Good morning, NOVA.
I walked past the old Starbucks spot on Wilson Boulevard this week and counted three bagel shops either open or coming to Ballston, which is a very Ballston problem to have. If you are scouting this corner of Arlington for the Metro access, the Virginia Tech campus going up, or just a downtown feel without crossing into DC, this weekend is a good one to see it: 85 and sunny, the food hall busy, and the cycling races a few stops away. Let’s get into it.
In today’s issue:
- Why Ballston is the closest thing Arlington has to its own downtown, and what the rent actually runs
- The fare-card setup that saves you 20% before your first Metro ride
- Three things worth leaving the AC for this weekend, races included
By Yvenson Juste
Neighborhood spotlight
Ballston
| Best for | Tech workers who want a denser downtown feel near Amazon HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s new campus |
| Avg rent (1BR) | $2,600/mo |
| Metro to DC | 16 min to Foggy Bottom (Orange/Silver Line, Ballston-MU) |
| By car to DC | 20 min off-peak |
Ballston is becoming the tech anchor of Arlington, and it is the closest thing the county has to its own downtown. Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus is changing the corner permanently, and the Ballston Quarter renovation actually worked, so you get a walkable food hall, a movie theater, and a grocery store all under one roof. Compared to Clarendon a couple of stops east, it runs slightly more family-friendly, slightly less nightlife, and slightly more affordable on the buy side. The trade-off to understand: you are paying for convenience and a short Orange or Silver Line ride into DC, not for charm or water views.
Worth knowing
SER at 1110 N Glebe Road has been family-run for over a decade and made the Washingtonian 100 Very Best list, which is rare for a Ballston spot that is not a chain or a food-hall stall. Order the paella to share and the tortilla espanola, and go a little early on a weekend night, because the locals already know.
Today in NOVA
The Digest
Today
85° 🌡️ 64° | ☀️ | ☂️ 15% | 🌬️ S 7 mph
Tomorrow
84° 🌡️ 61° | 🌤️ | ☂️ 20% | 🌬️ S 8 mph
🚗 First real summer-warm weekend, so the Mt Vernon Trail and Roosevelt Island lots fill by 10 AM. I-66 and the GW Parkway stay easy until I-95 South beach traffic builds after noon.
🚇 Weekend trackwork: Orange single-tracking, Silver every 12 min (no New Carrollton service), Yellow modified, Blue normal.
🍦 Van Leeuwen sets a June 11 opening date for its Ballston ice cream shop
The New York ice cream brand confirmed it opens at 4075 Wilson Boulevard on Thursday, June 11, with $1 scoops from 11 AM to 1 PM and tote bags for the first 100 customers. It is one of three NOVA shops the chain is opening this summer, with One Loudoun in Ashburn on June 2 and Old Town Alexandria on June 18. If you are weighing Ballston, this is one more reason the walk-everywhere blocks around the Metro keep filling in.
Read more
🏙️ Crystal City starts turning an empty office tower into 195 apartments
JBG Smith began construction at 2200 Crystal Drive, converting an 11-story office building into 195 homes with a fitness center, coworking space, and a kids’ playroom. It is one of several Crystal City office-to-apartment conversions in the pipeline, including 315 more units approved last week. For someone moving here, that means more rental supply coming online a short Blue or Yellow Line ride from Ballston.
Read more
🍽️ Wonder food hall opens in Hybla Valley with a dozen kitchens under one roof
The Wonder food hall held its grand opening Thursday at 7713 Fordson Road in the Fordson Place shopping center, in the Hybla Valley area south of Alexandria. The format puts a rotating set of restaurant menus in one space, which is a useful thing to know if you land in southern Fairfax County and want options without a long drive. The first 100 guests who spent $10 or more got a swag bag.
Read more
Daily move task
Sign up for SmarTrip for Metro and bus
Why it matters: If you will use Metro or any NOVA bus (ART, Fairfax Connector, DASH), SmarTrip is the universal fare card. Paying cash on the bus costs 20% more than tapping, and from Ballston the Orange and Silver Lines are your fastest way into DC.
1
Order a physical SmarTrip card at smartrip.wmata.com for $2, or add SmarTrip to your phone’s wallet for free (Apple Wallet or Google Wallet both work at the faregates).
2
Load a starting balance ($20 is standard) and set up auto-reload so you never get stuck at the gate with a low card.
3
If your employer offers SmartBenefits, register through them to get up to $325 a month in pre-tax transit dollars loaded straight onto your card.
Time needed: 20 minutes ·
Deadline: Before your first Metro ride
SmarTrip card setup
Add to Google Calendar
Local events
What’s happening
SATURDAY
National Landing · Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic · Morning
Pro and community cycling races on closed streets around Crystal City, a few Blue/Yellow Line stops from Ballston. Free to watch, and a good way to see the National Landing area on foot. Move your car the night before if you live inside the course.
SATURDAY
Old Town Alexandria · Old Town Farmers Market at Market Square · 7 AM to 12 PM
Running on the same corner since 1753, so it is the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country. Easy ride down the Blue or Yellow Line, and the free King Street Trolley gets you from the Metro to the water.
SUNDAY
Clarendon · Armed Forces Cycling Classic: Clarendon Cup · 8 AM to 4 PM
Wilson Boulevard turns into a criterium circuit for the day, one of the most technical crit races in the country, and it is free to watch. Walkable from Ballston if you want to wander over. Plan to walk into the Clarendon Metro, since buses skip the station during the race.
THURSDAY
Ballston · Ballston Farmers Market at Welburn Square · 3 to 7 PM
Your neighborhood market if you land in Ballston, in the shady square right by the Metro. Produce, baked goods, Virginia wines, and cold-pressed juice every Thursday afternoon through November. An easy after-work stop.
FRIDAY
Reston Station · Summerbration Fab Fridays free live music · 7:30 to 9 PM
Free outdoor concerts at Reston Station Metro Plaza every Friday through the end of September. Straight off the Silver Line, bring a chair, kids welcome, no ticket needed. The easy “do something with your Friday” answer all summer.
Hit reply with the question you still have about your NOVA move. Tomorrow’s issue might be the answer.
Yvenson
The NOVA Relocation Guide
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