News | ALXnow - Part 476

Del Ray residents decry tree removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park

Published June 22, 2023 at 3:30PM

Del Ray residents form a chain around a tree in Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray, June 22, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A number of Del Ray residents locked arms around an oak tree slated for removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray on Wednesday, only days after City Council approved a plan to renovate the park.

Gisele McAuliffe, a 30-year Del Ray resident, says that the city’s approved plan to renovate the park will come at too great a cost — the removal of 40 trees. The age of the trees is in dispute, as the city says the oldest trees on the property were planted in the 1940s, while McAuliffe and her friends measured the trees and claim they are upward of 100 years old.

The inquisitive duo, Connie and Pearl are searching for their forever home

By ALXnow.com

Published June 22, 2023 at 12:00PM | Updated June 22, 2023 at 12:52PM

Meet Connie and Pearl, a bonded pair of 1-year-old guinea pigs up for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

These two inquisitive girls are searching for their forever home! Connie and Pearl are both friendly and calm, according to AWLA spokesperson Erin Shackelford.

Popular food truck serving all-vegan meals in Carlyle this afternoon

By Vernon Miles

Published June 22, 2023 at 11:30AM

Alexandria vegans rejoice: food truck The Vegan Factory is headed to Lost Boy Cider (317 Hooffs Run Drive).

The food truck hops around the D.C. region but it’s headed to the cidery in the Carlyle neighborhood today from 3-8 p.m.

Burglary and robbery at two Alexandria 7-Elevens Thursday morning

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2023 at 10:57AM | Updated June 22, 2023 at 3:07PM

There was a burghlary at the 7-ELeven at 2108 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Thursday morning, June 22, 2023 (via Google Maps)

Updated at 3 p.m. Three men broke into the 7-Eleven in Del Ray this morning, minutes after another 7-Eleven was robbed at gunpoint in the West End.

The suspects broke into the store at 2018 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray at around 2:15 a.m., according to the Alexandria Police Department. Two men wearing all black broke into the closed business while a third suspect remained in the driver’s seat of a silver Mercedes with D.C. tags. The ATM machine in the store was broken into and an undisclosed amount of cash was taken, according to store staff.

Notes: Indian Prime Minister visits Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood

By ALXnow.com

Published June 22, 2023 at 8:45AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Science Foundation (PMO India/Facebook)

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. At night: Showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 2am. Low around 67. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Alexandria City Council settles turf war over Simpson Park

By Vernon Miles

Published June 21, 2023 at 3:50PM

Simpson Park overhaul plans (image via City of Alexandria)

Eugene Simpson Park is getting a set of synthetic turf fields as part of a broader overhaul with city leaders saying the added usability outweighs the detriments of the artificial grass field.

At a meeting this past Saturday, the City Council unanimously voted in favor of a large-scale renovation (item 20) to eugene Simpson Stadium Park (426 East Monroe Avenue).

Benny Diforza’s Pizza is coming to Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 21, 2023 at 2:30PM

Pizza (via Benny Diforza's Pizza/Facebook)

Get ready to loosen your belts, because Benny Diforza’s Pizza is planning to open this year in Del Ray.

The restaurant will open at 1504-B Mount Vernon Avenue, the former home to Sicilian Pizza. Their claims to fame are 28-inch pies that go for $5 to $6.50 per slice.

Upcoming Mount Vernon Trail night-tour includes firefly and bat-watching

By Vernon Miles

Published June 21, 2023 at 1:15PM

A runner on the Mount Vernon Trail at sunset near Daingerfield Island (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail have done a lot of work on the eponymous trail, and now the group is offering a unique new way of experiencing it.

The group is hosting a “Fireflies and Bats Walk” on Saturday, June 24, from 8:45-9:45 p.m. The tour is free but attendees can get tickets and make an optional $10 donation online. The tour starts at 615 Slaters Lane.

Woman abducted, held at knifepoint and robbed in West End

By James Cullum

Published June 21, 2023 at 10:55AM

A woman was abducted in the 900 block of N. Van DOrn Street on June 7, 2023 (via Google Maps)

A 27-year-old man, Leon Solomon Jackson, is being held without bond after allegedly abducting a woman, threatening her with a knife, stealing her credit card and car earlier this month.

The victim reported the incident to police on June 8 that the incident occurred the previous day with a man she’d recently met at a convenience store in the 300 block of N. Ripley Street, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

Notes: Canal Center Plaza café launching new rebrand next month

By ALXnow.com

Published June 21, 2023 at 8:40AM

Jula's on the Potomac, né Cafe 44 (image via Cafe 44)

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Showers likely, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog after noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. At night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 3am. Low around 62. Northeast wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Arlandria bar Hops N’ Shine emerges from City Council battle with mixed results

By Vernon Miles

Published June 20, 2023 at 3:50PM | Updated June 21, 2023 at 3:02PM

Map of Hops N' Shine and associated outdoor space (image via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 3 p.m.) After taking a beating at the Planning Commission, Arlandria bar Hops ‘N Shine (3410 Mount Vernon Avenue) came out of a City Council meeting a little better off.

The bar faced some intense criticism from the Planning Commission over racking up violations of the bar’s zoning conditions, mainly for allegedly continuing to utilize outdoor spaces for trivia nights even after being told to stop by the city.