tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post8472470210877431735..comments2023-10-22T10:53:07.976-04:00Comments on 14th & You: A Dispatch From the MoCo Hinterlands14th & Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10401615764637283832noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-24971570697697955122012-06-06T22:40:25.935-04:002012-06-06T22:40:25.935-04:00How about applying your neighborhood reporting ski...How about applying your neighborhood reporting skills to the Rockville area? There isn't as much turnover but it would be interesting to learn what is coming in and going out, what the local government is up to, etc. Are you not as involved in the community?paulwhithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02430058598168351956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-42484667634018572612012-06-04T15:33:02.074-04:002012-06-04T15:33:02.074-04:00Just for clarity: *I* don't really think of Wh...Just for clarity: *I* don't really think of White Flint as the "hinterlands." That is a tongue-in-cheek reference to my DC friends who think that North Bethesda might as well be North Dakota.<br /><br />I appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments. It has been an interesting nine months to be sure. Perhaps we'll decide to re-start the blog up here with a White FLint/Rockville focus, although it would need a catchy name. "Montrose & 355" doesn't really have the same ring to it...Mr. Other Upper NWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12536367497290075887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-17216674820717649312012-06-04T11:57:16.394-04:002012-06-04T11:57:16.394-04:00While I take issue with calling White Flint "...While I take issue with calling White Flint "the hinterlands" (have you ever been to Clarksburg!?), I appreciate your thoughtful, reasoned comparison of life in the city vs. life in the suburbs. Too many people cling to one side of that debate while knocking the other, and it's disappointing because both have great things to offer.<br /><br />I grew up in MoCo and I'm totally with you about the food. It's better and cheaper than what you'll find in DC, and the population is as diverse or more so than in DC. That said, it is hard to walk and it's hard to meet people. Unless you're in older neighborhoods in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton, Bethesda, etc., you're not going to see people walking around because there isn't any reason to.<br /><br />However, when I started my blog Just Up The Pike six years ago, it enabled me to meet people all across the county and build a network of fans, supporters and friends. I was able to make community here, but it took a lot more work.<br /><br />Hopefully, you'll find something to "own" about White Flint, but since y'all are already willing to see the good things in MoCo, it may be easier than you think.Dan Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10594208011755406956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-25886180910670140542012-06-04T11:12:56.269-04:002012-06-04T11:12:56.269-04:00I've often wrestled with the question of what ...I've often wrestled with the question of what to do in a situation where you could live in a hip place with a hellish commute or a not-so-hip place with a bearable commute. <br /><br />When I moved to DC my first job was in the 'burbs, so I lived in the 'burbs. I didn't love it, but it was worth not having to reverse commute every day. Now I am lucky enough to work downtown. When you work downtown, it really does make these decisions a whole lot easier.Rob Pitingolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10273110931175509169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-57019296312913272252012-06-04T10:42:48.499-04:002012-06-04T10:42:48.499-04:00Best of luck to you! The number of development pro...Best of luck to you! The number of development projects under construction and on deck in White Flint is amazing so hopefully you'll be around to reap those rewards. MoCo seems to "get it" when it comes to Rockville Pike w/increasing it's density in a way that institutes more of a street grid and a much, much greater focus on pedestrians/walkability. Along with the planned BRT, Rockville Pike might very well go from one of the most cringe-inducing 1960s sections of the county to one of the best thought out 21st century sections of the county.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-35743467311959647782012-06-04T10:19:38.128-04:002012-06-04T10:19:38.128-04:00I work in WF, but live in Logan. I can sympathize ...I work in WF, but live in Logan. I can sympathize with needing to cut a commute, but it always struck me that WF would be isolating. The new high rises seem pretty lifeless and the Harris Teeter hasn't seemed busy when I've treaded there. You do have Rodman's and Mom's nearby and it's easy to find stuff for a renovation or car repair, although I suspect that those businesses will get pushed to Gaithersburg at some point, which is the downside of "urbanizing" WF. There are interesting restaurants, including the vegan place next to Ize's deli. Sadly, Bagel Palace seems to be dying. Yet, on the whole, the restaurant choices aren't that great and you easily can spend as much as you would in the city. <br /><br />The sidewalk situation is better on the West side of the Pike and I regularly walk up to REI and Trader Joe's. There's a great public pool, which is an amenity lacking in the Logan area.<br /><br />I used to dogsit for a colleague in "pretend Potomoac" (Potomac PO address with Rockville locale). Despite being a kid friendly neighborhood with a nice public park, I never saw anyone out except other dog walkers. DC suburbs don't seem to have real neighborhood life. I can go through neighborhoods of similar or higher SES in Cleveland and see actual people doing things (playing, cutting their own grass, etc.). I'd imagine that aparatment/condo living is even more isolating.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095284393772305956.post-17222960024942193482012-06-04T09:26:57.789-04:002012-06-04T09:26:57.789-04:00I'm not a regular reader of your blog, but i&#...I'm not a regular reader of your blog, but i'm glad the 14th and U family seems to be at least learning to live in your new surroundings. I'd say you may be 5-10 years too early to enjoy what the White Flint vicinity hopes to become, with more restaurants, bars, better pedestrian and vehicular connections, possible new bus routes and a deconstructing of Rockville Pike into Rockville Boulevard. I'd still say it's light years of difference from DC's quaint row-house neighborhoods, but may begin to rival the excitement of a new, urbanesque downtown.Gullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07438448176121711386noreply@blogger.com