New to Newington Forest (Alexandria, Burke: hair salon, buying a home, neighborhood)

[JOEnSHAY]

My Husband and I are in the process of buying a home in Newington Forest and wanted to get a little feedback on the area.

We are young (late 20's) with no kids .... yet... We like to go out and have a good time. Eat, Drink, See Bands, Trivia Night.. you know

We're coming from Alexandria.. I know, it's not far, but it feels like a world away! Any good recommendations on restaurants and bars?? or a place to stop and get my morning coffee? or a good dry cleaners? grocery store? pharmacy? I've driven around the neighborhood a bit, but I feel like all I see are houses, houses, and more houses. I know there's gotta be something close by ... right..?

[tgbwc]

Lorton Town Center and Kingstowne? Maybe Occoquan?

[Jenjen391]

Welcome to the area!

We just moved out here a few months ago, not Newington Forest, but close enough.

It's not the most Hip and Happening DINK neighborhood, that's for sure! It's pretty quiet out here--Lots of families Also, Great walking trails, lots of parks, so it's a very nice place for a dog. Oh, and be sure to get out to Huntsman lake or Lake Mercer to see the Bald Eagles while they are still here!

We usually go out to Kingstowne for shopping/eating, (and they have a big movie theater), but there are many little other shopping centers around. There's a starbucks at corner of Huntsman and FFX co pkwy (and a GIANT grocery and a few other takeout places).

We are exploring the area for good eateries, and so far, we like Saigon City for Vietnamese, the Swiss Bakery in Burke for sweets, and Steak N Things down in FFX station for cheese steaks.

But, for date nights, we head out to Old Town Alexandria, since there isn't really much of a night life here.

[gammann]

I grew up in NF, and my parents still live there. A couple of places to eat:

Mikes American (http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/mikesmain/ - broken link) - downtown Springfield. Part of the Great American Restaurant family, warning can be a long wait on the weekends.
Welcome to Pane e Vino ::: Ristorante e Pizzeria ::: - Nice Italian place in Lorton. Good Sunday brunch.

Grocery stores, I think you pretty much have Giant....and Giant:
Saratoga Shopping Center - Springfield, VA, 22153
Huntsman Square Shopping Center - Neighborhood Center with Giant Food Store, Retail Shops, Restaurants, Pizza, Hair Salon, Entertainment, Banking, Nails, Subway, Starbucks, Blockbuster Video, Baskin Robbins, Dentist, Medical Center, Cleaners, Springf

Music:
Jaxx Nightclub - An interesting list of artists....

There is lots of new stuff in Kingstowne, as mentioned. An of course there is always Springfield Mall

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by gammann

I grew up in NF, and my parents still live there. A couple of places to eat:

Mikes American (http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/mikesmain/ - broken link) - downtown Springfield. Part of the Great American Restaurant family, warning can be a long wait on the weekends.
Welcome to Pane e Vino ::: Ristorante e Pizzeria ::: - Nice Italian place in Lorton. Good Sunday brunch.

Grocery stores, I think you pretty much have Giant....and Giant:
Saratoga Shopping Center - Springfield, VA, 22153
Huntsman Square Shopping Center - Neighborhood Center with Giant Food Store, Retail Shops, Restaurants, Pizza, Hair Salon, Entertainment, Banking, Nails, Subway, Starbucks, Blockbuster Video, Baskin Robbins, Dentist, Medical Center, Cleaners, Springf

Music:
Jaxx Nightclub - An interesting list of artists....

There is lots of new stuff in Kingstowne, as mentioned. An of course there is always Springfield Mall

I second Pane e Vino. That's one place I was thinking of when I mentioned Lorton Town Center. There is a Fireside Grill there too. There is also yet another Giant if you head down Hooes Rd. and head just north on 123 at the Shoppes of Lorton Valley. There is a Shoppers supermarket off of Lorton Road in the Lorton shopping center that also has Glory Days Grill.

[Kembek]

There's a Caribou Coffee in Lorton.
A great Thai restaurant in the Saratoga Shopping Center (http://kanjanathaispringfield.com/) (broken link)as well as a great pizza/sub restaurant (Saratoga Pizzeria) there.
Mike's is terrific; I ate at Tommy Thai's (TommyThaiRestaurant) last night; Austin Grill on Old Keene Mill Road; two Panera Restaurants to choose from, and one of my faves, Delia's (http://www.deliaspizzeria.com/).
I've been here 32 years I can't imagine living anywhere else in NoVA. Since, I'm old , I don't know anything about the nightlife here.