It’s that time of year: Girl Scout cookies are back in season.
Cookie both sales are starting to pop up around Alexandria starting today. You could chance stumbling across one, but if you want to be more methodical, here’s a list of Girl Scout cookie stands around Alexandria for the next two weeks.
Around the 22314 zip code:
- Duke Street Giant (3131 Duke Street)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, Noon-4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12, Noon-4 p.m. - Made in Alexandria (533 Montgomery Street)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - Meridian at Eisenhower (2351 Eisenhower Avenue)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Old Town Farmer’s Market (301 King Street)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 8 a.m.-Noon
Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 a.m.-Noon - Mint Condition (103 S. Saint Asaph Street)
Sunday, Feb. 5, 1-3 p.m. - Carlyle Place (2251 Eisenhower Avenue)
Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - Parc Meridian (750 Port Street)
Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Ten Thousand Villages (515 King Street)
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Comfort One Shoes (201 King Street)
Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - Lincoln Old Town (401 Holland Lane)
Sunday, Feb. 12, Noon-3 p.m.
In the 22301 zip code:
- JeffersonPlayground (301 Hume Avenue)
Friday, Feb. 3, 4-6 p.m. - Bellies and Babies (1913 Mount Vernon Avenue)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, Noon-4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12, Noon-4 p.m. - Del Ray Farmer’s Market (2311 Mount Vernon Avenue)
Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
In the 22305 zip code:
- Giant (621 E. Glebe Road)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, Noon-4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12, Noon-4 p.m. - Four Mile Run Market (4109 Mount Vernon Avenue)
Sunday, Feb. 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. - The Reserve at Potomac Yards (3700 Jefferson Davis Highway)
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
In the 22302 zip code:
- Robcyn’s (3660 King Street)
Friday, Feb. 3, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, Noon-4 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10, 4-6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12, Noon-4 p.m. - Safeway (3526 King Street)
Friday, Feb. 3, 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, Noon-4 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10, 4-7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday. Feb. 12, Noon-5 p.m. - Cafe Pizzaiolo (1623 Fern Street)
Saturday, Feb. 4
Saturday, Feb. 11 - Klein Home (1401 Kenwood Avenue)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-Noon - Presto Valet of VA (1623 Quaker Lane)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. - St Elmo’s Cafe (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue)
Saturday, Feb. 4
Sunday, Feb. 5
Saturday, Feb. 11
Sunday, Feb. 12 - St Elmo’s Cafe – Fairlington (1536 Kenwood Avenue)
Sunday, Feb. 5
Sunday, Feb. 12 - USPS (340 S. Pickett Street)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10, 4-6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Whistle Stop and Hobbies (1719 Centre Plaza)
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
In the 22304 zip code:
- Safeway (229 S. Van Dorn Street)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - SSSAS US Gym (1000 St. Stephen’s Road)
Thursday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
In the 22311 zip code:
- Taqueria Picoso (1472 N. Beauregard)
Sunday, Feb. 5, Noon-4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12, Noon-4 p.m. - Guidepost Montessori (3475 N. Beauregard Street)
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 4-5 p.m.
In the 22312 zip code:
- Washington International Academy (6408 Edsall Road)
Friday, Feb. 3, Noon-3 p.m.
Image via Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital/Facebook
(Updated 10:55 a.m.) The 100 Very Best Restaurant list is back from Washingtonian and it features two Alexandria spots.
The list, formerly limited only to sit-down restaurants, now includes carryout, pop-ups and food trucks. Both Alexandria locations, though, are restaurants in the traditional sense.
The first is Nasime, a Japanese restaurant at 1209 King Street.
In their review, Washingtonian described Nasime as “one of the most inspired–and inspiring–dining experiences around unfolds in this sliver of an Old Town storefront.” Praising the single seven-course menu featuring Japanese short rib, bonito and more paired with sake and Japanese highballs.
The second is Thompson Italian, which has a location at 1024 King Street and one at 124 N. Washington Street in Falls Church, which features an array of Italian dishes from gnocchi to squid ink bucatini and tagliatelle.
Image via Nasime Japanese Restaurant/Facebook
BARtanical, a botanical and herbal inspired bar, will open as the newest pop-up at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray by the end of the month, its owners tell ALXnow.
