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City Culture and Charm In Tai Shan's Back Yard

Barbara Ioanes's alarm clock lives across the street. For the 33 years Ioanes has lived in her historic rowhouse on Cathedral Avenue NW, she's woken to the hoots, chirps and caws of the animals at the National Zoo, which forms the eastern boundary of Woodley Park. Ioanes said it provides a daily reminder of Woodley Park's cultural amenities and charm.

Where the Martini Flag Flies and Babysitters Thrive

The 24 houses of Oakton Plantation sit amid countless other subdivisions but seem almost like a self-contained small town.

Reimagining 'New Town' Columbia as a New City

Columbia has never looked or felt like a city, despite being the size of one. Is it time for that to change?

Quiet, but Not Off the Beaten Path

Whether people move to Columbia's Clemens Crossing neighborhood for dramatic architect-designed homes or affordable tract houses, their reasons for buying in the neighborhood are largely the same: good schools, a woodsy setting and a convenient location.

Where We Live: Eckington, An Urban Neighborhood on the Rise

A hundred years ago, life in Eckington was all about the streetcar. Now it's all about the Metro, with stations anchoring the north and south ends of the Northeast Washington neighborhood.

Lessons From L.A.

Last month, I may have glimpsed the Washington region's future -- I spent five days in sprawling, traffic-choked Los Angeles.

A Corner Bordered by Roosters and Rush Hours

Accokeek, in southern Prince George's County, has a dual personality not readily visible from Route 210, a four-lane highway that bisects the community.

Finding Neighborly Solutions in Arlington

David Mog, a 26-year resident of Arlington Forest, has a concern. A few new neighbors aren't abiding by the informal neighborhood code -- and he came to the Arlington Forest Citizens Association meeting last month to do something about it.

Va. Adult Community Home to 'Pretty Outrageous Boomers'

The unofficial Web site for the Villas of Ashburn proclaims that it is maintained by "a renegade group of volunteer residents" who declare themselves to be "55 or better (most of us are better)."

In D.C., Trying to Curb 10-Year Wait for Housing

On a crisp spring day, Ron Morgan walked into the D.C. Housing Authority, desperate, almost homeless and hoping to find a place to live with an affordable monthly rent. His name was placed on a list for a rent subsidy voucher and he was told to wait.

Rock Creek Woods' Artistic Homes Embrace Their Surroundings

Outstanding architecture doesn't have to be wildly expensive. Consider the Montgomery County community of Rock Creek Woods, where every resident lives in a work of art, but the average selling price is about $600,000.

Patuxent Manor, Where You Can See Stars and Hear Pins

Betsy and Matt Cizek enjoyed living in their tidy brick Cape Cod in northern College Park, but their sky-watching hobby was stymied by smog and suburban lights.

In Va., Leafy Landscape Takes On Life of Its Own

An old white oak has become a focal point for the Black Oak Cluster neighborhood.

Palladio's Influence Spans Centuries and More Than One Architectural Renaissance

Take a look at the exterior facades and interior walls of your house. There's a good chance that you will see elements -- roof gables, classically styled columns, crown moldings, perhaps an arched Palladian window -- whose prevalence in American architecture can be traced to Andrea Palladio, a Renaissance architect.

A Sense of History, but No Old Gin Shops

"There's nothing here," said J. Randolph Embrey, 77, who has lived in Rectortown his whole life. "That's why I like it."

Can-Do Spirit Keeps Leewood Looking Sharp

Living with four dogs in a townhouse isn't easy, but Rose Weber and her canine friends can take their twice-daily romps in any of five well-maintained pocket parks tucked throughout Springfield's Leewood community.

Big Infrastructure Questions Await the Newly Elected

During the political campaign, candidates repeatedly promised to tackle the challenge of enhancing America's infrastructure.

From Family Home to Friendly Neighborhood

It's easy to miss Amanda Place. The unassuming Vienna subdivision is a single street, ending in two cul-de-sacs, with about 40 houses.

Little League Is a Hit in Upper Northwest

When Maria Velleca and her family moved from Connecticut in the summer of 2006, she told their real estate agent in Washington there was one condition.

Economic Downturn Might Be a Catalyst for Smarter Growth

The land use and transportation policies of the 20th century are destined to change dramatically. They enabled sprawl -- the unbridled expansion of American cities that has engendered enormous unforeseen economic, social, environmental and aesthetic costs.

