I love busting myths about the city in this feature, but myths about owning vs. renting, the international nature of DC’s residents, and how no one is from DC would be impossible to bust without cold hard data.  And where do we get that data? The Census!  And now is an exciting time– Census forms should be arriving this week, and now you get to do your civic duty and fill out your form.

There are a lot of myths about the Census– who should fill it out, what the information can be used for, etc– and this is the first time that many of us are the heads of households filling out these forms.  Lucky for us, we’ve got Maurice Henderson, the director of DC Counts, to help us bust this week’s Census-related myths.  Check out what Maurice had to say about three big myths Census myths.

Myth #1: I’m a college student living in and attending school in DC, but I’m still technically a ‘resident’ of another state, so I shouldn’t fill out the Census form mailed to my college address.

“The Census does not ask about legal residency, it only asks about where you are living most of the time.  College students living in DC for school on April 1, 2010 should be counted in DC.  This will not affect your voter registration, driver’s license, in-state/out-state tuition status, or anything else.  The Census Bureau does not share personal information with any other government agency.

The reason students should be counted where they attend school is because they use local services here in DC. Each year, the Federal Government administers billions of dollars of funds based on census data for things college students use frequently, such as public transportation.

Additionally, college students are a huge portion of DC’s population, and it’s important that they are counted accurately.  In total, DC’s colleges and universities have a combined enrollment of more than 100,000 students.  That translates to about 1/6th of DC’s total population.”

Myth #2: I’m not in this country legally, and filling out the Census would reveal my location/status to the authorities.

“Absolutely not. The Census Bureau does not share your personal information with any other government or law enforcement agency.  The Justice Department recently ruled that the Patriot Act does not trump the Census Bureau’s confidentiality rules.

Furthermore, the US Constitution specifically calls for enumeration of all residents (not just citizens) of the US, regardless of legal status.  This has been the case since the very first Census in 1790.  Undocumented immigrants should fill out the form for the same reason as college students – they live here and they use services.

Finally, the 2010 Census form does not ask about a person’s citizenship.  There is no way determine if someone is a citizen or not based on responses to the 2010 Census.  Again, all personal information is strictly confidential.”

Myth #3: We don’t have congressional representation, so the Census doesn’t affect anything in DC.

“The Census isn’t just for representation.  It provides a vast set of statistical information for all kinds of programs and projects.  Each year, the federal government administers more than $400 billion based on census data.  The Brookings Institution broke down the data for fiscal year 2008, and DC’s share was $2.7 billion – or $4,656 per resident, per year.  That’s a lot of money.

Additionally, private businesses use census data all the time for marketing and business expansion.  If people want a new coffee shop or grocery store in their neighborhood, those businesses need to know where potential customers live.

Even though the census does not affect DC’s representation in Congress, it does affect DC’s internal political organization.  Just like the rest of the country, DC will evaluate ward, ANC and voting precinct boundaries on the basis of census data.”

‘NASS-2010_Census Form Mailout’
courtesy of ‘USDAgov’

We also asked Maurice a couple other questions about the Census in DC:

Why Is This Important?

“We want to make sure we get our fair share of federal dollars; we want to make decisions based on the best possible information; we want data that reflects the growth and diversity of the District over the past 10 years.  And the Census form is just 10 simple questions about where you live and basic demographics (age, race, sex, etc).  Check out the interactive sample form for more information.”

How Can We Get Involved?

• The best way to get involved is to fill out your form and send it back – and encourage your friends and neighbors to do likewise.
• Participate in the “Portraits of DC” photo contest.
• Interact with the DC Counts campaign via social media – find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@DC_Counts), or check out census.dc.gov.
• Attend the National Census Day rally, hosted by Congresswoman Norton, at Freedom Plaza on April 1st.  More details coming on that soon.
• Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities for census outreach, particularly on April 10th!  The U.S. Census Bureau is planning to hold a final canvassing push called “March to the Mailbox” on that day. This will be potentially hundreds of people heading out in various neighborhoods in the District based on the rolling response rates to more strongly encourage their family, friends and neighbors that may not have filled out the form to do so.  More details will be forthcoming soon.
• For census jobs, you can call 1-866-861-2010, or visit the Census jobs site.

Many thanks to Maurice Henderson for being this week’s honorary mythbuster.  Now go home, check your mailbox, and return your Census form this week!

