Bailey's Crossroads - Falls Church, VA

Like all areas of Virginia, Bailey's Crossroads boasts a rich, long history dating back to the days when it was occupied by roaming buffalo. In the late 1700s, George Washington took possession of parts of the land, including the area that houses Boundary Stone 6, located on South Jefferson Street. By the early 1800s, the crossroads were just a fork in the road. It wasn't until 1837, after Hachaliah Bailey bought the land that surrounds Leesburg and Columbia Turnpikes, that Bailey's Crossroads received its name.

In its early days, Bailey's Crossroads functioned as the winter home of Bailey's small circus. After the Civil War, residents built the neighborhood's first school, which later became George Mason University. During the 20th century, Bailey's Crossroads transformed from a quiet Washington, D.C. suburb into a vibrant, multicultural neighborhood with a strong sense of community.

Bailey's Crossroads' restaurant and nightlife scene reflects its diverse population. Area establishments serve everything from fast food and diner fare to Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine. For example, Bamian Restaurant serves amazing Afghan cuisine, including appetizers such as sambosas, scallion-filled steam dumplings and stir-fried eggplant. Some other specialties include marinated kabobs served with Afghan bread, sautéed pumpkin topped with yogurt and mint and charcoal-broiled chicken or lamb.

Meaza Restaurant on Columbia Pike serves authentic Ethiopian cuisine, including beef or lamb tibs, injera made with teff flour, cubed red snapper cooked in an Ethiopian hot sauce and kitfo, ground beef cooked with mitmita, Ethiopian butter and cardamom. Vegetarian options include lentil stew, yellow pea stew and cooked collard greens.

When you crave Asian cuisine, the best restaurant to visit remains Peking Gourmet Inn, a regional staple since 1978. Although it looks like a hole-in-the-wall joint from the outside, as soon as you step through the doors, you'll be treated to an elegant, welcoming atmosphere. The staff works hard to accommodate customers with special needs such as allergies or food restrictions. In addition to the house special, crispy Peking duck, other restaurant specialties include spicy Szechuan beef, gourmet pan-fried noodles, flavorful jeo-yen shrimp and garlic sprouts sautéed with chicken, pork or shrimp.

Hookah bars and sport bars comprise the majority of Bailey's Crossroads' nightlife scene. For example, Fairouz Café, on George Mason Drive, combines live entertainment with a variety of hookah flavors, including blue mist, code 69, passion kiss, rose, margarita and wild mint, just to name a few. This hookah bar also boasts great happy hour specials, including $5 sandwiches and half-priced alcoholic beverages every night from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., plus a half-price hookah special for ladies night on Mondays. DJs spin a variety of Arabic and popular music nightly from Wednesday through Saturday in addition to a live belly dancing performance on Friday or Saturday night.

Luna Restaurant and Sports Bar combines a bar and club atmosphere with quality shisha and tasty Ethiopian cuisine and pub fare. Nosh on mac and cheese bites or awaze tibs, a spicy meat dish. Luna regularly features live bands and music spun by DJs, with musical genres ranging from Habesha and Latino to house and hip-hop.

Bailey’s Crossroads provides two main public transportation options: Arlington Transit's 16L Metrobus line, which runs from Annandale to Skyline City and the Pentagon, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)'s Metrobus 28X line, which provides access to Seven Corners, Falls Church, Towers Crescent Drive, Tysons Corner and Metro stations at West Falls Church and Tysons Corner. At the Metro stations, passengers can transfer to Metro rail services to take the train into Washington, D.C. or to Reagan National Airport, located approximately nine miles from Bailey’s Crossroads.

Approximately 28 percent of the residents in Bailey's Crossroads commute to work on the bus. Additionally, car-less households make up nearly one-fourth of the population, leaving plenty of on-street parking for the fifty percent of residents who commute to work in private cars.

One of the neighborhood's main roadways, Virginia State Route 7, travels from Winchester to Alexandria, running right through the center of Bailey's Crossroads. Although traffic can often be heavy on this busy highway, Route 7 provides residents with access to nearby neighborhoods such as Seven Corners and Falls Church. The roadway also connects to other area highways, including U.S. Route 50 and Interstate 66.

Although pedestrians can safely walk in some areas of Bailey's Crossroads, many residents still drive or take the bus to get around the area. Bicyclists mostly share the roadway with motor vehicles, necessitating that cyclists and drivers follow road rules and exercise caution to avoid accidents.

Residents in the community take time to play and enjoy the outdoors at neighborhood parks, which welcome children, families and leashed pets. Spring Lane has a playground, tot lot, hiking/biking trails, tennis courts and basketball courts. Dowden Terrace Park spans more than eight acres and features several sports fields in addition to a playground and picnic area. One of the area's largest parks, Holmes Run Stream Valley Park, spans more than 200 acres. It offers hiking and biking trails, open green space, a tot lot, natural areas and a playground.

Nearby parks that host events include Falls Church's Cherry Hill Park, home of Friday night movies during summer, and Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington, which hosts a free summer concert series.

In general, life in Bailey's Crossroads carries a lower cost of living than the average for Falls Church or Washington, D.C. Housing prices generally run high in this neighborhood and renters can expect to pay median rental rates of $1,285 for a one-bedroom apartment. Grab a pint of beer for around $5 at neighborhood hot spots such as Fairouz Cafe.

Metrobus fare averages $1.75 each way while a ride on a Metro train costs around $2.15. The WMATA provides a 50-cent discount for anyone transferring from the bus to the rail within a two-hour period. Gas prices in Bailey’s Crossroads typically run approximately two percent higher than the national average.

Two major shopping centers fulfill most of the shopping needs of local residents. Big name stores such as Ross and Old Navy reside at Crossroads Center, while T.J. Maxx and Burlington Coat Factory call Crossroads Place home. Some of this neighborhood's specialty shops reflect the diversity of the neighborhood's population.

For example, be prepared to spend some serious time when you visit Khan El-Khalili on Seminary Road. This immense, two-floor store sells Middle Eastern fashions, tea equipment, kitchenware, home furnishings and jewelry. Falika's Fashions, located on George Mason Drive, specializes in African apparel for men, women and children. Designer Rebecca Falika creates clothing that combines traditional African fashion with modern flair. She designs everything from bridal and formal wear to everyday clothing.

Residents of Bailey's Crossroads can stock their pantry shelves at neighborhood grocery stores, including Safeway located at Crossroads Center, Giant in Crossroads Place and German Gourmet, a German specialty grocer on Columbia Pike. For the freshest produce and plants, check out the closest farmers market, Arlington Farmers Market, located in the county courthouse parking lot.