Harmony That Echoes From the Streets

Residents of Tanglewood, a Silver Spring neighborhood where the street names have a musical theme, seem to be effective at restoring harmony when the occasional sour note intrudes.

Foreclosures, Falling Prices Spur Pr. William Home Sales

Freewheeling American capitalism may be falling out of fashion on Wall Street, but in the western suburbs of Northern Virginia, it is driving one of the greatest home-buying sprees the region has ever seen.

At 100, Wilson Building Is Only Looking Better

The District's political elite squeezed into an atrium in the John A. Wilson Building yesterday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the beaux-arts style structure -- at once a symbol of the city's federal control, its longtime struggle for autonomy and most simply, an awesome display of craftsmanship.

Officials Promote Brightwood Development

Even as a searing credit crunch slows construction across the region, District officials yesterday announced the selection of a developer to turn a vacant building into a mix of market-rate and affordable housing.

Trace the History Of Virginia, and Of Its Plumbing

Long before Ravensworth Shopping Center, Ravensworth Estates, Ravensworth Elementary School and other places were built in southern Fairfax County, William Fitzhugh's 21,996-acre tobacco plantation, Ravensworth, encompassed three mansions and their support buildings, including two now-joined log homes that stand as a quaint reminder of the colony's largest cash crop.

Fairways and Open Spaces

When Sharon Glennen-Higgins and her husband, Wayne Higgins, first looked at their house in Creighton's Run 16 years ago, they were attracted by the privacy afforded by the woods that bordered the back yard.

A Neighborhood Built Around Religious Ritual

Orthodox Jews do not use phones on the Sabbath and on some holidays. Nor do they drive.

Plans Change, and Life at Belmont Bay Rolls On

More than a decade after the first backhoe rolled in, the waterfront community Belmont Bay is still a work in progress.

Thinking of Bolder Shades of Green

How green can we get? Architects and their clients increasingly pursue "green" ratings as a measure of the environmental sustainability of their buildings.

Preserving Petworth's Porch Culture

It seems everyone in Petworth agrees that the neighborhood is changing rapidly.

Madison's Manor Reborn

U.S. Supreme Court justices, Virginia's governor and 2,600 children forming a "living flag" came together yesterday to celebrate the $24 million restoration of the Montpelier mansion, which now looks as it did when James Madison lived there.

Respect for Rummy Is a Shore Thing in St. Michaels

You don't see Donald Rumsfeld in Washington much anymore. He made a rare and heartfelt appearance (wearing a sling from recent shoulder surgery) last week at the Pentagon Memorial ceremony, but he increasingly finds himself persona non grata in some corners of D.C.

'Like We're on Vacation' in Leafy Lake Forest

Comparing notes recently, Jake Jacobs and Chris LoGrasso realized they were drawn to Springfield's Lake Forest neighborhood by the same things, even though they moved in 25 years apart.

Congregation vs. Preservation: Two Perspectives on Sacred Space

In real estate, few laws provoke as much controversy and litigation as those concerned with historic preservation of architectural landmarks.

So Tight-Knit, It's Okay to Make the Neighbor's Place Smell ... Like Turkey

After many years living in Georgetown and Columbia Heights, Lynda Couvillion and Michael Seidman were certified city dwellers, accustomed to close-in living.

Centuries of Drama at Halcyon House

In Greek mythology, a halcyon was a bird said to calm rough seas. "It also means peaceful and prosperous," real estate agent Hugh Oates said.

Taylorstown's Still-Rural Radius

People who live in Taylorstown have made their choices: scenery over shopping, deer over drive-throughs.

Restoring Schools to the Havens They Should Be

As Labor Day marks the end of summer and beginning of another school year, citizens presume that teachers are ready, but they may wonder if school buildings are, too.

Neighbors, Boats, Bayfront Summers and a Reverence for Tradition

Owings Beach is still cozy. There are still snug cottages, built in the 1920s for summer getaways to the bayside enclave in the Deale portion of southern Anne Arundel County. Narrow streets bearing local family names are still walkable because deep ditches and tight turns discourage traffic. Even...

A History of Welcoming Newcomers

Juan Carlos Martinez and his wife, Elia, entered La Fondita Restaurant in the heart of Edmonston for lunch on a recent Saturday.

