Capitol HIll

Capitol Hill.

The word is synonymous with government (or the lack thereof, as the case may be). The word brings to mind images of a huge white dome dominating the skyline and Congressional bickering. Of suits, and briefcases, and mountainous stacks of memos. Of course it is littered with landmarks other than the big white dome such as the Supreme Court building, the Library of Congress, and Congressional Cemetary, among others. But Capitol Hill is more than that, so much more. It is also the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress, their staff, journalists, lobbyists, and consultants all call the Hill home. So do many others, if they can afford to live there; having a prestigous address comes for a price, real estate prices here are steeper than most of the rest of the city. Anyone who calls the Hill home will tell you it is worth every penny and then some to call this great neighborhood home.

Being an old neighborhood allows a unique style to Capitol Hill. No cookie-cutter homes or McMansions here. Homes on the Hill reflect every era of it's 200+ year history and blend effortlessly together into a melting pot of architectural beauty. Victorian era beauties sit next door to Federal-sttle townhouses. Roomy 19th century manor homes are neighbors to small, simple frame homes. Many homes have beautiful stained glass windows and intricate decorate elements. A walk through Capitol Hill is good for your eyes and your health! Hill residential development has come in stages. Initially Capitol Hill contained boarding houses for Members of Congress and the homes of the craftsmen building the Capitol and the Washington Navy Yard, as they were two of the earliest complexes to be built in the city. By 1810, the DC had transitioned from the seat of government with temporary housing to a full-blown city and Capitol Hill was it's heart. The Civil War brought more construction to the area with hospitals going up to accommodate the Union wounded. Real estate really took off in Capitol Hill from 1890 to 1910 because it was one of the first neighborhoods in DC to have the new-fangled, amazing, and thank-goodness modern conveniences of piped water, plumbing, and electricity! (On a side note, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Franklin and Mr. Edison for their work with electricity. The National Mall, including the Capitol building, light up in the evening is a beautiful and awe-inspiring sight which could not be accomplished without their work. We doff our hats to you gentleman. Huzzah!)

Capitol Hill's awesomeness extends well beyond the residential portion of the neighborhood. There is also a vibrant commercial community within the Hill's borders. Barracks Row is one of the oldest commerical streets in the city. It's packed full of restaurants (which shall be expanded upon later, much like our waistline) and shops. Think your orange tabby looks like the Speaker of the House? Get a kitty suit for him at one of the two, yup we said two, pet stores along Barracks Row. (Disclaimer: we do not guarantee they carry kitty suits, but they do have a great assortment of treats, toys, accessories, and those little pet sweaters.) Getting fresh, organic, farm to table food in the city is not hard in Capitol Hill. The historic Eastern Market hosts a fabulous farmer's market on weekends. Apples, beets, rutabagas, jewelry, candles, baked goods and more. Stop by before the holidays, it's a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts for pretty much anyone you know. The indoor stalls of the market are open Tuesday through Sunday. We would be remiss if we didn't mention Pennsylvania Avenue, you know, with it only being one of the most famous streets in the world. No big deal, right? Wrong! Pennsylvania Ave is home to more than just a large random white house. There are tons of shops, restaurants, and bars to take your mind off bad weather or political woe-bringers.

As promised, behold the section devoted to all things Capitol Hill food. Loosen your belt a notch, trust us, you'll need it. Capitol Hill cuisine is as varied as it's residents. Americans love their pizza and really, what's not to love? Delicious starchy disks of carbs loaded with melty cheese and toppings (mushrooms and peppers on a pizza do count as a serving of veggies...or they should anyway), Capitol Hill has fabulous local pizza joints. Seventh Hill cooks up fresh pizzas with local ingredients with dough they make in house and cook in a working pizza oven. The result is amazing pizzas (they also do great sandwiches). A bit of advice, don't write blogs that include delicious sounding pizza while at work, the resulting cravings are distracting. For those wanting a healthier route, we applaud your self restraint and direct you to Sweetgreen. This chain with a Hill location provides excellent salads for health nuts and those of us feeling guilty the day after eating 3 slices of pizza. You know who you are. Pizzas and salads not your thing? No problem. The Hill is home to many Mediterranean, Thai, Asian, Indian, Latin American, Italian, French, Sushi and burger joints and so much more. From dinner on the go to date night, the Hill has the right restaurant for you. 

The Capitol Hill neighborhood truly is a snapshot timeline of the history and evolution of Washington, DC.  Here are some more pictures:

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We here at the Abbott Klar Real Estate Group are an experienced, full-service real estate team that specializes in the diverse neighborhoods of Washington DC. We offer an easygoing, no-pressure approach to real estate. Our mission is to listen, really listen to your needs, and connect you with a real estate investment that will improve your financial picture.
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