Tony Kornheiser may hate us, but cyclists should get excited about three major biking events coming this spring:

WABA has announced that Bike to Work Day will be May 21 this year, so get excited for pit stops and commuter convoys on your way to work!

Bike DC, the annual event in which major DC and Arlington roads are closed to cars to allow cyclists to rule the road, will be held two days later on May 23.

Finally, the Air Force Classic Crystal City Ride will close streets in Crystal City on June 13, so cyclists of all abilities can bike around Arlington on car-free streets.

After profiling 22 neighborhoods in the District, it’s time Where We Live headed out to the suburbs. This week we’re focusing on Court House, an urban neighborhood in the middle of Arlington’s Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. Sure, it’s technically a ’suburb’, but with a movie theater, multiple grocery stores, tons of bars and restaurants, and office and government buildings, Court House has more to offer than many neighborhoods in the heart of DC.

History: In 1791, this area used to be part of DC.  But Virginia wanted Alexandria County back (mostly due to the sad fact that Alexandria was a big slave port, and talk of abolishing slavery in DC had Virginia scared), and this land was retroceded in 1846.  Fort Woodbury was a Civil War fort built in 1861 that stood where the current courthouse stands.  In 1852 the City of Alexandria split off, and in 1920 this area was renamed as Arlington County.

The area grew as a residential suburb throughout the early part of the twentieth century; the proximity to Hoover Airport/the Pentagon and the streetcar line to DC made Court House an ideal residential location.  The Colonial Village neighborhood was developed in the 1930s as one of the first garden-style apartment complexes in the country; this development is currently on the National Register.  Most of the development in this area was strip commercial and some neighborhoods.

Then the Metro came along and changed everything.  Thanks to the forward-thinking planners in Arlington County, transit-oriented development revitalized the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and became a national example of how to encourage high-density, mixed-use development at transit stations.

‘The end of labor is……….’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’

Neighborhood Character: Arlington offers a bit of separation from the hustle and bustle of DC. We Love DC foodie Katie has lived in the Court House area for three years, and has this to say about the neighborhood: “I really like the separation of neighborhood and city in Arlington. I can work and play in DC but go home to what some may call the suburbs. I like how everything is super easy to get to (I can walk to three grocery stores! And a bajillion bars! And yet there’s a Target ten minutes away!) and I really like the trails and parks. I also really like the neighborhood proper, tree lined sidewalks, dogs and kids.” Court House provides access to so much, yet just blocks away from the Metro station you’re surrounded by single family homes and lots of families.

Transportation: The whole Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is considered a walker’s paradise of transit-oriented development, and Court House is no exception– there are so many options to get around in this area. There’s the Court House Metro station on the orange line that provides access to downtown DC and the rest of Arlington, and a number of ART and Metrobuses that serve the area. Need a Zipcar? There are more than you could shake a stick at.   There are a growing number of bike lanes in the area, and as Katie mentioned, there are great trails in the area, like the Custis, W&OD, and Mount Vernon trails, so it’s easy to get around by bike too.

What to See: There’s a lot to check out in this part of Arlington.  Next time you find yourself in Court House, here are some favorite places:

• Katie has plenty of local restaurants to recommend.  ”As the foodie, I like to eat. Minh’s is one of my favorite Court House eat places, and Earl’s sandwiches can’t be beat. Also, now that Ray’s the Steaks moved up to Court House, we officially have the best steak in the DC metro area.
• Grab a drink.  We Love DC contributor Dave has lived in Court House for three years, and has this to say: “I’d be remiss if I didn’t profess my love for Four Courts; I started going as a Red Sox fan and transplant looking for a community in Arlington to watch the ‘07 series, and just really never moved out. Live music nearly every night, a truly authentic Irish feel, and one place where you can go on 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday to watch Euro soccer while having a pint of cider – and not find a seat.”
• Other favorite neighborhood hangouts include Brooklyn Bagel for (what else?) great bagels, Java Shack for some good coffee, and Boccato for gelato.
• Take advantage of the underutilized movie theater!  The AMC Courthouse Plaza 8 shows the same movies as those big theaters across the river, but you’ll never have trouble finding a seat here.
• Check out the Arlington Farmers’ Market every Saturday from 8 AM to noon for local produce, bread, and flowers.