A Throwback to the McLean Before the Bustle

Before Tysons Corner boomed and the CIA's Langley headquarters was built, an ad for Broyhill McLean Estates urged folks to get in on a locale that was sure to escalate in value because of the coming "Chantilly airport" (Dulles, 1960) and "Circumferential Highway" (the Beltway, 1962).

They're Townhouses, But 'This Isn't a Townhouse Feeling'

In 1974, when the King Charles Commons townhouse development opened in Columbia, a sales brochure described the Colonial-inspired community as recapturing "a bright page in American history" when "the easy and gracious living style afforded leisure time for politics and the arts."

All Signs Point to Confusion

Do you ever think about how much we depend on highway signs? They tell us where we are; provide essential direction and destination options; and display critical rules about driving, stopping or parking.

A Fertile Tradition of Living Off the Land

James Chesley Jr., a physician, has the serene look of a man who has found the perfect balance in life.

Occoquan's Old-Time Charm Outlasts Calamity

Before dozens of cute shops, before the town-engulfing craft fairs, Occoquan's history had as many ups and downs as its topography. The old mill town was ravaged by fire in 1916.

A Break From the Yard in Suburban Maple Lawn

When Prassad Karunakaran lived on a half-acre in Sykesville, northwest of Baltimore, tending to his spread came with the mortgage. Over time, the novelty of mowing turned into plain drudgery.

In Parkwood, a Lemonade-Stand Feel

Parkwood, a neighborhood of 1940s and 1950s houses where Kensington meets Bethesda, has benefited greatly from what has been built around it over the decades.

Stonewall Stopped Here

While cruising along Route 7 in western Fairfax County, it's easy to overlook Holly Knoll, a house built in 1858 that's the namesake for two neighboring subdivisions. Its brick facade peeks from behind giant sycamore, oak and holly trees, and its long gravel driveway trails forlornly through over...

A Garden Haven With a Storied Past

Situated on 32 carefully landscaped acres just off Wisconsin Avenue NW in busy Tenleytown, the McLean Gardens condominium complex is lovely all year, but certain seasons highlight its best qualities.

Room to Roam, and Float, in Anne Arundel

It did not take Dan Hurston long to get involved in his new neighborhood. Hurston moved about two years ago to Annapolis Landing in Riva and is already vice president of the homeowners association.

Its Name Lacks a 'Park,' but Not Its Vibe

Takoma has had an activist spirit from the start. An early example: Georgia Avenue was a toll road in the neighborhood's early days, and residents built out Piney Branch Road to avoid the payments. In the 1880s, when Takoma Park was founded as a railway suburb of the District, distinctions betwee...

CALENDAR

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

Affordable Housing Gets a Makeover

When the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing renovated the Fisher House apartments last year, the developer took care to see that the property's lush old linden trees survived the construction.

Outside the Beltway But Connected to D.C.

Riverside Station sits along the Potomac River, nestled deep in outside-the-Beltway suburbia, and yet residents can walk to mass transit: the Virginia Railway Express trains.

Relaxation, in Rotation

Many people can't imagine traveling to a summer house every weekend. But every third weekend? That seemed about right for Maureen and Larry Miller.

The General's Gem

The evidence of where the great once lived can come down to some peeling wallpaper in an upstairs room.

A Look Into the Past, at a Man Who Helped Build the Future

The National Building Museum's exhibition about Eero Saarinen presents an inspiring account of the Finnish-American architect and his memorable portfolio of modern buildings and furniture.

Real Estate Calendar

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

No Cookie-Cutter Community: Bayberry Believes in Dirt, Difference

Coming home to Bayberry is like "going to sleep-away camp," resident Elliot Nudell said of the pocket of 57 homes perched on the south shore of the Magothy River in Anne Arundel County.

CALENDAR

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

'Not Quite Dupont' to Some; an Inspiration to Many

Matthew Nguyen, 34, and Sergio Quintana, 32, had been house-hunting in the District for more than a year before they learned the name of their new favorite neighborhood.

As Swimming Season Nears, Study the New Safety Rules

Does your community association have a swimming pool or hot tub? If so, you should be aware of a law that requires new safety measures.

Bethesda Enclave Built for Gardeners, Social Butterflies

In 2001, Paul and Laurie Wilner left what they described as a "typical Colonial on three-quarters of an acre near Great Falls" for a community of 104 contemporary houses without lawns or basements two miles from downtown Bethesda.

