September/OctoberALEXANDRIALIVINGMAGAZINE.COM2022 $4.95 ALEXANDRIA ON THE MOVE: A LOOK AT DEVELOPMENTNEW WRIGHT BROTHERS' FLIGHT BEST BREAKFASTSTHE LURE OF LURAY
Associate Living, Loving, Listing Old Town
Lauren Bishop, Realtor® Tel. 202.361.5079 I LBishop@McEnearney.com I LaurenBishop.com I @laurenbishoprealtor Old Town Alexandria 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 I tel. 703.549.9292 Equal Housing Opportunity One of my favorite things about Old Town is when the seasons change... and I don’t necessarily mean just the weather. It’s the mood, culture, and energy that comes out to greet us. It’s the celebrations, holidays, and traditions. It’s the community, friends, and neighbors. I love Old Town, and love even more helping my clients find a special place here to call home. Wherever you are in life, your first home or third, connect with me to talk about how I can help you with your next move.
Lauren Bishop, McEnearney
205 S. Union Street | Alexandria, VA | 703.838.9788 www.markswoods.com
ALM.v8.22 4875 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304 (800) 424-3334 • cofcu.org Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Make Your Home Your Happy Place Mortgage Loans | Home Equity Loans | Home Equity Lines of Credit Low rates, flexible terms and financing up to 100% LTV* *Loan to Value (LTV). Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.
What's more fun on a fall morning than meeting a good friend for coffee and breakfast? Get a great start to your day by trying one of these "best breakfast" spots in town.
PETS Harnesses, leashes, strollers, "catios"? Getting your cat outdoors may sound like fun, but to protect your feline friend from predators (and protect birds and other small critters from your cat), there are ways to get them outside safely.
HISTORY Alexandria is a gold mine when it comes to hidden treasures. Find out about a group from Richmond that delights in digging up historic finds. Find out how Old Town Alexandria's historic busybody mirrors were a way to "screen" callers, back in the day.
Fall is in the air and it's time to get out and explore Alexandria!
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3September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com CONTENTS 26468ELLIOTSTEPHENBYPHOTOLAWTONBETHBYPHOTOBOTTLESVIRGINIABYPHOTO 8 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FOOD & DINING
THE LAST WORD Stephanie Landrum, CEO and president of the Alexandria Economic aboutwhatPartnership,DevelopmenttalkstousaboutbusinessesfindattractivelocatingtoAlexandria.
TRAVEL You've heard of Luray Caverns, but you haven't been? We recently visited this iconic spot only two hours away from the Beltway.
4 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 SOCIALIZE WITH facebook.com/alexandrialivingmagUS @alexlivingmag @alexandrialivingmag FEATURES WRIGHT BROTHERS AT FORT MYER COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PHOTO COURTESY OF HILCO ON THE COVER Kai, a golden retriever belonging to publishing assistant Susannah Moore, pauses for a photo on the Mount Vernon Trail. PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON 36 HISTORY Everyone knows about the Wright Brothers' ties to Ohio and Kitty Hawk, but Alexandria also played a starring role in their quest to fly. 35 BUSINESS Alexandria is growing by leaps and bounds. Take a look at 21 new aroundpoppingdevelopmentsupthecity. 4436
Shown by appointment…Call Babs to preview this fine residence! Babs Beckwith cell 703.627.5421 I Babs@BabsBeckwith.com I OldTownAlexandriaLiving.com 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 I off. 703.549.9292 Equal Housing Opportunity 728 Battery Place Ideally located in Fords Landing, this 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath, brick townhome offers generous light-filled rooms with high ceilings, detailed moldings, custom built-ins, hardwood floors, study/office, and a gas fireplace. A gourmet kitchen features Jenn-Air double ovens and an adjoining breakfast room opens to a wide balcony. The primary suite with soaring ceilings, walk-in closet, and a spa-like bath is a private retreat. An attached two-car garage completes this fine property. $1,495,000
Steve Trimble has done it again — taking us on a journey on Page 32 in this issue into the story of the Wright Brothers, who flew their plane over Alexandria in Starting1909. on Page 35, we look at 21 new developments coming to Alexandria. You'll be amazed at the number of projects popping up all across town. Don't miss the map on Page 40. In this issue, we feature a travel destination that's easy to get to and has something for everyone: Luray Caverns. It's one of those places you've probably been meaning to visit. Well, fall is the perfect time for a visit. Check it out, on Page 46. In "The Last Word," we talk to Stephanie Landrum, the president and CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership. She was part of the team that brought Amazon to the region. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did putting it together! Don't forget to visit us online at alexandrialivingmagazine. com, sign up for our weekly newsletters and follow us on social media. We'll see you right back here in November!