The new bar is the fifth pop-up for the space, and owners Bill Blackburn and his partner “Mango” Mike Anderson of the Homegrown Restaurant Group have decided to keep going with the pop-up themes instead of opening a permanent restaurant.
Blackburn and Anderson closed the Sushi Bar — located between their other restaurants Holy Cow Del Ray and Pork Barrel BBQ — in December 2021 after nine years in business. Shortly after closing, the restaurant was transformed into the Christmas-themed pop-up bar Joy On The Avenue, followed up by a Tiki Bar that lasted for eight months, a Halloween-themed pop-up in October and then back to the Christmas-themed bar last month.
The windows of the pop-up are currently covered, and the interior of the space has been gutted.
Blackburn says that when it opens, the pop-up will be a “potted plant lover’s paradise,” featuring an “explosion of plants an greenery.”
“Sticking to the craft cocktail heavy formula, BARtanical’s beverage program will be botanic and herbal inspired, with a nibble and snacks menu that is on the crisper and lighter side,” Blackburn said. “It’s a limited time pop-up and perfect for girls night out, casual happy hour or late nightcap surrounded by rich green agricultural décor and Del Ray’s most entertaining bartenders.”
Anderson said that the next iteration of the pop-up is a secret.
“You’ll have to wait and find out,” Anderson said. “New concepts are like first dates. First dates are new and exciting, and every three months we’re going to provide the residents of Alexandria with a fresh experience.”
Mari Luffey, a former bar manager at HRG’s Whiskey & Oyster in Carlyle, is the manager for the pop-up and is creating a cocktail menu.
“The spring-feel of the bar will translate nicely during the winter months,” Luffey said. “It’s going to be beautiful and cozy in here.”
A new French bistro will open on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray in two weeks, the restaurant’s owner tells ALXnow.
Gostov Boulangerie & Brasserie will be fully open at 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue by Wednesday, Jan. 25. Owner Abderrahim Moussaif says he has all of the necessary city permits.
“We’re legally ready to open, just not practically,” Moussaif said. “We just got the occupancy squared away with the City of Alexandria. We’re still getting everything ready, testing the ovens and training staff. We’re going to have a small opening and serve coffee and cappuccino and a little bit of breakfast, and then we can start implementing heartier food in the spring.”
Moussaif, who runs four Madison Day School child care centers in Alexandria, bought the 14,300 square-foot Del Ray property for $3 million in 2019. The two lots are located in the heart of Del Ray at the intersection of E. Oxford Avenue and Mount Vernon Avenue.
“The idea for the bistro came about a year-and-a-half ago,” Moussaif said. “We were using the building as an office and figuring out what to do with it.”
Moussaif said that the bistro will be able to accommodate 47 customers at a time, and that there will be outdoor seating when the weather warms this spring.
The restaurant will be open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. every day.
Photo via Google Maps
A regional “restaurant week” event launching next week is set to kick off next week, but as always, Alexandria does things a little differently.
There are two “restaurant week” events that include Alexandria this month.
The first is Winter Restaurant Week and there are just under a dozen restaurants in Alexandria signed up to offer special offerings as part of the event, relatively light compared to neighboring areas.
During Restaurant Week — a bi-annual event sponsored by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) — participating restaurants in the D.C. region offer special menus to encourage locals to try new locations around the area. The event is scheduled to run from Monday, Jan. 16 to Sunday, Jan. 22.
“Participating restaurants will offer multi-course brunch and lunch menus for $25 per person, and multi-course dinner menus for $40 or $55 per person for on-premises dining,” RAMW said in a release. “Many restaurants will also offer RW-To-Go dinner meals and cocktail pairings, giving more variety for diners wanting to partake in the program. RW-To-Go dinner packages will be available at two price points: $70 or $100 for two people and $140 or $200 for four people.”
