Activities - 5/3/2011

lots to do

[Comment on this Posting]

commuting nightmare - 3/21/2011

despite the many amenities in Washington, DC, the traffic is horrific

[Comment on this Posting]

Lived here for a few years - 12/16/2010

DC's a beautiful city. The climate has it's highs and lows... literally. DC can have wonderful long springs, typically hot/humid summers (from late June thru September), pleasant falls, and a mild winter. The winter's will usually have there very cold moments but by mid march things are pretty nice. The district has amazing resources, many of which are free, and are available to those who are willing to seek them out (museums, shows, arts, etc). Bicycling in the city and region is extremely underrated. The city itself continues to add many bike lanes and there are several very long paved trails that are reasonably easy to access (e.g. Capital Crescent, Mt Vernon Trail, Custis, and to a degree the Anacostia Trail System). Generally the traffic is responsive to pedestrians and bicyclists unless you choose a moronic route such as riding down Mass Ave during rush hour. The large parks (e.g. Rock Creek, Glover Archbold)in the NW part of town offer quite the respite with many many miles of dirt and bridle trails (yes bridle trails). If you can easily access these trails you'll find that DC has some of the best trail running for a city on the east coast, no kidding. DC's generally pretty safe. I never feared random crime. The violent crimes tended to happen during the wee hours and generally in bad neighborhoods. In other words, a little common sense will go a long way regarding one's personal safety. Call it gentrification, transitional, or just plain old change - the city has done this dramatically over the last 20 or more years. It's gone in sort of a wave from west to east and I'd say is currently at (as of 2010 that is) Georgia Ave in the upper NW to North Capitol in the nearer NW and over to H St in the NE. I'm sure others on here have referenced this. Needless to say, as with most redensifying modern cities - the city has witnessed the flexing muscle of the new socioeconomic caste system. All of the folks on the losing end have been pushed into PG County, Maryland unless they've tried to struggle along in the NE or SE neighborhoods across the Anacostia (though there are some nice pockets in those places such as Fort Lincoln, Hillcrest, etc.). And the newbies seem to be pretty darned well off and help push rents to exorbitant amounts. The quality and character of people in DC is hit or miss - there are some very intelligent and kind people here but there are some seriously lame people as well. Suppose that's too be expected when you've got all kinds and types stepping up to the federal trough. Full disclosure, I did not enjoy the majority of the people I met in this town. But many people love living here, so there's no reason to think you wouldn't enjoy it also. If you must live in DC I'd recommend Mt Pleasant (if you can stomach renting in a group house or doling out a premium for your own place) or Cleveland Park - they're both safe, good transportation access, less idiotic environments and close to Rock Creek Park. If you're not going to be in the district itself but want to be close I'd recommend Takoma Park, MD or the Del Ray/Arlandria area of Alexandria, VA.

[Comment on this Posting]

What? - 11/19/2010

What?

[Comment on this Posting]

Nations Capital - 8/12/2010

I currently live in Washington DC. If you're the type of person who needs to conquer and Type A than this is the city for you. If you're the type of person who isn't so much type A than this isn't the city for you.

[Comment on this Posting]

Washington DC in the summer - 7/11/2010

Ungodly humidity and high temperatures. I feel bad for the tourists, particularly children, who come to DC looking for history and culture, only to find they can barely get about due to the sweltering summer heat.

[Comment on this Posting]

COL - 7/8/2010

Moving

[Comment on this Posting]

Cost of Living - 6/2/2010

DC is very expensive. You get less "bang for your buck" with your cash. Houses are smaller, parking is always an issue. Fruits and vegetables are expensive and low in quality.

[Comment on this Posting]

Washington,D.C. is not located in a state!! - 5/21/2010

Washington, D.C. is not located in a county nor state. It is a district as founded by our government. That is one of the reasons the residents do not have voting rights at this time.

[Comment on this Posting]

cost of living in dc - 4/15/2010

very high - living in a rental apartment close to state department, kennedy cetner, world bank - $1850 per month for 6000 sq feet. food and all services are very high as there is little competition in my immediate area.

[Comment on this Posting]

Washington has a unique quality of life - 1/1/2010

I've lived in Washington for many years and have loved it for the variety of its cultures; its beauty; the fact that there are parts of the city that that will never change; the fact that there's so much to do here that's free; and the fact that the area attracts a variety of people of diverse origins, interests, and outlooks. The climate is cold in winter and hot in summer, but not as much as some areas (we're known for our summer humidity and it's the truth, unfortunately); traffic is pretty awful (we're ranked in the top-five for gridlock); and the cost of living is fairly high. On the other hand, the recession hasn't decimated us as it has some other areas, and the employment picture isn't as grim. No matter what your persuasion you can find like-minded souls here; and, hopefully, happiness (inasmuch as any place can convey that quality).

[Comment on this Posting]

Taxes - 12/22/2009

The DC income tax is very high because 10% of the taxpayers pay 90% of the taxes. This is primarily due to the liberal social programs of the district and the number of residents who require the services. There are 675,000 jobs in the city, due to the federal government, and less than 170,00 of those jobs are held by District residents.

[Comment on this Posting]

Transient, Young, and Active - 11/11/2009

DC is definitely the political capital of the U.S. As a result, a large percentage of the population is transient - coming to work for a few years before moving on. In addition, a large portion of the population is quite young. DC is also a pretty expensive place to live (mostly in terms of housing and cost of living items). The more affordable neighborhoods can get dodgey quickly, but there are some really nice and affordable places - you just have to be patient and willing to look hard. There are plenty of really fun and really great things to do in the DC area, and it is ideally located for quick travel to other locations as well. It is very easy to get to Philadelphia, NY, the coast, or the mountains for a weekend getaway. The museums will give you endless entertainment and there is always something happening in town.

