New Year’s Day is right around the corner, and a number of Alexandria government offices are closing early on Friday (Dec. 31).

The city’s New Year’s Eve celebration has been canceled due to rising COVID numbers, but if you’re looking to get out on Friday, the Torpedo Factory Art Center will be open from  10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Charles Houston and Patrick Henry Recreation Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as will the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics facility.

The city has listed the following closures and other changes planned for this week:

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA): On Friday, December 31, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (4101 Eisenhower Ave.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment only, for both virtual and in-shelter animal visiting opportunities. To make an appointment, visit AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt-by-Appointment. The shelter will be closed Saturday, December 25 and Saturday, January 1. For animal emergencies or wildlife concerns, call 703.746.4444.

Courts: The Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court will be closed Thursday, December 30; and Friday, December 31. The Court Service Unit will be closed Friday, December 31.

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): All DMV customer service centers in Northern Virginia (including 2681 Mill Rd.) will be closed Friday, December 31 and Saturday, January 1, 2022.

Health Facilities: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King St.), Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) and Teen Wellness Center at Alexandria City High School (3330 King St.) will be closed Friday, December 31.

Historic Alexandria: All City of Alexandria museums, with the exception of the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, will be closed on Friday, December 24; Saturday, December 25; Friday, December 31; and Saturday, January 1. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum (105 N. Union St.) will be open Friday, December 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, December 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 703.746.4554 or visit alexandriava.gov/Historic and follow Historic Alexandria on social media.

Hotlines: All emergency hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including the child protective services hotline at 703.746.5800; the domestic violence hotline at 703.746.4911; the emergency mental health services or substance abuse crisis hotline at 703.746.3401; the adult protective services hotline at 1.888.832.3858; and the sexual assault hotline at 703.683.7273.

Impound Facility: The City’s Impound Facility (5249 Eisenhower Ave.) will be closed on Thursday, December 23; Friday, December 24; and Friday, January 1. Fees will accrue while the facility is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, but will not accrue on holidays.

Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches and the Alexandria Law Library (520 King St.) will be closed Thursday, December 23 through Saturday, December 25, December 31 and January 1. Visit alexlibraryva.org for more information.

Old Town Farmers’ Market: The Old Town Farmers’ Market will be open Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, from 7 a.m. to noon with free parking at Market Square Parking Garage (108 N. Fairfax St.), under Market Square Plaza, from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Farmers’ Market will be and will be closed Saturday, December 25, and will open as usual on New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1, 2022, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Parking: The Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits Thursday, December 23 through Saturday, December 25; and Saturday, January 1. This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited (for example, no-parking zones, loading zones or spaces for persons with disabilities). Temporary no-parking signs will be posted and enforced on the holidays.

Recreation, Nature and Art Centers: On Thursday, December 23, Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility (3210 King St.), Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St.) and Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Ave.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.) will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all other facilities will be closed.

On Saturday, January 1, all recreation, nature and art centers will be closed. View the City’s recreation center operating schedule for more information.

Resource Recovery:

Christmas Tree Collection: Christmas tree collection will begin Monday, January 3 and will be collected through the whole month for residents who receive City trash collection services. The last day of tree collection will be Monday, January 31. Visit alexandriava.gov/YardWaste for preparation information.

Leaf Collection: Leaves will be collected on Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24. There will be no leaf collection on December 31 in observance of New Year’s Day. Visit alexandriava.gov/LeafCollection for more information.

Trash and Recycling: Residential refuse, yard waste and recycling will be collected on the regularly scheduled day during the weeks of December 20 and December 27; there will be no “holiday slide.” The Household Hazardous Waste Electronic Collection Drop-off Center (3224 Colvin St.) will be closed Saturday, December 25 and Saturday, January 1. Visit alexandriava.gov/ResourceRecovery for more information.

It’s the holiday season, so expect a series of closures and reduced services toward the end of this month.

In a press release, the City of Alexandria ran offered an overview of what services will be open and when.

“All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 24, in observance of the Christmas holiday; and Friday, December 31, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday,” the city said.

