Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Old Town Alexandria’s parking garages could be getting a useful new feature

Published July 17, 2023 at 10:45AM

Market Square parking garage (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Ever pulled into one of Old Town’s parking garages and been frustrated to find a sign saying the garage is full — or, worse, driven circles around the garage looking for a spot only to realize it’s full?

A solution could be on the way. A series of applications to the Board of Architectural Review for the Wednesday, July 19 meeting, indicate the city is looking at installing real-time parking availability signs.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published July 14, 2023 at 3:45PM

Burgers, fries and drinks from Five Guys (via Facebook)

After some weeks of busy policy discussions in city leadership, it was slower this week on that front, but the news keeps rolling regardless.

It’s been a busy week for businesses around Alexandria. Five Guys is preparing to move its HQ to Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood next week. Meanwhile, a new boba tea and Vietnamese spot is coming to Old Town.

News

Experimental new cocktail lounge opening above Del Ray Pizzeria today

By Vernon Miles

Published July 14, 2023 at 3:30PM

Cocktail at Dreampt (image via Del Ray Pizzeria)

An “experimental” new bar called Dreampt is opening today above Del Ray Pizzeria (2216 Mount Vernon Avenue), Alexandria Living Magazine reported.

The new bar is a “magical new themed experience” with a focus on unique new cocktails. According to the website:

News

Arlington and Falls Church leaders advise Alexandria’s School Board to stagger terms and reduce size

By Vernon Miles

Published July 14, 2023 at 11:00AM

Arlington School Board chair Goldstein (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria School Board members spoke with leaders from nearby school districts on staggered terms and board sizes and the takeaway was: Alexandria’s School Board is too bloated and too prone to rapid turnover.

Last night, Alexandria’s School Board hosted a panel to discuss potentially staggering Alexandria’s election cycle and adjusting the size of the board. On the panel:

News

Let Them Eat Crêpes: French café in Old Town offering free pastries and crepes for Bastille Day

By Vernon Miles

Published July 14, 2023 at 9:30AM

Storming of The Bastille by Jean-Pierre Houël

An Old Town cafe is celebrating Bastille Day with — in perfectly apocryphal fashion — free pastries for the masses.

Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. The people of Paris fought with the soldiers guarding the Bastille and seized the fortress, liberating the small number of prisoners left inside. It’s considered one of the igniting events of the French Revolution.

News

Alexandria archeologist says unconventional preservation project for Old Town ships is paying off

By Vernon Miles

Published July 13, 2023 at 2:45PM | Updated July 13, 2023 at 3:38PM

Pieces of 18th-Century ships waiting to be scanned (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

One year after Alexandria re-sunk historic ships into the pond at Ben Brenman Park, City Archeologist Eleanor Breen said studies show the unconventional preservation project is working as intended.

Back in 2018 during work on the Robinson Landing project, a group of somewhat intact hulls were discovered underground. They’d been scuttled beneath the ground, likely as part of the foundation of the new waterline.

Opinion

Poll: Should Alexandria’s School Board adopt staggered terms?

By Vernon Miles

Published July 13, 2023 at 11:00AM

ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

After the 2021 election, two-thirds of Alexandria’s nine-person School Board were brand new to the job.

Over several recent elections, the elected body that leads Alexandria City Public Schools has had a significant turnover. It’s led to concerns that, every few years, the School Board is functionally starting from scratch and there’s a sizable adjustment period as the majority new members get adjusted to the job.

News

Upcoming festival celebrates history of firefighting in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published July 12, 2023 at 2:30PM

If you’ve got a kid who loves firefighting equipment, or you’re an adult that never grew out of that phase, Alexandria’s got a festival for you.

The Friendship Firehouse Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5, brings the Alexandria Fire Department’s equipment out for display alongside other community activities. Children will receive free fire helmets and can visit the City’s fire trucks.

News

Arlington and Falls Church leadership to talk staggered terms with Alexandria School Board tomorrow

By Vernon Miles

Published July 12, 2023 at 11:15AM

Arlington School Board chair Goldstein (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

One of the biggest changes being considered is a proposal to potentially stagger the election cycle for Alexandria’s School Board.

Currently, the Board’s nine members serve three-year terms representing three different districts and their elections are concurrent with the City Council elections.

News

Alexandria ranked as a top ten American city by travel magazine, but pushed down by a Tennessee city

By Vernon Miles

Published July 11, 2023 at 2:40PM | Updated July 12, 2023 at 2:57PM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Travel + Leisure readers ranked Alexandria as one of the top ten cities in America for the second year in a row — though Nashville, Tennessee bumped Alexandria down from the eighth spot to the ninth spot.

The cities are ranked on a variety of factors, from shopping and food to culture and landmarks. As with last year, Charleston, South Carolina came in at number one.

News

New boba tea and Vietnamese coffee spot coming to Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published July 11, 2023 at 10:50AM

A new spot with coffee and boba tea is coming to Old Town.

Bloom Tea has filed an application with the Board of Architectural Review to fix up 425 S. Washington Street — repairing some windows in the back and adding new signage — to open Bloom Tea.