For years, Old Dominion Drive had a respectable answer to "where should we eat?" It did not have a good answer to "what should we do?" That distinction matters more than it sounds. A dining street pulls you in for ninety minutes and sends you home. A cultural address gives you a reason to arrive early, stay late, and come back next month with someone different.

That changed on April 30, 2026, when the McLean Project for the Arts opened the doors of the MPA Berlage Arts & Education Center at 6910 Fleetwood Road. The building has been in planning since 2017. The result is worth the wait.

What the Berlage Center Actually Is

The facility sits on the ground floor of The Signet condominiums in downtown McLean — a 6,100-square-foot space that MPA purchased in September 2024 and spent the better part of a year building out. The $6.25 million project was funded partly by a $500,000 Fairfax County Economic Opportunity Reserve Fund grant, partly by $1.8 million raised from MPA's 45 board directors, and largely by a community fundraising campaign that had reached $5.85 million as of early May 2026.

Three galleries anchor the interior. One is a black-box installation space designed for digital and media displays, movie screenings, and live performances. A folding screen between the installation gallery and the roughly 900-square-foot main gallery can be retracted to create a single larger room. A third gallery handles solo and two-artist shows. Beyond the exhibition spaces, the center has a ceramics studio called MPA Clay with glazing and kiln rooms, classrooms, offices, and a meeting room that doubles as private dining.

The inaugural exhibition, "Yasmine C. Iskander: Life Through the Power of Color," runs through June 13. Iskander, an abstract painter and MPA member who died in April 2024 at 26, had shown work at the Kennedy Center and at galleries across the country. The show is a serious opening statement for a facility that now anchors McLean's cultural footprint in a way its predecessors at the McLean Community Center never quite could.

"We have a lot of families in the neighborhood, so we want to make sure there's programming that suits families and people who are lovers of art and food, frankly." — Elizabeth Murphy, MPA Community Engagement Director

Summer art camps run June 22 through August 7, with weekly themed sessions for ages 6 to 13 and a counselor-in-training program for ages 14 to 18. Registration opened in February and spots fill quickly.

Café Monet and the Reason to Stay Longer

The Berlage Center's resident restaurant is not an afterthought. Café Monet, developed by Knead Hospitality & Design — the James Beard-nominated Washington group behind Mi Vida, Succotash, and Gatsby — opened on May 6 inside a glass atrium at the center's street-level entrance. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a full bar.

The menu reads like a European café that has taken Northern Virginia seriously: lemon ricotta pancakes and croissant sandwiches in the morning, jamón ibérico croquettes and tuna crudo through the afternoon, steak frites and roasted branzino in the evening. The bar program includes a spritz menu with Aperol, Hugo, and Kir Royale, plus signature cocktails including the Roman Holiday, a combination of Sardinian Citrus Gin, Italicus Bergamot Liqueur, basil, and lemon.

The combination of gallery and restaurant in a single address is the specific thing that downtown McLean did not have before. You walk in for the Iskander show. You sit down for the steak frites. The building is designed so that those two activities feel like parts of the same afternoon rather than separate errands. That is a different kind of neighborhood asset than another strong standalone restaurant.

The Dining Landscape Around It Has Been Moving Too

The Berlage opening did not arrive in isolation. In April, McLean held its first Restaurant Week — a seven-day event organized by the McLean Revitalization Corporation that ran April 12 through 19 and filled a lineup that would have been difficult to assemble five years ago. Participating restaurants offered prix fixe menus at two and three courses: Chef David Guas's Bayou Bakery at 6641 Old Dominion Drive offered a $55 three-course dinner built around pan-seared redfish and cider-brined pork chop. Peter Chang's served an all-you-can-eat brunch with Chinese tapas. L'Auberge Chez François, which has been on Old Dominion Drive for more than forty years, offered a $55 dinner that included smoked salmon, filet of trout almondine, and boeuf bourguignon. Rocco's Italian, family-owned for nearly fifty years, joined the roster alongside ArTeA and several others.

