Before it was a Starbucks, before it was the Seaport Inn, the restaurant at the corner of King and S. Union Street was a bawdy little tavern with a petrified pig.
As early as 1893, records refer to the location as Brill’s Restaurant, and local newspaper reports from a year later detail a curious incident with a slab of ham. These details, and others about local Alexandria restaurants, are featured in a new book by local journalist Hope Nelson called Classic Restaurants of Alexandria.
It’s been a rough couple months for George Washington Middle School.
First, an old mold problem at the school resurfaced. Then there was the series of fire-related incidents at the school. School administration is hoping an environmental test can help provide a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) has plenty of pets for adoption, but few with as many tricks and devious tactics as the shelter’s own master-thief: Moomoo.
Moomoo, or Moo as he’s known by his friends, is a two-year-old domestic shorthair. Like Remmy, the stately gentleman, Moo is a tuxedo cat. But unlike Remmy, Moo has a devious streak.
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is overhauling its feedback process system-wide to make sure parents know who to turn to if they are having trouble getting their concerns addressed.
In the past, parents at several schools have spoken at School Board meetings and expressed concerns that they weren’t being heard. Parents at George Washington Middle School said at a recent School Board meeting that they felt they weren’t being heard over concerns about the modernization of the school and fire safety — though school officials at the meeting did address the repairs made to the fire system in the school.
The waterfront will sparkle tomorrow (Saturday) as dozens of ships decked out in Christmas lights cruise along the shoreline.
This year is the 20th annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. Festivities are planned throughout the afternoon and early evening, from 2-8 p.m. Planned activities include a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, a bookmark-making station from Old Town Books and holiday music from 97.1 WASH-FM.
Slaughterhouse Lawsuit Dismissed — “Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Lisa Kemler ruled on Nov. 27 to dismiss a lawsuit filed against city council’s decision to approve a live poultry butcher shop at 3225 Colvin St. The hearing was in response to a complaint filed by 10 plaintiffs… Kemler ruled to dismiss the case, concluding that the alleged harms were ‘too speculative.'” [Alexandria Times]
Photos With Santa and AFD — “Get your holiday pictures taken with Santa! @IAFFLocal2141 Helping Hands Fund will host its Photos with Santa event at Fire Station 201 (317 Prince St.) from 11am to 3pm Sunday, Dec. 8 and again on Sunday, Dec. 15. Photos are $10 & proceeds benefit the IAFF Local 2141 Toy Drive.” [Twitter/@AlexandriaVAFD]
A new bike campus is all painted and ready to go under the Alexandria side of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
The smooth pavement between the bridge pylons has long been a popular spot for bicyclists on the Mount Vernon Trail or visiting Jones Point Park, but the new signs and lanes on the ground can help new cyclists learn the rules of the road and practice in a safe environment.
As part of its controversial efforts to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to Seminary Road, the city is planning to install a sidewalk on the north side of the road — if it can get the money.
Much of the Complete Streets project on Seminary Road has been completed but the city is still hoping to add a new sidewalk next to the seminary from which the road draws its name.
The city is hoping to bring new affordable housing to the Eisenhower Valley, but some on the Planning Commission said the city is shooting itself in the foot with snobby development guidelines.
The plans to reshape Eisenhower — a topic that came up several times this week — went to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Dec. 3. While the commission mostly praised the vision presented in the plans, Commissioner Mindy Lyle pointed out that efforts to create more affordable housing in the area are inadvertently hamstrung by the city’s own zoning and design practices.
A new pilates studio in Carlyle is hoping to help locals get a head start on their New Year’s fitness resolutions.
Club Pilates, a pilates chain, planning to open at 1725 Jamieson Avenue, just a block south of Whole Foods. The location is scheduled to have a grand opening early next year, but the new studio is offering free preview sessions next week.
Potomac Yard Metro to Create Jobs — “Those behind the new Potomac Yard Metro station say the area is about to be transformed in more ways than one…. Amazon has promised 25,000 new HQ2 jobs in ten years. But Alexandria City says a finished Potomac Yard Metro will… bring 26,000 jobs on top of that. [WUSA 9]
Local Nonprofit Raises Thousands on ‘Giving Tuesday’ — “Together We Bake, the nonprofit that provides workforce and personal development for women in need in Alexandria, raised $22,821 on Giving Tuesday.” [Zebra]
