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Eat, Play, Love: Living in Shirlington, Virginia

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President

Much of the attention in Arlington, Virginia remains focused on North Arlington, particularly the Rosslyn to Ballston corridor, and with good reason.  This span of Arlington centered around the Orange Line metro has been the scene of some smart redevelopment choices as parking lots turn into high-rise condos and restaurants, shops, and hip bars and nightclubs line Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard providing plenty of entertainment options for the young urban/suburbanites without having to head into D.C.

South Arlington, with its generally older residential neighborhoods and lack of metro line accessibility often gets tossed aside like the ugly stepsister at the junior high school dance.

Not anymore.

Welcome to Shirlington!

EAT, PLAY, LOVE in Shirlington 

 

 

Shirlington Virginia

 

 

Crossing the 14th Street Bridge and traveling less than 5 miles from D.C., one finds the fascinating community of Shirlington right off of Route 395.  Your senses will be overwhelmed with the smells, tastes and sights of the diverse group of American and ethnic restaurants clustered in the Village of Shirlington. 

EAT: 

Eat in ShirlingtonAladdins Eatery  -- Middle Eastern delights and great soups
Aroma Restaurant -- Indian specialities
Best Buns Bread Company -- delicious fresh breads daily
Bistro Bistro -- European bistro
Capital City Brewing Company -- freshly brewed beers and good old American eats
Carlyle -- eclectic American menu
Extra Virgin Italian Cuisine  -- Italian
Guapo's -- Mexican food
Johnny Rockets  -- hamburgers and hot dogs
Luna Grill & Diner -- a little bit of everything
Maggie Moo's Ice Cream
Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats
Subway -- subs and sandwiches
T.H.A.I Shirlington  -- good Thai food in inviting atmosphere

 

Many of these restaurants host lavish brunches every Sunday and gourmands pack the Village at Shirlington every night of the week.

Play in Shirlington

 

PLAY: 

With the Shirlington movie theater, billiards at Bungalow Billiards, live jazz at several restaurants, the newly opened Signature Theater, and the recent addition of Busboys and Poets, there's something for everyone's entertainment.  Not to mention a bookstore and the Shirlington Library!

 

 

 

Love in ShirlingtonLOVE:

With all of these great eating and entertainment options, what's not to love?  How about cakelove -- the store that delights with cakes from scratch? Convenient to D.C., Ronald Reagan National Airport, and the rest of the metropolitan area, Shirlington is also on major metro bus routes affording easy transportation for commuters.  Shirlington also has its own wonderful Harris Teeter supermarket.

 

AND LIVE:

In addition to many rental apartment choices, there are several residential neighborhoods within walking distance to the amenities of Shirlington or at least a very quick hop in the car.

Some of those neighborhoods include the ever-popular Fairlington, Windgate of Arlington, Heatherlea Condominiums, The Arlington Condominiums, and Claremont.

FairlingtonShirlington Village Condos
Heatherlea CondosWindgate of Arlington

 

START YOUR SEARCH FOR A HOME NEAR SHIRLINGTON TODAY 

 

 

Brian Block        RE/MAX Allegiance      703-626-0715 

Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!
Brian- Sounds like a pretty happening place in Shirlington Virginia with great prices! Send me some Baklava from Alladin's eatery! Katerina
Jan 19, 2008 04:17 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"
Brian  The transformation of Shirlington is absolutely a "text book" case of what can be accomplished when responsible development is applied to a "cosmetically challenged" neighborhood.  Of course, the stage was set when Giuseppe Cecchi did a rehab on ParkFairfax across 395,  Karen Kruschka
Jan 19, 2008 04:18 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital
Brian, I'm blogging during a bit of down time at my Open House, and I forgot to eat, so I'm starving!  The "Eat" section of this made me try to raid the sellers' fridge, which has carrots.  I'll have to go to Whole Foods on my way home!
Jan 19, 2008 04:24 AM
Pat Fenn
Marketing Specialist for CJ Realty Group/Cindy Jones Broker - Springfield, VA
I had an interesting experience at Busboys and Poets last week which proved that customer service is a live and well. 
Jan 19, 2008 05:00 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News
Brian-when I was younger (okay much younger) my mom was the childrens' department store manager at Jellifs (sp) which was the store where Caryle Grande now is.  The only part of Shirlington that is still recoginzable from those days is the Mill End Shops.  Gone is Bests where my engagement ring came from,Landsbury's department store and the drug store on the corner where Cap City Brewery is.  But the new Shirlington is so much better!  Check out the Library it is amazing!
Jan 19, 2008 05:13 AM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
KATERINA:  Before we bought our condo in Alexandria, we rented for 5 years in Shirlington and loved it.  Some of the new development has happened in the last couple of years.  The restaurants are great and so is the location. 
Jan 19, 2008 06:31 AM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
KAREN:  The developers certainly did a great job in Shirlington and have made it an even more attractive place to go and to live.  I rented there for 5 years and enjoyed Shirlington Village when it was only half of what it is now.  ParkFairfax is another great community just across the way.
Jan 19, 2008 06:42 AM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
PATRICIA:  I thought you had cookies and apple cider at your open house.  Carrots are always a good snack, though would your clients be upset if they came home and were missing their carrots?  Whole Foods always has some great chow.
Jan 19, 2008 06:49 AM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
PAT:  I'd love to hear about your experience at Busboys and Poets.  I haven't stopped in there yet.
Jan 19, 2008 06:55 AM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
CINDY:  I don't remember any of those Shirlington stores that you mention, but I do remember some of the other restaurants that have come and gone throughout the years.  The new Shirlington really has a lot to offer.
Jan 19, 2008 06:59 AM
Ginger Wilcox
Sindeo - San Francisco, CA
Thai food, indian food and homemade cakes?  What is not to love about Shirlington?  This is a very nice summary of the area.
Jan 19, 2008 07:51 AM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
GINGER:  Thanks for your comment.  Next time you're in the D.C. area, why don't we grab a meal in Shirlington?
Jan 21, 2008 02:37 AM