A new speakeasy is opening next month in Alexandria.
After a year in development, Bar 86 will open next month at Café du Soleil. The Tiki bar is the work of owner Chef Samuel Darlo and consultants Jacob Sunny and Kelvin Sone, the latter two having recently finished work at the new Madam Coco Emporium at 115 S. Royal Street.
An upcoming pub crawl in Old Town North will teach participants a little bit of Alexandria history.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the North Old Town Independent Citizens Association (NOTICe) is hosting Canal Watering Holes: Alexandria Canal History and Pub Crawl. Tickets for the event, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., cost $35 for individuals and $60 for couples.
Aslin Beer Company (847 S. Pickett Street) is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 27, with live music, comedians, food, and beer.
“It’s been 10 weird, wild, and unforgettable years, and we’re throwing a proper party to celebrate,” Aslin Beer Co. said in its event listing. “You already know we’re brewing up something special for the occasion. Come thirsty. Come hungry. Bring the fam. Stay for the chaos. Thanks for being part of the ride. Let’s celebrate ten years the only way we know how.”
We made it to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s a look at this week’s top stories.
Our most-read post is on a proposal to open a 24-hour Mexican restaurant in the city’s Del Ray neighborhood. The effort is facing some pushback from neighbors wary of potential crime and safety issues. In July, Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita officially announced in a special use permit application that it wants to open at 529 E. Howell Avenue, the former home to Bark Social. It would be the fourth restaurant for the local chain, and while the restaurant won’t serve alcohol, outside patio hours would be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, according to the application. The inside area is proposed to be open 24 hours a day.
An ABC store in Alexandria’s West End closed to retail customers last month and converted its operations to serve alcohol licensees only.
The store at 4349 Duke Street closed July 15 after nine years of operation, according to Virginia ABC. The agency moved the location’s contents to 901-929 S. Pickett Street, about 2 miles away, where it now serves licensees rather than walk-in customers.
Atlas Brew Works, which opened a taproom in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood last year, was awarded this year’s RAMMYS Award for Beer Program of the Year on Sunday, August 3.
Atlas Brew Works (2425 Mandeville Lane) was one of three businesses in Alexandria up for regional awards from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), along with Andy’s Pizza (107 N. Fayette Street) and Josephine (109 S. St. Asaph Street).
How do you like your Beaujolais?
The Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee just announced that it will host a food and wine tasting that will “delight your taste buds and transport you to the heart of France,” according to the city. The event is being held the week before Thanksgiving at Lloyd House (220 N. Washington Street) on Nov. 20 (Thursday), from 7 to 9 p.m.
Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Nearly all of our top stories this week are about local businesses.
Just in time to catch the end of the summer, our top story is on the beta launch of Continues Arcade, a new bar and restaurant featuring more than 60 restored classic arcade games. In anticipation of next week’s soft opening, ALXnow got a sneak peek inside the space at 1050 N. Fayette Street.
If you’ve got a hankering for strawberry rhubarb vodka, look no further than Del Ray.
For the last year and a half, Orkney Springs Distillery has bottled and sold small batches of gluten-free, organic gin and vodka at its facility at 3125 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. The award-winning recipes are all made on a 140-acre farm in the Shenandoah Valley, and the Del Ray tasting room costs $30 per person and is open by appointment only.
There’s a new option in Old Town for coffee and wine.
After years under construction, LaPluma Coffee & Wine opened today at 1000 Cameron Street. The two-story Latin American wine bar and café is owned by Iliana and Dany Lopez, who did a full renovation of the 140-year-old building that was previously home to Energesco Solutions LLC.
It’s been another busy week in Alexandria.
Amid the impact of federal worker cutbacks, looming budgets and crime, our top story this week was on the popularity of a new Taylor Swift-themed pop-up bar in Del Ray. Lines are wrapping around the block at Eras (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue).
