Heading into the weekend looking for something to take some of the stress off of the national pandemic and social distancing, some local breweries are starting to offer curbside pickups for their products.
Lost Boy Cider (317 Hooffs Run) is offering pickup at their cidery. Customers select their cider online, pay, and pick a date and time for a pickup. At the cidery, they show their ID and receive the cider.
While the taproom for Aslin Beer (847 S. Pickett Street) in Alexandria is closed, the company is offering cans-to-go for pickup at both Herndon and Alexandria locations from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. No minimum order is required and purchases can be made online, over the phone, or in cash on pickup.
The company is also offering delivery of beer and re-heatable meals for a $75 order minimum, with a $10 delivery fee. Deliveries can be made to Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties via phone. All orders of beer will be delivered the next day, with orders of food or food and beer to be delivered within 48 hours.
Deliveries run from noon to 7 p.m.
“We’re offering this service as a way to comfort and compensate our kitchen staff during these uncertain times,” the company said on its website. “We would also like to help our brothers and sisters in the local service industry by donating all of the proceeds of the meal sales. Please DM us on our [Instagram] if you have any suggestions or organizations that would best serve our friends. We will announce in the coming days how we will be applying our proceeds to the service industry family in our area. Thank you for your continuous support.”
While the taproom of Port City Brewing Company [3950 Wheeler Avenue] is also closed the company is offering both curbside pickup and deliveries.
Curbside pickup is Monday-Thursday from 3-8 p.m. and Friday-Sunday 12-8 p.m. Payment is card only.
“Order before you drive up here,” the company said on its website. “No need to get out of your car, pop your trunk and our team will load the beer.”
The company announced today [Friday] that it will be offering beer deliveries for Virginians within ten miles of the brewery. Deliveries are made between 3-6 p.m. and orders made before noon will be delivered in the same day.
“Once we receive your order our team will contact you for payment over the phone,” the company said. “We will charge a $5 delivery fee and require a minimum of $47 [one case or equivalent].”
https://twitter.com/PortCityBrew/status/1241030489282150402
Image via Port City/Facebook
Port City Brewing Co. Closes Tasting Room — “Effective Sunday, March 15, 2020, we will be closing our Tasting Room until further notice. We are doing this to help the community try to get a handle on the spread of Coronavirus.”[Facebook]
ACPS Provides Food Access Update — “Starting Monday, Alexandria City Public Schools will be providing emergency meals at no cost for any child under 18 and any family who needs it.” [ACPS]
DASH Modifies Bus Routes — “Beginning Thursday, March 19, DASH will operate on an “Enhanced Saturday” schedule weekdays in order to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 among our employees, riders and community.” [DASH]
Alexandria Library Open, Taking Social Distancing Measures — “As of Saturday, March 14, 2020 the Alexandria Library will be canceling all Library programs, events, outreach activities, passport services, proctoring, and meeting room reservations through Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Meeting rooms will not be available for use. Computers and seating will be reconfigured, with fewer available for use.” [Alexandria Library]
Recreation Dept. Suspends Events Until March 21 — “All indoor programs, classes and activities produced by RPCA are suspended Saturday, March 14 through Saturday, March 21. This includes afterschool programming and the Out of School Time program. Credits will be issued for any missed activities during this time. Throughout the one week programming break, RPCA will continue to evaluate which services can be offered going forward and will provide an update prior to March 21.” [RPCA]
‘Maximum Telework’ for Federal Employees — “OPM Finally Announces: ‘Federal offices in the Washington, DC area status: Open with maximum telework flexibilities.'” [PoPville]
Governor Declares State of Emergency — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said he is watching how other states are handling COVID-19 testing and that drive-thru testing may be an option. [NBC 4]
ALIVE! Might Shutter Programs, Needs Donations — “We continue to operate as normal, but anticipate that at some point we may advise volunteers to stay home and close programs. We are doing our best to ensure food supplies are adequate and are increasing deliveries to our regular drop off sites while we are able. Donations to support our food reserves are critically important at this time, as we are sending out everything to our regular clients to help them prepare while we are still able to do so.” [ALIVE!]
