Takoma Park

Takoma Park is bordered by, and often confused with the adjacent Takoma neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The Takoma Metrorail Station is in D.C., near the border of the 2 cities.
The population of Takoma Park is approximately 18,000 people.
Takoma Park is known for its Bohemian atmosphere and progressiveness, and has been called the "Berkeley of the East" and "The People's Republic of Takoma Park."
The area is populated with many El Salvadorean, African and Asian immigrants. Together with nearby Hyattsville, they form an area that is one of the most politically liberal districts in the U.S. and home to a sizable percentage of Maryland's immigrant population.
The Old Town area of Takoma Park is composed of three historic districts which run along Carroll Avenue from 4th Street NW (in Washington, DC) to Takoma Junction in Maryland. This is an artsy, counter-cultural area anchored by the Metro station, Takoma Theater, the Washington Opera warehouse and the House of Musical Traditions.
More densely forested than the surrounding city, with huge oak trees, Takoma Park is known as a "tree city" and is bisected by numerous steep hills, narrow streets at odd angles, and the gorge-like Sligo Creek Park.
With its small-town ambiance and residents determined to preserve its charm, it is one of few areas to successfully discourage chain stores and national franchises in its Old Town commercial district and instead encourages privately owned, unique commercial establishments.

History

A train station was located here on the B&O railroad in the 1880s, around which the Victorian community of Takoma Park and neighboring Takoma, D.C. developed, at a time when much of D.C. was still farmland. Takoma Park quickly became the central commercial area for farmers, commuters and gentry commuting into Washington, D.C. by train and streetcar. Now it is a vibrant satellite city with a "small town" ambiance and a reputation for post-1960s era counterculture political activism.
Founded by B.F. Gilbert in 1887, the hilly town became a haven for Seventh-Day Adventists, who moved their World Headquarters here from Battle Creek, Michigan (home of the Matthew Broderick cereal drama Road to Wellville). At the turn of the century, they built several downtown churches, a small Christian liberal arts college, a printing press, a vegetarian health food co-op, elementary schools, and a sanitarium. Since then, gentrification has brought in academics and political consultants who restored many of the area's group houses into Victorian mansions.
Takoma Park's legendary socialist mayor, Sammy Abdul Abbott, was widely known in the 1960s for fighting successfully (alongside future DC Mayor Marion Barry and other members of SNCC) to prevent Takoma Park and central D.C. from being torn apart by a 10-lane freeway, which was projected to bisect Dupont Circle and at one point, the Lincoln Memorial. His slogan was "No white men's roads through black men's homes." As a result, there are no continuous freeways running through D.C. today. Ironically, Sam Abbott was white, and the son of a banker who had disowned him when he became a card-carrying Communist in the 1930s; most of the residents of Takoma Park at the time were elderly white civil servants and Seventh-Day Adventists, and as a result of the numerous decaying Victorian buildings, the area was flippantly known as "Tacky Park" or "Glaucoma Park". Hippies fleeing Adams Morgan were attracted to Takoma Park in the 1970s by its reputation as a health-conscious, Victorian Village populated by eccentric artists such as John Fahey, the founder of Takoma Records.
In 1997, after a referendum, the portion of Takoma Park that was in Prince George's County was annexed to Montgomery County.
Because of its proximity to the Silver Spring estate of noted abolitionist Montgomery Blair (after whom the local high school is named, and whose family continues to own part of downtown Silver Spring), Takoma Park is also home to two former Freedmen's Villages from the Civil War era. One of these is now a high-rise apartment district along Maple Avenue, while the other was built on the site of an old Civil War fort and amusement park located on Sligo Creek. It is now populated by art houses in addition to the historically black community near Sligo Creek. A similar Freedmen's Village, much more preserved, is on Hawkins Lane in the affluent town of Bethesda.

By Metrorail

Takoma Park is served by the Red Line of the Washington D.C. Metrorail. For more information on riding the Metrorail, see Washington DC#Get_In.
Most of the "Old Town" is within a 6-block walk of the Metrorail Station.

By bus

Metrobus and Ride-on-Bus operate service to Takoma Park from either D.C. or Silver Spring.

By car

Route 410 (East-West Highway) tuns through Takoma Park. It connects Takoma Park with I-495 (Capital Beltway), the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, and Bethesda.
From Silver Spring or D.C., take Blair Road, (another 2-lane cow path and the former driveway for the Blair estate). From the East End, follow North Capitol Street which becomes Blair Road. After passing the Takoma Metrorail Station, Blair Road runs into Georgia Avenue at the D.C. line, just south of the railroad underpass in downtown Silver Spring. From Blair Road, turn under the Takoma Metro station on Cedar St. NW, which becomes Carroll Avenue.
Alternately, take 13th St. NW all the way to Fort Stevens where it turns into Piney Branch Rd. Turn right on Cedar St. and go under the Metrorail Station. This is also the bike route.

