Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Steep Discounts at GNC in Old Town Before Closing Next Month

Published January 29, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated January 29, 2020 at 3:25PM

The Old Town GNC is closing next month, and the store has discounts on nearly everything inside until then.

The nutrition store at 711 King Street is scheduled to close on Wednesday, Feb. 19, according to staff. GNC offers a variety of food, snacks and supplements, with an athletic focus.

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Alexandria Warehouse Sale to Return Next Weekend to Carlyle

By Vernon Miles

Published January 29, 2020 at 9:15AM

The annual Alexandria Warehouse Sale is set to return next Saturday, Feb. 8 in Carlyle.

The sale brings boutiques from across the region to the Westin Hotel (400 Courthouse Square). It’s free to attend and is scheduled to run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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Behind the Scenes of the Slow Race to Finish Virginia Tech’s Potomac Yard Campus

By Vernon Miles

Published January 28, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated January 28, 2020 at 4:54PM

Planned Virginia Tech innovation campus in Potomac Yard (courtesy Virginia Tech)

(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) Virginia Tech has to hit 750 master’s degree graduates per year by the end of the decade in a school that hasn’t even been built yet if it wants to hold onto state funding for the project.

During a panel discussion at Agenda Alexandria last night, some of the local leaders working on Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard opened up about the slew of opportunities and challenges the school will face over the next few years.

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Old Town Ice Cream Shop to Open for Breakfast to Support Youth Advocacy

By Vernon Miles

Published January 28, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated January 28, 2020 at 12:26PM

Jeni's Ice Cream is now open in Old Town (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The recently opened Jeni’s Ice Cream in Old Town (102 S. Patrick Street) is planning a special event for a good cause this weekend.

On Saturday, Feb. 1, Jeni’s is planning to open early to serve breakfast with a new “skillet cinnamon roll” ice cream — “with a dark caramel sauce [that] tastes like caramelized sugar on a hot skillet” — in celebration of Ice Cream for Breakfast Day.

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City Unenthusiastically Approves Lackluster Eisenhower Project Because It’s Too Expensive to Cancel

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated January 29, 2021 at 3:17PM

Nobody on the City Council seemed particularly happy about transportation changes planned for Eisenhower Avenue, but at this point too much money has been invested to turn back, city staff argued.

The plan, which has been in the works since 2003, involves turning the traffic circle at the east end of Eisenhower Avenue into a T-intersection, adding turn lanes to the intersection with Mill Road, and widening Mill Road.

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Open House This Evening to Offer First Look at Arlandria/Del Ray Plan

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2020 at 11:55AM

Historic Del Ray (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The City of Alexandria is hosting an open house this evening to help gather community input for plans to shape Arlandria and Del Ray.

The open house is scheduled to be held from 5-8 p.m. at Casa Chirilagua (4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue). The event will be an opportunity for people to share their thoughts before the start of the formal planning process later this year, according to the city website.

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City Council Unanimously Upholds North Ridge-Adjacent Presbyterian Church Expansion

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2020 at 10:45AM

Proposed Alexandria Presbyterian Church (photo via City of Alexandria)

Opponents of the Alexandria Presbyterian Church’s expansion went into Saturday’s public hearing knowing it was an uphill fight, and ultimately the City Council unanimously struck down the appeal.

The City Council voted unanimously to uphold the Planning Commission’s ruling in November that Alexandria Presbyterian Church could expand by-right from a 3,400 square foot building that can’t hold its congregation to a 22,794 square foot gothic-inspired church.

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AWLA Office Dog Looks for a New Home to Help Manage

By Vernon Miles

Published January 24, 2020 at 2:15PM

Sugar, a dog available for adoption at the AWLA (photo courtesy AWLA)

A two-year-old pitbull named Sugar — “as sweet as her name implies” — is looking for a new home after deciding to move on from her clerical career.

Sugar has experience working in the front desk of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) at 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, where she is currently awaiting a new family.

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Transportation Commission Endorses Bus Overhaul, But Worries Reforms Lack Teeth

By Vernon Miles

Published January 23, 2020 at 4:45PM

Metrobus in Old Town Alexandria near King Street metro (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

While Alexandria’s Transportation Commission endorsed a WMATA-backed plan to overhaul the region’s bus system, that approval was accompanied by concerns that the project won’t be able to achieve its lofty goals.

On paper, the plan put forward by the Washington Area Bus Transformation Project sounds ideal to any bus rider. The plan pushes for faster, more frequent, more reliable bus service that is also more affordable.

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Alexandria Church to Host 18th Annual HBCU Festival This Weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published January 23, 2020 at 11:45AM

Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria is planning to once again host what is says is the largest Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Festival in the country this weekend.

The event is organized by the church but held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center (201 Waterfront St.), across the Potomac in National Harbor. It is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

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Designs for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School Narrowed to Two Options

By Vernon Miles

Published January 22, 2020 at 2:15PM

Site Plan Y for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School (photo via Alexandria City Public Schools)

The Alexandria School Board is scheduled to work on narrowing down the site plan for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School to two potential designs at its meeting tomorrow (Thursday) night.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. at the Alexandria City Public Schools headquarters (1340 Braddock Place).