I definitely agree here, Rockville is a suburb outside the beltway and you would need a car to get around to have access to all the food and shopping in that area. Silver Spring is ghetto. As previously stated why not stay in DC? I think if you pick Montgomery county you'll need a car to get around. Personally I'd live in Northern Virginia, Arlington, if you're young and single.
Friendship Heights? That's a nice spot...lots of real high end retail joints and mixed commercial/residential usage...no nightlife that I can remember though. Bethesda makes the most sense if you can afford it.
Yeah, but that doesn't do much good at a house party. Plus I had to find a place to pee which ate up some valuable time.
You are supposed to take a piss in the subway brah. Just wait for the train to stop so not to splash the other riders. Always better to be courteous.
What about you post a poll and whichever city whens you agree to go there? I'd chose San Francisco but there's always that off chance it will be wiped off the map within 50 years.
I lived in Russian Hill for 5 years after college and would argue it's the best neighborhood in the city - though I'm most likely biased. Not only does the neighborhood offer many restaurants and bars, it's also centrally located between the Marina and North Beach. Both neighborhoods are probably only a 15 minutes walk, or $10 can ride away.
As someone that works in San Francisco (live in Oakland), I think you made the right choice. The Cost of Living was out of control when I moved here last year, and it's just getting worse...
DC over SF? You done messed up son. Visit SF and you will come to the realization that this place is a world class city with so many things to do relative to DC.
DC in a landslide. Proud to currently live 4 blocks from the Capitol inside the district. Salary, Metro, Food, Activities, Culture, climate, and good times all winners over SF. Crime and Cost of Living, Tourists, Traffic and Construction could be a drawback. We are always building stuff, but the good news there, is that we are always improving the district. I feel secure and safe living here in spite of crime. And we are well paid given the nature of the work done. Some of the best whitewater in the world right here to, though most would not realize it. I am so happy. Live right next to the baseball stadium, soccer stadium, and Capitol and it could not be more fun. I will not leave unless I am financially incapable.
I current work and live in DC and have traveled to SF on many occassions in the past. Again, like many posters have said, it really depends on your background and what you're looking for. - In terms of natural beauty, SF wins by a landslide. If you're an outdoors person, then SF has everything you need. DC on the other hand has a few good parks around it. - If you're single, then DC is definitely way better than SF. Hotter girls and eaiser to meet young singles. I would definitely stay away from SF for the dating scene. Like others have said, a bunch of 7s think they're 10s. East Coast females over West Coast all day every day and I'm not even from the East Coast. - Transportation, DC wins just because it's a smaller city geographically and the Metro can get you anywhere within 50 miles convenienetly. No need to actually own a car to get around. Also because DC is very small, you can get everywhere on a bike. - Crime, DC and SF is probably a toss. DC used to be much worse but recent gentrification movement has cleaned it up a bit. There are still pockets of the city where the crime is bad but if you just can't stand it, you can move out to Virginia or Maryland for safer neighborhoods - Housing - DC is #3 in the country after NYC and SF. Both are really pricey though but I think SF is slightly more inflated that DC now. - Food - SF wins by a landslide. Better quality for what you pay for and more diversity. DC's food scene is catching up but is still known for lack of creativity and paying more for average quality food. It is getting better each year though so lots of potential. - Job market: DC and SF are dominated by their respective niche opportunities. If you're into government work, policy, defense, then DC is where you'll find the most job opportunities in this country. If you're an IT or tech person, go to SF. It's a toss up, depending on what you're looking for. At the end of the day, it all depends on your preference and background. Both have their adv and disadvantages. Just depend on what you're looking for.
