1915 Capitol Ave NE

There's a secret in Washington, DC: the tiny, trendy neighborhood of Ivy City. If you haven't heard of it, you aren't alone -- this up-and-coming neighborhood was mostly industrial and largely forgotten for decades. But with a history dating back to the 1870s and charming row houses lining the streets, the whispers about Ivy City are growing louder. Luxury apartments in historic warehouses add elegance to the neighborhood, and bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues add a layer of energy and excitement.

Ivy City's unique name (there isn't an abundance of ivy and it isn't a city) dates back to Civil War-era poet Thomas Seaton Donoho. He named his house Ivy Hall and wrote a book of poems called "Ivywall" in 1860. Donoho dubbed the rural area he lived in "Ivy City" and the name stuck. Ivy City is located on the northeast side of Gallaudet University, extending along New York Avenue from Mt. Olivet Road to the intersection of New York Avenue with West Virginia Avenue.