Weird Virginia: Principal Kisses Pig, Goose Starts Brush Fire, Baby Born on Road and Feeling Strongly About Fish

Plus, a car on the W&OD trail and weirdness abounds in Virginia this week.

Editor's Note: Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and D.C., and not a day goes by that something weird isn't happening in at least one of them. Here's a look back at some weird goings on over the past week. ---- A goose, a pig, drinking games and a baby born in an unusual place top this week's weird Virginia news. A brush fire shut down Route 7 in Vienna/Tysons Corner. It was later determined the culprit was.... a goose! A goose flew into an electrical wire near Leesburg Pike and Gallows Road on Thursday, causing it to fall across Route 7 and start the small brush fire that shut down eastbound lanes near Gallows Road. Over in Chantilly, a pig was the star of the day at Poplar Tree Elementary. Principal Sharon Smith Williams will do anything it…

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Grocery Stores That Are Open Christmas Eve, Day

Need some last minute dinner supplies? Here's a list of what's open Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.

Grocery stores that are open in Old Town Alexandria:

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Update: Whole Foods Headed to Pentagon City

Crystal City BID reports Whole Foods Market is coming but offers few details.

10:46 a.m. update — Arlington County officials have confirmed that a new Whole Foods is in the works. The store would be located on the ground level of the Metropolitan Park community at 1200 Eads St. in Pentagon City, across from the Costco. “The developer has proposed a new site plan for a site within the Metropolitan Park that would contain a Whole Foods,” said Aaron Shriber, of Arlington County’s Planning Division.  The site plan proposed by developer Vornado/Charles E. Smith went before the Arlington County Planning Commission’s Site Plan Review Committee on Tuesday evening. The plans are in the beginning stages, and would not come before the county board until sometime next year, Shriber said. _______ Is Whole Foods Market coming to …

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Patch Readers' Choice

Update: Momo Sushi and Cafe Wins 'Favorite Sushi Spot'

Patch Readers' Choice asks readers to vote for their favorite spots in Alexandria. Thanks for voting!

Update: Congratulations to Momo Sushi and Cafe for winning the Patch Readers' Choice poll this week. Voting by Patch readers began on Monday and Momo saw 39 votes by the time the poll closed Friday at 9 a.m. The winner will get a framed "Readers' Choice" certificate from Patch, plus bragging rights. Stay tuned for our next "Best of" poll coming up Monday—"Best Sports Bars." Voting will begin at 5 a.m. ---------- The art of sushi is serious business. Share your favorite Alexandria sushi spots with other Patch readers. If you think we’ve missed one, add it in the comments. Don't forget to vote in the poll below and click on the links above to rate the business and leave a review. Tell us why it's your favorite: Authenticity, friendly …

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Old Town Alexandria Takes the Hurricane in Stride

Old Town Alexandria preps for rainy weekend with a sensible "wait and see" approach.

Old Town Alexandria is no stranger to flooding, although Hurricane Irene this weekend may stir up more than the usual “nuisance” flooding that often deposits inches of water on and near King Street. Trader Joe's on N. St. Asaph Street as of Thursday afternoon was still very well stocked. Store Captain Locke Eldridge said the store has made sure to have extra supplies of water, milk and bakery items. He added that some of the most popular items during impending natural disasters are canned goods, paper goods and usually, plenty of wine. "People seem to think 'If I'm stuck indoors, it's good to have some good wine around'." Store staff has had a meeting regarding the looming Hurricane Irene and Eldridge said they'd be monitoring if it's …

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Photo of the Day: A 650-Lb. Swordfish

Patch contributor Dana Damico snapped these photos of a 650-lb. swordfish being delivered to the Old Town Alexandria Whole Foods.

This 650-lb. swordfish was caught two days ago in waters off of Florida. Alexandria resident and Patch contributor Dana Damico was at the right place at the right time on Friday morning. She snapped these photos of a 650-lb. swordfish being delivered to the Whole Foods on Duke St. The fishermen said it's the biggest they've ever had. Whole Foods staff gathered to take photos and people stopped to watch. The fish is selling for $14.99 a pound which means it's a nearly $10,000 fish!

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Dana Damico

1:03 pm on Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Thanks for sharing the article, Amy. No wonder the guys at Whole Foods were so amazed at the size of the fish. Here's hoping something can be done to stop the overfishing of this animal.   more ›