After spotting a beautiful osprey flying over Four Mile Run Park on Sunday, I reached out to ask Del Ray Patch Facebook followers about the interesting wildlife they’ve seen across Alexandria. Below is a sampling of the responses. The biodiversity might surprise you: Linda Fitzgerald Williams — A red fox trotting down the sidewalk in Rosemont. Francoise Thalacker Thomas — A bald eagle flying over marshes of Potomac River near Hunting Towers. And a red fox on Holly street. Nancy J. Clark — A pileated woodpecker huge and a three-legged fox, all on Pine Street. Matthew Funkhouser — My yard is …
For reasons I cannot fully articulate, the U.S. Postal Service still manages to carry some intrigue. The sending and receiving of letters with the help of a carrying service remains a bit mystical, even if I see postal workers nearly every day. It’s also nice to see your name written in someone else’s handwriting arrive at your doorstep every now and again—if only for the accompanying tug of nostalgia for a time when email didn’t exist and long-distance calls could run a decent charge from Ma Bell. While researching the Town of Potomac, Va., for a recent story, I stumbled upon a suggestion …
While on vacation in California last week, I often found myself explaining to old friends and new ones exactly where I live and work. I would tell folks I live “Just south of DC in Alexandria, Virginia.” That seemed to paint the picture pretty well. If someone proved familiar with the area, I would say, “I live in the City of Alexandria, just a couple miles north of Old Town.” Most were able to figure that out, or at least nod and feign familiarity. Sitting in St. Elmo’s, Duncan Library and other places around Del Ray and Alexandria over the last couple years, I’ve often heard people refer to…
I recently came down with that nasty business that seems to be working its way through Del Ray like those gnarly creatures riding wolfen things across Middle Earth in “The Hobbit.” (Not a Tolkien expert, but you get the idea). My friend Dana calls it “the funk.” It’s probably better known as a cold or virus and lately it seems just about everyone is crossing its path. If you haven’t yet, just wait. It, too, is riding a wolfen thing and Bilbo isn’t around to save you (Mr. Baggins is always in Old Town, after all). When I fell ill, I reached out to Del Ray Patch Facebook followers for their …
On Monday, candidates for mayor and city council met for a forum at George Washington Middle School in Del Ray. The event was cosponsored by Patch, ACTion Alexandria and the Alexandria Chapter of the NAACP. In the council candidate portion of the event, the 12 candidates were given an opportunity to ask each other questions. In the mayoral portion, incumbent Bill Euille (D) and challenger Andrew Macdonald (I) critiqued each other’s leadership from when they served together in City Hall from 2003 to 2008. I had the pleasure of working on the organizing committee and served as one of the …
On Monday this week, GenOn’s Potomac River Generating Station in North Old Town was retired. Elected officials from Alexandria, Richmond and Capitol Hill lauded the closure of the coal-fired power plant. “Today is a great day,” said Mayor Bill Euille, calling the closure of the plant, which opened in 1949, “a community success” and a good example of how citizens and the city can work together. Also on Monday, U.S. Senate candidate George Allen (R) made a stop in town for an economic roundtable discussion with Alexandria business owners. On Tuesday evening, Euille and challenger Andrew …
On Monday, we published a story about the Evening Star Cafe pursuing a permit to allow 30 new outdoor seats. Readers left more than 25 comments on the story, including many about parking concerns. We learned on Tuesday that house prices are rising in the region, according to new data from the S&P/Case-Shiller Housing Index. In the Del Ray area, the average listing price for residences in the 22301 ZIP code was $893,231 in the week ending Sept. 19. In the 22305 ZIP code, the average listing price was $605,277. On Wednesday, we ran a story about the start time of November’s Alexandria Turkey …
Alexandria remembered Sept. 11, 2001 on Tuesday with a ceremony in Market Square. Mayor Bill Euille, Undersheriff Tony Davis, Police Chief Earl Cook and Fire Chief Adam Thiel all spoke at the event. The most poignant remarks came from Thiel, who said the loss of hundreds of first-responders that day took on new meaning for him this year after the Alexandria Fire Department lost paramedic Joshua Weismann in the line of duty in February. “Until we had our own tragic loss, I had no idea what it’s like,” Thiel said. “I have a renewed empathy.” This shot was taken with an iPhone on the south side …
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille had a busy Monday this week when he hosted 39 Alexandria City Public School students at City Hall for the signing of a proclamation for Constitution Week. He also helped swear in the new student council at Alexandria Country Day School. In a story that ran Tuesday, Alexandrian Bob Wood shared his memories of Sept. 11, 2001. He was working a top U.S. Army strategic planner in the Pentagon when it was attacked. “It’s important for Alexandrians to remember that day—a day of sacrifice for those who lost their lives and a day of service for first responders,” said …
