Another Neat Mosiac District Shop Opening, Capital Teas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry to hijack the discussion, but we live in Vienna and I think there are plenty of finely balanced "McMansions" here. My house was built by Steve Bukont and it is a well thought out architecturally and structural sound home. There's nothing wrong with having a big house on a big lot, just as there's nothing wrong with living in a tiny city rowhouse cramped by 1000 people within 100 feet of you.

"Finely balanced"? Here are examples of Mr. Bukont's restraint:

http://www.ayrhillhomes.com/Slideshows/Exterior%20Photos/EXTERIOR%20PHOTOS/index.html

What sayeth the hivemind?

Let's move this to another thread...

I think these Bukont homes are lovely. They have architectural details that fit the craftsman style. There are also some Victorian elements that remind me 100-year old homes in parts of Boston or Brooklyn, NY. I never said that Steve Bukont shows any restraint, but he shouldn't have to because his creations are beautiful. Bukont's good taste as well as his attention to architectural detail are exemplary.

Look at the Sekas and NDI new homes in Vienna. Those are the guys who need to show some restraining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Militant urbanist here. The Mosaic District will be a great development for the region, as are all of the other "town centers" (and I get that this one is aiming to have some better... programming, I guess, than many of the others) that bring a little bit of "New Urbanist" experience to yesterday's 'burbs.

No reason to knock this little oasis of civilization, but also no reason for us to shlep way the hell out there. And although the Mosaic experience will certainly help to alleviate the painful idiocy of suburban life, you all will still pile into your minivans at the end of your visit and return to either your cookie cutter "townhomes" sitting in parking lots, your formerly working class rambler 'hoods with chain link fences, or perhaps your architecturally unbalanced McMansions that would fall down after the first huff and puff.

So... on the one hand, not too shabby. But on the other, still a resounding MEH.

Yawn. I don't think the expectation is that militant urbanists would trek to the Mosaic District, but rather that the monied suburbanites won't trek to places like Old Town or Dupont for things they can now find at Mosaic.

There really isn't much difference in the types of people who seek out these yuppie comforts in the city and the suburbs. The suburbanites might be a bit more open minded, many previously having lived in cities, but I'm sure there are some who ferociously disdain the Disney-fied stage set that passes for DC urban living these days. In their own way, places like the Mosaic District seem more honest about exactly what they are and are not. Oh, and parking there is a breeze!

Ciao.

You are comparing apples to oranges, the city is the city, a suburban outdoor mall/restaurant/entertainment complex development is just this. People come to the city for different reasons other than to get an easy drive to go shopping, watch a movie, or to have a family dinner. There is a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Militant urbanist here. The Mosaic District will be a great development for the region, as are all of the other "town centers" (and I get that this one is aiming to have some better... programming, I guess, than many of the others) that bring a little bit of "New Urbanist" experience to yesterday's 'burbs.

No reason to knock this little oasis of civilization, but also no reason for us to shlep way the hell out there. And although the Mosaic experience will certainly help to alleviate the painful idiocy of suburban life, you all will still pile into your minivans at the end of your visit and return to either your cookie cutter "townhomes" sitting in parking lots, your formerly working class rambler 'hoods with chain link fences, or perhaps your architecturally unbalanced McMansions that would fall down after the first huff and puff.

So... on the one hand, not too shabby. But on the other, still a resounding MEH.

Your sense of reality is made of nothing but painful cliches. That, and a sense of community - evidenced by your use of "us" - where none exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Militant urbanist here. The Mosaic District will be a great development for the region, as are all of the other "town centers" (and I get that this one is aiming to have some better... programming, I guess, than many of the others) that bring a little bit of "New Urbanist" experience to yesterday's 'burbs.

No reason to knock this little oasis of civilization, but also no reason for us to shlep way the hell out there. And although the Mosaic experience will certainly help to alleviate the painful idiocy of suburban life, you all will still pile into your minivans at the end of your visit and return to either your cookie cutter "townhomes" sitting in parking lots, your formerly working class rambler 'hoods with chain link fences, or perhaps your architecturally unbalanced McMansions that would fall down after the first huff and puff.

