(Updated at 11:15 a.m.) Alexandria’s plans to convert one block of King Street into a pedestrian-only zone are starting to come together.
The plan would close King Street between Lee Street and Union Street on weekends, according to a report presented to the Waterfront Commission Tuesday morning.
Where better to celebrate the ugly sweaters so associated with Christmas than Alexandria’s yarn store Fibre Space?
At a free event tonight (Tuesday) from 608 p.m. at Fibre Space (1319 Prince Street), guests can either wear their ugly sweaters or finish working on their sweaters with friends.
Le Tache’s 210 King Street location opened ten years ago as something of a controversial prank — a prank chronicled by the New York Times, no less. But after a long stay in Old Town the “couples boutique” has finally closed.
The store offered a variety of explicit accessories, from lingerie to… well, we’ll tell you when you’re older. It was a large store that occupied multiple floors of a historic, brick building near the waterfront. The interior has been emptied, however, and a sign has been posted in the window saying the building is available for rent.
Three elected officials visited businesses across Alexandria as part of an effort to drum up support for a paid family and medical leave bill.
Rep. Don Beyer, Del. Carroll Foy and State Sen. Jennifer Boysko — all Democrats — visited three businesses on Friday (Dec. 13) and spoke with business owners who were supportive of the bill. The trio visited Lori’s Table (1028 King Street), Bishop’s Boutique (815 King Street) and Let’s Meat on the Avenue (2403 Mount Vernon Avenue).
(Updated at 2:25 p.m.) Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg unveiled a new plan to cut carbon emissions at a campaign event in Alexandria this morning.
The billionaire owner of Bloomberg LP and former New York City mayor addressed a crowd of supporters and members of the media at Blackwall Hitch on the waterfront. Bloomberg was originally supposed to hold the event outside the gates of the GenOn power plant, but that plan was scuttled due to rain.
There are no signs on the walls or permits from the city visible, but there are nevertheless signs of life at the former King Street Blues restaurant at 112 N. St. Asaph Street.
Neighbors told ALXnow that movers bringing equipment into the space told them the new restaurant would be called Old Hat. A company under that name with the King Street Blues address was created on Sept. 11 this year.
A lawsuit to try to prevent the owners of a late-18th century home in Old Town from demolishing parts of the historic property has been thrown out, but the plaintiff in the case has filed an appeal.
The house at 619 S. Lee Street has been owned by various local dignitaries over the years, from former mayor and editor of the Alexandria Gazette-Packet Edgar Snowden to Hugo Black, a member of the Supreme Court from 1937 to 1971. Black notably wrote the majority opinion in a decision justifying the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, filibustered an anti-lynching bill while a U.S. senator, and was at one point a member of the KKK.
Shortly after scooping out a spot in Old Town, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is hosting a grand opening celebration next Thursday (Dec. 19) with a scheduled appearance from the eponymous Jeni Britton Bauer.
The grand opening celebration is scheduled from 7-11 p.m. at Jeni’s (102 S. Patrick Street). Free ice cream and “swag” is promised to the first 50 people in line.
Next Saturday, the Old Town trolly will run from the Metro to the Waterfront by way of the North Pole.
On Saturday, Dec. 14, Santa is scheduled to make an appearance at a King Street Trolly parked outside City Hall (301 King Street). The trolly is a free, year-round shuttle along King Street operated by the DASH bus service.
A plan to replace a disused pier would help the Old Dominion Boat Club bring more boats to Alexandria and hopefully make the waterfront a little cleaner.
In plans submitted to the City of Alexandria, the boat club in Old Town laid out its vision for replacing an outdated and disused wharf just to the south of the club’s location on The Strand with a new pier and floating dock.
Get the kilts and bagpipes ready, this weekend is the Scottish Christmas Walk.
Scotland-themed events are scheduled throughout the weekend, kicking off with Taste of Scotland, an annual Scotch tasting on Friday, Nov. 6 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at The Atrium (277 S. Washington Street). The event also includes Scottish beer, wine and food. Individual tickets are sold out, but sponsorship tickets are still available.
