Author: Vernon Miles

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.

News

New Shipping Container Bar in Old Town Moves Toward City Approval

By Vernon Miles
Concept renderings of the Robinson Landing Pier Bar (photo courtesy of City of Alexandria)

A proposal to install a bar carved from shipping containers on the waterfront will approach its first hurdle to approval next week.

After a deferral at what may have been the shortest Board of Architectural Review meeting on record — at one minute, 26 seconds — the bar at Robinson Landing (314 Strand Street) is docketed for the review at the group’s Wednesday, Oct. 16 meeting.

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News

Fairfax, Please Stop Calling Yourself Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Fairfax County seal at the Huntington Metro station in Fairfax (Staff photo by Sloane)

If there’s one thing that will annoy many Alexandrians more than all else, it’s calling the southeastern area of Fairfax County across Cameron Run “Alexandria.”

Dave Statter, a former reporter and volunteer firefighter who runs a fire and EMS news website, went on a rant this week about the distinction after Fairfax County Police, and later news outlets, referred to the controversy over a police officer detaining a driver to be handed over to ICE as having taken place in Alexandria.

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News

What’s Brewing at Port City?

By Vernon Miles
Port City beer (photo via Port City Brewing Company/Facebook)

Inside the industrial halls of Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Company, some new brews are in the works and the return of an old favorite planned.

The brewery is preparing to release Tmavé Pivo, a dark Czech lager. The beer will be a draft release only, with interested parties invited to Czech it out on Friday, Oct. 11, from 3-10 p.m. in Port City’s headquarters at 3950 Wheeler Avenue. Those bringing their own growlers and crowlers can collect some Tmavé Pivo to take home.

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News

New Security Measures Incoming for City Hall Include Armed Security Guards

By Vernon Miles

In response the June 6 shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Alexandria is preparing to install tighter security measures at City Hall in Old Town.

A suite of new security measures was approved at the Sept. 24 City Council meeting, less than two weeks after the City Council prohibited firearms on city property.

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News

Fundraiser for Local Pre-K Charity Tomorrow in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

A relay at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, a private school in the Seminary Hill neighborhood, is planned this weekend to help raise money for early childhood education in Alexandria.

This is the second year for the relay, which raises money for Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC). The organization has raised $31,120 so far but aims to raise $120,000 to help provide free pre-kindergarten to at-risk children in Alexandria.

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News

Planning Commission Recommends Sale of Old Town Parking Lots

By Vernon Miles
Draft proposal for 912-920 King Street (image via City of Alexandria)

A set of surface parking lots in the heart of Old Town could become a new set of retail and residential buildings — with no public parking lost.

The Planning Commission voted last night to recommend approval of the sale of 912, 916 and 920 King Street, along with 116 S. Henry Street just around the corner, to local investment firm Galena Capital Partners, LLC for $5.3 million.

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News

City Council Pushes for Dockless Scooters to Spread Outside of Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Over 200,000 trips have been made on e-scooters in Alexandria this year, but a sticking point with local officials is equitable access to scooters throughout the city.

Now the City Council is considering pushing scooter companies to ensure more scooters are available in parts of Alexandria outside of Old Town and Del Ray.

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City Staff Mulls Public Funding for Landmark Mall Redevelopment

By Vernon Miles

Alexandria’s City Council approved an ambitious master plan for Landmark Mall in April, but it’s city staff that’s been doing the delicate behind-the-scenes work of making that a reality.

After a long decline, Landmark Mall in Alexandria’s West End finally shut its doors for good in 2017 — though its corpse was briefly gussied up to play a 1980s shopping mall for Wonder Woman 2 in 2018.

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