Covid rates have increased during Alexandria’s midsummer.
As of Monday (July 25), there are 38,779 reported cases, an increase of 605 cases since this time last week, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The seven-day average of new cases is now 86.4, up from 77.1, and the seven-day positivity rate for Covid tests is now 22.3%, up from 19.2%.
Alexandria’s expanded outdoor dining — a laissez-faire approach to sidewalk regulation brought about by Covid — is coming to an end in September.
The City announced this morning (Monday) that the Temporary COVID Business Relief Measures, which permitted the expanded outdoor dining operations along King Street, will expire on Friday, Sept. 30. Starting in October, restaurants will be required to go through a city program for permission to expand their restaurant to the city sidewalks.
Inova Alexandria Celebrates 150th Anniversary — ” This year marks the hospital’s 150th anniversary, which the City of Alexandria is celebrating with an exhibit in partnership with the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum called ‘Alexandria Hospital: Women Mobilize the Community.'” [Alexandria Times]
It’s Monday — Rain in the afternoon and evening. High of 88 and low of 77. Sunrise at 6:05 am and sunset at 8:27 pm. [Weather.gov]
The big news in Alexandria this week was a double homicide in the West End and the news later that the suspect had been released from jail in Arlington earlier this year.
Former Mayor Kerry Donley also died of a heart attack last week with funeral services scheduled for this Sunday, July 24.
Peter Laboy laughed as he talked about Kashif Bashir‘s sentencing.
It’s been nine years since Bashir shot Laboy, a former Alexandria Police officer, in the head in 2013. Bashir was later found not guilty by reason of insanity, and was conditionally released from prison in 2018. He was arrested the following year for setting the homes of his mental health providers on fire.
Blink and you’ll miss it. Alexandria’s Noah Lyles broke the American record in the 200 meter race at the track and field World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday (July 21).
Lyles clocked in at 19.31 seconds, breaking Michael Johnson’s 200 meter record of 19.32 seconds, which was set at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
Gary Oelze Looks Back at 55 Years at The Birchmere — “The Birchmere is in its 56th year and owner Gary Oelze is still going strong as he approaches his 80th birthday next month. Music has been a constant in Gary’s life, starting with his childhood in rural Kentucky.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
It’s Friday — Clear throughout the day. High of 91 and low of 76. Sunrise at 6:02 am and sunset at 8:30 pm. [Weather.gov]
Justus Frank and Jeremy Barber are sticking with Italian food with their pop-up restaurant Elo’s Italian Restaurant in Del Ray.
It’s been a little more than a year since the partners closed their date night spot Live Oak (1603 Commonwealth Avenue) and reopened it as Elo’s. The pop-up has been a hit with customers, Frank says, adding that it’s a lot of trouble and expense to switch back to a southern cuisine concept.
City staff say that initial findings from a mitigation pilot along Duke Street earlier this year show the project was mostly successful in keeping traffic off neighborhood streets.
In a small update (page 10) prepared for the Traffic and Parking Board, city staff said initial findings showed the Duke Street Traffic Mitigation Pilot — which ran from January-April — mostly accomplished what it set out to do.
Maven loves to watch birds and squirrels from the window of his foster home.
The two-year-old brown tabby seems shy at first, but opens up when he’s excited, says Gina Hardter, spokesperson for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
After a contentious Board of Architectural Review (BAR) meeting, plans for the redevelopment of Samuel Madden Homes in the Braddock neighborhood are headed back to public review at a meeting next week.
The City of Alexandria said in a release that a community meeting for the proposed redevelopment is scheduled for Tuesday, July 26, at 6 p.m. in the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street).
