Skyline House - Where Do I Find

FOOD STORES

Many grocery stores are located within 5 miles of Skyline House. These are the closest, listed in order of proximity:

Skyline Market (703-820-9672) Lower level (rear) of Skyline Plaza, next-door. More like a party store with limited items, this convenience store really comes in handy when you need to get something in a hurry and maybe don’t want to drive or don’t have a car available. Owner Ginny Lee and her husband invite Skyline House residents with a smile. Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 a.m.—10 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.—9 p.m.

Halal Foods A good place to get started is also next-door at the Build America Plaza (S. George Mason Drive at the intersection of Seminary Rd.). Walk over and discover many butchers, small groceries, cafés, and restaurants that offer halal foods. Many other shops there offer other specialty ethnic goods.

7-Eleven Next door in the Build America Plaza, S. George Mason Drive at the intersection of Seminary Rd. Parking is very limited; it’s just a quick walk from Skyline House.

Giant (703-845-0446) S. Jefferson St. and Leesburg Pike (Route 7) in Crossroads Plaza, across from Target. Peapod delivery service. Go to www.giantfood.com/ and click on Peapod at Giant (or call 1-800-573-2763). A discount is offered on your first order. The pharmacy has pharmacists on duty seven days a week. Refill prescriptions online 24/7 at www.giantfood.com.

Safeway (703-241-4131) Farther north on Leesburg Pike in Crossroads Center Plaza. This store offers an organic food section, pharmacy, dry cleaners, floral department, a Starbuck’s, and SunTrust Bank.

Trader Joe’s (703-379-5883) 5847 Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads Shopping Center, opposite Crossroads Center Plaza. This small chain food store carries health foods and ethnic, gourmet, and specialty items, many under its own brand. An excellent and reasonably priced wine section is very popular, as is its flower and plant department.

Harris Teeter Known for its quality produce and prepared foods from the deli, many shoppers find its employees very customer-friendly and eager to help by making suggestions or finding a product. Three stores, all open 24 hours and featuring in-store pharmacies, are near Skyline House:

• Village of Shirlington (703-379-2003), 4250 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Distance: 1.8 miles.
• 6351 Columbia Pike (703-256-6615) at the corner of Lincolnia Rd. in Barcroft Plaza. Distance: about 3 miles.
• 4641 Duke St. (703) 461-7082), Alexandria. Distance: 3.02 miles.

Whole Foods (703-527-6596) 2700 Wilson Blvd., in the Clarendon section of Arlington. Small adjoining parking lot and nearby metered street parking. Part of the national chain known for its high-quality organic and locally grown and farmed food. Impressive flower mart, produce section, international cheese and wine offerings, and bakery. Catering services available. Open daily 8 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Shoppers Food Warehouse (703-533-9453) 6360 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church. Open 24 hours but very limited late-night service. Featured services: Global Express Bill Pay, Hot-To-Go meal bar, olive bar, salad bar, floral department, photo processing, a CoinXChange machine, lottery, and MoneyGram. Also available are an in-store bakery and pharmacy (703-533-2278).

Grand Mart International Food (703-533-1700; http://grand-mart.com) 6326 Arlington Blvd., (Route 50), Falls Church, just west of Seven Corners. An Alexandria store is at 6255 Little River Turnpike, near Beauregard St. Grand Mart provides a wide selection of Korean and East Asian groceries as well as varying amounts of South Asian, Latino, and traditional American groceries. Also noteworthy is the fresh fish and excellent produce selection. Advertising is usually in Spanish or Korean, but the cashiers speak primarily English.

FARMERS MARKETS*

*Check for seasonal changes in hours.

City of Falls Church (703) 248-5077; e-mail recreation@fallschurchva.gov) City Hall Parking Lot, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church. Open Saturdays year-round; hours: April-Dec. 8 a.m.-noon; Jan. -March 9 a.m.-noon.

Annandale Farmers Market (703-642-0128) Mason District Park, 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale. Thursdays 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May-November.

Arlington County Farmers Market (703-228-6426) N. 14th St. & N. Courthouse Rd. Hours: Saturdays Jan.-March 9 a.m.-noon; April-Dec. 9 a.m.-noon.

POST OFFICES

Baileys Crossroads Branch 6021 Leesburg Pike, Culmore Center. Hours: Monday— Friday 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This branch services Skyline House and offers a self-service center open 24 hours daily. Drive-through drop-off boxes to the left of the building allow you to turn right onto Glen Carlyn Rd. and come out again at the light on Leesburg Pike.

Theological Seminary Branch 3737 Seminary Rd. near St. Stephen’s Rd., across from Bethel Hebrew Congregation. (703) 751-6791. Hours: Monday- Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. It offers easy in/out drive-through service. Call first to avoid vacation closures.

Bradlee Center (ParkFairfax Branch) 3682 King St., Alexandria. Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a. a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. This post office is tucked away in the corner next to Giant.

Shirlington Branch 2850 S. Quincy St, Arlington, in The Village at Shirlington. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES*

Residents who hold library cards for Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, or District of Columbia library systems may use the services of all of them. For information on Fairfax County’s branches, consult: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches.

*Check for changes in hours and services.