What follows is a rather lengthy list of openings and closings that will be included verbatim at the end of the article.

Some of the highlights are that the Old Town Farmers’ Market will be open on Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24, from 7 a.m. to noon. Free parking will be offered in the Market Square Parking Garage (108 N. Fairfax Street) from 5:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The market will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 25, but will be open as usual on New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1.

Speaking of parking: the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit districts, and other areas with signed parking time limits from Thursday, Dec. 23, through Saturday, Dec. 25, and on Saturday, Jan. 1.

“This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited (for example, no-parking zones, loading zones or spaces for persons with disabilities),” the city said. “Temporary no-parking signs will be posted and enforced on the holidays.”

For those looking for something to do on Christmas Eve, the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.) will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24.

In terms of transit, on Friday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 31, DASH bus will operate on a Sunday service schedule. On Saturday, Dec. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 1, DASH will operate on a regular Saturday service. The King Street Trolley will continue to operate through the holidays.

Visit Alexandria has also put together a small guide to local restaurants continuing to serve food on the upcoming holidays.

The full list of closures is available below the jump:

Read More

Monday, Oct. 11, is Indigenous Peoples’ Day and there are some ways to celebrate around Alexandria, though locals should also be aware of what will be closed.

Visit Alexandria put together a list of activities locals can do around Alexandria if they’re looking for ways to celebrate Native cultures. Suggestions include shopping at Intertribal Creatives (106 N. Lee Street) gallery in Old Town — an art gallery that highlights Indigenous artists — or attending a virtual lecture on Chichén Itzá on Tuesday (Oct. 12) hosted by George Mason University professor Lisa Breglia.

Several city services around Alexandria will be closed on Monday. According to a press release from the city:

• Animal Welfare League of Alexandria: On Oct. 11, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (4101 Eisenhower Ave.) will be open weekend hours by appointment only. To make an appointment, visit their website or call 703.746.4744.
• Courts: The following Commonwealth of Virginia offices in Alexandria will be closed on Oct. 11.
• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): On Oct. 11, all Virginia DMV locations in Northern Virginia (including 2681 Mill Rd.) will be closed.
• Health Facilities: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King St.), the Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) and the Teen Wellness Center at Alexandria High School (3330 King St.) will be closed Oct. 11.
• Historic Alexandria: On Oct. 11, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (105-107 S. Fairfax St.) will be open regular hours from 1 to 5 p.m. All other City museums will be closed.
• Impound Lot: The City’s Impound Facility (5249 Eisenhower Ave.) will be closed Oct. 11.
• Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches, and the Alexandria Law Library, will be closed Oct. 11.
• Parking: On Oct. 11, the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with posted parking time limits.
• Recreation and Arts Centers:  On Oct. 11, Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility (3210 King St.), and Charles Houston (901 Wythe St.) and Patrick Henry (4653 Taney Ave.) Recreation Centers will be open 9 a.m-3 p.m. The Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N Union St.) and all other recreation and nature centers will be closed.
• Resource Recovery: Residential refuse and recycling will not be collected Oct. 11. Collection services will slide by one day during the week of Oct. 11.
• The Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling Center (3224 Colvin St.) will be closed Oct. 11.
• Schools: There will be no school for students Oct. 11, and it will be a professional development day for all Alexandria City Public Schools staff.
• Transit: On Oct. 11, the Alexandria Transit Company’s fare-free DASH bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule. The free King Street Trolley will operate from King Street Metro to Alexandria City Hall/Market Square, with service every 15 minutes, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Photo via Intertribal Creatives/Facebook

Alexandria’s history with slavery makes Juneteenth a particularly important holiday.

June 19 recognizes the emancipation of slaves in the United States, and the date is expected to soon be a federal holiday, even though Alexandria has recognized it since 2019.

But because June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, the City is also recognizing Friday, June 18, as a holiday.

