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Dominion Energy puts up giant posters to beautify Glebe Electric Transmission Project in Potomac Yard

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Dominion Energy’s Glebe Electric Transmission Project in Potomac Yard just got a little more attractive.

Since last winter, the parking lot in the 3800 block of Richmond Highway in Potomac Yard has been home to a tall, ugly concrete structure to hide the work Dominion has been doing to create underground electric transmission lines and rebuild and modernize the Glebe Substation in nearby Arlington County.

The sound walls will be up until at least the end of the year, and to make their appearance easier on the eyes Dominion just unveiled two giant posters showing Potomac Yard in the future by local artist Lea Craigie.

Craigie, who was the official 2022 National Cherry Blossom artist, digitally created two 23-foot-by-30-foot posters for the project. A poster depicting an evening scene faces Richmond Highway, while the other poster faces the parking lot.

“These walls weren’t the most pleasant things to look at,” Craigie said. “I want people to feel happy and peaceful when they look at my art. I also want them to think about the environment. In my pieces you’ll see electric chargers on the cars, solar panels, trains, wind turbines, and a diverse mix of people.”

The project timeline is below.

The Glebe Electric Transmission Project timeline (via Dominion Energy)
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The Art League may have found a new home on Slaters Lane

The Art League is one of several Old Town North tenants being displaced by new development at Montgomery Center (300 Montgomery Street), but a permit filed with the City of Alexandria indicated the arts-focused non-profit could be moving to the former ABC Imaging location at 800 Slaters Lane.

A Special Use Permit has been filed to open new studio spaces in the former printing shop. The Art League also said classes will be held inside the building.

The Art League was founded in 1964 and is a non-profit that promotes arts and art education.

According to the permit:

The Art League provides gallery exhibits and work spaces for artists, offers classroom education and workshops in the fine arts, and provides outreach programs for the local [community]. Students of all ages and skill levels are able to take courses in drawing, painting, watercolor painting, fiber art, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography, jewelry making, clay animation, silk screening, stained glass and more. With an enrollment of almost 7,000 students per year, The Art League intends to establish 11 enclosed and 5 open studio spaces for artists and education opportunities in the existing building located at 800 Slaters Lane.

The project is heading to the Planning Commission on Sept. 5.

Plans for 800 Slaters Lane (image via City of Alexandria)

Image via Google Maps

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Brian Hilton is Alexandria’s George Washington, now he wants to be Albert Einstein

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You might know Brian Hilton better as George Washington, but soon, you’ll also know him as Albert Einstein.

For the last six years, Hilton has been Alexandria’s official portrayer of the first U.S. president at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town and at dozens of annual events around the country. He was most recently invited by the National Park Service to appear as Washington on July 4 at Mount Rushmore.

“I want to speak in front of as many people as possible in order to educate about General Washington,” Hilton told us. “I want them to see just how extraordinary a person he was and why he is considered to be the indispensable man. If anyone was ever truly indispensable, that was George Washington.”

Like Washington, the 55-year-old Hilton stands six-feet-one in his Continental Army uniform, and in a low, hushed voice will rattle off any number of famous quotes. And with the 250th anniversary the signing of the Declaration of Independence a year away, Hilton’s schedule is starting to pile up.

Hilton teaches high school history in Henrico County. Raised in Fairfax County, he got his start in interpretive history by portraying President John F. Kennedy while attending West Springfield High School. He’s portrayed Kennedy more than 70 times since then, and has also done Patrick Henry and Woodrow Wilson.

Twenty years ago, Hilton started his public speaking business Hail To The Chief, which is managed by his wife, Mary Beth. The couple have two young sons.

Hilton, a history graduate of George Mason University, has studied Washington for decades and started portraying him in 2007. He was a guide and researcher at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate for 10 years and even appears as the founding father for the Washington family’s annual reunions, before members of Congress as well as groups like the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Hilton’s newest obsession is Albert Einstein, and for the past eight years he’s been studying science, math and German in order to take the scientist on the road, so to speak.

ALXnow: What’s your closet look like?

Hilton: My closet is stocked with quite the 18th-century wardrobe. At the George Washington Birthday Parade, you might see me in my Continental Army uniform, but I’ve also got civilian dress from formal all the way down to farm clothes. I’d say about half of what I’ve got is 18th-century garb.

