Ballston is located approximately four miles from Washington, DC. It is a highly walkable community that offers shopping and entertainment, as well as easy access to Wilson Boulevard, Glebe Road, and I-66. Ballston is on Metro’s popular Orange & Silver line corridor and is served by several bus routes. Ballston is home to satellite campuses of Marymount University, George Mason University, and Virginia Tech.
Ballston History
Ballston is named for the Ball family, whose family cemetery lies in the neighborhood at N. Stafford Street. Known first as Birch’s Crossroads, it later became Ball’s Crossroads, then Ballston. In 1896, the Washington, Arlington, and Falls Church Electric Railroad (a streetcar) was constructed along present-day Fairfax Drive, and Ballston grew as a streetcar suburb. In 1951, the Parkington Shopping Center opened on the site of the current Ballston Quarter. The area then became known as Parkington. Metro service came to what we now call Ballston in 1979 and with it, the area experienced a surge in popularity.
Ballston Real Estate
Ballston real estate is largely comprised of apartment and condominium buildings and townhouses. A few blocks north or south of Fairfax Drive, Ballston homes take on a more suburban neighborhood feel, with rowhouses and single-family homes.
Ballston Entertainment
After undergoing a major renovation, Ballston Common Mall and the entire Ballston Quarter development are now open to the public. Ballston’s Medstar Capitals Iceplex, located on top of Ballston Quarter, is the practice facility for the Washington Capitals. It offers a variety of skating and hockey opportunities for the public.Ballston Quarter is also home to a 12-screen movie theater and the Quarter Market, where you can enjoy food from fourteen different eateries, showcasing flavors from across the globe.
Ballston Community
The Ballston farmers market is open every Thursday during the spring and summer months. On the second Saturday of the month, Ballston hosts a local arts and crafts market. The Taste of Arlington takes place each May, with more than 60 restaurants and food trucks participating in this popular community event.
Ballston Favorites
Start your evening with a glass of wine at Grand Cru, a French wine bar and bistro with outdoor seating. Visit Robert Wiedmaier’s Mussel Bar for traditional Belgian beer and fare.
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Want to know what it’s like to live in Ballston? Let’s go on a neighborhood orientation tour!
