Neighborhood Spotlight

Neighborhood Spotlight: Shirlington edition

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Shirlington a Special Neighborhood in Arlington

The charming sense of community truly makes Shirlington special.

While it has evolved over the years, it has always stayed true to its community. It is a vibrant, welcoming and diverse area that has everything you need. Whatever you are craving from food to entertainment, Shirlington has it. It’s a place where you can live, work, shop and play.

Whether you are attending a show at the Tony Award Winning Signature Theater, enjoying tapas with friends at Palette 22, or taking a sweat-filled workout at F45 Training, this is a neighborhood shared by all, including your four-legged family members. You can let your dogs run abound at Shirlington Dog Park, a 2-acre off-leash play area, and then head over to Dogma Bakery for a dog-friendly sweet treat. Top off a great day by treating yourself at either Le Village Marche or a massage at Massage Forever.

Conveniently located off of 395, accessibility is a major selling point to the neighborhood. Home to the city’s only indoor bus station, Shirlington is connected to major bus routes that take you throughout Arlington and into D.C.

It’s not just bus and car friendly, but also a great location for pedestrians, runners, and bike riders as it is right off the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail and Four Mile Run Trail. The location leads to a perfect blend of urban and suburban, allowing neighbors and visitors alike to share in the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

In the heart of Shirlington, you’ll find high-rise condominium living. As you step further slightly out of the Village, you’ll find a wide variety of townhomes, condominiums and single-family homes.

Connect with neighborhood expert Sallie Seiy to learn more about Shirlington and other surrounding areas!

Sallie Seiy | 703-798-4666 | [email protected] | www.SallieSeiy.com | www.McEnearney.com | @soldbysallie on Instagram

Shirlington (and Nearby) Neighborhood Links & Recommendations

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Touring Virginia Square

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Virginia Square a Special Neighborhood in Arlington?

We simply don’t talk about my neighborhood Virginia Square enough!

Virginia Square is located on the western end of the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. It’s part of the Ballston-Virginia Square neighborhood and often swallowed up by the catchall name of Ballston. It’s a wonderful live, work, play neighborhood that features all the amenities of an urban oasis with quick access to downtown D.C. It has a variety of housing, beautiful parks, restaurants, retailers and gyms. And it’s home to the Arlington campus of George Mason University and its law school.

Virginia Square has one of the most vibrant restaurant scenes with a huge variety of cuisine. One of my favorite go-to places is El Pollo Rico, which has the best Peruvian rotisserie chicken in our region. This was once Virginia Square’s best kept secret until Anthony Bourdain covered it in an episode of No Reservations! Get the rice and beans and you won’t regret it.

Also in Virginia Square is Quincy Park, a four-acre hidden gem that has open green space, softball and baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a basketball court, playground, a sand volleyball court, and plenty of open green space for play, including reservable picnic shelters. I love walking my dog through the park and while I’m not that good, I enjoy shooting hoops. And, when it’s cold and playing outside isn’t in the cards, the Central Library is right there where you can find a good book and a quiet space to read.

As a major transportation hub connecting Northern Virginia to D.C., Virginia Square is truly a special neighborhood that has access to so much in Arlington and beyond. Contact me if you want to learn more about Virginia Square and North Arlington, and the surrounding areas!

Jason Surbey | 703-731-8610 | [email protected] | www.JasonSurbey.com | www.McEnearney.com

Virginia Square (and Nearby) Neighborhood Links & Recommendations

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Let’s talk about Ballston

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Ballston a Special Neighborhood in Arlington?

The convenience of walkable urban living with access to Metro Rail and Bus service has drawn Arlingtonians to Ballston for decades.

Reinvented to meet the changing needs and desires of each generation, the Ballston neighborhood has a vibrant mix of residential, restaurants, retail, recreation, office and higher education. You can live, learn, work and play all within walking distance!

Some of the most exciting recent additions to the neighborhood include the expanding dining options at the indoor/outdoor food hall at Ballston Quarter, and D.C. favorite The Salt Line has also opened a new restaurant. Of course it’s not all about the food! With an active residential population, area gyms offer the perfect workouts to keep you fit. Bash Boxing recently opened with a 45-minute high-intensity workout. Or perhaps learning to ice skate is on your bucket list. MedStar Capitals Iceplex has classes for all ages.