By foot or bike

Sligo Creek Trail is a 10.6 mile asphalt trail that runs between Hyattsville and Wheaton, through Takoma Park.
If biking from Washington D.C., follow the 13th Street (Takoma) signed bike lane north of Downtown D.C. to Piney Branch Road and turn left on Cedar.
For information on bike sharing programs in the Washington D.C. area, see Washington D.C.#Get_around.

By foot

The old town is best explored by walking. In general, Takoma Park is extremely hilly. Some side streets go up a 50-ft incline in the space of a block.

By car

Langley Park / International Corridor and its ethnic restaurants are best explored by car. Parking is available both off-street and on-street.

By bus

Metrobus and Ride-on-Bus operate service around Takoma Park.

The Takoma Park Historic District, near the Metrorail Station is full of houses from the early 1900s and is nice to walk around.

• Fort Stevens Park and Battlefield National CemeteryCommemorates the battle between Union troops and Confederate Gen. Jubal Early, who snuck into the city in 1862 by driving straight down Georgia Ave, stopping off at the Blair Mansion inn in Silver Spring (now a dinner theater) for a bite to eat. Abraham Lincoln's hat was allegedly shot off here as he observed the action. Oliver Wendell Holmes is alleged to have said, "get down, you fool!" A burger is named Jubal Early at the Woodside Deli in Silver Spring and Rockville. The dead from the battle were buried in the tiny National Cemetery on Georgia Ave at the end of Whittier St.

• Statue of Roscoe the RoosterA free-range rooster who lived behind the small apartments in Old Town, along with several hens said to be kept in a chicken coop. Roscoe died in 1999 and 30 people attended his funeral. Often confused with a separate rooster who lived on Flower Avenue, also run over by a hapless motorist. Roscoe woke up neighborhood residents for about 10 years.

Dance classes

• Roda Movements

  phone: +1 301 920-0913
  address: 7003 Carroll Ave
  Roda Movements is the D.C. area's premiere studio dedicated to Brazilian-Latino Movements, offering classes in Capoeira, Zumba, Salsa, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Samba, Flamenco and more! Drop in, Sessioned classes & memberships available. Roda Movements also hosts RODAplayspace - and indoor playspace for children 4months- 3 1/2 years.

• Liz Lerman Dance Exchange

  phone: +1 301 270-6700
  address: 7117 Maple Ave
  Internationally renowned dance artist Liz Lerman opened this dance studio to benefit novice dancers and drummers. Regular programs and workshops.

Festivals and events

• Takoma Park Folk Festival

  phone: +1 301 270-6700
  address: Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Rd
  Possibly the area's premier folk music festival. Started by Sammie Abbott in 1977 to raise money for theatrical causes. The first festival featured Pete Seeger.

• Takoma Park Street Festival

  address: Carroll Ave
  Annual street fair, attracting a diverse crowd of bohemians and locals. Three stages with 19 bands. Fire station open house.

• Takoma Park Jazz Fest

  address: Carroll Ave
  A free all-day jazz festival with 2 stages.

There are many small shops in Takoma Old Town, centered around the clock tower.

Farmer's markets and specialty grocers

• Takoma Park Farmers Market

  address: Laurel Ave, between Carrol Ave and Eastern Ave
  One of the D.C. area's premier outdoor farmers markets. Organic, free-range, producer-only.

• Crossroads Farmers Market

  address: Anne St, between University Blvd & Hammond Ave
  Over 20 vendors and 1,200 visitors each week.

• Takoma Park-Silver Spring Food Co-op

  phone: +1 301 891-2667
  address: 201 Ethan Allen Ave
  Features much locally grown produce and pastries from local bakeries.

• Red Apple Farmers Market

  phone: +1 301 434-1810
  address: 7645 New Hampshire Ave
  Not a farmers market - this is a grocery store focused on African and Caribbean food.

Specialty stores

• PollySue's Vintage Shop

  phone: +1 301 270-5511
  address: 6915 Laurel Ave
  There are plenty of very wearable items here, but there are also a good amount of clothes that would be more fun at a party than in public! Prices are reasonable.

• Amano

  phone: +1 301 270-1140
  address: 7034 Carroll Ave
  Fabulous women's shoes and clothing.

• House of Musical Traditions

  phone: +1 301 270-9090
  address: 7010 Westmoreland Ave
  Founded in 1969, this unique store features a wide variety of exotic instruments such as acoustic guitars, djembe drums, squeezeboxes, wooden flutes, erhus, ouds, and 16-string sitars. Also hosts music classes and repairs instruments.

