Food Trucks Headed to Alexandria

City Council is expected to consider a proposal in June put together by staff.

Council is expected to consider a legislative proposal in June that would bring food trucks to the City of Alexandria. “It’s a win-win for everybody,” said Rose Boyd, special assistant to the city manager, at a Friday morning small business event hosted by the Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association at St. George Gallery in Old Town. Boyd noted that the city is embarking on new initiatives to ensure Alexandria is small business-friendly and the acceptance of food trucks dovetails with those plans. City staff put together the proposal to go before council, which asked for the plan during a recent retreat. The trucks would be permitted anywhere through city limits 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. and allowed to park for up to four hours at a time …

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Old Town Named a Top Art Place for 2013

Old Town named to second tier of list produced by Chicago-based ArtPlace.

ArtPlace recently named the downtown section of Alexandria—aka Old Town—one of its top arts locations in metro areas across the United States for 2013. The Chicago-based group is a collaboration of national and regional foundations, banks and federal agencies that put an emphasis on revitalizing communities across the country through supporting local arts projects. Alexandria was named to the group’s second tier of art places. The group named 12 neighborhoods in 11 of the country’s largest metropolitan areas to its top ArtPlaces. Washington, DC’s Adams Morgan-U Street-Dupont Circle intersection was named to the top tier.    ArtPlace identified neighborhoods that have successfully combined art, artists and venues for creativity and …

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Council Overturns BAR Decision Concerning Windmill Hill Park Fence

Council opts for nautical fence but puts emphasis on replacing unstable bulkhead.

Alexandria City Council overturned a decision by the city’s Board of Architectural Review on Saturday, approving the construction of a nautical post and rope fence at Windmill Hill Park as opposed to a BAR-endorsed split-rail fence. The fence would be designed to prevent park visitors from walking on an unstable and deteriorating bulkhead along the Potomac River. While council sided with the petitioners, the discussion in City Hall focused more on the state of the bulkhead and what needs to be done to replace it. Council ultimately opted to expedite analysis for design and funding the bulkhead project ahead of upcoming budget discussions for the new council that will be sworn in on Jan. 2, 2013. “We need to protect the public,” Vice Mayor …

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OT insider

8:28 pm on Sunday, November 25, 2012

The opposition wasn't very well organized. You really should have focused more on the Democratic primary. Once your candidates (except one) lost the election was a fait accompli. And the simple fact is that the waterfront plan really isn't that much of an issue outside of Old Town. If it is, you're on the wrong side of it, based on both the primary and the general election.   more ›

Alexandria Offices, Facilities to Reopen Wednesday

More than 5,800 city residents remain without power following Hurricane Sandy.

City of Alexandria government offices and facilities, including courts, will open on time on Wednesday as the city continues to recover from Hurricane Sandy. A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect through 8 a.m. Wednesday. Any flooding is “expected to be minor,” according to a release from the city. Forecasts call for potential flooding in the 100 block of King Street early Thursday morning, but no flooding is expected in the city’s streams.  More than 5,800 Alexandria residents were without power shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to Dominion Virginia Power. Crews were focusing their efforts at 16 work sites in the city on Tuesday. While city announced its offices would reopen Wednesday, the status of Alexandria City Public …

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The Patchmobile Was Here!

Free Patch T-shirts! Look for us near Market Square Wednesday 1p.m. - 3 p.m. Come say hello and pick up some Patch freebies.

Update: See photos from the Patchmobile's stop in Old Town on Wednesday on our Facebook page! -- Love all things Patch or just want to learn more about how we operate? Want to meet the editors? The Patchmobile, a large green RV, is coming to Old Town on Wednesday afternoon. Look for us near Market Square! Patch editors will be on hand from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. to answer questions about Patch and hand out Patch freebies. Staffed by Patch editors, the RV has recently been traveling to various news hot spots around the country, including reporting on the GOP presidential primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Look for photos from the Patchmobile visit to Old Town on the Old Town Alexandria Facebook page later on Wednesday. Hope to see you …

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Village Sprouts

The Spirit of Halloween

Halloween isn't just a day.

For me, Halloween isn’t just a night of candy and costumes. It is a celebration of imagination, innocent mischief and a chance to revel in the magic of childhood.  There are tall tales and cups of hot apple cider, hayrides, pumpkin patches and lots of spoooooky creativity.  I can’t think of a better kickoff for the holiday season. As a family with two young kids and another on the way, we are still working out our family traditions. Our Halloween prep was relatively home-based this year. The girls and I baked, decorated the house, created a craft wall and learned some fun songs. In the living room, we have a witch’s caldron full of old costume pieces for dress-up. For families with toddlers and young school-aged kids, Cox Farms in …

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An Alexandrian Remembers 9/11

David Haglund was at Misha's when he realized something was very wrong.

Del Ray resident David Haglund had off that Tuesday. “It was the first really nice fall morning, and I remember the sky was vibrant blue and the temperatures were cool,” he said. Master Sergeant Haglund, a trumpet and cornet player with "The President’s Own" United States Marine Band, headed to Misha’s for coffee. In the car he heard WTOP radio report a plane had hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center.  “I didn’t think too much of it,” said Haglund. “It sounded like it was a small plane.” Less than an hour later, Haglund knew something bigger was happening.  “I was at Misha’s when suddenly all this emergency vehicle traffic was speeding by on Route 1,” he said. “I remember it was fire truck, after fire truck, after fire truck. A …

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Alexandria's Great Waves Waterpark Offers Fun for All Ages

Part of Cameron Run Regional Park, this aquatic play land offers sopping wet fun for kids of all ages.

Great Waves is part of Cameron Run Regional Park. Although the park includes features such as a nine-station batting cage, miniature golf, picnic and pavilion rentals, this review will focus on Great Waves Waterpark. Great Waves Waterpark 4001 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304 Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day Although our oldest child just turned nine years old, we have never been to Great Waves. Despite numerous sessions of swim lessons since the kids were in utero, the only swimmer in the family is Dad. That does not keep us from pools or beaches, but has made us a little less adventurous when it comes to aquatic play lands, especially where total submersion is involved.  We decided to take the plunge …

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Weekend Planner

Five things to do this weekend.

1. An End of Summer Teen Extravaganza will be held Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Boothe Park. There will be games, food, music and more for teens in grades 6 through 12.  2. On Saturday, celebrate Civil War Camp Day at Fort Ward Historical Park and Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   3. The annual Irish Festival will be held Saturday in Old Town from noon to 7 p.m. at the park located at 1 Prince Street.   4. "Bee Friendly" Nature Class for children ages 6 to 12 will be held at the Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center at 2 p.m.   5. A Caring Hands Knit and Crochet project will be going on at fibre space on Sunday at 11 a.m. 

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