In a way you hate to give up the "secret" of your favorite little places to sneak off for lunch or a sweet treat.  On the other hand you want others to realize that you don't have to spend a fortunate at one of the mega chain coffee stores or settle for fast food when in the same area is a great little deli and pastry shop that will satisfy your hunger with real food.

In this case the little secret spot is the Alexandria Pasty Shop and Deli in the Bradley Shopping Center on King Street.  Since I own a townhouse in the Fairlington Community just across the street it is one of the first places I tell potential tenants about and a spot where I met prospective buyers before we tour the close by neighborhoods.

The pastry shop isn't new.  In fact it has been around for 20 years but the location is unassuming as compared to either Shirlington or Old Town Alexandria both just a few miles away.  The big decision when you walk in the door is whether you should be good and go the right and order real food or just give in to the urge to go left to the pastry side of the store and buy yourself a treat. 



The Alexandria Pastry Shop offers a great selection of daily specials that include London Broil Salad, Eggplant Parmesan Roll-ups, Veggie Lasagna or Quiche to name a few.  There is also a set selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches made to order and my favorite is the grilled chicken with avocado on a fresh croissant. 

The pastry side of the store is where it all really started and it is evident when you look at the selection available.  Cookies, cupcakes, huge brownies, fresh fruit tarts and cake slices of all varieties are displayed beautifully and calling your name.  Add to what you can buy to eat on site are the beautiful specialty cakes that you can order.  Alexandria Pastry Shop is known around the area for their wedding cakes and often when you stop in to eat you will find a future bride and groom sitting at the tasting table in the back trying to decide which flavor cake to order.

If you live in the Fairlington neighborhood or anywhere close by wander down to the Bradley Shopping Center and check out the Alexandria Pastry Shop and Deli.  If you see me there pull up a chair and lets chat about our other favorite places in the neighborhood.

No, this isn't a personal question about your belly button.  Buyers moving to Northern Virginia often see the phrase "inside" or "outside" the beltway in MLS descriptions and wonder where are these locations on the map.   For those who have lived in the Northern Virginia most of our lives we have watched "outside" the beltway on the Virginia side expand far west and south of DC.

Just as the term "slugging" started as a phrase to describe riders using counterfeit tokens, the term inside or outside the beltway started with a different meaning in our area as well.  The phrase was originally used politically to describe the fact that most of the power in the DC area was located inside the beltway where the Federal Government is located. 

The first written reference to the term is found with the Warren Commission Report about Watergate printed in 1975:  

"In the White House of Richard M. Nixon, it was said that Watergate would become serious only if it "got outside the Washington Beltway."   Guess we know how that turned out!

Neighborhoods in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and McLean are some examples of neighborhoods inside the beltway in Northern Virginia.  Neighborhoods inside the beltway used to lean towards smaller older homes on tree lined lots however there has been a boom of condo developments inside the beltway.  With the metro and buses within walking distance, many of the newer neighborhoods quickly gained popularity with buyers wanting to ditch their car for their daily commute.

Outside the beltway has expanded significantly over the past 10 years and some might say that it extends all the way to the Shenandoah Valley where you can find commuter lots for van pools to DC.   The selection of neighborhoods outside the beltway is generally more diverse if for no other reason than the space constraints of trying to squeeze homes within a smaller geographic area has been removed.  There has been significant new home development outside the beltway in recent years in the western part of Fairfax County, Prince William County and Loudoun County.  

So another mystery of local terminology is revealed.  If you want to know more about living either inside or outside the beltway give a native of the area a call.  I've got a few other localisms I can clue you into as well!

Just a stoplight away from the Pentagon and tucked in the trees off of I-395, sit the seven neighborhoods that make up the community of Fairlington.  The connection between military families stationed at the Pentagon, Fort Meyer or other Military District of Washington facilities remains as strong today as it did in the 1940’s when Fairlington was first built.

If you are considering buying a home while you are stationed at the Pentagon you might want to dust off your VA Certificate of Eligibility. If you find yourself headed to the Pentagon give me a call at 703-346-2213. We can talk about your housing needs, financing options and get your started towards buying your new home in Northern Virginia.

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Are you looking for a neighborhood where residents hang out on their porches in the evening and call out a friendly hello as you take a stroll? Want to grab a cup of coffee at the type of place where everyone knows your name or walk to the farmers market on Saturday morning? Then you need to take a look at the community of Del Ray in Alexandria.

Del Ray is one of the original and still thriving "front porch" communities that you find in Northern Virginia. Founded as a railroad community for workers at the nearby Potomac Rail Yard, Del Ray's history can be tracked back to the mid 1800's. With the Alexandria area being a major point for multiple train companies no longer in existence, Del Ray was crisscrossed by not only a significant number of train lines but streetcar tracks as well. As the train companies went out of business the fortunes of Del Ray turned as well.

