No(VA) Hipster's Paradise <sigh>: Vienna vs. Falls Church? (Arlington: loan, houses)

[Alicia Bradley]

Ok, my parents are coming to town in about a week to help me look for a house, and right now I'm focusing more or less on Vienna and the City of Falls Church (and the Faux Church areas nearby - I don't have kids [yet] so I'm not having heart palpitations at night about a .01% difference in two schools' web rankings).

I had been leaning more heavily towards Vienna, given that the Vienna-to-Reston section of the W&OD is purportedly one of the prettiest, and that there were several little flaky-pastry lunch places and a Whole Foods that would be bikeable. The thing is, I much prefer the Fall (and Faux) Church houses in my price range to the Vienna ones - they're pre-WWII (if only just), and that makes all the difference in the world in terms of aesthetic appeal, IMO. (I'm cool with the whole anti-snobbery 'ranch revival' thing, but I kind of have to force it, you know?)

Anyway, I saw someone mention on a previous thread that the City of Falls Church is "crunchy," and I've also got the sense that Vienna (or some elements thereof, at least) is anything but.

So, which of those two 'towns' would you recommend to a super crunchy NoVA-hater (online only, mind) with her bike attached to her hip?

[Doppelganger69]

My bike isn't on my hip, but I'll shoot from there: I'd vote for Falls Church City. No hard data, just a feeling. That said, I've lived in Vienna for five months and think it's fabulous, am pretty crunchy myself and feel plenty comfortable here. Most people I've met here are liberal and it's a good fit. However, FCC seems to me to have a bit more of that urban funky vibe going on. This may not be political persuasion - perhaps just that Vienna is so family-oriented. It may also be that downtown FCC has got more of an old-fashioned downtown feel to it. And yes, the architecture in Vienna is hideous. Even the mid-century ranches are just boring, not really modernist. I wouldn't base your housing on the W&OD - the distance from FCC to Vienna is only a few miles along the trail.

[claremarie]

I'd second that. Falls Church has many of the same crunchy offerings as Vienna (see Kennedy's Natural Foods - Falls Church, VA for an example), with less traffic congestion and more parking options. And you can easily ride your bike along the trail from Falls Church to Vienna and beyond. Let the housing issue drive your decision.

[JEB77]

Follow your heart - also keep in mind that you can easily ride from Falls Church on the W&OD to some North Arlington neighborhoods that have some additional crunchy offerings.

[Alicia Bradley]

Thanks, everyone.. given your feedback, I'm now leaning more heavily towards Falls Church than Vienna.. heh. A week exploring with the 'rents should help to clarify things a lot (at least I hope).

[vivo]

don't hipsters not admit they are hipsters?
ah don't forget the metro stations in falls church.
perhaps try focusing your search based on proximity if that is a concern

[Sophronia50]

I think you would be happy in either area based on your wants... so if the Falls Church houses are more to your liking, go there. I have a client who found a cute little house on Buckelew Dr. in Falls Church that she really loves. It's close to the metro and she can walk to the downtown FCC area. Good Luck!

[Alicia Bradley]

Ok, I've been looking at specific businesses along Broad St. in Falls Church to get a better feel for the area (using Google Street View - I know, I know, I'll go there in person this weekend), and I'm a little surprised that there aren't more zoning restrictions in the area.. For example, Stacy's Coffee Parlor (which looks like a great place) has a "payday loan" sort of business right next door. Coming from a part of the country (or at least a city) where one wouldn't see that (i.e., payday loan-type places would be separated from the cutesy central business district by at least a street or two), I'm a little concerned.. I take it the City of Falls Church is ok with this sort of situation?

[ScranBarre]

As far as that particular of stretch of the W&OD Trail is concerned I really wasn't very impressed on my run today. I parked in a small lot across from the headquarters of Oracle and then proceeded east on the trail until around Mile Post 15 (nearly six miles round-trip). I ran by an electrical sub-station, smelled some GOD AWFUL bleach-like odor that made my stomach turn, and had to play chicken with cars that apparently don't like to yield to pedestrians, especially at busier intersections like Wiehle Avenue. I wanted to run further, but I'm still not acclimated to neither the humidity nor the allergens down here, and since I was a sticky and puffy-eyed mess I figured I had better cut it short today or else I very well would have run as far as Vienna. Unless it gets "better" past Mile Post 15 headed into DC I don't see what's so "pretty" about it, or is it just normally pretty ugly from Miles 15-18?!

[claremarie]

Keep in mind that the trail is an abandoned railway. It runs through suburban back yards, but also through commercial/industrial areas. And the at-grade crossings in Reston, Herndon, and Vienna can be dangerous. If you want more "scenic," head out in the other direction.