So... on the one hand, not too shabby. But on the other, still a resounding MEH.

Yawn. I don't think the expectation is that militant urbanists would trek to the Mosaic District, but rather that the monied suburbanites won't trek to places like Old Town or Dupont for things they can now find at Mosaic.

There really isn't much difference in the types of people who seek out these yuppie comforts in the city and the suburbs. The suburbanites might be a bit more open minded, many previously having lived in cities, but I'm sure there are some who ferociously disdain the Disney-fied stage set that passes for DC urban living these days. In their own way, places like the Mosaic District seem more honest about exactly what they are and are not. Oh, and parking there is a breeze!

Ciao.

You are comparing apples to oranges, the city is the city, a suburban outdoor mall/restaurant/entertainment complex development is just this. People come to the city for different reasons other than to get an easy drive to go shopping, watch a movie, or to have a family dinner. There is a difference.

True the city is the city but those things you described are why people come to the city (the positives). The main difference of Mosaic is that you get all the city benefits without the crime and low income housing units.

Sounds terrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in NYC for 13 years (in the East Village, no less) and now live near the Mosaic District. DH and I were just saying how happy we were to have all this great stuff going in just a couple of miles from our house. I love that while Mosaic has chains, they are mostly local chains and not shitty national chains you'd find in any other strip mall. The whole thing feels very cool and urban in an area that is anything but. I would never drive there from DC or probably even Old Town, but compared to the rest of the junk we get out here in the close-in burbs, Mosaic is awesome!

Yes exactly but it goes against the city dwellers view that we only have applebees and no public transport. Just cause we live out here for better housing and schools doesn't mean we sacrificed boutique stores and public transport. I think that shocks them cause they had to trade that off where we can have it all (theoretically). haha

It's not just Applebees - I think I read somewhere that the Mosaic District recently got a Chipotle! Now THAT'S exciting. Really exciting - akin to George Jefferson movin' on up to a deeeluxe apartment in the sky exciting.

[Anonymous]

10:38 - NP here.

I LOVE YOU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in NYC for 13 years (in the East Village, no less) and now live near the Mosaic District. DH and I were just saying how happy we were to have all this great stuff going in just a couple of miles from our house. I love that while Mosaic has chains, they are mostly local chains and not shitty national chains you'd find in any other strip mall. The whole thing feels very cool and urban in an area that is anything but. I would never drive there from DC or probably even Old Town, but compared to the rest of the junk we get out here in the close-in burbs, Mosaic is awesome!

Yes exactly but it goes against the city dwellers view that we only have applebees and no public transport. Just cause we live out here for better housing and schools doesn't mean we sacrificed boutique stores and public transport. I think that shocks them cause they had to trade that off where we can have it all (theoretically). haha

It's not just Applebees - I think I read somewhere that the Mosaic District recently got a Chipotle! Now THAT'S exciting. Really exciting - akin to George Jefferson movin' on up to a deeeluxe apartment in the sky exciting.

... and there it is, racial animus rears its ugly head! Yet more proof that so-called "urbanists" like their city neighborhoods as long as there are no black people living there. You'd probably love Boston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live about 3-4 miles from Mosaic in Falls Church. We have been going about once every 3 months. Went there this past weekend in fact.

[snip]
Cons:
Fish store seems kind of sad/empty.

Am I just going to the wrong fish stores, or is that true of a lot of them, regardless of location? Is it a bad sign?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in NYC for 13 years (in the East Village, no less) and now live near the Mosaic District. DH and I were just saying how happy we were to have all this great stuff going in just a couple of miles from our house. I love that while Mosaic has chains, they are mostly local chains and not shitty national chains you'd find in any other strip mall. The whole thing feels very cool and urban in an area that is anything but. I would never drive there from DC or probably even Old Town, but compared to the rest of the junk we get out here in the close-in burbs, Mosaic is awesome!