‘Arlington, Aug 2, 2008′
courtesy of ‘dionhinchcliffe’

Why We Love Court House: Court House probably has the most diversity of any of Arlington’s “urban villages” with county buildings, a movie theater, lots of housing, some great bars, good restaurants, and shopping– it’s not just apartment complexes and offices here.  As Dave says, “It’s perfect for the mid-20s crowd and actually does offer plenty of variety that doesn’t mandate a field trip into the city.”  Court House is close enough to DC, but it’s also close to the trails, parks, and single-family neighborhoods that you’d typically find further away from the city.

The Census takes a snapshot of a place once every ten years– but what would DC’s snapshot look like? The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, FotoWeek DC, and the DC Counts Campaign are joining together to sponsor a photo contest that answers that question. Fifty one portraits will be selected that show “the multiplicity of faces that call DC home.” Selected images will be displayed at Social in Columbia Heights and online.

Here’s the fine print: photographers must be DC residents to participate.  Photos must have been taken in DC within the past year, and photographers must have a signed release form from the subject.  If you’d like your work to be considered, submit up to three portraits (in print and digitally via CD) by March 30th to the Commission on the Arts and Humanities. There are so many great portraits that perfectly capture aspects of the city over in our Flickr pool, so we hope some of you fabulous photographers submit your work for this contest!

Now here’s something to look forward to: every Thursday night beginning June 3rd, the Capitol Riverfront BID will screen movies at the future site of Canal Park.  They need your help now to pick the best movies that fit this summer’s “Ultimate Underdog” theme.  Rudy, Forrest Gump, Finding Nemo, Miracle– there are so many to choose from, so go vote for your favorites now.  And in just a few short months, you can grab a blanket, head to Navy Yard, and watch your favorite characters triumph over adversity.

Last year the theme was 80s movies, and just looking through their pictures is getting me excited about outdoor movie season!

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Historic Map Overlay, courtesy of Arthi

Thanks to our reader Arthi for letting us know about her set of historical maps overlaid with current Google maps.  A couple months back, we found the awesome 1851 and 1861 overlays that let us see how roads in the city have changed over time, and now Arthi’s maps go out even further to Annandale and Springfield.  It’s cool to see how roads like Backlick Road and Arlington Boulevard haven’t moved since 1865 or how Bailey’s Crossroads was actually a major crossroads, but the Beltway and Interstate 66 seem to have been plopped down in the middle of nowhere.

The weather is supposed to be pretty pleasant this weekend– maybe it’s time to break out of hibernation and take a bike ride somewhere?  WABA and the Embassy of Sweden invite you to participate in the Vasa Ride, an organized bike ride on Sunday morning with 56-, 28-, or 14-mile options.  The ride commemorates the Swedish Vasasloppet, a cross-country ski race taking place this weekend in Sweden.  The ride is free and open to the public (though joining WABA or bringing a donation would be awfully nice), and at the end of your ride you’ll be rewarded with some fabulous blueberry soup at the Embassy of Sweden.  See you out there!

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Some of the myths about the city seem a little far-fetched, particularly the more historic ones about the layout of the city.  Traffic circles meant to confuse invading armies?  No J Street because Pierre L’Enfant held a grudge?  Come on.  Here’s another one I heard– there’s a system of forts on the outskirts of the District designed to protect the city from an invasion.  This story, like the other two, has to be a myth, right?  The only fort in the city I can think of is Fort Totten, which (as far as I know) is a Metro station and not some Civil War encampment, and I certainly can’t picture an entire ring of forts around the city.  So this myth is pretty easily busted, right?

Not quite. It turns out to be true– there was an incredibly extensive network of forts that once surrounded the city, and today, many of these forts are again being linked together to create a greenway trail for recreational uses. The Fort Circle Park system was a surprise to me, and digging through the history of these parks turned up some other interesting facts.

‘Fort Reno’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

The Civil War Defenses of Washington were a complex system of fortifications built by the Union to protect the District.  With a Confederate state to the south and a Union state to the north, DC seemed like a place that needed some enhanced military protection, so the Union army worked to create 68 forts (mostly on high ground) and 32 miles of military roads in the city between 1860 and 1865.  As the National Park Service tells it, “The defenseless city of 1860 had become one of the most heavily fortified cities of the world.”

After the Civil War, the city was left with these huge expanses of open space, often with earthworks and other notable characteristics.  Unfortunately, these spaces fell into disuse and many of the fortifications were eventually destroyed.  Many of the connecting greenways between the forts were also sold off for development.  But in 1902, the McMillan Commission recognized their importance and their potential for recreation, and called for their preservation.  The road to preservation has been a bumpy one, as ward boundaries have frustrated attempts to unify the system of parks and trails.

