Arlington

For an urban village lifestyle and the convenience of a popular dog park, it’s time to come explore the many amenities of Shirlington. The village was planned to include restaurants, boutiques, a theater and more, but perhaps one of the biggest draws of all is the Shirlington Dog Park.

Originally established more than three decades ago, the dog park was one of the first in the region to have an off-leash dog exercise area. Pets and their owners have about two-acres to explore, and there’s a separate adjoining area for those with small dogs.

Visitors are welcome at the park daily, and an estimated 200,000 visit the park each year. It holds the honor of being named one of the top dog parks in the country and the region.

In fact, some say it’s

New townhomes are still selling in the stylish Trenton Square at Ballston development. This Arlington property offers a total of just 19 townhomes for buyers to choose from, and many have already been sold.

These four-level, traditional red-brick townhomes contain three-bedrooms and 3.5-baths. They are priced starting from the high $900,000s, and offer more than 2,200 square feet of living space, in two slightly different floor plans.

The bottom level of each townhome includes a two-car garage, a powder room and some space to create a home office. The next level of the townhome adds in a designer kitchen with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and a large kitchen island.

This floor of the home also offers a dining room, family

They’re right across the Potomac River from each other, but DC and Arlington each have their own unique qualities. The location you choose probably has a lot to do with your lifestyle needs.

DC

If you want to be close to available nightlife and everything else going on in the city, DC is the place to be. The city boasts thousands of restaurants, plus it’s also home to the National Mall and the Kennedy Center.

The area also boasts some of the nation’s top universities, like George Washington University, Howard and Georgetown. It’s elementary and high schools typically rank lower than those in nearby Arlington.

In terms of walkability, DC is ahead of Arlington, although it sometimes depends on which Arlington neighborhood you choose.

Photo: Elliot Margolies

Arlington may not be the most inexpensive place to live in the nation, but it seems it is extremely budget-friendly when it comes to dating. According to a new study, Arlington is second on the list of the “Best Cities for Budget-Friendly Dating” in 2021.

The ranking comes from the personal finance website SmartAsset.com. In coming up with the list, analysts looked at a variety of metrics, including date affordability. More specifically they considered things like the cost of a bottle of wine, takeout and even the cost of two cappuccinos.

They also looked at date access. For this, analysts considered restaurant, snack shop and coffee shop density. They also considered the percentage of parkland and the percentage of

Thanks to Amazon, the spotlight is certainly shining bright on Crystal City these days. This urban neighborhood is a great place to work, live and play, and it’s now home to the new Amazon HQ2.

It’s estimated the online giant will eventually bring 25,000 new jobs to the area and give a major boost to local real estate. The project’s first towers are planned for Crystal City and that could mean big things for the future.

With the expectation that many of those employees will be searching for a nearby place to live, residential prices in the area are already on the rise. Which much of Arlington consists of a diverse mix of housing, most homes in Crystal City tend to be multi-unit buildings, including high-rise condos and apartments.

Some of the

For a luxury lifestyle just steps from the Pentagon, consider the new townhomes of Carver Place. This new development from Craftmark Homes offers dozens of three- and four-bedroom townhomes for buyers to choose from in Arlington.

Most of the homes in Carver Place offer between 2,000 square feet to 2,600 square feet of living space. Available homes come in five different desirable floor plans.

Buyers have their choice of three luxury design packages, including traditional, transitional or modern. Many of the homes also come with high ceilings and some include outdoor terraces.

As well, you’ll find some wide-plank engineered hardwoods, maple cabinetry in the kitchens and quartz countertops. In addition, expect to find things like stainless

Find Old World charm and contemporary finishes with The Select at Gaslight Square in Arlington. This newer construction property is home to around three-dozen condos in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations, including some generous two-level penthouse units.

The loft-style condos are sleek and sophisticated, with such luxurious extras as soaring ceilings, gas fireplaces and lofts. You will also find some gourmet kitchens with a breakfast bar and plenty of attention to detail.

Buyers typically choose from large floor plans of around 1,100 to 1,900 square feet of living space. Some of the units come with sweeping, double height ceilings of up to 19-feet, while all upper-level units come with direct elevator access.

The five-story property

Soaring 27 stories high above Rosslyn, Pierce at The Highlands is a distinctive collection of new construction condos. Residents of this condo tower enjoy sweeping views of the DC skyline and the Potomac from some private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows.

With around 100 condominium homes to choose from in all, a majority of the units in the building range from around 1,200 square feet to 2,500 square feet of living space. Options include a one-bedroom with a den offering around 1,200 square feet of living space, or a larger two-bedroom, some of which come with a private balcony and direct elevator access.

Some of the largest floor plans include two-bedrooms plus a den and at least 1,900 square feet of living space. Common features and

A true icon of the neighborhood, the Crystal Gateway condos rise up high above Crystal City. This established high-rise stands 18-stories high, with a distinguished, curving façade that easily makes it stand out in the neighborhood.

Originally built in the early 1980s, there are now more than 170 condos for buyers to choose from in the building. Potential buyers are treated to a range of different floor plans, even including a two-story penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular views of the DC area.

Prospective new residents can expect to find light-filled units with large, modernized kitchens and remodeled baths. Other units have seen even more updates over the years, including the addition of hardwood floors and some built-ins.

Graphic: SmartAsset

As the pandemic stretches on, more and more people are looking for a way to exercise. For some, that means lacing up their running shoes.

In particular, the financial company SmartAsset found cities in the Midwest seem to be especially popular with runners. While Minneapolis and Omaha took the website’s top two spots for 2020, Arlington followed close behind.

For several reasons, SmartAsset, put Arlington close to the top of its list when it comes to “Best Cities for Runners- 2020”. This is the fourth year in a row that SmartAsset has come out with its annual list. For the past two years Arlington has hung onto first place.

While third place is hardly something to feel bad about, some of the other cities on the list