Housing stock in Ballston keeps growing with new apartment and condominium buildings, many of which feature retail space at street level. As you travel a bit further from the core, townhomes and detached homes border the neighborhood offering more space with the same access to great amenities. 

Connect with neighborhood expert Clayton Chamberlin to learn more about Ballston and other surrounding areas!  

Clayton Chamberlin | 703-738-4449 | [email protected] | www.chamberlinbrothers.com | www.McEnearney.com

Ballston (and Nearby) Neighborhood Links & Recommendations

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Shop local for gift giving this season

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Looking for that last minute gift? Support our vibrant local Arlington economy.

Whether a specialty bottle of wine or a beautiful cheese board made by an Arlington artisan, check out our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide featuring Arlington shops and restaurants!

Below is just a small sampling of great gift ideas right in our neighborhoods and remember to help our Arlington economy by supporting our local businesses — every shop has a unique story that makes our main street the vibrant colorful community it is today.

Join the conversation and tell us about some of your favorite places to buy gifts in Arlington!

Gifts

Toys

Specialty Goods 

Sweets

Local Support

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Let’s talk about Clarendon

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
Woman in park

What makes Clarendon a Special Neighborhood in Arlington?

Tucked in between Courthouse and Virginia Square, Clarendon is the perfect neighborhood that blends urban walkability with the suburban areas near it. Clarendon has a strong retail corridor with The Crossing Clarendon, Whole Foods Market, numerous shops and restaurants and a great mix of office tenants and residential homes — truly a special urban environment. 

Although well known for its nightlife, Clarendon also has a lively day life that includes great shopping, dining, parks and many events, such as Clarendon Day which features food vendors, arts and crafts and kids activities; the Armed Forces Cycling Classic; Music by the Metro; and the Arlington Festival of the Arts. A hidden neighborhood gem, Rocky Run Park, covers two-acres, with a multi-use oval field, a basketball court and playgrounds. 

Clarendon offers many different housing options, including apartments, condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes. “Some weekends, I literally don’t step foot into my car… I will do my grocery shopping, meet friends for dinner, pick up a last minute gift and go to a park with my dog, Spencer — all within walking distance. Living in Clarendon is truly a special thing,” says Alyssa Cannon.  

Connect with neighborhood expert Alyssa Cannon to learn more about Clarendon and other surrounding areas!  

Alyssa Cannon | 703-585-8167 | [email protected] | www.alyssacannon.com | www.McEnearney.com

Clarendon (and Nearby) Neighborhood Links & Recommendations

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Let’s talk about the Barcroft neighborhood

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Barcroft a special neighborhood in Arlington?

Quietly tucked away near some major Arlington crossroads (Route 50, George Mason and Columbia Pike), Barcroft is a hidden neighborhood convenient for commuters but with a small community feel.

In the heart is the Barcroft Community Center, a historic landmark constructed in 1908 originally as a church and sold to the Barcroft School and Civic League in 1914. The Barcroft School and Civic League website states, “Today it is Arlington’s last remaining one-room schoolhouse — a living tribute to the sleepy, rural place that Arlington once was. Over a century later, it remains the heart of the community — its ownership shared by the members of the BSCL, it is where the neighborhood meets to celebrate, learn, and conduct business.”

Known for being a friendly neighborhood, Barcroft sponsors a number of community events including: “its annual Fourth of July Parade and picnic to a Holiday program with a visit from Santa Claus, meet-the-candidates nights before elections, spaghetti dinners, Easter egg hunts and National Night Out ice cream socials. These events retain the strong spirit of community first developed here over 100 years ago. (source: www.bscl.org).” Most of the homes in this neighborhood were built in the 1930-1970 era with some new home builds recently, including condominiums and apartments.

Also nearby is Columbia Pike, with many shops and restaurants and the newly-built Centro anchored by a Harris Teeter, and Route 50 with many more amenities. On the eastern border of Barcroft is the wonderful Alcova Heights Park — a 13-acre park that includes a playground, baseball field, basketball court and sand volleyball court. On the southwestern border is the beautiful Four Mile Run Park which runs parallel to the Four Mile Run stream and connects to the W&OD Trail.

