What is it with McLean?

[Anonymous]

Everytime I read recommendations on neighborhoods and where to buy a house, etc, that is focused on NoVA, at least 2 people will make a comment about McLean being either stodgy, stuck-up, not down-to-earth, etc. Really? Do the people that are saying live in or close to McLean? What precipitates that, seriously?

Is it just an undeserved bad rap? I've heard comments about botoxed barbies, etc, too. BUt seriously, most women I run into at the stores in McLean look like they just left a gym class or something--hardly fitting of that stereotype.

[Anonymous]

I think that the most traveled roads in McLean are clogged with ugly McMansions. That predisposes many people against McLean. I personally have had bad experiences with McLean people BUT, I think most of those people have been the McLean McMansion types. There are other parts of McLean that aren't as horrible, even though it is not a place I would want to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everytime I read recommendations on neighborhoods and where to buy a house, etc, that is focused on NoVA, at least 2 people will make a comment about McLean being either stodgy, stuck-up, not down-to-earth, etc. Really? Do the people that are saying live in or close to McLean? What precipitates that, seriously?

Is it just an undeserved bad rap? I've heard comments about botoxed barbies, etc, too. BUt seriously, most women I run into at the stores in McLean look like they just left a gym class or something--hardly fitting of that stereotype.

Well, it is "stodgy" in the sense that it's quite suburban and its retail scene is something less than cutting-edge. And it may seem "stuck-up" to those who are uncomfortable being around people who frequently have high-income jobs, big homes, or nice cars that may have decals for expensive private schools or colleges, rather than the local high schools and state universities.

Having said that, I don't find people here any more or less "down-to-earth" than anywhere else I've lived on the East Coast. If you can afford it, it's a pretty comfortable place to live. Not much crime, very good schools, nice variety of houses, well-tended yards, great commute to either DC or parts west, and seemingly fewer folks who've taken on more debt than they can handle than in many other places in the DC area. All that, plus a completely under-whelming "downtown" area that really needs to be redeveloped, but you can't have everything.

[Anonymous]

i've found sahm in the tysons area to be that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that the most traveled roads in McLean are clogged with ugly McMansions. That predisposes many people against McLean. I personally have had bad experiences with McLean people BUT, I think most of those people have been the McLean McMansion types. There are other parts of McLean that aren't as horrible, even though it is not a place I would want to be.

You surely must have been in Great Falls by mistake.

One of the things I really like about McLean is the variety and quality of the homes, even though there are some over-the-top monstrosities, but I probably have a higher tolerance for McMansions than you do. Amazingly, some people seem to be much more accepting of a big house if it's off Foxhall Road than if it's in the suburbs. Then the gloves come off. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

Pros: Great location ( easy commute to DC) , great schools ( private and public), variety of houses.

Cons: Same as most suburbs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having said that, I don't find people here any more or less "down-to-earth" than anywhere else I've lived on the East Coast. If you can afford it, it's a pretty comfortable place to live. Not much crime, very good schools, nice variety of houses, well-tended yards, great commute to either DC or parts west, and seemingly fewer folks who've taken on more debt than they can handle than in many other places in the DC area. All that, plus a completely under-whelming "downtown" area that really needs to be redeveloped, but you can't have everything.

This. Plus the women have beige hair.

[Anonymous]

McLean for it's high income is considered second-tier. Very new money, Johnny come lately. It's not NW DC or Bethesda/CC and you can tell. People there do ANYTHING to flaunt their wealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean for it's high income is considered second-tier. Very new money, Johnny come lately. It's not NW DC or Bethesda/CC and you can tell. People there do ANYTHING to flaunt their wealth.

Not feeling it, sorry.

If second-tier means being OK with neighbors who made, rather than inherited, their money, I'm fine with that.

And anyone with a pair of eyes can tell you that there's much more bling to be found in Bethesda than in McLean.

Carry on. Let's see how far the resentment can take you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that the most traveled roads in McLean are clogged with ugly McMansions. That predisposes many people against McLean. I personally have had bad experiences with McLean people BUT, I think most of those people have been the McLean McMansion types. There are other parts of McLean that aren't as horrible, even though it is not a place I would want to be.

You surely must have been in Great Falls by mistake.

One of the things I really like about McLean is the variety and quality of the homes, even though there are some over-the-top monstrosities, but I probably have a higher tolerance for McMansions than you do. Amazingly, some people seem to be much more accepting of a big house if it's off Foxhall Road than if it's in the suburbs. Then the gloves come off. Go figure.

I hate the Foxhall Road McMansions too. I am equal opportunity anti McMansion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean for it's high income is considered second-tier. Very new money, Johnny come lately. It's not NW DC or Bethesda/CC and you can tell. People there do ANYTHING to flaunt their wealth.

Not feeling it, sorry.

If second-tier means being OK with neighbors who made, rather than inherited, their money, I'm fine with that.

And anyone with a pair of eyes can tell you that there's much more bling to be found in Bethesda than in McLean.

Carry on. Let's see how far the resentment can take you.

There may be more bling in Potomac than McLean but Mclean signifies the new money defense contractor war profiteer wannabe culture more than anywhere else. And there isn't anything on Foxhall as hideous as some of the garish (prefab)homes in McLean.

[Anonymous]

I live in McLean, and I completely agree with the underwhelming downtown. Then again, since it takes 15 or 20 minutes to get to Georgetown, Bethesda, or Arlington, and 10 to Tyson's I don't know that a good retail area would survive the competition. But a few nice little restaurants, etc, would be great.

Where are the McMansions? I know of one that's on Ball's Hill Road, but it's SO big (and $10m+) that it probably qualifies as a mansion (hold the Mc). There are a LOT of older homes, some of the very nicely rebuilt/renovated. ANd plenty of mediocre 60s houses (that sadly cost a lot).



By the way, my hair isn't beige: it's golden blonde.

[Anonymous]

When I pass through I see ugly '60s/'70s subdivisions and strip malls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean for it's high income is considered second-tier. Very new money, Johnny come lately. It's not NW DC or Bethesda/CC and you can tell. People there do ANYTHING to flaunt their wealth.

Not feeling it, sorry.

If second-tier means being OK with neighbors who made, rather than inherited, their money, I'm fine with that.

And anyone with a pair of eyes can tell you that there's much more bling to be found in Bethesda than in McLean.

Carry on. Let's see how far the resentment can take you.

There may be more bling in Potomac than McLean but Mclean signifies the new money defense contractor war profiteer wannabe culture more than anywhere else. And there isn't anything on Foxhall as hideous as some of the garish (prefab)homes in McLean.

Do you even know where most of the "defense contractor war profiteer" HQs are? Yes, Maryland. Along with their CEOs and executives. Northrop Grumman is planning on relocating to Falls Church from California, but none of them are here yet.

Really, if you don't know what you're talking about, maybe you just....should not.


ps. The Kennedys home was in McLean. Colin Powell lives here. Sununu. Steven Case, founder of AOL. THe family of the deposed Shah of Iran. The former Queen of Jordan. The Saudi Royal Family.

Do they really qualify as "new money"? Maybe Steven Case, and Colin Powell...but

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There may be more bling in Potomac than McLean but Mclean signifies the new money defense contractor war profiteer wannabe culture more than anywhere else. And there isn't anything on Foxhall as hideous as some of the garish (prefab)homes in McLean.

Dream on. Much easier to insult imaginary people whom you imagine sell $5,000 toilets seats to the military than to admit your envy of the real ones who've largely just worked their way up the ranks at places like the State Department, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SAIC, Covington & Burling, Georgetown, AU, Capital One, or Hilton Hotels.