Help me find Eclectic/Bohemian historic suburb on the east coast. (houses, neighborhoods)

[ccb138]

Hello all,

I am facing a sizable dilemma and would appreciate any assistance which could be offered.

I am originally from the east coast, and moved out and lived in the bay area california for 3 years. I'm coming back primarily to be closer to home and family and the things about the east coast that i love. Amazingly enough this includes the weather! However, there are some things in the bay area which I've come to truly love and I'm hoping to find somewhere in the northeast/midatlantic which contains enough of them for me to finally be able to truly call somewhere a home again.

Here is what I'm looking for:

For work reasons, I need to be in or near to a metropolitan area.

I'm open to the northeast and midatlantic. Ideal is between NYC and Washington, but I'd consider further for the right spot.

I NEED the place to be liberal, especially socially. I want a town/neighborhood which is lgbt friendly, and known for it.

I do not want pretentiousness. I don't care if my neighbor drives a BMW and I'd prefer it to be a non-issue. I'd love most a place where a starving artist and an affluent CEO can be friends, sit down and have coffee, and this would be normal. Preferably, the town/area would not be specifically one age group, i.e, i don't want only young professionals, or only families, or only elderly retirees. When I have a family I want them to grow up in a place which has all sorts and exposes them to those parts of the community, but is not downtown NYC.

I want this to exist in a more suburban option when I'm done with living downtown/ in the big city, i.e., to raise a family and have a big backyard to garden in

I'd like the more suburban option to NOT be cookie cutter. What I would love is an older more historic town which has victorian/edwardian or craftsman style homes, colorful if possible. (ala San Francisco and Berkeley/Oakland) Parks would be nice too

I'd like it if I'd occasionally see someone with purple hair, and this would not be shocking.

Good non chain coffee shops/ bookstores / pubs / etc...

I do not need the entire region I live in to be like this, as that simply isn't possible, but just a town or part of a town somewhere would be wonderful.

I suppose what I want is a bastion of bay area lifestyle/thought in the midst of the east coast that I love dearly.

In summation, a Bohemian/Eclectic neighborhood where all sorts are welcomed, and it's possible to have a big green backyard with a garden.

Thank you all!!!

P.S. Cost is not an issue

[wileynj]

I think your perfect town would be either be Lambertville on the NJ side or "New Hope" on the PA side. Very old towns with alot of starving artists : )). New Hope is an Old Hippie Town and Very GLBT Friendly - not too far from Philly or NYC and it attracts alot of visitors in the spring and summer months. I love New Hope -as a matter of fact, I'm heading there tomorrow : ) Try google ing Lambertville and or New Hope and I'm sure you will find that it's exactly what you are seeking : )

[findinghope]

montclair NJ...all your criteria is right there

[Henna]

Jamaica Plain, Boston comes to mind. There are some incredible, huge houses even though it is in a metropolitan area and on public transportation as well. I think it has a sizable gay/lesbian population, plenty of artists and other professionals and some great eats. I imagine googling it would provide additional info.

Guess this is not exactly between NYC and Washington but it came to mind so thought I would mention it.

[anniebleu]

The only possibility, and it won't fit all your criteria, that I can think of in Delaware might be the Village of Arden (and environs). Check the website(s).

I haven't been in the vicinity for many years, but I've heard that area is still much the same.

It would be near the Wilmington-Newark sprawl, which is one of the reasons we've never sought to live in the area, and also near Philadelphia. The roads--I-95, etc., in that area make me crazy, but you may well be used to this, given where you're currently located.

Good luck.

[Marodi]

Originally Posted by ccb138

Hello all,

I am facing a sizable dilemma and would appreciate any assistance which could be offered.

I am originally from the east coast, and moved out and lived in the bay area california for 3 years. I'm coming back primarily to be closer to home and family and the things about the east coast that i love. Amazingly enough this includes the weather! However, there are some things in the bay area which I've come to truly love and I'm hoping to find somewhere in the northeast/midatlantic which contains enough of them for me to finally be able to truly call somewhere a home again.

Here is what I'm looking for:

For work reasons, I need to be in or near to a metropolitan area.

I'm open to the northeast and midatlantic. Ideal is between NYC and Washington, but I'd consider further for the right spot.

I NEED the place to be liberal, especially socially. I want a town/neighborhood which is lgbt friendly, and known for it.

I do not want pretentiousness. I don't care if my neighbor drives a BMW and I'd prefer it to be a non-issue. I'd love most a place where a starving artist and an affluent CEO can be friends, sit down and have coffee, and this would be normal. Preferably, the town/area would not be specifically one age group, i.e, i don't want only young professionals, or only families, or only elderly retirees. When I have a family I want them to grow up in a place which has all sorts and exposes them to those parts of the community, but is not downtown NYC.

I want this to exist in a more suburban option when I'm done with living downtown/ in the big city, i.e., to raise a family and have a big backyard to garden in

I'd like the more suburban option to NOT be cookie cutter. What I would love is an older more historic town which has victorian/edwardian or craftsman style homes, colorful if possible. (ala San Francisco and Berkeley/Oakland) Parks would be nice too

I'd like it if I'd occasionally see someone with purple hair, and this would not be shocking.

Good non chain coffee shops/ bookstores / pubs / etc...

I do not need the entire region I live in to be like this, as that simply isn't possible, but just a town or part of a town somewhere would be wonderful.

I suppose what I want is a bastion of bay area lifestyle/thought in the midst of the east coast that I love dearly.

In summation, a Bohemian/Eclectic neighborhood where all sorts are welcomed, and it's possible to have a big green backyard with a garden.

Thank you all!!!

P.S. Cost is not an issue

I'd shoot for NJ.

[mikandmari]

Check out New Hope, PA. Very cool!

[BacktoNE]

Further north and smaller, but Portland Maine might work for you.

[mead]

You want hippy neighborhoods?

Ithaca, NY
New Hope, PA/Lawrenceville, NJ

Montclair, NJ more wealthy Yuppies than Hippies, but the same vibe I guess.

[jonjj]

Takoma Park, Maryland--"the Berkeley of the east"

Takoma Park, Maryland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia