Anonymous wrote:I think McLean is overrated, and I even grew up there! There's no discernable cute "downtown," everything is sort of a mish-mash, it's basically a bedroom community that sort of grew in fits and starts. . .I honesty have no idea why it developed the cache it did. Shrug.

It is a centrally located safe suburb with great schools, that are considered best public schools in the entire DC metro area. It is convenient for commutes to about anywhere where the jobs are in DC area VA, DC, and even some parts of MD. And it IS cheaper than NWDC, and Arlington. It's not just the land of $1m fixer uppers. If you are a family with two working parents who must commute to opposite sides of the DC metro area, who cannot afford private schools and want to be able to drive into the city on the weekends under 20 min along a pleasant scenic road (vs. all time congested 66 and the beltway), who wants a detached home with minimum 4 bedr 3 baths, a normal size basement and a yard and easy parking and be short distance to most of the amenities for everyday life. And at the same time some of us can walk to our respective elementary schools, parks, and downtown area, which may not be "cute" but certainly is not useless and contains most of the shopping/errand options we need day to day, including groceries, bakeries, dry-cleaners, banks, doctor's offices, etc. Although I personally don't understand why anyone would want to walk to buy a week-load of groceries for the family and cart it or carry it home, when you can use your car. I've done enough of this living in the city with the stroller and it was a PITA.

There are also buses for those commuting to Balston, Rosslyn and Tysons, so there is some public transport option, whether we use it or not. Later on, there will be a metro stop about 2 miles away from us, which will certainly be biking distance away or maybe there even will be a new metro service bus at some point. The demographics are changing, many families are moving in replacing elderly residents, so it is not entirely impossible that in the near future the downtown may get a little more pedestrian friendly and cute. The infrastructure is already there, it's designed as city blocks with sidewalks. The restaurants are changing already starting to cater to the younger crowd. Most major roads like Chain Bridge rd that can take us all the way to the new Tysons East metro already have sidewalks too. Reading DCUM you may think Mclean is a dying out exurb, it's so not true.

Mclean still has its appeal for the families who are not looking to be walking distance to trendy bars as much as to be close to great quality public schools for their kids and at the same time have easy access to the city amenities when needed.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on where you live and where your social group wants to live. People in Northern VA tend to say Montgomery County is overrated. People from Montgomery County say that of Northern VA.

I've spent years in both MC & NOVA and my vote is for NOVA. No real criticism of MC, which I like, but I love NOVA!

I think McLean is overrated, and I even grew up there! There's no discernable cute "downtown," everything is sort of a mish-mash, it's basically a bedroom community that sort of grew in fits and starts. . .I honesty have no idea why it developed the cache it did. Shrug.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it really Lyon Village?

What makes a neighborhood overrated?

Apparently-- some of the best public schools in the country, fantastic proxmity to the city, 99.9% walkability scores, restaurants, shops, gyms, 3 organic markets, movie theaters, 2 Metro stations.

Aaaaand you just couldn't resist. Lame.

your!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spring Valley, Foxhall and other deeply residential areas of DC. It's like super overpriced car-oriented suburbs without good schools.

Actually there are a ton of good schools: St Pat's, Georgetown Day, NCS/STA, Sidwell. Stop hating.

sure, there are good schools if you can pay for them. I think most people define neighborhoods with good schools as neighborhoods with good PUBLIC schools - the ones you don't have to shell out more of your take home pay to.

philosophical answer: the whole DC metro area.

short answer: MD and VA.

Anonymous wrote:Spring Valley, Foxhall and other deeply residential areas of DC. It's like super overpriced car-oriented suburbs without good schools.

Actually there are a ton of good schools: St Pat's, Georgetown Day, NCS/STA, Sidwell. Stop hating.

Spring Valley, Foxhall and other deeply residential areas of DC. It's like super overpriced car-oriented suburbs without good schools.

What is Lyon Village?

Anonymous wrote:Run-off between Lyon Village and AU Park.

I agree. I live in AU Park. Sucks!

Anonymous wrote:Ditto on Delray. Small overpriced houses (even for DC). Business strip to make people feel better about overpaying for their houses by overpaying for dinner and drinks.

The kicker is that the public school suck. If it had good public schools it wouldn't be bad. It is cute.

Ditto on Delray. Small overpriced houses (even for DC). Business strip to make people feel better about overpaying for their houses by overpaying for dinner and drinks.

Run-off between Lyon Village and AU Park.

Arlington in general. Full of middle managers.