We are grateful for the sponsor of this Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, & Van Ness Neighborhood Guide: Vassar Broermann Group who are expert realtors in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia areas.
Integrity is the hallmark of Todd and Eric’s client-focused real estate services, serving the DC Metro region. Their professionalism, creative negotiation, and unwavering drive to satisfy their clients are what set them apart from other agents. Todd and Eric have a genuine concern for their clients’ best interests and work tirelessly to ensure they are satisfied with their service before, during, and after closing. Both have been consistently recognized by the Washingtonian as among the Top 100 Best Agents and Top Producers.
Todd’s legal background and Eric’s military background have provided them with a unique perspective on what the role of an effective real estate agent should be: trustworthy, accessible, and professional. Todd and Eric are committed to understanding your goals and helping you reach them. Todd is a resident of Woodley Park, and Eric is a resident of 16th St Heights. Contact Eric or Todd at [email protected] or at 202-813-9339. Visit their website at www.thevbgroup.com, and be sure to check them out on Facebook and Instagram too.
What is your favorite thing about raising kids in the Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, & Van Ness Neighborhood?
My favorite part of raising my son here is that we have the best of both worlds: The quietness of the suburbs and the convenience of the city. There’s not much nightlife in this area, so we don’t have the noise that goes along with that, but we’re right on the redline with quick access to all the city has to offer. We can walk to playgrounds, coffee shops, grocery stores, pharmacies, and best of all, the National Zoo!
What makes Cleveland Park/Woodley Park/Van Ness family-friendly and unique?
We have the National Zoo, plus a variety of family-friendly restaurants (see below), ice-cream shops, and more. We love that our area offers several fun playgrounds like Guy Mason Park and Recreation Center, Macomb Park Recreation Center, Forest Hills Playground, and Beauvoir Playground (which is a part of the National Cathedral). There is also the gorgeous Rosedale Conservancy and Tregaron Conservancy. Also, the Cleveland Park listserv is very useful for getting local recommendations and for buying/selling furniture, toys, kids’ clothes, etc.
What community events or local attractions are there?
Obviously, we LOVE being so close to the National Zoo! We often top off a trip to the zoo with a stop at Baked by Yael, which is directly across the street from the zoo. There’s Gymboree Play & Music (a great place to burn off some toddler energy) and the Cleveland Park Public Library, where you can attend storytime or pick up some new books. We also love visiting the Cleveland Park Farmer’s Market held each Saturday. All Fired Up is a local treasure that is fun for families, too. You can end the day with ice cream at our Cold Stone Creamery!
What nearby schools or childcare places do kids attend in Cleveland Park/Woodley Park/Van Ness?
As you can see from the lists below, there is no shortage of schools in this area!
Daycare/Pre-school:
- Broadcaster’s Child Development Center (BCDC)
- KinderHaus
- Rosemount Center
- Franklin Montessori School
- Gan HaYeled Preschool
- National Child Research Center
- Aiden Montessori School
- Auguste Montessori School
- CommuniKids
Public Schools:
- Eaton Elementary School
- Hearst Elementary School
- Oyster-Adams Bilingual School
- Hardy Middle School
- Deal Middle School
- Briggs Chaney Middle School
- Jackson-Reed High School
- Washington Latin Public Charter School
Private Schools:
- Washington International School
- Sidwell Friends
- National Cathedral School
- Beauvoir
- St. Alban’s School
- Aiden Montessori School
- Maret School
- Edmund Burke School
- Sheridan School
- Fusion Academy
Universities:
Where are your favorite places to shop in the area?
I love shopping at Yes! Organic Market because of their organic options and friendly staff. I also love Streets Market – It is a small but high-quality local grocery store. Transcendence-Perfection-Bliss of the Beyond is a great little local gift shop with an array of unique greeting cards, children’s toys, jewelry, etc. We also have a new Target, which is super convenient for picking up basics. Cleveland Park Farmer’s Market is a local open-air farmer’s market on Saturday mornings along the west sidewalk along Connecticut Avenue.
What are some of your favorite places to eat in the area?
Open City is a great family-friendly restaurant in Woodley Park with awesome food (and breakfast fare all day!). It’s always busy and loud, so worrying about your kids making too much noise is unnecessary. They even have some kids’ toys inside, plus sidewalk chalk out front to entertain your kids while you wait for your table. They have a children’s menu, changing tables, and high chairs.
Laredo is a Mexican restaurant right on the main Cleveland Park strip along Connecticut Avenue. They have an outdoor patio area that is perfect for nice weather (and loud children). The vibe is casual, and they are always very friendly and accommodating to children. They have a Children’s Menu and high chairs but no changing tables.
Right across the street from Laredo is Firehook. It may seem like your average bakery/cafe from the street, but they have a hidden gem of a patio outback. Their food is good, and the outdoor patio has plenty of spread-out tables and a fountain surrounded by kids’ chairs. It’s a great casual place to eat where you don’t have to struggle to keep your child in their chair for the entire meal. They have high chairs but no Children’s Menu or changing tables.
Also nearby is Medium Rare. This restaurant has just one option on the menu: salad, steak, and fries. It’s loud enough that you don’t have to shush your kids every two minutes, and they have paper table covers and crayons for coloring. Our son is picky and won’t eat salad or steak, so we usually just bring something for him to eat along with the fries he loves. They do not have a Children’s Menu but offer kid-size portions. They have high chairs but no changing tables.
Are there more places to eat?
YES! Cactus Cantina is another great Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood. It’s located right on Wisconsin Avenue, close to the National Cathedral. Our son loves to watch the tortilla-making machine, and if you ask, they will give kids tortilla dough to play with. They have crayons and a paper children’s menu for coloring, and they are very accommodating to young children overall. They have a children’s menu, changing tables, and high chairs.
Jetties is an awesome sandwich shop located on Macomb Street, just off Wisconsin Avenue, by the Cathedral. This location doesn’t have much space for eating there, but we love to pick up sandwiches and walk over to the picnic tables at Macomb Park (one of our favorite neighborhood playgrounds). They have a Children’s Menu and high chairs, but no changing table.
Silver is a newer restaurant in the neighborhood and is already one of our frequent stops. It’s located right on Connecticut Avenue, just north of Cactus Cantina. It has a diner-style but with more upscale food. They have a Children’s Menu, high chairs, and changing tables.
What advice would you give to families who are new to the area?
If you are new to the area, I recommend that you invest in a good stroller and enjoy all that is within walking distance to you! A typical weekend for us involves walking to the playground, visiting the Cleveland Park Public Library, and maybe a stroll through the National Zoo. Sometimes, we walk to Gymboree, especially in the cold months when we need to burn some energy indoors. Along the way, we often stop to eat at one of our favorite local restaurants (listed above) and pick up some groceries on the way home. You really don’t have to leave the neighborhood!
If you are thinking of moving to the Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, & Van Ness Neighborhood, be sure to contact the Vassar Broermann Group. They are experts in this area!
