Old Courthouse - Vienna, VA

The neighborhood’s name can be traced to the original Fairfax County Courthouse, which was built in 1742 and stood nearby. Originally known as Peach Grove, the area took the name Tysons Corner after the Civil War. The region kept its quiet rural feel until the 1960s, when a large shopping mall opened and rapid commercial and residential development followed. No museums, live theatre or annual festivals occur within the neighborhood, but the Washington area just 13 miles away holds museums, live theatres and festivals galore. Sticking close to home, local history buffs can visit the Claude Moore Colonial Farm, a living history museum just 6 miles from the neighborhood that portrays life on a small family farm prior to the Revolutionary War. The Freeman Store & Museum, dating back to the Civil War era, sits nearby in the town of Vienna.

Area restaurants provide something for everyone, from fast food to formal, and food styles from standard American to exotic international fare. Locals take advantage of the large choice of popular chains and locally owned eateries within a short distance of the neighborhood.

Just to the north of Old Courthouse on Boone Boulevard sits Nostos, an upscale Greek restaurant that receives high marks for authentic fare served in a sleek contemporary setting. Diners enjoy the wide variety of mezedes, small plates that encourage sharing while providing a great way for sampling more of the restaurant's offerings. The grilled octopus gets rave reviews, as does the spanakopita, a layered dish with crispy phyllo and a filling of spinach, feta cheese and scallions. Diners appreciate the friendly and knowledgeable wait staff, who can recommend one of the 50 varieties of Greek wines to perfectly complement any dish.

Area chicken lovers have a favorite in Super Chicken, a local joint located off Leesburg Pike. The budget-friendly local gem specializes in Peruvian-style chicken served up with a large array of sides, including uncommon choices like yucca, plantains and chickpeas. Regulars appreciate the fast, courteous service, and because of its popularity, smart lunch patrons get there early to avoid the lines of eager customers.

Old Courthouse residents looking for a genuine Irish pub need not fly across the pond to satisfy their cravings. Located just north of the neighborhood on Leesburg Pike, Paddy Barry's Irish Pub and Restaurant gets high marks for not only the food, but also the warm atmosphere and attentive service. Staples such as the fish and chips, shepherd's pie and bangers and mash stand as local favorites. For a weeknight treat customers enjoy the live Irish music most Tuesday evenings.

The bars and lounges within the nearby restaurants serve as good nightlife options for the local residents, but for more diverse choices such as a dance club or good old-fashioned dive bar, venture a bit farther outside the neighborhood. Just a few miles southeast down Leesburg Pike stands Art's Tavern, a local favorite and one of the few true neighborhood dive bars around. The friendly bartenders and cheap beer along with Thursday Trivia and live bands every Friday keep the locals coming back for more. For those who want to dance the night away but stick close to home, the Iris Lounge on Spring Hill Road fits the bill. Guest DJs spin the hits on the weekend, with live jazz and salsa lessons featured during the week.

The PRTC system provides bus service and the METRO system runs buses and rail service through the Old Courthouse neighborhood. Residents catch the METRO Silver rail line at the Tyson Corners Metro Station on Tyson Boulevard at Chain Bridge Road.

For drivers who wish to brave the highways, the Leesburg Pike, Capital Beltway, Custis Memorial Parkway and the Dulles Toll and Access Roads all provide easy access to Dulles Airport, Washington and points in between and beyond. Locals take advantage of free parking in the neighborhood and many nearby commercial areas, but several paid parking lots exist in the vicinity of Tysons Corner Center, Tysons Galleria and the METRO station, with weekday rates ranging from $12 to $18 per day.

Pedestrians and cyclists appreciate the quiet residential feel of the Old Courthouse neighborhood and can walk or cycle to nearby stores and restaurants, but they usually don’t venture outside the safety of the immediate area. A couple of nearby on-street bike routes run along sections of George Washington Road and Madrillon Road just to the east and south of the neighborhood. For taxi service, residents call ahead or arrange a ride with Uber or Lyft.

Residents enjoy free county- and town-owned parks, with a couple of them within walking distance of the neighborhood. Freedom Hill Park off Chain Bridge Road includes hiking and biking trails, a kid’s playground and tot lot. The Town of Vienna’s Wildwood Park features a natural restoration area that lies along Wolftrap Creek just to the south of the neighborhood.

No exercise-centric parks for humans exist nearby, but dogs do get to run and play at an off-leash dog park just a few miles away at Moorefield Park in Vienna. The park has water for both dogs and humans and a fully shaded and fenced wood chip surface.

No annual park festivals take place in or around the Old Courthouse neighborhood, but residents have plenty to choose from in the nearby Washington area. The National Cherry Blossom Festival in early April remains an annual festival favorite. Events and the viewing of the blossoms take place over a large area including the National Mall and West and East Potomac Parks along the Potomac River waterfront.

The cost of living in the Old Courthouse area remains on par with the average for the Washington area. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment comes in at $1,674 per month, and locals expect to pay around $5 for a pint at the local pub. Drivers pay about three percent more than the national average to fill up their vehicles, and those who go green on mass transit pony up $1.75 for a local bus ride or $2.15 to $5.90 for the Metrorail during peak travel times.

Two huge retail complexes lie just to the north of Old Courthouse. Tysons Corner Mall houses over 300 specialty and department stores and restaurants and Tysons Galleria promotes an upscale shopping experience in an indoor mall setting. Local shoppers looking for a more intimate, boutique-style experience away from the huge retail centers can find what they need a short distance away.

In the town of Vienna only a couple miles south of the neighborhood, you'll find a variety of smaller stores, including the Tailor Shop, which specializes in custom tailoring, formal wear alteration, and bridal and formal wear.

Meanwhile, Uniquities, which is based just off Church Street in Vienna, offers its customers a range of hand-knitting, crocheting, and spinning supplies. You can also visit Uniquities for craft classes, notions, patterns, and plain old good advice.

For everyday necessities or the weekly grocery run, residents visit the Harris Teeter store on Crestwood Heights Drive or the Walmart Supercenter on Cornerside Boulevard. Fans of farmers markets have a couple of nearby choices. The McLean Farmers Market, a few miles to the north, takes place every Friday from May to November. The town of Vienna hosts a Saturday farmers market that sells only fruits and vegetables certified to be grown within 150 miles of Fairfax County.