“We should all be looking at ways that we can help our community, especially in the context of a pandemic which has particularly ravaged communities of color,” said Audrey David, executive director of the Alexandria City Black History Museum, in a recent blog post, “Start by exploring the Black History Museum’s Preserving Their Names online only exhibition, released to coincide with the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, which features images of objects and digital photographs from the new Black Lives Remembered Collection.”

The Alexandria Black History Museum is also presenting a virtual performance on Saturday with the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices.

The holiday means most, but not all, City employees will have Friday off. Parking restrictions will also be lifted at legal parking spaces throughout the city, however Alexandria City Public Schools will be open.

What’s open

City-run facilities and services that will be open include:

• The Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday
• Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St.) and the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility (3210 King St.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All other City recreation centers and the Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center (5750 Sanger Ave.) will be closed
• The Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.), Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal St.), and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum (105 N. Union St., Suite 327) will all be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other City museums will be closed
• The Alexandria Transit Company DASH bus service will operate on its regular weekday schedule
• The Potomac Yard Park Interactive fountain
• The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (4101 Eisenhower Ave.) will be open June 18 and 19, by appointment only. To make an appointment, visit AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt-By-Appointment or call 703-746-4774.
• All emergency hotlines will be operational, including the Child Protective Services hotline at 703-746-5800; the domestic violence hotline at 703.746.4911; the emergency services for mental health or substance abuse crisis hotline at 703.746.3401; the adult protective services hotline at 1.888.832.3858 (1.888.83ADULT); and the sexual assault hotline at 703.683.7273.

Closures

The following City services are closed Friday:

• The Alexandria Health Department, including the Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) and the Teen Wellness Center at T.C. Williams High School
• Libraries
• The City’s impound lot
• The Alexandria Courthouse (520 King St.)

It’s Memorial Day weekend in Alexandria, and it’s also a short work week for ALXnow.

Yes, we’re taking a quick breather by taking off most of tomorrow (Friday, May 28).

Not to worry. We’re still covering tonight’s mayoral debate between Mayor Justin Wilson and former Mayor Allison Silberberg at 7 p.m. This will be the fourth and final candidate conversation hosted by the Seminary Ridge Civic Association, and our story will be published on Friday morning.

Our top post this week is about Hilco Redevelopment Partners, which is planning to host guided tours of the Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS) site in Old Town North. The tours will be held on June 4 and 5, and the property is being planned for a mixed-use development.

On a sad note, former Virginia Senator John Warner passed away this week at his home in Old Town. He was 94, and is being recognized around the country as a conservative icon from a bygone age of political cordiality. Also, on Sunday, former Alexandria Delegate Richard R.G. Hobson died.

And local businesses are adapting to this Friday’s easing of COVID restrictions throughout Virginia. In Alexandria, the Health Department is launching the new ALX Promise Gold accreditation program for businesses to complete in the days ahead.

Election stories

• City Council candidate Sarah Bagley wants to be a voice for Alexandria women
• City Council candidate Kirk McPike says he wants to bridge divisions with community conversations
• City Council candidates talk Seminary Road Diet, transparency and ward representation (Part 3)

Important stories

• Homegrown Restaurant Group gives employees raise to $15 an hour, will ease COVID restrictions at 6 restaurants
• Ownership of Landmark’s streets could make a big difference down the road
• Poll: Do you agree with adding a pool to the city’s high school expansion?
• Alexandria private school to temporarily move into Old Town church
• Alexandria makes a splash with aquatics reopening announcement
• New private academy in Old Town headed to Planning Commission
• Alexandria juveniles arrested for gun possession

Top stories

1. Developer offers tours of abandoned Alexandria power plant before demolition
2. Amazon Fresh supermarket planned for former Shopper’s Food Warehouse in Potomac Yard
3. Photos: More than half of the Potomac Yard Metro Station is complete
4. School Board says swimming pool colocation a form of ‘reparations’ for Alexandria
5. Go-go music star-turned Alexandria teacher ‘Sugar Bear’ in the spotlight after Oscars shoutout
6. Here’s a list of restaurants and other businesses for sale in Alexandria
7. Here’s a preview of what’s ahead for Alexandria’s post-pandemic economic development
8. Catholic Charities hopes to turn vacant Carlyle restaurant into workforce training kitchen
9. Here’s the order that City Council candidates will appear on the ballot for the June 8 democratic primary
10. Former Alexandria Delegate Richard R.G. Hobson dies
11. Alexandria Police investigating knife fight, prostitution and drugs at West End hotel

Have a safe weekend!