[Comment on this Posting]

Great Place to Live, Work & Play - 11/10/2009

As a native Washingtonian, it is sometimes easy to take for granted the special qualities of this metro area. The political, cultural, and historical attractions are most obvious, but until you travel and live in other areas of the country (as I have) you do not appreciate the way that southern charm, big city sophistication, and hard-edged global politics have combined to create such a dynamic, challenging, yet laid-back environment. And because of these qualities, the city has attracted - an continues to attract - peoples from all over the world to create a very diverse cultural environment, adding to the richness of what I consider to be one of the very best places to live in the country.

[Comment on this Posting]

ready to move on, literally! - 10/19/2009

i have been fortunate to have spend the past decade in dc but am more than ready to move on, literally! i moved here in my early 20s & now am ready to settle down so am looking for a place with a more slowed down lifestyle...a place that is friendlier (which wouldn't be too hard to come by, imho)... thank you, dc...time to begin a new chapter!

[Comment on this Posting]

What's not to like? - 10/5/2009

I've noticed some negative posts in ref. to D.C. The city is making a huge rebound. I think it's greatest asset is the proximity to so much - the mts., the beach, other big cities e.g. Baltimore, Philly, NYC, etc. And the city really is beautiful.

[Comment on this Posting]

Metro - 9/28/2009

Metro makes DC. Without it you would not have attendance at events like the inaugural or independence day.

[Comment on this Posting]

Was trying to escape.... - 8/24/2009

I grew up in New Orleans and lived in Atlanta for a few years before moving to D.C. I would NEVER go back to New Orleans, but I would go back to Atlanta if the opportunity arised because Atlanta has nice suburbs, nice scenery, is a decent sized city etc. I left Atlanta for D.C. because I had trouble finding employment in Atlanta. Now that you have my background, here's what i think of Washington, D.C. D.C. has a good job market, is a decent sized city, has nice suburbs, BUT it is too expensive, stressful, crowded, and people aren't friendly. My wife got a promotion in a fed govt job so now I am stuck here and decided to just go ahead and buy a house in Arlington just before the market started picking up again in 2009. Things could be worse, BUT i really wanted to move out West, preferably Denver, Dallas, etc.

[Comment on this Posting]

great ammenities but crazy to live - 6/2/2009

I lived in the Northern VA suburb of Sterling in 2004. I grew up in the Midwest and found the East Coast to live up to its reputation: busy, snotty and expensive to live. I rented a TINY bedroom in a 3-story condo with two others and my share of the rent was only $500. Who can complain about that for the area? The worst thing for me was nowhere to fnd a place to park your car and too much traffic. Rush hour is a nightmare, even on minor streets. Avoid the Gerogetown Parkway at all hours of the day, especially near the Tysons Corner area. And dont ever take your car into the District. Its common to actually have to sit in your car to wait for a parking space anywhere. Taking the METRO subway is the only viable way to get into the District, but the subway is complex and can get you anywhere. The best thing about living near DC was the cultural ammenities and numerous museums. Most of them are free, I think. The Museum of American History at the Smithsonian is the best. The parks are great places to people watch. Being single in the Washington Metro area is really good, with all the things to do. People in the Metro area are usually well-off (except in the southeats part and the inner Maryland suburbs) in socioeconomic status and usually work in government, education, healthcare, high-tech industries, research, the media, or aerospace industries. All in all, my experience living near DC was OK. I MAY do it again under the right circumstances.

[Comment on this Posting]

Wonderful culture, but cost of living will kill yo - 11/20/2008

I lived in Fairfax County for 5 years. Great place to live that offers museums, culture, fun, sophistication, and the Shenandoah Mountains a short drive away. Very few people are natives so I actually found it the easiest place to make close friends of any place I have lived (I have lived in 4 major metro areas around the country). Unfortunately, the cost of living will absolutely kill you. 65% higher than the national average. Median home price is $850,000. Average rent for a 1 Br Apt was $1255/month when I moved there in 2002. Probably much higher now. Groceries and everything costs more. There are property taxes on cars (about $350 per year for an average car)You absolutely must make over $150,000 per year to make ends meet - especially if you are single. I did not make that much and soon found myself selling everything I owned on ebay in order to make my rent and car payment. After 5 years, I was down to my bed, TV, and some clothes and I was thousands of dollars in debt. Although I loved my job I had to move to a place with a lower cost of living. The other downside is all the immigrants. 20% of the adult population in the DC metro area were not born in this country. It takes some getting used to. There is a mix of South Americans, Asians, Indians, and Arabs. Day workers hang out by the hundreds on many streets in Arlington and Alexandria. Eight adults plus children may live in a one bedroom apartment. Although Fairfax Co has laws limiting the number of people that can inhabit an apartment, these laws are not enforced. So if you rent you may encounter filth, roaches, and high noise levels. Because of cultural differences, they often don't dispose of trash as is appropriate here, treat their pets by our standards, or bathe every day as we do. You encounter communication difficulties everywhere - retail stores, retaurants, and the DMV. Speaking of the DMV, be prepared to wait in line 4 to 6 hours to get your tags and driver's license. One thing that is exaggerated about the DC area is the traffic. It is not that bad. In fact, both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are much worse! I live in Denver now and I would say DC and Denver are about equal as far as traffic jams. A positive thing about the cost of living in Fairfax County was the cost of car insurance. My insurance went down 75% when I moved there from Philadelphia. The Philly area has some of the highest rates in the country and I found that Virginia has some of the lowest. This may be because car insurance is not required by law in Virginia as it is in Pennsylvania. Despite the downsides, if I had a high enough salary I would move back to the DC area in a heartbeat.

[Comment on this Posting]