When the bulldozers arrived at so many other smaller communities close to DC a small but vocal group of citizens fought to maintain the feel of Del Ray. Their success is evident as you walk through the antique stores, eateries and small business that line the "avenue". Shop owners have water dishes out for the dogs and the work of local artists can be found in the shops fronting on the main through street. The Del Ray Artisans have classes for children that are booked solid every year. Locals head for breakfast at St Elmos, dinner at Evening Star and ice cream at Dairy Godmother to name just a few of the great local spots.

Life in Del Ray doesn't come cheap. Due to the close proximity to DC, Old Town Alexandria and the metro prices can seem steep to anyone not familiar with the area. A two bedroom, one bath bungalow with 800 square feet is priced at $379,000 and on the other extreme a completely renovated five bedroom, 4 bath house with 2800 square feet is priced at $1,099,000.

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Kicking off the Jubilee Celebration will be none other than the appropriate Tony award winning musical 1776.  The Little Theatre of Alexandria or LTA is a non-profit organization that is a local treasure.  The theater bought its first building in 1939 on Ramsay Alley in a former blacksmiths shop.  During WWII the theater was shut down and when they reopened Harry Truman was know to attend LTA plays.

With the growing popularity of local theater the LTA was able to buy a new building, its current home, at 600 Wolfe Street in 1961.  With 213 seats, dressing rooms and rehearsal space the theater is well known to the locals in Alexandria and surrounding communities.   Staffed by volunteers the LTA this year for the first time received a grant from the city of Alexandria to help with the production costs associated with 1776 and funding the plays performance at Fort Ward Park on August 21^st.  Outside of the musicians everyone else involved in the production is unpaid.

Little Theatre of Alexandria is the oldest awarding winning small theatre company in our area and the actors who participate in the plays are local.  The biggest selling production for the theatre is Hair, though most productions run about 90% sold out.   If you haven't checked out a production at the LTA you might be surprised at what you have been missing.  This season promises to bring a few new productions, a few familiar productions and a surprise or two for the audience.

Check out the 2008 schedule and book your tickets to the Little Theater of Alexandria now.

It doesn’t matter how famous you might be in US history if you can’t pay your bills the government is going to confiscate your land. And this is what happened to none other than Robert E. Lee and his wife during the civil war. General Lee was unable to keep up with the taxes on the Custis-Lee estate and abandoned the property while fighting in the civil war. The land was purchased at auction by the US Government and divided into 200 acres for Arlington National Cemetery and 256 acres for a site originally called Fort Whipple. After the war the name of the post was changed to Fort Myer to honor the first general of the US Signal Corps Albert J. Myer.

So if the information that the land that comprises the Fort Myer came to the US by tax confiscation isn’t enough history it is also the site of the first military aircraft flight by Orville Wright and the site of the first military aircraft fatality. On the second flight attempt Orville Wright was injured and Lt. Selfridge was killed. So much for the fame of Kitty Hawk!

Just as the Marine Corps Barracks-DC is home to the ceremonial units for the Marine Corps, Fort Myer is home to the US Army School of Music and The Old Guard the army’s ceremonial unit. When driving through Fort Myer you will find the stables for the horses and caisson used for both military and Presidential funerals. The most famous horse remembered from the Old Guard in Black Jack the riderless horse seen in the funerals of presidents John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover and Lyndon Johnson.

Fort Myers has two beautiful churches on post. The most recognized is the Old Post Chapel used for private ceremonies and the second is a newer church that is used for regularly services. Both churches have private gates that open onto Arlington Cemetery.

Many of the buildings and brick homes on Fort Myer are listed on the historic register and the 26 Victorian-style homes known as "Generals' Row" were built 75 years ago. if you drive to the back gate of Fort Myer you can take in incredible view over Arlington Cemetery and the Washington monument. For those in the know and with the right pass it is a fantastic place to take in Washington’s fireworks.

In 2005 some of Henderson Hall management functions moved to Fort Myer establishing Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. If you are stationed at either the Navy Annex or Henderson Hall you can get on to Fort Myer during the week through the back gates.

Many military personnel coming into Fort Meyer find Fairlington and Park Fairfax are great places to call home. With the proximity to Shirlington and Clarendon finding a place to take in a movie, grab a bite to eat or shop, Fort Meyerr is in a strategic location.

If you find yourself with PCS orders to Fort Myer, Military District of Washington, Fort Belvoir, Pentagon or any of the other military locations around Northern Virginia give me a call.

Related Posts for Military Relocation to Northern Virginia
Quantico Marine Base-Housing with a History
Marine Barracks DC
Welcome to the Pentagon
Is A Move to Fort Belvoir in Your Future?
Military Relocation to Northern Virginia
Military Relocation to Northern Virginia-Moving with your Pets

©2008 Cindy Jones. All Rights Reserved

All original photos taken at Fort Myer in January 2008 by Cindy Jones
Fireworks photo from IStock.

