Archive for the 'Out and About' Category
If you live in the Woodbridge VA area head to the Stonebridge Shopping Center and get ready for a fresh food treat at Zoes Kitchen.
Despite the worst winter in Northern Virginia history I headed out to Zoes Kitchen on opening day to get a taste of their take on Mediterranean food and was not disappointed. First off the staff was ready to answer any question I had about the menu and when I asked about their hummus they quickly gave me a sample to try. Just the right amount of Tahini and served with warm pita bread. Don’t miss it!
After studying the menu, which includes sandwiches, soups, salads and hot entrees, I settled on the chicken rollups with two sides. It was delivered to my table and I was not disappointed. The no-mayo potato salad reminded me of my mom’s and is a nice change from the usual overly moist potato salad you usually get as a side at other restaurants.
Recently I have been on the run quite a bit around dinner time preparing new listings in the Woodbridge area, so this weekend I made another quick stop and ordered the Chicken Kabobs with rice pilaf and Greek Salad to go. Again not a disappointment and the take out containers were recyclable. YEA!
Besides serving food in the restaurant Zoes Kitchen also caters. The catering sales rep, Brittany Marthaller is a delight to talk with. If you are tired of the same old sandwich trays from the big box store then you need to give her a call a 703-580-4408.
Within walking distance of the Potomac Club neighborhood, only a few blocks from INOVA Potomac Hospital and with easy access off of Neabsco Mills Rd I’m going to bet that Zoes Kitchen will keep their brightly colored tables full.
And YES you check in on FourSquare but I plan on being the Mayor!
Zoes Kitchen
14901 Potomac Town Place
Woodbridge, VA 22191
11am-9pm Sunday – Thursday
11am-9:30pm Friday & Saturday
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Yesterday was the 15th annual laying of the wreaths at Arlington Cemetery.
I was there early in the morning along with thousands of other volunteers to lay Christmas wreaths on the headstones of our fallen heros. There are very few experiences that are as moving as watching people from around the country take a moment to honor people they know and love or even a perfect stranger.
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Sometimes you just need a little humor after a long day on the roads in Northern Virginia.
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Happy 1st Anniversary Lorton Workhouse Arts Center
September 18th, 2009 Categories: Focus on Fairfax County, Out and About
This weekend is the first anniversary of the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center. I’ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer there during the first year and taking in a number of art shows and musical events. The reuse of the Lorton Prison facility is one of the best things that Fairfax County Developers have done in the last few years. It is time to update my slide show but these photos are from the opening a year ago.
Coming up October 3rd & 4th is the Art, Wine and All that Jazz and check out the Winter Course Catalog for great classes.
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The Secret Life of Bloggers-Finding Free WiFi Where You Least Expect It
January 2nd, 2009 Categories: Out and About
Anyone who finds spends a few hours a day blogging knows that you can become weary of looking at the walls in your office, either at home or elsewhere. So you venture out into the world to make connections not only with people but with the free WiFi spots around your area.
Recently I learned of a new free WiFi spot in Woodbridge, Virginia. The obvious spots are Starbucks and Panera Bread with a number of locations around the area. The not so obvious one is the second level lounge/eating area at Wegmans grocery store.
It just so happened that when I stopped in at Wegmans after dropping off brochures at a new listing in Potomac Club, my little 9 inch laptop was in my bag. Figuring I’d write myself a few notes and maybe even a blog post while I had some lunch from one of their fabulous prepared food areas I pulled out the computer and fired the mini up. Viola a wireless connection icon appeared and sure enough a live internet connection.
If you live in the Woodbridge or Dumfries area and are hungry, stopping by Wegmans for a bite to eat is an experience in itself. Discovering that you can log on to a wireless network while you eat lunch and people watch, should make Wegmans a local favorite for bloggers and anyone else who needs an escape from their home office.
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Northern Virginia Commuting-It Can be A Real Pain
September 27th, 2008 Categories: Military Relocation, Out and About
Are you relocating to Northern Virginia? Are you worried about finding the right home in a neighborhood close to work or within a reasonable commuting time to your new job? A standard question for anyone new to Northern Virginia to ask is “how long will it take me to get from here to there?”