Interestingly, the name does not derive from its length which is actually 9.4 miles long and takes you all the way to the Shirlington business district.

Connect with neighborhood experts Susan Sarcone and Mitchell Schneider to learn more about Barcroft and other surrounding areas!

Susan Sarcone and Mitchell Schneider | 703-795-6772 | [email protected] and [email protected] | www.McEnearney.com

Important Barcroft (and Nearby) Neighborhood Resources

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neigborhood Spotlight: Discover the local favorites of Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Columbia Pike a special neighborhood in Arlington?

How much time do you have? Take a seat ’cause there is so much to say about Columbia Pike! Not only was it one of the oldest thoroughfares in Arlington, it was the site of freedom after the Emancipation Proclamation, the location for three of the first communications towers in the region, and a central main street for many businesses and organizations.

Fun facts, the first Five Guys location and the original all-night Bob & Edith’s Diner started right off the Pike. Also, home to many amazing ethnically-diverse and culturally-rich restaurants and businesses. New mixed-use developments have also emerged, such as Penrose Square which includes a public plaza with a splash park for kids and outdoor movies. The residential areas include everything from condominiums, apartments, townhouses and single family homes.

More local favorites are the landmark Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, the Farmers Market at Pike Park, Rebellion on the Pike, L.A. Bar and Grill, and Thai Square. The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington is also on the Pike. The location is minutes to Washington, D.C., Alexandria, and many other central neighborhoods throughout Virginia.

Known for its wonderful walkability, access to public transportation, and thriving shops, restaurants and entertainment centers, Columbia Pike is one of the most unique neighborhoods in Arlington.

Connect with neighborhood expert Nick Kuhn to learn more about Columbia Pike and other surrounding areas!

Nick Kuhn | 703-671-5225 | [email protected] | www.McEnearney.com

Important Columbia Pike (and Nearby) Neighborhood Resources

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Explore the hidden gem that is Arlington Heights

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Arlington Heights a special neighborhood in Arlington?

Arlington Heights is a hidden gem located just 3.5 miles from Washington and convenient to many neighborhoods throughout Arlington and Northern Virginia.

What many people don’t know is that Arlington Heights is on the National Register of Historic Places which contains 737 contributing buildings including the newly opened restaurant, Ruthie’s All-Day, located in a historic mid-century modern chocolate factory! The neighborhood has a storybook vibe of tree-lined streets with a wide variety of housing including single family homes, townhomes, apartments and condominiums.

Arlington Heights is also home to Thomas Jefferson Community & Fitness Center, a central recreation center for all Arlington residents with tennis courts, a soccer field, a diamond field and a playground (fun fact: location of the Arlington County Fair — the largest free event on the East Coast drawing over 84,000 people for this amazing annual event).

Adjacent to Thomas Jefferson Middle School and Community & Fitness Center, is the newly built net-zero energy elementary school, Alice W. Fleet. Named after an African American educator and trailblazer.

Connect with neighborhood expert Susan Minnick to learn more about Arlington Heights and other surrounding areas!

Susan Minnick | 703-585-1861 | [email protected] | www.thesistersareselling.com.

Important Arlington Heights (and Nearby) Neighborhood Resources

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Take a Tour of Lee Heights and Discover Its “Urban Meets Suburban” Vibe

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Lee Heights a special neighborhood in Arlington?

Lee Heights has an “urban meets suburban” element that is so unique. Having shops and restaurants at one end of the neighborhood and trails at the other end is a huge factor in why this is such a popular area of Arlington.

The variety of architectural styles, lot topography and house sizes appeals to a broad spectrum of tastes and housing needs.

Lee Heights has a very friendly community feel, and it is very common to see your neighbors out and about every day walking their dogs, at block parties, grabbing coffee at Lee Heights or out for a walk on the trails.

I moved here from New York City over 20 years ago and raised both my boys here — I can’t picture living anywhere else.

Connect with neighborhood expert Sarah Picot to learn more about Lee Heights and other surrounding areas!