Forts of the Fort Circle System, shown using DC GIS data

As you can see in the above image, some forts remain today (Reno, Dupont, Totten, etc) while others have been lost.  Some parts of the greenways remain (check out the northeast boundary of DC between Fort Totten and Anacostia– that’s almost a continuous section there), and some are even used for recreational purposes, like the link between Fort Mahan, Fort Chaplin, and Fort Dupont.  The National Park Service is in charge of this land and they’re currently working with the National Capital Planning Commission and the District of Columbia to make these parks more accessible and visible to the public through the CapitalSpace initiative.

Other interesting/fun facts about the Fort Circle Park system:

• Ever wondered why Military Road doesn’t conform to the alphabetical/numerical/state naming system?  Well, it was created during this era to connect many of the installations.
• President Lincoln was watching the Battle of Fort Stevens in July 1864 and came under fire from Confederate sharpshooters, but the battle ended when confederate forces realized they couldn’t take the city and retreated to Maryland.
• Hundreds of Confederate troops were killed during the Battle of Fort Stevens, and 59 were killed in the Union side.  Battleground National Cemetery was built to bury Union forces after the battle, and today you can visit and listen to this handy podcast to take a tour.
• The Civil War Defenses of Washington were an important site in African American history.  The United States Colored Troops were attached to several of the fortifications throughout DC.  After the war, some of the forts (like Fort Reno) became a “Freetown” for freed slaves.
• Some of the forts are used today as community centers.  Fort Dupont in SE has community gardens, a summer concert series, and the only public indoor ice-skating rink in the city.  Fort Reno has a great summer concert series as well.

I’ve got to admit, this was one of the most surprising and interesting Mythbusting features I’ve ever researched. I had no idea that DC was home to such an extensive network of defenses during the Civil War, and I definitely didn’t know that some are still connected by trails.  Once it warms up, I can’t wait to head out on my bike and explore some more of the District’s history.  Myth confirmed!

If you use a SmarTrip card, you probably didn’t even notice it on your commute this morning, but your trip was just a bit more expensive than it was last week.  As of yesterday, fares on Metrorail and Metrobus jumped 10 cents to help cover a huge budget gap.  Just a friendly reminder to bring along some extra change for your commute starting this week, and if you get transit benefits through your employer it might be time to increase your monthly benefits.

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As we’re wrapping up District neighborhoods before moving on to the Maryland and Virginia ‘burbs, this week our featured neighborhood is U Street– one of DC’s greatest neighborhoods.  It has had its ups and downs, but today U Street is a vibrant urban community filled with one-of-a-kind restaurants, galleries, and bars.  Read on to find what you need to check out next time you’re in the area (including the bar where everybody knows your name), some surviving institutions from U Street’s heyday in the early twentieth century, and what makes U Street such a great neighborhood.

History: The U Street neighborhood was originally developed between 1860 and 1900, and it was filled with Victorian-era homes for the post-Civil War influx of residents. Then a streetcar came along and led to more commercial development along U Street. The U Street corridor became the most desirable area for African Americans to settle in the early 1900s, leading to the country’s largest urban African American community (until that title was claimed by Harlem in the 1920s). It was a major cultural center for the black community, and it was known as “Black Broadway”, with Lincoln Theater and Howard Theater in the area. And Duke Ellington grew up in the neighborhood too!

Here’s the part we all know– when the 1968 riots struck, U Street was the hardest hit neighborhood in the city. Lots of violence and rioting led to the closure of many shops in the area, and residents started leaving in droves. The neighborhood really struggled in the 1960s and 1970s, becoming an area known for drugs and violence.

But there’s a happy ending! In the 1990s and 2000s, the area had a building boom, with new condos, restaurants, and shopping options being constructed. This revitalization led to a new era for U Street, and now it is nationally recognized as a major urban revitalization success story.

‘Alley Party’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

Neighborhood Character: U Street is just cool. It’s filled with swanky bars, unique restaurants, down-to-earth holes in the wall, lots of ethnic food, and some great shopping opportunities. It has a mix of luxury condos that were built in the past decade or so, along with a bunch of typical DC rowhouses. And no matter what time of day you’re out in U Street, there’s always something going on– it is definitely one of the most active streets in the city.

