October 2, 2007
Eastern Market: 2007 Best Neighborhood
It's no surprise to this Hill resident, but it might be to those of you who live in relative cesspools like Logan Circle, Clarendon, Silver Spring, or "North" Cleveland Park: Eastern Market has been named one of the Nation's ten best neighborhoods. Thank you, American Planning Association, for giving credit where it's due.
In its first annual "Best Places" awards, the APA heralds the Eastern Market neighborhood for "its continued success in balancing the demands of growth and change, while preserving the fundamental values of the community," retaining its "unpretentious, charming nature," and for the residents' "civic pride and dedication, combined with the centuries old vision for this community, [that] sustain this neighborhood's unique characteristics." They also laud the neighborhood's record of activism in retaining its traditions—notably the efforts to preserve the market itself (both after this year's fire and previously) and to prevent the Federal government from building along East Capitol Street.
Eastern Market joins neighborhoods like Pikes Place Market in Seattle, Hillcrest in San Diego, North Beach in San Francisco, Park Slope in Brooklyn, and Old West Austin in Austin as 2007 honorees. We're confident that Eastern Market's mix of history, walkability, amenities, and aesthetic appeal would beat out those other neighborhoods any day, but we're just happy to be part of the team—the best team.
Photo from Hoffman
Many of us here at DCist have special love for Eastern Market, and I know I'm scandalized to hear that people who have lived in D.C. for years have never been there. What are you people doing? Are you surprised to see Eastern Market as one of the top ten neighborhoods? Do you have other suggestions that aren't Adams Morgan? Let us know in the comments.
Additionally, APA has designated ten "Great Streets" this year, but the only relatively local one is Monument Avenue in Richmond. What, no Whitehurst Freeway?
Editor's note: Members of the DCist editorial staff who live in the aforementioned "relative cesspools" would like to offer Adam Bailey a collective pttttttttthhhbt!
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I'm not surprised Eastern Market made the list. Although the author's smug attitude about is surprising...must have some insecurity issues about not being able to live in the aforementioned "cesspools."
I imagine affordability of a neighborhood is not a factor in these rankings. I love Eastern Market. It's a cool place to visit and rent a place. But how many people can really afford a place there and call it there permanent neighborhood? Makes these rankings really quite pointless to the majority of the population...
Wow. Each and every one of those neighborhoods strikes as the most boring, whitebread version of city living I could every imagine. Disneyland main streets are apparently the new/old urban ideal!
I think the fire earned us some sympathy votes.
Guess all we need to do now is burn down the P St. Whole Foods and it's "Hello, 2008 Top 10!" for Logan Circle...
Although the author's smug attitude about is surprising...must have some insecurity issues about not being able to live in the aforementioned "cesspools."
It's pretty obviously tongue-in-cheek. Lighten up.
Mount Pleasant would get my vote...but maybe that's because I used to live there. But in all seriousness, it's such a vibrant, interesting, connected place that feels like a small town within the city. I
Many Eastern Market visitors never venture beyond 7th St/Penn Ave/8th St. Cap Hill is not as white bred or gentrified as some suggest. H St and Hill East are within walking distance and no less affordable than Shaw, Ledroit, Petworth, or other transitional neighborhoods in NW. I'd be happy to forward any skeptics the crime stats from DCPD which show plenty of urban "grit" remaining on the Hill, even in somewhat established areas. Such hostility would be more appropriate when discussing Georgetown.
EdTheRed
You owe me a new keyboard
The white guilt around here is insufferable sometimes.
I forgot to filter anon posters -- they seem to do a disproportionate amount of race baiting
#5 - As was my comment. Lighten up.
can someone give me five reasons why i would want to venture over to the eastern market area? seriously. i'm not being critical.
"can someone give me five reasons why i would want to venture over to the eastern market area? seriously. i'm not being critical."
To shop at the 13 vendors in Eastern Market that you are heavily subsidising through the city's ownership and now rebuilding of the Market.
I love living here in eastern market. Those of you who don't get it, well, feel free to keep your asses elsewhere. Otherwise, stroll on down some late Saturday morning, and see if it doesn't start to make it's way into your heart.
JPK: Here's a stab.
