Any Alexandria love/hate among the DC crowd? ;) (live, rated)

[DC's Finest]

Originally Posted by JEB77

Really? Did you take an opinion poll, or did you just appoint yourself as spokesperson for a large majority of AAs?

NoVa has lots of jobs. More people would live here if they could afford it, for the simple reason that commuting in this area is a royal pain. It also has good schools, and the NoVa sub-forum on C-D regularly has posts from AAs looking for information on NoVa schools and communities because they aren't comfortable with their options in other jurisdictions.

Alexandria has long had a significant AA presence. Of course, if it's truly the case that most AAs shun NoVa as a matter of principle, the AAs for whom you purport to speak ought to boycott the retail establishments in NoVa. Go to any NoVa mall like Pentagon City or Tysons on the weekends, and you'll find plenty of AAs, in cars with DC and Maryland license plates, there.

Of course, if having a historical link to the Confederacy is a deal-killer, then how did Atlanta become one of the pre-eminent cities for AA businessmen and women in the country? Atlanta elected AA mayors but, then again, Virginia elected an AA governor and the inner suburbs of NoVa voted heavily in Obama's favor.

No I did not take a poll but fact is there are more AA's on the DC/MD side of the Potomac for a reason. I do agree that NOVA offers better shopping but it does not even come close to offering the basic amenities for AA's that DC and MD does. AA's in Atlanta are much different than AA's in the DC area from a political/social standpoint. Example. Terrence mentioned that there are new housing developments popping up in Atlanta touting the area as a "Plantation." I don't know how familiar you are with DC/PG but if any developer attempted to build something around here with the name plantation, let's just say it wouldn't be a good idea.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

Wow, there is one barbershop near Landmark. Guess what. I have 30 within a mile of me. Same goes with access to soul food, hair salons, night clubs and Carribbean places. See the difference.

Well i'll keep my one barbershop while DC can keep it's higher rent.

BTW, I hated living in Alexandria but I call things like I see them.

[Kschmelka]

This is great information(message 26)! my family is moving to the NoVa/DC/MD area this fall. We have flexibility with where we choose to live and that's part of my problem; it's overwhelming just getting a basic handle on the area. We have elementary age kids (3), so schools are a top priority. We have lived in a small town for five years after moving from downtown Chicago, so we crave more of an urban/suburban balance- good food, walkable area, access to downtown, things to do for 40-something x-city dwellers craving their old life while being practical about family life so kid friendly/schools/safety are very important. we love Alexandria but I'm concerned about feedback on the school system. Comments on schools? Other areas we should check out?

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Kschmelka

This is great information(message 26)! my family is moving to the NoVa/DC/MD area this fall. We have flexibility with where we choose to live and that's part of my problem; it's overwhelming just getting a basic handle on the area. We have elementary age kids (3), so schools are a top priority. We have lived in a small town for five years after moving from downtown Chicago, so we crave more of an urban/suburban balance- good food, walkable area, access to downtown, things to do for 40-something x-city dwellers craving their old life while being practical about family life so kid friendly/schools/safety are very important. we love Alexandria but I'm concerned about feedback on the school system. Comments on schools? Other areas we should check out?

I actually graduated from Alexandria City Public Schools and the school picture is like this. You have Fairfax county schools that serves the South part of Alexandria (below I-495) and ACPS which serves the North Part (above I-495). FCPS is highly ranked nationally but the Alexandria addresses have the lowest ranked schools in the county, but probably still better than most of the country. Alexandria City schools are comparable to the lower ranked schools in Fairfax County, again ahead of most other places in the country. You may also want to consider that Virginia public schools do well overall.

[paytonc]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

Everybody seems to like it because of Old Town... Everybody likes Georgetown and Annapolis too, for similar reasons - street shopping and restaurants in an old historic area.)

Not coincidentally, all three were sizable towns predating the establishment of Washington -- so the usual city dweller's complaint about the uppity nouveau riches (of Arlington/Fairfax/MoCo) cannot apply.

Three things I've noticed about Alexandria:
1. A lot of right-leaning nonprofits seem to be headquartered there. The residents may vote Democratic, but the Republicans don't see it as entirely hostile territory (unlike the District).
2. It feels pretty military -- probably because it's along the US 1 corridor between the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, and Quantico.
3. The shopping is arguably better than what's on offer in most of the District, and I can't quite figure out why. There are many chains in Old Town, but unlike Georgetown they don't overwhelm the area since smaller shops thrive on the side streets -- and they make it possible to get basics. I haven't found anywhere quite like Cheesetique or Misha's Coffee in the city. Is the rent too damn high? (Can't imagine it's much cheaper there.) Does the vagrant population suppress DC retailers' friendliness? In any case, they have a good thing going there.

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by paytonc

Not coincidentally, all three were sizable towns predating the establishment of Washington -- so the usual city dweller's complaint about the uppity nouveau riches (of Arlington/Fairfax/MoCo) cannot apply.

Three things I've noticed about Alexandria:
1. A lot of right-leaning nonprofits seem to be headquartered there. The residents may vote Democratic, but the Republicans don't see it as entirely hostile territory (unlike the District).
2. It feels pretty military -- probably because it's along the US 1 corridor between the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, and Quantico.
3. The shopping is arguably better than what's on offer in most of the District, and I can't quite figure out why. There are many chains in Old Town, but unlike Georgetown they don't overwhelm the area since smaller shops thrive on the side streets -- and they make it possible to get basics. I haven't found anywhere quite like Cheesetique or Misha's Coffee in the city. Is the rent too damn high? (Can't imagine it's much cheaper there.) Does the vagrant population suppress DC retailers' friendliness? In any case, they have a good thing going there.

Interesting observations.

Yeah the inner DC suburbs are pretty darn blue. The old complaint about Northern Virginia being conservative is outdated.

I don't think it feels all that military. However, I grew up next to an army base in a much smaller town. So the simple fact that MPs don't patrol the streets of Old Town like they would in my hometown's downtown on a Saturday, to me takes away from the military feel. But that's just my opinion. There are lots of DoD contractors in VA.

I like the shopping on King Street. It does indeed combine local places with reliable chains in a balanced way.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by terrence81

I don't think it feels all that military.

Me neither. That comment definitely brought out a few for me

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Me neither. That comment definitely brought out a few for me

Nice to be in agreement. I re-read my post. MP stands for military police for those not in the know. The fact that certain military lingo is not part of the vernacular is also an indicator. I've never heard someone say "Oh I'm going to see so and so on post." I haven't even heard someone say "MP". That isn't to say that there isn't a military presence with the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Army all have bases in the area. I just wouldn't go as far as to say there's a STRONG military presence in this area because there are so many other people doing other things.

[HurricaneDC]

Never even knew MPs patrolled anything outside of military bases/property.

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by HurricaneDC

Never even knew MPs patrolled anything outside of military bases/property.

Yeah they're on the downtown strip in my hometown every Friday and Saturday night. Basically they arrest drunk rowdy soldiers.