Moved to MVT in 2017, been here ever since. Moved apartments once but just down the street. Honestly the neighborhood today is the best it’s been since we’ve lived here.

1. that Safeway is mediocre at best lol. Produce is marginal. Understaffed, so huge lines at 5pm when everyone is off work. It’s fine in a pinch, but we usually trek to Whole Paycheck or Trader Joe’s.

2. metro is convenient enough. I used to walk to Gallery Pl, but recently I’ve started going to Judiciary Sq. I hardly ever walk to Convention Center (for similar reasons why I don’t frequent Gallery Pl).

3. Bar Chinois, D’leña (and the tequila bar downstairs), Bar Taco, Melange, Prost, etc are all great. We’re on a first name basis with the folks at A Baked Joint. It’s a good little block of restaurants.

4. that walk to the mall is longer than you think, but not impossible.

5. see #4

DOWNSIDES: There’s very little street parking, especially since they installed the protected bike lanes (which was great! Don’t get me wrong). Also since the bike lanes, K St is now 2 lanes, and nights and weekends there are always Uber drivers, FedEx/Amazon/UPS always blocking the road to pickup/drop off. If they’re not blocking the road they’re blocking the bike lane. If they’re not blocking the bike lane they’re parked on my alley blocking the entrance to my building (if you do this, fuck you).

Also yeah the rent is going up, but it’s going up everywhere. And the restaurants aren’t cheap. But this isn’t a cheap city. Doesn’t really bother me too much. Overall we’ve stayed because it’s convenient to work, we like the direction the neighborhood is going, we like our neighbors, and our apartment has an awesome view lol.

Let me know you want any specific recs! Would be happy to discuss.

EDIT: also, the dog situation someone else mentioned is accurate. Limited available places for dogs, especially bigger ones. That doesn’t stop anyone it seems, my building is full of dogs big and small.