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

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Today’s church is not quite as old as the others in the previous articles in the series but it is a beautiful church with a long history in Old Town Alexandria. Not as famous as its neighbor Christ Church the Washington Street Church has its place in Alexandria history as well.

The cornerstone for the Washington Street Church was laid in September 1850. However, the history of the church actually began almost 40 years before when a split erupted in the Methodist Church over the issue of slavery occurred. The church split into two factions, just as the country did, a North Group and a South Group. Prior to the split the congregation was meeting in the Trinity Church built in1803. When the congregation split a bitter battle for the church property ensued and finally the original site church was awarded to the North (Trinty)Group and the South Group formed the Washington Street Church right across the street. 

During the Civil War the church was taken over by Union troops and used as both a hospital and a stable causing considerable damage to the interior of the building. After the war the church underwent renovations to make it useable again and the congregation returned in 1865. The small church cemetery has headstones of a number of soldiers and congregation members who died during the war years.

The most amazing features in the church today are the incredible stained glass windows. The windows teamed with the Gothic architecture of the original church (newer editions to the building came in the 1950’s) the amazing organ and olden wood pews make this church worth stopping to see why looking at other historic sites in Old Town Alexandria.

Twenty years ago on a large expansive of dirt tucked behind Edison High School ground was broken for the first homes that started the 5200 residences that comprise the Kingstowne neighborhood. Designed with both commercial and residential areas the three villages that make up Kingstowne have continued to be popular with owners looking for a neighborhood that offers both easy access to public transportation, shopping and restaurants.

For owners who enjoy the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle Kingstowne offers a great variety of recreation options which include 18 tot lots, three multi-purpose courts, almost 22 miles of hiking and biking paths, and community centers which offer swimming pools and a fitness center.

One of the keys to success of the neighborhood is easy access to two metro stations within a short distance of the neighborhood; some residents can walk to the Springfield Metro or take a quick drive to the Van Dorn Street Metro Station.

There is a wide selection of eating options in the neighborhood including the new Bone Fish Grill, Panera Bread, Chipotles and King Street Blues to name a few. With the addition of the new huge AMC movie theater complex and the close by miniature golf course it easy to see why residents never have to leave the neighborhood on the weekend.

To see more information about homes in the Kingstowne area or anywhere in Northern Virginia you can go to www.VaRealEstateTalk.com or give me call at 703-346-2213.

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If you are undertaking a spruce up project on your home in Fairfax or Prince William County you may want to make the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Alexandria or Manassas your first stop.  The Habitat ReStore offers you an opportunity to do three things at once.  The first is to support the great programs Habitat for Humanity offers to low income families to give them an opportunity to own their own home.  The money raised by the ReStores across the US provides funds to build an additional 10 homes per year.

The second benefit is the Habitat ReStore has to offer is keeping usable building supplies out of the landfill and support a more "green" building environment.  The ReStore only accepts clean reusable items which would otherwise be headed to the local dump.  Builders and contractors provide excess inventory from construction projects so not only will you find "gently" used items but you will find brand new items as well.

And the third benefit is the chance to save money on your own remodeling project.  As a landlord I have found replacement items for my rental properties that have included a pedestal sink, a new toilet and refrigerator all at 50% off what I would have paid for them at one of the local mega hardware stores.

There are Habitat ReStores across the nation so if you aren't in Fairfax or Prince William County check out this list to see if there is a store near you.  If you have a chance stop in and support Habitat for Humanity.

Hidden among all of the three level colonials in Fairfax County you will find a few pockets of Mid Century Modern homes (MCM).  One of those neighborhoods is Hollin Hills in Alexandria.   Designed over 50 years ago by architect Charles Goodwin the neighborhood was considered avant-garde at the time as it broke the traditional bounds of building in the area.   With clean lines and walls of windows the homes were designed to obscure the lines between the inside and the outside.  Originally the area was popular with Washington urbanite and now the second generation of fans of MCM are buying the homes almost as soon as they come on the market. 

Talk about being in the right place at the right time.  The developer of the Hollin Hills property, Robert Davenport purchased the land at an auction for $550 and worked in conjunction with Goodwin to lay out the plan for the community.  The 457 homes are spread out on the 225 acre wooded site and they were placed on the lots at various angles instead of lining them all facing the streets.  The simple homes are designed based on four-foot modular units so the plans could be expanded easily and with relatively little cost.  The community has maintained its original feel due in larger part to an active civic association which has applied for Historic Designation to continue to protect the area from over zealous development.

One of the homes was recently featured on a segment of HGTV and no sooner than the program aired was the home on the market and under contract.  Even though the homes were designed over 50 years ago the concept of living in harmony with nature is even more important today.  Currently there are 3 homes on the market today ranging in price from $579,000 to $749,900.  If you are a fan of mid-century modern then this is a neighborhood that you don't want to miss.

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