News | ALXnow - Part 930

Saunas and Ice Baths: A New Coworking Office Focusing on Wellness Opens in Old Town

Published August 20, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 3:54PM

The Loop coworking space at 215 N. Payne Street in Old Town offers the amenities you expect out of such an office, and some you won't expect. (Courtesy photo)

Need a quick sweat in the office sauna before an upcoming meeting? How about an ice bath? For folks tired of working from home, a new coworking office just opened in Old Town with amenities focused on wellness.

Real estate developer Christopher Campagna was ready to open The Loop at 215 N. Payne Street back in March, but then the pandemic struck and it pushed back his plans. He was all set for a virtual opening when George Floyd was killed and the city experienced a period of social unrest, and so he pushed the opening to late summer.

Climbing Gym Sportrock Holding On for Dear Life Through Pandemic Recovery

By Vernon Miles

Published August 20, 2020 at 2:00PM

Interior climbing gym amid pandemic (photo courtesy Kian McKellar/Sportrock)

An Alexandria climbing gym is surviving by its fingertips amid a slow recovery.

“We are talking about a year of survival,” said Sportrock spokesperson Sean Taft-Morales, “not a year of thriving.”

Affordable Housing Communities to Get Free Wood-Fired Pizza the Next Two Saturdays in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 11:30AM

An Arlington nonprofit has partnered with a D.C. food truck to provide free pizza to affordable housing communities in Alexandria this month.

This is the fifth local campaign for Hearts of Empowerment, which has partnered with Timber Pizza Company to provide free wood-fired pizzas from its food truck on August 22 at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) in Old Town at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, and at the same time at the Parkview of Alexandria apartments in Arlandria on Saturday, August 29.

Superintendent: ACPS Needs Time to Educate Public Before Vote to Change T.C. Williams High School Name

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 10:45AM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 5:20PM

If all goes according to plan, Alexandria City Public Schools will begin a public engagement process in September and October to educate the public on who Thomas Chambliss Williams was, followed by a vote on whether to change the name of T.C. Williams High School.

The actual vote on a new name would be chosen next spring after a vote on whether the name should be changed in December, according to ACPS Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., who reported the news to the school board in a virtual retreat on Wednesday.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer Calls Out Minority Leader for Post Office Tweet — “Trump admitted he was sabotaging the US Postal Service to stop people from voting in a televised interview on FoxNews. It was even on a channel you guys actually watch.” [Twitter]

Alexandria Now Has 3,165 Cases of COVID-19 — “The latest update from the City on COVID-19: Positive tests up 19 to 3,165 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate steady at 5.8% 0 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

Lena’s in Del Ray Applies for Large Second-Floor Expansion and To-Go Alcohol Sales

By Vernon Miles

Published August 19, 2020 at 4:30PM | Updated August 19, 2020 at 5:04PM

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza and Tap could be undergoing a bit new expansion if its special use permit gets approved.

According to the application, new plans would expand Lena’s into the second floor of 515 Mount Vernon Avenue. The expansion would add 180 additional indoor seats to the restaurant.

West End Computer Repair Shop LapFix Sees Business Spike During Pandemic

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated August 19, 2020 at 3:36PM

Karim Hussen’s business is spiking. With more customers working from home on personal laptops, the owner and staff of LapFix (4613 Duke Street) have their hands full recovering data and fixing personal computers and phones.

“We are busier now than ever, because everyone needs cameras for their computers and webcams for Zoom chats,” Hussen recently told ALXnow. “Of all things it’s webcams. Thankfully we are an essential business, according to the Commonwealth of Virginia, so I’m thankful that we never closed.”

Truck Lit on Fire, Stripped of Identification at City Impound Lot

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 1:30PM

An Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police are investigating the intentional burning of a truck in the city’s impound lot (5249 Eisenhower Avenue) on July 30.

An Arlington County police officer witnessed the burning of a black four-seat Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and reported seeing a person jump into a getaway vehicle. Investigators later found that the Silverado had no tags and the VIN plate on the dashboard “appeared to have been removed,” notes a search warrant affidavit.

Restaurant Week Returns With New Options and Takeout Focus

By Vernon Miles

Published August 19, 2020 at 11:45AM

The building at Mia's Italian Kitchen at 100 King Street (via Mia's Italian Kitchen/Facebook)

Alexandria’s Restaurant Week is back, though in the takeout and delivery format that many restaurants have had to adapt to during the pandemic.

From this Friday, Aug. 21, to Sunday Aug. 30, over 60 restaurants in Alexandria will offer a $49 takeout, delivery, or curbside pick-up dinner for two. The event, which started in 2009, is being rebranded as Alexandria Restaurant Week To-Go.

Alexandria Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 10:45AM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson (on left), Councilwoman Del Pepper and Councilwoman Amy Jackson honor the passage of the 19th Amendment with an event at the Barrett Library on August 18, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria commemorated the 100 year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment on Tuesday with a socially distant ceremony outside the Kate Waller Barrett Library.

Mayor Justin Wilson read a city proclamation that recounted the dozens of suffragists who were imprisoned, tortured and ultimately released from the Occoquan Workhouse after their case was thrown out in the federal courthouse in Alexandria.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Man Wins $100,000 in Virginia Lottery — “Darrar, who used to be a small business owner, bought the winning ticket at Global Food, 1476 North Beauregard Street in Alexandria for the July 28 drawing. He plans on saving his winnings.” [Patch]

COVID-19 Cases Increase by 16 — “Positive tests up 16 to 3,146 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate up to 5.8% 3 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]