Del Ray | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published October 19, 2021 at 5:00AM

Bun Papa in Belle View expands into D.C. — “Its with gratitude and great excitement that I get to share that therealbunpapa is taking a giant step forward tonight… with the launch of our new (and second) location inside of Capital One Arena in Washington, DC!” [Facebook]

Alexandria Ranks Among Top Cities for Office-to-Residential Conversions — “Alexandria is a leader nationwide in converting under-used office space to residences, according to a new study from RentCafe.com.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

News

What happened to Alexandria’s St. Elmo neighborhood?

By Vernon Miles

Published October 12, 2021 at 1:05PM

St. Elmo neighborhood (photo via Stonebridge Associates Inc.)

As plans to redevelop the Oakville Triangle move forward, part of that revitalization could involve the resurrection of an older neighborhood name: St. Elmo.

There are remnants of the St. Elmo name, like the coffee shops in Del Ray and North Old Town, but by and large, it’s one that’s fallen by the wayside. According to an application, developer Stonebridge Associates is hoping to turn a road through the Oakville Triangle into St. Elmo Way as a tie to the old neighborhood.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published October 12, 2021 at 5:00AM

Henry Cali, a 10-year-old Dachshund with misshapen front paws, is strapped to the back of a bicycle in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Wegmans hiring event Tuesday for new Alexandria store — “Wegmans Food Markets is hosting a virtual hiring event Tuesday, Oct. 12, seeking to fill more than 350 part- and full-time positions across 14 stores throughout the Virginia area, including the Wegmans opening in spring 2022 at 150 Stovall St., in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood, the company announced.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Vehicle overturned in Lincolnia, found empty — “4900 Bl. of Manitoba Dr. Alexandria, V.A. Fairfax Cty Fire on scene of a single vehicle overturned collision with no occupants found inside the vehicle. Occupants are believed to have fled the scene.” [DC Realtime News]

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published October 8, 2021 at 3:30PM

Dominion employees (image via Dominion Energy/Facebook)

A power outage on Saturday set off a week of concerns about city infrastructure, even as the city was ranked one of the best small cities in the country.

The power outage that derailed the Art on the Avenue celebration is just the latest in a long chain of outages that have hit Alexandria over the last year, giving the lie to Dominion Energy’s claim that a large outage almost exactly a year ago was a fluke. Mayor Justin Wilson has previously called the state of frequent outages unacceptable and urged Dominion to do more to upgrade its infrastructure.

News

New ornament celebrates Alexandria’s original trolley

By Vernon Miles

Published October 6, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated October 27, 2021 at 10:34AM

Ornament representing Car 303 of the Mount Vernon Alexandria & Washington Electric Railway (photo via Office of Historic Alexandria)

(Updated 10/27) Did you know that a little over 90 years before the King Street trolley started ferrying visitors through Old Town, another streetcar ran from Del Ray up into D.C.?

A new Christmas ornament for sale for $25 through the Office of Historic Alexandria celebrates the city’s first streetcar — which ran for 14 years before the popularity of the car helped drive it out of businesses.

News

When do you know you’re in Del Ray? New public art at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square will help

By James Cullum

Published October 4, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated October 4, 2021 at 3:15PM

How do you know you’re in Del Ray? Visitors can wonder no longer, as a new 15-foot-tall marker will be unveiled later this month at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square.

The marker was designed by Maryland artist Kirk Seese, has been in the works since 2018. It was open to the public for last Saturday’s Art On The Avenue festival, and the tentative date for its official unveiling is October 15, according to Visit Del Ray.

News

Art On The Avenue festival continues despite Del Ray power outage

By James Cullum

Published October 2, 2021 at 12:30PM | Updated October 2, 2021 at 6:58PM

A power outage in Del Ray has shut down a number of businesses, although the annual Art on the Avenue festival today (October 2) is still happening. The event is one of the biggest events in the city and draws tens of thousands of people.

“We have a right to expect more from @DominionEnergy,” tweeted Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson. “Plunging a central business district into darkness for the better part of their biggest day of the year, with no inclement weather, is UNACCEPTABLE.”

News

20 health experts are writing in the Del Ray Wellness District’s new blog

By James Cullum

Published September 16, 2021 at 2:15PM

The wellness-related businesses in Del Ray are bottling their creative energies into a new blog.

Every Wednesday morning, the Wellness District Blog will publish two new posts to help folks navigate through the fog of stressful times. It officially launched at a glitzy outdoor party on Wednesday night in Del Ray.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 2, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated September 2, 2021 at 12:42PM

New coffee shop opening in West End — “A new coffee shop will be opening in the Shoppes of Foxchase shopping center in Alexandria’s West End. Cortado Cafe is under construction now in the shopping center on Duke Street. It is taking the place of a now-closed Hair Cuttery between Massage Envy and La Casa restaurant.” [Alexandria Living]

Nonprofit teaches computer coding for free — “For over 20 years, the Alexandria nonprofit Computer CORE has helped adults learn computer technology and programming, thereby advancing their careers. The newest educational opportunity begins Tuesday, Sept. 14 with the virtual class Code Beats Computer Coding Camp. The free course will use hip hop and other music beats to teach computer coding.” [Zebra]

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 27, 2021 at 3:35PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

What a busy week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

Alexandria City Public Schools reopened their doors to full-time in-person instruction on Tuesday, and there have been a few hiccups. On Friday, we published a video taken of a brawl inside Alexandria City High School, and a teenager was hit by a car while walking home from school in Del Ray on Thursday.

News

Del Ray park moving forward with lead artist chosen

By Vernon Miles

Published August 26, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated August 27, 2021 at 9:03AM

Layout of Del Ray Gateway park, via City of Alexandria

Plans for a new fountain and “splash park” at the north end of Del Ray are moving forward as the city aims to have design finished by the end of the year.

The Del Ray Gateway project is a plan to redevelop a triangular park where Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues meet into a water-based community play area.