ALXnow: How did you get started portraying famous figures?

Hilton: For the longest time I portrayed President Kennedy — as early as when I was in high school for my AP U.S. History class. I got the bug right away.

ALXnow: What’s your favorite Washington quote?

Hilton: I really like most of what General Washington conveyed in his Circular Letter to the Governors of the Thirteen States dated June 8, 1783; his Farewell Address of September 19, 1796; and the following from a draft of his first inaugural address that was never used:

(T)he best institutions may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances be made subservient to the vilest of purposes. Should, hereafter, those who are entrusted with the management of this government, incited by the lust of power and prompted by the supineness or venality of their constituents, overleap the known barriers of this Constitution and violate the unalienable rights of humanity: it will only serve to show, that no compact among men (however provident in its construction and sacred in its ratification) can be pronounced everlasting and inviolable. And if I may so express myself, that no wall of words, that no mound of parchment can be so formed as to stand against the sweeping torrent of boundless ambition on the one side, aided by the sapping current of corrupted morals on the other.

ALXnow: Do you sometimes feel like you’re channeling Washington and the other historical figures you portray?

Hilton: Yeah, that happens after about five minutes. It’s an exhilarating experience that takes me a little bit to come down from after a performance. I’ve loved the character-building experience of taking what’s generally agreed upon to be best of Washington and taking these deep dives into the lives of him and other individuals has been extremely rewarding.

ALXnow: Do people ask you to participate in partisan events?

Hilton: Definitely. I will not accept doing, in the persona of General Washington, the extremes when it comes to politics or religion. I don’t say anything that Washington didn’t say. I have studied him since before I was at George Mason University.

ALXnow: When can we next see you as George Washington?

Hilton: The exact date hasn’t been set, but I’ll be appearing at the Carlyle House in September.

ALXnow: Then the George Washington Birthday Parade in February…

Hilton: That’s right. You know, for people like me who portray Washington, President’s Day is what Christmas is like for Santa Claus.

ALXnow: Now that you’re prepping for Einstein, how are your math and science skills?

Hilton: I’ve always been fascinated by Albert Einstein. Mainly it’s just just getting ready when it comes to the whole mathematics side. I’m also studying a little Hebrew. I’ll be speaking English but with a German accent. I hope to portray him for colleges and universities, for think tanks and research facilities. So, it’s been a lot of math, the fluidity of spacetime, and getting all that down. I’ve got the general theory of relativity and the special theory and all of his papers from 1905 in particular. I’ve got all the Einstein equations down and I’ve got the quantum mechanics down, as well.

ALXnow: Will you wear your shoes without socks?

Hilton: That’s right. I will not be wearing socks. I go into more of a nerdy mode and, like Einstein, start thinking in pictures. There’s an absent-mindedness when it comes to his general appearance, and when you get the mustache on and the superannuated sheepdog look with the hair. It’s really quite something to see when put together.

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There’s a new mural at 901 King Street in Old Town

A new mural by El Mac at the corner of 901 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s a new mural in Old Town.

Last week, Los Angeles-based muralist El Mac put the finishing touches on his new mural outside 901 King Street. The piece depicts a bespectacled woman looking south.

The artist did not provide a title or themes behind the mural with his client, building owner Windmill Hill Design Build. Still, Windmill Hill founder Mike Dameron said he was thrilled with the result.

“”I think the striking pose and scale really compliment the corner and we had an amazing experience getting to know El Mac and his family,” Dameron told ALXnow. “He works mostly at night and it was amazing to see the progression each morning. He brought museum quality public art to Alexandria and we are super excited about it.”

El Mac, the professional name for Miles MacGregor, is known for creating large photorealistic murals. He did not respond to multiple calls for comment.

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Muralist El Mac is creating a new piece in Old Town

Artist El Mac will paint a mural at 901 King Street (via Google Maps)

El Mac is painting a mural in Alexandria.

The Los Angeles-based muralist will paint a new piece at the corner of 901 King Street over the course of the next two weeks. The design is still under wraps, and building owner Mike Dameron of Windmill Hill Design Build is trying to stay out of his way.

“I’m not going to disrupt the artist’s vision,” Dameron told ALXnow. “I’m stoked that this world famous muralist took the contract and is coming to Alexandria. I’m really thrilled by it.”

