Did I Hate the Workday Commute on DC Metro?

Is the Orange Line during working hours worth the hassle or not?  My experience on the DC Metro is not what you would consider veteran - like, but I do have an initial thought or two as to what this would be like in my every day routine. When I rode the DC Metro Orange Line I was heading from Rosslyn to Ballston.  It was only a small portion of my overall trip that day.  This, although a short trip in the grand scale of things on the Metro, told me a lot about the trips that I would take in the future.  The work day is somewhat of a challenge on the Orange Line, but nothing out of control.
Rosslyn has lots of condominiums to chose from
Rosslyn has lots of condominiums to chose from
What I experienced in the ride was a packed car, but a quick transit.  It's getting on the car that was the challenge.  Not that there weren't cars arriving, it's just that with the time between cars was about ten minutes or more and you didn't always get on the first one.  Sometimes I looked to my left and right and saw the corridor of the rail way packed all the way down to the wall on both left and right sides.  As soon as the next car revealed a glimpse of its fuzzy yellow headlights, the surrounding people looked up from their iPhones and dashed inside to secure a spot on the car. This is in no way as packed or crazy as it is in Chicago on the L, but there is a chance you could wait for up to twenty minutes to get on the way to your destination, or maybe just the next stop on the way to yet another.  All in all, I found it to be cost effective, but a bit frustrating for a person used to traveling in a vehicle.

What it is like on the Metro in Northern VA?

Aubrey Nesbitt and Kelly Nesbitt in Ballston
Aubrey Nesbitt and Kelly Nesbitt in Ballston
First Impressions of the DC Metro This week I had the opportunity to ride the DC Metro for the first time.  After recently moving to the area and previously experiencing other mass transit systems, I was curious.  I rode the Metro from Huntington to Ballston, transferring from the Yellow to the Blue rail at Pentagon and then from the Blue to Silver at Rosslyn. Keeping in mind the numerous trips I have taken on the L in Chicago, the subway in New York and the Metro in St. Louis, I reached a couple of conclusions: First of all, the rail cars themselves are pretty much the same on all four, New York being more used and St. Louis Metro being the newest.  The ease of purchasing a card here on the DC Metro and transferring from one rail car to the other seemed to be easy enough for even me to figure out. The next thing that I did notice was that the amount of time I spent waiting for the next rail car to come was longer than I expected.  One thing that slowed things down that day was the shutting down of an area of the rail due to a fire response team reacting to some non-disclosed issue.  Other than that, the waiting was not horrible and the rail cars were not over-crowded. Ballston,_Arlington_County,_VirginiaThe last thing worth mentioning is the price that was paid to travel there and back.  I paid $2.00 for the card and it cost me $7.15 for the round trip.  After returning to the origination of my trip I realized that this price was a good deal, because I didn't have to pay to park my car. The DC Metro seemed to be safe and without a doubt was a good deal for the wallet.  

Coming to a Metro near you: the Ballston Farmer’s Market

Ballston real estate agents
Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in Ballston.
Ballston Farmer's Market is located at Welburn Square at 9th Street North and North Stuart Street. The Ballston Farmer's Market features produce, cheese, breads, gourmet sauces, maple syrup, and much more! Plus free lunchtime concerts and chefs’ demonstrations. The market is open on Every Thursday, starting May 2010 3 – 7 p.m.

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U.S. Federal Agencies in Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia is home to many Federal Agencies of the United States. It has been described by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell as “the economic engine of the state” at a Northern Virginia Technology Council address in January 2010 as government contracting has played an important role in the economy of Northern Virginia, providing jobs for many residents. Many of these Federal Agencies are located in Arlington.
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
View of the U.S. Patent Office in autumn.
Here is a list of those Federal Agencies and their locations:

Alexandria

Defense Contract Management Agency Institute for Defense Analyses United States Patent and Trademark Office (Carlyle District)