Fortunately it is a question I can answer from years of experience. The reason I feel qualified to speak to the commute is because prior to getting my real estate license I had successful careers in the private sector which required me to commute throughout the area.
For years I lived in different neighborhoods in Northern Virginia and commuted to other parts of the area, DC and even for a year to PA. I drove the streets during morning and afternoon rush hour, rode the metro, connector buses, VRE and even Amtrak. For three years I picked up slugs every morning for a commute into DC.
DC has been named the #3 worst commuting area by Forbes Magazine behind LA and SF so our ever changing traffic patterns can be a mystery for someone just moving to the area.
When a military family asks me if they can drive from Burke to Fort Belvoir at 7AM in the morning in less than 30 minutes experience tells me “yes” and I can give you multiple options for the drive. Ask me if you can slug from Springfield to the Pentagon in 20 minutes and I’m going to tell you “yes” because I did it for years. Ask me if you can get from Woodbride to Bolling AFB in 30 minutes and I’ll tell you no. Northern Virginia commuting changes with the seasons as well. When the time changes in the fall the evening commute can get longer due to nighttime driving conditions. And my best advice is if the weather channel even hints of one snowflake then you need to take public transportation if you want any chance of getting home at all.
If you are a buyer who is looking for realistic information about commuting in the Northern Virginia area give me a call. I can help you make buying decisions that include not only the neighborhood that works for your family but also an understanding of commuting patterns in Northern Virginia.
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It’s New, It’s Huge and It’s Extraordinary
June 18th, 2008 Categories: Focus on Prince William, Out and About
Our stomachs were rumbling and when we opened the refrigerator door all we found was a bottle of ketchup and a can of tuna fish. We were desperate and knew that the time had come; we had to make a trip to the grocery store. Our mailbox had been filling with coupons and store specials from some new comer to the area and we decided oh what the heck lets check them out.
So off we went for what we thought would be a simple run to the grocery store. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot I was ready to run the other way. But I was outvoted and in we went. It was HUGE. I’m talking MEGA. And it was crowded. I can’t remember the last time I saw that many people at the grocery store at one time. Especially on at noon in the middle of the week. Don’t these folks have jobs somewhere?
Could I find goat cheese? Yes about 10 varieties. Could I find seafood? Absolutely and some of it was not anything I had ever seen in this part of the world before. Vegetables including the “dreaded” tomatoes, with “it’s okay to eat these signs”, were front and center. The list of what you could find or not because the store is so big is incredible.
Despite my protests we managed to spent time checking out what we might want to eat should we want to get a bit more exotic than our easy and light summer cooking. The thought did cross our minds to pull up a chair at the seafood bar and have some oysters but we grew up with the mindset that you don’t eat oysters in a month without an “r” in it so we passed. Plenty of other folks were filling up the chairs both at the seafood bar and at the outside patio with prepared sandwiches.
So what is this new and extraordinary addition to Prince William County? It is Wegmans. Part of the new and upscale stores planned for the Shops at Stonewall situated between Route 1 and I-95 off of Nebesco Road. If the crowds at Wegmans are any indication of how long the residents of Prince William County have waited for the store to open, then the county planners have made the right decision.
It might take me a little while to get up the courage to fight the crowds again. In the meantime we have enough food to keep us happy for awhile.
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Historic Churches in Northern Virginia-Fairfax Station
December 15th, 2007 Categories: Communites to Visit, Out and About
One of the nice things about living in Northern Virginia is all of the history that you can find throughout the area. There are the well known sites such as Mount Vernon and Gunston Hall and then some smaller sites that if you didn’t know the history of our area you might just pass them by. Today we are going to take a look at two historic churches in Fairfax Station just minutes from the hustle and bustle of Burke Center and downtown Fairfax.
The first church, St Mary of Sorrows was started in 1858 and dedicated in 1860 by the Bishop of Richmond. Built primarily by the Irish railroad workers who were working nearby, the church is built from lumber from the forests that surround the area and the only item that was purchased for the building was the church bell.
During the civil war the church was used as a field hospital for casualties awaiting transportation out of the area on the railroad and it is here that Clara Barton is said to have started the plan that would later become the Red Cross. After the war St. Mary’s continued to be a drawing place for the growing Fairfax Station and Clifton communities and today the church is a popular place for weddings and masses because of its location and history.
