Vernon Miles | ALXnow

New Peruvian Restaurant Planning to Open in Bradlee Shopping Center Next Week

Published December 3, 2019 at 2:00PM

Exterior of El Saltado (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The tables are set and the staff at El Saltado Restaurant and Carryout (3616 King Street) say it’s just about ready to open in the Bradlee Shopping Center.

The restaurant is replacing the Hong Kong Bistro on the east side of the shopping center. The restaurant will serve Peruvian food, though the website listed in flyers outside the restaurant still contains mostly placeholder descriptions and generic photos of food.

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Old Dominion Boat Club Hopes to Shore Up its Docking Options on the Waterfront

By Vernon Miles

Published December 3, 2019 at 11:35AM | Updated December 3, 2019 at 12:24PM

Plans for a new pier at the Old Dominion Boat Club (photo via City of Alexandria)

A plan to replace a disused pier would help the Old Dominion Boat Club bring more boats to Alexandria and hopefully make the waterfront a little cleaner.

In plans submitted to the City of Alexandria, the boat club in Old Town laid out its vision for replacing an outdated and disused wharf just to the south of the club’s location on The Strand with a new pier and floating dock.

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Where to Snag a Christmas Tree Around Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 3, 2019 at 10:45AM

Christmas tree in Market Square (photo via Visit Alexandria/Facebook)

If you waited, unlike the City of Alexandria, to put up your Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving, there are plenty of places to get your tree.

For one, the Alexandria Police Department is hosting its annual Christmas tree sale, a yearly fundraiser that helps cover the cost of sending over 50 children to Camp Kekoka in the summer. The program specifically aims to help Alexandria children who would otherwise be unable to afford summer camp.

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What’s Ahead for the Eisenhower Valley?

By Vernon Miles

Published December 3, 2019 at 9:35AM

2010 Eisenhower Avenue (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

There are big things in store for Eisenhower Valley, and local leadership says the southwest Alexandria neighborhood is ready for its moment in the spotlight.

The city is in the middle of developing an update to its master plan for the Eisenhower Valley. Leadership from the Eisenhower Partnership — an organization that recently celebrated its 25th anniversary — spoke with ALXnow about how they see that plan taking shape.

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City Council Grapples with Implementing and Enforcing Scooter Rules

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2019 at 3:25PM

It’s one thing to make rules for scooters, but on Alexandria’s City Council, there are concerns about how the city can enforce proposed new restrictions in Old Town.

During the City Council meeting last Tuesday (Nov. 26), the council worked to fine-tune the next phase of the city’s electric scooter pilot program and shape how that implementation looks when it’s applied on Alexandria streets.

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Police: Teens Lead Officers on Early Morning Car Chase Near Landmark Mall

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2019 at 2:05PM

A group of teenagers allegedly led Virginia State Police on a high-speed chase off the highway and into the West End this past weekend.

Police were alerted to a stolen vehicle traveling north on I-95 early Saturday morning, according to Corinne Geller, a spokeswoman for Virginia State Police.

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City Lowers Public Benefit Expectations for Municipal Fiber Plans

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2019 at 11:45AM

Less than a month after the initial announcement of bidding for a new municipal fiber network, the city is saying people may have let their expectations run a little too rampant.

The city is hoping to build a broadband network for its facilities, but Craig Fifer, a spokesman for the City of Alexandria, clarified that the side benefit of increased consumer choice in cable, voice and broadband services is still conditional.

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What’s Ahead for Alexandria’s Scottish Christmas Weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2019 at 10:30AM

Get the kilts and bagpipes ready, this weekend is the Scottish Christmas Walk.

Scotland-themed events are scheduled throughout the weekend, kicking off with Taste of Scotland, an annual Scotch tasting on Friday, Nov. 6 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at The Atrium (277 S. Washington Street). The event also includes Scottish beer, wine and food. Individual tickets are sold out, but sponsorship tickets are still available.

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Series of Incidents at George Washington Middle School Raise Alarm Among Parents

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2019 at 9:30AM | Updated December 3, 2019 at 8:31AM

George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated 8:50 p.m.) A series of fire alarms at George Washington Middle School has reignited outcry from parents who say more needs to be done to modernize the school.

Not only did the fire alarms go off several times in November at the school, but during one incident where there was a fire — when a poster was set on fire on Nov. 14 but was quickly extinguished — concerns were raised that no alarm went off.

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JUST IN: Police Pursuit Ends with Crash on Seminary Road

By Vernon Miles

Published November 27, 2019 at 1:10PM | Updated November 27, 2019 at 1:34PM

(Updated 1:30 p.m.) A chase by the Virginia State Police ended with a crash at the intersection of Fort Williams Parkway and Seminary Road

The car being chased wrecked shortly after noon and Virginia State Police took the suspect into custody “without incident,” according to Lt. Courtney Ballantine, a spokesman for the Alexandria Police Department.

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Groundbreaking Scheduled Next Month for Potomac Yard Metro Station

By Vernon Miles

Published November 27, 2019 at 10:45AM

With construction back on track for the Potomac Yard Metro station, the city has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony early next month.

The groundbreaking is set for Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 2-3 p.m at the future northwest entrance, near the Regal Potomac Yard movie theater, which is nearing the end of its run. The theater is not included in the new Potomac Yard plans.