Burleith, some say, is Georgetown’s little sister. To most residents of the tiny Northwest Washington enclave, that’s a positive moniker, and an identity they embrace.
“We feel kind of special because we’re so small,” said Lenore Rubino, president of the Burleith Citizens Association. “We know we’re in the unique position of being so close to Georgetown, but not paying Georgetown prices.”
With only about 550 residences, Burleith is unknown even to many longtime Washingtonians. Squeezed between 35th and 39th streets, Whitehaven Parkway to the north and Reservoir Road to the south, it comprises of only a few city blocks. It has no commercial shopping district, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in history and charm.
Named after an estate built on the site of the Visitation Convent around 1716 by Henry Threkeld, most of the houses in Burleith were built in the 1920s by Shannon and Luchs, according to the BCA Web site. They are primarily row homes, most made of brick.
The Threkeld estate included most of the present Georgetown Visitation School and the present campus of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, one of three arts schools in Burleith. With the Fillmore Arts Center and Corcoran School of Art also in Burleith, the neighborhood emits an artistic vibe.
Nestled next to Burleith is Glover-Archibald Park. Administered by the National Park Service, Glover-Archibald has trails that link Burleith to the C&O Canal towpath and Rock Creek Park.
Rubino has lived on the edge of the park since she moved to the neighborhood in 1998.
“It’s very pretty,” she said. “It’s a nice blend of city life and nature.”
Indeed, just a few blocks from the heart of the quiet neighborhood is the madness of Georgetown and Glover Park. Along Wisconsin Avenue, just a short walk from Burleith, is a nice combination of retail options, including upscale and casual eateries, a grocery store, a coffee shop and a bagel place. From Bistrot Lepic and Arisu to the Casbah Café and Ledo Pizza, there are restaurants for everyone’s palate and wallet.
The BCA sponsors several events throughout the year, including a summer picnic, flea market, winter gala and two annual neighborhood cleanups. The sense of community exuded by the BCA’s active, engaged members is often cited by Burleith residents as one of the characteristics they treasure most about their neighborhood.
Bus service is the main mode of public transportation to and from Burleith. The nearest Metro subway stops are Tenleytown and Dupont Circle on the Red Line, and Foggy Bottom and Rosslyn on the Blue and Orange lines. All of them are about one mile from the heart of the neighborhood.
Many people prefer to get around by bike. Getting downtown on two wheels is a breeze — just head east on R Street and cross the bridge on Q Street. Trails include the C&O Canal towpath; the Custis Trail, which follows Interstate 66 in Arlington; and the Mount Vernon Trail, which also can be joined in Arlington.
That accessibility is one of the attributes Alan Rider loves. He moved to Reservoir Road 40 years ago.
“You can walk wherever you need to go,” said Rider, who technically lives a half-block from Burleith. “It’s just a pleasant place to be.”
Sometimes, the little sister is the star.
