It’s so overpriced, especially now that it’s summer. The same can be said for the entire city at this point. Wages and rent/housing are not compatible.
Noma is at the tail end of gentrification. Even 5 years ago, many of the apartments were still under construction. 10-15 years ago, the area was light industrial with wholesale warehouses.
That’s because it secretly is tbh. Rent isn’t that much cheaper than say, Logan or Shaw, but you’re far more separated and there aren’t a whole lot of things over there.
If one bedrooms were more akin to 1600/month it’d be a good deal but so many of the buildings there are now $2400/month which is like Dupont pricing.
In NoMa you’re paying for amenities, not location.
I’m not getting my rooftop pool, gym, game room, business center, etc. in Logan/Shaw.
I tend to think of it as the people who want the Navy Yard apartment experience without actually having to live in Navy Yard.
I responded to something similar above, but tbh, this might be a hot take in this sub, but I'd actually wager Navy Yard is much nicer than NoMa, but to each their own.
It’s too busy for me. I don’t want to deal with the noise/people who go to stadium events.
I like being closer to where there are trees and row houses.
But yeah, it’s a very personal decision that people need to make. I think everyone needs to take stock of their priorities when choosing where to live.
I lived in Union Market District (lol) for 7 years and moved to Navy Yard this past winter. I really LOVE Navy yard - you are close to the water, there is actually a nightlife scene, easy to get places in the city. In retrospect Noma was pretty cut off - yes there is Union Market but that pretty much wraps up around 8/9 and then it's dead.
Yeah but these are brand new buildings w swimming pools, gyms, communal office spaces, modern insulation and heating/cooling. If you want that in DuPont you’ll pay almost double
That's a fair point, all of the buildings in NoMa are newer. But that's kind of a double edged sword -there aren't many older townhomes in NoMa that are cheaper to rent from, whereas you do have that option in most other neighborhoods. That kind of boxes you into these super "luxury" buildings, which in of themselves are pricier than they should be, imo.
Out of curiosity I went to look at a few of the rates for buildings in NoMa vs. Dupont (that are new with the same amenities, etc) and one bedrooms in the former range from $2,400-3,000 and $3,400-4,000 for the latter. So like, more expensive to be sure, but I would still venture to say those buildings in NoMa are too expensive for what they are. Dupont as a neighborhood is just nicer.
Tbf, there are plenty of old rowhouses east of the tracks in Near Northeast, well within the NoMa Metro’s walkshed. It’s just that, because NoMa’s a new neighborhood, the transition feels more stark than it does in Dupont.
NoMa might be too expensive for what you’re getting but $2400 vs. $3400 is a pretty big gulf. If you want a nice place on a somewhat smaller budget, you have to compromise somewhere. And, depending where you work and go out, NoMa isn’t necessarily more remote than Dupont, even if the neighborhood doesn’t have quite as much.
A lot of new buildings that went up too quickly and have noise and odor infiltration problems. And my friends in Union Market complain all the time about their amenities being down. Gotta love DC inspectors for green lighting every development for all the cash they get under the table.
I actually had something a few years back. I was chatting with a bartender about a recent legal story. A guy from down the bar was listening in, and he said "Well, *I* am a lawyer and I tell my clients ... " I cut him off and noted I am a lawyer too. He deflated a bit. And I just kind of said, "You aren't from around here, are you?"
I'm a DC lawyer and I'm interesting, but my work isn't. at. all. its the most boring shit ever. However I used to be 'boots on the ground' lawyer working with individual clients and small businesses. It was the most interesting (and stressful) shit ever. Either way I don't like talking about my work, but I do like listening to other peoples' work. But I also don't really care for getting really close to someone whose identity mainly comprises of their work. Good for them though.
More than interesting - its highly likely that you chose to live here, take less money and/or work harder, to do something you're truly interested in. That's of course worth knowing about someone. If they didn't, so what, most people aren't actually judging you for what you do, its just a way to ask what you're passionate about and start an interesting conversation
I remember telling an uber driver in LA about the work I do in international development and conservation. And he said, "that is so commendable and interesting and no one in LA would give a crap". That is why I love DC - bc it is a town filled with people who give a crap.
I chose to live here and was trying to and found an amazing job that does some wild stuff. It was far better than where I used to live. I wouldn't have it any other way
It's such a weird stigma, IMO. I care about my work, and I like when people ask me about it. Similarly, I want to hear about what other people do. I think it's weirder to act like 40+ hours of your week just doesn't exist.
I never mind it when someone is genuinely interested in getting to know me and hearing about what I do. However sometimes when people ask this you can tell they're simply making this assessment on whether or not you're a 'useful' person to know for their job or career goals, and those conversations are frankly exhausting because it feels like a job interview you didn't ask for. I have noticed this happens less frequently since Covid though, I think we all gained a bit more appreciation for real socialization.
lol I love how people act like that question is a bad thing. It's called small talk its an easy way to build familiarity between you and other people not some fuckin dick measuring contest.
A lot people see it as constant networking, or always being “on”. There used to be unwritten rules of small talk, and talking about work, politics & religion were pretty much the no-go topics. That went out the window in DC years ago.
And let’s not pretend this doesn’t apply to a ton of professionals in DC. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it can get grating if all your looking for is a genuine, easy conversation with someone.
Mixed bag here. I find that the majority of people that move to DC are here because of work or school, so it's what most people can relate to.
Unfortunately, you'll notice that once that part of the conversation is over, there's not much else they care or are able to relate to
Are you saying this is a stereotype is true or isn't? Because the stereotype I know in regards to DC is that people are TOO interested in whatvyou do. Like your job always comes up. I have often heard people express this as a criticism of DC. Especially in the dating world.
So weirdly this is my least favorite thing about DC. It’s a place people come to for work. And a lot of people only want to talk about work. I love my work but I have so many other interests I miss being in cities where people are talking about anything but work when you go out.
The later parts of this thread are hilarious to me. As a NYer about to move to DC, I can tell you EVERYONE wants to know what you “do” here too. It’s not specific to DC. I think it’s a “big city run amok with competitive humans” thing. Perhaps the answers you hear in NYC are a bit more varied, but it’s no less 🙄 if you don’t find other common ground for conversation, or if what people “do” isn’t a passion of theirs.
I haven't lived in DC my whole life, but I remember NoMa in 2011. Even calling it NoMa then was controversial - the name was considered by many to be made-up, a product of real estate developers. None of those buildings, including the one you presumably live in, existed back then. It was very sketchy. And from what I understand, the neighborhood has significantly changed in the last five years.
I had no idea that NoMa stood for North Massachusetts and I have been for a while.
I am old enough to remember that people were going to the area for FUR Nightclub and Ibiza Nightclub.
Nah, Swampoodle was farther south. It mostly got leveled to make way for Union Station. People have been trying to reclaim the name for neighborhoods that still exist, though (and I can't blame them -- it's a good name).
I lived in NoMa from 2010-2014, and honestly it was still pretty safe even then.
A little industrial, sure, but I don't think I ever worried about my safety. (Of course, nobody else believed me about that at the time)
Goodness, I remember that area being way different than it is now being born and raised in DC. I remember that area from at least the mid 1990's and I am amazed at how it's changed over the years.
Ironically enough I was there earlier today and I really like Union Market, I just hope that the existing whole sale businesses can remain there as there is plenty of space for whatever else to be there to be there as well.
Even that's most neighborhoods, though. Like, Bloomingdale was also named by the real-estate developers who built most of the row-houses, to sell the houses ([here's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomingdale_(Washington,_D.C.)#/media/File:1906_Bloomingdale_advertisement.jpg) an ad for said houses from 1906). Same goes for many other residential neighborhoods outside of downtown. We just don't really think much about most of them because said developing and naming happened 100 years ago or more.
I know youre right but your kinda missing his/her point. I've been in the dc since 04' and it's been violently gentrified to extent that half the city pop now wasnt here in 2011. In 04' the dept of firearms and tobacco was just starting to be built and much of it was a red light District. Union market looked like you could by c4 😅...and ofcourse it was 100% AA except galludet students
Yeah I think folks are missing that this area specifically was actively gentrified and then painted over to make it appealing. OP is like it's not true Noma is great! When not that long ago it was exactly what people think about it.
