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.
A new restaurant could be coming to the west end of Carlyle
Developers are looking for anew restaurant to fill between 1,708-9,600 rentable square feet of space in the new Shops at Carlyle Tower development along Eisenhower.
Today Marks 69th Anniversary of Annexation of the West End — “Happy Annexation Day, West end! Today, December 3rd in 1951, the city of Alexandria received the land west of Quaker Lane, doubling the size of the city!” [John Chapman/Facebook]
Alexandria Libraries Go Back to Curbside Only — “Effective this Monday, Dec. 7, the library will offer curbside-only and virtual services until further notice. Although library buildings will be closed, library staff will offer telephone support and virtual reference during curbside hours.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
On Friday, a government contractor is finally moving into the Victory Center.
The first Jason Bourne movie, The Bourne Identity, is the featured screening at The Victory Center (5001 Eisenhower Avenue). Drive-in movies have been popular this year, with movie theaters remaining closed.
While further south Alexandria is finalizing plans for the northern end of the Old Town Waterfront, the overall north point of the Alexandria waterfront is about to get some love too.
At a Planning Commission meeting yesterday approved plans for several new pieces of Potomac Yard, including a sweeping new plan for a 4.6 acre extension at Potomac Yard Park that will run from just south of the planned Potomac Yard Metro station to Four Mile Run.
This weekend was both Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, and for many local stores it was a hope that holiday shopping could keep local stores alive into 2021.
If you didn’t shop local, it’s not too late to show some support for small businesses in Alexandria: Visit Alexandria is currently sponsoring a Shop Small Week scheduled to run through Sunday, Dec. 6.
Alexandria is moving forward with plans to implement new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) policies aimed at making it easier to build units both attached to existing houses and separately on residential lots.
ADUs are generally small units sold or rented out to residents other than those in the main house. ADUs increase the availability of housing stock and have been eyed as a potential solution to the decline in market-rate affordable housing. These hopes for ADUs are also frequently paired with concerns that they could add density to Alexandria’s existing neighborhoods.
ACPS Eyes Late January as Earliest Date for In-Person Classes — “Frustrated parents are continuing to push Alexandria City Public Schools officials to reopen schools for in-person instruction, but the earliest possible date for some students will be in the second half of January” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Free Coffee for Frontline Workers at Alexandria Starbucks — “Front-line workers can get free coffee throughout December from Starbucks locations throughout the United States, including these three in Alexandria.” [Patch]
Andras Jacobson, a second grade student at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, will get a unique opportunity later this week to take some of his space questions to the experts: an astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station.
Jacobson, a space exploration enthusiast, is scheduled to take part in a discussion with NASA officials on Thursday, Dec. 3, according to ACPS. Jacobson will get to direct his question to astronaut Victor Glover. Jacobson’s mother reported that his question focused on how human muscular systems respond to conditions in space.
With Alexandria poised to potentially lose two Metro stations due to funding cuts, Rep. Don Beyer issued a statement blasting the proposed cuts as “apocalyptic” and said Congress should rally to pass a new set of funding.
Proposed cuts include ending service after 9 p.m., ending weekend service, reducing the number of trains, and closing operations at 19 stations. Two of those stations, Eisenhower and Van Dorn Street, are located in Alexandria.
A new local dog-themed bar and restaurant wants to help you and your pooch get in the spirit of Christmas.
Brewski’s Barkhaus, a restaurant near Potomac Yard that features an off-leash dog-park, opened in October and is planning to host an Ugly Sweater Party to celebrate the holidays.
The City of Alexandria has announced that the Capital Bikeshare will be headed to the West End ahead of schedule starting early next year.
Bicycle use has increased regionally, to the point where it was difficult at times to get a bicycle in Alexandria. With hopes for a rebound in ridership in the coming spring, Alexandria said seven previously deployed stations still in good condition will be purchased and located in the West End. The purchase will accelerate the expansion of the program by several years, the city said.
