Brightwood Park - Washington, DC

During the 1920s and 30s, the 16th Street Heights part of the neighborhood developed from farmland into a residential area as a result of increased street car traffic along 14th Street and Georgia Avenue. Zoning laws necessitated that homes be fully detached. Therefore, the homes on the western portion of the neighborhood tend to be large Tudors and Victorians and the sizes gradually decrease moving eastward through the neighborhood into the Brightwood Park area, which is dominated by simpler row houses.

Opportunities for cultural and artistic stimulation are plentiful in this area. Rock Creek Park’s Carter Barron Amphitheatre presents outdoor shows and many of the city’s most prestigious theaters, such as the National and Shakespeare Theaters sit less than 5 miles away. You can also reach the Smithsonian Institution in just a bit over 5 miles to the south or the National Zoo in just over 3 miles.

You can find virtually any type of cuisine in the areas surrounding the Brightwood Park neighborhood. The cafes, restaurants and bars you’ll find here tend to be casual and full of character.

A good example is Culture Coffee. Part coffee shop, part art gallery, part performance space, Culture Coffee defies strict classification. Try their amazing Sweetie Brown, an iced coffee with french vanilla and sweetened condensed milk while you read the morning paper, or opt for a Caprese salad with a glass of wine during one of their Soulful Sunday music performances.

Whether you crave the creamy goodness of gourmet macaroni and cheese or the spicy punch of jerk chicken, you will not be disappointed at Andrene’s Caribbean and Soul Food Café. Andrene’s menu covers both classic southern and Caribbean dishes. Combine the two by choosing the zesty escoveitch red snapper with a side of savory collard greens and finish it off with a slice of freshly-prepared red velvet cake.

If you’re feeling Slavic over Caribbean, try Domku Bar & Cafe in nearby Petworth. Domku serves satisfying and hearty Slavic and Scandinavian fare, such as borscht and goulash. Go on Pierogi Tuesdays to sample more varieties of this Polish classic than you ever knew existed, or for breakfast and indulge in a smoked herring scramble or traditional Norwegian pancake.

After dinner, stay at Domku for a few drinks at the bar or venture back up to a cozy hang-out Simple Bar and Grill in Brightwood or Petworth Citizen off Georgia Ave for a taste of the local nightlife.

Brightwood Park brings you very close to numerous options for live music. D.C. institution, the 9:30 Club, hosts internationally-famous performers as well as local up-and-comers. Go to DC9 to see local bands in a more intimate space. Club-goers flock to spots like Zeba in Columbia Heights and Flash near Howard University.

The layout of the Brightwood Park neighborhood makes it very easy and downright pleasant to walk. Some roads in Brightwood Park are biker-friendly and a few, such as 14th Street and Kansas Avenue, provide dedicated bike lanes.

You can easily access the neighborhood by car. Georgia Avenue (Route 29) on the neighborhood’s east and 16th Street on the west provide major commuter routes south into downtown D.C. and north into Maryland. This area lacks parking garages, but you can find free on-street parking relatively easily, depending on the time of day.

The neighborhood does not have a dedicated Metro station. To reach the nearest one - the Georgia Avenue/Petworth station on Green and Yellow line - residents can walk a little over a mile or take a short bus ride. Numerous Metrobus lines canvas the neighborhood leading throughout the city and into Maryland.

You can find cabs relatively easily along the commercial areas of the neighborhood and have more luck if you venture a bit north into Brightwood or south into Petworth. Car services such as Uber circulate through the area.

One of the primary selling points of Brightwood Park is the neighborhood’s proximity to Rock Creek Park. The park spans 1,754-acres and has 32 miles of hiking trails. Using the park is free of charge, and leashed pets are welcome.

The park’s nature center and planetarium present numerous free events for children and adults, including lessons about the night sky and the park’s various plants and animals. Also within Rock Creek Park, the Carter Barron Amphitheater hosts a free summer concert series, as well as occasional movies. Other services within the park require small fees. These include use of the tennis center, golf course, boat center and horseback riding facilities.

Brightwood Park has several convenient recreation centers. Residents can easily walk to the Emery, Hamilton and Upshur Recreation Centers to use their facilities, which include basketball courts, playgrounds, multi-purpose rooms. Hamilton Rec Center has an athletic field, and Upshur has an outdoor swimming pool

Locals, who want to get their hands dirty, can rent spaces at the Twin Oaks Community Garden on Taylor Street.

Brightwood Park houses a small scattering of neighborhood corner shops. For discount shopping, travel to the Walmart Supercenter in nearby Brightwood.

Head down to Petworth for boutique shopping at its best. Visit the unique Cookie Wear Boutique for a family-run shop selling men's, women's and children's clothing inspired by fashions from the 1960s through the 1990s. This store features items made by Washington-based designers, and it also carries fun gifts and accessories.

Locals recommend Ruff & Ready Antiques for vintage and antique furnishings and home decoration. Owners hand-pick the store's quirky selection, and patrons rave about the store's occasional 50 percent off sales. This establishment opens every weekend.

Willow Fashion carries extraordinary women's apparel as well as home goods, accessories and fashionable baby clothes. Known for its outstanding customer service and high-quality selection, this shop always rolls out the red carpet for its clients.

In addition to the numerous small markets dotting the area, grocery shoppers have a good selection of larger stores. Wal-Mart has a bountiful food section, while Safeway has two nearby locations. Meat lovers go crazy for Straw Stick & Brick Delicatessen in Brightwood Park. This unique butcher shop prepares locally sourced meats into mouth-watering products like duck confit and Spanish chorizo. The shop has a small selection of sandwiches available in addition to its meats. Store owners also host occasional events to teach patrons about the processes they use to prepare their specialties.

This neighborhood does not have its own farmers market, but finding fresh produce and local wares poses no problem. In neighboring Petworth, the community market opens Saturday mornings from May to November.