Arlington

Envirnomental Protection AgencyNational Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center National Foreign Affairs Training Center (Arlington Hall) Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Ballston) Immigration & Naturalization Service (Ballston) National Science Foundation (Ballston) Office of Naval Research (Ballston) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Ballston) Defense Information Systems Agency (Columbia Pike) Defense Threat Reduction AgencyNuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Courthouse) U.S. Marshals Service (Crystal City) Army National Guard Readiness Center (George Mason Drive) Defense Intelligence Agency (The Pentagon) Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (The Pentagon) Department of Defense (The Pentagon) National Guard Bureau (The Pentagon) National Security Space Office (The Pentagon) Defense Logistics AgencyTransportation Security Administration (Pentagon City) U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (Pentagon City) Mine Safety and Health Administration (Rosslyn) Bureau of Diplomatic Security (Rosslyn) Office of the Inspector General (Rosslyn) U.S Trade & Development Agency (Rosslyn) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Virginia Square) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Virginia Square) Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Washington National Airport)

DCAA sealChantilly

National Reconnaissance Office National Reconnaissance Operations Center

Fort Belvoir

DCMA - DOD
Department of Defense Agency in Alexandria VA
Defense Contract Audit Agency Defense Logistics Agency Defense Technical Information Center Defense Threat Reduction Agency United States Army Intelligence and Security Command United States Army Material Command

McLean

Central Intelligence Agency (Langley) Farm Credit Administration (Tysons Corner) National Counterterrorism Center (Tysons Corner) United States Trade and Development AgencyOffice of the Director of National Intelligence (Tysons Corner)

Reston

United States Geological Survey

Springfield

DOT logo
The Federal Highway Administration is part of the Department of Transportation
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency For those looking for homes in Northern Virginia:

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Aubrey NesbittAbout the Author --- Aubrey Nesbitt is a native of Northern Virginia who attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a veteran of the US Army and helps his family business by providing informational articles like this one. In addition to photography and blogging, Aubrey provides administrative support for the office.

By neighborhood, what nightlife is in Arlington?

Ballston

Willow Restaurant Caribbean Breeze Sangam Indian Tutto Bene Italian Restaurant

Clarendon

Galaxy Hut Iota Club and Café Gua Rapo Clarendon Grill

Crystal City

Arlington real estate agents.
Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in Arlington.
Freddie’s Beach Bar Jaleo Crystal City Sports Pub Bin 1700

Pentagon City

Zen Bistro Asia Bistro

Shirlington

Bear Rock Café Busboys and Poets

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Find a home near the U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service In Ballston

Fishing the Potomac R. near Little Hunting Creek
Fishing the Potomac R. near Little Hunting Creek
The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Agency in Ballston is located at 4401 Fairfax Drive in Arlington, Virginia. This agency was established in 1940 to help protect fish, wildlife and plants. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife building is within walking distance of the Ballston Metro Station. For more information please contact: 703-358-1729
Ballston is in Arlington County VA

