5 Best Playgrounds in the DC Area

1. National Cathedral School – 3500 Woodley Rd, DC

The playground is open to the public when the school is not in session, which is after 6 and on weekends. The equipment here is very unique and not like anything you will find on the average playground. There are tons of areas to play, and the theme here is adventure. There’s a zip line which is a huge draw for kids. There’s limited parking here close to the playground, otherwise you can park on the surrounding streets.

2. Cabin John

Cabin John Regional Park is Montgomery County’s largest park. There’s playground equipment, lots and lots of playground equipment and a miniature train. We checked out the train ride during their Halloween “I Spy” event in the fall. The train runs May – October. There’s also 6 miles of trails, softball and baseball fields, a tennis center, a nature center and an ice skating rink as well as a dog park. Parking is available on site for free.

3. Lafayette – 5900 33rd St NW in Chevy Chase DC

Located on the same block as Lafayette Elementary School, this park has one of the largest climbing structures in DC. There’s an area for smaller kids to play, tennis courts, a baseball field and splash park. There are also indoor facilities with a multi-purpose room and kitchen making this a neighborhood community center.

4. Guy Mason

Located in Glover Park at Wisconsin Avenue at Calvert Street, Guy Mason Park is a Recreation Center offering indoor and outdoor fun. There are classes and a gym inside and a dog park, baseball field, basketball court and an awesome playground with a splash pad. The playground offers a soft surface and equipment for a variety of ages from those playing in the sandbox to older kids who want to climb. There is a parking lot on site where you can park for free and there is also some street parking on Calvert as well. You can rent the picnic areas to host kiddo birthday parties, the current price on the rental is $25/hour.

5. Clemyjontri – McLean – 6317 Georgetown Pike, McLean 

The strange name is a conglomeration of the names of the children of the founder/donor for the park…in case you were wondering. This is an all-inclusive playground where children of many abilities will find their fun! The park has Virginia’s first Liberty Swing, where wheelchair users can swing without having to get out of their wheelchair. There are four separately themed play areas, each of which are pretty expansive. There is also a carousel and train you can get tickets for, plus a picnic pavilion available for rent. Parking is available on site at no charge.

Raising Kids in Washington DC | The non-sarcastic version

Ok so some people who don’t know me well or who can’t read my charming sense of humor, did not understand that when I made a list of reasons you’ll love raising kids in DC and included, “Kids become excellent rat hunters” that I was joking. Sort of

Do you want to know why it’s really great to raise kids in the DC Area?

1. Free Museums – You just cannot beat this. The Smithsonian offers 17 DC museums / galleries and the zoo and they are free. This can really keep you and the kids busy. People who live in DC are well aware of the fact that we have access to all these amazing museums and they take advantage of it! Museum of American History is one of our favorites. There’s Natural History, Air and Space, the Hirshhorn, American Indian, African American History.
2. Field Trip Opportunities Around Every Corner – Whether the kids get to do it through school or you decide to be a parent and take them yourself. I grew up in Connecticut and we did not have so many opportunities for adventure. Unless you count Putnam Cottage, a place that used to be a tavern where George Washington allegedly swooped in and paid for some of his soldier’s lunch a field trip then yea. Thanks a lot Connecticut.
   Ford’s Theatre – No doubt your kids will learn all about the Civil War, the end of slavery, and one of the country’s most beloved President’s – Abraham Lincoln, no matter where they go to school in the U.S. Seeing Fords Theatre, and the viewing box where he was sitting when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, well, there’s nothing else like it.
3. Tuition Assistance Grants – If you live in DC don’t think you’ll lose out on state college access. DC offers a Tuition Assistance Grant for kids who attend a state school in any of the 50 states. So you get $10,000 off the out of state tuition for any state school. And if you live in Maryland or Virginia, no tuition assistance for you, but having the option to go to the University of Virginia or University of Maryland is a really great “consolation” prize.
4. Friends in High Places – They will be surrounded by friends whose parents make huge decisions that affect our government. And that’s pretty cool. It’s very international here as well, and many diplomats who come to the U.S. have children who will become your kiddo’s friends and this opens them up to other cultures. If you’re one of my kids, you just think it’s cool that your cartoon likeness is on your mom’s logo.
5. The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights are Here – You can see them at the National Archives. This is pretty mind-blowingly cool when you consider that kids in the rest of the country may never have this opportunity unless they come here on their middle school or high school trip.
6. The Library of Congress – Kids have access to the largest library in the world and it’s here in DC. The Library of Congress is not just another arm of government, it is open to the public and has exhibits and events, as well as a host of online learning activities. I also feel that it sets the tone for our libraries in the city which host a lot of programs for both adults and kids.
7. Vacations Within 3 Hours of DC – You can ski, hike in the Shenandoah, visit Gettysburg or Hershey Park, go to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore or go to the beaches in Delaware or Maryland. It’s also easy to get to New York City by bus or train.
8. Sports – DC has football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer teams. There’s always a sport in season here and games to take the kids to.
9. Pop-Up Museums – DC will be home to various museums that pop up, some stay, some run out of funds. But no matter what happens, they are founded in some really great ideas. There was the Newseum which closed, but was open for several years and took a couple days to really get through the exhibits. The Spy Museum is another favorite of visitors and residents alike for it’s cool exhibits and ability for kids to go on a mission.
10. Kids Play Outside – At least in some neighborhoods. Everyone lives in such close quarters that they all end up at the local parks or neighborhood pool. Our kids play in the alley behind our house, and they don’t even realize they don’t have a backyard. And we love every weekend that comes where we don’t have to mow the backyard because we don’t have one!

