North Capitol St Northeast, Stronghold

Irving Street can be a great option for those on a budget. It's benefitted from recent investment, and is really taking off. Wonderland is a great neighborhood bar (I love that they have cider on tap).

I need to start, though, by saying that I'd recommend staying west of 14th street. It gets pretty sketchy beyond the metro stop.

So starting at 14th and Irving, you're at the Columbia Heights metro stop. Over the last few years, businesses have taken advantage of lower property values and built big new stores. There's now a Target, Best Buy, and Giant right at the metro stop. There are two huge new apartment/condo buildings. Someone could live at 14th and Irving, use that metro stop to commute, and rarely have to go more than two blocks from their residence.

As you go farther west, you get into Mount Pleasant. It's also a gentrifying neighborhood. There's a farmer's market every weekend, and some great hippie restaurants (Dos Gringos!) Along Irving itself, there are mostly row houses and townhouses. Many of them have been converted into condos or rent out basement apartments. Great rental options for students, still only about 4 blocks from the metro.

Follow Irving farther down to the west, and it dead ends into Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo. A great place to go running, or just strolling through the (free admission) parks.