Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Two Alexandria restaurants featured on Washingtonian’s ‘Very Best’ list

Published February 2, 2023 at 10:50AM

Dish at Nasime Japanese Restaurant (via Nasime Japanese Restaurant/Facebook)

(Updated 10:55 a.m.) The 100 Very Best Restaurant list is back from Washingtonian and it features two Alexandria spots.

The list, formerly limited only to sit-down restaurants, now includes carryout, pop-ups and food trucks. Both Alexandria locations, though, are restaurants in the traditional sense.

News

Alexandria teens make suggestions for city to help on youth safety issues

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2023 at 2:00PM

Police at the Bradlee Shopping Center where 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez was fatally stabbed on May 24, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Seven months after Luis Mejia Hernandez was fatally stabbed in a brawl at the Bradlee Shopping Center McDonald’s, the city has made some progress on putting together a series of teen-led recommendations for preventing future violence.

Some of the initial suggestions coming out of those focus group meetings, though, are a little generalized. They include things like encouraging the city to listen to youth voices more and build better partnerships.

News

JUST IN: Alexandria City High School evacuated after bomb threat

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2023 at 12:45PM | Updated February 1, 2023 at 3:22PM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Updated at 3:15 p.m. Alexandria City High School’s campuses evacuated at 2:25 p.m. today after a bomb threat was made earlier by phone.

Principal Peter Balas wrote that the bomb threat was made while the schools were under a “Secure the Building” status.

News

Alexandria law enforcement issues condemnation of Tyre Nichols killing in Memphis

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2023 at 11:30AM

Alexandria Police at night (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department and Sheriff’s Office shared statements condemning the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in Memphis earlier this month.

Five police officers were fired and charged with second-degree murder. The recent release of the video showing the assault has sparked a wave of protests in Memphis.

News

Inside Alexandria’s race to install new floodwater mitigation projects before the next big storm

By Vernon Miles

Published January 31, 2023 at 1:45PM

Civil engineers work on new stormwater mitigation projects in Parkfairfax (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

As rainfall travels down the hills of the Parkfairfax neighborhood, the momentum sweeps it past the slim gutters meant to catch the water, propelling it further downhill to devastating effect. But fortunately, with a surge of political and financial interest being poured into flood mitigation over the last few years, stormwater isn’t the only thing gaining momentum.

Among the larger flooding infrastructure projects going around the city are a handful of smaller “spot improvements” that could play a big role when the next major storm hits.

News

Outdoor dining permits on King Street could be extended after unusual circumstances in timelines

By Vernon Miles

Published January 30, 2023 at 1:45PM | Updated January 31, 2023 at 9:22AM

(Updated 1/31) The City of Alexandria is looking to extend the duration of King Street Outdoor Dining (KSOD) permits after an unusual circumstance in scheduling meant the permits issued by the city would only be valid for a couple of months.

After the Covid emergency status expired in September 2022, the City of Alexandria began issuing permits for businesses along King Street to operate in the sidewalks. The program is a continuation of a more flexible approach to outdoor dining brought on by the pandemic.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2023 at 3:45PM

ACHS students in a walk out protesting the cancelation of Lunch and Learn (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria.

As teachers fought for a pay raise, Alexandria City High School (ACHS) students walked out of the classrooms in protest against Alexandria City Public Schools leadership stonewalling a lunchtime program.

News

Alexandria minority business groups decry lawsuit over grant funding

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2023 at 1:45PM | Updated January 27, 2023 at 2:31PM

Closed sign in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 2:30 p.m.) The recently formed Alexandria Minority Business Association (AMBA) shared frustrations about a lawsuit putting a planned grant program on hold.

The City of Alexandria approved a grant program aimed at benefiting Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) business owners. Applications were set to be released in the coming weeks, but a lawsuit has put those plans on hold.

Opinion

Poll: What do you think of Visit Alexandria’s new city logo?

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2023 at 10:30AM

New Alexandria logo by Visit Alexandria (courtesy photo)

Yesterday, the tourism bureau Visit Alexandria presented a new logo to be used in marketing for the city. Reception online was mixed.

The logo features the city’s name in lowercase with the most notable feature being a representation of a sunrise in the middle “a”.

News

Village Brauhaus in Old Town aims to open rooftop expansion before summer

By Vernon Miles

Published January 26, 2023 at 1:45PM

Diagram showing planned rooftop extension at Village Brauhaus (image via Mark R. Yoo Architect PLLC/City of Alexandria)

When it comes to city permitting: it pays to play it safe.

Old Town restaurant Village Brauhaus (710 King Street) is going back through the city review process to double-check that it’s still alright to open a rooftop dining area after the restaurant changed ownership.

News

City Council commits to support collective bargaining with fire department union

By Vernon Miles

Published January 25, 2023 at 3:45PM

City Council and firefighters gather for collective bargaining agreement (image via AlexandriaVAGov/Twitter)

After years of discussion and debate, Alexandria’s City Council unanimously voted to approve a resolution funding a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Alexandria and the local firefighters union.

The agreement includes funding for many of the problems raised by Alexandria firefighters over recent years, from long hours to improved infrastructure.