El Mac, the professional name for Miles MacGregor, is known for creating large photorealistic murals in the U.S., Mexico and Europe.

El Mac is still designing the piece, which will be created with spray paint. The ground level of the building is home to White House Black Market and the upper levels are in the process of being converted into apartments.

“His artistic style is unique,” Dameron said. “I got a sneak peak into what he’s working on and it’s going to be amazing.”

“Shared Roots (Unity Threatens Inequity),” a mural in Los Angeles by El Mac (via Facebook)

Image via Google Maps

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New tool helps Alexandrians find off the beaten path public art

 

Angels of the Americas statue (image via City of Alexandria)

Just off Eisenhower Avenue is a marble set of statues called Angels of the Americas.

The statues are tucked off to the side of the road in front of an office block and even lifelong Alexandrians may have driven past it for years and never known they were there.

Alexandria has a fairly rich array of public art throughout the city, and a new tool called the Public Art Archive helps locals find it. Across the city are dozens of examples of public art, and while some are fairly prominent, others are a little off the beaten path.

“The Office of the Arts is proud to announce the launch of its new online Public Art Map tool, which allows residents and visitors to explore public art throughout the city in a more user-friendly and accessible way,” the city said in a release. “The Public Art Map, located on the international Public Art Archive, is a comprehensive online resource that showcases the city’s vast array of public art installations, including sculptures, murals, and other forms of public art.”

The tool also includes information about the artwork, the artists, and multimedia like videos or audio about the artwork. The Angels of the Americas description, for example, notes that the way the statues are aligned are intended to give each two sets of faces.

“We are excited to bring public art within the city to the Public Art Archive,” said Meika Daus, Alexandria’s public art senior manager, in the release “There are so many incredible projects in the city, and the online collection with the public art map tool creates an opportunity to highlight those projects within our community and to the greater region.”

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Notes: APD ‘determined’ to reduce crime near Braddock Road Metro after more shots fired

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

🌥 Today’s weather: Cloudy. Mild. High of 69 and low of 51.
🌥 Tomorrow: Cloudy. Mild. High of 72 and low of 52. Sunrise at 6:05 am and sunset at 8:04 pm.

🚨 You need to know

More gunfire was reported near the Braddock Road Metro station yesterday afternoon, prompting the Alexandria Police Department to tweet that it’s “determined” to solve recent crime issues.

“APD has taken action by installing cameras and increasing police presence in the area to ensure everyone’s safety,” APD tweeted. “No one has been hurt, but we’re determined to prevent any potential harm by keeping a police presence there until we resolve this violence.”

Thursday’s incident occurred in the same block as a number of recent shootings. The city is experiencing a crime surge, and police are fighting it by increasing patrols in high-crime areas, installing mobile camera units and hosting community events.

📈 Thursday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for May 4, 2023.

  1. JUST IN: Police investigating shots fired incident near Braddock Road Metro station (1834 views)
  2. Fundraiser established for family of the ACHS student who died this week (1203 views)
  3. Notes: Alexandria driver killed in hit-and-run in D.C. | ALXnow (727 views)
  4. JUST IN: Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced as Alexandria City Public Schools superintendent (516 views)

🗞 Other local coverage

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today and this weekend in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

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Spring2ACTion shatters record by raising $2.9 million for Alexandria nonprofits and charities

ACT for Alexandria did it again.

Wednesday’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser — the largest single day of giving in Alexandria — broke the record set two years ago by collecting $2.9 million for 182 local nonprofits. The 13th annual event received more than 7,700 individual donations and ACT for Alexandria exceeded its goal of $2.5 million.

“Alexandria is an incredibly generous community,” ACT for Alexandria CEO Heather Peeler told ALXnow shortly after midnight. “People really want to give back and see our community thrive.”

The final tally keeps changing, as stragglers are allowed to donate on the Spring2ACTion website until Sunday, April 30.

Spring2ACTion is the main annual fundraiser for most of the participating nonprofits. The top three recipients are Move2Learn with $170,400, Casa Chirilagua with $167,994 and Carpenter’s Shelter with $91,938.

“They’re not doing the galas or the big events,” she said. “They’re using Spring2ACTion as a way to promote their organization, connect with donors, connect with local businesses, and raise critical funds.”

