New Mosaic District offers something unique for everyone

The Mosaic District includes a state of the art movie theater that screens independent and foreign films to the Northern Virginia area (photo courtesy of Nathan Garduno).

A new shopping and dining area has recently opened. Approximately 20 minutes from George Mason University’s Fairfax campus, the Mosaic District offers something for everyone.

Located off of Lee Highway and Gallows Road, the Mosaic District was built over abandoned land. Previously looking like a resting site for broken dumpsters, the area now boasts hip stores, restaurants and a high-tech movie theater.

Walking around the area, the first thing most are struck by are the designs of the buildings. Featuring right angles and multiple story tall windows, the building designs create a unique effect, similar to walking through a European market place. Instead of cobblestone roads, however, the sidewalks are accented by pavement and wood, and windows are adorned with the reflection of the sun instead of drying laundry. These scenic aspects are brought to the new age by small shops like Pastry Xpo, where a shopper can find exquisite cupcakes.

With something to offer for everyone, the Mosaic District has already started to attract people in the area. Visitors can stop to check out stores such as Anthropologie, Last Call, South Moon Under and more while others can grab a bite to eat.

With all of these retail options, Mosaic has provided some economic growth to the area. Mosaic has job opportunities to offer as new stores are scheduled to open up throughout spring and into the summer.

The Angelika movie theater is one of the few theatres in the Northern Virginia area to screen both independent and foreign films (photo courtesy of eya.com).

If shopping is not your thing, the area is still worth checking out. The Angelika includes a bar and lounge, serving everything from popcorn to martini's. The state of the art theater is also one of the few theatres in the area that shows independent films and specials like Groundhog Day, which played on Feb. 1 and 2.

Aside from the movie theater, the area offers many dining options including vegan and vegetarian restaurants, a few delis, a couple of ice-cream shops and Matchbox Vintage Pizza (scheduled to open this spring).

To further entice people in the area, Mosaic has regularly scheduled events such as sales, openings and food tastings. Upcoming events are easily found on their website.

Regardless of your interest, Mosaic will have something to intrigue you. While you might be initially put off by the “hipster” vibe of the area, you might be surprised at how much you will enjoy it.

Walking around the district on a sunny day, doing some light shopping and taking in a movie will make it easy to imagine you have somehow stumbled into a small, forgotten but ridiculously well-kept street in Europe.

Upcoming events in the Mosaic District in February:
Feb. 16 the grand opening of Dolcezza, a new ice-cream shop