Burke Branch (703-746-1704) 4701 Seminary Rd., Alexandria (nearest library to Skyline House). Hours: Mon. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tues. & Wed. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thurs. 1 --9 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

George Mason Regional Library (703-256-3800) 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Hours: Sunday 1-5 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Thomas Jefferson Library (703-573-1060) 7415 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Hours: Mon. & Tues. 10 a.m. -9 p.m.; Wed. & Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; -Thurs. 1-9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Woodrow Wilson Library (703-820-8774) 6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church. Hours: Mon. & Tues. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Wed. & Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs. 1-9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library (703-248-5030) 120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church. Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Wed. 1-9 p.m.; Fri. & Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m. Personalized Internet Instruction: Each month, this library offers one-on-one tutoring in the use of the Internet and library catalog. For an appointment, stop at the Reference Desk or call 703-248-5035. Also available here is Children’s Story Time at the Library; story hours are: Monday 10:30 a.m., ages 2-5; Tuesday 10:30 a.m., ages 2-5; “Twilight Tales” Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., ages 3-6; and Thursday 10:30 a.m., ages 2- 5. No registration required.

Shirlington Library (703-228-6545) 2786 S. Arlington Mill Dr., Arlington, at the end of 28th St in Shirlington Village. Hours: Monday 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Tuesday-Wednesday 1 p.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. This is the newest library in our area.

Arlington Central Library (703-228-5990) 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Fri. & -Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 1- 9 p.m.

SHOPPING

The shopping centers below marked with * are within either walking or short driving distance from Skyline House. All others are regional and not more than 10-20 minutes away by car.

*Crossroads Place and *Leesburg Pike Plaza, S. Jefferson and Leesburg Pike (Route 7), opposite Target, Falls Church. These two shopping centers just around the corner from Skyline House appear as one large shopping area and are divided by S. Jefferson St. Anchor stores are Giant and Burlington Coat Factory. Among businesses there are Office Depot, T.J. Maxx, Home Goods, World Market, Starbuck's, The Olive Garden, Snips and Hair Cuttery hair salons, Radio Shack, Party Depot, CVS Pharmacy, AT&T, and many other retailers, service providers, and restaurants.

*Summit Center, 4700 King St. (less than 1 mile from Skyline House), Alexandria. A variety of stores and services such as a dry cleaners, hair and nail salons, and restaurants make this a convenient small neighborhood shopping center.

*Build America, S. George Mason Dr. at the intersection of Seminary Rd. (next door to Skyline House), Falls Church. In addition to many halal food markets, this neighborhood shopping center offers many Middle Eastern and African restaurants and cafes; Stone Hot Pizza (703-778-7000), which delivers to Skyline House; hairdressers; a dry cleaners/tailor/shoe repair shop; and a 7-Eleven.

Bradlee Center (703-820-0809), 3610 King St. at Quaker Lane, Alexandria. This is a neighborhood shopping center anchored by Giant Supermarket.

Crossroads Center Leesburg Pike and Columbia Pike, opposite Best Buy and Trader Joe’s. Among the national chain retail stores at this handy shopping center are Safeway; Bed, Bath and Beyond; Old Navy; A.C. Moore; Ross; Staples; Ashley Furniture; Dick’s Sporting Goods; HH Gregg; Carter’s; and Marshalls. Restaurants include Ruby Tuesday and La Madeline. Ample free parking.

Bailey Crossroads Shopping Center Leesburg Pike, across the road from Ruby Tuesday. Anchor stores and services include Pier 1, Best Buy, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Pier 1 Imports, Trader Joe’s, Panera’s, and Wells Fargo Bank. A number of small restaurants make this a good shopping and dining destination.

Seven Corners Shopping Center 7655 Leesburg Pike, at Arlington Blvd. (Rt. 50), Falls Church. Free surface lot parking. This large 2-level center contains a Home Depot; Shoppers Food Warehouse; Ross; Barnes & Noble; craft supply, fabric, discount shoe, clothing and many other stores; restaurants; hairdressers; a post office, and other services. Across Rt. 50, Willston I and II offer additional shopping.

Fashion Center at Pentagon City (703-415-2401) 1100 S. Hayes St., Arlington. This large regional mall just off I-395 features more than 170 stores including Macy’s and Nordstrom, all within a sky-lit atrium. Dining options are found in a sizeable food court on the lower level, restaurants, and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Special programs are offered for tours and school groups. The mall is accessible by direct connection to the Metro Blue/Yellow lines on the lower level. Street parking is very limited and garage parking is $1.50 for the first 3 hours.

Pentagon Row (703-416-4110; http://pentagonrow.com/) Off I-395 at 1201 S. Joyce St. at the corner of Army Navy Dr., Arlington (adjacent to the Fashion Center mall). In addition to a Harris Teeter supermarket, this shopping center includes Loft, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon and Spa, Sur La Table, Hudson Trail Outfitters, a fitness center, many other stores and services, and a wide variety of restaurants.

Ballston Common Mall (703 243-8088; www.ballston-common.com/) 4238 Wilson Blvd. at N. Glebe Rd., Arlington. Parking in the mall garage is $1 for the first three hours and all day Sunday. Regal Cinemas 12 is located on Mall Level 3 (garage level 4). Macy’s is the anchor store at this mall, which also features two ice skating rinks built for the Washington Capitals but open to the public during the team’s non-practice periods. In addition to three levels of shopping, a large food court on the lower level, as well as many chain restaurants, make this a good entertainment venue.

Crystal City Shops (703-413-4380; www.thecrystalcityshops.com) 1600 Crystal Dr., just off Jefferson Davis Highway (Route 1) along Crystal Dr., between 12th and 23rd Streets, Arlington. Connected to Metro’s Yellow or Blue line. Free parking weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Valet parking is also offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Hundreds of restaurants and stores, many unique to this metro area, make this a nice area just to stroll and enjoy window-shopping.

The Village at Shirlington (301-998-8154); 2700 S Quincy St, Arlington. Just around the corner from Skyline House, this is a popular place to dine, see an art film at AMC Loews, enjoy a play at Signature Theatre, shop at Harris Teeter or in interesting boutiques, or just hang out and savor the street scene.