Newt Gingrich's McLean Home Featured in the New York Times. The Times did a story on the homes of all the GOP presidential contenders recently including the Gingrich abode located just of Lewinsville Road near the Beltway.

Turns out Rick Santorum, former Republican Pennsylvania senator lives just up the road in Great Falls with his family. Here's the link to the New York Times to see the Gingrich home and all the others.

McLean Starbucks. The Ear hears that the downtown McLean Starbucks has a new manager. Perhaps that means much-needed improvements are on the way for the Chain Bridge Road location.

The Ear welcomes her to McLean and suggests that she visit the Chesterbrook Starbucks to see a clean, friendly, efficient Starbucks. Three things that can't be said on most days about the downtown Starbucks.

Don't even get us started on the pseudo-Starbucks at the Anderson Road Safeway. Our best advice: Stay away from the bad coffee (which they dispense from a thermos on some days) and the inefficient staff who are really Safeway employes. Nuff said.

Congratulations New McLean Granddads. Please welcome the seventh generation of the Smoot family. The Smoots, one of McLean's oldest and most distinguished families, welcomed their first grandson recently.

The Smoots, who formerly owned Salona, have lived in McLean since before the Civil War. They are also own the Salona Shopping Center.

Joe Gerstner, McLean's popular electrician, is proudly showing pictures of his first grandchild.

No Recession in The Reserve.  1026 Founders Ridge Lane in The Reserve is for sale for $4.2 m. Owner Gerald Allen, who appears to be a senior executive for BearingPoint, the huge consulting firm, bought the six-bedroom, 7,000 square foot mansion for $3.4. million in Augut 2010. He now has it on the market with a $4.2 million asking price. Assessed value: $2.9mil.

Heard some news. Better still gossip. We're all Ears. Please email TheMcLeanEar@gmail.com