An inaugural Restaurant Week does not happen because a few operators are optimistic. It happens because there is enough critical mass to justify a shared promotion — and enough customers who identify as McLean diners rather than people who drove past a strip of restaurants.

Two additional data points confirm the direction. Surfside Taco Stand, a D.C.-based fast-casual group that has operated since 2008 and currently holds locations in Tenleytown, Dupont Circle, the Wharf, and Nantucket, has filed for a Virginia liquor license at 6218 Old Dominion Drive. That address will be its first Virginia location. And Chao Ban, the Vietnamese-American counter concept from chef Kevin Tien — a 2024 James Beard Foundation finalist for outstanding chef — opened in March at Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Drive, close enough to Old Dominion's gravity to draw the same customer.

Operators choosing McLean as a first Virginia address, rather than a secondary location after Arlington or Alexandria, is a meaningful signal. It suggests they are reading the neighborhood as a destination rather than a spillover market.

What a Saturday in Downtown McLean Looks Like Now

Walk from the Signet garage to the Berlage Center for the Iskander show. Have lunch at Café Monet at the atrium table. Cross Old Dominion Drive in the afternoon, pick up dessert, and end the day at Metro Park at Capital One Center — open year-round now, with pickleball through the spring and fall season, steps from the McLean Metro station.

That itinerary did not exist in April 2025. It exists today because a decade of planning produced a permanent cultural institution in the neighborhood's commercial core, and because a cluster of operators made bets on McLean in the same season.

The Berlage Center is named for MPA board member and donor Bruce Berlage. The café is named for a painter. The building is located in a condominium tower on a street most people drive down without stopping. None of that sounds like a landmark in progress. It is one anyway.

If you have been thinking about what the next chapter of McLean living looks like for your household, Falcone Real would be glad to talk through it. Michael Falcone has lived in McLean for more than 35 years and knows this neighborhood at a level that does not come from a database. Request a consultation or a home valuation at falconereal.com.

Living & Working in McLean, VA: Pros & Cons (Local Guide)

By Michael Falcone • Updated Aug 18, 2025

Home ▸ Guides ▸ McLean, VA

Local Guide

Living & Working in McLean, VA: The Real Pros & Cons

Reading time: 8–10 mins Region: McLean, Tysons, Great Falls corridor

Tree‑lined street and elegant homes in McLean, VA (placeholder)

McLean blends quiet, tree‑canopied neighborhoods with fast access to Tysons, DC, and the George Washington Parkway. It’s where privacy and proximity meet—if you know which streets to target.

Pros (Why people choose McLean)

Proximity without the city noise. Minutes to Tysons, 15–25 minutes to DC in off‑peak via GW Parkway; quick access to I‑495, Route 123, and Route 7.
Top‑tier public schools. Many neighborhoods feed into highly rated FCPS pyramids; competitive private options nearby.
Lot size & privacy. Mature trees, larger lots than Arlington or Alexandria; pockets with estate‑style settings.
Safety & prestige. Quiet streets, well‑kept homes, and a refined, low‑key feel.
Outdoor access. Great Falls Park, Scott’s Run, and Langley Oaks trails are weekend staples.
Dining & retail upgrades. Tysons Corner Center, Tysons Galleria, and a growing fine‑dining scene within a 10‑minute radius.

Cons (The trade‑offs)

Peak‑hour traffic. GW Parkway, Chain Bridge, Route 123, and Route 7 bottlenecks can add significant time.
Price point. Premium land values; new builds and renovated homes command high multiples.
Walkability varies. Some pockets are car‑dependent; sidewalks aren’t universal on interior streets.
Older housing stock in core McLean. Many 1960s–1980s homes need updates; tear‑down activity is common.
Metro access is nearby—but not everywhere. Silver Line stations sit mainly in Tysons; plan for a short drive or bike unless you’re very close to the McLean station area.

Local note: If your commute depends on Chain Bridge or the GW Parkway, your exact street matters. Two similar addresses can mean a 10‑ to 20‑minute difference during peak.

