I live around Hampden area and commute to SE DC 3x/week. It's a peculiar location so I can't take transit unfortunately but I have taken MARC regularly for other jobs. If your partner can use the MARC, look at Remington/Old Goucher - walking/biking distance from the train, lovely walkable neighborhood with lots to do, accessible to the rest of the city by car, bus, or foot. If they're driving, those neighborhoods are still lovely, but also look at Hampden - it's crazy walkable, the neighborhood's very cozy, and you're right off 83 for a car commute. You could also look at Reservoir Hill and Bolton Hill, but they have fewer amenities (re: fresh groceries) than the other neighborhoods I mentioned. A 3x/week commute is doable, and the COL has always been so much lower (and the vibes so much nicer) in Baltimore that I don't mind the commute.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll do some research. What's your experience of Truxton vs Bloomingdale vs Ivy City?

How long would you anticipate? Google seems to say between 1-2 hours but that's a very wide range....

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What are you trying to argue? Your comment isn’t clear.

Expect a long commute. Keene wood isn’t super accessible from the South.

I also suggest ovenbird sourdough!

I’m wondering if something along route 50 would be best for you. I lived in Truxton Circle and sometimes commuted out to MD (Laurel, Greenbelt, and Landover) and it wasn’t terrible because I could get on Rt 50 to 295 fairly quickly. Bloomingdale was cool.

I was wondering if Ivy City ever really came up.

I agree. I don’t know what their current situation is, but it might be worth checking this out before heading to Sacre Sucre.

Mostly black.

Where in DC does your partner work? Perhaps they could commute from the Greenbelt station? Laurel or Columbia could be good potential spots.

I don’t know about fresh bread, but Cafe Dear Leon has some of the best pastries I’ve had in Baltimore!

I've pretty much spent the last 7 or 12 LOL Christmases alone (pretty much stopped keeping up). Even when I was in relationships during half that time, either the guy was not Christian or in one case the guy was Catholic but went abroad to be with his family at Christmas. It's not that bad, I have grown used to it.

It helps that I am not at all a Christmas person (prefer Thanksgiving), and I usually do some combination of go out for Chinese (or whatever is available, but I prefer Chinese), go to the movies, or just stay home and watch streaming. There is a whole world of (non-Christian) people who treat Christmas as just another day, and I lean into that. As you're making friends, keep in mind this is a great perk of having diverse people in your friend group. I will say one downside to living in Baltimore and not like Toronto or someplace is fewer restaurants are open.

It is what you make it. This year I am also making and freezing more cookie dough to replenish my depleted frozen supply after baking holiday cookies.

Cheap, close to home and Casual. Get to know each other.

Normal? No. Uncommon? Sadly not.

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Right by Kernewood in Baltimore. Thanks for any insight you might provide!

What general area of Baltimore? I did a reverse commute from silver spring to the security square area for years and it was very doable, but the answer really depends.

Call Marta Fine Foods on e pratt st. They use a local and the bread is the best I have ever had

Shh. It’s already hard enough to get a croissant at MP before they sell out.

I'm hitting up my local karaoke in Hollins Market. They will be open and I will be there. With the weather and the holiday I'm sure it wont be packed. Hope there are a few people there, if not more songs for me I guess lol. Better than spending the evening at home.

Edit: It's actually in the Hollins Market at a place called Mulberry's

Unless he's paying your bills, hell to the naw. Maybe address him on it, but always wise to start with sugar on the tongue.

I was wondering who moved into our old place. That guys sucks.

Absolutely not at all.

One on Baltimore is just for pickup, the spot on Charles is a cafe.