1. Eastern Market on Weekends -- The place fills up with fruit and vegetable vendors, artists, flea marketeers, and people from all over buying stuff. It's good people watching, there's some great art, crafts, and groceries to buy. It's a market unlike any other in the city--it's been open since 1873, and other than the cars, low rise jeans, and cell phones, I doubt the experience is much different today.
2. Restaurants and Bars -- Montmartre is one of the better places in the city, and Locanda is making its best efforts to join those ranks. Beers and super grilled cheese on the quiet patio at Tunnicliffs is a great time, and Remington's is always entertaining, even if you're not gay. Mr. Henry's has a lot of history and good greasy food, and newer places like Old Siam and Starfish on Barracks Row are adding a lot of strength to its culinary lineup. There are tons to add: Uncle Brutha's Hot Sauce Shop, Market Lunch, Bower's Cheeses, etc etc.
3. Neighborhood Feel -- Eastern Market, and the Hill in general, feels like a small town oasis in the middle of the big city. Lots of people know each other, and are friendly to each other if they don't. You'll get lots of opportunity to pet dogs if that's your thing. But it's nice to see people grabbing brunch together or randomly chatting in front of the bank.
4. Architecture -- There's nothing that grand in the neighborhood aside from Eastern Market itself, but the residential streets are particularly nice in Eastern Market. The strip of North Carolina from PA Ave to A St. is really interesting, as is 7th St from Indy to East Cap., and 9th street from Indy to D St.
5. Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks -- The performance by Alpha and Bravo companies at the Marine Barracks is really impressive and worth seeing at least once. It's only in the summers, but worth the wait. The drum and bugle corps, precision marching, silent drill, and color guard are unparalleled. Think changing of the guard, but with music and 90 minutes long.
6. Have you never been there? Seeing a new part of the city you live in is reason enough, right?
I have lived on The Hill since the early 90's. I have lived all over the US and Europe, but have never felt anywhere else the community spirit and camaraderie that exists in my neighborhood, Eastern Market.
We have great, diverse neighbors, beautiful architecture, trees,trees and more trees as well as great parks and green spaces. The Eastern Market on any given weekend offers artisan cheeses, exotic orchids, local produce, art work, live performances, homemade soap, a crepe stand...the list goes on and on.
We have tango lessons and a Milonga every Thursday for dirt cheap as well as the Capitol Hill Arts workshop offering inexpensive classes, classic movies and art openings.
We have French, Belgian, Thai, Vietnamese cuisine to name a few of the great countries represented by our restaurants.
We have festivals such as The dance festival last Sunday and the Octoberfest on Saturday.
This neighborhood has soul. You either get it or you don't.
Good people (diverse back-grounds with an appreciation, generally, for intelligent conversation and a cosmpolitan perspective);
Good food (in a range of prices and categories) - Market Lunch (best mid-week), Montemarte, Sonoma, Loconda...;
Eastern Market, Capitol Hill are a truly walkable neighborhood and parking is far far better than DuPont, Adams Morgan, Woodley, Cleveland Park, Mount Pleasant....
People who move here stay here (even the schools (public and private) are good)
We are just nice people and are not as political or as infatuated with condo prices (unlike some other close-in neighborhoods) as you might expect.
P.S. don't let our secret get out too much
1. Halfsmokes at Canales Meats. These are what they serve at Ben's Chili Bowl and the only place you can buy them to take home.
2. Montmartre. Great French bistro food and I freaking hate French bistro fare and the people who eat it.
3. Levis Port Cafe. Best collards and mac & Cheese in DC. Period. Three words: deep fried porkchops. You know what to do.
4. Jordan's 8. Great sushi, lousy steak, funny review.
5. Locanda. Excellent pasta, no ridiculous lines like Pasta Mia or people vomiting out front.
nice place to do a saturday morning -but the 'hood is not soooo diverse as previously described...
the streets are paved with gold. the homeless smell like roses and poo black lab puppies. if someone cries in eastern market, they cry jelly bean tears. it's a magical place.
"This neighborhood has soul. You either get it or you don't."
You pretty much hit the nail on the head. I don't live in Eastern Market (I would if it I could afford it!) but I live nearby at the SW/SE border, and my neighorhood has a similar vibe. For the first time since I moved to the DC area, I feel like I live in a true community. Most of my neighbors have been there for decades, yet are still very friendly and welcoming to newcomers like me. Unlike most other parts of DC, and even the suburbs, the neighbors actually know each other and you don't have a constant flow of transient 20-somethings moving in and out. This is a place I'd like to settle down in and stay at for a while.