The following restaurants around Alexandria have signed up for Restaurant Week this year:
- Bastille Brasserie & Bar (606 N Fayette Street) — French cuisine in the Braddock neighborhood
- Chart House (1 Cameron Street) — American restaurant on the waterfront
- Cheesetique (2411 Mount Vernon Avenue) — Cheese-centered restaurant and wine bar in Del Ray
- Evening Star Cafe (2000 Mount Vernon Avenue) — “retro chic” cafe in Del Ray
- Hen Quarter (801 King Street) — Southern dining in Old Town
- Laporta’s Restaurant (1600 Duke Street) — Restaurant and jazz lounge in Old Town
- Osteria Marzano (6361 Walker Lane) — Italian restaurant in Franconia, Fairfax, but close to Alexandria
- Rustico (827 Slaters Lane) — A pizzeria between Potomac Yard and Old Town North
- The Rub Chicken & Beer (801 King Street) — An Old Town restaurant featuring, brace yourself: chicken and beer
- Vermilion (1120 King Street) — American restaurant in Old Town
But beyond just the regional restaurant week, Alexandria has its own Alexandria Restaurant Week starting on Friday, Jan. 20. Like the regional event, Alexandria Restaurant Week — launched by local tourism bureau Visit Alexandria — has local restaurants offer fixed-price dinners. The selection for Alexandria Restaurant Week is significantly larger than the city’s offerings in RAMW’s Winter Restaurant Week.
“Explore nearly 80 restaurants in Alexandria, VA offering a $25, $35 or $45 per person prix fixe dinner,” Visit Alexandria said on the event website. “Special menus will be available for in-person dining at participating restaurants, many with heated outdoor dining options.”
Alexandria’s restaurant week will run from Friday, Jan. 20 to Sunday, Jan. 20.
According to a release from Visit Alexandria:
- Find a new favorite when you visit Old Town’s recently opened 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood, offering a $35-for-one menu with entrees including savory shrimp and grits and luscious seafood linguine.
- Head to recently reopened Vermilion for a $45-for-one menu featuring elevated items including brussels sprouts with honey and chili vinaigrette, risotto with black truffle and wine-poached pear strudel.
- Hightail it to Barkhaus, located between Del Ray and Potomac Yard, for a $25 per person menu that includes the option to add a homemade doggie treat like a “fruit barkfait.”
- At Delia’s in Carlyle, linger over a $45 per person menu including Prince Edward Island mussels, seafood arrabiatta and veal parmigiana.
- In Del Ray, warm up from the inside out at Elo’s Italian, with a $35-for-one menu featuring crowd-pleasers such as garlic focaccia bread, spaghetti pomodoro and bombolini to top it off.
- Northside 10 boasts the perfect $35 dinner to savor while watching a big game at the Arlandria neighborhood favorite, with options including mac and cheese fritters and mustard barbecued salmon.
- In the West End, Shooter McGee’s $35 dinner menu offers hearty entrees including cider pork chops, shrimp Florentine pasta and bistro steak, alongside tempting apps and dessert.
The full menu for Alexandria Restaurant Week is available online.
Updated 4:15 p.m. — After nearly 30 years in Old Town, Deli News & More closed last month for the last time.
The 7,800-square-foot space at 1406 King Street has since been leased to Ed McIntosh, one of the founders of Chop Shop Taco (1008 Madison Street). The shop will remain a convenience store, and it will be reopen in March as Eddie’s Little Shop and Deli.
“We will be specializing in prime rib sandwiches and handmade mozzarella along with a few other highlights,” McIntosh said.
The former owner of Deli News & More left a note of thanks on the front door of the business.
“It has been a privilege to be a part of this community,” owner Jong Suk Choi wrote. “Thank you for letting us serve you and please be well.”
Deli News & More opened as a newsstand in 1994, and served light breakfast fare, sandwiches and more. The “more” got the convenience store into trouble, prompting a City Council action approving the sale of alcohol on the premises in 2019.
After a busy season, Brandon Byrd finally wrapped things up at his Old Town custard shop with a special event on Christmas Eve.
Byrd will reopen Goodie’s Frozen Custard & Treats (200 Commerce Street) sometime in the spring, and like the ingredients of his vanilla custard, he isn’t planning on making any changes — that means no new flavors or price increases.
“My intention is still to not raise prices when I reopen in the spring,” Byrd told ALXnow. “I try to maintain consistency day in and day out, and that means I want customers to have the same experience 10 years from now that they first had.”
