Chillum - Hyattsville, MD Area Guide

The neighborhood of Chillum takes its name from "Chillum Castle Manor," a 4.5-acre land patent first established in 1763 by William Dudley Digges. The manor in turn was named for Chilham Castle in Kent, which belonged to Digges' ancestor. The neighborhood was rural until the 1930s, when the area closest to the District of Columbia border was subdivided and developers began to promote Chillum's convenient access to the city.

While no museums or annual events are located within Chillum itself, head south to visit the President Lincoln Cotta and east for the National Museum of Language, Stamp Gallery and The Art Gallery. Plenty of events take place yearly in nearby Washington, D.C., just a quick trip from Chillum.

Dotted throughout the neighborhood, you'll find eateries that run the gamut of international cuisine, from Ethiopian and Chinese to Italian and Salvadoran. Most restaurants can be found along the major thoroughfares bordering Chillum, such as New Hampshire Avenue and Highway 410.

Try Wah Lock Restaurant for an extensive menu of Asian-inspired dishes, with an all-day menu of appetizers and entrées including gaw mein, foo yung and lo mein. Try a combination platter, with an entrée such as beef and broccoli or shrimp chow mein served with an egg roll and your choice of rice. Take advantage of the vegetarian menu or the low-calories specials.

For a casual dining experience with Italian-American favorites on the menu, head to Three Brothers, a small chain started in 1976 by three Italian brothers who immigrated to Maryland. Tuck into a specialty pizza, such as the Brooklyn Bridge topped with Italian sausage, grilled green peppers and onions, or a calzone or "boat" pizza with toppings such as meatballs, salami, eggplant and breaded chicken.

Find comfort food from Jamaica at the Jerk Hill Cafe, run by a Jamaican husband and wife and famed for its oven-baked pastries, tropical fruit juices and entrées such as jerk chicken, curry goat, fried plantains and brown stew chicken. Millicent Bucknor is renowned for her fish preparation; try her salted codfish and ackee or the butterfish, codfish or red snapper.

Expect your nightlife options to be limited in Chillum itself, though plenty of bars and entertainment venues can be accessed with a short hop across the border. Within the neighborhood, try the CoCoCobana Bar & Grill for cocktails and live music performances with a full bar menu or the Old Dominion BrewHouse for handcrafted local beers.

Without the presence of any major public transportation, the most common method of transportation for Chillum residents rests with personal automobile. Inter-neighborhood public transportation routes in Chillum may be non-existent, but the neighborhood lies near several metro commuter train and bus stations in other neighborhoods.

Uber operates in the Washington, D.C. area and also in Chillum, though you may experience significant wait times for a pickup. A few local cab companies service the area but must also be called to schedule a pickup. East West Hwy 410 runs nearly parallel to Sligo Creek through the center of Chillum. A well maintained bicycle trail runs along Sligo Creek through the center of Chillum but beyond that, you'll find little to no biking infrastructure. If you prefer to walk, the shopping centers of the neighborhood feature plenty of businesses in a small area, making errands on foot a viable option.

A few small parks lie within the Chillum neighborhood, including the Lane Manor Recreation Center, a public green space with a seasonal outdoor water park for the kids that includes a pool, lily pad crossing feature, mushroom waterfall, water slides, children’s wading pool, and shower and changing facilities. Expect to pay $4 for children and $5 for adults; birthday parties are available by reservation.

A large interconnected walking trail for exercise enthusiasts and dog walkers roughly follows Sligo Creek through the center of Chillum. Just across the river from Lane Manor Recreation Center and outside of the Chillum neighborhood boundary, you'll find University Hills Duck Pond Park, which features a walking trail around a central pond, playground and picnic pavilion. All parks are either no pets allowed or require the pet to be leashed at all times unless otherwise noted. Visit the Anacostia Tributary Trail System to walk or run while enjoying beautiful green views alongside the river system.

Expect a cost of living in Chillum that’s roughly 14 percent lower than that of Washington, D.C. Though no inter-neighborhood public transit routes exist in Chillum, the area sits in close proximity to several commuter stations from which you can expect to pay between $1.75 and $4 to travel to the center of the capital. The median cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment is $1120. A pint of beer will set you back around $8 or $9, while the price per gallon of gasoline hovers around 4 percent higher than the national average.

On the east side of the neighborhood, The Mall at Prince Georges features chain stores such as GameStop, Claire's and Bath & Body Works. More unusual stores include Caribbean Market, Anna's Linens and India Sari Palace. Anna's Linens features items for bed, bath and table not found in national chains. India Sari Palace contains many colorful, traditional Indian saris.

Grocery stores abound, including chain stores such as Aldi, Kmart and Giant. Choose from many local groceries such as Star Halal Meat, Yes Organic Market for health foods, Patel Brothers for Indian groceries and Shoppers Food and Pharmacy.

Take advantage of two nearby farmers markets for local produce and other goods. Red Apple Farmers Market focuses on international items from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Hyattsville Farmers Market opens on Tuesday afternoons and features a small number of local vendors.