Peeler said that 75 Alexandria businesses also donated a portion of their proceeds toward the effort.

“It shows that Alexandra’s business community is is very connected to and supportive of the nonprofit community,” she said.

Peeler said that her staff of six employees are tired.

“We’re a little tired, to be honest, but we are super excited,” she said. “We have a tremendous sense of responsibility, because so many nonprofits really depend on Spring2ACTion for those donations to support their work.  It doesn’t happen overnight, even though it seems it all happens on one day. It’s many months of preparation in terms of connecting with potential donors, and providing training and opportunities for nonprofits to learn what they can do to have the best Spring2ACTion possible.”

Spring2ACTion has raised more than $20 million over the last 13 years.

Spring2ACTion Top 10:

  1. Move2Learn | Powered by Runningbrooke raised $170,400 from 174 donors
  2. Casa Chirilagua raised $167,994.79 from 327 donors
  3. Carpenter’s Shelter raised $91,938.53 from 289 donors
  4. Art League raised $83,214.50 from 205 donors
  5. The Alexandria Harmonizers raised $77,674 from 319 donors
  6. ALIVE! raised $74,756 from 423 donors
  7. Alexandria Tutoring Consortium raised $72,952 from 206 donors
  8. Alexandria Seaport Foundation raised $66,602 from 101 donors
  9. Friends of Guest House raised $62,833 from 141 donors
  10. Together We Bake raised $62,683 from 138 donors

Image via Running Brooke/Facebook

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Expect works by underrepresented composers, says incoming director of Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic

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The incoming musical director of the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic — an Alexandria-based non-profit — says that future concerts will feature women composers and composers of color.

Anna Binneweg was recently announced as the new musical director, beating a pool of 50 other candidates for the position. She will replace Alexandria Living Legend Ulysses James, who has been at the head of WMP since for 39 years and is retiring in May.

“I am thrilled and deeply grateful to the musicians, staff, and Board of WMPA (Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association) for choosing me to be WMP’s next musical leader in its 52nd season,” Binneweg said in a statement. “I want to also recognize the immense impact of outgoing Music Director Ul James, whose artistic vision shaped WMPA for almost four decades and paved the way for exciting new growth in the future.”

Binneweg guest conducted the 65-person orchestra in 2022, and said she is “looking forward to the powerful, transformative work we will do together in the coming seasons.”

For the last 15 years, Binneweg has been the musical director of the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra in Annapolis, Maryland. She has a doctorate in music and orchestral conducting from Northwestern University, teaches music at Anne Arundel Community College and was on the conducting faculties at Loyola University, the Sherwood Conservatory of Music and American University.

Binneweg’s last concert with the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra is on June 10.

“As music director it will be my goal to choose programming which serves the entirety of the VA/DC/MD area,” Binneweg said. “That means programming works by composers of color, female composers, creating new collaborations with local creative professionals, engaging high-quality guest artists while also promoting both WMP principal musicians and the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra talent who will one day shape the future of our industry, and offering audiences a healthy dose of the ever-relevant ‘classics’ while also celebrating and cultivating the work of living composers.”

The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic performing for its 50th anniversary concert at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial on October 16, 2022 (via WMPA)

WMPA executive director Caroline Mousset said that the 2023/2024 season will be announced this June.

“I couldn’t be happier that we’ve found Anna to join WMPA,” says Executive Director Caroline Mousset. “During her concert in December 2022, I could already tell what a great match Anna would be for WMP. I’m convinced of her knowledge and confidence as a conductor and communicator, and her inherent understanding of musicians’ needs and experience. Anna has a wealth of inspiring ideas to take us forward, is enthusiastic about music education and WMPA’s role in the community, and has a true love of Alexandria. We are so excited to start working together!”

The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association, a nonprofit, was founded in 1971 and 1972 as the Mount Vernon Youth Orchestra and Mount Vernon Orchestra, respectively. James became director of both orchestras in 1984 after founder H. Stevens Brewster died in a car crash. The orchestras, which perform at the Lyceum and at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, were rebranded in 2004 to their current names — the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic and Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (for high school kids). The Washington Metropolitan Concert Orchestra for middle school kids was added in 2008.

James will be honored by WMP at its season finale concert on May 20 at 3 p.m. at the ​George Washington Masonic National Memorial. The program includes a selection from George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo” and Anthony Iannaccone’s “Waiting for the Sunrise on the Sound.”