Catherine, U Street resident of three years and author of the fabulous U Street Girl blog, likes that U Street is a great cross section of the city.  She says, “I think you really can see where DC’s creative class is thriving. We have great art galleries along 14th Street, some wonderful little fashion stores, great funky shops. You can see it walking down the street with the fashion, cool bars, the graffiti. And then you have the history and the culture that goes along with it -  the legacy of Black Broadway, which we celebrate. We still have jazz clubs, and then we have the new places honoring the history – Busboys and Poets, Marvin.”

Transportation: U Street is in the middle of the city, and it is right in the middle of DC’s best transit options too. It has the U Street-Cardozo Metro station, a stop on the Adams Morgan-McPherson Square Circulator, several major bus routes, a SmartBike station, and plenty of Zipcars. U Street is one of the easiest neighborhoods to get to– you’ve always got lots of options in heading to the area (or heading out). It’s also a highly walkable neighborhood, with lots of activity along U Street (mostly from 10th Street NW to 18th Street NW), and 14th Street (all the way down to Logan Circle). Bottom line: this neighborhood has amazing transportation options.

‘Ben’s Chili Bowl’
courtesy of ‘Rolenz’

What to See: There is so much to see in U Street, but here are some neighborhood favorites to check out:

• Check out some of the places that have been in U Street since before the riots.  Only a few of the neighborhood establishments have survived, but among them are Ben’s Chili Bowl, Florida Avenue Grill, and Lee’s Flower and Card Shop. Don’t forget about the Lincoln Theater, which has been around since 1922.   These places are the heart of U Street, and like Catherine says, “New places are popping up it seems like every month. I think during all of this we need to remember where we’ve been to respect where we are now.”
• Where to begin on the amazing selection of drinking and dining options?  There’s Marvin for fried chicken and waffles, Bar Pilar for fabulous red velvet cupcakes (and great other food/drinks), and The Gibson for a true speakeasy experience.
• Get outside! Once it gets a bit warmer, escape the craziness of U Street by heading west to Meridian Hill Park. And come May, you can spend your Saturday mornings at the excellent farmer’s market at 14th & U.
• Want to see a side of U Street that residents do?  Catherine clues us in to some of the off-the-beaten-path spots: “I really love JoJo’s on a Friday night. There’s this great soul/motown cover band called Just Us that has such heart and the scene is just so much fun, everyone’s singing and dancing along. I’m also a huge fan of Solly’s, it really is U street’s Cheers, the neighborhood bar where everyone knows your name (or at least recognizes you).”

What’s Nearby: U Street is north of Logan Circle and Shaw, east of Dupont Circle, and south of Columbia Heights.

‘U Street’
courtesy of ‘Rolenz’

Why We Love U Street: The U Street Corridor is the real heart of DC– it’s a mix of local restaurants and big chains, of rowhouses and luxury condo buildings, and of young and old residents. It is a microcosm of DC, and its loss of population in the 60s and 70s and surge in population in the 90s and 2000s reflects that of the greater city. Plus, it’s just a really cool neighborhood– it’s a great place to go out any evening, it’s fun to walk around on weekends, and it is close to so many other neighborhoods that it feels like it’s in the middle of it all.

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Now that the snow is melting and parking on streets is becoming easier by the day, we’re seeing fewer spaces marked with chairs or tables.  Sure, if you spend hours digging out a parking space, it’s understandable that you’d want it to be there when you return, and you’d be angry if someone else parked there.  But this collection of snow parking passive aggressive notes (including a few from the DC area) is just ridiculous.

Here’s hoping that the melting snow and eventual thaw will mellow people out a bit.

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This Thursday night, the National Building Museum is hosting another session in its For the Greener Good series.  This session focuses on the benefits of green buildings, and panelists explore how working in a green building could actually make employees healthier.  More natural light, better heating and cooling, and building with more sustainable resources all seem like they’d make an office a healthier and happier place to be.  Arlington has already jumped in to the Green Office Challenge, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out locally.

Tickets for Thursday’s panel are $12 for NBM members, $20 for members of the public, and free for students.

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Here at We Love DC, we love DC-themed art. From houses full of District maps to locally-made DC t-shirts, we like to decorate with things that feature our wonderful city.  So it’s no surprise that we’re big fans of Amtrak’s city-themed posters–they’re colorful, well-designed, and cheap (only $5!).