If you can believe it, Del Ray Patch is two years old. On Sept. 8, 2010, this community news and information website launched featuring stories about kangaroo steaks at Let’s Meat on the Avenue, the Cooking Channel’s “Unique Eats” filming at The Dairy Godmother, and the troublesome intersection of Commonwealth and Del Ray avenues. Two years later, you can still get kangaroo from Steve Gatward, Liz Davis is still whipping up unique desserts and, yes, that intersection remains a point of concern for many—but at least there’s now a pocket park. Del Ray Patch is still here, too, delivering timely…
On Monday, we learned that the 17th annual Art on the Avenue festival is set for Oct. 6. Organizers are seeking volunteers to help put together Del Ray’s biggest event of the year. On the campaign trail, Rob Krupicka, a Democrat running for the 45th District seat in the House of Delegates, picked up endorsements from the Virginia Education Association and the Sierra Club. On Friday, we ran a profile of Justin Malkin, a Libertarian candidate for the seat. Krupicka and Malkin are joined by Republican Tim McGhee on the ballot in this Tuesday’s special election. On Wednesday, we profiled Salon 46…
On Friday, Alexandria announced it would begin installing Capital Bikeshare with plans to get its eight-station network operational by early September. Months ago, when City Council moved to join the program that has thrived in the District and Arlington County, I began to ponder where the stations would go, who in Alexandria would use the system and how. Well, now it's time for the answers. I’m a city resident and a cyclist, but I don’t plan on picking up a membership. I own two bicycles and probably do 85 percent of my travel around town on them. I’m a somewhat recent convert and have seen…
On Monday, Money Magazine released its annual list of the “100 Best Places to Live” and Alexandria was not included. Five Virginia locations made the list: Reston at No. 7, Centreville at No. 17, Ashburn at No. 30, Arlington at No. 45 and Dale City at No. 46. Del Ray Patch readers were particularly perplexed by Dale City’s inclusion. As a consolation prize, Alexandria ranked No. 12 in the magazine’s list of the “Best Places for the Rich and Single.” We learned on Tuesday that the Harris Teeter on S. Glebe Road, which has been closed since mid-May as the result of a sewage spill in the store, …
On Tuesday, the Alexandria Democratic nominees for mayor and city council challenged the field to four forums ahead of the Nov. 6 election. Two of the events will include a one-on-one mayoral debate between incumbent Democrat Bill Euille and independent challenger Andrew Macdonald. We’ll keep you covered on the local races as the general election approaches, but don’t forget the special election for state delegate in the 45th District is scheduled for Sept. 4. Absentee voting for that three-way race between Democrat Rob Krupicka, Republican Tim McGhee and Libertarian Justin Malkin is already …
Terrence Jennings, an Alexandria native and 2004 graduate of T.C. Williams High School, won a bronze medal in taekwondo in the featherweight division at the London Olympics on Thursday. Jennings defeated Diogo Silva of Brazil 8-5 on a late kick in the bronze-medal match. With the score tied 5-5 in the third round, Jennings went for a head kick with the clock winding down. Initially, the match official did not award the kick but Jennings’ appeal was granted, giving him three points, the match and a medal. Here in Alexandria this week, police arrested city residents Vincent Edward Evans and …
The Del Ray area was treated to this stunning rainbow after a pop-up rain shower rolled through the area on Tuesday evening. I noticed the rainbow while driving south on Mt. Vernon Avenue after picking up some groceries. I stopped in the parking lot at Popeye’s on Mt. Vernon Avenue to snap this photo with my iPhone. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera on me. Did you see the rainbow? Did you grab any photos? If you’d like to share them, upload them yourself by clicking on the "Upload Photos and Videos" button.
This week, Del Ray was subject to a public art project entitled “Art is…” The project entailed 3,000 doorknob hangers that were placed across 100 blocks in the community. On Monday, we profiled Linda Hesh, the artist behind the project. It was installed in coordination with the First Thursday street festival. Take a look at our photo gallery from Thursday Night, where the theme was "Art Walk on the Avenue." On the political front, Tim McGhee emerged on Thursday as the GOP candidate in the race for the 45th District House of Delegates seat. McGhee, who was soundly defeated by Adam Ebbin in the…
Prior to each seating at Project 2312, chef Will Artley scribbles what he calls a “haiku” on a piece of paper and posts it above his line. It’s more slogan than traditional Japanese poetry, but it sets the tone before Artley and his staff fall into frenzied action preparing orders. On Wednesday night, the haiku for the first seating is “Have fun. Make it nice.” For the evening’s second half, it’s “You have 1 chance this week… Make it happen.” The second message is a reference to Project 2312’s limited run. The restaurant, which has produced a new menu every other night, will wrap up its seven…
There aren’t many people left in Alexandria who remember Willard Kane. He was my grandfather who lived just up the road from Del Ray on E. Taylor Run Parkway. “Grand Bill” has been gone for more than 20 years now, but Judy Lowe told me she knew him. Judy knew everybody. Sadly, Judy is gone now, too, and Del Ray must cope with the loss of a beloved neighborhood icon and an important link to what used to be. I can’t recall the moment I met Judy, but it was probably at a Del Ray Citizens Association meeting shortly before the launch of this website. She was the first person who made me feel …