Fundrise Acquires Carlyle Site For Development — “Fundrise acquired the 14-acre site at 2000 Carlyle Ave. from a joint venture of Perseus Realty and ELV Associates for $75 million… The online platform allows private investors to pool money into a series of funds that invest in residential and commercial properties.” [Bisnow]
Port City Brewing Co. Releases Statement on Coronavirus — “We understand that the recent outbreak of COVID-19 requires extra precautions in public spaces like ours… We strongly encourage friends across our community to use caution when deciding where to visit and what to attend during this pandemic.” [Port City]
Gas Station Offering “White Glove” Full Service — In response to the coronavirus, Yates Service, Inc. on Thursday announced the launch of complimentary white glove vehicle pickup and delivery service and complimentary full-service gas pump attendants at its gas station at Yates Automotive’s Sunoco station in Del Ray/Old Town. [Zebra]
Virginia Young Democrats Convention Postponed — “This is an unprecedented step taken in response to the increasingly concerning developments with COVID-19 here within the Commonwealth and the country. The convention planning committee did not make this decision lightly, but the safety of our members comes above all else.” [Facebook]
New Inova Facility Planned — “Inova Health System plans to open a new health care facility on part of Oakville Triangle, giving another try to the 13-acre site on Richmond Highway in Alexandria across from a planned Virginia Tech campus and a short distance from Amazon.com Inc.’s second headquarters.” [Washington Business Journal]
Christmas Attic Closes — “One of Alexandria’s most beloved businesses, The Christmas Attic at 125 S. Union St., has closed its doors after nearly 50 years in business near the Alexandria waterfront. The year-round winter wonderland offered a special shopping experience.” [Alexandria Living]
Food Truck Serves Fido — “A food truck for dogs? Yup, and not a truck that rolls up and hands out kibble. Woofbowl serves up treats like burgers, fries, and pho… [The truck] frequently pulls up to Del Ray’s Saturday Farmers Market.” [Zebra]
Port City IPA Release Party Tonight — “Introducing a brand new beer to our Limited Release lineup, Star Sailor White IPA! Made with 100% VA Grown Wheat, this hop forward hazy golden beer has fruity notes that will leave you refreshed and ready for star gazing.” [Port City Brewing]
St. Pat’s Parade This Weekend — “Alexandria will turn green at the 39th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Fun Dog Show on Saturday, March 7. The festivities are sponsored by the Ballyshaners, a nonprofit dedicated to Irish heritage, and are expected to include more than 2,000 participants.” [ALXnow]
Reminder: Daylight Saving Time Returns — “Love it or hate it, our annual ritual of early March – daylight saving time – is coming this weekend. At 2 a.m. Sunday, the few analog clocks still around must ‘spring forward’ an hour, turning 1:59:59 a.m. into 3 a.m.” [USA Today]
Local brewery Port City is planning a “Crispy Crawl” later this month of some of Del Ray’s marquee bars and restaurants.
The crawl will take place on Saturday, March 21 and run from 1-6 p.m. Among the stops are:
- Lena’s Woodfired Pizza and Tap (401 E. Braddock Road)
- The Garden (1504 Mount Vernon Avenue)
- Evening Star Cafe (2000 Mount Vernon Avenue)
- Del Ray Pizzeria (2218 Mount Vernon Avenue)
- Pork Barrel BBQ (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue)
- Hops N Shine (3410 Mount Vernon Avenue)
The crawl starts at either Lena’s or Hops N Shine, then going up and down Mount Vernon Avenue. Participants must arrive by 2:30 p.m.
The goal is to hit all six spots to complete a pass and turn it in at either Lena’s or Hops N Shine to pick up a glass as the prize at the end.
Photo via Del Ray Brewing Company
Port City Brewing Company is celebrating this year’s extended February in style.
2020 is a leap year, meaning February has 29 days rather than the more common 28.
Port City is hosting Leap Beer Day from noon-10 p.m. at its Alexandria brewery (3950 Wheeler Avenue).
“On Leap Beer we will be celebrating with an additional 5 oz taster (of any beer available) for all flight and pint purchases,” the company said in an event description. “We are calling that additional taster a Leap Beer! If you are a ‘leapling,’ ‘leap-year-baby’ or a ‘leaper’ then enjoy a percentage off your total equivalent to your Leap Year age. Born on Leap Day in 1960? Enjoy 15% off! Happy 15th birthday!”
Additionally, anyone buying one case of Port City (starting at $47) gets a second case for $29.
Food truck Basic Burger is also scheduled to be parked outside the brewery.
Photo via Port City/Facebook
Know your Female Stranger? How much do you know about the buried ships in Old Town?
A new trivia night scheduled for this Wednesday (Feb. 19) at Port City Brewing Company (3950 Wheeler Avenue) will put your Alexandria knowledge to the test.
“Join us, along with our friends from the Office of Historic Alexandria, for a trip into the past as we uncover hidden wonders, forgotten events, scientific oddities, and all the wonderful history that makes Alexandria so special,” the brewery said in an event listing. “It is time for ALX Obscura Trivia!”
The tasting room is scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with trivia starting at 7 p.m. Tickets to the event are $10 per team, which includes one pint and a $3 donation to the Office of Historic Alexandria.