There are plenty of other reasons why raising kids in DC is great. And when I’m talking about DC, I don’t just mean DC proper, I’m including the Maryland and Virginia suburbs too. Kids living anywhere in the nation’s capital all benefit from these awesome opportunities. If you want to hear more about why I think my kids have thrived in city-living, contact me anytime!

Raising Kids in DC – 10 Reasons You’ll Love Raising Kids in DC (or any city)

1. Career Opportunities.

They will have a competitive advantage on any career in the pest extermination industry. DC kids can find and dodge rats 100 times faster than any of those suburban kids.

2. They will get an Education Fit for a Farmer’s Kid from the 1700’s.

They will get an amazing education at public schools, through 5th grade. By middle school, it goes off the rails, with our local middle school having a reported 36 teachers out in a single day.

3. Immune to Attention Deficit Disorder.

Ooh something shiny? Not these kids. City kids are so used to hearing police and fire engine sirens, they have zero sense of urgency even when bomb squad shows up. They don’t even flinch.

4. Variety of Friend Choices.

Meet Eric and Rodney, our neighborhood fixtures from our Dupont Neighborhood. They are ready-made friends. They also know which ones to be friends with and which ones to steer clear of. Crazy screaming, we cross the street. We don’t stare and point or cry to mommy like those kids from the burbs.

5. No lawn to mow or swing set to assemble.

They get used to playing in alleys and playgrounds at parks, believing it to be their own backyard.

6. Find their own babysitters.

People don’t seem to mind holding your kids while you eat dinner. And your kids will have no shame in making themselves at home at another table in the restaurant.

7. They Don’t Wake You Up to Pick them Up from Parties.

If they go out drinking, they can walk home!

8. Non-stop Family Time.

You’ll use up all your vacation days for the days there’s a threat of snow, and DC closes the schools.

9. Bladder Management.

When you are in the car, you’re usually stuck in horrible traffic, or you get sidelined for a Presidential Cavalcade and kids learn that it may be hours before you arrive at your destination which was only 4 miles from your house. They either learn to hold it, or they know to go before you leave the house.

10. They can’t sneak around.

You won’t have to wonder which friend is giving them cigarettes, you’ll know exactly where they are getting them from because the owner of the store will tell you.

“Hey Melissa, you’re going to think this is crazy, but I had an idea…”

Ooh ooh! Let me guess! You want to buy a house out in the middle of nowhere… because now that you’re working from home, and you can homeschool your kids, you can pretty much go anywhere, right?

The change has been swift. I have to be honest, I’m sort of stumped. Were there really so many people out there who despised the race in which they were rattin’ that they decided to move away? Like, far away?

Shoot, we used to joke that moving out 66 in Virginia or up 270 in Maryland was far, but people are leaving the area – in mass amounts. Check out this blurb from our weekly email from the girls elementary school:

Last winter, there were some really heated meetings about overcrowding and children being admitted out of boundary. Now we’re at 80% capacity.

Never have we seen such a flight from cities than during the “white flight” in the 1960’s.

What happens when people’s employers call them back?

What happens when people’s employers say, “Wait a minute, if you’re going to live in rural New Hampshire at a fraction of the cost of living you had to maintain to live here to commute to our office, then we’re not paying you the same thing anymore.”

Or will the employers keep salaries the same and happily cut their overhead by slashing their office leases?

The run-up of the housing market since the recovery from 2007 has been steady and swift. We were pretty much owed a recession in the new decade. There was no sign it was coming though. Then Covid hit. And for a few weeks I thought, “Okay, here it is. It’s not exactly a result of the customary ebbs and flows of the market and economy, but here’s our recession.”

Except, not really. With a decent amount of the work force still unemployed (BLS is reporting 7.9% for Sept,) houses are flying off the market at such a clip that someone in our company posted this in our internal group:

It’s not another region but still. Wheaton? The world has gone mad, I’m sure of it.

Right now there are incredible “deals” to be found on condos. I realize that the condo isn’t the optimal living set up for those who want to avoid exposure to Covid but there’s going to be a vaccine. And once that vaccine arrives, I’m not sure what will happen to everyone who escaped to the burbs or even further but we’ll still be here. I’ll help everyone sell. And I will help them move back.

We still believe in cities. From the first 25 years of my life in NY till now, for Real Estate Dad’s early life in Baltimore, we still wholeheartedly believe in cities. I see the appeal of small town life for my girls. But, it’s important to us to raise girls who are not only compassionate for animals but compassionate for others, who have street smarts and who don’t live in a bubble of wealth or perceived security. That stuff just isn’t learned in small towns.

I’m still being the mother I want them to have. I’m trying to keep things as normal as possible for them.

I also know that this too shall pass.

70’s and 80’s Music

Washington DC has a reputation for being a town about politics and only politics. But what a lot of people don’t know is that DC was ground zero of a major punk movement in the 70’s and 80’s. Some pretty big names came out of this city from that time that you will definitely recognize. The music that has come from this city has been groundbreaking and had popularity that extended far beyond the beltway.