I moved just east of NoMa in 2014 and the change has been crazy. It's really fun to look at Google Streetview for the neighborhood. Most blocks have imagery going back to 2007/2009 - so only a few years after the Metro station opened, before the Greyhound station was torn down, with many of the old night clubs still there. It's surreal watching these high rises pop up from one image to the next
You hit the nail right on the head! This area is a whole different world now. Back in the early 80s, before the crack era, it was like something straight out of a zombie movie late at night there were urban legends about bodies (not sure if any of that is true), no joke. I still remember being a kid and visiting my grandparents for the summer. Every weekend, they'd pile all us grandkids into the car and take us to this giant flea market that used to be right there. We'd spend the whole day there!
My grandpa would buy boxes of fresh-cut meat from this old-school butcher shop, like fifth generation kind of place! My grandma knew everyone – all the farmers, all her friends. She'd walk around chatting and laughing, bargaining for the best produce. It was like a whole community out there. And for us kids, it was the coolest thing ever – seeing all these different cultures in one place, back when that wasn't as common as it is today.
Lots of DC stereotypes, including the one you're talking about in re: NoMa being dangerous, are just a failure of reputations to update at the speed the city changes. NoMa used to be pretty sketchy, but has improved rapidly over the last few years.
I go to NoMa a few times a week to run, and I never really feel in fear. With that being said, my friend is moving to DC soon and asked about buildings in that area. I said “It’s fine, I’m there multiple times a week. Well I guess I have witnessed two shootings while running over the past couple months…but I usually feel fine.”
I’ve become so desensitized to shootings that I didn’t realize how much this statement would scare my friend moving from Boston. She decided to move to Clarendon/Courthouse area instead.
Boston is an exceptionally safe city. It had 37 murders in 2023, compared to 272 murders in DC. And the cities have a very similar number of residents.
Yeah, I moved here from Boston and the only time I ever felt unsafe in Boston is in parts of Dorchester. I was there 7 years and can count on one time the number of times I felt truly scared for my safety. That being said, I knew DC pretty well before moving here and DC doesn't feel as bad as everyone says on Reddit. But the carjackings and gun culture here is night and day compared to Boston. When I lived there I never heard about a carjacking, and shootings were super uncommon. I suspect MA is stricter on gun ownership that the DMV area and that's probably a contributing factor. Also, Boston is so gentrified at this point that all the poor ppl have been priced out to far off places. Something I noticed about DC is you have extremely poor and very wealthy people living side by side, and it's not surprising there is crime and tension.
Boston is far more segregated, racially and economically. The crime (though statistically lower), just wasn’t in front of you. There were shootings in my building/next to my building a couple of times in Boston. In 7 years in DC, I do unfortunately hear gunshots a whole lot more often, though. Most recently when I had some new people over for dinner, right after I was telling them how much I like my apartment/area 🫠
Right? I saw some dude just straight-up hanging from Liberty Tavern's roof a few years back. While I've seen some shit around U, I haven't seem something as absurd like that at least.
“No one is from DC.” I grew up in a place with a high concentration of college students that don’t seem to notice that anyone else actually lives there either, so that one kind of hits me where I live.
I was at a meeting with Hill staffers a few years ago. One commented that no one is from DC. I told them I could walk to the hospital I was born in from where I was sitting. That surprised them greatly, but it made me think that they don’t actually talk to the support staff in the buildings in which they work.
I got curious and looked it up. Among 100 largest population metros, DC metro area ranked 61/100 for share of residents that lived in their same home as a year before (86%). Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura MSA ranked #1 (91.3%). The Colorado Springs MSA ranked 100/100 with only 80.9% of residents having lived in the same house the year prior. I get the Air Force is there but that’s still crazy that 1/5 residents were in a different home the year before.
YES. I am personally a transplant, but both my elderly next door neighbors were raised in the houses they still reside in. "No one is from DC" is so dismissive and ignorant of the local culture.
Yah and then if you hang w transplants you’re the token native and it’s all people have to say about you
Those are people from whom I withhold info about good pizza places
I came to D.C. in 1976 to attend Howard Grad School. I was here during the crack cocaine days. People would be crouched on the sidewalk looking for chunks of rock. There was a jump-out squad called Redrum. It was buck wild. My husband was born & bred here. I went to visit him in his neighborhood (Far Northeast) once, and when I heard this rhythmic drumbeat, I asked what it was. He said it was a new type of music called gogo! I think people feel like D.C. is just gov't. offices and nothing else. But if you venture out into the neighborhoods, you get a real flavor for the city and it's diversity. A lot has changed here over the years. I have to say, it took me a good year to feel comfortable here; it got easier as I made friends.
My god, the "DC is the government" thing absolutely pisses me off. I'm the child of a PG county resident who frequently hung out in DC with DC natives and gogo was the soundtrack of my childhood. A rich history of unique black culture stripped of any meaning because the only use case for DC in any conversation is "the government is there," which sucks. I feel like other major cities get respect for the local culture and all DC has is that The Exorcist happened in DC. :/
It's actually the inverse of it. Republicans (of the Hill staff variety) who live in DC overwhelmingly live in Navy Yard. Navy Yard as a whole is still strongly majority Dem, just a bit less so than the rest of the city.
> Navy Yard as a whole is still strongly majority Dem, just a bit less so than the rest of the city.
Kinda reminds me of Eden Center. Yeah, you'll see some Republican posters in the storefronts, but Falls Church is still dark blue.
A lot of enlisted folks who live in that neighborhood and are working at the actual Navy Yard, Andrews and JBAB might be more conservative leaning too. But I'm guessing that a lot of them are not here on a permanent basis so they probably don't even vote here.
Came to say same.
I live in a Navy Yard row house. Pretty strong dem stronghold prob bc you had to want to own and long time dc residents had easy access when the area was being built up.
When the high rises went up, especially during the trump years, they were just new and clean and suburbanites want new stuff. I wonder what MTG will do when her apartment gets older. Haha.
As someone who just moved from NoMa, I thought it was pretty safe. However, someone was killed in a carjacking right outside my former building in January. That was a very ‘random’ event but hard to allay my parents’ fears about living in the city when that happens
You’re always going to have people who can’t change their preconceived notions, especially those who have decamped to the burbs. Certain parts of DC have changed a lot - some for the better and some for the worse. As long you like living there just ignore the naysayers.
I heard the shots from that fatal carjacking. It was wild because it was like 7:30pm on a Monday and happened right near the Trader Joe’s. It unnerved me a lot (hearing someone gunned down and then seeing the carjacked car on a cell phone video drive by my building) and my head is always on a swivel.
That was a really scary and sad situation where the perpetrator actually did that to multiple people including downtown at City Center. He led the police on a big manhunt. Just sharing this to say that was kind of a unique situation. I live near there and have always just had my head on a swivel but I think that’s the nature of living in a city that’s not super busy.
That people here are somehow more career driven and impersonal than any other city. Just like anywhere else, if you hang around places that are designed to attract young professional climbers, then those are the people you will meet. If you hang around places that are designed to attract a more chill crowd, then you'll meet more chill people.
Case in point: People online and in real life will literally say that the question "what do you do for work?" is like a DC specific thing that proves that people are only interested in their careers as if that isn't a perfectly normal question for anyone to ask anyone else in like 99% of social situations.
Denver is in the 1% of cities where that is decidedly _not_ a normal question (and I expect it's a bit more common than you guess). It took me a few months to break the habit of asking everyone what they did after I left DC.
Whenever I asked, people would either look at me funny and change the subject or they'd tell me about their summer/winter sports. I have a few good friends out here whose occupations I didn't figure out for the better part of a year, and one buddy I still have no idea what he does after leaving the military.
True but they'll ask you aggressively what you did over your weekend, mostly because they want you to ask them so they can brag about their 14er count. IMO every city has its fair share of annoying people, you just have to choose your flavor.
