Seven Corners - Falls Church, VA

Like much of the surrounding area, Seven Corners boasts a rich history dating back to the American Civil War. Originally named Fort Buffalo in honor of the fortification built in 1862 by soldiers in New York's 21st Infantry, Seven Corners name changed in the 1950s after Lee Memorial Boulevard's construction created an intersection with seven corners. U.S. Route 50 transformed the area into a hub of commercial activity.

The neighborhood hosted its first Annual Seven Corners Car Show in June 2014. Other nearby annual events include Watch Night, a free family New Year event, and the Tinner Hill Blues Festival in Falls Church. Although Seven Corners lacks a significant arts scene, neighboring Falls Church has a vibrant artistic community.

From the casual fare at restaurants such as Dogfish Head Alehouse and Public House No. 7, to the flavorful Asian cuisine and vegetarian specialties, the Seven Corners restaurant scene serves up something to suit almost every taste. When you crave bold flavors and a hip, upscale setting, take a trip to Rice Paper, located in Eden Center. With its amazing beef-filled grape leaves, shredded duck in ginger sauce and chicken salad with cabbage, the balanced flavors of the menu items guarantee that even an experienced foodie can leave feeling satisfied. Other Rice Paper specialties include shaky beef stir-fry, two types of bun and bowls of steaming pho.

Bangkok Golden in the Seven Corners Shopping Center specializes in Laotian cuisine. Vegetarian options include crispy rice salad and orm tofu, a spicy soup. Other specialties include the flavorful grilled fish wrapped in banana leaf and spicy beef larb.

In addition to serving brunch, salads and sandwiches, Public House No. 7 specializes in British menu items such as bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd's pie, Lancashire hot pie and a roast beef dinner served with Yorkshire pudding. When you just need a nibble to go along with your beer, choose from pub grub such as hand-cut onion rings, baked macaroni and cheese, steamed prawns, Welsh rarebit, Scotch eggs, and potato crisp nachos.

Public House No. 7 also features karaoke every Friday night, Tuesday trivia games and live music from local bands and performers several nights a month. Other nightlife options include catching a live bluegrass, country, or blues show at JV's Restaurant on Arlington Boulevard.

Seven Corners Transit Center on Arlington Boulevard makes it easy to catch the Metrobus. The Metro serves this neighborhood with several buses, including 1A, 1B, and 1E, which travel between Dunn Loring and Vienna. Bus lines 4A and 4B connect Seven Corners with Arlington Forest, Buckingham, Court House Station and Rosslyn Station. 28A travels between King Street-Old Town Station, Bradlee Shopping Center, Inova Alexandria Hospital, Skyline City, West Falls Church Station and Tysons Corner.

Residents can transfer to Metrorail service at Rosslyn Station, West Falls Church Station or Tysons Corner Station. The Metrorail operates service around the region with many stops in the city including Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan.

You can also catch the Metro to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located approximately 8 miles east of Seven Corners. Transportation options to Dulles International Airport, located 24 miles northwest of Seven Corners, include catching a bus, arranging a ride with Uber or local taxi services such as Fairfax Yellow Cab, and driving your own vehicle.

Seven Corners received its name after the development of area roadways created a seven-cornered intersection where Wilson Boulevard, Sleepy Hollow Road, State Road 338, State Road 7 and U.S. Route 50 meet. Aside from the pedestrian bridge built over Route 50, walking along area roadways can be quite challenging, especially near the Route 7 and Route 50 intersections. General congestion and traffic require extra caution while bicycling on shared roadways.

Although this small Falls Church neighborhood lacks parks, residents only need to travel a few blocks away for expansive green spaces that have plenty of room for exercising, playing and relaxing. Leashed pets are welcome at Glencarlyn Park, a 95-acre park that features nature trails, fishing areas, an amphitheater and a nature center that hosts educational programs and displays of live animals. The park also features an unfenced, off-leash dog park with plenty of room for your pup to run, play and splash in the stream.

Leashed pets are welcome on the trails at Upton Hill Regional Park. This smaller park combines a wooded park setting and a playground for children with a large outdoor waterpark. Buy day passes or season passes to Ocean Dunes for access to the waterslides, pool, waterfalls and water playground. On the last day of the season, Ocean Dunes hosts the “Dog Days of Summer,” which allows pets to come swim in the pool for an extra fee. Right next to the waterpark, you can tee off at Upton Hill’s 18-hole miniature golf course or practice your swing at the batting cages.

Take a short drive to Potomac Overlook Regional Park, located five miles away, to enjoy the park’s free summer concert series, hosted two Saturday evenings monthly. This 70-acre wooded park also features educational gardens, picnic areas, walking trails and a nature center with educational exhibits.

Life in Seven Corners, like life in most areas of northern Virginia, comes with a hefty price tag. The cost of living in Seven Corners is significantly higher than the national average as well as the average for Washington, D.C. Although housing prices in the region typically run high, renters pay an average of $1,291 for a one-bedroom apartment. Residents can expect to pay around $6 for a pint of beer at local bars.

Metrobus fares typically cost $1.75 each way. If you take the bus to the West Falls Church Metro Station, expect to pay around $4 to take the train into Washington, D.C. Gas prices in Seven Corners hover approximately 4 percent above the national average.

Most of the shops and stores in Seven Corners are clustered in the neighborhood's three shopping centers. Willston Centre houses chain stores such as Target and Sally Beauty Supply. Other chain stores, including Home Depot, Burlington Coat Factory, Ross Dress for Less, and Barnes and Noble, reside in the Seven Corners Shopping Center.

My Local Homebrew Shop on Leesburg Pike carries everything you need to make your own beer and wine. Choose from brewing ingredients such as packaged grains, malt extracts, flavorings, and specialty yeasts. The store also sells brewing equipment, recipe books, kegging equipment, and brewing kits.

For a break from the big name stores, visit Eden Center, an Asian shopping center on Wilson Boulevard that includes more than 100 shops and restaurants. Be sure to bring plenty of cash with you since many of the shops here only accept cash.

For a special gift, check out the merchandise at gift shops such as New World, which sells children's toys and adult gifts, or Kim Lien Gifts, which sells herbal medicine, jewelry and carvings. Stock up on rare Asian herbs and spices at China Herbs or Vietnamese and Chinese music at Hong Van Music. The center also houses several jewelry stores, including several that sell high-end gems such as Princess Diamonds, Tin Hanh Jewelers and Bach Tuyet Jewelers, owned and operated by a trained diamond specialist.

Residents can choose from several grocery stores in the neighborhood, including Safeway and Shoppers Food and Pharmacy. Eden Supermarket specializes in Indo-Asian and Asian products in addition to fresh seafood, meat and produce. You can also stock up on hard-to-find produce and exotic goods at Good Fortune Supermarket, Northern Virginia's largest international supermarket. Northern Virginia features several farmers markets including Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market in Alexandria.