Neighborhood snapshots (insider quick‑takes)

Langley / Chain Bridge Road Estate lots

Leafy, quiet, and close to GW Parkway. Popular for privacy, proximity to DC, and access to scenic trails.

West McLean sidewalk scene (placeholder)

West McLean Convenience

Near central McLean shops and dining; mix of renovated ramblers and new builds. Sidewalk coverage is better here.

Salona Village Walkable pockets

Coveted for proximity to downtown McLean and parks; premium for updated homes on larger lots.

Lewinsville / Chesterbrook School focus

Streets with a neighborhood feel, strong school pyramids, a CLub and Pool, and quick access toward Tysons and Arlington.

Tysons Fringe Urban access

Townhomes and newer builds within a short hop to Silver Line stations and luxury retail.

River Oaks / Potomac side Scenic

Near Scott’s Run and the river; serene streets and a nature‑first vibe. Limited retail—by design.

Commute & transit

Fast routes off‑peak: GW Parkway to DC (Chain Bridge/Memorial Bridge), I‑495 to Maryland or Dulles tech corridor.
Metro (Silver Line): Stations at McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill. Most McLean addresses are a short drive or bike away.
Peak tips: Depart before 7:15am or after 9:15am for DC‑bound trips; in the evening, watch Route 7/123 merges near Tysons.
Airport access: DCA via GW Parkway; IAD via Dulles Toll Road or I‑495 express lanes.

Simplified commute map: McLean to DC, Tysons, airports (placeholder)

Schools (public & private)

Many McLean neighborhoods feed into sought‑after Fairfax County Public Schools pyramids. Several respected private schools are within a 15–25 minute radius. Admissions and boundaries change—verify for your specific address.

Local check: Before you bid, plug the address into the FCPS boundary tool and call the school office to confirm future‑year assignments.

Lifestyle: dining, parks & weekends

Dining: Elevated options cluster in Tysons Galleria and along Route 123/7; downtown McLean offers neighborhood favorites and low‑key gems.
Parks & trails: Great Falls Park, Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, Clemyjontri Park, and Langley Oaks. Many streets back to parkland—ask about trail cut‑throughs.
Retail: Luxury shopping at Tysons Galleria; everyday errands in central McLean. Expect ongoing enhancements along the Tysons corridor.

Costs & housing types

McLean skews higher than neighboring markets due to land value and lot sizes. You’ll find:

Renovated 1960s–80s colonials and ramblers on established streets.
New‑build luxury homes and curated infill projects (tear‑downs common).
Townhomes and condos closer to Tysons for a lower‑maintenance lifestyle.

Buyer tip: Premiums track lot characteristics: usable rear yard, tree canopy, topography, and street quietness. Two similar homes can appraise differently based on these subtleties.

Agent tips (street‑level insights)

Mind the cut‑throughs. Some streets feel busier during school drop‑off/commute windows; tour at those exact times.
Test your commute. Drive your actual route at your actual hours before you write.
Inspect the trees. Mature canopy is a signature here—evaluate health, root systems, and drainage around the foundation.
Plan for permits. Renovations and tear‑downs are common; build in time for Fairfax County reviews.
Sidewalks & safety. If walkability is key, shortlist West McLean/Salona pockets and verify sidewalk continuity on your block.

FAQs

Is McLean good for commuters?

Yes—especially if you leverage the GW Parkway and avoid peak bottlenecks. Silver Line stations nearby add flexibility.

How competitive is the market?

Turn‑key properties in prime pockets move quickly. Pre‑inspection, strong terms, and flexible post‑occupancy can help.

Which areas are most walkable?

Look around downtown McLean, West McLean, and select pockets near schools and parks. Tysons‑fringe townhomes are walkable to retail and Metro.

Thinking about McLean?

I tour these streets weekly and track off‑market inventory. Let’s refine your shortlist by commute, school path, and street‑level quiet.

Request a consult Browse McLean homes

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