The second historic church in Fairfax Station is Jerusalem Baptist Church originally formed in 1840. The congregation first met in what was then known as Paynes Church which had been constructed in the mid 1700’s as an Episcopal Church.
After the civil war when all Church of England structures were forfeited to the states the congregation of Jerusalem Baptist Church was able to buy the building for their own use.
The original church had been the first brick church built in Fairfax County but during the Civil War the building was torn down to use the bricks to build fireplaces in homes used by the for Union Soldiers over the winter. After the war the congregation began to rebuild and in 1866 built the white clapboard church that stands today.
What is interesting about both of these churches is their contribution to Fairfax Station during the civil war and beyond. Changing from places of worship to hospitals, their cemeteries being used by both Union and Confederate soldiers (later most of these graves were moved to Arlington National Cemetery) and the fact that the buildings remain today as places of worship and celebration despite the development of the area.
So if you are out driving around and you see these two small white churches on Route 123 (Ox Road), take a moment to stop and check them out. They are a big part of the local history and something you might just pass by without a second thought.
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Taking in a Breath of Fresh Air in Fairfax County
November 14th, 2007 Categories: Focus on Fairfax County, Out and About
A lot is written about the traffic congestion in Fairfax County and it is true we do have our share of jammed roads during rush hour but we also have a huge amount of green space to enjoy when we aren’t fretting about getting to work.
One of the best known parks in our area is Burke Lake Park right off of Route 123 and a few miles from the City of Fairfax. With over 850 acres including a 220 acre lake there is plenty for everyone to enjoy. For the walkers, joggers and bikers the 5 mile dirt loop around the lake is a great way to take in all of the vistas. 
For the youngsters the miniature train ride chugging along at 10 MPH is a hoot.
Want to get in a round of golf? You can do that too at the 18 hole Par 3 course.
My son and his friends are big fans of the Frisbee golf course, though for the life of me the fun of trying to throw a Frisbee through a hoop eludes me! For the young and young at heart stop by and give the Carousel a whirl.
For the guys who like to fish you can rent a small electric powered boat or canoe and cast your line. Make sure you have a valid fishing license. It’s the law!
One of the best things about the park is that no matter what season you go you will find the park well maintained and friendly park staff around to help.
Burke Lake Park is just one example of the benefits of living in Fairfax County. With over 25,000 acres of parkland maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority you can find a park just around the corner from almost any neighborhood in the county. If you didn’t wear yourself out from playing in the park or over indulge with your picnic then you can head just a few miles down the winding road to Clifton or south to Historic Occoquan to finish off the day.
Enjoy yourself and see you around the park.
Map of Park Activities
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A few years ago a leaking hot water heater took a chunk out of my coveted book collection. Then another move made me realize that hauling around boxes of books was not very practical and added a lot to the moving bill. So after years of avoiding the public library it seemed like a good idea to check out how they might have changed. In the Northern Virginia area we are lucky to have a huge selection of libraries to choose from including a new state of the art library that opened recently in Shirlington.
As soon as you walk in the door you realize this is not a place were you are going to find rows of those pesky card catalogs but instead a sleek state of the art computerized facility. Offering 26 PC stations, total wireless access if you bring your own laptop, a 75 person meeting room with Smart Board and check out with a library card with built in RFD chip. There are comfortable chairs scattered throughout the library and you are allowed to bring in a cup of java!
This $225 million dollar facility replaces the old “temporary” library which was flooded in 2006. The building was built following “green” building principles including recycled-content carpeting, low VOC paints, a reflective roof and energy efficient systems. Arlington County is in the process of applying for LEED certification from the Green Building Council. Originally conceived as a one story building the project grew when the Signature Theater learned that it would need a new home as well. Known for taking risks with adaptations of overlooked theater products, the Signature Theater has won acclaim with 54 Helen Hayes Awards over the last 20 years.
With community art on display, an LED architectural light show which can you can see as soon as you enter Shirlington Village and a mosaic fountain designed by Martha Jackson-Jarvis a local sculpter you will see how this library is one step above ordinary.
So if you have been avoiding the library because of the fear of the dreaded SHHHHH then you need to take another look at what is happening in your local library. The new one in Shirlington gives you a great opportunity to avoid heavy lifting the next time you need to move.
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