Marshall Heights - Washington, DC Area Guide

Marshall Heights' history can be traced to Eleanor Roosevelt, who made it her cause to develop this neighborhood in the 1950s. Under her initiative, woods were cleared, sewers were laid, and the community began to take shape.

Just a short distance from Marshall Heights, you'll discover two important locations: the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site on Anacostia and the National Museum of American History in Capitol Hill. After moving to your Marshall Heights apartment, be sure to tour the historic home of Frederick Douglass. The house, named Cedar Hill, was built around 1855. The exhibits at the National Museum of American History offer a fascinating glimpse at America's past and it hosts special musical events. For performing arts enthusiasts, Pin Points Theater on Dubois Place comes up with interesting shows. Neighboring communities also have a good arts scene, which includes the Center for Green Urbanism on Benning Road.

The H Street Festival on H Street in Washington D.C. makes for a lively and energetic festival, while the D.C. Beer Fest acts as the as ideal place to be to enjoy a fun day with friends and lots of beer.

Since DC is a foodie paradise, expect to find a wide variety of choices in Marshall Heights. Rosebud's BBQ on Central Avenue specializes in hickory smoked meats. The menu includes burgers, chicken, fish, turkey, pork, and beef dishes, such as smoked chicken wings, pulled pork, and beef 'n' beans. However, this place only offers carry out, so don't expect to sit and dine here. The restaurant also caters to small parties.

To get a taste of Caribbean food, head to Pimento Grill on Bowen Road. This restaurant serves authentic Jamaican food spiced with exotic flavors, such as Cajun. Some popular dishes include jerk chicken rasta pasta, ackee and cod fish platter, callaloo greens and cod fish, escoveich king fish stakes, and oxtail platter. Vegetarians also have good choices here, with dishes such as stir-fry vegetables, steamed vegetables and rice, peas, or yellow rice. A touch of India can be seen in the menu too, with curry chicken roti, curry shrimp roti, and curry goat roti. Good ambiance and friendly waiters add to the wonderful dining experience.

For a touch of Southern food, go to White Corner Restaurant on Southern Avenue. The breakfast menu, which includes French toast and scrambled cheese eggs with turkey, proves popular among locals. Fast and friendly service with classic American food add to the charm of dining here.

For nightlife you'll have to drive down to Pennsylvania Avenue. Wisdom, located right on Pennsylvania Avenue, offers an intimate drinking experience for its customers. Bartenders tend to be innovative with their drink mixing, and they come up with specialties, such as masquerade with chocolate shavings and absinthe. This place also has nice and comfortable couches to sit back and relax with your friends over a drink.

Another option on Pennsylvania Avenue, Trusty's Full Serve Bar, sits a block away from Potomac Avenue Metro. This bar has a retro look to it with its old filling station decor. TV stations and board games add to the fun, while the open patio upstairs makes it perfect for small parties. Cheap beer, a great crowd, and tasty bites make it a favorite among local residents.

A study shows that 26.9 percent of Marshall Heights residents take the metro to work. Such high levels of ridership can be attributed to the abundant availability of bus and metro services that connect all parts of this neighborhood. A 28-day pass costs $237 and gives you the option to ride both the metro and the bus. Other than public transport, people take their cars to get to work due to the neighborhood's proximity to I-295. Some residents like to take a taxi or Uber, as parking comes at a premium. Walking and biking are safe options when you want to get in some physical activity during the summer months.

Fort Dupont Park on Massachusetts Avenue has large open spaces for kids to run and play. Its outdoor pavilion and grills make it an ideal place for a summer picnic with friends and family. Also, this park hosts a concert series every summer that attracts large crowds. For a more exercise-centric park, head to Anacostia Park on Fairlawn Avenue. This park has workout equipment all around it for adults and large play areas for children of all ages. This park sits right next to the Potomac river, so it has a beautiful biking and walking trail that gives you a glimpse of the serene river. It proves dog-friendly too, so take your pups here for a good walk.

Anacostia Park, located along the Anacostia River, is just a short distance from Marshall Heights. This large park has a paved walking/jogging/bicycling trail along the river as well as playgrounds, picnic areas, a fitness station, and a roller-skating pavilion. Boating and fishing are also popular park activities, with a boat ramp located on the north side of Anacostia Drive. This park hosts the annual Anacostia River Festival with live music, boating, fishing workshops, historic tours, bike parades, art projects, and more.

Proximity to D.C. comes at a price, so Marshall Heights is about 54 percent higher than the national average, though it is cheaper than 78.4 percent of D.C.'s neighborhoods. A single-bedroom apartment in Marshall Heights rents at an average of $743, while a pint of beer costs an average of $4.97 at the local pub. A gallon of gas sits at 11.56 percent higher than the national average.

Benco Shopping Center on Benning Road contains several shops. Penn Station Shopping Center on Silver Hill Road acts as a large outdoor shopping center with an assortment of stores and eateries. Plenty of parking spaces make this place a popular hangout during summer.

Friendly staff and good selection of beauty products make Scott's Beauty Supply on Pennsylvania Avenue a one-stop place for all your beauty needs. In this store, you can find hats, scarves, jewelry, and accessories for any dress and occasion.

For your grocery needs, head to Jones Grocery Store on Texas Avenue or Dennies Market on Benning Road. For fresh produce, drive down to Capitol Hill. Watkins FoodPrints Farmers Market on 13th and E, as well as the USDA Farmers Market on 12th Street, are both great options for farm-fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and handcrafted items.