Adams Morgan

If you are wondering, what makes the area “vibrant”, the rich history of the neighborhood may be a clue. Long home to immigrant communities from Africa, Asia, South and Central America, Adams Morgan is a global village in the heart of the city where restaurants serve cuisine from all around the world and where DC residents go to let their hair down. You can catch live music most nights of the week throughout the neighborhood and find cheap eats and white tablecloth restaurants for all tastes and pocketbooks. There are also many locally owned shopping gems with unique clothing, jewelry, art, furniture and household goods.

The area is a cultural smorgasbord. As mentioned, you can enjoy cuisine from all over the world, visit art galleries featuring local artist as well as work created across the globe. Catch live bluegrass on Wednesday nights at Madam’s Organ or swing by Habana Village to show off your salsa moves (or take a free lesson). Join in the neighborhood’s signature events, including Adams Morgan Day (Sept.), Crafty Bastards (fall) and Festivus (winter).

I love Adams Morgan. It was my childhood home. Visiting there today, I find the same wonderful melting pot that existed when I was a boy. It is a walk-able neighborhood. Sidewalks carry you beneath old oaks as you pass by some of the finest old architecture found anywhere in the area. Yes, it is quite possible to live here and take a short hike to the Metro stop in Dupont Circle or the stop near the zoo. There are zip car stations and capital bike share stations close by as well. The commercial routes provide a framework for a true neighborhood experience.

Adams Morgan compares favorably with the U Street Corridor, NOMA and H St NE

This is an neighborhood that seems to be transitioning in the wrong direction recently as a result of it's commercial success. The draw to Adams Morgan has always been the large number of first class restaurants located in this ethnically diverse neighborhood. With the success of the restaurants came bars and nightclubs and even more people, especially of Friday and Saturday nights. Now there is a heavy Police presence at night when the bars close and the crowds disperse. The crowds are good for business, but is hard on the residents trying to live their lives there. You will find a number of apartment and condominium buildings as well as single family homes. Many attached homes in this neighborhood as well. Parking spots are hard to come by. Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo are close by.

Safe and trendy neighborhood near the National Zoo, Adams Morgan contains a park, rec center and plenty of trees. Just enough off the beaten path of tourist sites and office buildings to be residential, but close enough to everything the city has to offer. Apartments are abundant and high quality, but a bit pricey. Relative to some more famous areas of the city however, Adams Morgan is an overall good value. If you like to walk around the neighborhood while doing your shopping, Adams Morgan is the place for you. For many people in this neighborhood, nothing beats having everything you need close by.

Plenty of restaurants and upscale shopping will please a discerning shopper, while the international flair lends variety to the adventuresome. DC schools in general are terrible, although the ones in this area are better than most. Many parents choose to send their children to private schools, though these are quite expensive. On the other hand, many who live in Adams Morgan can afford it, or at least are able to afford a tutor. Overall, this neighborhood is a good one for those who have a moderate income and want a safe neighborhood.

The community's very name, Adams Morgan, is tied to its early history as a diverse place to live. Adams and Morgan were once two segregated public schools that merged in the 1950s into one of the first desegregated schools in America, which in turn gave its name to the community it served.
Today, Adams Morgan has attracted many Hispanic Americans, giving the entire area an upbeat, Latin flavor. International markets thrive, as do restaurants, giving the the area an energy that is somewhat unusual in the buttoned down DC area.
There are two drawbacks to living in Adams Morgan. The first is the high price of housing. Not only is housing expensive, but the changing face of the area makes the home values somewhat unstable. Also, there is no metro service in the area, and parking is often at a premium. On the other hand, if you enjoy biking to a local bistro for lunch or picking up a few groceries while out for a walk, this is your place.