Sarah Picot | 202-251-5635 | [email protected] | www.SarahPicot.net

More About Lee Heights

Just 10 minutes from Washington, D.C., Lee Heights is a community located in Arlington, Virginia.

A vibrant neighborhood along the newly named Langston Boulevard, Lee Heights is home to Lee Heights Shops, which features numerous boutiques including Arrowine & Cheese (offering hand-selected wines and cheeses from all around the world), Pastries by Randolph, Lemoncello, Bartons Child’s Play and newly opened Cafe Colline. Additionally, the renowned Metro 29 Diner is a local favorite — visited by President Joe Biden and “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” host Guy Fieri!

Lee Heights is known for having easy access to a commercial corridor while having a neighborhood feel with a variety of housing options, great playgrounds, walking trails and farmers markets — so much more to explore!

Learn more about other neighborhoods in Arlington and the surrounding area, go to www.McEnearney.com/areas.

Important Lee Heights (and Nearby) Neighborhood Resources

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Introducing Your New Local Experts

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Hello! We are McEnearney Associates Realtors, and we have partnered with ARLnow to launch a new community video series highlighting neighborhoods in Arlington and beyond that we absolutely love!

For more than 40 years, we have served the greater Washington metro region, specifically the Arlington community, with our hyperlocal real estate knowledge, and we want to give you the insider’s scoop on all things amazing that we love in the communities where we have lived and worked for so many years.

Follow us every other week as we cover neighborhoods in Arlington and the surrounding areas, and show your support in the comments below!

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Bluemont — The Gold Standard

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

The Arlington neighborhood of Bluemont is a quiet suburb outside of Ballston, but what separates it from the neighboring suburbs? Let’s take a closer look at what makes Bluemont stand out from the rest.

About the Neighborhood

Bluemont is one of the larger suburban neighborhoods in Arlington, along the lengthy Wilson Boulevard that stretches across the entire county. Most of the retail and amenities are positioned along this road out of an abundance of convenience. This neighborhood stands as a great example of why people love living in Arlington.

The neighborhood is broken into several subdivisions, such as Brockwood, Lacey Forest and Brandon Village. Both to the north and south of Wilson Boulevard are the residential sections — quiet, tree-lined streets that see little traffic. Between Virginia Square and East Falls Church, Bluemont is a wonderful family-friendly location with easy access to public transportation and much to do when it comes to fun and activities.

Like most suburban areas in Arlington, Bluemont has those calm, relaxing characteristics that counter the fast-paced, bustling city life. Yet, for being such a quiet area, it has a surprisingly appreciable nightlife and contains plenty of places to frequent, with even more just next door in Ballston.

Top Places in Bluemont

Wilson Boulevard Restaurants

Along the main road are several reputable restaurants consisting of a variety of cultural cuisines. Choose from Pupatella for pizza, King of Koshary for Egyptian dishes, Layalina for Lebanese and Syrian cuisine, or Istanbul Grill, which is a Turkish restaurant near the edge of town. It’s not uncommon to find these places packed to the brim.

Arlington Forest Club

One of the neighborhood gems is a local tennis and swim club. Residents appreciate The Arlington Forest Club as a great place to maintain a healthy lifestyle with several available wellness programs. It also offers private swim lessons for kids of all ages.

Bluemont Junction Trail

The Bluemont Junction Trail runs from one end of the neighborhood to the other. The span of this trail is a biker’s dream. It’s no surprise Bluemont has a strong bike score of 83 — getting around town is a breeze. At the very end it meets with two large parks full of picnic tables and various outdoor activities.

Bon Air Park

Extending from north to south along the west side of the neighborhood are two parks, one of those being Bon Air Park. This park is home to a beautiful rose garden filled with over 120 different types of roses. It’s an ideal spot to relax and take in the scenery. But the garden isn’t the only attraction here. Picnic areas and playgrounds are available for a fun family day outdoors.

Living in Bluemont

One of the more appealing aspects of Bluemont is easy access to public transportation. There’s no Metro station within its borders, but the Ballston Station is a couple blocks outside of the neighborhood. And given the fact that Bluemont is a mere mile wide, getting to the train station from the western-most side doesn’t take long.

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