Eckington - Washington, DC

Originally, the land belonged to Joseph Gales Jr., the Mayor of Washington and the owner of the National Intelligencer newspaper. It was named for the village in England where he was born, and was used as a hospital during the Civil War for the 7th Regiment of New York. Afterwards, it became a popular picnic ground for families and was later bought by George Truesdell before being subdivided and improved. The first electric railway in Washington entered service in Eckington in 1888, kickstarting development by giving commuters easy access to the city center.

Head southwest for some of the best museums and art galleries in the nation, including the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Mark your calendar for the annual DC Scoop, a festival of ice cream and frozen yogurt held to the southeast. Directly south, the NoMa Summer Screen Festival delights locals and visitors alike.

To the west of the neighborhood, on North Capitol Street NE, and to the northeast corner underneath Route 1, residents can find two hubs of dining and entertainment with plenty of cuisine options for even the fussiest of appetites.

Lovers of New York-style pizza head to New York Pizza, a haven of Italian cuisine that serves up gourmet pizzas with toppings that range from sun-dried tomato and fresh basil to provolone, cheddar, mozzarella and buffalo chicken. Try the buffalo wings in a range of sauces, an oven baked sub on whole wheat or hearty white bread, or a signature calzone with house sauce and a range of fillings.

Although lacking many elements of traditional nightlife, Eckington sits between several districts with plenty of entertainment spots to choose from that are easily accessed by foot.

In a small neighborhood such as Eckington, walking and cycling both offer excellent means to complete your errands. Capitol Bikeshare even offers a short-term bike rental service throughout the capital city. Join online or by phone to receive a key in the mail, and then join any station for a day, such as Eckington Place and Q, to get a code for a specific bike. Walkers and cyclists both often use the Metropolitan Branch Trail, an 8-mile trail running from Union Station to Silver Spring that connects many important and attractive destinations throughout the city.

Plenty of public transportation options also exist within Eckington, including numerous bus stations, most notably NE Rhode Island Avenue. Find the Rhode Island Metro Station at the northeast corner of the neighborhood. The New York Ave Metro and New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Station lie just to the south.

With Rhode Island Avenue running across the top of Eckington and New York Avenue NE to the south, personal vehicles come in handy to reach more distant destinations with limited on-street parking in the neighborhood. Calling for a taxi cab from one of the numerous local companies costs a maximum of $20 for any trip within the D.C. area, while rideshare services such as Uber, Slug Lines and Ridebuzz operate throughout the capital.

The only notable park within the Eckington neighborhood can be found at the Harry Thomas Sr. Recreation Center. Open on weekday afternoons and all day Saturday, this park features a baseball field, basketball court and tennis court for exercise enthusiasts. Local children often enjoy the playground and swimming pool.

Head just outside the neighborhood to find the Park at LeDroit, which features a dog park, open spaces and separate playground areas for kids of different age groups. It also features exercise areas and equipment for the adults.

If a cozy one-bedroom apartment in Eckington catches your eye, you'll want to know that the average monthly rent is around $2,250. However, if you're in the market for more space, houses for rent in Eckington cost approximately $3,500 per month. And for those envisioning homeownership, the average house price in Eckington is approximately $750,000. Whether you're seeking snug comfort or roomy elegance, Eckington offers a variety of options tailored to different budgets and preferences.

Limited shopping opportunities of an eclectic nature make themselves available on the main thoroughfares in this small neighborhood. Visit the Catania Bakery to pick up some Italian bread and biscotti. Just to the southwest, visit Salt & Sundry for a small but attractive selection of bedroom and bathroom items.

Locals can find everything on their grocery list at nearby chains such as Harris Teeter, Safeway and Giant. The closest farmers markets lie just to the southeast at Union Market or west at Bloomingdale Farmer's Market. The latter stocks everything from eggs, goat cheese, and bread to fresh fruit and vegetables from local vendors.