• S&A Beads Store

  phone: +1 301 891-2323
  address: 6929 Laurel Ave
  Beads galore! Make your own necklaces at this bead store, with thousands of different beads and clasps. Also sells ready-to-wear jewelry, purses, funky clothing, and other eclectic items.

• Takoma Bicycle

  phone: +1 301 270-0202
  address: 7030 Carroll Ave
  One of the best bike stores in the region; good repair service. In a house.

• Magic Carpet

  phone: +1 301 270-5623
  address: 6939 Laurel Ave
  Turkish fabrics/rugs, pillows, and imported jewelry.

• The Covered Market

  phone: +1 301 270-1219
  address: 7000 Carroll Ave
  Turkish fabrics, pillows, and imported jewelry, plus some cool pendant lamps and hookahs.

• India Sari Palace

  phone: +1 301 434-1350
  address: 1337 University Blvd E
  This is the place to buy traditional and unique Indian saris.

• Fair Day's Play

  address: 7050 Carroll Ave
  A unique toy store.

• The Tranquil Soul

  phone: +1 240-254-5250
  address: 7014-B Westmoreland Ave
  Green and fair trade products for a sustainable future, including eco-clothing, Himalayan salt lamps, body care, soy and beeswax candles, world music, etc.

• Beijing Delight

  address: 8646 Flower Ave

• The Girl and the vine

  phone: +1 301 272-1230
  address: 7071 Carroll Ave
  Cafe with tasty sandwiches, beer, wine, and outdoor patio.

• Eastern Carry Out

  address: 6900 New Hampshire Ave

• Kin Da

  address: 6923 Laurel Ave

• La Chiquita Restaurant

  address: 940 East-West Hwy

• Los Pollos Restaurant

  address: 6842 New Hampshire Ave

• Mark's Kitchen

  phone: +1 301 270-1884
  address: 7006 Carroll Ave
  Mark's is a fixture of the downtown Takoma Park area if there ever was one. It's a little, very unpretentious Korean restaurant with a specialty in vegetarian dishes, and some solid American dishes at that—you can get your breakfast of buckwheat pancakes, or mung bean pancakes!

• Mid Atlantic Seafood

  address: 6500 New Hampshire Ave

• Middle Eastern Cuisine

  phone: +1 301 270-5154
  address: 7006 Carroll Ave
  Serves a variety of good meat and vegetarian dishes such as falafel and gyros.

• Republic

  phone: +1 301 270-3000
  address: 6939 Laurel Ave
  Vintage-style seafood restaurant with oyster bar.

• Roscoe's Pizzeria

  phone: +1 301 920-0804
  address: 7040 Carroll Ave
  Freshly made dough and interesting toppings baked to perfection on a wood-fired stove. Full bar with some great beer and wine selections.

• Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa

  address: 1159 University Blvd E

• Tiffin

  address: 1341 University Blvd E
  Large menu of Indian food. Weekend buffet is very well-known and attracts many customers.

• Tom's Chinese Kitchen

  address: 6853 New Hampshire Ave

• Tropicana Majahual Restaurant

  address: 8638 Flower Ave
  Peruvian food.

Due to the influence of the Seventh-Day Adventist church, Takoma Park does not have many bars. For more nightlife options, go to Silver Spring.

• Olive Lounge & Grill

  phone: +1 301 270-5154
  address: 7006 Carroll Ave
  Four beers on tap, happy hour.

Just across the border, in Washington, D.C., there are several bars:

• Busboys and Poets

  phone: +1 202 726-0856
  address: 235 Carroll St NW

• Takoma Station Tavern

  phone: +1 202 829-1999
  address: 6914 4th St NW
  W-Sa nights see nightly jazz/R&B/gogo performances (this is the best bar period to see a gogo performance), and Mondays are stand-up comedy. Music usually starts around 11PM.

• Econo Lodge

  phone: +1 301 439-3003
  address: 7411 New Hampshire Ave
  Next to an IHOP restaurant.

• Quality Inn

  address: 7411 New Hampshire Ave

Across the border, in Washington D.C., are:

• Hilltop Hostel

  phone: +1 202 291-9591
  address: 300 Carroll St NW
  A converted Victorian house across the street from the Takoma Metrorail station, this is an affordable way to sleep in D.C. without staying somewhere seedy or boring. Private rooms with shared facilities available.

• Motel 6

  phone: +1 202 722-1600
  address: 6711 Georgia Ave NW

Most restaurants and cafes offer free WiFi.

Public libraries

Computer terminals are available for free use at the public libraries:

• Takoma Park Library

  phone: +1 202 576-7252
  address: 416 Cedar St NW

• Rock Creek Park, one of America's largest urban parks
• Hyattsville - accessible via the Sligo Creek Trail
• Wheaton - accessible via the Sligo Creek Trail
• Mount Rainer
• Silver Spring
• Rockville
• Bethesda
• Petworth