Jefferson - Falls Church, VA Area Guide

Like much of Fairfax County, the Jefferson district remained farmland until the expansion of the federal government during and after World War II turned Virginia farms into suburban developments to house the influx of workers. Subdivisions built between the 1940s and the 1960s make up most of the Jefferson district. More residences were added in the 1980s and '90s.

Surrounded by historic sites, residents enjoy a variety of local attractions, such as Cherry Hill Farmhouse in Falls Church. A quick Metro ride transports them to the many Smithsonian museums and art galleries in D.C. For local culture, residents head to Falls Church to the State Theatre, a live-music venue, or ArtSpace Falls Church, a 95-seat theater and art gallery.

Area residents enjoy attending festivals in their neighboring communities, such as the Merrifield Fall Festival held each October in the Mosaic District and the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and Festival.

Find good restaurants that feature an array of cuisine scattered throughout the Jefferson district. One of the best restaurants can also be the hardest to find. Tucked behind an office building, 2941 Restaurant sits surrounded by lush landscaping, waterfalls and a lake. The pumpkin soup or the salmon tartare make a nice start to your meal. Locals rave about the lamb pappardelle and the shrimp risotto entrées, but save room for the peach melba or the coconut cream cake for dessert.

Present features authentic upscale Vietnamese dishes served in large portions. The sleeping duck in golden pond arrives with a quarter of a duck served atop a bowl of seasoned broth, and the country banquet vermicelli can feed two. La Granja de Oro serves Peruvian food in an establishment that provides a mix of restaurant, bar and entertainment. with a band and a dance floor for salsa dancing. Guests return for the lomo saltado, a dish of seasoned beef sautéed with olive oil, red onions and tomatoes and served over rice.

Local bar JV's Restaurant, a dive with live music every night, has been a popular night-time spot in the Jefferson district since 1947. Residents looking for more variety go to either Falls Church City or Merrifield. Gather a group of friends and head to Merrifield for a good time at B Side or Grevey's Restaurant and Sports Bar, or watch a movie at the upscale Angelika Film Center. In Falls Church, Spacebar maintains a strict over-21-only policy and serves up creative grilled cheese sandwiches to complement the 24 beers on tap. You can also catch a tribute band playing at the State Theatre in Falls Church or knock over some pins at Bowl America.

People rely heavily on cars to get around in the Jefferson district, and, like most of the D.C. suburbs, it suffers from heavy congestion on its major roadways. The main neighborhood roads include Graham Road, Fairview Park Drive and Annandale Road. These conveniently connect to the larger arteries of Routes 50 and 29 that take drivers to Routes 7 and 66 and Interstate 495. Parking rarely causes a problem in Jefferson, where apartment and town house complexes as well as offices and shopping centers have ample parking, usually at no cost.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority provides public transportation through Metrobus and Metrorail, and the Fairfax Connector buses also serve the area. Residents use either the West Falls Church Metro Station or the East Falls Church Metro Station, depending on where in the district they live. It takes approximately 20 minutes to get from the East Falls Church station to Metro Center in D.C. and an additional two minutes if you leave from West Falls Church. Those without a car can use the ride-sharing service Uber or call a local taxi company for a pickup.

You can take a walk on the neighborhood streets in the Jefferson district to get some exercise or visit friends, but you need a car to get things done. Avid bikers do ride in the area and make use of bike-friendly Graham Road and Annandale Road, but the major arteries have lots of traffic and no bike lanes.

Small parks dot the neighborhoods in the Jefferson area. Azalea, Jefferson Village, Greenway Downs and Devonshire Parks feature playground equipment and either sports fields or basketball courts. Sleepy Hollow Park also includes a dog run, and Pine Spring Park includes two tennis courts. Families gather at Larry Graves Park to watch their children play soccer, baseball and softball on its fields. All the parks are free and allow dogs as long as they remain leashed. The Jefferson District Park provides fun for the whole family with picnic areas, lighted tennis and basketball courts, a miniature golf course and a 9-hole executive golf course.

If you live in the Jefferson area, your cost of living remains about the same as living in Washington, D.C., which puts it approximately 34 percent more expensive than the national average. Expect to pay $1,245 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and $6 for a beer in your local pub. Taking the Metro from the West Falls Church station to Metro Center in D.C. costs $4.10 during rush hour and $3.15 at other times. From the East Falls Church station, the same ride costs $3.55 during peak hours and $2.80 off-peak. If you take the bus to the Metro or to a neighboring community, you need $1.75 for a regular fare. Higher gas prices mean it costs you about 9 percent more than the national average to fill your tank.

Most shopping in the Jefferson area consists of strip malls along Route 50 or Route 29 that focus on basics and services. At Seven Corners, where Routes 7 and 50 intersect, you can shop at large chain stores, such as Ross Dress for Less, Michael's, and Barnes & Noble. Tysons Corner Center, the closest mall, includes more than 300 retailers.

For boutique shopping, residents head to the Mosaic District in Merrifield, where they can stroll the streets and enjoy an afternoon of window-shopping. Men who like to wear classic styles shop at Federal for well-made apparel and accessories highlighting made-in-the-USA brands. If you need a hostess gift or a sweet treat for yourself, check out Artisan Confections for handcrafted chocolates made with the freshest ingredients.

No matter where you live in the Jefferson district, you can find groceries nearby. The Safeway in the Shops at West Falls Church and the Giant in Loehmann's Plaza provide all the basics for area shoppers as does the Shoppers Food in Seven Corners. Several ethnic markets in the area help residents find special ingredients, including Halalco Supermarket for Middle Eastern foods, Bestway Supermercado for Hispanic foods, and Good Fortune Supermarket and Eden Supermarket — located in the Eden Center, a large Vietnamese shopping center in Seven Corners — for Asian foods.

Residents of Jefferson take advantage of the year-round farmers market in Falls Church City. Held in the City Hall parking lot on Saturday mornings, the market draws 40 to 50 vendors, depending on the season, and hosts a monthly chef series in which chefs from area restaurants showcase recipes using seasonal local food.