News | ALXnow - Part 682

Morning Notes

Published November 5, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated November 5, 2021 at 8:20AM

A rather large cobweb at a base for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, seen from Jones Point Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

City’s Torpedo Factory plans concern artists — “A recent presentation from the Office of the Arts outlining several proposed options for how to renovate the Torpedo Factory has led to pushback from artists, who claim the city’s plans would radically and irrevocably change the historic art center.” [Alexandria Times]

Alexandria man convicted of armed fentanyl trafficking — “A federal jury convicted an Alexandria man yesterday on charges of conspiracy, possession, and distribution of fentanyl and Eutylone, and being a felon in possession of a firearm during drug trafficking.” [Department of Justice]

Alexandria Mayor says city and Youngkin share at least one thing: being mad at Dominion Energy

By Vernon Miles

Published November 4, 2021 at 3:30PM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson on the dais in Council Chambers, July 6, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

After two years of euphoria with a Democratic majority in the legislature and a Democrat governor, local Democratic leadership are bracing for the other shoe to drop after Republicans won the governor’s seat and secured a tie in the House of Delegates in the election on Tuesday.

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, a Democrat who just won re-election along with the full slate of Democratic candidates in the City Council race, said those last two years have been a boon for the city.

‘Fresh Baguette’ bakery coming to King Street in Old Town in early 2022

By James Cullum

Published November 4, 2021 at 2:15PM

A new bakery is coming to 1101 King Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Bethesda-based Fresh Baguette is planning to open shop at 1101 King Street in Old Town by January or February 2022.

The bakery, which was founded in 2013 and has two bakeries in Maryland and one in Georgetown, recently a request for an alteration at the Alexandria location, which sits at the corner of King Street and Henry Street (southbound Route 1) in Old Town. The move is part of an expansion plan that will see a number of the bakeries popping up around the region.

Guinea pigs galore at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published November 4, 2021 at 1:15PM

Polka is up for adoption via the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. (Via AWLA)

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria has a collection of guinea pigs who don’t want to fight for attention.

In other words, guinea pigs Paper, Scissors, Polka and Rock are looking to be adopted to new homes, and prefer not to share with each other, AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter told ALXnow.

ACPS says no major infrastructure work planned for Alexandria middle schools

By Vernon Miles

Published November 4, 2021 at 11:00AM

George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

After recent infrastructure work, Alexandria City Public Schools confirmed that it’s satisfied with the conditions at Alexandria’s middle schools — for the time being.

In what one school official described as a pleasantly “boring” meeting between the City Council and School Board after recent City Council-School Board turmoil, school staff said some recently completed work at George Washington Middle School and Francis C. Hammond Middle School should be the last big investments in those schools for the foreseeable future.

City Council to step up fight against Comcast internet monopoly next week

By Vernon Miles

Published November 4, 2021 at 9:50AM

Empty municipal fiber cables to be laid in the ground (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria’s City Council is scheduled to throw down the gauntlet on Comcast next week as the city works to break the company’s stranglehold on local internet access.

The city broke ground in August on a new municipal fiber-optic network that would boost internet speed at city facilities and public schools, but the part of bigger interest to the public was that a second underground system was being laid simultaneously to allow a private company to step in later and franchise it.

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published November 4, 2021 at 5:00AM

City warns of vaccine scheduling issues — “The City is aware that the state’s vaccine scheduling system may be overloaded with demand and service may be intermittent.” [Twitter]

Kismet Modern Indian opens in Old Town Alexandria — “Kismet Modern Indian [opened] for takeout on Tuesday, Nov. 2 starting at 4 p.m. at Alexandria’s Tavern Square, 111 N. Pitt Street.” [Patch]

Alexandria Health Department working to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for kids ages 5-11, new director says

By James Cullum

Published November 3, 2021 at 3:45PM | Updated November 3, 2021 at 4:23PM

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) The Alexandria Health Department is working community partners to begin scheduling coronavirus vaccine appointments for kids ages 5-11 by this week, according to its newly hired Director, Dr. David C. Rose.

“We’re in the process of making sure that we and our partners within the community — the pharmacies, the providers — everyone has what it is they need,” Rose told ALXnow in a recent interview. “We’re going to be making sure that appointments are available on a rolling basis when supply becomes available.”

Georgetown tearoom relocating to Alexandria waterfront

By Vernon Miles

Published November 3, 2021 at 2:45PM

Tea served at Lady Camellia (photo via Lady Camellia/Facebook)

Lady Camellia Pastry and Tea Room, once described by Washington City Paper as “a six-year-old’s tea party fantasy“, is relocating from Georgetown to an equally posh but overall better waterfront: Old Town Alexandria.

Where exactly in Old Town Lady Camellia is relocating isn’t clear. The tea shop hasn’t announced a new address, and the shop couldn’t be reached for comment, but the shop did say it will be on the waterfront. The new tea room could be opening sometime next spring or summer.

Alexandria’s holiday boat parade returning next month

By Vernon Miles

Published November 3, 2021 at 1:15PM

Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights (photo via Visit Alexandria/Facebook)

Visit Alexandria has announced the return of the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights early next month.

The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. The event is planned to feature dozens of brightly lit boats cruising along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline, Visit Alexandria said in a press release.

Retail, residential, and music venue could replace North Old Town office park

By Vernon Miles

Published November 3, 2021 at 10:50AM

Tidelock office park (photo via Google Maps)

Plans to convert a North Old Town office park into a mixed-use space are headed to city review early next year.

TideLock Property Owner, LLC is looking at turning the Tidelock office park at 1033, 1055 and 1111 N. Fairfax Street into mix of residential and retail development. Plans submitted to the city indicate the developer is looking to convert the existing space and add new density rather than demolish and rebuild.