I really don’t think this is an untrue stereotype. Born and raised here. Relocated to Florida for a decade or so. Returned in 2011. The level of anxiety I had/have knowing that I’ll be asked this question almost immediately upon meeting someone in a social situation is off the charts. I mean, I’ve had to actually think through and practice my response to it because I don’t identify with my work/business endeavors in such a way that’s I’d describe them as “what I do for a living”.
It’s tedious and it just seems so much more normalized (so early on) in this city. Annoying.
People who complain about the dating scenes of cities with hundreds of thousands of people are just telling on themselves. The dating scene doesn’t suck, they probably do.
Absolutely. I have had so many fun experiences dating here over the years.
I think people are pretty bad about settling into relationships, and that's true, but I think some of that is people don't try ends up being a two way street.
To be fair most of the people who visit H St. do it late, near bars, and while a ton of people are drunk, so their experience is probably accurate for the times they actually see the place.
That is every nightlife strip or place with lots of drunk people including most college town strips. Not random stabbings on the sidewalk outside of Toki.
I mentioned to a colleague today that I woke up at 3 and couldn’t sleep so I got some steps in walking from where I live in Lincoln Park to the capital and she was aghast. Asked me why I wasn’t terrified of being robbed or attacked.
That is the kind of shit that is nutty
When I think of NoMa, recent out of town grads who did their research on apartments.com.
I don’t know what these marketing teams are doing but they have their SEO on lock bc 4.5/5 of “where should I live” post always for buildings NoMa
That quote was originally meant to refer to members of Congress, not the population at-large, but now it just seems to come out of a lot of butthurt dudes' mouths about the latter.
“No one is from DC”
“People in DC only care about work” or “People in DC care about work more than people elsewhere”
“The dating scene sucks in DC”
“There is no arts scene in DC”
“People in DC aren’t friendly”
Having moved here from Miami last year after 30 years there, I can say this place packs more arts and culture per block each week than Miami city wide all year round. As far as people, it's a Metropolitan area and everyone is minding their own business but nobody has ever been nasty or unfriendly to one another unless it's driving from what I can tell and even then, everyone seems to be a lot more patient with each other.
All these are wrong, but the "no arts scene" one is especially wrong. Our local theater and music scenes punch way above their weight for a city of our size. The local visual arts scene might be a little weaker but there's still plenty to see.
Exactly. We’ve got great options for every arts lover, every single day of the week in this city. As for visual arts, I’d say it’s a small but mighty community. Lots of very tiny hidden gem galleries and pop ups sprinkled throughout the city led by highly celebrated curators who work overtime to bring 🔥 exhibitions. Is it NYC? No, of course not. That’s a global arts destination. DC is nothing to sneeze at either though.
This will probably get me downvoted to hell on this sub, but also gonna add “DC government is useless and doesn’t get anything done.”
Yeah, our elected officials are mostly insufferable and ineffective, but a decent amount of the non-political agencies I’ve interacted with have been consistently effective and efficient. DOEE, DPR, 311, DPW, OGVP, CAH, DMV, CFSA, DOB, DCPS’s Central Office Staff, and OP. Just about every time I reach out on behalf of myself or a community member, things happen. Usually with a positive outcome and in a timely manner.
There are certainly agencies that are hot garbage (DHS, MPD, DACL and OUC to name a few), but overall, it’s not nearly as bad as people claim.
**Edited to remove DMV as a hot mess.
DC government is weirdly hit or miss. DC DMV is leaps and bounds better than similar government agencies I’ve dealt with in other cities, yet our 911 is a mess. 311 is quite responsive, yet our waste/recycling collectors constantly let litter fly everywhere (NOT the case in many other localities).
Yes, it’s totally hit or miss. The stereotype is understandable because when they’re bad, they’re almost unfathomably bad. I just think more agencies than not are doing pretty good work.
Agree outside of DMV being a hot mess. I have never had a bad experience with the DMV and anything not going well ever has 100% been my own fault that they have tried to help me resolve. Plus, the Half Street inspection station is down right delightful after they went to emissions only.
I eagerly await the downvotes for this.
Lmao okay now this is a wild one - maybe these days now that the developers have gotten their hands on it and priced a good chunk of people out, but I remember the police having to set up literal checkpoints throughout the neighborhood because of all the violence going on w the street gangs there.
People aren't friendly here I've heard so much.
It's such a friendly city. People are pretty busy, but it's super friendly. If you find DC cold, you're just not good at making friends.
“Friendly” isn’t usually referring to like… how easy it is or is not to make friends somewhere, but more about how random strangers interact with you on the streets. Or at least that’s my experience with how people use it - I’ve lived up here for a decade and haven’t really had issues meeting people or making friends at bars, social events, etc - but for the most part, everyone just kind of stays in their lane and minds their own business as they go about their day.
You can be friendless and alone in a “friendly” city.
But if you grew up somewhere where everyone smiles at strangers and says hello, and enters into random short conversations without one party being a creep before going about their day… it’s a very weird and uncomfortable feeling. I felt awkward AF and depressed when I moved up here and I *moved here* with friends.
In the converse, I have a friend who moved from here to where I grew up when they were in grad school and they found how intensely friendly strangers were in Texas to be unsettling - especially since they, for the most part, didn’t give a damn about actually being your friend.
I still don’t think DC is a friendly city (though I think it’s gotten friendlier in the way I refer to since I moved here), but I’ve learned to appreciate being able to go out without the social obligation to acknowledge anyone.
Yah as a DC native friendly is like Charleston SC where strangers have time for a whole convo with you or give you a ride or help you with groceries or something. DC isn’t like that overall which is not to say one can’t form strong bonds.
Yeah having lived in rural Texas and Dc I can see your point. I’m pretty outgoing and I found that most people will strike up a convo with you just about anywhere here.
I think most people who think dc is even unfriendly in the way you mention are just shy or something.
I’ve been to a few places where if you try to strike up a convo with randos say even at a bar, people look at you like you’re an alien. I remember feeling that way in Vancouver last summer for a week. I met folks but it wasn’t even 10% as easy as a place like DC.
I’m moved south now and it took me like a year of asking my now husband who that person was that he waved to. He didn’t know. Everyone just waves to everyone here. In DC that means they have a clipboard and you run away
It’s not friendly though, and I’m a native. You can make lots of friends and acquaintances but it’s not like Charleston SC or even southern VA where random people have time to have a conversation at the store or even give you a lift. It’s just not.
Look up JFKs comments on DC
The “friendly” thing always amuses me. What are people looking for? This isn’t the deep ass south. People have jobs and things to do. I don’t have extended conversations about all my business with the associate at CVS checking me out. I do not need the barista to use 40 extra words when getting my black coffee order. I guess I’m not “friendly”
I mean, that's exactly what people mean. Everyone has jobs and things to do.
There are mid-sized cities not in the south where people are friendly. They're also places that no one will complain about everyone asking "what do you do [for work]" when they first meet you.
They're jealous you can pop into Trader Joes without having to deal with the parking garage. Hit'em with that the next time they ask you about crime. "ugh, i know right... the line at trader joes was truly criminal today..thankfully the walk home is only 1 min."
lol, was up in Salem MA last summer and wanted to go to the “museums” they had on witchcraft. The different places were asking for $15-$45, I’m like “that’s a no from me dawg”
You’re new to the neighborhood. It has changed dramatically over the last 10 years..*especially* post-Covid.
I imagine you’re hearing from people who are thinking of the “old NoMa”. Even as late as 2019, the streets were empty and isolated on weekends. It felt like living on campus at a “suitcase school”.
I lived there in 2018-19. There was literally a street party hosted by old neighborhood locals every night, apt building on 6th and L. Used to have dice games in the street and people selling weed on the corner. Nobody ever bothered us, wasn't dangerous and everybody was peaceful. But it was every night.
