Old Town | ALXnow

Morning Notes

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.

News

Old Town Hosting Dinner and History Night In Memory of the ‘Female Stranger’

By Airey

Published October 11, 2019 at 2:00PM

The grave of the mysterious Female Stranger (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Port City Brewing and Gadsby’s Tavern Museum are gearing up to host a special night in memory of the mysterious woman who once perished on the shores of Alexandria.

The two local institutions are pairing up to for an event for “foodies and history nerds alike,” per the city’s website. Attendees can learn about the story of a woman who arrived sick on a ship in 1816 and whose husband swore the local doctor to secrecy about their identity — only inscribing “Female Stranger” on her gravestone after she died in Gadsby’s Tavern on October 14, 1816.

News

Conversion of Brick Building in Old Town into Coworking Space Underway

By Vernon Miles

Published October 11, 2019 at 11:30AM

Rendering for The Loop at 215 N. Payne (photo via Braddock Commercial)

An old brick building at 215 N. Payne Street is in the middle of conversion into a new “flexible workspace” called The Loop.

Developer Braddock Commercial, whose website indicates that their sole project seems to be this new coworking space, said clients will be able to pick out their own furnishings and furniture for the offices at The Loop.

News

Newly-Minted WNBA Champ Elena Delle Donne Also Won a Fence Encroachment in Alexandria This Year

By Vernon Miles

Published October 11, 2019 at 10:30AM | Updated May 4, 2021 at 8:59AM

(Updated 4/5/21) Elena Delle Donne from the Washington Mystics has had two big wins this year.

The team won the WNBA championship last night (Thursday), but earlier this summer Delle Donne won city approval to bump the fence of her Old Town home further into the public right of way.

News

Friday Trivia! So About the George Washington Masonic National Memorial…

By Vernon Miles

Published October 11, 2019 at 9:30AM | Updated October 11, 2019 at 6:49PM

Update 6:45 p.m. — Two-thirds of you were correct! The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is based on the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

We’re trying a new thing for Alexandria.

News

‘Alexandria After Work’ Concerts Continue Tomorrow with Sea Shanties and Scottish Folks Music

By Airey

Published October 10, 2019 at 12:45PM

Alexandria is continuing its “After Work” Friday concert series with a folksy, maritime performance.

The Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum (201 South Washington Street) will continue its fall concert series tomorrow (Friday, October 11) with D.C. area-based folk singer duo Darriel and Jocelyn Day and Maryland-based string instrumentalist Donna Korn, who was trained in Irish and Classical violin as well as viola, bouzouki, and mandolin.

News

Maritime Festival on the Waterfront in Old Town This Weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published October 10, 2019 at 11:30AM

A festival celebrating Alexandria’s maritime history is planned for this Saturday (Oct. 12) at Waterfront Park (1 King Street).

The Portside in Old Town Fall Festival, hosted by Visit Alexandria, is scheduled to run from 1-7 p.m., rain or shine. The event is free to attend and has a variety of maritime activities, live music and more lined up.

News

Goodies Plans New Frozen Custard Stand at Old Town Ice House

By Vernon Miles

Published October 9, 2019 at 11:05AM

Ice house at 200 Commerce Street

Frozen custard truck Goodies could be opening as a bricks-and-mortar frozen custard stand at the iconic ice house at the corner of Payne Street and Commerce Street in Old Town.

First, however, the D.C.-based custard business needs to clear the hurdle of obtaining a Special Use Permit.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 9, 2019 at 8:00AM

New Hotel Opening in Old Town — “The New Hyatt Centric in Alexandria is accepting reservations for March 1, 2020. The hotel, at 1611 King St., will have a restaurant on site. It will have 124 rooms. The hotel will be pet-friendly and include a fitness center.” [Alexandria Living]

Local Zip Code Among State’s Priciest for Renters — “Alexandria, one of the most competitive real estate markets, is also one of the state’s priciest for renting an apartment… Alexandria’s zip code 22314 is the eighth most expensive in Virginia. The average $2,145 rent has a 3.8 percent year-over-year change.” [Patch]

News

Archeologists Hunt For Clues as They Work to Save Buried Ships

By Vernon Miles

Published October 8, 2019 at 2:15PM | Updated October 17, 2019 at 9:32AM

(Updated 10/17) New details are coming in about one of Alexandria’s long-buried ships.

Two hundred years after the ship was scuttled to be built into the artificial waterfront, teams in Texas and here in Alexandria are putting the ship back into a stable condition and learn more about them.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 8, 2019 at 8:00AM

New Senior Care Center Set to Open in 2021 — “Construction is progressing quickly on a new senior care community in Old Town. Sunrise Senior Living broke ground on its new facility at the intersection of North Washington and Princess streets early this year. The McLean-based company is building a 93-room assisted living community.” [Alexandria Living]

Waterfront Construction Projects Well Underway — “Anyone living on Union Street in Old Town 10 years ago might not recognize it now… During the week, the street is crowded with construction vehicles, and there are several places where the sidewalk is temporarily blocked or under a protective awning because of the construction. Hardly the setting for tourists taking selfies.” [Gazette-Packet]