Tom Petty's Clarendon Discovery Walk
Download Walkabout Map (264k PDF)
Description: Clarendon is one of the "hoppingest" centers of activity in the D.C. area these days, and Petty's walk, tailor-made for people and their pets, allows the walker an inside track on some of the main draws. The longer loop is do-able in about 35 minutes--but better to leave extra time for window-shopping, and real shopping! 
"This walk starts in the historic center of Clarendon and proceeds eastward, passing many of the main-street restaurants and shops and many of the new developments in Clarendon.
The walk is great day or night and at either time you are likely to run into many people out and about on this walk. I take my dog Barley on some variation of this route at least once per day. It's really hard to time this walk because it really depends on how many people you run into that you know and how long you talk!
Reason to Walk - Bored dog and a nice day (or night)
To get to the start of the walk from my neighborhood (Ashton Heights) I cross 10th street and walk up Irving street to its intersection with Wilson and Washington Boulevards. As you walk up Irving, the oldest building in Clarendon is visible straight ahead. This is the Masonic Lodge building, built in 1909 and currently home to the Clarendon Alliance.
If you look to the left from the intersection you will notice the very cool Common Grounds coffee shop which is located in the old trolley station (or maybe it's the old Clarendon Citizens Hall) on Wilson. The outdoor seating area here often has many people and dogs just hanging out day and night.
The view of the Masonic Building (circa 1909) from Irving Street
I cross Washington Blvd and then immediately cross Wilson into the Clarendon Metro park. As you enter the park you can often hear conversation wafting down from the roof-deck of the Clarendon Ballroom. The Ballroom roof has a wonderful view of the area and is a lot of fun to boot. Walking east through this park, you always see people since the metro is located here and it's a nice place to hang out in the shade around the fountain. In the past, there used to be bands that played in the metro park on Friday's but the store that sponsored those has since moved away.
Neon and lots of activity make Central Clarendon is a great place to walk at night
Continuing east to Highland you pass some great ethnic restaurants with outdoor seating on the left. Café Dalat (Vietnamese cuisine) is my favorite. On Wednesday, the Clarendon Farmer's market is held at the intersection of the park with Highland. Walking to the side of the OddFellows building (circa 1925) on Hudson street you will discover the Gallery of Modern Arf, a studio and gallery for artist John Aaron (and dogs are allowed in the gallery!)
People are always out in Clarendon Metro Park
If you are with dog, this is the point where you might split off to the unofficial community canine area located North down Hartford or Herndon street at 13th street. My dog, Barley tends to like people better than other dogs at this point in her life so we usually continue on eastward.
Crossing Highland, you have a choice to walk on Clarendon or Wilson Boulevard. I usually walk on Wilson east for no particular reason. Here, you pass some great little stores and restaurants on the right including Hot Shots - an interesting little coffee shop with a unique storefront. I usually cross Wilson to walk on the north side at Garfield. At this corner is the Big Belly Deli where you can get a bite to eat. They usually will bring water out for your dog and you can get a can of beer for $1 so it's worth the stop!
Barley waiting outside Hot Shots and a view of the nearby construction
Continuing east you pass what is probably the coolest stretch of small main-street type shops and restaurants in the area. There is a barber shop, homemade ice cream, and the hardware store mixed in among some great restaurants, all with outdoor seating that is usually chock full of people. Barley enjoys checking out what everyone is eating and she especially loves ice cream from Lazy Sundae (as do I). At Fillmore street at the end of this strip, you will see Whitlows and Iota's across the street, two comfortable places for dining and nightly entertainment (they have it all!)
Main Street shops and restaurants liven up the area in the early evening
I continue walking to Edgewood and here, if I want to cut the trip short I'll head South on Edgewood to Clarendon Blvd and the new Market Common project. However, if you continue east from here into the Courthouse area you will be rewarded with some great new eclectic little shops including Arlington Gift and Garden, and A.K.A. Spot pet store. The real reason I usually keep heading east though is to make it to the Java Shack. Barley loves the Java Shack's homemade dog biscuits and I love the atmosphere, coffee and homemade lemonade. A block or two east of Java Shack and you are in the heart of the Courthouse area where the Clarendon Antiques and Collectibles market is held every Saturday during warm weather.
On the short trip, heading South up Edgewood in front of Fresh Fields, you arrive at the Market Common shopping center. A collection of regional and nation chain stores with some nice places to sit and some great fountains. The area is usually full of people with children since there is a nice playground in the middle. The Origins store here really likes dogs and puts out water for your pet to get a drink in the summer. Proceeding toward the back of the market common you can traverse through a path to the left of the Barnes and Noble you can enter Clarendon Park, a more quiet area where you can sit and watch people throw Frisbee.
Fountains at Market Common and Clarendon Park that is behind
From here, I work my way back to where the walk started any number of ways. On the weekends, I usually try to go by the Sjtorm Theory antique store on Clarendon blvd where the owners Shane and Sam (who are also dog friendly!) sell some very unique home furnishings and can offer great conversation on design and decorating. Another way to go is by the Clarendon Grill on Highland where on Mondays the windows will be all steamed up from the Salsa dancing that happens there on that day. Whatever way you go, Clarendon is a great place to walk with your dog, a person or alone as you are sure to run into many interesting and friendly people. And the places I've mentioned only just scratch the surface.
***
Tom Petty is a native Virginian who has lived in Arlington for the past 12 years -- the last eight of these in Clarendon. Petty is on the executive boards of the Ashton Heights Civic Association and the Clarendon Alliance and is currently serving on the Clarendon Sector Plan Task Force. He is also among the fortunate few who live close enough to work to get there on foot (Ballston--a little over a mile away). "For me," says Petty, "walking is more than just transportation, it is a great way to meet people and really the only way to truly experience a community. I enjoy walking day or night in all kinds of weather, there is definitely some kind of unspoken kinship when passing a fellow dog owner walking with their wet pet at night in a driving rain."
Other than Clarendon, some of Petty's favorite places to walk include "just about any European city (but) mostly in Scotland and France, and many older American towns that still have their Main Street intact." For Petty, Boston gets the prize for the most walkable large city in the U.S. ("And, you have to be a bit crazy to drive there anyway, he adds.")
Petty also enjoys getting away from civilization occasionally and enjoys wilderness trekking ("also known as walking in the woods with your house strapped to your back," Petty writes). His recommendations? The Monongahela and George Washington National Forests for great adventure close to home.
On July 17, 2006 we bid a very sad farewell to Barley. Rest in peace, Barley, and may your doggie heaven be full of fun Walkabouts.