Eastern Market is just over-priced crap that doofus fall prey to. Enjoy.
the streets are paved with gold. the homeless smell like roses and poo black lab puppies. if someone cries in eastern market, they cry jelly bean tears. it's a magical place.
I was waiting for the rote, anonymous, unspecific, sarcastic responder who deadens every single comment list and bulletin board on the web. You could have written this about any neighborhood in the city people like.
e.g.:
the streets are paved with gold. the homeless smell like roses and poo black lab puppies. if someone cries in Mt Pleasant, they cry jelly bean tears. it's a magical place.
or
the streets are paved with gold. the homeless smell like roses and poo black lab puppies. if someone cries in Columbia Heights, they cry jelly bean tears. it's a magical place.
or
the streets are paved with gold. the homeless smell like roses and poo black lab puppies. if someone cries in Logan Circle, they cry jelly bean tears. it's a magical place.
If you don't like Eastern Market, have the minimal intelligence to say why. I know why I don't like it: it's often overpriced. I also know why I like it: see other comments.
#23, #20 here, pardon me for making fun of the eastern market love fest going on. Sorry I did not add such a tantalizing tidbit of opinion such as "4. Jordan's 8. Great sushi, lousy steak, funny review." wow that just livens up the conversation, doesn't it?
#20 - How many posts does it take for you to actually say why you think the neighborhood sucks? Not that I really care, I just want to know where you're going with the black lab poop angle. I kinda hope it ends up ranking on the great-big-gay-guy-with-tiny-little-dog phenomena.
In 15 minutes you can walk to Union Station
or
reach the West End by Metro
or
reach National by cab
In 20 minutes you can walk to the Mall
In 40 minutes you can drive to Baltimore or Annapolis
Maybe I just like Eastern Market for the relative ease by which I can leave the place :-)
Why all the harshness for Guest 20?
I live on the Hill, and I thought his post was funny.
I like a lot of things about the Hill, but we do take ourselves too seriously, especially those that seem to be on permanent Hill Booster Club duty.
Especially when it comes to Eastern Market itself. I'm a little amazed we didn't hold candlelight vigils after the Eastern Market fire, given the wailing and gnashing of teeth that went on. I guess the $20 million DC taxpayers are spending to subsidize the 20 or so merchants there is what we do instead.
Guest 20 sortof encapsulated that very defensive attitude we Hill people sometimes adopt.
Not surprised E. Market has got top kudos, it's one of my fav 'hoods in DC.
Equally pleased that Seattle is also on the list. Makes me equally proud that my hometown and my adopted town is on the list.
FYI, it's Pike Place, not Pikes place. A lil' thing, but a common mistake and common annoyance to Seattlites.
I was all excited about this until I saw that North Beach in San Francisco was also named a "best" neighborhood. North Beach is an AWFUL neighborhood - noisy, full of traffic, impossible to park, screaming with tourists.
It makes me very suspicious of the reasons these people chose the neighborhoods they chose ...
Bummer.
-Reya Mellicker
I think it's important to keep in mind that if you read the actual press release from the APA, you'll understand that this is an award for neighborhood planning and development, not a generic "best" award. They cite many examples of "civic activism", specifically the community's reaction to the fire, its long-running support for the Market even in the face of government opposition, etc:
"Several attempts by the District of Columbia government to close the Eastern Market, most recently in the mid–1950s, spurred residents into action to sustain it. By the 1970s, residents had acquired a reputation for civic activism. Among their successes was the defeat of a proposal to transform East Capitol Street into a boulevard of federal office buildings and plans to erect the city's tallest high rise on Pennsylvania Avenue."
and
"Another significant example of the neighborhood's investment in communities of value is the Barracks Row Main Street program, an economic revitalization effort that seeks to restore small businesses and make the neighborhood more self-supporting."
It's important to note that the APA doesn't cite anything about cost-of-living or food options or anything like that in the article, this award is all about community planning and in that regard I think it's easy to say this award was well-deserved.
To those of you who don't like our community, don't come. We won't miss you.