Yes exactly but it goes against the city dwellers view that we only have applebees and no public transport. Just cause we live out here for better housing and schools doesn't mean we sacrificed boutique stores and public transport. I think that shocks them cause they had to trade that off where we can have it all (theoretically). haha

It's not just Applebees - I think I read somewhere that the Mosaic District recently got a Chipotle! Now THAT'S exciting. Really exciting - akin to George Jefferson movin' on up to a deeeluxe apartment in the sky exciting.

... and there it is, racial animus rears its ugly head! Yet more proof that so-called "urbanists" like their city neighborhoods as long as there are no black people living there. You'd probably love Boston.

Where did you get the racial animus? Are you not familiar with the theme song for the Jeffersons? The point, which I think is obvious, but I'll spell it out, is that the residents of the Mosaic District were so very excited by a Chipotle opening up that it reminded me of the glee George and Louise Jefferson felt when them made it to the East Side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

10:38 - NP here.

I LOVE YOU.

Blushing (seriously). Let's take this slowly.

Q: What do you like better, CAVA Mezze Grill or Taylor Gourmet?

Q: Will you get Dolcezza Gelato on your own, or do you drag your kids there so you have an excuse?

Q: Do you like going to Angelika Film Center, but feel slightly guilty that you're not at Cinema Arts in Fairfax instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in NYC for 13 years (in the East Village, no less) and now live near the Mosaic District. DH and I were just saying how happy we were to have all this great stuff going in just a couple of miles from our house. I love that while Mosaic has chains, they are mostly local chains and not shitty national chains you'd find in any other strip mall. The whole thing feels very cool and urban in an area that is anything but. I would never drive there from DC or probably even Old Town, but compared to the rest of the junk we get out here in the close-in burbs, Mosaic is awesome!

Yes exactly but it goes against the city dwellers view that we only have applebees and no public transport. Just cause we live out here for better housing and schools doesn't mean we sacrificed boutique stores and public transport. I think that shocks them cause they had to trade that off where we can have it all (theoretically). haha

It's not just Applebees - I think I read somewhere that the Mosaic District recently got a Chipotle! Now THAT'S exciting. Really exciting - akin to George Jefferson movin' on up to a deeeluxe apartment in the sky exciting.

... and there it is, racial animus rears its ugly head! Yet more proof that so-called "urbanists" like their city neighborhoods as long as there are no black people living there. You'd probably love Boston.

Where did you get the racial animus? Are you not familiar with the theme song for the Jeffersons? The point, which I think is obvious, but I'll spell it out, is that the residents of the Mosaic District were so very excited by a Chipotle opening up that it reminded me of the glee George and Louise Jefferson felt when them made it to the East Side.

So where exactly is this post where suburbanites expressed their tremendous excitement about the opening of a Chipotle? Link please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Where did you get the racial animus? Are you not familiar with the theme song for the Jeffersons? The point, which I think is obvious, but I'll spell it out, is that the residents of the Mosaic District were so very excited by a Chipotle opening up that it reminded me of the glee George and Louise Jefferson felt when them made it to the East Side.

Do you want an extension on this response? New due date is 9:00 AM tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand this thread. Which city are you 2 complaining about, Merrifield or WashingtonDC? Of course 1 of you hates having to drive to the other , and vice versa. If I live and work in Merrifield, then I hate going to DC. If I life and work in DC, then I hate going to Merrifield. Duh!

[Anonymous]

for the fish store poster, the absolute best places to get fish in the dc area is either across the street at H mart, or at lotte in either fairfax or (best) chantilly.

They have TONS of varieties of fish, all very fish, and all at reasonable prices. Even the frozen fish is good quality. They also sell things like salmon roe that, while expensive, is a bargain compared to what you'd pay in a restaurant.

It doesn't have the cache of whole foods, and some people might be intimidated/put off by it being a korean grocery store (not me) but it is really great seafood.

[Anonymous]

sorry that was "all very fresh", not all very fish.