Overview
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Logan Circle is a sought after neighborhood with a close knit feel. With many nearby bars and restaurants, even those from outside the neighborhood come to play in Logan Circle. It used to be a hotspot for crime and prostitution, but this has changed drastically within the past decade. Now it is clean, and has fancy restaurants and even its own theatre. It is also only about six block away from the nightlife and social scene of Dupont Circle. Though it used to be a cheaper alternative to Dupont, prices are rising rapidly here. Logan Circle's close proximity to downtown make it a terrific place to live in the city.
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Located around the intersection of Logan Circle, Vermont Avenue, and R Streets, Logan Circle/ U St, is the perfect mix of quiet residential neighborhood meets come-alive DC hot spot. Logan Circle is a neighborhood that itself is a mixture of old and new, where row houses, single family house, and apartment building that have stood for years meet modern condominiums. Some residents have lived in the community for generations, while others are relative new comers, which make meeting diverse groups of people very easy. Adding to this neighborhood feel is the local school, day care center, corner store, and neighborhood churches. While street parking can be an issue, particularly on Sundays, the foot-traffic adds to the safety of the neighborhood.A ten-minute walk down R Street is the DC hot spot U Street, which can truly come alive on Friday and Saturday nights. With a renovated theater and no shortage of restaurants, there is always a destination. For a coffee-house feel, there is Mocha Hut, which in addition to great food, offers Wi-Fi and poetry readings. For a more international flavor, there are restaurants Sala Thai and Alero’s. And, no trip to U Street would be complete without a trip to a DC legend, Ben’s Chill Bowl. The food is excellent and the service and ambiance is enough to keep you coming back.U Street is also close to other great DC neighborhoods such as Columbia Heights and Howard University. It is also right on a metro line, which makes it accessible to any other place as well.
Logan Circle attracts the thirty-ish, the attractive, and the gay and gay-friendly. Having a fair amount of disposable income is de rigeur here. Less than a third of the residents are owners, with most preferring to rent. Most residents are well-established in their careers, but haven't yet settled down with a spouse and kids. Check out the Logan Circle Community Association to see if the neighborhood would be a good fit for you.
The EatWellDC group runs many of the great restaurants in Logan Circle: Logan Tavern and Commissary (which replaced Merkado). For great eats in a dive-like atmosphere, try Stoney's. Playbill Cafe offers karaoke Thursdays, and often has plays in its back-room theatre. Cork wine bar is the hottest restaurant in town. There's Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Confections which boasts a cocoa bar and chocolate bacon and music fans will want to head to HR-57, the Center for Jazz Preservation.
Rental prices in Logan Circle are among the highest in the city. You are paying for location, so don't expect much space for your money. You will get access to one of the most exciting areas in town, so more than likely you'll only see your tiny place at night.
Parking is moderatly difficult here. During the week spots are fairly easy to come by; however, on weekend nights, parking becomes a hassle. To be honest, with every metro line within walking distance (McPherson Sq. - Blue and Orange, Dupont Circle - Red, & Mt. Vernon Sq. - Yellow and Green), a car is truly not necessary. The frequent buses that run up and down 14th Street are another great option. If you insist on driving, know that Whole Foods has the only parking garage in the neighborhood, and it's closely monitored.
Rental units in Logan Circle are becoming harder to find. Existing buildings are being knocked down to make way for luxury condos and co-ops, and many former group houses have been sold and re-habbed for single-family use. The best places to look are on foot (many basement apartments are only advertised on site), Washington City Paper, and craigslist.
Logan Circle Park is overrun with area dogs nearly 24/7. Most of the cafes and restaurants in the area allow dogs on their outdoor patios. Dogs by Day at 14th and R offers excellent day care for your pooch (and overnight boarding), and GreenPets next door sells organic treats and products. CityPaws Animal Hospital on 14th and T can take of all your pet's health needs.
14th Street used to be the center of theatre in DC. But rents were raised, and now the only one left is Studio Theatre. But it's thriving, having taken over 1/2 the block at 14th and P. Playbill Cafe does have a small back room that doubles as a theatre, often featuring cabaret acts and small non-equity shows. Bars and cafes abound, from the Caribou Coffee at 14th and Rhode Island to the Artfully Chocolate a bit further up 14th Street. Halo is a small gem of a gay bar, located right by former dive turned respectable Stoney's. Logan Square offers a place to sip coffee and read the paper on weekends, and every December there's a holiday home tour, where you can gawk at your neighbor's finery.
P Street between 14th & 15th packs a lot of punch in a small area. There's a CVS, hardware store, liquor store, dry cleaners, grocery store, and a yoga studio lining one side of the street. The other side is the party side, with Vegas Lounge, Stoney's, Logan Tavern, The Commissary, and Halo all offering drinks, food and fun. Venture a bit further up 14th street towards Q and you'll find Artfully Chocolate, with its Cocoa Bar, along with Cork wine bar.
Logan Circle offers lots of amenities to its residents. There's a Whole Foods, CVS, hardware store, several liquor stores, a barber shop, two banks, and a soon arriving gym that are all within a few blocks of 14th and P Streets.
There aren't a lot of families in Logan Circle, and those that are here tend to have same-sex parents.
This area of town used to be rife with drugs, prostitution, and street crime. Since the recent gentrification, the prostitution and drug trade has moved on, but petty crime remains. The most common target is theft from parked vehicles, so don't leave anything (this includes GPS units) in your car overnight, unless you like replacing your windows several times a year. Even given the relative safety of the neighborhood, walking alone late at night is not advised. The drop in crime means less officers in the area, so that means less cops to help out when you need them most.
Logan Circle is one area where housing prices have not dropped dramatically. While the 1/2 million dollar condos may not be selling as fast at they were a year ago, they are still selling. Prices run from $200,000 for a small studio to several million for single-family homes.
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