We’re giving away an Acela Express DC Poster that features the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Capitol Building to a randomly selected commenter.  If you’d like to enter, just leave a comment here (include your e-mail so we can contact you) telling us where you’d like to take Amtrak.  We’ll randomly choose a commenter at noon on Thursday.

My ideal Amtrak trip?  I’d love to escape the snow and take the Palmetto route down to Miami.

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Now that the snow is melting and the city is returning to normal, let’s focus on a non-snow topic for a change.  Last Friday’s commute from hell showed us all that the city’s transportation network wasn’t quite ready for the influx of commuters going to work. That got me thinking– how many people commute into DC, and how does that compare with other cities?  And does the population of the District really double during the day?

Once again, the Census provides all these answers– so keep in mind this data is almost a decade old, but until we fill out and return our Census forms this spring, it’s the best we can do. The Census tells us that in 2000, 572,059 people lived in the District (and because DC is such an awesome city, more people are moving here– the population was estimated at 588,373 in 2008).  On top of that, over 400,000 more people commute into the District from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania on any given weekday.  That leaves DC’s daytime population in 2000 at 982,853– 172% of its nighttime population.

Employment/Population Ratio (2000 Census)

That seems like a LOT of additional people, right?  Well, it definitely is, and DC is pretty much off the charts with this giant daytime population increase.  Even Boston, the next closest city in our population category, only sees 141% of its nighttime population during the day.  DC’s employment/population ratio is 2.57, meaning that 2.57 times as many people work here as live here (this includes people who live and work in DC).  That’s off the charts for any other major American city.

So even though the District is just a city of less than 600,000 people, it has to provide services for about a million people during the day.  That’s the reasoning behind a commuter tax (which is so politically unpopular it would never happen), or a congestion fee (which has been successful in places like London, but the logistics of setting up such a system in the District are insane)– trying to get some money from those who don’t pay District income taxes, but do use District services.

‘Horton #23′
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Now that it’s Census time again, it will be interesting to see how these numbers change.  I’m sure the District will be at the top of all other cities again, but perhaps by a less staggering gap.  DC has really reinvented itself in the past ten years as a place to live– neighborhoods have been revitalized, community facilities have seen additional investment, and downtown is now seen as a safe and attractive community.  Many people who want to live closer to their jobs are choosing to live in the District now, whereas ten years ago they’d probably have settled in Arlington instead.

There you have it– the rumors are (almost) true!  DC’s population increases by a huge margin during the day– though not quite double– and it is out of the realm of any other major American city.  In terms of people (rather than percentages), only New York City sees more commuters enter the city during the day.  The person you walk by on the sidewalk is just about as likely to live in Arlington or Fairfax or Rockville as the District.

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If you’ve got some extra time this week, grab a shovel and head outside– area governments need help in clearing snow from bus stops and sidewalks.  The folks over at Greater Greater Washington organized shovel brigades over the weekend to clear the way for people who walk or take transit (since snow plows often push snow into sidewalks while they’re clearing the roads).  The District is encouraging neighborhoods to organize shoveling teams, especially on routes used by school children, and in Alexandria neighborhoods banded together to clear the way to schools.

While DDOT continues to focus on clearing the roads, it looks like it’s up to us residents to clear sidewalks, bus stops, and bike lanes for everyone else.  And don’t forget to dig out fire hydrants!

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Here at Where We Live,  our focus is on neighborhoods and communities where people live, work, and play.  But recently, there’s not been a whole lot of leaving the house, so this week’s feature is focusing on the best places to be snowed in.  Sure, this may be the worst winter in history, but if you’re basing your next move on where you’d prefer to be snowed in, here are some ideas.

Best Neighborhood to Drink Away the Storm: Adams Morgan is the place to be if you don’t want to be snowed in your home.  With several bars within walking distance staying open during the storm, you’ll be able to drink away your sorrows.  On Friday night during Snowmageddon, the streets were empty but the bars were open and offering pretty amazing deals!

‘Dupont Circle Snowball Fight 8520′
courtesy of ‘yospyn’

Best Neighborhood for Acting Like a Kid: Clearly Dupont Circle takes the cake, with its huge snowball fights during both Snowmageddon and Snowverkill.  Thousands of District residents took part in the snowball fights and let out their inner child on a snow day.  From Dupont Circle, you can also head up to Meridian Hill park for some sledding, too!