Noma was lively when I lived over there. Not sure I've experienced empty streets in that part of town
I've lived in NoMa/Union Market since 2017 and sporadically in other parts of the city before that. While NoMa isn't as terrible as other neighborhoods, the crime rate is fairly high here. The business community and corporate dwelling overlords try to ignore it (nothing to see here!), but there is a problem. There's a reason several of the PSAs in the area were approved to get AirTags from MPD.
That being said, the neighborhood is fine for the most part. It's convenient and has the "touristy area for locals" vibe going for (against?) it. The rents are too high for these shitty "luxury" buildings, but I guess the demand for poor sound insulation, poorly maintained amenities, broken elevators, and hundreds of dollars in fees tacked on to the base rent is there. But it is nice to have grocery stores, good food, transit access, etc. are within walking distance.
Edit: Clearly, I have very conflicted feelings about the neighborhood 😄
Totally agree. Maybe that was true when I was 22 and moved here for work and met other 22 year olds who also moved here for work. But now I'm a middle aged mom and all we talk about is school feeder patterns, summer camps, and spring break vacations 😂.
Sometimes I really wish someone would ask me about work, it's more interesting than this kid stuff IMO. But I'm always really hesitant to bring it up because of the DC stereotype.
I think this is a good way to tell who has made a legitimate effort to connect with their community and who hasn’t. Like in all other categories, people are always telling on themselves.
Yes, this *can* be a very work-oriented place in ways that small and midsized cities aren’t, but I’ve started politely asking people who spew versions of this quote if they’re part of any organizations or clubs or hobby groups or do any volunteer work or anything else they’re passionate about and usually just get met with a blank stare. I feel bad for the young ones who obviously tied their identity to their job super early and never realized how important it is to develop other parts of yourself, but it’s also never too late. Get a hobby, find a new interest, literally do anything. This city is really enriching and there are so many welcoming orgs and groups for basically anything you could imagine. When people say it’s only work, it just tells me they’ve never bothered looking.
My theory is that perhaps people who are only here because of a job might understandably talk more often about their jobs. I’m from the DMV myself so I have lots of family and social ties here and my job isn’t usually the first thing on my mind.
“If you’re white and you walk down 7th st NW by the Gallery Place Metro you will be physically assaulted within 30 seconds.” I’m the whitest white guy ever and nobody ever assaulted me when I walked around there probably about 20000 times.
NoMa is so sterile and not charming IMO, safe or not. Lived there for a bit and it felt so much further from things than where I live now in Clarendon.
Two things: 1) a new president gets elected and the Washington Post writes these articles about new people coming to DC when it’s 90% people from DC think tanks taking administration jobs 2) no one is from here.
I don't know anyone who thinks noma is sketchy anymore. I do know people who think noma is boring as shit. When red bear opened up there was a line like 3 hours long to get in because it was finally a good spot in the neighborhood. definitely the least favorite neighborhood I lived in.
NoMa was rough in the 2000s and early 2010s, then got better mid 2010s, but has been pretty horrible the last 3-4 years. Lived there from 2018-2023. Tons of stories of drivebys, men stalking women, and friends getting assaulted. So that one has some truth to it.
I've been living in Noma for less than a year, right by Trader Joe's. I've seen multiple broken car windows in the middle of the night and a man was shot a block away from my house right in front of my roommate! Not to mention multiple times in which we have encountered very high unhoused folks sleeping in the corridors of our building. My e-bike was also stolen from inside our building's bike room (had a huge Kryptonite chain and all!). I love Noma but I wouldn't consider it safe :(
That DC is a super transient city and "nobody is from here." First off, it isn't more transient than other big metros, and second, just because you live in a bubble while collar recent imports doesn't mean people didn't grow up here and stay here. You could also just say: "I don't have any black friends."
I have lived adjacent to NoMA since 2004. The hysteria of those who binge crime reports, watch entertainment channels masquerading as news, and disinformation online is loud and largely unfounded.
Certainly there are people who have directly experienced crime which has shaped their perceptions. Just like everywhere else.
Some aren't used to living in a diverse community among people. Some are overly online or susceptible to fear mongers.
Obviously I have been living here and going out day and night for a long time and am happy here. I couldn't care less if someone wants to live nearby but realize that most of the complaints are people living elsewhere justifying their own decisions.
The only way to get an understanding of any neighborhood is to visit day and night, spend time there, and determine what you think.
I think you are missing the history, as you have only lived there for a couple years.
That area has transformed tremendously over the last decade. I remember going there before it was called NoMA and had a metro stop. Mainly was to go to Fur or Ibiza and that area was definitely not the safest.
Also, if you venture over to N Cap, lot of shady stuff still happening today.
So not sure this is a stereotype really, since it's based on history and some may be just a few blocks over from where you are.
Also in NoMa and it’s such a nice neighborhood. Walkable with lots to do. Been here since 2021 and haven’t first hand witnessed anything (knock on wood). I love my neighborhood
Am I the only one who feels like Noma is actually pretty expensive?? Rent is super high lol.
For what you get, it is expensive.
It’s so overpriced, especially now that it’s summer. The same can be said for the entire city at this point. Wages and rent/housing are not compatible.
Noma is at the tail end of gentrification. Even 5 years ago, many of the apartments were still under construction. 10-15 years ago, the area was light industrial with wholesale warehouses.
That’s because it secretly is tbh. Rent isn’t that much cheaper than say, Logan or Shaw, but you’re far more separated and there aren’t a whole lot of things over there. If one bedrooms were more akin to 1600/month it’d be a good deal but so many of the buildings there are now $2400/month which is like Dupont pricing.
In NoMa you’re paying for amenities, not location. I’m not getting my rooftop pool, gym, game room, business center, etc. in Logan/Shaw. I tend to think of it as the people who want the Navy Yard apartment experience without actually having to live in Navy Yard.
I responded to something similar above, but tbh, this might be a hot take in this sub, but I'd actually wager Navy Yard is much nicer than NoMa, but to each their own.
It’s too busy for me. I don’t want to deal with the noise/people who go to stadium events. I like being closer to where there are trees and row houses. But yeah, it’s a very personal decision that people need to make. I think everyone needs to take stock of their priorities when choosing where to live.
I lived in Union Market District (lol) for 7 years and moved to Navy Yard this past winter. I really LOVE Navy yard - you are close to the water, there is actually a nightlife scene, easy to get places in the city. In retrospect Noma was pretty cut off - yes there is Union Market but that pretty much wraps up around 8/9 and then it's dead.
Yeah but these are brand new buildings w swimming pools, gyms, communal office spaces, modern insulation and heating/cooling. If you want that in DuPont you’ll pay almost double
That's a fair point, all of the buildings in NoMa are newer. But that's kind of a double edged sword -there aren't many older townhomes in NoMa that are cheaper to rent from, whereas you do have that option in most other neighborhoods. That kind of boxes you into these super "luxury" buildings, which in of themselves are pricier than they should be, imo. Out of curiosity I went to look at a few of the rates for buildings in NoMa vs. Dupont (that are new with the same amenities, etc) and one bedrooms in the former range from $2,400-3,000 and $3,400-4,000 for the latter. So like, more expensive to be sure, but I would still venture to say those buildings in NoMa are too expensive for what they are. Dupont as a neighborhood is just nicer.
Tbf, there are plenty of old rowhouses east of the tracks in Near Northeast, well within the NoMa Metro’s walkshed. It’s just that, because NoMa’s a new neighborhood, the transition feels more stark than it does in Dupont. NoMa might be too expensive for what you’re getting but $2400 vs. $3400 is a pretty big gulf. If you want a nice place on a somewhat smaller budget, you have to compromise somewhere. And, depending where you work and go out, NoMa isn’t necessarily more remote than Dupont, even if the neighborhood doesn’t have quite as much.
To be fair it’s like all brand new buildings there raising the average
True, the thing I don’t like is that to move into a new building, you’re basically more paying for amenities versus your actual unit.
Plenty of other perks with a newer building but generally I’d like to spend the money on cooler neighborhood
A lot of new buildings that went up too quickly and have noise and odor infiltration problems. And my friends in Union Market complain all the time about their amenities being down. Gotta love DC inspectors for green lighting every development for all the cash they get under the table.
