Connecticut Ave. / K Street

I am very familiar with this neighborhood as I often find myself there on business. This neighborhood generally runs from the White House to N Street N.E and from New Hampshire Avenue N.W. to 15th Street. Here you ill find a mix of office buildings, retail, hotels, apartments, condominiums, government buildings and museums. K Street is the home to many lobbying firms as well.

This neighborhood is more about business and short term stays in hotels than it is about long term living. Personally, I could never live here because of the large number of people during the week, traffic and the feeling that I was at work all of the time. There are many fabulous restaurants near by as well as Farragut Square and McPherson Square. There are two Metro Stations within the neighborhood as well as numerous museums including the Renwick Gallery. The National Geographic Society is also located in the neighborhood. Also you will find many churches as well, including St. John's Church, which is popular with many Presidents due to it being very close to the White House. The crime rate is low mainly due to the heavy Police patrols.

The main reason I am not a big fan of the neighborhood is that it is just too busy for me Lots of traffic, constant Secret Service motorcades, lots of tourists, noise and it just feels like work here and not home. This neighborhood is not a great choice for those with families.

Ah, the Farraguts. Sleek people, chic restaurants, expensive housing. Typical of the district, yes, but also a great time if you're restless on a Friday night. With Park and Old Ebbitt Grill nearby, there's little not to love if you're a partygoing DCist. If you've got a car, or a family, on the other hand, you might be subject to more inconvenience (ie. parking or loud noises on a school night). But if central city housing is high on your priority list, this neighborhood is definitely worth checking out.

Restaurant-wise, there is nothing better in the area than Georgia Browns. Southern comfort food at its finest (think Marvin for the Farraguts), it specializes in to-die-for fried green tomatoes, and reinvents simple classics in a way that warrants a $20 entree.

OK not quite. Connecticut Avenue neighborhood is near the White House and other tourist areas of the District. It is expensive, but not quite as bad as some places like Georgetown. One thing which probably keeps the price down is the noise and crazy tourists in the summer. Personally, that would be enough to keep ME from buying a house there, as it is for anyone who likes things quiet. Anyway, there are plenty of places to eat and hang out, including some gay bars. Connecticut Avenue is a great place to visit even if you would prefer not to deal with the noise all the time. You will probably see lawmakers and lobbyists on a near daily basis, and whenever something happens in the government you'd have a front row seat. For those who enjoy politics, this is an added plus. In addition, the proximity to the White House means more police presence as well as Secret Service. Needless to say, not much happens on the crime-side. One drawback though is that because the area establishments cater so heavily to tourists and lobbyists, they do tend to be expensive. If you're willing to deal with that, you will enjoy the area.

The neighborhood surrounding Connecticut Avenue and K Street is a one of the nicer neighborhoods in Washington. It seems to hit all the right notes for what both single professionals and families. For one thing, there are excellent employment opportunities for anyone interested in government service or political involvement. In fact, K Street is a local euphemism for lobbying.
Another reason why this is such a great area is that there is so much to do. The White House is just down the street and the National Mall, home to the Smithsonian and other museums, is within walking distance. And, if you decide you want to venture out of town for an afternoon, there is at least one convenient metro stop.
Finally, there are so many places to eat and party that you could probably hit a different hot spot each night for an entire year without repeating yourself.
The one drawback to this proximity to the America’s seat of power is that you will have your day interrupted from time to time by a presidential motorcade. However, I can say that I’ve lived here over 12 years and I still think it’s pretty cool.