The deadline to vote on the 12 choicest matchbooks in Del Ray is 11:59 p.m. tonight (April 15).
Alexandria artist Laurel Prucha Moran has painted watercolor matchbook designs of more than 30 Del Ray restaurants, including Los Tios Grill, Thai Peppers, The Dairy Godmother and Spice Kraft.
The contest is sponsored by Made In ALX, an online local makers market founded last year by Lore Burek and Alexandria Living Magazine publisher Beth Lawton.
“I am donating 25% of the Del Ray print purchase price to ALIVE!” Moran said in an email. “If the print doesn’t end up with the exact matchbooks you prefer, I have a custom grouping option on my website and for each custom order, I donate the cost of a hot meal to the charity Hook Hall Helps which provides food in the DC region for restaurant industry workers during the pandemic.”
Lawton said that more than 1,300 votes have been cast so far, and the top three restaurants are:
“We thought this was a fun way to combine local art, our favorite restaurants and give back to the community at the same time,” Lawton said. “On the cusp, all around the 12th spot, are Cheesetique, Northside 10, Stomping Ground and Holy Cow. If people rally, they can really influence the turnout.”
Photo via Made In ALX