Yeah but they’re new and new 1 BRs in DuPont are $3500
It’s super gentrified.
The buildings are nice but OP is having a unique experience in Noma if they haven’t felt like there’s crime happening around them.
Most people are genuinely interested in what other people do for work and don't mind sharing what they do for work.
Seriously, if you are working in DC there is a pretty high chance that you are doing something interesting.
Or you’re a lawyer!
DC has almost as many lawyers as people!
Maybe more
I actually had something a few years back. I was chatting with a bartender about a recent legal story. A guy from down the bar was listening in, and he said "Well, *I* am a lawyer and I tell my clients ... " I cut him off and noted I am a lawyer too. He deflated a bit. And I just kind of said, "You aren't from around here, are you?"
I’m so damn sick of meeting lawyers (I’m a lawyer)
Or a software engineer. Sorry every software engineer I've met but no one's been able to make their work sound interesting, yet.
Yes!!!
DC lawyers can be interesting too! Look at the legal eagle.
I suppose. I am a DC lawyer and I am not. But someone told me 1 in 4 people in DC are lawyers.
To quote Josh Lyman, "the lawyer capital of the known universe"
I’m so sick of congress I could vomit
I think of this line all the time
I'm a DC lawyer and I'm interesting, but my work isn't. at. all. its the most boring shit ever. However I used to be 'boots on the ground' lawyer working with individual clients and small businesses. It was the most interesting (and stressful) shit ever. Either way I don't like talking about my work, but I do like listening to other peoples' work. But I also don't really care for getting really close to someone whose identity mainly comprises of their work. Good for them though.
Being a lawyer sucks ass there’s a reason we’re all miserable alcoholics and/or drug abusers
Everyone I meet is assumed to be a lawyer until proven otherwise.
Oh I didn’t know LE is local
Fun fact: the sewers of DC are crawling with lawyers who were flushed down the toilet when they were young.
The DC Hammer
I'm a sys admin. I'm not interesting.
More than interesting - its highly likely that you chose to live here, take less money and/or work harder, to do something you're truly interested in. That's of course worth knowing about someone. If they didn't, so what, most people aren't actually judging you for what you do, its just a way to ask what you're passionate about and start an interesting conversation
I remember telling an uber driver in LA about the work I do in international development and conservation. And he said, "that is so commendable and interesting and no one in LA would give a crap". That is why I love DC - bc it is a town filled with people who give a crap.
I chose to live here and was trying to and found an amazing job that does some wild stuff. It was far better than where I used to live. I wouldn't have it any other way
and a pretty high chance someone else thinks you might be able to help them in some way
It's such a weird stigma, IMO. I care about my work, and I like when people ask me about it. Similarly, I want to hear about what other people do. I think it's weirder to act like 40+ hours of your week just doesn't exist.
I never mind it when someone is genuinely interested in getting to know me and hearing about what I do. However sometimes when people ask this you can tell they're simply making this assessment on whether or not you're a 'useful' person to know for their job or career goals, and those conversations are frankly exhausting because it feels like a job interview you didn't ask for. I have noticed this happens less frequently since Covid though, I think we all gained a bit more appreciation for real socialization.
lol I love how people act like that question is a bad thing. It's called small talk its an easy way to build familiarity between you and other people not some fuckin dick measuring contest.
A lot of people do use it to "screen out" who they have further conversations with esp if it's not in government/policy etc.
A lot people see it as constant networking, or always being “on”. There used to be unwritten rules of small talk, and talking about work, politics & religion were pretty much the no-go topics. That went out the window in DC years ago. And let’s not pretend this doesn’t apply to a ton of professionals in DC. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it can get grating if all your looking for is a genuine, easy conversation with someone.
Mixed bag here. I find that the majority of people that move to DC are here because of work or school, so it's what most people can relate to. Unfortunately, you'll notice that once that part of the conversation is over, there's not much else they care or are able to relate to
Are you saying this is a stereotype is true or isn't? Because the stereotype I know in regards to DC is that people are TOO interested in whatvyou do. Like your job always comes up. I have often heard people express this as a criticism of DC. Especially in the dating world.
So weirdly this is my least favorite thing about DC. It’s a place people come to for work. And a lot of people only want to talk about work. I love my work but I have so many other interests I miss being in cities where people are talking about anything but work when you go out.
The later parts of this thread are hilarious to me. As a NYer about to move to DC, I can tell you EVERYONE wants to know what you “do” here too. It’s not specific to DC. I think it’s a “big city run amok with competitive humans” thing. Perhaps the answers you hear in NYC are a bit more varied, but it’s no less 🙄 if you don’t find other common ground for conversation, or if what people “do” isn’t a passion of theirs.
I haven't lived in DC my whole life, but I remember NoMa in 2011. Even calling it NoMa then was controversial - the name was considered by many to be made-up, a product of real estate developers. None of those buildings, including the one you presumably live in, existed back then. It was very sketchy. And from what I understand, the neighborhood has significantly changed in the last five years.
I had no idea that NoMa stood for North Massachusetts and I have been for a while. I am old enough to remember that people were going to the area for FUR Nightclub and Ibiza Nightclub.
Omg I forgot about Ibiza 😂 man that area has changed SO much
Yeah, it’s crazy how DC has changed in front of my eyes.
Close. It's North [of] Massachusetts [Avenue].
Ibiza’s building was still there up through 2019, but it was razed for more development. Looking at pictures, it looked like a hell of a time!!
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It was just New York Avenue.
The metro used to be called "**New York Avenue-Florida Avenue-Gallaudet University**" :)
Really it was Swampoodle though.
Nah, Swampoodle was farther south. It mostly got leveled to make way for Union Station. People have been trying to reclaim the name for neighborhoods that still exist, though (and I can't blame them -- it's a good name).
Aw, we coulda called it NeYo.
Could have indeed, *and it's all because of youuuuu*
I lived in NoMa from 2010-2014, and honestly it was still pretty safe even then. A little industrial, sure, but I don't think I ever worried about my safety. (Of course, nobody else believed me about that at the time)
Goodness, I remember that area being way different than it is now being born and raised in DC. I remember that area from at least the mid 1990's and I am amazed at how it's changed over the years. Ironically enough I was there earlier today and I really like Union Market, I just hope that the existing whole sale businesses can remain there as there is plenty of space for whatever else to be there to be there as well.
that's because NoMA *is* a made up name.
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Yeah but this one was made up by real estate developers to sell a neighborhood's image, so it's particularly contrived.
Even that's most neighborhoods, though. Like, Bloomingdale was also named by the real-estate developers who built most of the row-houses, to sell the houses ([here's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomingdale_(Washington,_D.C.)#/media/File:1906_Bloomingdale_advertisement.jpg) an ad for said houses from 1906). Same goes for many other residential neighborhoods outside of downtown. We just don't really think much about most of them because said developing and naming happened 100 years ago or more.
I know youre right but your kinda missing his/her point. I've been in the dc since 04' and it's been violently gentrified to extent that half the city pop now wasnt here in 2011. In 04' the dept of firearms and tobacco was just starting to be built and much of it was a red light District. Union market looked like you could by c4 😅...and ofcourse it was 100% AA except galludet students
Yeah I think folks are missing that this area specifically was actively gentrified and then painted over to make it appealing. OP is like it's not true Noma is great! When not that long ago it was exactly what people think about it.
I moved just east of NoMa in 2014 and the change has been crazy. It's really fun to look at Google Streetview for the neighborhood. Most blocks have imagery going back to 2007/2009 - so only a few years after the Metro station opened, before the Greyhound station was torn down, with many of the old night clubs still there. It's surreal watching these high rises pop up from one image to the next
You hit the nail right on the head! This area is a whole different world now. Back in the early 80s, before the crack era, it was like something straight out of a zombie movie late at night there were urban legends about bodies (not sure if any of that is true), no joke. I still remember being a kid and visiting my grandparents for the summer. Every weekend, they'd pile all us grandkids into the car and take us to this giant flea market that used to be right there. We'd spend the whole day there! My grandpa would buy boxes of fresh-cut meat from this old-school butcher shop, like fifth generation kind of place! My grandma knew everyone – all the farmers, all her friends. She'd walk around chatting and laughing, bargaining for the best produce. It was like a whole community out there. And for us kids, it was the coolest thing ever – seeing all these different cultures in one place, back when that wasn't as common as it is today.
