food | ALXnow - Part 15

LGBTQ+ pop-up bar ‘Pride on the Avenue’ to open next month in Del Ray

Published April 18, 2024 at 9:55AM | Updated April 18, 2024 at 10:39AM

Pride On The Avenue is opening at the pop-up space at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue in May 2024 (courtesy image)

In recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month in June, Del Ray’s seasonal pop-up bar will open in early May as Pride on the Avenue, it’s owners tell ALXnow.

Bill Blackburn and his business partner “Mango” Mike Anderson of the Homegrown Restaurant Group and their staff gutted the space that was home the last few months to their ski lodge concept, Aspen on the Avenue. Just what they’re planning for the interior is still under wraps, as is the menu, but Blackburn said that renovations will be extensive.

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Mystic BBQ & Grill opens on Lee Street in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published April 17, 2024 at 9:40AM

Mystic BBQ and Grill opened at 220 N. Lee Street in Old Town (via Facebook)

There’s a new barbecue restaurant in an Old Town space that was previously home to… You guessed it — a barbecue restaurant.

Mystic BBQ & Grill formally opened this month at 220 N. Lee Street in the space previously occupied by Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster Barbeque, the Zebra first reported. Myron Mixon’s closed last Christmas Eve.

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Notes: It’s ‘Free Cone Day’ at Ben and Jerry’s

By ALXnow.com

Published April 16, 2024 at 9:03AM

April 16 is Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's at 103 S. Union Street in Old Town (via Facebook)

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 75 degrees and a light northeast wind shifting to the south at around 6 mph in the afternoon. On Tuesday night, there’s a 40% chance of showers after 2 am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 57 degrees accompanied by a south wind of approximately 6 mph.

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Royal Restaurant gets refurbished and reopens in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published April 12, 2024 at 9:30AM

Royal Restaurant reopened after an extensive renovation on April 11, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After a three-month renovation, Royal Restauraunt reopened to the public on Wednesday with an expanded menu and hours.

The favorite brunch spot was bought by Alexandria Restaurant Partners and Sloan Hospitality last fall, and after being up and running for three months closed in January. ARP refurbished the 123-year-old restaurant, added a 56-seat patio with a retractable awning, reupholstered the booths, built an inside bar and expanded its menu to include dinner.

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Newly renovated ‘Piece Out Del Ray’ pizza parlor reopening in April

By James Cullum

Published March 21, 2024 at 3:30PM

Newly renovated Piece Out Del Ray at 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

After nearly a year of extensive renovation and expansion, Piece Out Del Ray is reopening next month, it’s owner tells ALXnow.

The expansion from 2,700 to 4,600 square feet includes a large, center-focused bar area, a brand new dining room in what was previously a neighboring yoga studio, booths, dart boards and 21-and-up-only shuffleboard. A small area for outdoor seating is still being leveled and rails need to be put in place, but otherwise the restaurant was ready enough to open for a March Madness pop-up event on Wednesday night.

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Top vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published March 19, 2024 at 1:45PM | Updated March 19, 2024 at 2:31PM

Quinoa kale kofta with turmeric vegan sauce at Spice Kraft Indian Bistro's Del Ray location (image via Spice Kraft Indian Bistro/Facebook)

(Updated 2:25 p.m.) It can be hard to find good vegetarian and vegan-friendly options around Alexandria. After a walk along the waterfront or a stroll through Del Ray, it’s nice to know where you or your friends with plant-based diets can stop in for a meal.

ALXnow has you covered.

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New Alexandria report shows just 8% of residents are food insecure

By James Cullum

Published March 19, 2024 at 11:10AM

Bags of food from ALIVE! were given to Arlandria residents on May 21, 2020 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new study shows that 8% of Alexandria households are food insecure.

Last year’s Hunger Report from the Capital Area Food Bank showed one in three Alexandria households had difficulty in affording and finding healthy food.

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Behind the scenes at the West End’s new ax-throwing bar

By James Cullum

Published March 13, 2024 at 3:30PM

Bad Axe Throwing at 617 S. Pickett Street in Alexandria's West End (staff photo by James Cullum)

Nothing punctuates your feelings like throwing an ax, and now there’s a new place to do it while drinking a beer in Alexandria’s West End.

Bad Axe Throwing opened at 617 S. Pickett Street in October, offering walk-in and appointments for customers to hone their axe and knife-throwing skills. After signing a waiver, it costs between $30 and $40 per-person to hurl the sharp objects at the wooden targets.

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Collaboration combines Girl Scout ‘Thin Mints’ and chocolate custard in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published February 26, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated February 27, 2024 at 11:38AM

Double chocolate frozen custard with Thin Mints at Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s a concert of flavors happening with the newest treat from Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats (200 Commerce Street) in Old Town.

Owner Brandon Byrd is collaborating with local Girl Scout Troop 60132 at George Washington Middle School throughout Girl Scout Cookie season (until March 18) with their double chocolate frozen custard. The eight-ounce $8 treat has Thin Mints and chocolate syrup.

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There’s a gondola outside the ‘Aspen on the Avenue’ popup in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published February 15, 2024 at 10:45AM

The gondola outside Aspen on the Avenue at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s nothing like numbing your aching body with a hot toddy after a long day on the slopes.

That’s the vibe that the owners of the Aspen on the Avenue popup (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) have in mind. There’s a two-seat gondola parked outside the restaurant and bar greeting customers as they walk into a warm environment with a fake fireplace, a fake brick wall, lots of skis and two giant backlit photos of idyllic snowy scenes.

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‘Indochen’ in Cameron Station to be featured on ‘America’s Best Restaurants’

By James Cullum

Published February 14, 2024 at 2:30PM

Food at Indochen at 4906 Brenman Park Drive in Cameron Station (via Facebook)

The savory Indo-Chinese food at Indochen in Cameron Station will be featured by America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) later this month.

On Feb. 28, the ABR Roadshow will stop at the restaurant at 4906 Brenman Park Drive to talk with its owner, chef Ram Thapa. The show will be aired on YouTube and social media channels and will be featured on the ABR website at a future date.