One of Alexandria's charms is its history and that's also what attracts a group of scavengers looking for bottles and other preserved objects found in privies or outhouses and other spots. Find out about this group from Richmond that calls Alexandria one of its favorite "digs," on Page Speaking26. of history, find out about those curious mirrors you see hanging from some of the historic homes in Alexandria, on Page 29. "Busybody" mirrors were an early version of screening your calls, allowing residents to see who might be calling on Writerthem.
Love breakfast? We sure do. There's something satisfying about starting your day at one of Alexandria's restaurants where you can meet a friend over coffee and catch up. We sent our summer interns Chapin and Rachel out to discover some of the best breakfasts in the city. See what they found beginning on Page 17.
PUBLISHER Beth Lawton EDITOR Mary Ann Barton ADVERTISING/EVENTS Katherine Barton Cleo Chitester Kristen Riffle Katie Wheeler DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION Julianne Woehrle PUBLISHING ASSISTANT Susannah Moore Alexandria Living Magazine is published six times per year by Alexandria Living, LLC ©2022. 201 N. Union St., Suite 110 Alexandria, VA 22314. For newsstand or distribution locations or to subscribe for home delivery, go to alexandrialivingmagazine.com/subscribe. CONTACT US info@alexandrialivingmagazine.com or call 571-232-1310. PARTNER WITH US Alexandria Living Magazine fully supports the local business community and offers several unique ways to partner with the publication. • Sponsored articles and multimedia content on the website, in our popular email newslet ters and on social media. • Highlighted events in our events calendar, email newsletters and social media. • Sponsored real estate listings. • Brand awareness through online banner ads designed to boost your business. • Contests, sweepstakes and giveaways. To learn more about how partnering with Alexandria Living Magazine can help build your business, contact us at ads@alexandrialivingmagazine.com or call 571-232-1310. PRESS RELEASES & TIPS Send news releases and story tips to maryann@alexandrialivingmagazine.com HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Subscribing to Alexandria Living Magazine is easy! You can go to subscribealexandrialivingmagazine.com/ to pay securely online by credit card, or mail a check with the subscription mailing address to Alexandria Living Magazine, 201 N. Union St. Suite 110, Alexandria, VA 22314. Subscriptions are $14.95 for one year or $24.95 for two years. A Letter from Our Founders
Cat lovers, we know that most indoor kitties love to sit in a cozy spot and look out the window at birds, squirrels and other goingson. There are ways to introduce your cat to the outside world safely. Read all about it on Page 23.
Beth Lawton, publisher, and Mary Ann Barton, editor PHOTO BY MATT MENDELSOHN, TAKEN AT VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN.
One of those events, now celebrating its 80th year, is the home and garden tour organized by The TWIG, the group that has been helping support INOVA Alexandria hospital for many years. Read about the tour and the group on Page 14.
6 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022
Mary Ann Barton and Beth Lawton Founders Welcome to our September issue! Fall is in the air and it's one of the best times to enjoy all Alexandria has to offer. With temperatures finally cooling off (we hope), we hope you'll peruse our events calendar beginning on Page 8 and pencil in some of the great events planned for this fall in and around town.
CHAPIN ROCKWELL Contributor
STEVE TRIMBLE Contributor Steve Trimble is an Alexandria resident, amateur local history enthusiast and award-winning journalist for Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine. In addition to previous stints as the Washington D.C. bureau chief for Flight International and Jane’s Defence Weekly magazines, his work has also appeared in The Guardian, USA Today and Encyclopedia Britannica. He’s also appeared as an expert on shows about aviation and military topics for the History Channel and other news and media outlets.