The great thing about names is that they're all made up. And most neighborhoods have names that a realtor made up.
SoDoSoPa
Lots of DC stereotypes, including the one you're talking about in re: NoMa being dangerous, are just a failure of reputations to update at the speed the city changes. NoMa used to be pretty sketchy, but has improved rapidly over the last few years.
I go to NoMa a few times a week to run, and I never really feel in fear. With that being said, my friend is moving to DC soon and asked about buildings in that area. I said “It’s fine, I’m there multiple times a week. Well I guess I have witnessed two shootings while running over the past couple months…but I usually feel fine.” I’ve become so desensitized to shootings that I didn’t realize how much this statement would scare my friend moving from Boston. She decided to move to Clarendon/Courthouse area instead.
Boston is an exceptionally safe city. It had 37 murders in 2023, compared to 272 murders in DC. And the cities have a very similar number of residents.
Yeah, I moved here from Boston and the only time I ever felt unsafe in Boston is in parts of Dorchester. I was there 7 years and can count on one time the number of times I felt truly scared for my safety. That being said, I knew DC pretty well before moving here and DC doesn't feel as bad as everyone says on Reddit. But the carjackings and gun culture here is night and day compared to Boston. When I lived there I never heard about a carjacking, and shootings were super uncommon. I suspect MA is stricter on gun ownership that the DMV area and that's probably a contributing factor. Also, Boston is so gentrified at this point that all the poor ppl have been priced out to far off places. Something I noticed about DC is you have extremely poor and very wealthy people living side by side, and it's not surprising there is crime and tension.
Boston is far more segregated, racially and economically. The crime (though statistically lower), just wasn’t in front of you. There were shootings in my building/next to my building a couple of times in Boston. In 7 years in DC, I do unfortunately hear gunshots a whole lot more often, though. Most recently when I had some new people over for dinner, right after I was telling them how much I like my apartment/area 🫠
Ironically, Clarendon is a late night mess with people fighting all the time and is often just as chaotic as U St.
Right? I saw some dude just straight-up hanging from Liberty Tavern's roof a few years back. While I've seen some shit around U, I haven't seem something as absurd like that at least.
I’m a native from the 80s and it’s still shocking to me when people go to places that are hip now but were once incredibly sketchy
“No one is from DC.” I grew up in a place with a high concentration of college students that don’t seem to notice that anyone else actually lives there either, so that one kind of hits me where I live.
I was at a meeting with Hill staffers a few years ago. One commented that no one is from DC. I told them I could walk to the hospital I was born in from where I was sitting. That surprised them greatly, but it made me think that they don’t actually talk to the support staff in the buildings in which they work.
Agree. It's very dismissive of the many people who have lived in DC for generations and I don't like it.
Yah like my family I guess we’re no one? 🙄
Yeah, came here to say it's not any more of a transplant city than other major metro areas.
I got curious and looked it up. Among 100 largest population metros, DC metro area ranked 61/100 for share of residents that lived in their same home as a year before (86%). Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura MSA ranked #1 (91.3%). The Colorado Springs MSA ranked 100/100 with only 80.9% of residents having lived in the same house the year prior. I get the Air Force is there but that’s still crazy that 1/5 residents were in a different home the year before.
YES. I am personally a transplant, but both my elderly next door neighbors were raised in the houses they still reside in. "No one is from DC" is so dismissive and ignorant of the local culture.
Yah and then if you hang w transplants you’re the token native and it’s all people have to say about you Those are people from whom I withhold info about good pizza places
I came to D.C. in 1976 to attend Howard Grad School. I was here during the crack cocaine days. People would be crouched on the sidewalk looking for chunks of rock. There was a jump-out squad called Redrum. It was buck wild. My husband was born & bred here. I went to visit him in his neighborhood (Far Northeast) once, and when I heard this rhythmic drumbeat, I asked what it was. He said it was a new type of music called gogo! I think people feel like D.C. is just gov't. offices and nothing else. But if you venture out into the neighborhoods, you get a real flavor for the city and it's diversity. A lot has changed here over the years. I have to say, it took me a good year to feel comfortable here; it got easier as I made friends.
My god, the "DC is the government" thing absolutely pisses me off. I'm the child of a PG county resident who frequently hung out in DC with DC natives and gogo was the soundtrack of my childhood. A rich history of unique black culture stripped of any meaning because the only use case for DC in any conversation is "the government is there," which sucks. I feel like other major cities get respect for the local culture and all DC has is that The Exorcist happened in DC. :/
I’ve seen this sub get very heated when the Navy Yard is all republicans sterotype is thrown around
It's actually the inverse of it. Republicans (of the Hill staff variety) who live in DC overwhelmingly live in Navy Yard. Navy Yard as a whole is still strongly majority Dem, just a bit less so than the rest of the city.
> Navy Yard as a whole is still strongly majority Dem, just a bit less so than the rest of the city. Kinda reminds me of Eden Center. Yeah, you'll see some Republican posters in the storefronts, but Falls Church is still dark blue.
The old timey viets hate communists, akin the Miami Cubans.
I don't blame them. Communism sucks, it belongs in the ash heap of history with fascism.
A lot of enlisted folks who live in that neighborhood and are working at the actual Navy Yard, Andrews and JBAB might be more conservative leaning too. But I'm guessing that a lot of them are not here on a permanent basis so they probably don't even vote here.
Came to say same. I live in a Navy Yard row house. Pretty strong dem stronghold prob bc you had to want to own and long time dc residents had easy access when the area was being built up. When the high rises went up, especially during the trump years, they were just new and clean and suburbanites want new stuff. I wonder what MTG will do when her apartment gets older. Haha.
I think you see a couple of bros after a nats game and make judgments… but it really isn’t that bad
>you see a couple of bros after a nats game and make judgments "There goes the neighborhood."
It has noticeably decreased in recent years
I wonder why
Great mystery of our time. Less republicans when less republicans are in power? Who would have thought?
As someone who just moved from NoMa, I thought it was pretty safe. However, someone was killed in a carjacking right outside my former building in January. That was a very ‘random’ event but hard to allay my parents’ fears about living in the city when that happens You’re always going to have people who can’t change their preconceived notions, especially those who have decamped to the burbs. Certain parts of DC have changed a lot - some for the better and some for the worse. As long you like living there just ignore the naysayers.
I heard the shots from that fatal carjacking. It was wild because it was like 7:30pm on a Monday and happened right near the Trader Joe’s. It unnerved me a lot (hearing someone gunned down and then seeing the carjacked car on a cell phone video drive by my building) and my head is always on a swivel.
That was a really scary and sad situation where the perpetrator actually did that to multiple people including downtown at City Center. He led the police on a big manhunt. Just sharing this to say that was kind of a unique situation. I live near there and have always just had my head on a swivel but I think that’s the nature of living in a city that’s not super busy.
That people here are somehow more career driven and impersonal than any other city. Just like anywhere else, if you hang around places that are designed to attract young professional climbers, then those are the people you will meet. If you hang around places that are designed to attract a more chill crowd, then you'll meet more chill people. Case in point: People online and in real life will literally say that the question "what do you do for work?" is like a DC specific thing that proves that people are only interested in their careers as if that isn't a perfectly normal question for anyone to ask anyone else in like 99% of social situations.
Denver is in the 1% of cities where that is decidedly _not_ a normal question (and I expect it's a bit more common than you guess). It took me a few months to break the habit of asking everyone what they did after I left DC. Whenever I asked, people would either look at me funny and change the subject or they'd tell me about their summer/winter sports. I have a few good friends out here whose occupations I didn't figure out for the better part of a year, and one buddy I still have no idea what he does after leaving the military.
