Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

News

What does Arlington’s ‘Missing Middle’ vote mean for Alexandria?

By Vernon Miles
Community members at the Missing Middle vote in Arlington (staff photo)

After the Arlington County Board voted this week to allow multifamily structures in single-family home zoning, some Alexandrians looked north as a hopeful example and others as a warning of what could be ahead.

The Missing Middle vote — referring to the multi-family structures that proponents hope will help make housing more affordable — created nearly unprecedented levels of controversy in Arlington County.

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News

Alexandria grapples with funding costs of twin ambitious DASH bus overhauls

By Vernon Miles

Alexandria’s DASH bus system has been going through a pair of ambitious, headline-grabbing overhauls, but city leaders are still working out how to pay for them.

In 2021, DASH went fully fare-free, meaning anyone could ride a DASH bus at any time without paying for a ticket. At the same time, the bus network has been undergoing a full-electric conversion, gradually swapping out all of the diesel buses for electric buses.

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News

Alexandria embracing spring cleaning with new beautification and pothole plans

By Vernon Miles
The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Like many local households, the City of Alexandria has plans to tidy up for the spring.

The City announced in a release today that a number of beautification efforts will be going on around town, along with a few continue improvements like pothole repair and repaving.

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News

Nando’s Peri-Peri says new Carlyle location will open next week

By Vernon Miles
Meal at Nando's Peri-Peri (image courtesy Nando's Peri-Peri)

Seven months after it was originally supposed to reopen, South African fast food chain Nando’s Peri-Peri could finally be opening next week in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood.

In a press release, the restaurant announced the Hoffman Town Center location at 2462 Mandeville Lane will open on Monday, March 27. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant will have dining for 72 customers. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

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Opinion

Poll: How should Alexandria handle Confederate-honoring street renaming?

By Vernon Miles
Forrest Street, named for Nathan Bedford Forrest (image via Google Maps)

As Alexandria moves forward with renaming streets Confederate leaders, the City Council is starting to take a look at some of the practical concerns that brings.

Alexandria City Council member John Chapman went on FOX 5’s DMV Zone yesterday to talk about options the city is looking at for street renaming, though solutions could vary by individual streets.

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News

Where to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
As seen at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 3, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 3/17) Tomorrow (Friday) is a celebration of all things Irish: the release of a new Hozier EP.

But for some local bars and the Catholic Church, tomorrow is more notably St. Patrick’s Day. The weekend is set to be marked with celebrations of Irish dancing, music, and drinking.

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News

Waterfront warehouse and Civil War mess hall to become new tavern

By Vernon Miles
Rendering for proposed Cooper Mill development at 10 Duke Street (courtesy image)

One of Alexandria’s last waterfront warehouses is becoming a tavern.

According to a press release, the squat brick warehouse at 10 Duke Street is going to be converted into a market, tavern and event space called Cooper Mill, a throwback to the site’s history of making barrels for the Alexandria Flower Company.

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News

City Council says practical considerations of renaming Confederate-honoring streets needs to be addressed

By Vernon Miles
Forrest Street, named for Nathan Bedford Forrest (image via Google Maps)

For some Alexandrians, the question of renaming streets that currently honor Confederate leaders isn’t “should it change” but “what happens to my address?”

As Alexandria moves through a new renaming process, City Council member Sarah Bagley said the City Council Naming Committee heard from residents at a recent meeting who have practical concerns about how renaming will impact everything from paying bills to getting friends to their house. At a City Council meeting last night, Bagley and other members of the Council provided an update on the street renaming discussion.

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