Neighborhood names are an ongoing fascination for me—from the near dead “Kent,” to the just born “Capitol Riverfront.” So in this week’s edition of Where the hell is blank neighborhood?, I submit a new name: Capitol Quarter.

I just spotted the name in this Washington Business Journal article about an EYA 210-townhouse development supposedly located in…well…Capitol Quarter, described as “near two Metro stations and The Yards redevelopment along the Southeast waterfront that will offer parks, restaurants and retail.”

Read More “Where’s “Capitol Quarter”?” »

Susan Rice, a Kentian?

In the grand hierarchy of elite D.C. neighborhoods, The Palisades is certainly among the top tier. It’s close to downtown, but quiet and green. Its property values frequently climb beyond the $1 million mark. If you’re looking for a decent club scene, this area will disappoint—but apparently, there’s a “kickass wine shop” nearby for nightlife emergencies.

Yes, it doesn’t get much better than The Palisades, unless of course you know about nearby Kent since the two areas often get lumped in together under The Palisades moniker. Kent appears to be the area’s pricier, and thus more esteemed, neighborhood. The question is: how many people know the distinction?

Last week, I wrote a short post about Kent. I’d never heard about it until unexpectedly coming across the name in Washingtonian magazine. Soon, I determined I was not the only one in the dark. Several of my go-to neighborhood experts here at the Washington City Paper were also unfamiliar with Kent.

I put out a call for information. One individual sent me a personal message saying that the DC  Real Property Assessment Database includes Kent. The database lists 964 properties, and a number of V.I.P.s. These include Vanity Fair National Editor Todd Purdum, who is married to Dee Dee Myers, also a Vanity Fair contributor and former press secretary for Bill Clinton. Just scrolling through the Kent database, I noticed one more familiar name: Newly appointed United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, listed as living on Millwood Lane. Read More “Some Say “Kent” Is a Real D.C. Neighborhood” »