Del Ray | ALXnow

Del Ray Business Association launches ‘Cherry Blossom Challenge’ scavenger hunt

Published April 7, 2021 at 2:15PM

The Del Ray Business Association has a bunch of efforts in the works to get business to local retailers and restaurants.

From now until April 15, visitors are encouraged to participate in DRBA’s “Cherry Blossom Challenge” scavenger hunt. There are 27 cherry blossoms hidden in storefronts along Mount Vernon Avenue with clues. Each numbered cherry blossom has a symbol near it, and participants need to mark down what those symbols are and then drop off their entries at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square by April 15 for a chance to win a $50 gift card at a Del Ray restaurant or retailer.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 2, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated April 11, 2021 at 11:34PM

It was another busy week in Alexandria.

Our top story was on the dog found dead and wrapped in blankets at N. Armistead Street and Beauregard Street. The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is offering a reward for information that can lead to the identification of the owner.

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No charges after driver smashes window of CVS on E. Monroe Avenue

By James Cullum

Published April 2, 2021 at 9:30AM

No charges or injuries after a driver backed into the CVS at 415 E. Monroe Avenue in Del Ray. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

No charges have been made against a driver who smashed a window at a CVS in De Ray late Thursday afternoon.

Police said the driver had wooden boards in the back of his truck, which struck the window of the store at 415 E. Monroe Avenue as he backed up from his parking space. No one was injured and the driver stayed at the scene.

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Alexandria bringing back public events as governor’s guidance eases gathering restrictions

By James Cullum

Published April 1, 2021 at 2:30PM | Updated April 4, 2021 at 10:27PM

Governor Ralph Northam’s guidance easing restrictions on public gatherings takes effect today, and groups in Alexandria are already planning a number of in-person events that traditionally bring in tens of thousands of people.

Northam recently announced that effective April 1, additional capacity and indoor and outdoor gathering limits will increase to 50 people for indoor settings and 100 people for outdoor settings. Additionally, entertainment venues must continue operating at 30% capacity with a maximum of 500 patrons; recreational sporting events can increase 30% capacity, or from 25 people to 100 people per field; and graduation events must have a cap of 5,000 people or 30% capacity for outdoor events.

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Just In: Man arrested for allegedly grabbing women in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published March 26, 2021 at 9:30AM | Updated March 26, 2021 at 1:19PM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Updated at 1:15 p.m. — Alexandria Police have arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly grabbing the buttocks of a number of women, including a juvenile and a teacher at Mount Vernon Community School, on Wednesday.

Justin Leon Murray was charged with assault and battery and simple assault. He is not believed to be involved with a number of indecent exposures in the area.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 19, 2021 at 3:30PM

What a week in Alexandria.

Our top story this week was on a plan to install hanging gardens in the Carlyle neighborhood.

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Al’s Steak House to endure under new management

By Vernon Miles

Published March 19, 2021 at 2:30PM

After month’s of uncertainty following the previous owner’s death, a new special use permit (SUP) filed with the City of Alexandria indicates the restaurant will survive under new ownership.

The Del Ray cheesesteak business has been in operation for 65 years. Longtime fan of the restaurant Jim Breeding took over the restaurant when the original owner died in 2015, but Breeding died last August as a result of complications from diabetes.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published March 16, 2021 at 5:00AM

Animal Welfare League gets 50 cats from Texas shelters — “Among the lingering effects of the winter outages is the strain on animal shelters. According to AWLA, the Texas shelters are seeing a surge in surrendered pets. The animals come from eight animal shelters in Texas. By transferring animals to Virginia, these shelters can better address the continued needs of homeless animals.” [Patch]

School Board public hearing on renaming of T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School on March 18 — “There will be a School Board Public Hearing on March 18 at 5pm, where community members have their final opportunity to sign up to speak or submit comments about the renaming of schools.” [Twitter]

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Del Ray Vintage and Flea Market to return early next month

By Vernon Miles

Published March 12, 2021 at 2:15PM

If you’re tired of being cooped up and want to take advantage of the spring weather, the Del Ray Vintage and Flea Market is returning on April 10.

The market will return for its third season in two open-air lots at the corner of Mount Vernon and Bellefonte Avenues in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, according to a press release.

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Police Chief updates Del Ray community on recent crime incidents

By James Cullum

Published March 12, 2021 at 1:00PM | Updated March 12, 2021 at 3:04PM

Indecent exposure, smash-and-grab robberies, and speeding on side streets were just a few of the topics fielded by Alexandria Police Chief Michael L. Brown on Thursday night in Del Ray.

Brown spoke to a handful of residents at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square on Mount Vernon Avenue, and said that police have identified a suspect in an incident that occurred last year. The suspect has been arrested in Fairfax County, and police are working to see if he is connected to the 10 indecent exposure incidents in Del Ray since last year.

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Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray burglarized

By Vernon Miles

Published March 11, 2021 at 9:30AM

The windows of Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mount Vernon Avenue) are boarded up after someone broke in and stole drugs and cash almost exactly a year after a pair of similar burglaries.

Staff at the pharmacy said someone broke in around 1 a.m. on Saturday, when no one was at the store, but that the thieves didn’t take much from the pharmacy.