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In the News

A ‘post-hippie’ Takoma Park?

Its residents once referred to the city as the People’s Republic of Takoma Park — a nuclear-free zone that bans water bottles, has its own corn silo and hosts an annual folk festival. But with a recent, rare exception to its nuclear-free ordinance and an aging activist population, some wonder whether it is leaving the ’60s behind.

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June 29, 2012

Signs of encroaching normalcy may spell the end of the old hippie ways in Takoma Park. Takoma Bistro, a new branch of the Bread & Chocolate bakery chain, just opened on Laurel Avenue; real estate agents say it wouldn’t have had a chance 10 years ago.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

The center of Old Town in Takoma Park. The city’s corn silo still stands, and it still refuses to buy bottled water, but the community tool library is gone, and a rare exception to its nuclear-free zone ordinance was made last month.

June 29, 2012

The center of Old Town in Takoma Park. The city’s corn silo still stands, and it still refuses to buy bottled water, but the community tool library is gone, and a rare exception to its nuclear-free zone ordinance was made last month.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

A statue of a rooster named Roscoe adorns the plaza in the center of Old Town. A plaque erected by 'friends of Roscoe' says the bird lived here from 1989 to 1999 and 'brought joy into our urban lives.'

June 29, 2012

A statue of a rooster named Roscoe adorns the plaza in the center of Old Town. A plaque erected by "friends of Roscoe" says the bird lived here from 1989 to 1999 and "brought joy into our urban lives."

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Pedestrians cross Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park. 'Takoma is getting older, or at least the activists are getting older, and not as engaged,' says Eric Hensal, who moved to the city in 2003 and is running for a seat on the City Council. 'It’s almost like Takoma really is at the post-hippie phase.'

June 29, 2012

Pedestrians cross Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park. "Takoma is getting older, or at least the activists are getting older, and not as engaged," says Eric Hensal, who moved to the city in 2003 and is running for a seat on the City Council. "It’s almost like Takoma really is at the post-hippie phase."

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Poem-bearing posters such as this one, designed in collaboration with students at nearby Montgomery College as part of the city’s Poetry Walk, have lined Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park since 2007.

June 29, 2012

Poem-bearing posters such as this one, designed in collaboration with students at nearby Montgomery College as part of the city’s Poetry Walk, have lined Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park since 2007.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Judith Webb, a retired educator and storyteller, has noticed a change in the younger generation that is moving in. They are more conservative, generally, she says. City historian Diana Kohn says that 'between 1963 and 1980, there was one protest after another.' But eventually, the young hippies started cleaning up houses, marrying, having kids, becoming the 'establishment,' Kohn says. 'Now they are homeowners, and they care about the schools, because their interests change.'

June 29, 2012

Judith Webb, a retired educator and storyteller, has noticed a change in the younger generation that is moving in. They are more conservative, generally, she says. City historian Diana Kohn says that "between 1963 and 1980, there was one protest after another." But eventually, the young hippies started cleaning up houses, marrying, having kids, becoming the "establishment," Kohn says. "Now they are homeowners, and they care about the schools, because their interests change."

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

A customer exits the S&A Beads shop on Laurel Avenue. Housing prices have have doubled in the past decade, with million-dollar homes first popping up in the 1990s.

June 29, 2012

A customer exits the S&A Beads shop on Laurel Avenue. Housing prices have have doubled in the past decade, with million-dollar homes first popping up in the 1990s.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

A view of Carroll Avenue from beneath the old gazebo in the Old Town section of Takoma Park. Despite some changes, the city still has pride in its progressive values: In recent years, it built a corn silo for alternative energy and started powering city facilities using wind energy. This year, it moved to defend its foreigner voting law, which allows non-U.S. citizens to vote in city elections.

June 29, 2012

A view of Carroll Avenue from beneath the old gazebo in the Old Town section of Takoma Park. Despite some changes, the city still has pride in its progressive values: In recent years, it built a corn silo for alternative energy and started powering city facilities using wind energy. This year, it moved to defend its foreigner voting law, which allows non-U.S. citizens to vote in city elections.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

People flock to Takoma Park to visit the very popular farmers market on Sunday morning.

April 29, 2012

People flock to Takoma Park to visit the very popular farmers market on Sunday morning.

Sarah L. Voisin / THE WASHINGTON POST

Visitors look over produce and other items at a farmers market.

April 29, 2012

Visitors look over produce and other items at a farmers market.

Sarah L. Voisin / THE WASHINGTON POST

Children dance to the music of Frank Cassel, right.

April 29, 2012

Children dance to the music of Frank Cassel, right.

Sarah L. Voisin / THE WASHINGTON POST

Eve Jenkins of Takoma Park shops at the store called Now and Then.

July 5, 2012

Eve Jenkins of Takoma Park shops at the store called Now and Then.

Sarah L. Voisin / THE WASHINGTON POST

Miyah Cook, 15, and Anadoria Delcid, 15, both of Silver Spring, sit on a park bench after a day of shopping.

July 5, 2012

Miyah Cook, 15, and Anadoria Delcid, 15, both of Silver Spring, sit on a park bench after a day of shopping.

Sarah L. Voisin / THE WASHINGTON POST

People visit the farmers market in Takoma Park.

April 29, 2012

People visit the farmers market in Takoma Park.

Sarah L. Voisin / THE WASHINGTON POST

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