KATIE WHEELER Marketing
JULIANNE WOEHRLE Designer Local artist and designer, Julianne grew up right here in Alexandria. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising she returned to Old Town, Alexandria and joined the retail scene. From Why Not? to Monday's Child, over the last 10 years she has always been involved in boutique retail. Currently you can find her stationery and jewelry at the Made in ALX store in North Old Town, and at the right time you might even run into her redoing the windows!
Rachel will always call Alexandria home though she is now based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she studies Media Arts and Design at James Madison University. She spent the summer interning for Alexandria Living and getting back into rock climbing after a semester abroad in Florence. She is excited to return to school as a junior this fall to continue her studies and participate in service projects with her fraternity, APO. In the future, Rachel hopes to find a career which aligns with her interests in design, writing and photography.
Katie has lived in Alexandria for three years. She graduated with a degree in com munications from Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. She has experience in higher education and non-profit communications. When she isn't working, she's spending time with her two beloved dogs Daisy Mae and Delilah June. If you can't find her, she is probably nose deep in a book. She loves to read and reads an average of 10 books per month
7September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com Meet some of the contributors to this issue. Our Team
SUSANNAH MOORE Contributor Susannah has happily called Alexandria home since 2015. She graduated from the College of Charleston and has worked in the political and legal fields and is excited for the opportunity to rekindle her interest in writing. For fun, she enjoys running along the Potomac with her husband, yoga or spending time with her rescue cat, Cinnamon, and golden retriever, Kai.
RACHEL GORDON Contributor
Born and raised in Alexandria, Chapin Rockwell recently completed an internship with Alexandria Living. After graduating from Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., she has con tinued her studies at Colgate University as an English major. Aside from running around Alexandria’s beloved ice cream spots, Chapin loves spending time with her two goldendoodles, Auggie and Ike, and working during the school season at her campus’ Writing and Speaker Center.
September Bruno Mars at MGM Sept. 1-2
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Fall Colonial Market and Fair at Mount Vernon. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOUNT VERNON ESTATE
The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Ave., National Harbor, national-harbornationalharbor.com/directory/the-theater-at-mgm-MD,
fall!
The Big 3-0: 30th Anniversary Art SeptExhibit2-Oct. 1
8 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022
The Big 3-0 art exhibit celebrates Del Ray Artisans 30th anniversary with a stunning members showcase. Join Del Ray Artisans Saturday, Sept. 3 from 3-6 p.m. for the 30th anniversary party and exhibit reception (rain date is Sept. 10.) Curators Dawn Wyse Hurto and Dale Spivey will announce artist awards during the party. Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org
Kennedy Center Opera House Quintet: “South Africa Send-Off Sept.Concert”8|5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. Experience this outstanding ensemble in the setting of an intimate garden concert, before they embark on their tour to South Africa. Their repertoire of Debussy, Piazzolla, Gershwin and more is sure to enchant. Concerts presented at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Concerts take place rain or shine, but in case of severe weather, the rain date will be Sept. 9. Tickets are $25-$45 and are non-refundable. The Secret Garden at the Rectory, 711 Princess St., classicalmovements.com this
FALL 2022 Calendar of Events Visit alexandrialivingmagazine.com for more events
Bruno Mars returns to The Theater for two consecutive nights, bringing with him his smooth lyrics, classic dance moves and charming personality
janet@janetpricehomes.com
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
Sept. 10 | 7:15 a.m, 7:30 a.m. Race along the George Washington Memorial Parkway and finish with the Mansion in view at this annual 5k and 10-mile race. Participants will receive a finisher medal and T-shirt. The Finish Festival will offer music, food and beverage concessions and a free beer for each runner. A virtual 5k and 10 miler will also be available. Tickets $60-$80.
Equal Housing Opportunity
Discovering Alexandria Architecture Sept.Tour8, Oct. 15 | 10-11:30 a.m. Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Join Carlyle House for a tour of Alexandria as they explore a variety of architecture styles that adorn the city streets. Reservations are required as space is limited. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes for this 1.5-hour guided tour. Tour is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather.
