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Morning Notes

Published October 31, 2019 at 6:30AM | Updated October 31, 2019 at 9:17AM

ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Leaders Weigh in on Nats World Series Win — From City Councilman Mo Seifeldein: “This a moment to celebrate the @Nationals, hope, and resiliency! The beauty of sports and sportsmanship.” [Twitter, Twitter]

More Details About Italian Restaurant in Old Town — “Hank’s Oyster Bar owner Jamie Leeds is ready to introduce a new concept to her otherwise seafood-focused restaurant group: Hank & Mitzi’s Italian Kitchen. The revamped Italian restaurant replaces Hank’s Pasta Bar in Old Town Alexandria, which closed last month to add a second-story event space and rooftop bar.” [Washingtonian, Eater]

News

Archaeologists Searching for Hidden Graves in Local Cemeteries

By Airey

Published October 23, 2019 at 2:00PM | Updated October 23, 2019 at 3:23PM

Archaeologist Nadia Johnson uses ground-penetrating radar to locate burials in Penny Hill cemetery (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 3:20 p.m.) While Alexandria heads out on ghosts tours for Halloween, local archaeologists are busy scouting for secret burials under two historic cemeteries.

Archeologists with the city’s Office of Historic Alexandria are working to pinpoint where coffins and headstones may have been swallowed by the changing landscaping in the Penny Hill and Douglass cemeteries as they plan drainage maintenance for the sites.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 23, 2019 at 8:00AM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Declares Climate Emergency — “On October 22, the Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted a resolution declaring a climate emergency, recognizing that climate change poses a grave threat to everyone in Alexandria and around the world.” [City of Alexandria]

City Council Passes Refugee Resolution — “The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved a resolution to notify the federal government of its continued support for resettling refugees in Alexandria. The action was taken in response to Executive Order 13888, issued on September 26, which provides that the federal government ‘should resettle refugees only in those jurisdictions in which both the State and local governments have consented to receive refugees.'” [City of Alexandria]

News

Beyond Bigfoot: A Look Inside Alexandria’s Cryptozoology and Paranormal Society

By Vernon Miles

Published October 22, 2019 at 3:20PM

Scott Fallon prides himself on being a skeptic — just one that happens to believe in Bigfoot.

Fallon is one of the founders of the Alexandria Cryptozoology and Paranormal Society (ACAPS), a local group dedicated to the exploration of all things inexplicable. He talked with ALXnow shortly after finishing his chupacabra hunt in the jungles of Mexico. He didn’t find any, but Fallon says that doesn’t mean they’re not out there.

News

Robert E. Lee’s Boyhood Home is Still on the Market After Two Price Reductions

By Airey

Published October 22, 2019 at 11:30AM

The house on Oronoco Street was once the boyhood home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee (Photo via HRL Partners with Washington Fine Properties)

Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s boyhood home in Alexandria, one of the most expensive residential properties for sale in the city, is still on the market a year and a half after first being listed.

The 6-bedroom, 4 1/2 bath-house and debuted for $8.5 million in 2018 before realtors reduced the asking price by $2.3 million in March, and then reduced it again by $650,000 last month. Real estate agent Robert Hryniewicki with HRL Partners at Washington Fine Properties told ALXnow that the long wait and price fluctuation is to be expected with the “ultra-luxury” spectrum of properties, and says the trick is finding the right buyer for the 8,100-square foot Old Town property.

News

Tall Ship Providence to Host Tales of Ghost Ships This Weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published October 22, 2019 at 9:30AM | Updated October 22, 2019 at 12:37PM

Tall Ship Providence in Alexandria (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A ship on Alexandria’s waterfront will host an intimate retelling of a historic ghost story this weekend.

The tall ship Providence is not officially open yet, but the ship will be going through its first test as a permanent fixture of the waterfront with a “ghost ship” story.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 22, 2019 at 8:30AM

Online Maintenance for Library — “Due to service maintenance, on Wednesday, October 23 between the hours of 12am and 6am, Library customers will not unable to access databases or library accounts.” [Twitter]

New Generation for Le Refuge — Since 1983, the family-owned Le Refuge restaurant has served French cuisine at 127 N. Washington Street. Now a new generation of the family is taking over the beloved local institution. [Gazette Packet]

News

Descendants of Local Civil Rights Protestors to Meet Tonight to Discuss Sit-In’s Legacy

By Vernon Miles

Published October 21, 2019 at 2:00PM | Updated October 21, 2019 at 3:07PM

(Left to right) William “Buddy” Evans, Otto Tucker, Edward Gaddis, Morris L. Murray and Clarence “Buck” Strange being led out of the Barrett Branch Library by police on Aug. 21, 1939. (via Alexandria City Library)

Descendants of the men who led the 1939 Alexandria library sit-in plan to meet tonight for a panel discussion examining how the event impacted their families.

At the Beatley Central Library (5005 Duke Street) at 6:30 p.m., relatives of protestors William “Buddy” Evans and Morris Murray are scheduled to discuss the event and some of the lingering impacts, followed by a question and answer session.

News

Alexandria to Host Hefty Helping of Halloween Events This Month

By Airey

Published October 18, 2019 at 3:35PM | Updated October 18, 2019 at 3:59PM

(Updated at 4 p.m.) Old Town’s cobwebs are strung and Del Ray’s carved pumpkins are out, which means it’s Halloween time for Alexandria.

The city is playing host to an ample amount of spooky events this year, including family-friendly parades to a tour of mystery and murder.

News

Alexandria Archeology Museum Inviting the Public to Check Out New Maritime Exhibit

By Airey

Published October 17, 2019 at 10:30AM

A model of an 18th century ship found in Alexandria (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s Archeology Museum is inviting the public to come see its new exhibition on ships long-ago sunk to build the city’s waterfront.

This Saturday, October 19, the public will be able to see for themselves how archeologists and volunteers have worked to excavate and restore four of the ships in time for Archeology Month.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 14, 2019 at 8:00AM

The Amtrak and VRE station (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Weekend Flooding in Old Town — “There are several road closures in the old town area due to coastal flooding. The unit block of Prince Street, The Strand and Unit block of King Street High Tide are temporarily closed. Avoid the area.” [WJLA, Capital Weather Gang, Twitter, Twitter]

City Offices Closed for Holiday — Numerous Alexandria city government offices and facilities are closed today for the Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday. ALXnow will not be publishing additional news articles today, except in the event of breaking news.