Cathedral Ave, Washington, DC 20016

"When we bought our home here in 2008, we knew, at first glance, that the Palisades area of Washington DC was a community that was an amazing enclave of people who would probably never move away, unless their jobs forced them to do so. Before arriving here both my wife and I had spent time in DC, but always on the "other side" of Georgetown or across the Potomac in Virginia. The Palisades is such a perfect setting of smaller colonials, traditional arts and crafts homes, larger estates near the other neighborhood of Kent, and a few contemporaries hidden among the bucolic nature that surrounds the area. Macarthur Boulevard cuts through the middle of the Palisades and the best way to describe this neighborhood artery is Main Street America with a slightly upscale twist: Great food served at several restaurants, small locally-owned boutiques, pet shops for uber dog lovers, coffee served fresh, art galeries and many other shops on the street that makes life just a little bit easier and more interesting -- locally. Then there is the 4th of July parade for the Palisades on Macarthur. Hollywood could not do it more authentic. Small floats, high school bands, local kids walking, a few veterans driving WWII-era jeeps that they collected themselves and other people that nobody knows driving their cars waving as if they are running for office. The colors, the music and the atmosphere is 1970s America without the cigarettes hanging from Dad's lips. And last but not least, the best part about the Palisades are the people who live here. Power brokers rub shoulders with lower-level civil servants in line at the local Safeway, everyone visits the Farmer's Market on Sunday, fitness fans and families use the Palisades receational center religiously, parents are very engaged at the local elementary school, and as you walk or jog throughout the neighbood, almost everyone says "hi" when you walk past. If only the Palisades was coast to coast, America would be a happier place..... "