Orange Line Living l Rosslyn l Courthouse l Clarendon l Virginia Square & Ballston l Falls Church
Upon first glance
Falls Church City is a rather confusing place in Northern Virginia. It is an independent city with county-level governance status. The city does not include the area of historic Falls Church, this includes parts of Seven Corners, the Falls Church postal districts of Fairfax County, and East Falls Church. The city itself does not hold the two Orange Line stops that have its name. East Falls Church and West Falls Church are in Fairfax County and Arlington County respectively. Falls Church has an abundance of historical sites as well places that focus on becoming more “green”. Falls Church schools have become are, like the city, rather confusing. out of its four public schools, only one falls within city limits, the others are in Fairfax County; and Falls Church High School is not part of the Falls Church School system, but rather the Fairfax County Public School system and does not serve the city. Several Students a year are also eligible to attend Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a Fairfax County magnet school.
Who lives here
People who live in Falls Church tend to stay there for a long time. This limits the market when looking for a home in the area. Falls Church median age is higher than the urban villages of Arlington County. This may be due to the fact that the average home value is lower in the area. Because Falls Church is such an old community, the permanent residents of Falls Church have been pushing the city to be a more environmentally friendly place to improve the area for future generations.
Food and entertainment
Falls Church’s history runs extremely deep. There are a whole host of historic sites that cannot be missed by tourists and residents alike. The boundary stones of Washington D.C. are located between the City of Falls Church and Arlington County. These are the markers of the Original District of Columbia. Another can’t-miss site is the Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn. It is one of the few Greek Revival farmhouses in the area and is open to the public on select Saturdays in the summer.
The Vietnamese-American community is very large in Falls Church, especially around the Eden Center, a Vietnamese shopping center. This plaza, constructed at Seven Corners, is marked by a traditional gateway modeled on one in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The Eden Center boast a wide variety of Vietnamese cuisine, from pastries and desserts to sit-down restaurants serving pho and different rice dishes. Residents in the mood for something other than Vietnamese Cuisine should try 2941, Chef Bertrand Chemels invention. Chemel prepares contemporary American cuisine with local ingredients. Pizzeria Orso, by the same owners of 2941, led by Chef Artley, is the area’s finest gourmet Italian restaurant. The restaurant also boasts one of the area’s best brunch options.
There are several community events that take place in Falls Church including the Memorial Day Parade. This parade, held for at least the last sixty years, features military units, fire and rescue, and a street festival with booths for food crafts. The Falls Church Farmer’s Market is held year round in the City Hall Parking lot. Cherry Hill is also home to a summer concert series put on by the Parks and Recreation Department and Village Preservation and Improvement Society. The Falls Church Festival and Taste of Falls Church is an annual event held at Cherry Hill. The festival host live entertainment, amusement rides and food from all of the major Falls Church institutions. Other community festivals and events include Farm Day, a Halloween Carnival, Sunset Cinema and Easter Egg Hunt.
Falls Church also holds several parks and trails for families and individuals who enjoy outdoor recreation. A portion of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Trail runs through the city. It is a paved rail trail that was formerly a railroad track. with a park surrounding that runs for about forty-five miles from Alexandria to The Town of Purcellville.
Transportation
Although they carry the city’s namesake, East Falls Church and West Falls Church do not lie within city limits. The GEORGE services the Falls Church area and the two Metro stations nearby. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority also provides service in Falls Church. East Falls Church, just outside of city limits, in Fairfax County, will soon service the Silver Line in addition to the already existing Orange Line. The Silver Line will run from East Falls Church to Route 772, past Dulles Airport.
Many major roads go through Falls Church, most of which intersect at Seven Corners. US Route 50, Route 7, and Route 29 are immediately next to the Eden Center, while Interstate 66 and Interstate 495 are along the western borders of Falls Church.
The bottom line
Falls Church is a unique area, not only because it is an independent city, but also for its cultural and community driven landscape. Residents can enjoy the many city offerings from concerts to farmer’s markets without facing the hustle and bustle of Arlington County. Though Falls Church lacks the convenience and sustainable elements of Arlington, its residents are moving the city to be more green.
Orange Line Living l Rosslyn l Courthouse l Clarendon l Virginia Square & Ballston l Falls Church