Kevin, as a former Washingtonian, what is Fresh Fields? Should I assume this is some kind of new upscale market that's been around for awhile? I haven't lived in D.C. for about 20 years, and all I can remember are two Magruders grocery stores (one in Chevy Chase, the other on Rockville Pike) and another upscale "deli" whose name escapes me (one was in the Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda and their main outpost was on New Mexico Ave. in upper N.W. D.C., near my grandmother's apartment called the Collonade. Is Wagshal's upscale deli still on Mass. Ave. in upper N.W. as well?

Wagshal's is still there and still serving up the most amazing sandwiches around! I went to AU and was a regular there!

Just gotta defend my Falls Church turf! Yes there's a small "strip mall" in Falls Church with a Jerry's and a Pancake House ... but old city blocks across the street and on either side contain some of the finest ethnic restaurants in the DC area, a hard-to-find, privately owned bookstore, antique shops, many long-time, family- and privately-owned local businesses, and the restored State Theatre, where both well known performers as well as lesser known jazz, blues, and rock performers play in an intimate venue. Larger "strip malls" (containing stores we all need, including the aforementioned Fresh Fields) are on the outside outskirts of the City.

Fresh Fields is an organic grocery store. They specialize in natural products, including things like wheat-free products, lots of vegetarian and soy stuff. Their fruit and hormone-free meat is the best around, but you pay dearly for it. If you're looking for an Oreo cookie and a Coke, you'd better look somewhere else. <BR> <BR>The other gourmet store someone asked about at Wildwood and Northwest is Sutton Place Gourmet. They're still around, and still very gourmet.

Chris-I wasn't slamming Falls Church. I used to live just next to it in Arlington. But some other commentor said that Falls Church had none of the sprawl present in the rest of the area. <BR> <BR>Fresh Fields is WAY overpriced for what you get. I know people who swear by it, but you get much better stuff, and much cheaper, just by going to a farmer's market. And once when I was moving, I went looking for boxes at a Fresh Fields, and discovered that much of what they tout as "organic" is exactly the same stuff they sell at Giant and Safeway.

Relocator, how was your visit?

whew! After a whirlwind weekend visiting it feels like at least 100 homes I am back and thanks for asking about the trip. since we are not moving until the beginning of July, we did not feel quite a much pressure to "settle" right away. After all, we still need to put our home here up for sale! what i can say is we LOVE the area. I however did not realize the cost differences would be so dramatic living closer or in the district. I found one area in particular that I really liked but it is doubtful we can afford it (maybe) and not sure how schools are. We really liked something inside the district, the homes around American University were wonderful, I didn't realize there were such nice SFHs in D.C. without going to burbs! we also like Lyon village as i had expected and found several homes in our price range in Cherrydale? and the Courthouse area of Arlington. the realtor now understands better what we ae looking for as far a the inside of the house itself and is going to continue to search for us, we will be returning in 3 weeks. On another note, I spoke to an acquaintance of my husband's who commutes to D.C. from Anapolis and doesn't mind. I think Anapolis is beautiful, but I don't know about both me and my husband commuting in every day. Does anyone out there do this? How long is it? What is the city of Anapolis like as far as culture, restaurants, shopping etc. Again, we don not like strip mall suburban with chain restaurants and walmarts everywhere. Comments?

Relocator, <BR> <BR>So glad to hear your trip went well. <BR> <BR>Yes, you pay dearly for proximity to the District. The reason for that is the traffic. It is just horrible out here at times! <BR> <BR>As far as living in Annapolis and commuting into the District, well, I'm not sure you'd be happy with that in the long term. The commute is a real grind. Once, I had to drive toward Annapolis at about 7:30 a.m. on a weekday. Headed into the District in the morning, it was a parking lot for miles and miles and miles! I had no idea. So you might take that drive during rush hour a few times before you commit. <BR> <BR>And as a general matter, once you have kids, having a long commute can be very difficult. Either one of you works and doesn't see the kids awake, or both of you work and have to figure out a way to retrieve the child from daycare on a timely basis. Not easy. <BR> <BR>Anyway, best of luck, and let us know if you have more questions.

I live in the part of Silver Spring that's near D.C. - - the area that's beginning to be called Old Silver Spring. It took my wife and me 25 minutes to drive to Rhode Island and Connecticut (downtown near Dupont Circle) this morning. My wife usually takes the Metro and it's about 20 minutes. We moved to the Washington area in '93 and rented an apartment in Silver Spring as a temporary expedient, then bought a townhouse in '98. After a long dormant period Silver Spring has begun what will certainly be an interesting and, I believe, successful suburban redevelopment. After two failed efforts in the '90s to build typical suburban malls, the county has funded an ambitious and innovative effort to create a mix of street-front retail, office and residential development. One goal is to turn Old Silver Spring into a media arts center, and the Discovery Channel has started construction of their world headquarters and the American Film Institute is committed to refurbishing the old Silver Theater as its new suburban venue. Two of the necessities of upper middle class Washington life - - Fresh Fields and Strosniders hardware - - have opened within the past 6 months and a third - - Border's Books - - is underway. It's still possible to find very nice houses in Woodside and other similar Silver Spring neigborhoods for $300,000 - $400,000.

Annapolis is a beautiful place, but you wouldn't see it very often if you were commuting to D.C. I first moved here in 1987, but lived in the city until 1992. Since 92, traffic has increased exponentially. It truly is incredible. I moved overseas for about 18 months, and I was amazed at how much more crowded 495 and 66 were than before I left. I didn't think things could get any worse! <BR> <BR>If you can afford it, live in the city or as close to it as you can get. The AU area is lovely (I used to live on Nebraska Avenue). There also are some really nice areas off of Foxhall Road in the upper Georgetown area (some neighborhoods are in th $1million+, while others are more reasonable).

Ther s no reason to live in Anapolis unless you work in or near there. with both parents commuting such a distance little time will ever be spent at home. Have you tried lookin gin Prince George Co. Maryland, real estate is cheaper here than in montgomery co. or arlington.

I was doing a search on this board as I am looking to move to the D.C. metro area and saw this great thread. Does anyone else have comments? I have friends in the Oakton area of VA which is nice and I have begun looking there as well as the Reston area. Anyone know about these areas?

Karen, <BR> <BR>I suggest you start your own thread with the particulars of your question. We'd love to help.