Clarendon is a neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia, located between the Rosslyn and Ballston areas. Clarendon was unsuccessfully proposed to become incorporated as a city in Arlington in the 1930′s. The main thoroughfares are Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard. Clarendon’s street network configuration consists of 40-45 blocks resembling triangles rather than squares.
Clarendon today
Many people claim that Clarendon is an excellent example of smart growth and transit-oriented development. It has been speculated that the term “urban village” was coined in reference to the plans for modern Clarendon Virginia. Yet some residents argue that these terms conceal part of the story, as businesses serving residents’ needs (hardware store, drug store, dry cleaner, ice cream parlor, etc.) have been faced with displacement by high-rises and businesses luring people from outside the neighborhood. The Clarendon metro station is located on the Orange-line of the Metrorail system at Highland St and Wilson Blvd.
Clarendon hosts several local and County-wide events every year. Clarendon events include Arlington’s Neighborhood Day parade (held the 2nd Saturday in May), the Mardi Gras parade and Tax Blues Night. The largest event of the year, “Clarendon Day,” is held on a Saturday in mid-October and features four live music stages, local restaurant and coffee house booths, clothing, jewelry, antiques and collectibles sales, children’s games and rides, an ice-cream eating contest and other Clarendon traditions. Additionally, each spring Clarendon is host to the CSC Invitational, one of the largest one-day bicycle races in the US.
A farmer’s market at Clarendon’s Central Park is held Wednesday afternoons from Memorial Day until Labor Day and features organic produce, plants and herbs, baked goods, homemade soaps and other items sold.
