Neighborhood Restaurant Group

Published July 2, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated July 2, 2026 at 2:53PM

Crooked Beat Records at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

Del Ray is seeing a vinyl boom as another record store is coming to Del Ray this August, one block from the new location of Crooked Beat Records on Mount Vernon Avenue.

Michael Babin, principal at the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, confirmed to ALXnow that the company is closing Mulberry Lane Play Café at 2016 Mount Vernon Avenue and replacing it with a record store. The news comes as Crooked Beat Records recently announced that it is also aiming for an August opening at 2101B Mount Vernon Avenue.

Mulberry Lane Play Café gives mom and dad a chance to get work done in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published April 14, 2025 at 12:15PM

Mulberry Lane Play Cafe at 2016 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

If Mulberry Lane in Del Ray didn’t close, Molly Szmak says she and her family would never leave.

Neighborhood Restaurant Group opened the supervised “play cafe” for one-to-six-year-old kids last November at 2016 Mount Vernon Avenue. The facility can hold up to 24 kids, with a 1:5 staff ratio that lets parents work or dine nearby.

Notes: New co-working space to open in Del Ray

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 1, 2025 at 8:00AM

Studio Del Ray (via Studio Del Ray)

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: It will be mostly cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 64 degrees. Northwest wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 41 degrees. East wind 3 to 6 mph.