Georgetown looks pretty different now than it did in the 1970’s and 80’s. M Street was lined with Mom and Pop stores that people lament the loss of to this day. While the Ramones were playing CBGB in New York City, a little Georgetown University radio station shuttled punk to the forefront of the DC music scene.

In 1976, a bar called Keg in Glover Park hosted a band – Overkill. The reception was not even lukewarm. People wanted the rock and metal bands popular at the time.  Between the radio station and a couple bands like Overkill, the next few years were peppered with people trying to bring punk to life. The radio station was shutdown by the President of Georgetown U.

In Sept 1977, a man named Skip Groff opened a record store in Rockville, MD, called Yesterday and Today. He intended for it to be a place for people to find 60’s music but when he realized that the punk records were flying off his shelves, he paid attention. His store becomes a place to get the records that they

In 1978, some of the early punk musicians were looking for places to practice and ultimately play. They found it in the Atlantic Building, which housed a venue called Atlantis. They played for free in exchange for rehearsal space. Atlantis was the main punk venue for a year. Until it closed. But it reopened in 1980 with a different name – one that everyone in DC knows. Hint – The address was 930 F Street.

The beginnings of punk in DC were typically in the “white” neighborhoods. As expected, these kids who brought the punk scene weren’t welcomed with open arms. People were coming off disco, listening to what we would now call classic rock – Boston, ELO Aerosmith. These guys were threatened by the punks.

Then a band, Bad Brains, formed by two black teenagers from SE DC, became the first breakout band, and the one to watch. When they play the Bayou, a club in Georgetown on June 24, 1979, a bunch of skater kids from Wilson H.S. used fake ID’s to get in. They are so enamored with this scene, they form their own band.

Ian Mackaye starts in a band called the Teen Idles. They lasted a year, made a record, formed a record label and then broke up by 1980. The record label was Dischord Records, which MacKaye started from his parent’s basement on Beecher Street in Glover Park.

They decided that all the people they knew in other bands – they would put out their records too. Their roadie from the Teen Idles, a guy named Henry Garfield – started S.O.A. – State of Alert. Their record was the second put out by Dischord.

These guys were high school kids. Henry Garfield worked at Haagen Dazs in Georgetown, which was at 1438 Wisconsin Ave. He went on to manage it. Ian MacKaye worked at Georgetown theatre across the street.

They move to a bungalow in Arlington so they can all live (and work) (and play) together. Ian goes on to front a band called Minor Threat.

They called the walk from Haagen Dazs to the Key Bridge a “terror walk” because the bars had patrons spilling into the street, ready to fight a punk for how they looked.

1981 – Henry Garfield who is singing for S.O.A. gets a chance to audition for a band Black Flag which was a pretty big deal. And, they hired him.  Henry moved to L.A., leaving behind both D.C. and the last name Garfield. He is now Henry Rollins.

Kids below drinking age wanted to see these bands, Ian worked out with the 9:30 club that these kids get a black x on their hand. Ends up being the subject of Minor Threat song, “Straight Edge.” That’s where the term was born to describe someone who doesn’t drink, do drugs.

Dischord Records was criticized for not working with every band sent their way. They really wanted to keep the focus on the DC scene. They have stayed true to that “business” model.

First few years of the scene were not violent. The city was boarded up in many areas, and these neighborhoods lent themselves well to hosting a punk show in an abandoned building. In the mid 80’s, as more people joined “the scene” things took a turn. A new group of punk kids came into the scene but for them it was about drinking, doing drugs and being vandals.

1983 – The punks were running out of places to play their music. A place in Dupont just north of the circle at 1738 Connecticut Avenue called “Food for Thought” became a new hangout place. It was owned by a man Bob Ferrando. Bob’s son Dante who was in a few local punk bands as well, went on to open a club in DC named after the club his great-grandfather opened in NYC many decades earlier – the Black Cat.

What happened to Food for Thought? It closed in 1999 and became Bistrot du Coin.

1984 – There’s another wave of punk coming as more high school bands form and start playing. There’s a high school freshman named Dave who was a guitarist for a band and who was teaching himself to play drums.

Summer of 85 was “Revolution Summer” – the original punk scene was disenchanted with the new wave of violence.

Some new music and bands hitting the scene were singing about different topics – suicide of a friend, having a heart broken. This ends up being another wedge in the punk community of those who were “emo” for “emo-core” and those who weren’t.

Social activism of 1985, punk scene joins the apartheid protests in front of the South African Embassy, in the footsteps of a group called Positive Force, flex their muscles in the political activism arena. Concerts to benefit the homeless, spreading awareness of AIDS. Not all bands on board with this – just b/c they were in DC didn’t mean they wanted to be associated with politics. (totally get it.)

1986 – That high school freshman, Dave, was now 17 left his original band and dropped out of high school to join a band called Scream.

1987 – In come the women. The first chapter of female bands were very much about the music. The scene wasn’t exactly hospitable to them as audience members.

Ian MacKaye started another band – Fugazi. Some may say the music had a bit more mass appeal. They end up being popular tour internationally. These bands were never into political issues, but as their following grew and they got older, they started taking stances against the skinhead racist punk that had emerged, against the attacks of women, gay men, people of color.

