Upper NW DC, Friendship Heights

This area comprises neighborhoods such as Cleveland Park, Tenleytown, Van Ness, Spring Valley, Woodley Park, and Chevy Chase, DC, located in upper northwest DC.

Cleveland Park is a residential neighborhood located along Connecticut Avenue, situated between Rock Creek Park and Wisconsin Avenue, just north of the National Zoo.  Cleveland Park’s commercial corridor lines Connecticut Avenue.  The neighborhood is known for its many late 19th century homes as well as theaters and restaurants.

Tenleytown is an historic neighborhood with a the business district along Wisconsin Avenue from about Upton Street to Fessenden Street, and the surrounding residential neighborhoods.  It is home to the highest point in Washington, Fort Reno, one of the civil war forts that surrounded the city.  Tenleytown is also home to one of the campuses of American University.

Van Ness, also known as Forest Hills, is a residential neighborhood between Connecticut Avenue and Rock Creek Park.  Within the area is the University of the District of Columbia and Howard University Law School as well as the noted Hillwood Museum.  Various embassies can be found in the Van Ness area.

Spring Valley is a neighborhood known for its large homes and tree-lined streets.  It houses the main campus of American University and Washington College of Law.  Several embassy residences are also located in the neighborhood.

Woodley Park is most notable as the home of the National Zoo.  North of the Woodley Park historic district is the Connecticut Avenue corridor with many high-rise apartment houses.  To the east is Rock Creek Park and on the west is the site of the Washington National Cathedral.

Chevy Chase DC is a neighborhood on the Maryland-DC border which abuts Chevy Chase, Maryland.  The neighborhood’s major commercial road is Connecticut Avenue which, in addition to commercial establishments, is home to apartments, a community center, and a regional branch of the D.C. Public Library. Near Chevy Chase Circle is the historic Avalon Theatre, which opened in 1923 as a silent film house and is now a non-profit movie theater. In addition to historical commercial buildings, the area has multiple parks including Rock Creek Park, Lafayette Park and Livingston Park.

This upper NW DC mix of neighborhoods is home to three Jewish congregations, a Jewish study center, a selection of groceries which offer Kosher choices, and the DC JCC.