Brookville/Seminary Valley - Alexandria, VA

Brookville/Seminary Valley developed after World War II when the Washington, D.C., area underwent tremendous growth from an influx of federal government workers. Another wave of growth in the 1980s and 90s further expanded development in the area.

While you don't run into any museums in the neighborhood, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, a massive neoclassical monument on the edge of Old Town Alexandria, draws visitors to its museum. The attraction also serves as a performing arts center and concert hall.

Each September, the big event in the neighborhood occurs when the Brookville/Seminary Valley Civic Association sponsors its Mile Long Yard Sale along Taney Avenue. In June, you can participate in the Alexandria Food and Wine Festival in the Carlyle District to the east. The free festival features music, arts and crafts exhibits, and children's activities. Purchase tickets to sample food and wine from local restaurants and Virginia wineries.

You have to step outside of this residential neighborhood to find restaurants and bars, but you don't have to go far. The Foxchase Shopping Center, with plenty of dining options, sits adjacent to Brookville/Seminary Valley to the east.

Among several fast-service restaurants and a pizzeria, you can find Samurai Hibachi and Sushi Bar, where the chefs turn preparing your dinner into a show with stylish cooking techniques and friendly banter. Try the tasty hibachi steak for dinner, or head to the sushi bar for a crispy California roll with the excellent yaki udon.

Genova Pizza specializes in several varieties of pizza, but you can find hot pastas, sandwiches and gyros on the menu as well. Genova's special of the house arrives at your table loaded with ham, sausage, pepperoni, ground beef and mushrooms along with onions, green peppers and black olives. Employees make the pizza dough and sauce fresh daily. City Kitchen takes guests on a tour of the best food from cities across America. Sink your teeth into a Louisiana shrimp po' boy garnished with spicy cabbage slaw and cucumber pickle chips, a Philly cheese steak, or the Long Island duck. Wash everything down with your choice of beverage from the wide selection of craft beers.

You have a choice of neighborhood bars close by, starting with Shooter McGee's. This laid-back, neighborly establishment serves more than 100 wines and beer in a warm, rustic atmosphere that makes you feel welcome.

Check out happy hour at Alley Cat for great specials, and stick around for karaoke. Locals love to shoot some pool, watch a game or to listen to live music at this spot. If you feel like dancing, put on your cowboy boots and head to Nick's Nightclub. If you don't know the country line dances, get there early for free dance lessons before things get going. Nick's Nightclub features live bands and nightly karaoke. Prepare to pay a cover charge on certain nights.

Although you can walk to accomplish some errands in the Brookville Seminary Valley area, most people rely on their cars to get things done. Taney Avenue serves as the main road through the neighborhood, and Duke Street and Van Dorn Street lie just outside the neighborhood. You can use Duke Street and Van Dorn to connect to I-395, I-495 and Route 1. Residents who display a valid Alexandria City tax decal don't have any problems parking on neighborhood streets.

For those without a car or who want to leave their car at home, Metrobus and Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus provide service in the area. Commuters to D.C. can take a 20-minute bus ride to the Pentagon and then take a Metro train to their destination. A train from the Pentagon to Metro Center takes 12 minutes.

The neighborhood side streets are bike friendly, but only a few of the busier roads have bike lanes. However, you can easily pick up the Holmes Run Trail from the neighborhood. Additional options for getting around include using the ride-sharing service Uber and calling a local cab company for a pickup.

The Brookville Seminary Valley neighborhood includes two free parks that are both kid-friendly and dog-friendly: All Veterans Park and Brookvalley Park. All Veterans park features an observation deck, a memorial park, picnic areas, benches, and biking and jogging trails. The park also includes a designated area for dogs. The Charles Beatley Bridge connects All Veterans Park to Brookvalley Park. At Brookvalley Park, you can rent a garden plot to cultivate, have a picnic, walk or bicycle on the trail, or take the kids to the playground. While there, visit the oldest tree in Alexandria, known as the Bicentennial Tree.

The cost of living in the Brookville/Seminary Valley neighborhood rests 15 percent below that of Washington, D.C., but keep in mind that living in D.C. costs 34 percent more than the national average. Expect to pay around $1,160 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in Brookville/Seminary Valley and around $6 for a beer at a local bar.

Gas prices tend to run about 9 percent higher than the national average. A regular Metrobus fare costs $1.75, and if you take the bus to the Pentagon and commute by train into D.C., you pay $2.15 to get from the Pentagon to Metro Center during rush hour.

The surrounding area has plentiful shopping with chain stores in strip malls and shopping centers on Duke Street and Van Dorn Street. Landmark Mall sits just to the southwest of the neighborhood, and for high-end shops, visit the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, located about 6 miles north on I-395.

For unique local shops, residents head to Old Town Alexandria, where they can stroll from shop to shop on the brick sidewalks. Women's clothing, jewelry and accessories in a wide array of colors and styles can be found at 3 Sisters boutique. At Fibre Space, crafty shoppers can find unique yarns from independent, U.S.-made sources for their projects. Sign up for classes to learn how to knit, crochet or spin.

You can choose from an assortment of grocery stores near Brookville/Seminary Valley. Locals go to Harris Teeter in the Foxchase Shopping Center for the closest option, but you may prefer to go to Safeway or Giant on Van Dorn Street. Take Duke Street to the other side of I-395 to shop at Grand Mart or Shoppers. A nearby BJ's Warehouse lets you stock up on bulk items.

The neighborhood also has easy access to several nearby specialty food markets, including a Mediterranean Bakery and Fair Price International Market On Sunday mornings from May through November, head to Ben Brenman Park to shop for fresh foods and creative crafts at the West End Farmers Market.