Teams are limited to no more than six players, with no smartphones or mobile devices allowed.
To prep for the trivia night, Port City recommended checking out the Lyceum, Black History Museum, Alexandria Archaeology Museum, and the Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in Old Town.
Staff photo by Jay Westcott
Ain’t love grand? It depends on how you look at it. If your perspective is of the darker variety, with a dose of good humor, there’s an event in Alexandria for you.
This coming Thursday and Friday nights, Port City Brewing Company (3950 Wheeler Ave.) is hosting “Love Is Hell: A Valentine’s Day Horror Experience.”
Forget your regular Valentine’s Day programming. For $20 per person with the promo code FUNLAND (it’s $25 at the door), participants will get a pint of Port City draft beer and be led upstairs to the brewery’s Lighthouse Lounge, which has been converted into a haunted house. Inside will be dimly lit tables full of dead flowers and chocolate, love-themed games of horror and Demonic Cupid in her booth offering love advice to couples. Red lights have been put in the bathrooms, in addition to creative writing on the mirrors, which should make for a number of Instagram-worthy experiences.
The events will be held from 7-10 p.m. Also, at the end of the night, a list of the worst break-up lines participants have ever been given will be read aloud.
The program is presented by Funland Productions, a group founded last year by area comedians and artists, including Alexandria’s Melanie Harker and Shawn Paul Ellis.
Co-founder Charlie Visconage has been happily married for three years and said his troupe is walking a fine line of presenting, “more of a Sam Raimi comedy horror-vibe instead of a Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibe.”
“There are plenty of things in our romantic past that are frustrating, weird and come out of left field,” Visconage told ALXnow. “We’re really hoping people will hang out. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I promise it won’t be like a haunted house with jump-scares.”
If you’re still hungry afterward, there will be food trucks outside Port City on both nights — Basic Burger on Thursday and Borinquen Lunch Box on Friday.
Image via Funland Productions/Facebook
Alexandria Dog Featured in Puppy Bowl — “The Puppy Bowl features dogs from shelters and rescue groups like Alexandria-based dog rescue Operation Paws for Homes. The rescue group is holding a watch party Sunday, Feb. 2 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Wag & Brew, 614 S Pickett Street, Alexandria.” [Patch]
Crash Snarls Rush Hour Traffic — Just before 5:30 p.m. last night a crash, reportedly involving a car and a motorcycle, shut down portions of Sanger Avenue and Beauregard Street, snarling rush hour traffic. [Twitter]
Apartment Building Purchase Complete — “The purchase of an Alexandria apartment building that will provide affordable housing units is complete, the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation announced Thursday. Avana Apartments, a 326-unit apartment complex at 3001 Park Center Drive in the West End, will have some units available at lower costs for households that meet income requirements. It will be renamed Parkstone Alexandria.” [Patch]
Waterfront is Highlight for Local Visitors — “Another standout in the data was attraction to the waterfront. In a portion of the survey where respondents were shown photos of scenes around Alexandria – which included shops along King Street, cobblestone roads and historic sites like Mount Vernon – the photos that performed the best were those with water. ‘Our historic character is really important but showing a place that’s on the water is very inspirational to people as a place that they want to visit,’ Vito Fiore, director of marketing and research for Visit Alexandria.” [Alexandria Times]
No Anniversary Beer for Port City — “Each year for our anniversary we craft a unique style of beer. Sadly, after monitoring the brewing process we have decided COLOSSAL IX does not represent our dedication to great quality beer, and we will not be releasing an anniversary beer in 2020.” [Twitter]
MOMs Shopping Center Set for Redevelopment — A “D.C. developer filed preliminary plans with Alexandria earlier this month for the project, looking to completely overhaul a Mount Vernon Avenue shopping center near Four Mile Run Park, now called Del Ray North. It’s currently home to a MOM’s Organic Market, but has seen a variety of retail vacancies recently.” [Washington Business Journal]
Port City Planning 9th Anniversary Celebration — “Time to celebrate 9 awesome years of brewing with the only way we know how: a COLOSSAL release! For our ninth anniversary we are introducing COLOSSAL IX a Weizenbock to the COLOSSAL lineup.” [Port City Brewing]
Sephora Now Open in Old Town — “Cosmetics store Sephora is opening a store in Old Town Alexandria on Friday, Jan. 24. The store is located at 810 King Street, the former site of home furniture store Random Harvest. That store moved to 814 King Street.” [Patch]
Possible N. Va. Coronavirus Case — “The Virginia Department of Health says it is investigating three people, including one in northern Virginia, who ‘meet both clinical and epidemiologic criteria’ for coronavirus.” [Fox 5, Virginia Dept. of Health]