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Alexandria band Hanoi Ragmen and ACHS teacher win regional Wammie Awards

Hanoi Ragmen (image via Hanoi Ragmen/Facebook)

(Updated 8 p.m.) A band consisting of former T.C. Williams High School students and a current Alexandria City High School (ACHS) teacher were recognized at the Wammie Awards last Saturday, a regional music award.

Rock band Hanoi Ragmen, an Alexandria-based six person band that started at T.C. Williams High School (before it became Alexandria City High School), won Best Rock Album for their debut album The Oldlight and Best Rock Song for Foolhearted off the same album.

“We’re definitely stoked,” said front man and guitarist Gabe Harr. “It’s a regional thing, so by no means are our heads blown up, but we put a lot of hard work into that record. Sometimes it feels like you’re shouting into a void, so it’s nice to have an institution recognize that and say it’s of quality and emblematic of rock.”

The band released an EP in 2019 and started work on an album, but those plans got disrupted when Covid hit. The band also signed with Alexandria record label Baffin Records and had to remix and remaster the songs.

Harr said it’s been a slow process, but the band has gradually been building over time, but that’s been part of the band’s charm as well.

“We started at birthday parties with bounce castles, but you build knowledge and people start to book you for shows,” Harr said. “We released our EP when we were in high school. It became a fun reason for a bunch of social circles to come together and jam with us. By the time we made our new record in 2022, we formed this little community of fans.”

Harr said that small community of fans has made shows an intimate and friendly experience.

“The way we’ve always understood growing success in Alexandria is: if you’re going to Hanoi Ragmen, you’re coming to hang out with your friends,” Harr said. “It feels like Hanoi Ragmen is everybody’s band, it’s not just us being cool on stage. The band is my best friends from Alexandria.”

Lead guitarist Max Powell said promoting shows up to this point has usually meant the band members just texting everyone in their contacts. The disparate social circles has also been reflected in an array of different music genres influencing the band.

“About a month before our shows, we text everyone in our phones, exes and all, and get it out to everyone,” Powell said. “I feel like we have a pretty eclectic range of musical interests and interwoven genres.”

According to Harr, Alexandria’s music scene has a big advantage over some of the other localities in the region.

“[Alexandria] is a community that’s big enough to have a lively music scene, but small enough that we all know each other and you can talk to musicians you think are cool,” Harr said.

Powell said it’s that fan connection that made the Wammie Award feel so special.

“As a band, we’re not usually too concerned with awards, but knowing our fans got us in there to know we could get judged… it feels like they have our backs,” Powell said. “Whenever we play D.C., we’re really just bringing Alexandria to D.C.”

The band is going to get a chance to bring Alexandria to D.C. later this year with their biggest show yet on August 12 at Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW).

“It’s a much bigger venue than we’ve played before,” Powell said, admitting that playing at the famed venue makes him nervous. “We did well and we sold out Union Stage in july this past summer. That was, like, 450 person capacity. Black Cat is 800. So it’s definitely a big step up for us.”

Powell also said the Wammies have drawn more attention to the band, putting more eyes on the Black Cat show in August.

“We left a pretty decent impression on people at the Wammies and we’ve had a few people looking our way now,” Powell said.

For those checking out the band for the first time, Powell said his favorite go-to song to direct people to is Foolhearted, the one that won the award.

“That’s one written almost entirely by our bassist [Beck Moniz],” Powell said. “It’s just a great fun pop rock song and it was the first song he ever wrote. To know him and to know how good of a song it is, I love that song. That and I would tell people to listen to the opening track. The sax solo, oh my god.”

The awards program also recognized Gregory ‘Sugar Bear’ Elliott for its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Elliott is the frontman of go-go band Experience Unlimited — known by fans as E.U. — which was most known for its song Da’ Butt in the Spike Lee movie School Daze. The song popped up again recently at the Oscars in 2021 when Glenn Close danced to it at the program.

In addition to leading the band, Elliott has been teaching special education at Alexandria City High school since 1996.

While E.U. hasn’t had a hit to the level of Da Butt’ in 1988, the band has continued to put out music, including an album called Free Yourself in 2021.

Image via Hanoi Ragmen/Facebook

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