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My H has a temporary job assignment in downtown Washington summer '08. We have 3 children and the housing in question is in/near Adam's Morgan. Is that area safe for children who are preteen/teenage??? From what I read the answer is "no." This is a temporary summer assignment and while I'd love to go with H and have my children experience DC, I just want to get a better feel for that area. Also, do the typical row houses in Adam's Morgan have backyards of any size? Thank you for your help.
Adams Morgan has a high level of bars, gin joints and clubs with the obligatory hordes of drunks, cads and malcontents that patronize such establishments. It boasts some of the best if not the best nightlife in the city. Beyond the inevitable brawls, there is not much danger and I will leave it to you whether you want your kids near an imbibing culture. AM was traditionally a dodgy area, but has gentrified greatly in the last 10 or 20 years. Still there may be a bit of residual sketchiness around, but nothing common sense cannot alleviate. Noise might be your biggest concern. Bourbon Street would not be an unfair comparison.
In my observations, the houses are historic, spacious and lovely, but have little in the way of backyards. About as big as Rocky Balboa's. AM is a very urban area. But it is next to Rock Creek Park which boasts trails, biking, horseback riding, etc. The Zoo is there as well and free. And besides the booze culture, there are many great restaurants and coffee shops.
Its a cool place, but not known as a family area. Does not mean it won't work for three months or so. Ask youself if you could do three months in the French Quarter.
Thanks for your feedback. You gave me a good mental picture of the area. We're going to do it b/c it's just three months and what better education for my children than to spend three months in our nation's capital? But I'm glad I learned from you about the bar culture of the area. We'll spend lots of times in other parts of DC, but I'm glad I'll go in with my eyes wide open concerning the area where we'll be staying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moth
Adams Morgan has a high level of bars, gin joints and clubs with the obligatory hordes of drunks, cads and malcontents that patronize such establishments. It boasts some of the best if not the best nightlife in the city. Beyond the inevitable brawls, there is not much danger and I will leave it to you whether you want your kids near an imbibing culture. AM was traditionally a dodgy area, but has gentrified greatly in the last 10 or 20 years. Still there may be a bit of residual sketchiness around, but nothing common sense cannot alleviate. Noise might be your biggest concern. Bourbon Street would not be an unfair comparison.
In my observations, the houses are historic, spacious and lovely, but have little in the way of backyards. About as big as Rocky Balboa's. AM is a very urban area. But it is next to Rock Creek Park which boasts trails, biking, horseback riding, etc. The Zoo is there as well and free. And besides the booze culture, there are many great restaurants and coffee shops.
Its a cool place, but not known as a family area. Does not mean it won't work for three months or so. Ask youself if you could do three months in the French Quarter.
Thank you. I know about the crime in the area, but what about Biltmore Street, NW (which I assume is Adam's Morgan) - is that area sketchy or safer for a family? I know 18th street (which is just down the street from Biltmore) is where all the bars are located. We wouldn't venture down there, but does the crime and the drunks, et al spill over into the more residential areas of AM? Thanks for the links. It helps!
Firstly, do not listen to that alarmist. Secondly, as I stated before, let the French Quarter be your comparison. Could you live on a nice, elegant street a block or two from Bourbon Street? Make the necessary adustments- NO is 24/7, whereas bars shut down between 2 and 3 am here. The French Quarter is wilder and louder than Adams Morgan.
I suspect you will hear the occassional drunken howls and perhaps once or twice find puke on your steps. That's about as menacing as it gets. Biltmore is a residential street.
Firstly, do not listen to that alarmist. Secondly, as I stated before, let the French Quarter be your comparison. Could you live on a nice, elegant street a block or two from Bourbon Street? Make the necessary adustments- NO is 24/7, whereas bars shut down between 2 and 3 am here. The French Quarter is wilder and louder than Adams Morgan.
I suspect you will hear the occassional drunken howls and perhaps once or twice find puke on your steps. That's about as menacing as it gets. Biltmore is a residential street.
Don't know where you are now, but, so you know ahead of time, it's very hot and humid in the summer here most of the time. This can put a dent in people's lifestyle who like to spend a lot of time outside in summer.
As far as crime, I don't think you have many worries as long as you're extra-careful about locking up the house when you're out and about going alone into sketchier areas, especially after dark.
Parking is a hassle in AM. Unless you have a driveway or something you will probably have to do parallel parking and there may be times you have to drive all around the area looking for a space. Make sure you get a permit asap after you arrive. Using your car less in the city is usually a good idea.
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some date of DC