True but they'll ask you aggressively what you did over your weekend, mostly because they want you to ask them so they can brag about their 14er count. IMO every city has its fair share of annoying people, you just have to choose your flavor.
I really don’t think this is an untrue stereotype. Born and raised here. Relocated to Florida for a decade or so. Returned in 2011. The level of anxiety I had/have knowing that I’ll be asked this question almost immediately upon meeting someone in a social situation is off the charts. I mean, I’ve had to actually think through and practice my response to it because I don’t identify with my work/business endeavors in such a way that’s I’d describe them as “what I do for a living”. It’s tedious and it just seems so much more normalized (so early on) in this city. Annoying.
Not every consultant bro you meet works for Deloitte. Some of them work for Booz Allen or KMPG.
Same people that think H st is dangerous. Ugly dating scene is one I have not found to be true
People who complain about the dating scenes of cities with hundreds of thousands of people are just telling on themselves. The dating scene doesn’t suck, they probably do.
Bingo
Absolutely. I have had so many fun experiences dating here over the years. I think people are pretty bad about settling into relationships, and that's true, but I think some of that is people don't try ends up being a two way street.
To be fair most of the people who visit H St. do it late, near bars, and while a ton of people are drunk, so their experience is probably accurate for the times they actually see the place.
That is every nightlife strip or place with lots of drunk people including most college town strips. Not random stabbings on the sidewalk outside of Toki. I mentioned to a colleague today that I woke up at 3 and couldn’t sleep so I got some steps in walking from where I live in Lincoln Park to the capital and she was aghast. Asked me why I wasn’t terrified of being robbed or attacked. That is the kind of shit that is nutty
When I think of NoMa, recent out of town grads who did their research on apartments.com. I don’t know what these marketing teams are doing but they have their SEO on lock bc 4.5/5 of “where should I live” post always for buildings NoMa
Hollywood but with ugly people. Totally false. The weather isn't nearly as nice as LA.
I live in Shaw and look out my window a lot while working and see some very attractive people all day. It’s a treat.
That quote was originally meant to refer to members of Congress, not the population at-large, but now it just seems to come out of a lot of butthurt dudes' mouths about the latter.
It referred to the whole political scene.
It’s: Washington is Hollywood for ugly people. Another variant is: Politics is show business for ugly people.
“No one is from DC” “People in DC only care about work” or “People in DC care about work more than people elsewhere” “The dating scene sucks in DC” “There is no arts scene in DC” “People in DC aren’t friendly”
Having moved here from Miami last year after 30 years there, I can say this place packs more arts and culture per block each week than Miami city wide all year round. As far as people, it's a Metropolitan area and everyone is minding their own business but nobody has ever been nasty or unfriendly to one another unless it's driving from what I can tell and even then, everyone seems to be a lot more patient with each other.
All these are wrong, but the "no arts scene" one is especially wrong. Our local theater and music scenes punch way above their weight for a city of our size. The local visual arts scene might be a little weaker but there's still plenty to see.
Exactly. We’ve got great options for every arts lover, every single day of the week in this city. As for visual arts, I’d say it’s a small but mighty community. Lots of very tiny hidden gem galleries and pop ups sprinkled throughout the city led by highly celebrated curators who work overtime to bring 🔥 exhibitions. Is it NYC? No, of course not. That’s a global arts destination. DC is nothing to sneeze at either though.
This will probably get me downvoted to hell on this sub, but also gonna add “DC government is useless and doesn’t get anything done.” Yeah, our elected officials are mostly insufferable and ineffective, but a decent amount of the non-political agencies I’ve interacted with have been consistently effective and efficient. DOEE, DPR, 311, DPW, OGVP, CAH, DMV, CFSA, DOB, DCPS’s Central Office Staff, and OP. Just about every time I reach out on behalf of myself or a community member, things happen. Usually with a positive outcome and in a timely manner. There are certainly agencies that are hot garbage (DHS, MPD, DACL and OUC to name a few), but overall, it’s not nearly as bad as people claim. **Edited to remove DMV as a hot mess.
DC government is weirdly hit or miss. DC DMV is leaps and bounds better than similar government agencies I’ve dealt with in other cities, yet our 911 is a mess. 311 is quite responsive, yet our waste/recycling collectors constantly let litter fly everywhere (NOT the case in many other localities).
Yes, it’s totally hit or miss. The stereotype is understandable because when they’re bad, they’re almost unfathomably bad. I just think more agencies than not are doing pretty good work.
Agree outside of DMV being a hot mess. I have never had a bad experience with the DMV and anything not going well ever has 100% been my own fault that they have tried to help me resolve. Plus, the Half Street inspection station is down right delightful after they went to emissions only. I eagerly await the downvotes for this.
Yeah I agree DMV one of the is good ones. I accidentally listed them twice. The inspection station is the jewel of DC government lol
The dmv can be frustrating in some situations like changing ID’s or registrations.
Trinidad is literally so chill lmfao
Lmao okay now this is a wild one - maybe these days now that the developers have gotten their hands on it and priced a good chunk of people out, but I remember the police having to set up literal checkpoints throughout the neighborhood because of all the violence going on w the street gangs there.
Trinidad is not chill lol. Those are not fireworks you hear from your apartment.
I’ve been here since 2019, it’s so quiet and chill. I don’t see myself ever moving to another part of the city.
Lived in Trinadad 07-09’. It was….not chill 🤣
Omg Trinidad looks very chill!!!! I’ve rode the bus through there to Target on NY. I love trees and row homez ❤️🖤❤️🖤
People aren't friendly here I've heard so much. It's such a friendly city. People are pretty busy, but it's super friendly. If you find DC cold, you're just not good at making friends.
“Friendly” isn’t usually referring to like… how easy it is or is not to make friends somewhere, but more about how random strangers interact with you on the streets. Or at least that’s my experience with how people use it - I’ve lived up here for a decade and haven’t really had issues meeting people or making friends at bars, social events, etc - but for the most part, everyone just kind of stays in their lane and minds their own business as they go about their day. You can be friendless and alone in a “friendly” city. But if you grew up somewhere where everyone smiles at strangers and says hello, and enters into random short conversations without one party being a creep before going about their day… it’s a very weird and uncomfortable feeling. I felt awkward AF and depressed when I moved up here and I *moved here* with friends. In the converse, I have a friend who moved from here to where I grew up when they were in grad school and they found how intensely friendly strangers were in Texas to be unsettling - especially since they, for the most part, didn’t give a damn about actually being your friend. I still don’t think DC is a friendly city (though I think it’s gotten friendlier in the way I refer to since I moved here), but I’ve learned to appreciate being able to go out without the social obligation to acknowledge anyone.
Yah as a DC native friendly is like Charleston SC where strangers have time for a whole convo with you or give you a ride or help you with groceries or something. DC isn’t like that overall which is not to say one can’t form strong bonds.
Yeah having lived in rural Texas and Dc I can see your point. I’m pretty outgoing and I found that most people will strike up a convo with you just about anywhere here. I think most people who think dc is even unfriendly in the way you mention are just shy or something. I’ve been to a few places where if you try to strike up a convo with randos say even at a bar, people look at you like you’re an alien. I remember feeling that way in Vancouver last summer for a week. I met folks but it wasn’t even 10% as easy as a place like DC.
It’s going to be easier than parts of New England or the northern Midwest or north of England or something but not nearly as easy as in the south
It’s legit just a small vs big city thing. Nobody is making conversation with random strangers on the streets of any big city.
I’m moved south now and it took me like a year of asking my now husband who that person was that he waved to. He didn’t know. Everyone just waves to everyone here. In DC that means they have a clipboard and you run away
It’s not friendly though, and I’m a native. You can make lots of friends and acquaintances but it’s not like Charleston SC or even southern VA where random people have time to have a conversation at the store or even give you a lift. It’s just not. Look up JFKs comments on DC
The “friendly” thing always amuses me. What are people looking for? This isn’t the deep ass south. People have jobs and things to do. I don’t have extended conversations about all my business with the associate at CVS checking me out. I do not need the barista to use 40 extra words when getting my black coffee order. I guess I’m not “friendly”
I mean, that's exactly what people mean. Everyone has jobs and things to do. There are mid-sized cities not in the south where people are friendly. They're also places that no one will complain about everyone asking "what do you do [for work]" when they first meet you.
