Stuff I should know about Washington D.C.

[ScottyB]

Well, I posted a similar thread about this, but didn't get many responses.

I got into the Film and Video graduate program at American University for this fall.

From what I have looked at so far with rental prices, area attractions and safety, I will probably be moving to Silver Spring/Wheaton area. Though I am also considering Bethesda/White Flint area and the Falls Church area.

One thing I am worried about is safety. I am pretty large @ 6'2, so I think that might help me some, but I was thinking about getting some pepper spray. I will be using the subway a lot to get around, but my scheduled fall classes are all in the evening after 5:30 pm so I can park for free on campus. One of my courses goes until 10:40 pm, and I would not feel safe that late on the subway. Are muggings pretty common? Also what areas should I stay away from?

I have spoken to a few people about the DC area and have received several different responses. Some say that most of the city is very safe, and only the Southeast corner is seedy. Others have said to stay away from the Southeast corner and be wary of the Northeast.

I guess I also need to know some tips about living in the area--cheap and tasty restaurants, the better malls, movie theaters, bars, and the hangout spots which I should check out.

Thanks.

 

[Rebasxer]

Pepper spray, hahahah. Good Luck

 

[Baked]

Bring at least $300 and do this.

 

[mryellow2]

Stay away from North East and South East. South East is the worse of the two by far and thinking about it, Northeast isn't all that bad really.

Cheap and good - Pho 75 in Rosslyn if you like pho. Ben's Chili Bowl for dogs and chili. A couple of dim sum places. All the standard fast food joints. I dunno man, there are too many places to try out. Just be adventurous. Also be on the lookout for good happy hour deals.

Traffic is a bitch in and around the city. If you can get by with public transport I suggest you do so.

Eh, pepper spray not needed.

 

[PELarson]

Don't eat or drink on the subways.

http://www.essortment.com/all/washingtondcm_rriw.htm

"Finally, the Metro system is designed for short-distance commuting and therefore food and drink are strictly prohibited within the system. Eagle-eyed station managers will request that you dunk the soda bottles before passing through their turnstiles, although water bottles are frequently overlooked. Even if you sneak that bag of chips past the manager?s booth, you still may encounter Metro police en route. Uniformed officers hop from train to train and will not hesitate to issue a ticket for what seems to be such a minor infraction. Keep in mind, though, that the DC subway system is as clean and inviting as it is due to just this type of enforcement. "

Also it is Falls Church VA

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: mryellow2
Stay away from North East and South East. South East is the worse of the two by far and thinking about it, Northeast isn't all that bad really.

Cheap and good - Pho 75 in Rosslyn if you like pho. Ben's Chili Bowl for dogs and chili. A couple of dim sum places. All the standard fast food joints. I dunno man, there are too many places to try out. Just be adventurous. Also be on the lookout for good happy hour deals.

Traffic is a bitch in and around the city. If you can get by with public transport I suggest you do so.

Eh, pepper spray not needed.

Well, one of my classes runs from 5:30 - 10:40pm, so I would definitely take my car that day. The other classes let out at 8:00pm, so I guess I could ride the subway those days. I just heard not to ride late at night.

Do you include Silver Springs/Wheaton in the "North East bad" area? From what I saw so far online, it seemed pretty clean and safe there.

 

[Linflas]

Don't over think it. The area American University is located in is very nice and you really don't need to worry about your safety anymore than you would in any other non high crime area.

 

[Throckmorton]

You are moving to a real city and you want to know where the better malls are? Maybe you should reconsider grad school and just stay in the suburbs or wherever you live. No one will mug you there either

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
You are moving to a real city and you want to know where the better malls are? Maybe you should reconsider grad school and just stay in the suburbs or wherever you live. No one will mug you there either

Wow, thanks for the advice! It's like you are the best advice giver ever. No joke.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
You are moving to a real city and you want to know where the better malls are? Maybe you should reconsider grad school and just stay in the suburbs or wherever you live. No one will mug you there either

Wow, thanks for the advice! It's like you are the best advice giver ever. No joke.

Funny thing is that DC residents will tell you that shopping options in the city are only just coming back after decades of most large retailers moving out of the city. Unlike cities like New York people generally go out to the suburbs from DC to shop rather than come into DC to shop. DC has been trying to attract retailers like Target, Home Depot, etc to open stores in the city to reverse this trend.

 

[Vette73]

Not a subway, but a metro. Stays above ground as much as it does below.


But ride anytime any day, don;t worry.

I work for State Dept and ride every day to and from work. Just buy a smarttrip card and put money on that as you need.

 

[ElFenix]

the initials actually stand for 'Dirty City'

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Not a subway, but a metro. Stays above ground as much as it does below.


But ride anytime any day, don;t worry.

I work for State Dept and ride every day to and from work. Just buy a smarttrip card and put money on that as you need.

