King Street | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published September 14, 2021 at 5:00AM

Alexandria chooses historic trolley as 2021 holiday ornament — “The City of Alexandria is now taking orders for its 2021 Trolley ornament, depicting Car 303 of the Mount Vernon Alexandria & Washington Electric Railway. The fleet of art deco cars were purchased in 1918 for the essential trolley line that connected Del Ray commuters to DC and tourists to Mount Vernon. Car 303 ran until the railway’s closure in 1932. It became a diner in 1936.” [Zebra]

Missing 83-year-old West Ender found safe — “Mr. Navia has been located.” [Twitter]

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 10, 2021 at 3:30PM

Noah Lyles comes home to Alexandria City High School, Tuesday, September 7, 2021. (Via Elijah Walter Griffin, Sr.)

What an interesting week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

World champion sprinter Noah Lyles brought home his bronze medal from the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday. In a frank, TED Talk-like speech at Alexandria City High School, Lyles talked about the importance of mental health as he struggled to perform at the games.

News

Mural Mania: Check out these three new murals in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 9, 2021 at 11:00AM | Updated September 9, 2021 at 12:10PM

There's a new mural in the rear of ESP Tea & Coffee at 1012 King Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is experiencing mural mania, as three new murals have been painted in Old Town. It’s more than just a splash of color on the walls, too.

Pacers Running at 1301 King Street is celebrating their 30th anniversary on October 7 with the official unveiling of their mural. Designed by D.C. artist Katherine Campagna, the mural reads the Pacers logo, “FOR EVERY RUN” in italics, as if the letters are running down the street.

News

Mudhouse Coffee buys building in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2021 at 9:55AM

Charlottesville-based Mudhouse Coffee Roasters has bought 1119 King Street in Old Town, and hopes to open as soon as possible.

The current tenant, J. Brown and Co., still has two years left on their lease and have indicated to the new building owners that they’re interested in getting bought out. If that happens, it will take about two months after the tenant moves out to gut the building and make it ready to open for business, according to Mudhouse partner Matthew Dragas.

News

Village Brauhaus aims for rooftop expansion

By Vernon Miles

Published September 7, 2021 at 9:55AM

Village Brauhaus at 710 King Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

While outdoor dining along King Street has been a blessing for many local restaurants, Village Brauhaus (710 King Street) wasn’t so lucky. But now the restaurant — and former castle — is hoping to take that same principle to the roof.

In an application to the Planning Commission, Village Brauhaus owners Chelsea and William Gross are asking for permission to expand the restaurant dining to the roof.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 3, 2021 at 3:35PM

Alexandria was spared from significant flooding this week after remnants of Hurricane Ida swept through the East Coast. The only flooding found was on lower King Street in Old Town, where businesses laid sandbags at windows and doorways.

“We’re open inside, but if you want to eat you’re probably going to have to come barefoot,” a hostess at Mai Thai told ALXnow on Wednesday.

News

This upcoming event in Old Town has helped raise more than $120K for children’s cancer research

By James Cullum

Published September 1, 2021 at 3:30PM

There are still available tickets for the eighth annual Capes and Cocktails event benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Alexandria writer Jeannette Wages has hosted the event for eight years, and has helped raise more than $120,000 toward cancer research in honor of four-year-old Lewkas Rhone, who died in 2013.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 30, 2021 at 5:00AM

Murphy’s reserves table for Marines lost in Afghanistan — “Last night, Friday, August 27, Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub on King Street reserved a table and set 13 places in honor of the 13 soldiers lost in Afghanistan earlier this week.” [Zebra]

4.1 million meals given to ACPS students during pandemic — “In March 2020, Alexandria City Public Schools called on Volunteer Alexandria to help distribute meals to students who were suddenly learning from home due to the pandemic… By the middle of August, Volunteer Alexandria and ACPS had delivered 4,106,889 grab-and-go meals and snacks to Alexandria students and their families.” [Alexandria Living]

News

New barber shop cutting into Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published August 23, 2021 at 1:10PM

A new barbershop is slated to open at 1630 King Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

A former credit union (1630 King Street) roughly two blocks from the King Street Metro station could soon get turned into new barber shop.

An application scheduled for review at the Oct. 5 Planning Commission meeting describes the new business as:

News

King Street underpass closed tonight and next week for maintenance

By Vernon Miles

Published August 10, 2021 at 2:15PM

King Street underpass, via Google Maps

A block of Alexandria that’s seen sudden repairs in recent years is undergoing something a little more-planned over the next week.

Maintenance on the rail bridge traveling over King Street near the eponymous Metro station will close the underpass tonight from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. tomorrow. It will also be closed the same times from Tuesday, Aug. 17, to Wednesday, Aug. 25. The underpass will be closed for both vehicle and pedestrian/cyclist traffic.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 6, 2021 at 5:00AM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Residents divided over plan to rename Lee Street — “For some residents, the news came as a welcome surprise and a step toward removing Confederate namesakes from the city’s streets and honoring figures or ideas they deem more worthy. For others, the petition represented an attempt to erase the city’s connection to commander of the Confederate Army Robert E. Lee, who grew up in Alexandria and has long been a focal point of the city’s history tourism.” [Alex Times]

Basic income pilot starts this fall in Alexandria — “Bolstered by nearly $60 million in federal pandemic relief money, the independent jurisdiction in Northern Virginia plans to begin sending $500 debit cards to 150 families each month for two years, starting sometime this fall… Alexandria is funding its new basic income initiative with $3 million in American Rescue Plan money.” (dcist)