Major record labels were paying attention. It was hard for some of these bands to look away – they were touring relentlessly and playing in towns where their records weren’t available. Signing with a label meant an end to that. This scene though was very anti-establishment, so getting signed was truly selling out. Fugazi is approached by the same man who signed Mick and the Stones. They said no.

DC Space and 9:30 club – both downtown continued to be the main venues where the bands play

Nirvana saw that high school kid Dave play and wanted a drummer like him. You probably know how this one ends…When Dave Grohl auditioned for Nirvana, he can’t believe they have 1000 people at their shows because the only local band he had seen with those numbers in attendance was Fugazi.

1991 – All girl punk band Bikini Kill – members start a fanzine, Riot Grrrl  movement to represent the women in punk.

Nirvana’s Nevermind is out. Smells Like Teen Spirit video captures the crowd stage diving. Then this starts happening at the shows.

Crime is up in DC and nationwide. DC space closes, real estate crash hits the city. And this is where punk changes. Parts of the movement came into mainstream – and that is what we coin “grunge” music. Other parts remained what they would say “true to themselves” and didn’t do the media interview requests from Spin, Rolling Stone and MTV. It was definitely NOT in their plans to sign to a label.

]]> https://dcrealestatemama.com/70s-and-80s-music/feed/ 2 https://dcrealestatemama.com/homeschooling-with-dcps-style/ https://dcrealestatemama.com/homeschooling-with-dcps-style/#respond Mon, 31 Aug 2020 00:56:04 +0000 http://www.dc.cirqua.co/2020/08/31/2020-8-30-homeschooling-dcps-style/ Homeschooling with DCPS

At some point during the summer, DCPS sent out a survey asking for our opinions on how homeschooling with DCPS went. Really? It was necessary to ask us how it went? That’s like asking how 9/11 was. It wasn’t good, dude. It wasn’t good.

You want to know how it went? It was like nailing jello to the wall. We got emails from teachers, directing us to a ton of platforms, we were told to zoom, then we were told to not zoom because it wasn’t secure. Then we were given no less than 743 apps our kids had to log in to. And we were told to pick up packets from the school. Packets which were colossal wastes of paper and had nothing to do with anything being taught by the teachers.

It felt like there was less than zero of an attempt for DCPS to offer any directives on how to salvage the school year. I didn’t expect magic, but it was astonishing how poorly it was executed. It felt like they turned up the heat on a boiling pot, threw all the teachers in and said, “Figure it out.”

It’s no secret we have Super Nanny. Real Estate Dad and I just went on developing land and selling houses as usual while Super Nanny took care of the rest. In March, Princess Roundhead left a classroom behind with some kids with serious behavior issues and she could barely add. By May, Super Nanny had her doing multiplication. And the bonus was there was zero threat of her getting punched in the face at our kitchen table by some asshole kid who’s trashy mother encourages him to do so.

Homeschooling for the win.

So back to that survey. DCPS sent a follow up that the overwhelming majority of survey responses gave them this info.

Really, you idiots? Really? You needed a survey to tell you that parents wanted the teachers to maintain some actual live teaching hours and not just send emails with 322 links every week of things the kids had to do on their own – while the parents scrambled to work from home while teaching multiple children whatever it is that day that needed to be taught? There are parents with full time jobs and 4 kids. How can they possibly manage this? And the 74 log-ins we had for all sorts of programs and apps, you really needed a survey to tell you that this was total bullshit?

I feel bad for the teachers. Chubs has the best best best teacher on earth this year for first grade. I’m super bummed that she will be missing this in-person time with her. But when she asked me to be Class Mom I was all fan-girl and what not, and then she was telling me she spent days creating her virtual classroom. I logged in and was blown away. We have nothing to worry about this year.

I assume all the powers that be at DCPS will pat themselves on the back as this year hopefully gets off to a better start, and they really deserve none of the credit. It’s all the teachers, DCPS.

History of Washington DC (Part 1)

What is the history of Washington, DC? Where is it? Is it in Maryland? Virginia? Is it a state? Nope Nope and Nope.

DC is a district, not a state. At least not yet.  There’s a lot of history regarding the location of the district.

The capital was originally located in Philadelphia.

James Madison argued that the capital of the country should exist not within a state. Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Virginia all offered to have the capital on their land.

James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were the founding fathers tasked with finding a place for the capital city. They agreed to have the capital on the Potomac River between two slave states – Maryland and Virginia. This was the Compromise of 1790.

Why? Because the North still had unpaid debts for the Revolutionary War. The three men agreed the Federal Government will assume the rest of these debts. (Hamilton wanted this) But the South had already paid their debts back, so they had to agree to assume part of the debt. In exchange, they got the capital in their preferred location. (Jefferson and Madison wanted this)

This means DC is below the Mason Dixon Line. This isn’t a well-known fact about the History of Washington DC. Most people think Maryland was in the north.

In 1790 George Washington selected “10 miles square” for the capital and boundary stones were laid out at every mile around what was the original city.

The capital is called Washington City, and it’s named the “Territory of Columbia” which pays homage to Christopher Columbus. George Washington commissioned Pierre L’Enfant to design the capital city, with oversight from three commissioners – Thomas Johnson, Daniel Carroll and David Stuart.

