Audrey Moore RECenter at Wakefield Park

Fairfax County has a number of RECenters throughout the county. One of these is the Audrey Moore RECenter at Wakefield Park. The park is located in Annandale just outside the Capitol Beltway. The center features swimming, fitness and racquetball facilities as well as other recreational activities such as crafts and dancing. The center is ADA accessible with curb ramps, automatic doors, ample parking, an elevator, and a wheelchair accessible unisex bathroom and dressing stalls. The Audrey Moore RECenter at Wakefield Park has a natatorium (inside pool). The pool and natatorium is accessed via locker rooms containing saunas and showers. At the natatorium one will find a large 50 meter by 25 yard pool with one 3 meter and two 1 meter diving boards. The pool also has a Super Slide. The natatorium is equipped to handle swim-meets with plenty of seats for spectators. In addition to a natatorium, this RECenter has a gymnasium with six basketball hoops and volleyball nets. The center has various courts for sports like racquetball, squash and wallyball. Local youth and adult leagues make good use of the gym, so it's a good idea to call the center to make reservations for courts. The center also contains a cycle studio. Overlooking both the gym and the natatorium is a well-equipped fitness center. The fitness room features cardiovascular equipment and Cybex machines that are networked with FitLinxx. There fitness room has has free-weights and an area to stretch-out before your work-out. Check the calendar for both beginners and advanced group fitness classes. The RECenter isn't just for sporting activities. Retired and older adults gather for activities at Audrey Moore's senior center. Dancers and soon-to-be dancers make good use of the dance room where instructors hold scheduled classes for a wide variety of activities like salsa dancing, ballroom dancing and square dancing and more. You can try your hand at arts and crafts in the craft room or even fire-up the kiln and make your own pottery in the pottery lab. Aspiring photographers can make use of the dark room. Just outside the natorium is an outdoor sundeck. The center is situated in Wakefield Park which has many trails for bicyclists, joggers and walkers. A portion of the pride of Fairfax County Parks, the Cross County Trail, courses through the park. The Cross County Trail is over 40 miles long and connects the entire county from one end to the other. Outside the center are lighted courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, baseball, softball and soccer. The Wakefield Skate Park is found here as well. From early May to late October, the grounds are also used on Wednesday afternoons the Wakefield Farmers' Market. Audrey Moore RECenter 8100 Braddock Road Annandale, Virginia 703-321-7081 Map/Directions
For more information or to set up an appointment call Nesbitt Realty at (703)765-0300.

Check Out the Floor Plans of the Isabella at Monticello Mews

The Isabella at Monticello Mews is located at 6301 Edsall Road Alexandria, VA 22312. The Isabella is near I-395. The Isabella offers convenient access to shopping, dining, and entertainment. Amenities at the Isabella include: 25 meter pool, expansive sun deck, resident lounge, cabana, private ball park, private 1/4 mile fitness and walking path, on-site metro shuttle, community fitness room, outdoor sports court, controlled access gated community, front desk attendant with controlled lobby access, secure 2 level underground garage parking, community bike rack, and separate freight elevator.

Delicious Authentic Korean Bread: Shilla Bakery

Looking for a sweet treat or a nice cup of coffee? Swing by Shilla Bakery in Annandale, Virginia! The Korean bakery offers a large array of cookies, cakes, and breads that will suit anyone's appetite. The intimate coffeehouse setting makes the bakery a great place to meet up with old friends or to whiz by on the way to work. The bakery offers over 30 types of breads and has specialty cakes that are not sold in traditional American markets. Shilla sells cakes that are made of unique ingredients such as sweet potato, mocha, and coconut. They also have small gelato fruit dishes for sale that are great for a quick and healthy snack. Shilla specializes in a recent Asian drink trend: Bubble tea, which is a smoothie-like drink with special ingredients inside. During the summer time, they are a huge vendor of "Bingsoo" which is a shaved ice treat topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and freshly sliced fruit. Shilla is located in Fairfax County, at 7039 Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA 22003. The small business has recently expanded to a Centreville location as well at 6015 Centreville Crest Lane Centreville, VA 20121.
 

