From February 1-6 Crystal City will celebrate its second annual Fashion Week.  Events will include trunk shows, music, food and drink, and dancing.  Audience members can even participate in an on-the-spot design competition.

Take some time to explore the Crystal City complex, which includes high rise residential buildings, office blocks, hotels, shops and restaurants.

Crystal City's 6,000 residents could go for months, or even years, without leaving the complex, which offers health clubs, banks, drug stores, supermarkets, doctors' and dentists' offices, a post office, nine parks, public concerts, a Water Park, night school and over l50 shops and restaurants.  In case the weather is bad, all these features are connected by underground passageways. 

If they do need to go somewhere, not to worry--because Crystal City is a commuter's dream.  It is five minutes from downtown or Reagan National Airport, lies on two Metro lines, has its own VRE commuter train station and is a hub of the local bicycle commuter system.

To see homes for sale in Crystal City, click here.

When Forbes Magazine named Fairfax City #3 of the top 25 U.S. cities to live in, it must have had the Chocolate Festival in mind.

Every year at this time the town invites the rest of us to binge on chocolate and charming 19th century surroundings.  This year's festival will be held on February 6 and 7 in Old Town Fairfax at Main Street and University Drive.

Events will include a contest to create chocolate works of art, a Pancake breakfast (chocolate chip, of course), open house in some the district's historic buildings and a craft show.  Walk off some of those excess calories by exploring well preserved buildings dating from the early 1800's, including the site of the first Confederate casualty of the Civil War and the Fairfax City Courthouse--built in 1800 and still in use today.  The district also includes a wide variety of restaurants and boutiques.

A choice location and woodsy feel make Marlan Forest (and its conjoined sister development Marlan Heights) a highly desirable address.

Set just across the George Washington Parkway from the Potomac River, Marlan Forest gives its residents easy access to the Mt. Vernon bike path for walking, running, biking and wildlife viewing.  It is bordered on the west by Ft. Hunt Road, which, along with nearby Route 1, provides abundant shopping opportunities.  Wilson Bridge is a stone's throw away, the Parkway connects commuters to Alexandria and other points north, and the area is served by the Huntington Metro stop.

The "forest" in Marlan Forest is more than just a name; it is a fact.  Builders took pains to spare as many trees as possible, and so today's residents are blessed with the luxury of towering old growth trees in and around their yards.  Homes tend to be beautifully landscaped, adding to the lush, green feel of the development.

Most of the homes were built in the '50's--a variety of ramblers, Colonials and Cape Cods, avoiding the cookie-cutter feel of some developments.  Prices range from $500K to just over $1 million, with an average price of about $800K.

Buyers are also drawn to the Fort Hunt/Mount Vernon area by the excellent Fairfax County Public Schools, county services and safety.

The Workhouse Arts Center is mounting an exhibition of works by several well-known African-American artists.  The Center is located in Lorton on the site of the defunct prison.

Sully Mansion in Chantilly, built in 1799, offers guided tours which highlight the lives of its early 19th century owners, tenant farmers and slaves, whose original quarters have been preserved.

Guides at Mount Vernon Estate emphasize the lives and contributions of the resident slaves.  Be sure to visit the gift shop for further materials highlighting the African American experience in America in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Attend gospel music concerts, movies and cultural celebrations in Arlington County.

Visit the website of the Arlington County Publc Libraries for a list of exhibits, programs, brochures and suggested readings in Black History.

Check out the Alexandria Black History Museum at 902 Wythe Street.  Its collection includes documents related to the first public schools for African Americans, records of Civil War exploits by black soldiers, a large collection of historic photographs and even some African artifacts.  The Robert H. Robinson library was originally established in 1940 because the Alexandria public libraries were segregated.  The museum and library also have their own adjacent park.  Then take a walk through beautiful, historic Old Town.

Finally, cross the river to celebrate the life Frederick Douglass--abolitionist, businessman and journalist.  Frederick Douglass House is located on the banks of the Anacostia River.  On February 14 historians will celebrate Douglass' birthday with readings, tours, films and music.

Athletes, would-be athletes and nature lovers should head south from Old Town Alexandria.