L’Enfant had specific visions for the city. He wanted a walk/promenade which is now our National Mall. He wanted the leader’s palace which became the White House. And, he liked how European cities placed the leader’s palace on the best spot, but L’Enfant instead chose to put Congress there – on the hill. And this is how Capitol Hill was named.

The city is laid out in 4 quadrants and is on a grid. Numbered streets run north/south; Lettered streets run east/west.

All 50 states are represented by streets here as well, and they run on angles. Where they intersect, L’Enfant designed what still exist today – green spaces. Circles and squares. This is the true history of Washington DC that is still regularly discussed today.

L’Enfant didn’t finish his work, and not by his choice. George Washington had to terminate him when he became disagreeable and difficult to work with. In his desire to build New Jersey Avenue, L’Enfant demolished Daniel Carroll’s house. (This Daniel Carroll was the cousin of the Commissioner Daniel Carroll, to whom L’Enfant reported.)

The capitol building was built (the first time) in the 1790’s.

By 1800 DC citizens realize they have no voting power and no representation.

1802 Congress incorporated the city and granted limited home rule. White male property owners can elect a council which is overseen by a Mayor. Mayor is appointed by President. In 1812 Congress gives the council the right to select the Mayor but DC waited until 1820 to be able to vote in an election.

In the War of 1812, the British invaded and burned much of the capital city including the White House, the Capitol, Treasury Building among others. The northerners tried to reclaim the capital city and relocate back to Philly but it was voted down. 

It takes a painstaking 12 more years to get the Capitol building re-built. The capitol dome, which didn’t come until later, is 8.9M lbs. Where the 4 quadrants of the city come together there is a marker inside the Capitol building.

Here is a fascinating fact about the history of Washington DC. In the early 1800’s Southwest was an island called “The Island” because the Washington City canal went around it. Navy Yard was full of brothels with saucy ladies waiting for sailors to hit land.

Livestock was wandering the city. Sewers doubled as canals. Disease was widespread. By all accounts it was pretty gross. And people make fun of the Capital City!

Mid 1800’s the building continues. James Smithson leaves money to the U.S. for a “Smithsonian Institution” which is supposed to be for increasing the knowledge among men. It was about $50M in today’s money.

So why can both Maryland and Virginia claim that DC belongs to them if anyone? Looking at a map, DC really does reside on the Maryland side. But, the original boundaries of the city included Alexandria, and it used to be called Alexandria DC. But Alexandria petitioned to be returned to Virginia.

That retroceding happened in 1846 and included Alexandria City and all of Arlington County. This explains why there is an Alexandria City, which is different from Alexandria in Fairfax county – outside the beltway.

Join me for Part 2 of History of Washington DC where we cover the Civil War to the early 1900’s!

And then check out Part 3 and Part 4!

Living In Maryland vs Virginia vs DC Area

Are you moving to the DC area? You probably heard that not everyone lives in the Washington DC city limits. Many people live in Maryland or Virginia as well. Living in Maryland vs Virginia vs DC is a complex decision, as each area has its own personality and pros and cons. In this article, we will cover several major items to consider when deciding which area is right for you and your family.

Living in Maryland vs Virginia vs DC: The Ultimate Comparison Guide

We’re going to cover financial and lifestyle factors that impact day to day life here in the Nation’s Capital. In another post and video, I dive into the cost of living for the different jurisdictions.

Maryland, Virginia & DC Compared

Which suburbs are we talking about here? Generally speaking we will cover the “close-in” suburbs, some of which are “inside the beltway.” (This is a term you will hear a lot when living in DC!)

1. Arlington, Virginia
2. City of Alexandria, Virginia
3. Alexandria (Fairfax County) Virginia
4. Bethesda, Maryland
5. Chevy Chase, Maryland
6. Silver Spring, Maryland
7. Kensington, Maryland
8. Rockville, Maryland
9. Mount Rainier, Maryland
10. Takoma Park, Maryland

A brief summary about each area:

1. Arlington, Virginia

Divided into North and South sections, and many neighborhoods within each, there’s a lot to learn about Arlington. The neighborhoods vary in personality so much that I did a deeper dive on Arlington on these two articles and videos: North Arlington Tour and South Arlington Tour.

2. City of Alexandria, Virginia

The old world Virginia charm meets new in the City of Alexandria! There are quite a few neighborhoods, and people often think only of Old Town when they talk about Alexandria City but there is much more to know about the area. There’s more information on this article and video: Best Neighborhoods to Live in Alexandria VA | Alexandria Tour.

3. Alexandria, Virginia – Fairfax County

The area south of the beltway – that’s “outside” the beltway if you’re ready to learn the DC lingo, is between Interstate 95 and the Potomac River. There’s more information at this post with video: Fairfax County Alexandria.

4. Bethesda, Maryland

Just outside the DC line on the northern end, most of Bethesda sits inside the beltway with an extension called “North Bethesda” outside the beltway. Another name for “North Bethesda” is: Rockville. That’s a local joke as the “town” North Bethesda sprung from something no one can quite recall.

5. Chevy Chase, Maryland

A small area just outside DC, Chevy Chase is divided into several villages and each has their own town government.

6. Silver Spring, Maryland

Silver Spring is huge, consisting of a large area from inside the beltway along Eastern Avenue, all the way to the “ICC” or Inter-county Connector – Route 200. Silver Spring’s downtown area feels more like a city than some parts of DC!