All Alexandria government offices will be closed on Memorial Day.

The holiday will also see free parking all around the city, a Sunday-like operating schedule for DASH buses and the opening of the Potomac Yard interactive fountain from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The festivities begin with the sold-out 43rd annual Alexandria Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 29.

The city and Visit Del Ray calendars do not, however, include the formerly annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Del Ray. The event was also canceled last year due to the pandemic.

Below is the city’s list of what’s open and closed on Monday, May 31.

Resource Recovery: Residential refuse and recycling will not be collected  May 31. Collection services will be delayed one day during the week to account for the Monday holiday. Visit Resource and Recovery for more information. The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection Center (3224 Colvin St.) is now regularly open on Saturdays and Mondays; however, it is closed May 31.

Animal Shelter: The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will be open May 31, by appointment only. To make an appointment, email [email protected]org or call 703.746.4774.

Health Department: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King St.), the Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) and the Teen Wellness Center at T.C. Williams High School (3330 King St.) will be closed May 31.

Historic Alexandria: All City museums will be closed May 31. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic or call 703.746.4554.

Hotlines: All emergency hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including the child protective services hotline at 703.746.5800; the domestic violence hotline at 703.746.4911; the emergency services for mental health or substance abuse crisis hotline at 703.746.3401; the adult protective services hotline at 703.746.5778 and the sexual assault hotline at 703.683.7273. For immediate police, fire or emergency medical assistance, call or text 911.

Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches and the Alexandria Law Library (520 King St.) will be closed May 31. Visit Alexandria Library for more information.

Parking: On May 31, the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions for metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with posted parking time limits. This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited, including no parking zones, loading zones or spaces for persons with disabilities. Temporary no-parking signs will be enforced May 31.

Impound Lot: The City’s Impound Facility (5249 Eisenhower Ave.) will be closed May 31.

Recreation, Nature and Arts Centers: On May 31, Charles Houston and Patrick Henry Recreation Centers, and Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All other City recreation, nature and art centers will be closed.

Outdoor Pools: All City pools will be open starting June 26.

Schools: All Alexandria City Public Schools and administrative offices will be closed May 31.

Courts: The Alexandria Circuit Court; the Clerk of Circuit Court; the Alexandria General District Court; the Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court; and the Court Service Unit (located at 520 King St.) will be closed May 31. Visit alexandriava.gov/Courts for more information.

Department of Motor Vehicles: On May 31, all Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices will be closed. All Virginia DMV locations in Northern Virginia (including 2681 Mill Road) remain closed to the public until further notice. Many DMV services are available online.

Transit: On May 31, regular DASH bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule. Service on the free King Street Trolley remains suspended until further notice. For more information, visit dashbus.com.

Presidents’ Day, or George Washington Day as it’s called in Alexandria, will come with some closures.

All city offices will be closed. Parking enforcement will be suspended that day for metered spaces and residential permit parking districts. Other closed facilities include:

• Trash and Recycling — will not be collected on Monday. Collection services will be delayed one day during the week. The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection Drop-off Center at 3224 Colvin Street will be closed on Monday as well.
• Health Department — The main Health Department building, along with the Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard Street) and the Teen Wellness Center (3330 King Street) will be closed.
• Impound Lot — The impound lot will be closed on Monday, and fees will not be accrued on Monday.
• The Torpedo Factory Art Center — The art center will be closed on Monday.
• Schools — All ACPS schools and offices will be closed.
• Alexandria Courts — the Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Alexandria Circuit Court, Alexandria General District Court, Alexandria Juvenile Court, Domestic Relations District Court and Court Service Unite will be closed.

