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Once upon a time, the H Street corridor of the Northeast was one of the biggest shopping and entertainment districts in the DC region. The 1968 riots that followed the death of Dr. Martin Luther King disrupted that for a time. As recently as 5 years ago, much of it was still a mix of boarded-up storefronts, Chinese carry-out restaurants and discount beauty salons. The DC Main Streets program helped older businesses expand and undergo facelifts, and promoted new housing and business development in the area. 

For starters, The Atlas Theater reopened, which we were thrilled to see. The Argonaut and other restaurants and bars also began to pop up around the neighborhood. This brought in some trendy hipsters in the mood for late-night fish sandwiches at pubs like Horace & Dickie's. Then, things really started to explode in a way no one could have expected...and restaurants, theaters and neighborhood night spots like the ones just mentioned began attracting extremely large crowds. 

Now, after reading all of that, you may be wondering - what else is so attractive about H Street? 

Well, H Street has become SO MUCH more than a strip of late-night bars. Some have compared it to the old U Street NW, before U Street became more gentrified. For instance, there is dance and cutting-edge art, just to start. If you're a savvy Washingtonian, you probably know all of this, but if you are new to the area, here are some interesting places you should check out - many of which keep us coming back.

• Studio H Gallery: H Street has certainly become the "hot spot" in which to check out new art. Recent solo exhibitions at the Studio H space have included photos and installations by graffiti artist Tim Conlon and marionette-inspired pieces by painter Ellen Cornett.
• The Atlas Performing Arts Center offers music and dance classes, as well as theatrical performances.
• Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar: This dimly lit main bar has quickly become a staple of the H Street scene. Its lush, New Orleans-meets-gilded-bordello decor reinforces the "you're not in Washington, DC anymore" vibe. Here's some more "HAPPY" for this hip little joint: Every other Wednesday, it's dress-up time with something they like to call "Kostume Karaoke" which promises to be a good time.  
• The Rock and Roll Hotel: One of the early pioneers on H Street, the Rock & Roll Hotel plays a key role in the D.C. music scene. The venue has a knack for picking winners to perform there and features a "rock heaven" decor and excellent game nights.
• The Liberty Tree: Fans of New England seafood will love this one-room restaurant & bar. With features such as fresh lobster rolls on a toasted bun, there's no question as to why this place is an absolute hit! They also feature such selections as scallop pot pie & roasted or breaded cod sandwich...YUM! I'm thinking H Street should stand for DC's Happy Street from that description alone!
• Some other mentionable hotspots: Sticky Rice, H Street Country Club, The Red & The Black & Napa 1015
• The H Street-Benning Road streetcar will be a reality as soon as the end of 2012. It will be a streetcar line from 1st Street, NE along H Street and Benning Road to Oklahoma Avenue, including 6 streetcar vehicles and a maintenance facility. The line would go under the H Street "Hopscotch Bridge" north of Union Station, where there is an old ground-level passageway. 

So, what are you waiting for? Come visit H Street - but let me warn you: It has a great scene, neighborhood vibe & the prices are still ‘affordable' for single family homes & for new construction condos. If you are interested in seeing some of the options that exist, don't hesitate to call Rachel Valentino, DC's "Best Real Estate Agent" as voted by the Washington City Paper for a no-pressure consultation.  Rachel is on top of DC's real estate scene and active in all avenues of the market - including private residences, new construction, luxury market and the condo and co-op community. 

P.S. On September 18, H Street is having its annual festival.  This will be a great time to sample what H Street has to offer.