7. Kensington, Maryland

Just outside the beltway and east of Chevy Chase, Kensington has a personality all its own. There’s an antiques row and small town feel that the residents love.

8. Rockville, Maryland

Outside the beltway, Rockville is a city in Montgomery County Maryland where much of the county seat of government is. The red line metro runs through Rockville. There are a variety of neighborhoods and all the retail you could ever possibly need on Rockville Pike.

9. Mount Rainier, Maryland

Inside the beltway and just outside DC off Eastern Avenue, Mount Rainier has long lured artists who love the vibrant neighborhood and 1920’s bungalows. The community is strong and people move here for the lower real estate prices when compared to the western side suburbs.

10. Takoma Park, Maryland

The closest thing the DC area has to the west coast, this progressive community allows residents as young as 16 to vote in local elections.

DC vs Maryland vs Virginia Cost of Living

There will be sticker shock for many people moving to Washington DC or the Maryland or Virginia suburbs from most anywhere else in the country aside from New York or the west coast. There are some nuances to the DC vs Virginia vs Maryland cost of living but, generally speaking, things are expensive here when compared to the rest of the U.S. Overall, when each area is compared, they often end up even by the time all the pros and cons are accounted for.

• Washington DC

  Income taxes are the highest here, but property taxes are typically the lowest, with added tax credits for a primary residence. Real Estate prices are also the highest per square foot here. There seems to be no discernible difference in the prices of restaurant meals in the area but groceries are most expensive inside DC.

• Virginia

  Income taxes and property taxes on par with Maryland. Gas is usually cheapest here, however, but Virginia does have personal property tax which you will need to pay on each vehicle you own.

• Maryland

  There is no personal property tax, and there are some homestead deductions for primary residents.

So, is it Cheaper to Live in Maryland or Virginia or DC?

It depends. Sorry! I wish I could give a straight answer on this, but it truly does depend. The money you save in commuting by living closer to downtown DC may have other sacrifices – more expensive day to day living, and costs associated with parking a vehicle in a public garage. But if you could ditch the car, then the situation changes quite a bit. Ultimately it depends on how you live, what you will require for your living situation to truly assess the best and most cost-effective area for you.

The Lifestyle Battle: Virginia, Maryland and DC

Walkability

The DC lifestyle is super walkable. There are plenty of sidewalks and views to take in while you are walking and I would say most people choose to walk. You will always see people in the streets.  Virginia is not known for being pedestrian friendly. Closer to Alexandria or Arlington is much more walkable, but the further out from the city that you travel you will notice people are much more car dependent. Maryland is similar to Virginia in that respect. For errands such as picking up groceries or hitting the shops you’ll most likely have to jump in your car. Virginia and Maryland both have tons of trails though so walking through the towns and cities like you would in DC isn’t as common in the suburbs because of the heavy vehicle traffic.

Social Life

DC has all the social life you could ever want. There is a bar, restaurant, or meeting place for you and your friends in every neighborhood. You can navigate to everything mostly on foot or by public transportation. In Virginia and Maryland, you will find that restaurants and bars are located more in the centers of the large neighborhoods. Clarendon or Courthouse in Arlington for instance have their own epicenters filled with outdoor markets, shops and restaurants.

You will find the same in Old Town Alexandria. If you live in Arlington and Alexandria in Virginia, you can navigate a lot on foot. Once you are further outside of these areas, your options are more reduced unless you are in one of the planned communities. I will say having lived in Maryland though, it is not really a place that one would aspire to live for a great nightlife scene, but it is better than it once was.

Schools

If you have a family to think of when you are deciding on your move, I highly suggest looking at the schools first, and then picking a neighborhood based on that.

• DC Schools

  DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools are both public, free and open to all DC Residents. DC Public Schools (DCPS) is run by the DC Government with the oversight of a Chancellor. This is sometimes known as a Superintendent in other parts of the country. DC Public Charter Schools (DCPCS) are run by non-profits and a DC Public School Charter Board.

  The city offers “Ed Fest” which is an annual festival for parents/caregivers to find out all the information they need under one roof. The city schools have changed significantly over the years as many families have chosen to remain in DC instead of moving to the suburbs. Heavy parent/guardian involvement has been necessary to strengthen the quality of education and this will continue to be important for the foreseeable future.

  Both DCPS and DCPCS operate in a lottery for applications, with one exception. If you want your child to go to your in-boundary school for Kindergarten through 12th Grade, they are guaranteed a seat. If you want a spot in Pre-K, a school out of your boundary or any public charter school, then you must participate in the lottery.

  The lottery is often a source of much confusion for parents. You may want to refer to the video here which explains it in a bit more detail.  https://youtu.be/vqSLwmlBdOU

• Maryland Schools

  Montgomery County MD Public Schools is governed by an 8-member Board of Education, one of whom is a student. Most of the funding comes from the county and 25% from the State of Maryland. MCPS has over 200 schools, 39 of which are Blue Ribbon Schools and over 160,000 students enrolled. Students can always enroll at their in-boundary school, and some schools offer special programs. There is also a lottery for county-wide programs which are the schools offering language immersion, career focus and others that are criteria-based magnet type programs with specializations in Humanities, Communication, Math, Science, or Computer Science.

