The July 4 holiday weekend is here, and it’s hard to believe that 2020 is more than halfway over. Not only has the year flown by, but so has the last week.
Alexandria joined the rest of Virginia in entering into the third phase of its reopening, the oldest resident in the city turned 109, a police officer was charged with assault and battery for a January arrest
The Old Dominion Boat Club’s (ODBC) plans to reform the waterfront portion of its Old Town headquarters last fall, but after being lost at sea amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the plans are finally headed back to harbor at the Planning Commission in September.
The ODBC has used its various waterfront headquarters since 1880 as launching points for aquatic activities. The pier outside the current location — which the ODBC was more-or-less forced into in 2014 under threat of eminent domain — is a ramshackle bundle of pillars that only vaguely resembles the L-shaped pier that local commercial vessel The Dandy was docked at for a number of years.
An Alexandria Living Legend and longtime advocate for public access to the waterfront died last Wednesday in his Old Town.
Engin Artemel served in the City of Alexandria Department of Planning for ten years and was Planning Director from 1997-1984. He was 81 years old.
Alfred Street Baptist Church Leaders March on Washington — “Reverend Dr. Howard-John Wesley, pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church, welcomed hundreds of marchers, including regional and local ecumenical believers and leaders, along with national faith leaders.” [WTOP]
Nonprofit Used Book Store Planned for Del Ray — “Don Alexander, a resident, posted on the web platform Nextdoor that he is collecting used books and plans to open a used bookstore at 1712 Mt Vernon Ave., which is near Alexandria Hyundai and R&B Plumbing.” [Alexandria Living]
Fairlington UMC Warns Against Phishing Scam — “Remember the phrase ‘fishers of men?’ We have PHISHERS again. They are sending emails and TEXTS from ‘Janine Howard’ asking you to go out and buy ebay cards for them. Don’t do it. If you’d like to make charitable donations, call or go to our website.” [Facebook]
Burke & Herbert Bank Issues More Than 1,100 PPP Loans — “Today Burke & Herbert Bank, which has been serving the northern Virginia business community for more than 167 years, announced that nearly 1,100 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling approximately $136 million in aid for local businesses have been approved for the Bank’s customers. As a result, an estimated 10,000 individuals in the local community will remain employed or return to the businesses’ payroll.” [Zebra]
Waterfront restaurant Virtue Feed and Grain (106 S. Union Street) reopened Friday for takeout only.
A new menu is compiled from staff favorites with featured entrees including quesadillas, enchiladas, and short ribs with prices around $15. Family meals are also available with options serving three or six.
Former Virginia Senator John W. Warner has agreed to let the Tall Ship Providence Foundation to use his name for its recently approved visitor center complex.
“As the only Secretary of the Navy to serve in the Navy and Marine Corps, combined with his 30-years of service in the Senate, we are thrilled to recognize his contributions to our country,” Clair S. Sassin, the foundation’s executive director, said in an email.
After seven years on the Alexandria waterfront, Vola’s Dockside Grill is set for an expansion. On Tuesday, City Council will consider adding 30 outside seats for the restaurant’s outdoor seating area.
The location at 101 N. Union Street is notable since it is a highly traveled area of the waterfront and is next door to the Torpedo Factory Art Center and Waterfront Park. The restaurant currently has 87 outdoor seats, and the proposal calls on 114 outdoor seats.
Don’t worry. Even though Hal Hardaway just closed on a house in Williamsburg, he’ll still be around half the time.
If you don’t know the 70-year-old Hardaway by sight, you might know his famous garage, or the emails the Old Town resident sends to more than 1,000 people on a daily basis railing about the Alexandria waterfront or videos he shares of electric scooter violators.
Nobody knows where the styrofoam that washed up on Alexandria’s shore came from, but it was one part of the haul of debris that got swept up in a recent deep clean of Alexandria’s waterfront.
“We have a debris problem on the river,” said Jack Browand, division chief of Parks and Cultural Activities.
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]