Real Estate Calendar

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

The Word Is Out About Bloomingdale

Bloomingdale could be the friendliest neighborhood you've never heard of.

Falling House Prices Take Toll in Va. Suburbs

Housing prices declined across Northern Virginia last year, with the outer suburbs leading the drop.

Stagnant Market Has Ups, Downs Across Region

The District far outshone its suburban neighbors in housing prices in 2007.

Bucking the Trend, Md. House Prices Edge Up

Unlike their neighbors across the Potomac, home sellers in the Maryland suburbs saw the value of their properties rise in 2007, if only by a smidgen.

Friendly and Sophisticated, Virginia's Inner Suburbs Offer Tastes of Mayberry and Manhattan

In the 1980s, the area of South Arlington called Shirlington was an I-395 off-ramp with no draw to speak of. But by the '90s, Shirlington Village started to turn into an oasis of nice restaurants to serve the condo communities of Fairlington, Parkfairfax and others. Slowly, Shirlington began to lure...

A Million Here, A Million There

Stephanie and Ed Aron figured they would spend about $850,000 to buy a home. But before they knew it, they were signing a $1.2 million contract for a newly built house in Bethesda.

Fulfilling the Vision of I.M. Pei

"Welcome to a work of art" is a phrase Dan Snyder says only occasionally but has often thought as he greets guests at his architectural masterpiece of a home in Cleveland Park.

Real Estate Calendar

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

Mapping Transportation Costs for Home Buyers

When you're stuck in Beltway traffic burning $3-a-gallon gasoline to creep along at walking speed, it offers time to think. Would it be easier if I left home earlier? Would I be better off riding a train? How bad will my commute be in five years?

Staying Close to Nature, and to Neighbors

There's an unexpected bonus tucked within the Pinewood Lake community, just a few blocks from bustling Route 1 north of Fort Belvoir.

A Tough Initiation to D.C.

When Jessica Otto thinks back to eight months ago, when she arrived in Washington, she still sounds bewildered.

Real Estate Calendar

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

A Part of the City, Apart From the City

In Barnaby Woods, tucked inside the District's northwest border, winding streets follow the natural curve of wooded creeks. Access to the neighborhood is limited to a few streets, and there's almost no traffic.

Real Estate Calendar

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

Communing With Nature and Neighbors

With its attractive entrances, well-maintained yards and appealing homes, the Lakes at Red Rock appears at first glance to be just one of many pleasant eastern Loudoun County neighborhoods.

New Mixes Well With Old In Columbia Heights

In 1968, deep-seated anger over the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. led to rioting, looting and arson in neighborhoods including Columbia Heights, the area flanking 14th Street north of downtown Washington.

A Knotty Growth Spurt for Ivy City

Ivy City is changing. The neighborhood of rowhouses and small apartment buildings tucked behind the old Hecht's warehouse off New York Avenue NE has a contractor remodeling or building on nearly every block. "Slowly things are being built or renovated," said Jeannette Swanson, who has lived in Iv...

In Rosemary Hills, a Time-Tested Tolerance

Rosemary Hills has long had a reputation as a progressive community in Montgomery County, and a mix of residents remains one of its characteristics.

An Antebellum Fix-Up Project

Gwynn Park Manor, a Prince George's County plantation house that dates to 1857, is on the market for what might be considered a bargain in many places -- only $575,000.

Real Estate Calendar

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

From Two Homes to One

You know it's love when it survives a shared 700-square-foot condominium -- with a single bedroom closet. When it inspires you to sell your first home at a loss. When you agree to delay moving in for more than a year after your wedding so your stepdaughter can finish high school.

Real Estate Calendar

Here are some events that builders and developers have scheduled for would-be home buyers in the coming weeks. All are free and open to the public.

A Rapid Renaissance in Columbia Heights

To stand at 14th Street and Park Road in Northwest Washington is to behold a new world created at whiplash speed.

Making New History in Ellicott City

Up a hill, off a narrow road that winds past historic homes and the ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute, sits a secluded neighborhood of clapboard houses.

Deer Are Part of the Landscape

It's not the kind of thing that you expect on the to-do list after you buy a house. So one Washington couple was surprised last summer to find that one of the first chores at their new home was bagging and dragging a decomposed adult deer from their yard.