News | ALXnow - Part 698

Canceled proclamation draws ire of anti-abortion activists in Alexandria

Published March 9, 2022 at 10:45AM

There was no proclamation at the March 8 City Council meeting honoring abortion providers, but that one had even been planned in the first place was enough to fill several rows of City Hall with anti-abortion advocates rallying against the canceled proclamation

While the casual viewer of the March 8 agenda might be baffled at the presence of anti-abortion advocates at the meeting, the docket had originally included a proclamation of March 10 as “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day.” Local religious groups were stirred by clergy like Arlington’s Bishop Michael Burbidge, despite the proclamation being pulled from the agenda at the request of Mayor Justin Wilson.

Alexandria proposes extending emergency business relief to June 30

By James Cullum

Published March 9, 2022 at 9:30AM

Local businesses will have until the summer to enjoy the fruits of a temporary program that has allowed restaurants to provide curbside pickups, suspend regular operating hours and sell alcohol to-go.

City Council, on Saturday, will consider extending the temporary relief program to local businesses from April 1 to June 30, and expire along with the city’s state of emergency that same day.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published March 9, 2022 at 5:00AM | Updated March 9, 2022 at 11:39AM

Alexandria archeologists preserve old waterfront barrel — “Archaeologists working at the Robinson Landing Site found this barrel head within a stone and log foundation…” [Twitter]

It’s Wednesday — Rain in the morning and afternoon. High of 50 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:30 am and sunset at 6:11 pm. [Weather.gov]

Carlyle and Old Town hosting St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2022 at 3:50PM | Updated March 8, 2022 at 4:17PM

Murphy's Grand Irish Pub at 713 King Street [Photo via Murphy's/Facebook)

Need to get your Irish on? While Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been pushed off until September, there are two Irish-themed bar crawls coming to the city in the days ahead.

The Shamrock Stampede will descend on Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood on Saturday, March 12. Participating restaurants include Whiskey & Oyster, Sweet Fire Donna’s, Tequila & Taco, Lost Boy Cider and Joe Theismann’s Restaurant.

Climate and affordable housing take centerstage in Alexandria’s first budget hearing of 2022

By Vernon Miles

Published March 8, 2022 at 2:50PM

Nathaly Zelaya from Tenants at a City Council meeting on March 7, image via City of Alexandriaand Workers United

Alexandria kicked off a discussion of the FY 2023 budget with a public hearing last night (Monday), where climate and housing advocates pushed for the city’s budget to do more to address these issues.

There was little feedback from the City Council in the 45-minute session as the floor was mostly turned over to public speakers.

Sur La Table reopening on Thursday in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2022 at 1:00PM | Updated March 8, 2022 at 1:34PM

Sur La Table is reopening at 326 King Street. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Nearly two years after filing for bankruptcy, Seattle-based kitchenware retailer Sur La Table will reopen in Old Town on Thursday, March 10.

Sur La Table opened at 326 King Street in 2013, and closed half of its 121 stores around the country after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020. It was acquired by Marquee Brands and CSC Generation for $89 million.

Old Town concert venue plans programs honoring Afghanistan and Ukraine

By Vernon Miles

Published March 8, 2022 at 10:45AM

Performance at Classical Movement, image via Classical Movements

Fresh off an approval to expand their music venue, the concert series at Classical Movements (711 Princess Street) is planning to highlight the music of two countries in crisis.

One of the two concerts will feature music from Afghanistan, featuring a performance from a recently arrived refugee. The other will feature musicians from the National Symphony and the Washington National Opera/Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in a fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders’ work in Ukraine, according to a release from Classical Movements.

Kitschy pink public art installation scheduled for unveiling later this month

By Vernon Miles

Published March 8, 2022 at 9:45AM

I Love You park design, via City of Alexandria

The new kitschy “I Love You” public art installation at Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street) is scheduled to be unveiled on March 25.

The new installation by Miami artists Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt features illuminated neon pink lights spelling out “I Love You” mounted on a 15-foot high display and will “bathe visitors in a soft pink hue,” a press release from the city described with an unusual touch of sensuality. The color scheme had earlier been described by Office of the Arts Director Diane Ruggiero as “Pepto-Bismol pink.”

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published March 8, 2022 at 5:00AM

Local clothing boutique rebrands — “After four years operating Threadleaf, a responsibly-sourced clothing boutique, Nicole McGrew is making some major changes.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 57 and low of 41. Sunrise at 6:31 am and sunset at 6:10 pm. [Weather.gov]

New report details arrests and safety incidents in ACPS

By James Cullum

Published March 7, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated March 9, 2022 at 1:23PM

Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus at 3801 W. Braddock Road was evacuated on Friday, Dec. 10, after a bomb threat. Here, Alexandria Police and a Bomb Dog look for anything suspicious outside the school. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Eighteen Alexandria City Public School students were arrested in the first two quarters of this school year, in addition to 41 reported fights/assaults and 13 seized weapons. The weapons seized include a gun, five knives, a stun gun, two fake weapons, and pepper spray.

That’s according to a School Safety Data report to be presented to the School Board on Thursday. The report reveals 18 arrests within ACPS between August and December, 34 injuries, and also a sexual assault allegation at the Alexandria City High School-Minnie Howard campus in October.

Gordon Lightfoot, Kevin Bacon and more coming to Birchmere

By Vernon Miles

Published March 7, 2022 at 2:45PM | Updated March 7, 2022 at 3:55PM

Image via The Bacon Brothers/Facebook

ALXnow has good news and bad news.

The good news — not to step on The Zebra’s beat — is Gordon Lightfoot is coming to The Birchmere (3701 Mt Vernon Avenue). The more on-brand bad news: the show is already sold out.