Del Ray Business Association

Published June 23, 2026 at 11:55AM

The ribbon cutting at Little Birdie at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, June 23, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders were on hand Tuesday morning to cut the ribbon at Del Ray’s newest restaurant, Little Birdie.

After months of interior renovations, Matt Sloan and Eric Brannon opened the doors to their newest venture at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue. Brannon and Sloan also own Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mount Vernon Avenue), which opened in 2022 across the street and is a finalist for a regional RAMMY Award. Sloan is a former managing partner of Alexandria Restaurant Partners, which owns The Majestic, Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Ada’s on the River and numerous other Alexandria restaurants.

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Spice Kraft Indian Bistro dominates with top awards at Taste of Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 8, 2026 at 2:45PM

Spice Kraft won the top awards at the Taste of Del Ray, June 7, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Spice Kraft Indian Bistro‘s butter chicken pot pie and avocado bhel chaat won both the Judges’ Choice Award and the People’s Choice Award at the 17th annual Taste of Del Ray on Sunday (June 7).

Under a hot sun, 17 local restaurants competed at the sold-out event in the Mount Vernon Recreation Center athletic fields. This year’s celebrity judge was Todd O’Leary, CEO of Visit Alexandria.

Around Town

Del Ray Business Association celebrates ribbon cuttings for two new storefronts

By James Cullum

Published May 18, 2026 at 2:45PM

Council Members John Taylor Chapman and Sandy Marks join the ribbon cutting at Lifestyle & Performance Fitness in Del Ray (via Lifestyle & Performance Fitness)

Two local businesses in Del Ray held ribbon cuttings at their new storefronts Saturday (May 16).

The Del Ray Business Association hosted the ribbon cuttings for Lifestyle & Performance Fitness (202 E. Custis Avenue) and the Department of Beer and Wine (2805 Mount Vernon Avenue). The events were attended by City Council Members John Taylor Chapman and Sandy Marks, along with DRBA president Lauren Fisher and board member Gayle Reuter.

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Tickets on sale for annual Taste of Del Ray festival next month

By Katie Taranto

Published May 18, 2026 at 12:30PM

Taste of Del Ray vendors in 2024 (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Tickets are now on sale for the Taste of Del Ray food festival, a yearly event spotlighting the neighborhood’s food scene.

Now in its 17th year, the event put on by the Del Ray Business Association is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center fields (2701 Commonwealth Avenue). The event will feature samples and live music by Mars Rodeo as attendees vote on their favorite bites.

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Ribbon cuttings planned at fitness studio, beer and wine shop in Del Ray this month

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 2:45PM

The Department of Beer and Wine has moved to 2805 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Instagram)

Two local businesses in Del Ray plan to cut the ribbon on their spaces later this month, celebrating new spots that have opened over the past few months.

The Del Ray Business Association will host ribbon cuttings at Lifestyle & Performance Fitness (202 E. Custis Avenue) and the Department of Beer and Wine (2805 Mount Vernon Avenue) on Saturday, May 16.

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Del Ray’s First Thursday dates reduced as citizens association takes over event

By Emily Leayman

Published April 29, 2026 at 8:30AM

First Thursday in Del Ray (via Del Ray Business Association/Facebook)

This will be the first year the Del Ray Business Association is not hosting First Thursday block parties since it founded the event nearly 30 years ago.

Del Ray’s First Thursdays have been turned over to the Del Ray Citizens Association, which runs other neighborhood events such as last weekend’s Del Ray GardenFest and the upcoming Del Ray House and Garden Tour on Saturday, May 9.

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Women’s Bar Crawl and fundraiser coming to Del Ray this Saturday

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2026 at 11:15AM

Participants of the Bands & Brews Summer Bar Crawl on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Saturday, August 22, 2021. (Via Elijah Walter Griffin, Sr.)

A women’s bar crawl and fundraiser is coming to Del Ray this Saturday as Women’s History Month is now underway.

The bar crawl is scheduled from 2-7 p.m. Saturday, featuring all woman-owned spots like Rosemarino D’Italia and Piece Out Del Ray. The crawl is being hosted by Del Ray Psych and Wellness (1900 Mount Vernon Avenue).

News

Democratic City Council candidates lay out differences in first forum in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published February 17, 2026 at 3:00PM

(Left to right) City Council candidates Sandy Marks, Tim Laderach, Cesar Madison Tapia, Charles Sumpter and Roberto Gomez at the Del Ray Business Association's candidate forum at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, Feb. 16, 2026 (courtesy photo by James Minichello)

Five Democratic candidates for an open seat on the Alexandria City Council participated in their first forum together on Monday night in Del Ray.

The Del Ray Business Association’s forum was held in a packed house at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue). All five candidates running in the firehouse primary on Feb. 21 participated in the event and discussed a wide array of issues affecting Del Ray in particular and the city in general.

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Del Ray Hardware wins 2026 Heart of Del Ray award

By James Cullum

Published February 13, 2026 at 3:45PM

Del Ray Hardware owners Jay and Edea Portlance with their Heart of Del Ray award on Feb. 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Del Ray Hardware was declared the winner of the annual Heart of Del Ray Award on Friday morning.

Hundreds of people voted in the Del Ray Business Association’s annual popularity contest for businesses. Store owner Jay Portlance received an oversized heart to display for a year, symbolizing the store’s place in the community.

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Del Ray record store considers relocation after shutting down amid ‘catastrophic flooding’

By James Cullum

Published January 12, 2026 at 1:45PM

Flooding at Crooked Beat Records at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Crooked Beats/Facebook)

Following significant flooding after a water leak this past weekend, a vinyl record store in Del Ray has closed for the foreseeable future and is considering a move.

Crooked Beat Records owner Bill Daly told ALXnow today (Monday) that a pipe on the roof of the building burst, flooding the basement record shop at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue with several inches of water and ruining merchandise.

News

The 6th annual Del Ray Holiday Scavenger Hunt runs until Jan. 3

By James Cullum

Published December 29, 2025 at 11:45AM

The Del Ray Christmas tree was lit on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Where can you find a green tree and Santa with his reindeer and sleigh on the roof of a business along Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray?

Correctly answer this and at least 19 other questions from a clue sheet by Jan. 3 (Saturday) for bragging rights and a chance to win the 6th annual Del Ray Holiday Scavenger Hunt.