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You Might Be From Capitol Hill (DC) If ...

By
Real Estate Agent with RLAH / @properties DC / MD / VA

With a nod to Jon Kolsky who finally clued me in with his entry for a contest that had fully escaped me...

You Might Be From Capitol Hill (the Washington DC one, not a bunch of others) If ...

  • You have an extra bedroom and a futon for the perpetual stream of out of town family for school trips, cub scout outings, annual ...
  • ... Cherry Blossoms. when a gazillion plus people come into the city for a week
    (and they all want to stay with you, see the prior bullet)

Cherry Trees 7th St SE

  • You have an "english basement" apartment who's rent pays your entire pre-2006 mortgage (that being the apartment beneath the sidewalk level in this photo)Linden 2015 Snowstorm
  • This snowstorm (above) of 3-5" will have schools closed for at least 2 days.  During this time, you cannot bring your kids to slide down from the Capitol and Capitol Hill, though you can expect the US Capitol Police will revoke these regulations within the next year or two allowing you to soon do this
  • You know which US House or Senate offices your neighbors work (and hence, their political affiliation).  Every one else in town is quiet on these matters.
  • You know which weeks Congress is in session (hint: Tuesday-Thursday, a few weeks per season)
  • You know what the Supreme Court is debating this week and yuo know their meeting periods too
  • You know all the Museusm are free (can't understand why people pay in NYC)
  • You know how to smoothly parallel park while holding the phone to your ears and understand exactly what you need to do in these conditions (and you KNOW Capitol Hill is the coveted Zone 6): 
dc parking 1 dc parking 2
  • You have no idea what a Home Depot is, but you know that Frager's Garden Department is on E St SE while Frager's Paint Department is on Pennsylvania Ave SE.  Why would anyone go anywhere else?
  • You have no need to give people directions to your neighborhood because you KNOW the entire country, and a good chunk of the world revolves around your axis (regardless of wha other bigger cities may think)

(parking photos from http://washingtondcparking.blogspot.com/)

Posted by

Claude Labbe, Realty for Your Busy Life

Real Living | At Home
11 Dupont Circle #650
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 518-8781 bus / (703) 868-7774 mobile
claude@labbe.com

 

Show All Comments
Robert Bob Gilbert
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties - Katy, TX
Your Katy TX ( West of Houston) Real Estate Expert

Claude, good list of points about DC. We do love to visit DC but stay at a hotel as we have no relatives to stay with. I do like the English Basement comment.. Some funny stuff.. 

May 02, 2015 09:46 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Claude, we have been to DC but not with kids. We were on vacation and stopped in for a day or two.

May 02, 2015 12:10 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Robert (Bob) Gilbert English basements are a God-send to the owner/landlord, but honestly are also am important resource for many people who are looking for a 1bedroom apartment; and it allows greater density in the city which helps with sprawl.

Evelyn Johnston Showing up without kids just makes a different vacation.  When it's adults only, then we often do a Segway tour of the city.  I'll have to do one again and take photos so I can post about it.

May 02, 2015 02:52 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Claude,

I love this contest and especially your entry..learning so much about different cities in our country. It's been quite a while since I have been to DC. My sister worked their when she first got out of college! I'd love to see the photos from a Segway tour of your city..great idea!

May 02, 2015 10:33 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Dorie Dillard good, then I've got another reason to suggest the tour the next time we've got adults who want to see more than just the usual been-there/done-that museums.

May 03, 2015 01:57 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Wow, sounds soooo different from Los Angeles;)

But we do have cherry trees too ( maybe the only thing in common:).

May 03, 2015 03:40 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Inna Ivchenko Surely you don't have any concerns about snow days.

May 03, 2015 04:19 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Claude. Love your post, have been in the DC area a number of times, always enjoy our visits.

Make it a great week!

May 03, 2015 07:03 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

no, even about rainy days. Bring them on!

p.s. I think some of our museums are free too, yet, you have to pay $10-20 for parking and some special exhibitions/movies/lectures require a ticket that can be very pricey.

May 03, 2015 07:14 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

btw, I missed that contest as well and I really have a lot to say about Hell-Lay:) It is a love/hate relationship. I love it dearly, but it has bumps and thorns:)

May 03, 2015 07:19 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Joe Petrowsky It's a fun town, and not that far from Conn; glad you've made the trip.

May 04, 2015 12:15 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Claude

OK I'm not from Washington . . . . Is there a supermarket in Washington DC? I know there's a small store by DuPont Circle and a specialty supermarket in Georgetown. Or do you eat out everyday . . . . that would work.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

May 08, 2015 05:58 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Lou Ludwig There are several run of the mill supermarkets, and several trendier supermarkets (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods), and there's also Mom's Organic Market, a local chain that is doing very well.

And a few places to eat if you don't want to cook at home.

May 08, 2015 01:40 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

I've known about the Cherry Blossom season but the rest of these were surprising and the following two were hillarious:

"You know how to smoothly parallel park while holding the phone to your ears and understand exactly what you need to do in these conditions (and you KNOW Capitol Hill is the coveted Zone 6)" and

"You have no need to give people directions to your neighborhood because you KNOW the entire country, and a good chunk of the world revolves around your axis (regardless of wha other bigger cities may think)."

P.S. You might be interested to know I took my kids (when they were young) to D.C. during Spring Break and it was Cherry Blossom time. Both kids had to write an essay on what they did during Spring Break and what was memorable. Both of them wrote an essay on how I dragged them to D.C. to smell the flowers and they were bored and the only memorable part of the trip was sitting at the bar at the hotel drinking kiddie cocktails while their mother was conversing with the bartender.


 

 

May 09, 2015 11:59 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Patricia Feager, MBA, GRI, Cert Negotiations Expert, Military Relo Prof The comments about the kids is prescient, because I'm sure thinking they've got Mom's genetic sense of humor and her take on reality.  Perfect.

Thank you for commenting, and it reminds me, I've got to update myself and put a few posts up.

Happy Mothers Day 2015.  (I'll expect your kids' cards aren't sappy, but more tongue in cheek)

May 09, 2015 12:07 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Claude, when I say the greatest challenge I ever had on earth was raising those two kids of mine alone, I meant it! But I got even with them many times like waking them up in the middle of the night to roll tires down the street with me to drop off those old tires the gas station told me they'd take for free to recycle but I had to bring it to them. I hope someday that when I'm old I get to live with one of them and take out my revenge! Thanks for wishing me a Happy Mother's Day. You're probably the only one who will wish me that!

May 09, 2015 12:16 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Claude ... great post about your community, Localism and love the photos 

May 09, 2015 12:33 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Robert (Vegas Bob) Swetz I saw a great parking sign a few days ago, I've got to get back and snap it because it was so perfectly illogical.

As for the snow, did I hear a basbeball game in Denver was cancelled because of snow today? 

Joan Cox or David Shamansky Can either of you confirm snow in Denver?

May 09, 2015 12:52 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Great post Claude Labbe I have not been to your fair city for about 50 years and reading this makes me want to return for a segway tour.

May 10, 2015 12:55 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Bob "RealMan" Timm I'll have to tell you about the last one we booked, and was cancelled because of thunder storms.  Yes, I'm thinking we dodged a bullet on that one, but it sure would have been a most interesting ride.

May 10, 2015 02:13 AM
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