Help! Vienna Vibes and Feel? TOV?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at an elementary school in Vienna but live elsewhere. I’ve had time to observe the families in the area as well as my coworkers that live in Vienna. Lots of very nice people, but so many of these comments are spot on. There are absolutely regular people there, but definitely a strong vibe of competitive social types that are all trying to one up each other. They love to go on and on to each other about their grand home renovations. And when meeting new people they eagerly confirm “So you live in the Township?” in the first minute. One thing I’ve learned in my casual conversations with people from Vienna—never suggest that other places might be worth living in or might compare to Vienna. They will look at you like you have 3 heads. Act like Vienna is the best!

That last part is so true. Several of these hyper competitive Vienna Moms types act like they've never heard of very common landmarks/places within Fairfax but outside of Vienna. And heaven help you if you suggest a meet up or a place not within TOV. I was part of a group that threw a very maudlin going away party for someone moving from Vienna to Reston.

[Anonymous]

Vienna is the best!!!

[Anonymous]

I do think the more close in/actual TOV people are a little bit more competitive and rah rah rah. We live in Vienna but not TOV and kids slated for Marshall (which is just not acceptable to some of these types, lol). But my kids grew up with/growing up going to the same town events, partaking in ECs in town, have friends who go to Madison, etc. It’s all up to you OP; you decide whether to buy into the silliness.

[Anonymous]

I would never buy a property there that does not have any other ingress/egress other than Maple Ave. Maple can be very congested during rush hours. Also the ugly strip malls on either side of Maple is not where I would like to shop. OP you need to reevaluate your prejudice against McLean. Your kids will, most likely, wind up in privste anyhow. And McLean is close yo the American Legion Bridge which leads you to the good privates in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy a property there that does not have any other ingress/egress other than Maple Ave. Maple can be very congested during rush hours. Also the ugly strip malls on either side of Maple is not where I would like to shop. OP you need to reevaluate your prejudice against McLean. Your kids will, most likely, wind up in privste anyhow. And McLean is close yo the American Legion Bridge which leads you to the good privates in Bethesda.

OP said they want public and Madison specifically because it is more low key than the competitive McLean schools.

The strip malls may be ugly, or not that attractive, but there is a small quaint village feel near the old W&OD train station and also the historic Vienna Elementary School.

The world famous Carnegie also moved into town to the delight of all the foodies. There are also three or so trendy specialty coffee shops for the coffee buffs and foodies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy a property there that does not have any other ingress/egress other than Maple Ave. Maple can be very congested during rush hours. Also the ugly strip malls on either side of Maple is not where I would like to shop. OP you need to reevaluate your prejudice against McLean. Your kids will, most likely, wind up in privste anyhow. And McLean is close yo the American Legion Bridge which leads you to the good privates in Bethesda.

Unless the house is actually on Maple, there will be access by a road other than Maple.
I am not a Vienna booster (we live outside town boundaries) but it does bother me when people think they are familiar with Vienna because they drove on 123.

[Anonymous]

Ffs. I thought this was a thread about a vibrator store in Vienna.

Please, if you were considering opening a vibrator and sex toy store in Vienna, please name it Vienna vibes and feel!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy a property there that does not have any other ingress/egress other than Maple Ave. Maple can be very congested during rush hours. Also the ugly strip malls on either side of Maple is not where I would like to shop. OP you need to reevaluate your prejudice against McLean. Your kids will, most likely, wind up in privste anyhow. And McLean is close yo the American Legion Bridge which leads you to the good privates in Bethesda.

OP said they want public and Madison specifically because it is more low key than the competitive McLean schools.

The strip malls may be ugly, or not that attractive, but there is a small quaint village feel near the old W&OD train station and also the historic Vienna Elementary School.

The world famous Carnegie also moved into town to the delight of all the foodies. There are also three or so trendy specialty coffee shops for the coffee buffs and foodies.

Carnegie diner is not the same as Carnegie Deli. And the diner is God awful.

[Anonymous]

Maple Ave is still one of the nicer streets in Fairfax County for nearby single family houses despite it having strip malls. It has trees and flowers and brick and is a nice scale. Kids walk, bike, and scooter up and down it and there are many streets with access to the shops and a town green. There are many worse streets in the country

[Anonymous]

The bike trail is also very accessible. It's a walkable town for a DC suburb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy a property there that does not have any other ingress/egress other than Maple Ave. Maple can be very congested during rush hours. Also the ugly strip malls on either side of Maple is not where I would like to shop. OP you need to reevaluate your prejudice against McLean. Your kids will, most likely, wind up in privste anyhow. And McLean is close yo the American Legion Bridge which leads you to the good privates in Bethesda.

OP said they want public and Madison specifically because it is more low key than the competitive McLean schools.

The strip malls may be ugly, or not that attractive, but there is a small quaint village feel near the old W&OD train station and also the historic Vienna Elementary School.

The world famous Carnegie also moved into town to the delight of all the foodies. There are also three or so trendy specialty coffee shops for the coffee buffs and foodies.

Carnegie diner is not the same as Carnegie Deli. And the diner is God awful.

What?! Carnegie diner is anything but God awful. Who are the people that are posting on this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy a property there that does not have any other ingress/egress other than Maple Ave. Maple can be very congested during rush hours. Also the ugly strip malls on either side of Maple is not where I would like to shop. OP you need to reevaluate your prejudice against McLean. Your kids will, most likely, wind up in privste anyhow. And McLean is close yo the American Legion Bridge which leads you to the good privates in Bethesda.

I agree. I live in McLean and don’t think it’s as competitive as Vienna (or maybe it’s academically competitive but not as competitive about sports or social activities).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Vienna but not TOV and it’s been great. Friendly families lots of welcoming social events in our neighborhood. My kids literally don’t do any sports and we are happy here and so are they.

Do I mind asking what Elementary School they attend? Unsure if and how the culture is different between Vienna Elementary and Louise Archer

We are at FCPS Flint Hill Elementary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never buy a property there that does not have any other ingress/egress other than Maple Ave. Maple can be very congested during rush hours. Also the ugly strip malls on either side of Maple is not where I would like to shop. OP you need to reevaluate your prejudice against McLean. Your kids will, most likely, wind up in privste anyhow. And McLean is close yo the American Legion Bridge which leads you to the good privates in Bethesda.

Unless the house is actually on Maple, there will be access by a road other than Maple.
I am not a Vienna booster (we live outside town boundaries) but it does bother me when people think they are familiar with Vienna because they drove on 123.

Not true at all and yes I lived there

[Anonymous]

The strip malls are hideous, and that's what your guests are going to remember when they drive to your house.

OP, rethink McLean - your return on investment will be much greater there.