Annandale? (Jefferson, Falls Church, Raven: apartment complex, crimes, home)

[weezycom]

Originally Posted by car54

Awww yeah, I forgot Fritzbe's.

Which reminds me of the restaurant that was in that space BEFORE Fritzbe's....a great Italian place called Villa Maria. We went there every Thursday night when I was growing up.

If you go for lunch during the week and eat at the bar at Silverado's, the main barkeep there, Maria, is the Maria for which Villa Maria was named. Her dad & uncle owned the place back then.

[mgcpa]

I read car54's post a while back. We were probably classmates. I went to St. Michael's grades 3 (Mrs. Keating) through 8. I graduated from high school in 1972, but we moved away after my 8th grade year. My neighbors and I used to go to the slot car place in town, but you're right, that craze was not around long. My parents, now in their mid 80's still live in the house they bought in 1961. We moved to Boston in 1968, and then to LA. The family moved back in 1974, but I stayed behind in the Golden State. I was in Annandale for a visit this past May and got a tour of St. Michael's from Sister Terese who is the principal. I was curious about whether the mimeograph smell was still lingering in the hallways. (No it wasn't. Too many years have past.)

[MH2003]

Great to find this forum - some of you may enjoy this pic if I can get it posted, from a 3 chef's coffe cup

[MH2003]

take 2

[adolpho]

Originally Posted by SmerkyGrl

Annandale is pretty, affordable, and has lots of Asians.

and DC has lots of Blacks; so what?

[azb]

We faced this same issue, and after looking at lots of neighborhoods in Northern Virginia, bought a home inside the beltway in Annandale. Like lots of neighborhoods in Annandale, the neighborhood we bought in--Tall Oaks--is very nice and safe. It has nice homes with large lots and neighbors that take care of their yards. And the neighborhood seems to have lots of children. And, like many other Annandale neighborhoods, the area is very safe--I checked crime statistics before buying.Are schools a concern? My wife and I are both professionals with graduate degrees from highly regarded institutions. Education was a big focus of our decision where to live. In my view, however, this "schools are bad" take on Annandale is misplaced. Fairfax County schools are outstanding by any measure, and there is no bad school in the district. Yes, there is variation in test scores, but this largely reflects the demographics of the student population rather than the quality of education. The elementary school we feed into--Columbia--actually has pretty high test scores (and ones that have improved recently) desite the fact that the school is VERY diverse (no one is in the majority or minority at Columbia). That tells me that some outstanding teaching is happening at Columbia. (And with an African American child, diversity is a HUGE plus in our view). and parents who send children to Columbia love the school.In short, keep an open mind. Don't let test scores that likely reflect nothing about the quality of education your child will receive drive your decision. We love our neighborhood.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by azb

We faced this same issue, and after looking at lots of neighborhoods in Northern Virginia, bought a home inside the beltway in Annandale. Like lots of neighborhoods in Annandale, the neighborhood we bought in--Tall Oaks--is very nice and safe. It has nice homes with large lots and neighbors that take care of their yards. And the neighborhood seems to have lots of children. And, like many other Annandale neighborhoods, the area is very safe--I checked crime statistics before buying.Are schools a concern? My wife and I are both professionals with graduate degrees from highly regarded institutions. Education was a big focus of our decision where to live. In my view, however, this "schools are bad" take on Annandale is misplaced. Fairfax County schools are outstanding by any measure, and there is no bad school in the district. Yes, there is variation in test scores, but this largely reflects the demographics of the student population rather than the quality of education. The elementary school we feed into--Columbia--actually has pretty high test scores (and ones that have improved recently) desite the fact that the school is VERY diverse (no one is in the majority or minority at Columbia). That tells me that some outstanding teaching is happening at Columbia. (And with an African American child, diversity is a HUGE plus in our view). and parents who send children to Columbia love the school.In short, keep an open mind. Don't let test scores that likely reflect nothing about the quality of education your child will receive drive your decision. We love our neighborhood.

That's a great neighborhood, and your post is full of common sense. Good luck in the area!

[car54]

Originally Posted by azb

....In short, keep an open mind. Don't let test scores that likely reflect nothing about the quality of education your child will receive drive your decision. We love our neighborhood.

Neurotics CAN'T keep an open mind!

There's nothing in the world wrong with Inside-the-Beltway Annandale....I've lived here all my life (58 years). In fact, I was living in this house before there WAS a Beltway! My only gripe is they took a few acres of my back yard to build the Beltway....and I had to quit target shooting my .22 Mossberg with the highway so close!

Welcome to Annandale!

[racepainter]

I grew up through the 60's living in Ravensworth, and we always came to Annandale to grocery shop at the Giant, and eat at the Three Chefs. I remember the food being really great. My family ate there so often we all became friends with the staff. I remember a husband-wife team doing a radio show from a desk by the front door every evening. Can't remember their names though. I read an earlier post about the People's drug store next to the Giant. I spent a large amount of time at that magazine rack myself. I was into building model cars back then, and between what the Giant had and what the Peoples had I was kept fairly busy. I remembered the slot car track being there for a while. I also remember standing at the end of the Giant parking lot at Columbia Pike watching the Christmas parade go by. Does anyone remember going to I think it was Woodson High to stand in that long line to get your polio vaccination? I miss Topps, and the whole experience of growing up there back then. Don't know how it is around there now, but it was an almost magical place back then. I remember Dad taking the Impala out on the Beltway before it was paved all the way from Braddock road to Springfield and back. I moved away in '72, and never got back. I enjoy the posts talking about all your experiences from back then. I'll shut up now. lol

[car54]

Originally Posted by racepainter

I grew up through the 60's living in Ravensworth, and we always came to Annandale to grocery shop at the Giant, and eat at the Three Chefs. I remember the food being really great. My family ate there so often we all became friends with the staff. I remember a husband-wife team doing a radio show from a desk by the front door every evening. Can't remember their names though. I read an earlier post about the People's drug store next to the Giant. I spent a large amount of time at that magazine rack myself. I was into building model cars back then, and between what the Giant had and what the Peoples had I was kept fairly busy. I remembered the slot car track being there for a while. I also remember standing at the end of the Giant parking lot at Columbia Pike watching the Christmas parade go by. Does anyone remember going to I think it was Woodson High to stand in that long line to get your polio vaccination? I miss Topps, and the whole experience of growing up there back then. Don't know how it is around there now, but it was an almost magical place back then. I remember Dad taking the Impala out on the Beltway before it was paved all the way from Braddock road to Springfield and back. I moved away in '72, and never got back. I enjoy the posts talking about all your experiences from back then. I'll shut up now. lol

Well, you wouldn't recognize the place today.

But, I agree that it really was a magical place in the 50's and 60's...a very small town atmosphere. It was the boonies back then...lots of young families and lots of military families that wanted a NEW single family home for 25 grand or less. Did you ever go to the carnivals at the fire house? Kerlin's Corner for a cold soda, that you plucked out of huge ice-filled coolers. And who could forget Three Chefs...where else could you pour BOISENBERRY syrup on your pancakes!

I don't think Woodson High had been built yet when I got my polio vaccination...I think we got it at Annandale High, or that long-closed elementary school that was on Columbia Pike across from the Giant. People's (now CVS) is long gone from where it was, there's a new one where the old Mount Vernon Trust Company building was.

But it's funny how things change...I'll bet one day people in now-new burbs like Brambleton, Cascades, etc will bemoan "what happened?" and wish they could afford "toney" Annandale. After all, Old Town Alexandria was a slum when I was a kid...I was forbidden to go near the place at night! Just look at it now! What do they call that..."gentrification" or something?