I’m so glad you got to see them on your first trip here! That’s a special memory :)

They are amazing. They were planted because of our federal government but I feel like the city has adopted them as our own. It’s so nice to have something widely celebrated here that isn’t coated in the red white and blue. We used to have four set seasons every year, but it’s been changing over the years. Yet every spring these little delicate blossoms bloom. I can’t speak for every DC citizen but these trees mean a lot to me personally.

Congrats to your SO - Howard is an excellent school!

Obviously Shaw would be a easy neighborhood for you all, but it's hard for someone who owns a car. Even regular street parking is tight.

Park View is a really cool neighborhood behind Howard, but again, parking is tight. Bloomingdale could be a good option, but also - street parking.

I think you could find what you need in NE DC. Check out Brookland, Stronghold, Eckington and Edgewood. All close to Howard but they have a little more room for a parked car.

Two VERY important questions:

\What school is your SO going to? You should factor in your commute needs.

And are you bringing a car? Driving in the city and parking in the city are two different beasts.

(Starting with an aside - DC proper doesn't have a lot of townhouses, we mostly have rowhomes. This could help tighten/clarify any google searches.)

For MD - I suggest Silver Spring. It has its own lively downtown, and it's really easy to take public transport into DC.

I STRONGLY suggest you stay away from Bethesda. It's congested and completely generic.

For VA - Alexandria has its own cool vibe - And Old Town is great to show visiting family. Also very easy to cross the river into DC from there. Arlington is fine, but in my view it tends to be more of a commuter town instead of holding its own.

DC - This one is hard to answer without knowing the answers to the questions above.

But, just off the top of my head, Tenleytown and Brookland are two neighborhoods with green space and some city life. Petworth could be a good option, but it's bordering Columbia Heights which can get crowded and loud (I love Columbia Heights, but I love the hubbub)

I suggest you avoid Georgetown unless your SO is actually studying at Georgetown University. It's the one neighborhood in DC that does not have a metro stop, so it's a bit isolated from others.

You actually have loads of options! DC has a TON of green space, and loads of young professionals who love their dogs.

Feel free to message me if you have any detailed questions as you move forward! I'm from the area (a rarity) and like paying attention to the real estate scene here.

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Edited to add:

DC has strong tenant rights. If you ever have an issue with your rental, look up DC's Office of the Tenant Advocate (or the OTA) and read through the Tenant's Bill of Rights. The OTA has a lot of helpful resources if you ever need it.

Lost generation in Eckington is having their first trivia night this Sunday. I don’t know the details but I have heard the owner say that they don’t like trivia games played on a phone.