In-Person Absentee Voting Underway — “Beginning Saturday, October 26, Alexandrians who qualify to vote absentee for the November 5 General Election may cast their ballots in person at the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke St.), or the Alexandria Voter Registration Office (132 N. Royal St.).” [City of Alexandria]
Aslin Beer’s ‘Weird Vibe’ in Alexandria — “Aslin Beer Company doesn’t have exposed brick walls, it isn’t decorated with string lights and it doesn’t use wooden barrels as high top tables. Straying from the traditional industrial vibe at a lot of breweries and tasting rooms, Aslin has an eclectic, colorful atmosphere enhanced by patterned walls, neon signs and a giant robot.” [Alexandria Times]
Alexandrians Give to Political Campaigns — “More than $3.5 million in campaign cash has an Alexandria mailing address this election cycle, a spending spree that reflects the stakes this year’s election. Control of the House of Delegates and state Senate is at stake, and partisans on both sides are trying to influence the outcome.” [Gazette Packet]
City Seeks Members for Advisory Group — “The City of Alexandria is seeking nominations for two At-Large Business Representative and two At-Large Resident Representative vacancies on the Ad Hoc Eisenhower West/Landmark Van Dorn Advisory Group.” [City of Alexandria]
Grand Opening for Free Preschool — “A new classroom space launched by Child & Family Network Centers will offer free preschool education to 45 children in Alexandria. The classrooms are in a West End apartment complex at 101 South Whiting Street.” [Patch]
Del Ray Pizzeria (2218 Mount Vernon Avenue) is celebrating its nine-year anniversary with a pizza party this weekend.
The restaurant, which has previously hosted the Obamas and courted controversy with its “Grab Her By the Pizza” pie a couple years ago, is celebrating this Sunday (Oct. 20) from 2-8 p.m. in the lot behind the restaurant.
According to an employee at the store, the party will have face painting, pumpkin painting, cornhole and other games. They also plan on having a moon bounce that the employee assured ALXnow will fit adults.
The employee noted that in addition to soft drinks, the party will have craft beers available.
“We’ll have our cheese and pepperoni pizza, but also a few specialty favorites,” the employee said.
These specialties include Butcher’s Block — a pizza with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham and prosciutto — and Tropic Thunder — sausage, pepperoni, jalapenos, and pineapple.
Photo via Del Ray Pizza
Local kids and adults will fan out across Alexandria this weekend to place stickers on packs of beer and other alcoholic beverages, as part of an anti-underage drinking campaign.
The operation, dubbed “Sticker Shock,” involves teams “shocking” would-be alcohol purchasers with stickers that warn of the consequences of buying booze for kids. Teams will be placing the stickers at Giant, Safeway, 7-Eleven, CVS and other grocery and convenience stores across the city on Saturday.
“Research shows that it is easy for youth to obtain alcohol,” the city said in a press release about the operation. “A recent Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey reported that youth ages 13 and older say it is easy to get alcohol from adults ― sometimes from their own parents who themselves may have drinking problems.”
The full press release is below.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, teams of Alexandria youth and adults will “shock” purchasers of alcohol by placing bright red warning stickers on multi-packs of beer and other alcohol products in local stores.
Sticker Shock is a youth-led initiative designed to educate adults who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to minors. The stickers contain warnings about the serious penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors.
The Sticker Shock campaign will kick off with a press conference at the City of Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), 720 N. St. Asaph St., Alexandria, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. Speakers include Alexandria Police Department Chief Michael Brown and Alexandria Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Quentin Wade. Following the press conference, teams of youth and adults will travel throughout the city to visit more than 50 participating retailers to affix the warning stickers. Local retailers who are participating in the campaign include Giant Food, Safeway, 7-11, CVS and many other small grocery and convenience stores.
In Virginia, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with a punishment of up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail, or both. In addition to these penalties, a person found guilty shall have his or her driver’s license suspended.
Research shows that it is easy for youth to obtain alcohol. A recent Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey reported that youth ages 13 and older say it is easy to get alcohol from adults ― sometimes from their own parents who themselves may have drinking problems. A Developmental Assets Profile indicated 29 percent of high school seniors said they drank alcohol in the past 30 days, with 16 percent reporting that they got drunk once or more in the last two weeks.
Sticker Shock is sponsored by the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA); DCHS; Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; Alexandria Police Department; Alexandria Sheriff’s Office; and Virginia ABC.
SAPCA is an alliance of more than 80 members representing parents, youth, schools, City of Alexandria health and recreation agencies, media, nonprofits, businesses, faith communities, policymakers and law enforcement whose mission is to engage the entire community in reducing youth substance use and abuse in Alexandria. SAPCA was created in 2007 as part of the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria.
File photo
Inside the industrial halls of Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Company, some new brews are in the works and the return of an old favorite planned.
The brewery is preparing to release Tmavé Pivo, a dark Czech lager. The beer will be a draft release only, with interested parties invited to Czech it out on Friday, Oct. 11, from 3-10 p.m. in Port City’s headquarters at 3950 Wheeler Avenue. Those bringing their own growlers and crowlers can collect some Tmavé Pivo to take home.
Emma Quinn, events and marketing manager for Port City, said Tmavé Pivo is the latest lager from a series they’ve been running for a couple of years, with new lagers primarily in Central European styles seeing limited release every few months.
And as the brewery moves into the holiday season, the Tidings winter season beer is making a comeback.
“It’s a strong Belgian blonde,” Quinn said. “It’s made with spices, similar to [Optimal Wit] with local honey and local whit. Very spicy — tastes like the season. We decided to go something more light and in the Belgian track.”
Ways and Means, an IPA that was traditionally only available on draft for the last few years, is also currently being bottled again for widespread sale.
Meanwhile, at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Port City is currently competing in the mid-size category.
“We won nine awards there and in 2015, qw were the small brewing company of the year,” Quinn said, “We were able to enter five beers this year. There are about 10,000 entries into 107 categories, so it’s huge. It keeps getting bigger and bigger. To have won anything is a huge honor. We’re excited to be there.”
Photo via Port City Brewing Company/Facebook
