Around Town

Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden seeks city permit for small live music stage

By James Cullum
Street view of a small-town street with a crosswalk, storefronts, and string lights overhead on a sunny day.
Wooden gazebo deck with string lights over a sidewalk plaza in a small-town street scene.
1/3

The owner of the Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden (1913 Mount Vernon Avenue) is asking the city for permission to use a small entertainment stage for live music or a DJ.

Jay Portlance is asking the city for permission to use the small stage at the corner of Mount Vernon Avenue and E. Howell Avenue for groups of musicians no larger than two pieces.

“Due to the small size of the stage and the close proximity to the pop-up markets, the noise [will] not exceed a reasonable decibel for people to converse and shop,” Portlance said in his special use permit application. “Small stage [will be] used during special events and pop-up markets. There is no defined hours that the stage is used, however it is only used for 4 hour blocks per the noise permits issued for each event.”

Although the business has a license to sell beer and wine, only samples of alcohol can be consumed on the property.

The Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden opened in spring 2025 and had a soft opening for its grocery store last October. Portlance also owns Del Ray Hardware across the street at 2003B Mount Vernon Avenue.

The special use permit request will go before the Planning Commission for a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.