We may have to hit up a Rockets/Wizards game when I get there, or take the train up to Philly for a Coogs game @ Temple
So I've been in DC for a little over a year now and wanted to give an update to how I feel about the area and my decision. When I got here, I moved to Bethesda. It was a short walk to my office and according to everything I read, just as nice as it could be. You pay a good bit relative to an area like downtown DC, but it's just so damn nice there. A very neat little community. Definitely on the older side of things, but Dupont, U Street, and all that jazz are a short train ride away. There's no shortage of young nurses though due to the NIH I have since moved across the river to Arlington. Very happy with this decision except the commute can sometimes be dreadful if the subway is backed up (40 min commute on average). Definitely a younger part of the DC metro area. Lots of nightlife with Courthouse/Clarendon. No lack of bars or restaurants. When I go for a walk/run I can pass by the Iowa Jima, Arlington Cemetery, and the Lincoln Memorial all in one sitting. Pretty amazing. About the weather... from mid-November to basically mid-April the weather is pretty much dreadful. Biting cold, super dry air (which absolutely kills my gulf coast bred sinuses), high winds and sleet. I'm an admitted rookie/wuss when it comes to real winter, but this is serious about as much as I can take without going nuts. I have no idea how people in New England or the Great Lakes area deal with this. That being said, the rest of the year is amazing, even ball-sweat-inducing August and September. Sometimes in the peaks of Summer it can actually be hotter here than Houston, but what really gets you is the fact that this city is so much more pedestrian friendly, so you end up spending more time outdoors in DC summers than you would in a Houston summer. About the culture... one thing I've definitely noticed is that many DC people seem to be quite unfriendly and have enormous sticks up their asses. Granted being a life-long Texan I'm used to everyone offering me a handshake, if not the shirt off their back. But DC has a problem that seems to be associated with two things; the bureaucracy & the transient nature of the jobs market. When I say bureaucracy, I mean that many people here work for an agency, department, or organization that makes them think their own s*** doesn't stink. Very uptight. The other problem is that the nature of the job market here means many people are simply passing through. They are just here to survive for 6-24 months and are only interested in knowing you if they can clearly benefit off of you. The lifers/locals are a different story... but I can't help but laugh at the Georgetown fratters with their wayfarers and deck shoes. The food here is OK I guess. The best thing I can say is that it is varied. Nothing will knock your socks off, but you won't be disappointed by lack of variety. There are some pretty killer high-end steakhouses, and a few Cheasepeake style seafood places that are nice even to my Gulf palette. When I need a Houston fix I hit up Chuy's or Hill Country BBQ. When it comes to stuff to do/attractions this place really is top notch. About a million exhibits, museums, parks, etc. You're also within a 3 hour car/bus/train ride of a ton of stuff. Beaches, bays, historic sites, hikes, mountains, rivers, and on and on. Overall I'm very pleased with my decision. Can I see myself here for 20 years like I originally thought? Maybe. I'd still like to see the Bay Area at some point, as well as Seattle/Vancouver. As far as Houston goes, one thing is clear to me about its future, and that is it will never become the powerhouse/world-class city it could be until it gets some proper transportation infrastructure. At least it's got Whataburger though.
LOL. Man up dude, you'll get used to it. By next winter you'll be a shoveling expert. This is a good observation. Many people act (and drive) like they always got somewhere important to go. It's not special that you have top secret clearance when everyone's cousin has top secret clearance. Using your blinker is just a way to tip off your enemies, who will then race to get that spot before you. Don't lose your Texan spirit. Checker's is passable, but yes, we definitely win in the tasty and unhealthy fast food department.
The way I see it from someone who has only visited both cities. San Fran is great for young, active, and singles. My friends tell me that the "Man Francisco" phenomenon is extremely real. Obviously since I've only visited there, I can't say how bad it is or how much of a drag it is going to be. DC is still quite good for young singles, but it's also good for young families and older. You can move out to the suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and spend considerably less and get a lot of land, whereas in SF pretty much all of the suburbs are expensive.
Stick Around. It only gets better. In just the last 9 months there were three mega-concerts for free in DC. Literally walked over to see Usher, M&M, Rhianna, Mary J, Metallica, Fall out boy, No Doubt, Train, Franki Valli, and Carrie Underwood and more. Good times! Also went to Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial for Easter ( inspiring view ) and walked over to see the supreme court do their thing and toured the Library of Congress. Make sure you work on your DC kick the bucket list. Most are easy to do and will surprise you. http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/getaways/the-great-washington-bucket-list/50-things-every-local-needs-to-do.php The weather has been miserable this year, and may never change back due to these global changes, but generally we have light winters and great summer/spring. Good mix that is comfortable if we can get back to normal. Always interesting to read a viewpoint from our new residents and get the truth! I'm a it biased having been here for 19 years now. But love this town!
