Eat and Admire New Murals Illustrating McLean's History

Walking into the Lost Dog Café, one is tantalized not only by the aroma of the food, but by the eye-catching, colorful artwork now unfurling on the walls.

Arlington artist Jessica Lovelace is creating a series of playful murals depicting the history of McLean, starting from the 1770’s to the future in the new cafe located adjacent to the Anderson Road Safeway. The restaurant opened earlier this year.

Each mural panel captures a time in history replete with adorable canines and infused with a panoply of color.

The idea for the murals came from fans of the restaurant's Facebook page. The overwhelming majority requested the history of Tysons Corner.

Lovelace did extensive research to ensure her paintings are historically accurate. The panels begin with a 1770’s Claude Moore Farm panel depicting the life of a sharecropper. The panels then move forward to the 1850’s, the 1890’s, the early 1900’s with the Old Dominion Trolley to Great Falls, the 1960’s when the intersection of Route 123 and Route 7 was a dirt road.  The grand opening of Tysons Corner Mall and the future when Tysons will be a city of an estimated 40,000 people.

Diners enjoy the artistic uplift of Lovelace’s striking work:

Dallas Keller, works in McLean: “Gorgeous colors, vibrant…Cool dogs living life.”

Tina Keller: “Different perspective than normal. I like the view.”

Ron Baker, works in McLean: “Adds a trendy element to the restaurant.”

Once Lovelace completes the main dining room mural, she will commence another series in the second smaller eating area. She said, “I will paint a dog-inspired spoof of the inside of Tysons Corner Mall.”  

 Lovelace has worked  with the Lost Dog Café’s for six years. She created murals and paintings for the two restaurants in Arlington, and one for The Stray Cat restaurant in Arlington, which is owned by the same proprietor as the Lost Dog Café which is down the street. Her fee for the current mural project is still being negotiated.

Lost Dog Café manager Brian Bullock said, “If it wasn’t for Jessica, we’d be a dull place aesthetically. She’s awesome.”

With a BFA from James Madison University, Lovelace has been painting for many years, only to take time off for maternity leave. She is an animal lover who used to paint pet portraits. She said,” My dad is a graphic designer…My brother is an artist... I’ve been painting just about my whole life.”