Byrd refused to raise prices for his products this year, and has dealt with supply chain issues and up to 200% cost increases for ingredients. It’s part of his long-game strategy of giving folks consistency — from a product and price standpoint — and he admits to taking a hit business-wise.
“Not increasing prices hurt business to a degree,” Byrd said. “But I have to stay consistent. That’s key.”
The special event on Christmas Eve was a toy giveaway for needy kids, just one in a handful of community get-togethers Byrd has hosted over the last several months. Byrd says the events have grown a loyal base of customers.
Byrd and a lone employee run Goodies from the 1930s-era ice house at 200 Commerce Street. The business began more than 10 years ago in Byrd’s custard truck, Gigi. The shop sells one flavor of Wisconsin-style custard — vanilla — and customers choose from a myriad of toppings, all for $8 to $10.
The shop was named one of the top 40 ice cream shops in the country this year by Thrillist.
Byrd said he will spend his downtime with family, and that he may take a vacation before reopening sometime in the spring.
“I have a definite feeling of accomplishment,” Byrd said. “Like tools in a toolbox, our tools are that we’re stable. We’re very consistent and now we get a much-needed break.”
Old Town sweet shop Fleurir Chocolates (110 S. Payne Street) is closing for the last time on Christmas Eve, owner Ashley Hubbard announced on Instagram.
“Word on the street is true — after 14 years, Robert and I are permanently closing the shop December 24th and moving to warmer climates,” Hubbard wrote.
The 1,160-square-foot location will be available for lease on Jan. 15.
Hubbard and her husband, co-owner Robert Ludlow decided to close after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The couple will be moving to a warmer climate to be near family, she wrote.
“Last summer my body decided to stop working and I wa diagnosed with MS (that’s right, I’m in the cool kids’ club with Selma Blair and Christina Applegate),” Hubbard wrote. “Thanks you all for your generosity and support! Stop by this week to grab some holiday chocolates and say goodbye!”
Photo via fleurirchoc/Instagram
Fresh fruit juice is back on the menu in Old Town North.
On Saturday, City Council unanimously reclassified Juice Box as a temporary trailer, after being incorrectly zoned as a food truck. The move follows a zoning violation after the company started operating in the parking lot of the Robinson Terminal North warehouse building at 500 North Union Street.
The business, which runs until April to November, is now licensed to serve fruit juice in the lot until April 2025.
Christina Barbari opened Juice Box this spring, and recently closed down for the season. Barbari is also working on opening a Juice Box kiosk next summer at the Crystal City Water Park at National Landing, and is scoping out brick and mortar locations throughout the D.C. Metro area.
“I am looking to expand in Arlington,” Barbari told ALXnow. “I’m finalizing the details for a second location at the waterpark at National Landing, and the fact that I’m looking at a second location within my first year in business in amazing.”
Barbari is a native of the Alexandria area of Fairfax County, and has a degree in catering and hospitality from The Art Institutes of Washington.
“There’s nothing like this in Old Town, and bringing fresh juice to cyclists and dog walkers and people in the community is really great,” Barbari said. “I met a lot of great people and I’m really excited about coming back next year.”
Five Guys is moving its corporate headquarters to Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood, according to the Washington Business Journal.
The burger chain, which opened its first location in Arlington in 1986, has been headquartered in Lorton for nearly a decade. It is moving to a 40,000-square-foot space on the fifth floor of 1940 Duke Street in the Carlyle Crescent building.
Contractor L.F. Jennings lists the project on its website, and says that the interior construction schedule will run from January to June 2023. The work includes new flooring, drywall and tile installation.
The building is located by the intersection of Duke and Delaney Streets, near the Whole Foods Market (1700 Duke Street).
Five Guys opened its second and third locations in Alexandria before experiencing explosive growth by franchising in 2003. There are now more than 1,600 locations around the world and more than 1,500 in the works.
Five members of the Murrell family started Five Guys in 1986 with a simple concept — fresh burgers and fries without all the frills. All their food is free of trans fats, the restaurants use fresh ground beef, the fries are cooked in peanut oil and the food is not stored in freezers.
