Another Neat Mosiac District Shop Opening, Capital Teas!

[Anonymous]

I like the Mosaic District for what it is. It's convenient, it's fun, and it has interesting retail and townhouses.

I also understand why threads about every new retailer in Mosaic trigger a negative response, just like threads about every new house that goes under contract in Pimmit Hills does. It's over-the-top. Retail developments get tenants. Houses get torn down. Life goes on. But, then, not sure the response really needs to be an Urban Manifesto that has absolutely nothing new to say about the relative merits of urban and suburban life.

[Anonymous]

I live in the area and we love Mosiac. We were just there Monday letting the kids play on the fountains. Dh and I will be there Saturday night for dinner/movie (can't decide between Matchbox and Black Finn)

But even I find these Mosiac cheerleader threads annoying.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that tea ad that started this thread is weird.
I get that any town center is a little meh, really. But we can't afford to live closer. So we live where we can live within our means. Does that automatically make us lame, by virtue of our zip code? I really mean that question, too--- I'm not asking it rhetorically. Do the Mosaic haters really think we suck because of where we live?

[Anonymous]

The Mosaic District is really gonna be cool!

[Anonymous]

Nobody hates Mosaic District. Well, except maybe Urban Militant - who probably grew up in the Ohio suburbs. MD is what it is. You can go or you can skip it.

What we, the beehive, hate is the MD overenthusiastic cheerleaders who trash other areas just to pump up their own. They make some stupid claims and then it becomes extremely entertaining to make fun of them.

[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.

Chipotle has been there for about 3 or 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the Mosaic District for what it is. It's convenient, it's fun, and it has interesting retail and townhouses.

I also understand why threads about every new retailer in Mosaic trigger a negative response, just like threads about every new house that goes under contract in Pimmit Hills does. It's over-the-top. Retail developments get tenants. Houses get torn down. Life goes on. But, then, not sure the response really needs to be an Urban Manifesto that has absolutely nothing new to say about the relative merits of urban and suburban life.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Chipotle, Sea Pearl, Panera and the XSport were all there before Mosiac came along.

[Anonymous]

The Mosaic is nice and all, but what about the Halstead and the under-construction town center next to the Dunn Loring Metro. No one ever talks about that development. It may not have a Target, Angelika, or artisnal meat shop, but it's right next to Metro. And there is a Lost Dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, it's not why people come to the city, not why people choose to live in a city or drive there. It's also not the reason people come to visit distant cities, not just to shop, dine, go to the movies. Shopping/dining/movies have been around in the suburbs for a long time, they are called malls. Mosaic district just like Reston center are suburban malls, designed with a newer concept in mind, to allow walkability and provide some extra aesthetic amenities, like outdoor relaxation space and outdoor dining. It's great these places keep coming up, provides more options for people living nearby and encourages people to get out of their cars and walk around. I am all for it. But if I want the city, I drive to the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, it's not why people come to the city, not why people choose to live in a city or drive there. It's also not the reason people come to visit distant cities, not just to shop, dine, go to the movies. Shopping/dining/movies have been around in the suburbs for a long time, they are called malls. Mosaic district just like Reston center are suburban malls, designed with a newer concept in mind, to allow walkability and provide some extra aesthetic amenities, like outdoor relaxation space and outdoor dining. It's great these places keep coming up, provides more options for people living nearby and encourages people to get out of their cars and walk around. I am all for it. But if I want the city, I drive to the city.

Which city are you referring to .... Merrifield or DC?

[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.

The Chipotle has been there for years. If you're going to attempt an insult, at least be informed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Mosaic is nice and all, but what about the Halstead and the under-construction town center next to the Dunn Loring Metro. No one ever talks about that development. It may not have a Target, Angelika, or artisnal meat shop, but it's right next to Metro. And there is a Lost Dog.

And soon a Harris Teeter!

Is there much else in that one, or planned? I always forget to look it up.

[Anonymous]

Now, if Teaism would just open a branch in Pan Am where the Subway is right now, we'd never have to go downtown again!

Only kidding, smug urbanist. Although I would be happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Mosaic is nice and all, but what about the Halstead and the under-construction town center next to the Dunn Loring Metro. No one ever talks about that development. It may not have a Target, Angelika, or artisnal meat shop, but it's right next to Metro. And there is a Lost Dog.

And soon a Harris Teeter!

Is there much else in that one, or planned? I always forget to look it up.

Black Finn is over in that Halstead area and its open. Getting great reviews from my friends that have been there. It's an "Ameripub". Menu looks good and they have an insane amount of beers on tap.