Stop, Drop, and Shop in Arlington Virginia

Late winter  in Virginia many of us have spent our weekends cooped-up inside the house. In addition, the bleak and stormy weather can affect our moods and overall dispositions, creating what is commonly thought of as the wintertime blues. Luckily, for those of us who subscribe to the notion of retail therapy, living in Arlington provides locals with a whole host of high-end retail remedies. With a wide array of exclusive indoor shopping malls and hundreds of specialty stores located throughout Arlington's many distinct neighborhoods, even the worst case of the winter doldrums can be cured by a little retail therapy. So the next time you have a dollar to spend and an afternoon to spare: stop, drop, and shop at one of Arlington's acclaimed retail shopping areas, the most popular of which are highlighted below.
  • Ballston Commons Mall: Located at North Glebe and Wilson Blvd., Ballston Commons stretches out over a 1.3 million square foot parcel of land and features major retailers such as Macy's, Macy's Furniture Gallery, and over 100 other specialty stores. Ballston Commons also features a Regal Cinema movie theater, a Washington Sport & Health Club, and two full-sized ice skating rinks. The mall is located on Metro's Orange Line; one block from the Ballston Station.
  • The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City: Located at 1100 South Hayes Street, Pentagon City Mall is considered a world-class fashion experience and offers a four-level, glass enclosed, atrium-style shopping center featuring more than 170 retail stores. Pentagon City also houses 7 full-service restaurants, a food court and a movie theater. The Pentagon City Mall is located on Metro's Blue and Yellow Lines; connected to the Pentagon City Station.
  • The Market Common at Clarendon: Located at 2800 Clarendon Blvd., the Market Common at Clarendon features an exceptional selection of stores including Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Barnes & Noble, and a variety of restaurants, all of which are located in an attractive and architecturally stimulating street-front setting intended for both walking and window shopping. The Market Common is located near Metro's Orange Line; three blocks from the Clarendon Station.
    Clarendon real estate agents
    Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in Clarendon.
  • Crystal City Shops: Located at 1608 Crystal Square Arcade, the Crystal City Shops provide visitors with more than 200 retail stores, shops, restaurants and sidewalk cafes along Crystal Drive. The Crystal City Shops feature a promenade with direct access to hotels and the Metro. Restaurant options include Bebo Trattoria, Charlie Chaing's, Cold Stone Creamery, Jaleo, King Street Blues, Legal Sea Foods, and McCormick & Schmick's. The Crystal City Shops are located on Metro's Blue and Yellow Lines; connected to the Crystal City Station.
  • Pentagon Row: Located at Joyce Street and Army-Navy Drive, the Shops at Pentagon Row feature main stream fashion retailers and commercial restaurants as well as the Arlington Visitors Center. Shoppers can enjoy the charm of Main Street while shopping in an urban village setting. The Shops at Pentagon Row are located near Metro's Blue and Yellow Lines; near the Pentagon City Station.
  • The Village at Shirlington: Located at 2700 South Quincy Street, Shirlington is one of Arlington's favorite local neighborhoods for dining and theatrical productions. Shirlington is home to the Signature Theatre and features a European-style promenade with shops, restaurants, nightlife and an art-house cinema. The Village at Shirlington is not located within walking distance of a Metro station.

Cherrydale — Spacious Estates Located in the Heart of Arlington

blossoms around Cherrydale sign
Cherrydale is a popular neighborhood in Arlington County VA
Cherrydale is a neighborhood in Northern Arlington, Virginia. It is centered on the intersection known as the Five Points consisting of Quincy Street, Military Road, and Old Dominion Road and boasts single family homes. Cherrydale Estates are primarily brick homes built between 1900-1930's surrounded by large trees and quiet streets. At first glance you would think you were in a small town. The Washington Monument is only 3.5 miles away and Georgetown is roughly 2 miles away.  Interstate 66 is minutes away providing quick commuting into Northern Virgina. Ballston Metro and Virginia Square Metro are also in very close proximately providing quick commuting. Cherry orchards inspired Dorsey Donaldson to name the area “Cherrydale” in his 1893 application for a post office. Only a few remains of the original cherry orchards survive, all on private residential property.

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Stuart Nesbitt, RealtorStuart Nesbitt is a Realtor™ licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His office is located in Fairfax County near the City of Alexandria in Belle Haven. He was born and raised in Northern Virginia and attended Fairfax County schools. Call him at any time to discuss your real estate needs.

Office of Naval Research in Ballston

Glebe RoadThe Office of Naval Research is located in Arlington, Virginia. This division of the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The Office of Naval Research's Chief is RADM Nevin P. Carr. For more information on the Office of Naval Research please contact:

History of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

This U.S. Federal Agency was visualized during the WWII era. It was General Henry Arnold who initiated the need for this agency. In 1950 the AFOSR spent all of it's time dedicated to problems with research and development within the Air Force. This agency was long overdue. It was known early on that science, technology and the military were closely related. For more information on the history and present day information on the AFOSR, please contact: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Public Affairs 875 N. Randolph, Ste.325, Rm. 3112, Arlington Virginia, 22203 Email: [email protected]

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