Stretching along the Potomac River from the southern border of Old Town to Mount Vernon Estate is the Mt. Vernon bike path.  Eight miles of asphalt allow locals and visitors to walk, run or bike while enjoying river views and wildlife sightings.  Bald eagles, ospreys, blue heron, cormorants, egrets, ducks and geese are among waterfowl commonly spotted along this corridor, while deer, groundhogs and fox sightings are frequent.  Combine cardio and conservation by following a nature trail through Dyke Marsh.

 Along the bike path is a fitness course and several points of access for canoes or kayaks.

Businesses in the nearby Belle View shopping center allow you to rent a bike, tone up at Curves or take karate lessons.  Adjacent to Belle View is the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, which provides Fairfax County residents with an indoor pool and ice rink.  Farther south on Route 1 is a Gold's Gym.

Local communities such as River Towers, Porto Vecchio and Belle View also offer their residents tennis, swimming and basketball facilities as well as their own in-house gyms.

Here's a price report based on the last two years of sales and rentals as of 2/28/2010. Each report contains the median price along with high and low over the period. All figures are approximations and should not be used to judge final sales values.

Unit Type	For Sale	Condo Fees	Rental
One Bedroom, 950 to 990 sf	170,890 (136,453 to 221,000)	465 to 440	1,300 (1,200 to 1,420)
Two Bedroom, 1180 sf	209,500 (172,000 to 255,000)	550	1,700 (1,250 to 2,100)
Three Bedroom, 1700 to 1840 sf	275,000 (260,000 to 329,000)	800 to 860	2,000

Skyline Plaza is located at 3701 and 3705 S George Mason Dr. Falls Church Virginia 22041, near Leesburg Pike (Route 7), I-395, and between Eisenhower Ave and Bailey's Crossroads. Skyline Plaza was built in 1973, it's a 15 minute commute to D.C.

Amenities include:

• 24 Hour Security
• Children's Playground
• Storage Space 
• Outdoor pool
• Sauna
• Gym
• Party/Club Room
• Balconies
• Garage Parking
• Community/In Unit Washer/Dryer
• Electricity, Gas and Water included in condo fee
• Central A/C
• Gas Heat
• Gas Hot Water Heater

About the Author ---  Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo 1 Alexandria.  To learn more about available rentals and purchases in the area check out our free search.

There are several key steps that your Virginia Licensed Real Estate Agent will help you through. Knowing what these are in advance can help you not be surprised later on:

• Know your budget, consult with a financial institution about what you can be pre-approved for.
• Know your needs, including:
  • Number of bedrooms
  • Location
  • Walking distance to a bus stop
  • Walking distance to a metro stop
  • Price
  • Property condition
  • Age of the property
  • Garage Parking
• Amenities (for condos)
  • Indoor/Outdoor pool
  • Putting Greens
  • Tennis courts
  • In unit washer/dryer
  • Utilities included in condo fees
  • Basketball courts
  • Bowling
  • Concierge service
  • Controlled access
• Realize that something will have to give to get what you want, prioritize your needs so that you can get the most important features.
• Budget time and money:
  • Finding any home is easy. Finding the right home requires time invested in looking at properties.
  • Money for downpayments and closing costs can vary from a couple percentage points to a cash purchase where you provide the entire amount up front.
  
  

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  About the Author ---  Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo 1 Alexandria.  To learn more about available rentals and purchases in the area check out our free search.

Located at 501 Slaters Lane in Alexandria, Virginia, Marina Towers is a large condominium community consisting of approximately 500 residents. Marina Towers is located along the north side of Old Town Alexandria, where residents can enjoy boutique shopping, antique galleries, and a wide selection of restaurants and entertainment. In addition, the Potomac Landing Sailing Marina and two bicycle paths are located just a short walking distance from Marina Towers as well.

Marina Towers is located near many of Northern Virginia's major thoroughfares and is positioned conveniently close (only 3 miles away) to Reagan National Airport, making the Marina Towers every commuter's dream. The Marina Towers condominium units are spacious and modern, and the condominium grounds feature a host of amenities including a riverside swimming pool which features free water aerobics classes; a fitness center; a convenience store/drycleaners; a party room; a tiki bar and a gazebo. Between the exceptionally convenient location of Marina Towers and their close proximity to shopping, mass-transit and the Potomac River, this is a must-see condo community for anyone looking to live in Northern Virginia!