I visited my friend there last summer, but I only had two days in the city to visit museums. I felt pretty safe, as we were only on the metro during the day, but there were so many bums asking me to give them money to "feed there five kids" and "'help buy them a bus ticket to Philly" that I thought they might swarm the metro at night and ask for money under harsher terms.

Originally posted by: ElFenix
the initials actually stand for 'Dirty City'

The city seemed extremely clean to me, except for the reflecting pool in front of the Washington Monument, so I don't understand why people call it dirty. I was only in the touristy areas though.

 

[Darkstar757]

DC is not that bad.

Just dont do dumb shit, like having 500 bucks in your pocket and stumble out of a bar with less than three or four people with you. Second stay the fsck out of SE if you arent black or a teacher in the area just stay away.

Third and most important just use common sense about where you hang out and you will be fine. I have lived in DC for about 6 years and what I have found to be the biggest help is never be a loner late at night.


Peace,
Darkstar

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: Darkstar757
DC is not that bad.

Just dont do dumb shit, like having 500 bucks in your pocket and stumble out of a bar with less than three or four people with you. Second stay the fsck out of SE if you arent black or a teacher in the area just stay away.

Third and most important just use common sense about where you hang out and you will be fine. I have lived in DC for about 6 years and what I have found to be the biggest help is never be a loner late at night.


Peace,
Darkstar

What cities of the SE does the bad area start? I am looking at this map, btw. Is it the Congress Heights through Branch Avenue area? Also do you know the NE cities to be wary of?

 

[zinfamous]

Silver Spring?

better buy a few guns.

GL

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: Darkstar757
DC is not that bad.

Just dont do dumb shit, like having 500 bucks in your pocket and stumble out of a bar with less than three or four people with you. Second stay the fsck out of SE if you arent black or a teacher in the area just stay away.

Third and most important just use common sense about where you hang out and you will be fine. I have lived in DC for about 6 years and what I have found to be the biggest help is never be a loner late at night.


Peace,
Darkstar

What cities of the SE does the bad area start? I am looking at this map, btw. Is it the Congress Heights through Branch Avenue area? Also do you know the NE cities to be wary of?

Keys to understanding DC:
The Capitol is the center used to determine the quadrants, so NW, NE, SE, and SW are all determined by where they are in relation to the Capitol.

Letter streets run E-W, numbered streets run N-S, the numbers start at the Capitol and go up east and west, state streets run diagonally and wherever a state, number and letter intersect there is generally a traffic circle.

 

[OUCaptain]

Don't give anyone a quarter. They'll just want another, and another, and another.

If you're with a friend, counting the hobos is a fun game. Or try to get pics of the funniest sign.

In fact, your trip will be complete FAIL if you do not return with funny hobo sign pics.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Well, I posted a similar thread about this, but didn't get many responses.

I got into the Film and Video graduate program at American University for this fall.

From what I have looked at so far with rental prices, area attractions and safety, I will probably be moving to Silver Spring/Wheaton area. Though I am also considering Bethesda/White Flint area and the Falls Church area.

One thing I am worried about is safety. I am pretty large @ 6'2, so I think that might help me some, but I was thinking about getting some pepper spray. I will be using the subway a lot to get around, but my scheduled fall classes are all in the evening after 5:30 pm so I can park for free on campus. One of my courses goes until 10:40 pm, and I would not feel safe that late on the subway. Are muggings pretty common? Also what areas should I stay away from?

I have spoken to a few people about the DC area and have received several different responses. Some say that most of the city is very safe, and only the Southeast corner is seedy. Others have said to stay away from the Southeast corner and be wary of the Northeast.

I guess I also need to know some tips about living in the area--cheap and tasty restaurants, the better malls, movie theaters, bars, and the hangout spots which I should check out.

Thanks.

peppersray? r u a girl?

get a colapsible baton (like Ben on lost).

yes on:
stay away from the Southeast corner and be wary of the Northeast.

and absolutely syat away from SE at nite if u r not the same skin color.

why not move to teneytown? AU is located there. all along River road seems nice (ie: clean, no graffiti).

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Pepperspray, are you a girl? Get a gun, the illegal law outlawing them will be overturned in the Supreme Court soon.

Get to know Adams Morgan.

DC has made great strides in cleaning and other image issues. I was there 2 years ago and it was very clean, and no areas seemed unsafe at all.

Get used to tropical humidity though. Whew!

 

[OUCaptain]

And by the way, grow a backbone. The secret to hanging out in an unknown city is to act like you live there. Alway walk like you know exactly where you're going. Don't stand on the street corner with your camera hanging around your neck looking at the metro map. Besides, if you stick to the tourist areas, it's as safe as the ice cream social on a Sunday afternoon in smalltown America.

<---Very experienced traveler including 2 - 4 weeks in DC every summer for 10 years.

 

[Darkstar757]

Anything within 3 miles of anacostia metro station excluding bolling AFB.

 

[Mr Pickles]

The state of Washington and Washington D.C. have nothing to do with each other.