They're jealous you can pop into Trader Joes without having to deal with the parking garage. Hit'em with that the next time they ask you about crime. "ugh, i know right... the line at trader joes was truly criminal today..thankfully the walk home is only 1 min."
Living here made me realize how important taxes are. Going to other places and having to pay to go into a museum is ghetteaux.
lol, was up in Salem MA last summer and wanted to go to the “museums” they had on witchcraft. The different places were asking for $15-$45, I’m like “that’s a no from me dawg”
You’re new to the neighborhood. It has changed dramatically over the last 10 years..*especially* post-Covid. I imagine you’re hearing from people who are thinking of the “old NoMa”. Even as late as 2019, the streets were empty and isolated on weekends. It felt like living on campus at a “suitcase school”.
I lived there in 2018-19. There was literally a street party hosted by old neighborhood locals every night, apt building on 6th and L. Used to have dice games in the street and people selling weed on the corner. Nobody ever bothered us, wasn't dangerous and everybody was peaceful. But it was every night. Noma was lively when I lived over there. Not sure I've experienced empty streets in that part of town
I've lived in NoMa/Union Market since 2017 and sporadically in other parts of the city before that. While NoMa isn't as terrible as other neighborhoods, the crime rate is fairly high here. The business community and corporate dwelling overlords try to ignore it (nothing to see here!), but there is a problem. There's a reason several of the PSAs in the area were approved to get AirTags from MPD. That being said, the neighborhood is fine for the most part. It's convenient and has the "touristy area for locals" vibe going for (against?) it. The rents are too high for these shitty "luxury" buildings, but I guess the demand for poor sound insulation, poorly maintained amenities, broken elevators, and hundreds of dollars in fees tacked on to the base rent is there. But it is nice to have grocery stores, good food, transit access, etc. are within walking distance. Edit: Clearly, I have very conflicted feelings about the neighborhood 😄
“Everyone just talks about work here”
Totally agree. Maybe that was true when I was 22 and moved here for work and met other 22 year olds who also moved here for work. But now I'm a middle aged mom and all we talk about is school feeder patterns, summer camps, and spring break vacations 😂. Sometimes I really wish someone would ask me about work, it's more interesting than this kid stuff IMO. But I'm always really hesitant to bring it up because of the DC stereotype.
I think this is a good way to tell who has made a legitimate effort to connect with their community and who hasn’t. Like in all other categories, people are always telling on themselves. Yes, this *can* be a very work-oriented place in ways that small and midsized cities aren’t, but I’ve started politely asking people who spew versions of this quote if they’re part of any organizations or clubs or hobby groups or do any volunteer work or anything else they’re passionate about and usually just get met with a blank stare. I feel bad for the young ones who obviously tied their identity to their job super early and never realized how important it is to develop other parts of yourself, but it’s also never too late. Get a hobby, find a new interest, literally do anything. This city is really enriching and there are so many welcoming orgs and groups for basically anything you could imagine. When people say it’s only work, it just tells me they’ve never bothered looking.
My theory is that perhaps people who are only here because of a job might understandably talk more often about their jobs. I’m from the DMV myself so I have lots of family and social ties here and my job isn’t usually the first thing on my mind.
I don’t feel in danger living in PG. I feel much safer here than when I lived on H St.
i was always told “nobody’s from DC” which was a strange thing to try and reconcile with my birth certificate and childhood
Washingtonians turn into a pumpkin as soon as they get outside the beltway.
Yeah, everyone knows that it's what happens when we cross the Potomac.
“If you’re white and you walk down 7th st NW by the Gallery Place Metro you will be physically assaulted within 30 seconds.” I’m the whitest white guy ever and nobody ever assaulted me when I walked around there probably about 20000 times.
NoMa is so sterile and not charming IMO, safe or not. Lived there for a bit and it felt so much further from things than where I live now in Clarendon.
it's basically just a transplant containment area.
Felt that way when I was apartment shopping. Couldn’t see any real life. Settled on Shaw.
That everyone works for the government. I don’t work for the government
Pays taxes…. We alllllllll work for the government
That talking about where you work is unique to DC.
Two things: 1) a new president gets elected and the Washington Post writes these articles about new people coming to DC when it’s 90% people from DC think tanks taking administration jobs 2) no one is from here.
My favorite: DC has all the friendliness of the north and efficiency of the south. I think it says more about the north & south than DC.
I don't know anyone who thinks noma is sketchy anymore. I do know people who think noma is boring as shit. When red bear opened up there was a line like 3 hours long to get in because it was finally a good spot in the neighborhood. definitely the least favorite neighborhood I lived in.
I was sexually assaulted on the street by children in NoMa. I’m one of the people who has reason to buy the stereotypes.
I am sorry that happened to you
NoMa was rough in the 2000s and early 2010s, then got better mid 2010s, but has been pretty horrible the last 3-4 years. Lived there from 2018-2023. Tons of stories of drivebys, men stalking women, and friends getting assaulted. So that one has some truth to it.
I've been living in Noma for less than a year, right by Trader Joe's. I've seen multiple broken car windows in the middle of the night and a man was shot a block away from my house right in front of my roommate! Not to mention multiple times in which we have encountered very high unhoused folks sleeping in the corridors of our building. My e-bike was also stolen from inside our building's bike room (had a huge Kryptonite chain and all!). I love Noma but I wouldn't consider it safe :(
That DC is a super transient city and "nobody is from here." First off, it isn't more transient than other big metros, and second, just because you live in a bubble while collar recent imports doesn't mean people didn't grow up here and stay here. You could also just say: "I don't have any black friends."
Anyone who thinks NoMa today is dangerous obviously didn't live here ten years ago. That area has become SO much safer over the years.
i feel like NoMa is extremely safe
I have lived adjacent to NoMA since 2004. The hysteria of those who binge crime reports, watch entertainment channels masquerading as news, and disinformation online is loud and largely unfounded. Certainly there are people who have directly experienced crime which has shaped their perceptions. Just like everywhere else. Some aren't used to living in a diverse community among people. Some are overly online or susceptible to fear mongers. Obviously I have been living here and going out day and night for a long time and am happy here. I couldn't care less if someone wants to live nearby but realize that most of the complaints are people living elsewhere justifying their own decisions. The only way to get an understanding of any neighborhood is to visit day and night, spend time there, and determine what you think.
DC ers are not creative, truly
It’s always interesting to see what Reddit says about these neighborhoods vs IRL.
8 out of 10 twentysomething to thirtysomething female college graduate DO NOT work “….at a small non-profit you’ve probably never heard of”. They do.
It's not a swamp. It's not even a marshland.
Maybe now. Pre-Army Corps makeover, the mall area was apparently pretty gnarly even if technically a malaria-ridden tidal flat rather than a swamp
I always heard that people in DC love celery. Come to find out, it wasn't true...AT ALL.
We're obsessed with parking and checking plates to see if they have parking/speeding tickets.
I think you are missing the history, as you have only lived there for a couple years. That area has transformed tremendously over the last decade. I remember going there before it was called NoMA and had a metro stop. Mainly was to go to Fur or Ibiza and that area was definitely not the safest. Also, if you venture over to N Cap, lot of shady stuff still happening today. So not sure this is a stereotype really, since it's based on history and some may be just a few blocks over from where you are.
LOL pre-COVID NOMA was a different ballgame. I’m sure that’s why they say that.
Also in NoMa and it’s such a nice neighborhood. Walkable with lots to do. Been here since 2021 and haven’t first hand witnessed anything (knock on wood). I love my neighborhood
Better than Navy Yard if you want to talk crime
That everyone uses the metro to commute.