The George Washington Birthday Parade is happening this Monday, and thousands of visitors are expected to line the mile-long parade route in Old Town.
The parade is the largest in the U.S. honoring George Washington, who turns 290 on Feb. 22. The Alexandria government will be otherwise closed on Monday, which is President’s Day.
Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon is planning a grand opening celebration on Monday, Feb. 28, with a week of deals lined up for different menu items.
The restaurant opened last month in the Bradlee Shopping Center (3690 King Street), which is referred to somewhat bafflingly in a press release as “the heart of Old Town Alexandria.”
An upcoming City Council meeting could see the city helping to fund a significant boost to Arlandria’s affordable housing stock.
City Council is scheduled to review a $10.5 million loan to the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation (AHDC) for the new Mount Vernon-Glebe Affordable Housing Project at a Tuesday, Feb. 22 meeting. The new development would have 482-units, all of them set aside for various levels of affordable housing.
Beyond Hello medical cannabis dispensary to open in Belle Haven — “Gummies, vapes and more coming to a former steakhouse.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Alexandria looks to bolster projects to tackle sewer, stormwater flooding — “Months after Alexandria, Virginia, broke ground on an expensive underground tunnel project to prevent millions of gallons of sewage from flowing into the Potomac River during heavy rains, the city is looking at other projects to help tackle the problem.” [WTOP]
Staying home is a good defense against Covid, but what if your home is full of mold? The Alexandria Health Department is recruiting 50 city residents with respiratory issues to participate in a free air quality pilot study, and is offering them $100 in gift cards.
The Alexandria Air Cleaning Evaluation for Healthier Homes pilot is based on the premise that many residents in underserved areas live in conditions that “actively harm their well-being.”
There’s been some drama around the future of the Torpedo Factory, but applications are opening next month for local artists looking to get in ahead of those changes.
“The City of Alexandria will be accepting resident artist applications for studio space at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union Street) beginning March 1,” the city said in a press release. “Individuals or groups of up to four artists are invited to apply for the studio jury for a three-year lease in one of the available studios. The deadline to apply is April 19.”
Like big dogs? This weekend (Feb. 18 to Feb. 21) the Animal Welfare League has waved adoption fees on all pets weighing more than 30 pounds.
One of those big pooches is Mars, a 56-pound three-year-old fawn-colored terrier mix.
Masks have been an ever-present feature of schools since students returned to in-person learning last year, but new state legislation is forcing Alexandria City Public Schools to prepare for mask-less students and faculty.
A new meeting announced via email indicates the Alexandria City School Board will be taking up the discussion of the current mask requirement.
The former GenOn power plant is a closed-off stretch of urban decay, but new plans headed to the City Council paint a picture of the area as a new mixed-use community.
The plans show around 2.1 million square feet of new development at the site with a mix of residential, retails, arts spaces and more. The new development is also positioned as the crown jewel of an Arts and Cultural District in Old Town North approved in 2018.
George Washington birthday parade returning on Monday — “Celebrate Presidents’ Day and the first president’s 290th birthday at the George Washington Birthday Parade on Monday.” [Alexandria Times]
Study: coastal flooding to increase as seas rise 1 foot by 2050 — “Several areas in and around Alexandria are vulnerable, according to an updated interactive tool.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Alexandria could be converting another block of King Street to a pedestrian-only zone this spring.
At a meeting of the Waterfront Commission earlier this week, city staff presented both plans for a pilot to close the waterfront end of King Street and examined the future of the 100 block of King Street, which has been permanently closed and converted into a pedestrian zone.
