Okay, so I think I have this straight. South of the DC/MD border, the area is called the Takoma neighborhood, part of DC’s ANC 4B. North of that line is Takoma Park, MD, a city in Montgomery County. Did I get that right?
I’ve always been a bit blurry on where DC stops and MD begins around the Takoma Metrorail station. Not that’s it matters much to me, but I always hear the “DC or MD?” question tossed into the mix when conversation arises around the Takoma area. My only exposure to the area up until this week was the occasional drive through the area on Blair Road. I’ve actually avoided that route as much as possible, though, because the intersection at Blair Road NW and Cedar Street NW has to be one of the most awkward in all of DC.
I decided to ride up one day after work, and let me tell you this: thank goodness I no longer have to ride the Red Line on a regular basis. Stereotypes exist for a reason, and on that warm, sunny spring day, this Red Line car was living up to every bad expectation one has for the Metro. There was just enough air conditioning on to make you desperately wish there was more air conditioning on. And tensions ran high at every stop leading up to Takoma, as anxious riders who had – as the announcements encouraged them to do – moved to the center of the car looked around frantically for the easiest way to exit at their stop. It was every man for himself and I really don’t think I would want to deal with that amount of stress twice a day. This is why I ride the bus.
About half the train seemed to empty at Takoma; I knew the remaining half would exit at Silver Spring, as that’s as far as this train went. Although my car had been nearly silent, save for a young Asian guy blasting – no joke – 80′s era easy listening tunes on his earbuds, the platform was full of post-work chatter and there was none of the stampede-like rushing at other stations. Some folks were practically sauntering toward the escalator banks. I took a much-needed breath of fresh air and slowed down myself.
Ironically, the only thing this sign makes me want to do *is* trespass.
Station: Takoma Rating (1-10): 7
Ridership: The rush hour crowd is predictable in many ways – 20-somethings in ill-fitting navy suits, government employees with sensible insulated lunchbags, the occasional – but more diverse than the typical rush hour crowds on the western half of the Red Line. A handful of riders headed toward the bus bays; most emptied out onto the sidewalks of Carroll Street and into what was an absolutely gorgeous Tuesday evening.
Pros: The station is in close proximity to a number of shops, restaurants, and professional services. And the buses here will take you to points north, south, east, and west, with half of them running every 10 minutes or fewer during rush. There are also 38 bike racks and sixty bike lockers here, which ties it with Shady Grove for the second-highest number of bike lockers in the system (Vienna has the most, with 68).
Cons: Don’t expect anything fancy, architecture-wise: Takoma’s is of the standard-issue late-70′s variety, with a basic single island platform and m-shaped concrete canopy. For such an “artsy” neighborhood, you’d think there’d be a mural or something here, but no such luck. Yawn.
Nearby & Noteworthy: I’m all ears when it comes to recommending the best businesses and sites near Takoma; I just don’t know the area that well, but I’m hoping to change that. I will say that with places devoted entirely to brownies (Batch by Batch) and cheesecake (Capital City Cheesecake), it sounds like a pretty sweet place to grab a bite.
Latest Metro News: The FY 2012 budget isn’t as bad as we thought, apparently. There are six open house meetings in May for riders to voice their feedback on the budget, so check one out near you.
There’s the cute little shopping district, as well as Mark’s Kitchen, a popular choice among TkPk residents. It’s a very long walk or short bus ride but there’s also the Takoma Park Co-Op. I don’t get up there much, but I do periodically. It’s a nice hood, at least on the Carroll side of the station.
Yayyy TP! I lived in TP for many years and I miss it. Mark’s Kitchen, about a 10-minute walk up into the main part of downtown TP has been there forever and has great food – lots of options for vegetarians. I highly recommend it. There is a pizza place that opened up a few years ago – Roscos – last time I was there (1 yr+) the pizzas were great and they have a bar which is something that TP lacked for a very long time. Its a little further down the street from Mark’s, heading east. There was a little place near the metro that is like a pub/bar and serves food – the Station something. Last time I was there they had some good bar food and a good wine selection – again that was a welcome addition to the little town with no place to go out for a social drink.
So the 7-11 a stone’s throw away from the station is in DC, but everything “above” that is in Maryland. At least, that’s how I remember it, and I only know that from looking at my slurpee-buying receipts. It’s a pretty easy station to deal with, but the tunnel from the elevator out to the parking lot is super duper creepy.
Much good vintage shopping up the street, I must point out!
1. You came to Takoma and didn’t tell me?? We have sooo much exciting new stuff here – heavenly home-furnishings-and-t-shirts store Trohv, my neighborhood bar The Olive Lounge (I have an official numbered mug), Roscoe’s pizza…it’s exciting times, I tell you.
2. We’re getting a mural! In the underpass where Carroll/Cedar goes under the tracks.
Yeah, sorry – it was kind of spur of the moment, I promise! I’ll add those places to the list for my next visit. And the artwork will be a great addition.
Next time! It turns the mural is being installed this week, and it’s nearly done – I took a picture of it this afternoon, which I will send you when I’m on my other computer.