Extensive Renovations Completed at Ossian Hall Park

Renovations are complete at Ossian Hall Park, a 22-acre community park in the Braddock District. Ossian Hall Park is located on the corner of Heritage Drive and Four Year Run next to Annandale High School at 7900 Heritage Drive in Annandale, VA. The park was the site of the 18th century Ossian Hall plantation owned by the Fitzhugh family as part of the Ravensworth Land Grant. It was burned in 1959 by the Annandale Fire Department as a training exercise. Renovations at the park have added new recreational amenities:
  • a new community plaza area,
  • attractive natural stone retaining walls,
  • new landscaping,
  • two new playgrounds,
  • two multi-use courts, and
  • a 180-ft x 360-ft synthetic turf field were installed.
Overhanging tree limbs were trimmed back to improve visibility and new asphalt trails wind through the wooded park. The parking lot was increased to include 120 spaces. Renovations and improvements also include Fairfax County Park Authority’s first underground Low Impact Design (LID) Stormwater Facility. The park has also added state-of-the-art LED lighting fixtures throughout the site improve the park’s illumination. For more information please contact Fairfax County Public Information Office at 703-324-8662.

New contruction? Here’s a buyer’s tip …

If you're thinking of buying a new construction in your next home, you probably already know that every new home development will have its own sales staff. These people are often friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about the newly built home. However, these folks work to sell this property only. The on-site staff of a builder knows the property as-well-as or better than anyone around and they are there to assist you but they work for the builder. When in the market for a newly built home, it's a good idea to employ your own advocate, an agent who does not work for the builder, to look out for your interests. We don't work for the builder ... we work for you. Our agents know the entire area, not just one property. We know the pitfalls and benefits of buying new, and best of all it won't cost you one dime more than if you use the onsite staff. You have a right to representation:exercise that right today!

Grand Mart

Grand Mart
Grand Mart at Lincolnia in West End Alexandria
Grand Mart International Food is a supermarket chain primarily based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with locations in North Carolina and Georgia. It is owned by Annandale, Virginia-based Man Min Corporation, a family company. My wife shops there from time to time and she loves the wide selection of Korean and East Asian groceries and fresh produce. The store in Lincolnia is somewhat international offering Asian, Latino, African and traditional North American groceries, but Grand Mart caters to Korean cooks and grocery preferences.  Grand Mart supermarkets also offer in-store Korean bakeries and video rental shops which rent out DVDs of television shows from South Korea.

Living The Charmed Life in Annandale, Virginia

porch
porch at Pinecrest
If you are looking for a great place to live, then you have found the right community in Annandale. Located inside the Beltway near the West End of Alexandria, this town in Fairfax County, Virginia displays a love for nature as well as a thriving appreciation for the arts and sciences. Parks are scattered all over the region while main offices of ENSCO, INc, Computer Sciences Corporation and Exxon Mobil are located in Annandale. Hidden Oaks Nature Center has held a variety of activities, such as the Brownie Nature Scout Festival, the Mother’s Day Walk With A Naturalist, and the Good Night Walk: Sounds of the Night, that children and adults enjoyed participating. Hopefully, these nature walks and festivals will become an annual tradition among residents and tourists. The town also boasts two large markets, namely the Annandale Farmers Market and the Wakefield Farmers Market, that provide fresh produce, meat, herbs, spices and baked goods to Annandale residents and restaurants, which mostly serve Korean cuisine as well as popular American food. Aside from the market centers and restaurants, Annandale also prides itself with fine recreational places, such as the Pinecrest Golf Course, the Wakefield Skate Park, and the Audrey Moore RECenter. The golf course has 10 driving cages and indoor practice area aside from the clubhouse, snack bar and pro shop. For the kids, the Wakefield Skate Park holds skateboarding and BMX camps for children and teens. Lastly, the Audrey Moore RECenter, formerly known as Wakefield RECenter, houses indoor swimming pools and offers more than 40 fitness classes each week.

Homes for Sale in Annandale VA

Pinecrest Golf Course for the Serious Golfers in Alexandria

Pinecrest Golf Course is a par 35, 9 hole executive course of 2,462 yards located at 660 Little River Turnpike in Alexandria VA 22312 just at the corner of Braddock Road bordering Alexandria and Annandale. Sprinkled with hills and ponds, this challenging narrow golf course brings about a golfing experience best suited for novice and serious players.
Canon Powershot G7 review
golf ball
Pinecrest Golf Course features:
  • Practice Putting Green
  • 10 Driving Cages
  • Indoor Practice Area
Amenities at Pinecrest Golf Club:
  • Pro Shop
  • Clubhouse
  • Snack Bar
  • Golf Clubs
  • Riding and Pull Carts
Interested parties or individuals wishing to study golf can contact Every Body Golf School.

Homes for sale near Pinecrest Golf Course

photo credit: kevindooley