Neighborhood With Built-In Entertainment: WLDC author Cathy says that Chinatown was the perfect place to ride out the storm: “The Verizon Center didn’t cancel its Friday, Saturday or Sunday activities, providing plenty of entertainment within walking distance. There were tons of people at the events and as a result, a lot of bars and restaurants stayed open. Plus, friends give you their expensive/6th row seats because they can’t make it in the storm!” Sounds like a pretty good way to avoid cabin fever.

‘In the Shadow of the Obelisk’
courtesy of ‘william couch’

Neighborhood with the Most Beautiful Views: This is a toss up between Capitol Hill and Southwest Waterfront.  Capitol Hill gives you some amazing views of the monuments in the snow, while Southwest Waterfront has beautiful views of the river and untouched snow.  Everything looks prettier in the snow, but some of the monument/river pictures are just strikingly beautiful.

Neighborhood with the Most Helpful Neighbors: Many neighborhoods had people who were happy to help dig out cars in the snow, but Jenn thinks that Logan Circle was truly remarkable: during Snowmageddon, there were “roving bands of friends out with shovels just wandering around helping people, offering advice – I saw a bunch of people free an ambulance from being stuck on Vermont Avenue, pushing cars down 14th Street – just random strangers performing acts of kindness, which is really heartening.”

‘Senator Frosty Has the Floor’
courtesy of ‘flipperman75′

Neighborhood with the Best Snowmen: According to our Flickr pool, many of the best snowmen are hanging out on the National Mall.  The wide open spaces and plentiful snow gave people lots of room to create huge snowmen.  There’s even a snow Capitol building!

Neighborhood Fighting to Stay Open: Over in Glover Park, Rebecca says restaurants and stores are trying to stay open to serve residents: “Z-Burger, Brueggers Bagels, Rocklands BBQ, Pearsons Liquor Store, CVS, Town Hall, Breadsoda, Bourbon, Kavanaugh’s Pizza Pub have made valiant efforts to stay open and open under limited hours.”  Rebecca also says that neighbors are very helpful digging each other out, since their streets haven’t yet been plowed.

‘hot chocolate’
courtesy of ‘jenna_huntsberger’

Neighborhood with the Best Hot Chocolate: WLDC author Samantha didn’t mind being stuck in Logan Circle, because she loves “going to ACKC to get hot chocolate and macarons.  They have the best hot chocolate – extreme chocolate.”  I also love the Nutella Hot Chocolate over at Crepes-a-Go-Go in Dupont Circle.

First Neighborhood to be Plowed: Hmm, this is a tough one.  If you’re on a snow emergency route like Connecticut Avenue or Pennsylvania Avenue you’re in luck, as those streets are the first to be plowed.  But most people live on side streets, which seem to take days or weeks to be cleared.  It seems like all neighborhoods are equally screwed here, but keep up with DDOT’s real-time plowing map to see when your streets were treated and what the condition of nearby streets is.

What neighborhoods did I miss?  Leave your thoughts on how your neighborhood weathered the storm in the comments.

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No matter what, my feet are always cold or wet walking around in this snow.  Sure, Uggs are nice and toasty, but they’re not waterproof and the slushy snow soaks right through.  Rain boots, or wellies, are great because they are a little taller (helping in those 3-foot-deep snow drifts) and waterproof, but they’re not insulated so your feet can get cold.

Has anyone out there found the perfect boots that will keep your feet dry and warm in the snow drifts?  Clearly this snow isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so I think it might be time to invest in a new pair.

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Great news from our friends at DDOT: the DC Circulator is running, and all rides today are free!  Keep in mind that there will be fewer buses than normal, and some routes will have changes (like in Georgetown, the Circulator isn’t going up Wisconsin).  But this sounds like a great excuse to escape cabin fever and finally get out to see the rest of the city.  And it’s free!

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Public Transportation in the Snow

Even though we’re all being told to stay home, we’ve got restaurants to visit, snowball fights to participate in, and hills to sled down.  So what’s the best way to get around in the city?

Skiing seems to be very popular, as seen in this picture taken this morning in Adams Morgan.  Most pedestrians are walking in the streets, since they tend to be plowed better than sidewalks (many of which are covered in 2 feet of snow).  There’s no Metrobus or Circulator service today, and the Metro system is operating only underground with trains every half-hour.

Check out some other creative transportation options after the jump.

Guys with Snowboards

Skiing in Adams Morgan

Pedestrian (Me) Butt-Deep in Snow

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