  Prince George’s County MD Schools is the second largest school district in Maryland right after Montgomery County and is governed by a 14 person Board of Education. In addition to managing the public schools, PGCPS also operates vocational, alternative and public charter schools. Magnet programs include Aerospace Engineering, Aviation Technology, Performing Arts, Biotech/Biomed, French Immersion, International Baccalaureate, Science & Tech and French or Spanish Language Immersion. In total, Prince George’s County operates just over 200 schools with approximately 130,000 students enrolled.

• Virginia Schools

  Arlington County Virginia has 33 schools with 28,000 enrolled. There are several alternative schools as well. Students are guaranteed a seat at their in-boundary school but can participate in the lottery if there is another school or Pre-K program the student wishes to attend.

  Alexandria City Public Schools has 18 schools with over 15,000 students enrolled. The movie “Remember the Titans” is based on Alexandria City’s only high school, T.C. Williams. Students enroll into their assigned in-boundary school.

  Fairfax County Public Schools has 198 schools and is the largest in the region and the 10th largest in the U.S. There are over 187,000 students enrolled and 222 schools. FCPS is led by a 12 member board with one student representative, and is further divided into 5 regions with an Assistant Superintendent overseeing each.  There are Advanced Academic Programs, International Baccalaureate and AP programs, as well as Career & Technical High Schools.

  Prince William County Public Schools is the 2nd largest school district in Virginia and the 4th largest in the region after Fairfax County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County all covered above. There are close to 100 schools with a total enrollment of just under 90,000. Prince William County offers specialty programs for Fine & Performing Arts, Biotech, International Baccalaureate, IT, Languages and Environmental & Natural Sciences. Some specialty programs exist at the middle school level as well.

  The City of Fairfax, Manassas City and Falls Church City each operate their own school districts separate from the rest of the county in which they reside. They are small with just a few schools in each, but they each have websites with more information.

Real Estate

So what about real estate and what will you get for your money? Prices here are high and they increase so frequently that people often wonder if there’s a housing bubble in DC. One bedroom condos are going to cost upwards of $400,000 in DC. In Maryland, the closer you get to the city the higher the prices are. You’ll see condos in the high $300,000 and then go down from there the further out you go.

Thanks to the newly opened Amazon Headquarters, Virginia’s prices have caught up to DC. Single family homes in DC are in the $1-2 million range. Can you find a home for less than that? Sure – in an up and coming neighborhood maybe. In Virginia and Maryland, you need to get about an hour out of the city to find a home for less than half a million dollars. Of course there are always different variants such as neighborhoods, amenities, yard size, etc.

Rent follows the same pattern with one bedrooms in DC renting between $2,000-$2,400 a month, two bedrooms $3,000-$4,500. Maryland and Virginia rent prices will probably be around 70-80% of the DC rent prices.

Virginia or Maryland or DC? Conclusion

There is so much to love about the DC Metro area. There are old homes and new, large homes and small condos. There are decisions about public schools, commute and lifestyle. Deciding where to live is very personal, and one that will take a lot of time and research. Drive through the areas at different times of day and night and on different days of the week to see what feels right. Mondays are different than weekends, and daytime is definitely different than night.

If you have any more questions about which area might be best for you, or are interested in real estate help in any of these areas, please let me know!

DC Public School (DCPS)

So. You moved here from Maryland or Virginia because you heard there’s “Free Pre-K” here.” Or you moved from somewhere else in the world and you heard there’s this thing called a “school lottery” and you have absolutely no idea what that means.

I know. I didn’t understand it either.

Here are the main things you should know first:

1) Your child is not guaranteed a seat in public school anywhere in the city until Kindergarten.

2) Your child is always guaranteed a seat in public school from grades K – 12, at your in-boundary assigned school.

I know Rules 1 and 2 seem perfectly logical and you’re wondering why I’m evening bringing this up. People get stumped on this “DC has free Pre-K” thing and and they’ve sold their house in Maryland or Virginia, moved to DC, dropped their kid at the front door of the neighborhood school on day 1 and peeled out of the front circle.

In DC, your school options are public schools, public charter schools, as well as community based organizations that offer Pre-K.

Start by going to enrolldcps.dc.gov to find your in-boundary school. If this url changes because that tends to happen a lot with DC’s websites that they link to a vortex of 404 errors, you can always google dc school boundaries.

If you have a child in K-12 and you are going to send them to your in-bound school. Great. You’re done here. Get them enrolled and you’re set.

Anyone who wants to apply for PK-3, PK-4, a school that is not their assigned in-boundary no matter what grade, or any public charter school IS PART OF THE LOTTERY.

What is PK-3? PK-4? It’s for 3 and 4 year olds. I know, sounds pretty straight-forward but I honestly had no idea when I dove into this pool of mud to try to figure out what all this meant. If your little cutie turns 3 by Sept 30, they can enroll in PK-3. If they turn 4 by Sept 30, you can enroll in PK-4

MySchoolDC.org is home to info regarding the lottery. A lot of information is there, as well as the application when it becomes available, but you have to go through the FAQ’s to piece it all together.

If you need to do your research on schools, this info is also online. You will find it in a bunch of places.

• DCPS

Each school’s website:

• Great Schools
• School Digger
• Local list serv’s

DC Urban Mom message board. If you want to hear how everyone else’s kid is smarter than yours.

