Sharon Percy Rockefeller's Shirlington Walkabout
Download Walkabout Map (268k PDF)
Description: the basic walk described below is short and sweet--just under a mile in length, and over fairly flat terrain. But being centrally located between the Fairlington Kid and Dog Walk and the Walk through Nauck, it's easily expanded.
It isn't every day that I get the chance to walk around Shirlington, but any time the opportunity presents itself, I jump on it! But even when I'm not out walking, I can assure you that WETA all 227 of them---are. Shirlington is a great destination for walkers, eaters, movie goers and readers and that's only the beginning! My route also provides a link between two other WALKArlington Walkabouts: Paul Ferguson's Fairlington Kid and Dog Walk, and Dr. Taylor's tour of Nauck, coming in January. So please come along on my virtual walk of Shirlington-- I'll point out some of my favorite pit stops and then, by all means, take this walk yourself!
The Village at Shirlington, just off of I-395 across South Quincy Street from WETA, is where much of our walk will take place. As colorful and lively as the current retail district is, it may surprise you that the first store in Shirlington opened back in 1944. Shirlington has had its ups and downs as a retail center, but the main event that spurred the rejuvenation of the area was a 1982 plan that has essentially rendered the Village (the shops that line South 28th Street) what you see here today.
If all goes as planned, the next few years promise to bring a lot of exciting changes to Shirlington, including a new library, new home for the renowned Signature Theatre (now just around the corner on Arlington Mill Drive), and some great public art. You might want to visit the Shirlington Community Forums on the Arlington County website for extensive background information, updates and discussions. There is a lot in the works, and WETA is very excited to see this community blossom!
Our first stop on the tour is Carlyle (formerly Carlyle Grand Café) a Grand Dame of Shirlington eating establishments. Personally, I find their salads to be tops, but I've never had a dish here I didn't enjoy. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, as well as brunch on Sundays, Carlyle is elegant without being pretentious and the creatively prepared food on just about everyone's "DC top 100" lists. And next door, Best Buns (same owners) which supplies all the fabulous baked goods to Carlyle, prepares 15 types of bread and out-of-this-world pastries and other sweets for the general public. If sitting down to a meal is not in your plans, I'd suggest fueling up here for your Shirlington hike!
Just up the block, another favorite stop is the Luna Grill and Diner. The menu here is absolutely huge, and the hand-painted tables and walls, and the rotating exhibits of work by local artists, are all great reasons to stop in. Owner Andy Shallal, a former medical researcher who also owns a restaurant in Dupont Circle, actually painted the moonscape (back by the bar) himself, I'm told.
On the opposite side of South 28th Street, Books a Million is a good place to snag a little something to read. And a little farther up the street, Classika Theatre with roots in the Russian and European performing arts traditions, rounds out the international flare of the street.
But back to restaurants: the list goes on and on, and you may just have to sample them all over time and pick your own favorites. Bistro Bistro, T.H.A.I., Toro Tapas, and Charlie Chiangs are among those frequented by WETA staff. And Aroma India, one of the newer kids on the block, enjoys great fanfare as well.
Rounding the corner onto South Randolph Street, there seems always to be something from my list of "must see" first-run movies playing at the Shirlington Theatre (a.k.a. Loews Cineplex Shirlington). Matinees begin as early as 1:00 every day, and the ticket lines are not usually too long, either! (Well, not for matinees, in any case!)
Heading north on Arlington Mill Drive, our next destination is the Animal Welfare League. En route, we pass (on the left) the County's Trades Center, where there is frequently a lot of activity this time of year as crews prepare for snow, snow, and more snow. On the right, the Four Mile Run Trail parallels the west side of Four Mile Run (stream), and across the wooden bridge on the opposite side of the Run is the W & OD Trail. Either make for fine walking, biking, and exploring, virtually any time of year. And the dog park on the east side of the stream bed is a special incentive to bring canine companion animals along on a Shirlington walk -- one that does not include a restaurant stop, in any case!
Speaking of pets, the Animal Welfare Leagues serves as Arlington County's pound, but it is also home to over 4,000 dogs, cats and "critters" (gerbils, rabbits, turtles and the like) each year, if only briefly. Adoptions are the main business of the League, but low cost rabies clinics are held six times each year. A gift shop just inside the front door sells leashes, collars, toys, and pet-healthy snacks (no rawhide!). And, with a fancily-painted fire hydrant and water supply out front, this should be a required stop for anyone accompanied by a four-legged friend.
Returning to the Village at Shirlington, we have one official, final destination. At the farthest end of the plaza, the Shirlington Library is temporarily in residence in a storefront off of the parking lot and garage. This vibrant space with an abundance of fine books, CD's and videos, internet connections and bright, delightful reading spaces is the perfect place to cool (or warm) one's heels. The knowledgeable and resourceful staff goes out of their way to make one feel at home here it's an Arlington County library tradition, I think!
And that is the end of my tour. I hope you will come to Shirlington often and tell your friends and neighbors of your adventures here. And don't forget: there are plenty of other establishments in Shirlington that make it an up-and-coming urban village from the post office to the hair salon to Curves, the 30-minute cardio and strength-training salon. A complete list of Shirlington services and retailers is available on the Arlington Economic Development website.
Thanks for coming along on my walk, and happy trails to you!
Sharon Percy Rockefeller
Chairman and CEO, WETA
For directions to Shirlington via bus and/or rail, visit the RideGuide. Other directions available from MapQuest. (The address of WETA is 2775 South Quincy Street.)
Sharon Percy Rockefeller has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WETA, a National Public Radio and PBS affiliate, since 1989. Ms. Rockefeller is a widely recognized leader in the field of broadcasting; she was the 1994 recipient of a prestigious award from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a Washingtonian Magazine "Washingtonian of the Year" awardee. Ms. Rockefeller's other areas of interest include education, fine arts, and women's issues. She is married to Senator John D. "Jay" Rockefeller IV of West Virginia.
