Vernon Miles | ALXnow

City Could Give Water Taxi the Go-Ahead for Early Morning Hours

Published November 19, 2019 at 3:30PM | Updated November 20, 2019 at 5:30PM

(Updated 11/20) This summer’s Metro shutdown could wind up netting the Potomac Riverboat Company a goal the company has been after for years: permanent early-morning service for its water taxi.

The company’s lease currently prohibits boats from coming in or out of docks before 9:30 a.m., which staff told the Waterfront Commission this morning (Tuesday) means the boats are usually used by tourists. But during the Metro shutdown, the city waived that restriction.

News

Mai Thai in Old Town on the Chopping Block as City Mulls Future of Waterfront Property

By Vernon Miles

Published November 19, 2019 at 11:30AM

Mai Thai (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The city-owned small parcel at 2 King Street — currently home to eight leased parking spaces — could have a big impact on the block at the end of King Street if the city approves a sale.

At the Waterfront Commission meeting this morning (Tuesday), staff said the city received an unsolicited offer for the lot in June from the current owners of the adjacent Fitzgerald Warehouse building. The City Council subsequently authorized staff to consider the sale and look into alternatives for the property.

News

Alexandrians March to Remember Those Killed in Traffic

By Vernon Miles

Published November 19, 2019 at 9:35AM

March in Arlandria to commemorate traffic deaths (photo courtesy Alexandria Families for Safe Streets)

Local residents and local officials came out for this weekend for a march in Arlandria to remember those killed in traffic.

The march was hosted on Sunday, Nov. 17, by Alexandria Families for Safe Streets to honor World Remembrance Day, an international memorial event dedicated to raising awareness of traffic violence.

News

Police: Stopped Stolen Vehicle Near T.C. Williams Leads to Pursuit

By Vernon Miles

Published November 18, 2019 at 4:15PM

Alexandria police cruiser (File photo by Jay Westcott)

Police say the stop of a stolen vehicle led to a short pursuit on foot and three arrests.

Around 9 p.m. yesterday (Sunday), police stopped a vehicle on the 3000 block of King Street — a bit down the road from T.C. williams High School — according to Lt. Courtney Ballantine, a spokesman for the Alexandria Police Department.

News

Toppers Pizza in Del Ray Donates to Cora Kelly Parent Teacher Conferences

By Vernon Miles

Published November 18, 2019 at 2:00PM

Parent-teacher conferences can be a stressful situation for both parties, but a donation from a nearby pizza shop helped ease that stress last week at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology.

A manager at Toppers Pizza (3827 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray said they received an order for 185 pizzas from someone in Alexandria City Public Schools, in preparation for parent-teacher conferences.

News

Four Mile Run Wetlands Bridge to Open This Weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published November 18, 2019 at 11:30AM

Closed access to the bridge connecting the two pieces of the Four Mile Run Trail (Staff photo by Vernon Miles)

At long last, the Four Mile Run Wetlands Bridge is just about ready to open.

The bridge is scheduled to open on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned on the east side of the bridge, closest to the parking lot at 3700 Commonwealth Avenue, with comments from city officials and partners, as well as an overview of park improvements by city staff.

News

Flood Mitigation on Tap for Alexandria Schools, Hammond Middle in Line for Upgrades

By Vernon Miles

Published November 18, 2019 at 10:35AM

Alexandria City Public Schools has some big projects on its plate, but at a School Board meeting last Thursday, many of the smaller projects discussed could have a big impact on the schools.

The meeting discussed the top priorities for non-capacity improvements next year. While several schools are slated for sweeping modernization projects over the next ten years, the Capital Improvement Program upgrades could provide some stop-gap improvements in the meantime.

News

Jeni’s Ice Creams Starts Scooping in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published November 15, 2019 at 3:15PM

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

Nighttime temperatures may be hitting the freezing mark, but that hasn’t stopped Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams from opening at 102 S. Patrick Street in Old Town.

The restaurant opened this past Wednesday (Nov. 13) in the former Misha’s Coffee space, while the coffee shop has moved down the block to 907 King Street.

News

City Council Could Open New Senior Housing Option in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published November 15, 2019 at 2:00PM

Alexandria could open up new zoning options in the city for “continuum of care” facilities that would offer local seniors a new option to age in place.

While elder care homes, group homes for the elderly, nursing homes and hospice care are all included in sections in the zoning code, staff said in a report that there’s no definition for senior facilities that offer a “range of care options from independent living to assisted living, with or without memory care services, within one facility.”

News

Remmy the Stately Gentleman Cat Available for Adoption in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published November 15, 2019 at 11:30AM

Remmy, a cat available for adoption in Alexandria (photo courtesy Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

It’s Senior Pet Month, so this week’s adorable adoptable from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) is Remmy, 10-year old squeaky tuxedo cat.

Remmy is a “handsome purrball” according to Gina Hardter, director of marketing and communications for AWLA, who praised Remmy’s adorable voice and cute tail shimmy. When Remmy is excited, his tail wiggles ecstatically.

News

Deli, News and More in Old Town to Get Authorization for ‘More’

By Vernon Miles

Published November 15, 2019 at 9:30AM

A sale of Port City's Tidings beer (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Deli, News & More at 1406 King Street in Old Town sells, as the name may suggest, deli sandwiches, news, and more. But it’s the “and more” that got the shop in trouble earlier this year.

The shop opened in 1994 as a newsstand, and in 1995 got authorization to operate a carry-out restaurant in conjunction with the newsstand. But as any one of the 150 patrons a day at the store may have noticed, half of the shop is a convenience store it was never authorized to operate.