Some facilities have limited Monday hours. Alexandria’s Animal Welfare League will be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. by appointment.  The Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, the Charles Houston and Patrick Henry Recreation Centers will be open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) will operate on a Saturday schedule, and the King Street Trolley remains suspended.

The Department of Motor Vehicles is open by appointment only due to the pandemic.

Next week is a double-hitter in terms of holidays, with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday and Inauguration Day on Wednesday.

As with many holidays, all government offices will be completely closed on both days, but other services around the city are operating on different schedules:

• Residential trash and recycling will not be collected on Monday, with pickup delayed by one day throughout the week. Monday collection will be on Tuesday, Tuesday on Wednesday, and so-on. The hazardous waste center at 3224 Colvin Street will be closed on Monday.
• The animal shelter will be open be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. by appointment only
• Schools will be closed on Monday, but virtual classes will be held on Wednesday.
• All library services will be closed on Monday and Wednesday.
• The Alexandria Police Department also announced that they will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces and residential permit parking districts on Monday and Wednesday, though parking in normally prohibited zones is still subject to fines or towing.
• DASH bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule on Monday but will run regular service on Wednesday. The trolly remains suspended until further notice.

File photo

Bilbo Baggins Now for Sale — “Longtime Alexandria restaurant and pub Bilbo Baggins has closed its doors for good. The cozy eatery, which opened in 1980, closed in the spring when COVID-19 first struck. Since then, the family-owned restaurant has not reopened and the nearly 4,000-square foot property is now for sale for $2.8 million.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Reminder: Illegal Starting Jan. 1 to Hold Cell Phone While Driving — “Starting January 1st, the ‘Hands-Free’ law will go into effect. The law makes it illegal to hold a cell phone while driving.” [Twitter]

Goodwin House Residents and Staff Receive Vaccine — “Earlier today, some residents and staff at Goodwin House Alexandria received the vaccine. Before the end of 2020, it is estimated that 125 residents and employees will be vaccinated.” [Zebra]

What’s Open and Closed on New Year’s? — “A week after Christmas, residents will get another holiday with the arrival of 2021. Some services in Alexandria will be closed or modified for the New Year’s holiday.” [Patch]

Staff photo by Jay Westcott

City of Alexandria facilities will be closed in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 20.

All public offices will be closed, parking restrictions will be eased and trash will not be collected.

Here is the city’s full list of openings and closures for Monday:

Resource Recovery: Residential refuse and recycling will not be collected on Monday, January 20, and collection services will be delayed by one day that week. The Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collections Drop-off Center (3224 Colvin St.) will also be closed.

Animal Shelter: The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with animal visitation beginning at noon.

Health Department: Alexandria Health Department services at 4480 King St. and at the Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) will be closed. The Teen Wellness Center (3330 King St.) will also be closed.

Historic Alexandria: All Historic Alexandria facilities will be closed with the exception of the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.), which will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hotlines: All emergency hotlines will be fully operational, including the child protective services hotline at 703.746.5800; the domestic violence hotline at 703-746-4911; the emergency services for mental health or substance abuse crisis hotline at 703-746-3401; the adult protective services hotline at 1-888-832-3858 and the sexual assault hotline at 703-683-7273.

Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches will be closed on Monday, January 20. The Alexandria Law Library (520 King St.) will be closed on Friday, January 17, and Monday, January 20.

Parking: The Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits.

Impound Lot: The City’s Impound Facility (5249 Eisenhower Ave.) will be closed.

Recreation, Nature and Art Centers: Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Charles Houston and Patrick Henry Recreation Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and the Torpedo Factory Art Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All other City recreation and nature centers will be closed.

Schools: All Alexandria City Public Schools and administrative offices will be closed.

State Offices: The Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Alexandria Circuit Court, Alexandria General District Court and Alexandria Juvenile Court and Domestic Relations District Court (520 King St.), will be closed. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Office (2681 Mill Road) will also be closed.

Transit: The Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule. The free King Street Trolley will run during its regular operating hours, every 10 to 15 minutes, from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., between the King Street Metro Station and waterfront.

Photo via Pixabay