The school sites will give you just the facts. Numbers are skewed on Great Schools if there’s a school that “teaches to the test.” The school could get high marks that may or may not reflect the experience. I’m a real estate agent and unfortunately can’t discuss schools with you much beyond location. We’re just not allowed. My version of a good school may be different than Mary Poppins or Joan Crawford.

The city offers something called Ed Fest which happens near the end of the calendar (not school) year. You can visit to find out more about each school. There are many public charter schools in DC that participate in the lottery. This is a good place to learn more about them.

 Here’s what you need to know. This is the priority on which all DCPS lottery decisions are made:

1. Child lives In Boundary, with a sibling already in the school.
2. Child lives In Boundary, without a sibling already in the school.
3. Child lives Out of Boundary, with a sibling already in the school.
4. Child lives Out of Boundary, without a sibling already in the school.

This means that you could have scored a spot for your Sally, even though you live out of boundary, but Sally’s younger sister may not get a spot when it’s her turn, if a child who lives in boundary without another sibling in the school wants that school. (drink)

Here’s something else you need to know. The lottery is unequally equal. What the hell does that mean? It means you’re nothing, even when you sort of should be. You may move to a specific neighborhood because you want to be in-boundary for the school and you have several children. You figure okay – maybe my oldest won’t get into their Pre-K, but the siblings have a pretty good shot. Your thinking would not be off the wall.

But then, a family who has never been on this continent moves to your neighborhood from 10,000 miles away for a one-year job in DC. They don’t need to prove residency until they enroll. So, as long as they have their DC address, and can prove it by the start of school they are fine. Their child has just as much of a chance as yours does to that coveted Pre-K space. Yes, even if you were born here, even if you have been paying taxes here for your whole life, even if you went to that school as a child, even if you scrimped and saved to buy a house in this neighborhood so you could go to the pre-k. DC does not have any system in place to prioritize the children of families who are domiciled here.

If you are outraged, I’m right there with you.

If you think you can dodge this order because you’re charming or you know people, take note. The powers that be at DCPS take the lottery very seriously. The DCPS lottery is no joke. Chancellors have been fired or resigned because of calling in favors to get their own children or children of people who work in the Mayor’s office in ahead of the lottery.

You get no preferences for applying early, for being employed by the school, for funding a three-ring circus outside your school of choice. Of course I’m not unconvinced that all shenanigans have been halted because even the most overcrowded schools take in out of boundary students. My kids are in one of them. 30 kids in a class is no joke for even the most experienced and patient of teachers.

Chancellors before 2007 – were called “Superintendents”. DC has had a steady stream of changes in leadership going back to the 1970’s. This means that there are elements of DCPS that constantly feel “shaky.” Thank your lucky stars for the parents and teachers who came before us to have accomplished what they have. But, that’s for another day and more wine.

So let’s finish up the lottery. The deadline for high school is February 1 every year, and the deadline for PK through 8th grade is March 1 every year. Results come out around the end of March but it is different each year so make sure to check the deadlines.

When you fill out your lottery application, you can select up to 12 schools. They explain to you that it’s important to list them in order of preference. (DUH) Once you have a matched school on your list, everything below the match is discarded, and you are automatically added to the wait list to every school that is higher than your match.

When you get your results, you have until May 1 usually to accept your spot. Make sure to check the deadline though as it changes each year.

I have a lot of irritation and lack of confidence in how the schools here are run. But what keeps us here is our school and our parent community. We’ve been amazingly lucky to have had some awesome teachers for our kids thus far. But it truly takes a village. Please remember this when you get your little one enrolled. Get involved with the school because it’s our involvement as parents that makes the difference for the schools.

Sullivan’s Toys: Best Selection of Toys in DC

Don’t you miss the good old days of toys? You know, the ones that didn’t break right out of the box or involve slimy gooey remnants all over your house? I do! I do! I’m one step away from shaking my fist in the yard and yelling for people to get off my lawn. That’s why this Real Estate Family loves Sullivan’s Toys and Art Supplies in Tenleytown at 4200 Wisconsin Avenue.

I think we’ve all woken up the morning of a birthday party which our child is attending realizing we need to grab a last minute gift. Sullivan’s opens an hour earlier than usual on Saturday now just to accommodate slackers like us! Wandering around this place you will be filled with nostalgia and fond memories of your childhood with hula hoops, Rubik’s cubes, jax, all the classics. You won’t find any electronics in here.

Sullivan’s Toys is Washington, DC’s oldest toy shop still in operation – family owned and operated since 1954. They pride themselves on their customer service and community based atmosphere. Just because some of the employees don’t share the last name Sullivan doesn’t mean they aren’t part of the family. Most are from the area and they are incredibly helpful with anything from directions and suggestions, to finding the perfect toy or supplies for a project.

Not only do they have a wide variety of toys and games for all ages, but they also have an art supply section that is filled with everything from professional grade materials to art supplies for children. There are walls filled with paint in every color you could possibly dream of! It’s the go-to art supply spot for AU (American University) students who need supplies for class or a parent who wants to get creative with their kids.

Sullivan’s Toys is a must-see spot that my kids and I love. Be sure to check it out and don’t forget that you can leave the wrapping paper at home. They do it all for you at no extra charge!