And it's done for a good reason. Haven't been yet, hearing great things about the MGM restaurants. Not a fan of the National Harbor restaurants at all.

To keep out the PG folks?

Or because the state's tax rate is usurious? Because when I was working on the Maryland casino legislation in 2008 our state counterparts were insisting on a rate of 67%. Stopped following the issue closely after our client dropped out of the bidding but I wonder if the state stuck with that high rate.

 

[Bayside44]

To keep out the PG folks?

Or because the state's tax rate is usurious? Because when I was working on the Maryland casino legislation in 2008 our state counterparts were insisting on a rate of 67%. Stopped following the issue closely after our client dropped out of the bidding but I wonder if the state stuck with that high rate.

They want it to be a high roller place basically, high end shopping and restaurants. Had some meetings with those folks about something else and they were constant on that theme. The didn't want to be Maryland Live.

 

[690West]

$25 to $50 minimums depending. And it's done for a good reason. Haven't been yet, hearing great things about the MGM restaurants. Not a fan of the National Harbor restaurants at all.

I went to a great oyster bar in national harbor once. Haven't been to any other restaurants there.

 

[Melancer46]

Eamonn's is still there, yeah?

Haven't been there in over 5 years, but I loved that place.

Yeah, still here. Just a couple blocks down from my work. I work at City Hall.

Thanks for the info. I am guessing the commute to my office in NE from here would be around 45 mins?

It's about 30 minutes from my apartment to your office (at least right now, I imagine the traffic would make that longer). It's about the same from my office in Old Town as well (because you can cross the bridge into Maryland and drive up that way).

 

[RandygoCuse]

Not sure if this is the best forum to post in, but I will be moving to D.C. shortly. Just looking for any tips/suggestions/recommendations on the best places to live/eat/drink/visit; places to watch cuse games etc.

Thanks in advance and Go Orange!

We live in Silver Spring and love it! There is public transportation access and it's an easy drive to DC. Plenty of good restaurants in downtown Silver Spring. Of course there are great (and usually free!) museums in DC.

 

[HyattsCuse]

If you're in NE and want to live just outside of DC but still great access, I lived in Hyattsville, MD for about 7 years (hence the screen name). It's an area that is really being revitalized. Bonus is DeMatha high school is right there for some great b'ball watching.

 

[TexanMark]

Penn Quarter Sports Tavern is the new official alumni game watching place. Been there a couple of times and they do a good job. A sand wedge (7 iron for skinny jeans Bayside) from the Archives Metro Station.

So walk 110 yards and take a hard right into the bushes?

 

[TexanMark]

It is, $20 for fish and chips!

Is that a good thing? $20?