Alexandria Real Estate Specialist | NVAR Lifetime Top Producer 703.622.5984
9September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
Caterson
janetpricehomes.com 109 S Pitt
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
Prohibition in Alexandria Walking
Seventh Annual George Washington Patriot Run
Colonial Market & Fair Sept. 17, 18 | 10 a.m. Step back in time at Mount Vernon’s Colonial Market & Fair, featuring Colonialera artisan-made hand-blown glass, metalwork, reproduction 18th-century goods and more. Enjoy live music from the Colonial era and meet George Washington himself! The event is included with the price of general admission and is free for Mount Vernon members.
Price | | St, VA 22314 |
Alexandria,
Janet
Sept.Tour10, Oct. 8 | 10 a.m. Discover the forgotten stories of teetotalers and bootleggers on this walking tour of Prohibition-era Alexandria. Learn about the dramatic campaign to ban alcohol in Virginia, which threatened a long tradition of local alcohol production and sale. The tour begins at the Lee-Fendall House, home to the Downham family, who were once one of the city’s most prominent liquor dealers. The tour is limited to 12 participants and lasts approximately an hour and a half. Walking tours take place rain or shine so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $15 per person. Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org
Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Sept.Celebration17|noon-6 p.m. Alexandria’s Irish heritage organization, the Ballyshaners, will host a "halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration" featuring vendors, food, beer, Irish dancing, music and crafts. Festivities will take place rain or shine. Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St., ballyshaners.org
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-parkSt.,
10 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington shop.alexandriava.gov/Events.aspxSt.,
PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZER
HallowWEIRD Art Market 2022 Sept. 24 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Registration is $35 through Sept. 15 and then $40 until race day. The race is hosted by local web-development and marketing company Ironistic. rungeekrun.com Art on the Avenue
Oct. 1 | 10 a.m-6 p.m. Don’t miss one of the region’s top multicultural arts festivals now celebrating its 27th year. Held each fall on Mount Vernon Avenue between Hume and Bellefonte avenues, Art on the Avenue strives to reflect the diversity of the Del Ray community and beyond through artists and their work. The event will feature more than 300 local and regional artists plus live music, food, children’s activities like stuff your own scarecrow, paint a pumpkin, lotus flower design, weave screen art and more.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY
OCT 1-2
The event is held rain or shine and is free and open to the public. Colasanto Park, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org Run! Geek! Run Sept. 25 | 8:30 a.m. Join mascot Eugene for the 14th annual Run! Geek! Run! 5K which will raise money for the non-profit SCAN of Northern Virginia, the only organization solely dedicated to preventing child abuse in the region. The USATF certified course runs along Main Line Boulevard and Potomac Avenue and is kid- and stroller-friendly.
concert list. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary. SEPT. 3, 4 Raheem DeVaughn SEPT. 8 Blue Oyster Cult SEPT. 11 An Evening with Judy Collins SEPT. 12 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy SEPT. 3 Keb’ Mo’ Band with The Brother Brothers SEPT. 15 The Robert Cray Band SEPT. 18 Kevin Ross SEPT. 22 Phil Vassar OCT. 4 Milton Nascimento OCT. 8 Hiroshima OCT. 9 The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston OCT. 12 Rufus Wainwright OCT. 14 Kirk Whalum & Keiko Matsui OCT. 19 Jim Brickman OCT. 20 Avery Sunshine OCT. 21, 22 The Whispers OCT. 25 Steve Vai OCT. 29 Raven's Night 2022 The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., birchmere.com
Sept. 24 | 9 a.m-5 p.m. Attend the third annual Revolutionary War Symposium in-person or virtually.
The first annual HalloWEIRD Art Market is a one-day, outdoor event that gives participants the chance to purchase original artwork from talented local artists. The market will showcase artwork in a wide range of media including ceramics, fiber, jewelry, mixed media, paper, photography and more. The artists’ tents will be socially distanced; visitors are asked to please wear a face mask and respect personal space.
Mount Vernon artontheavenue.orgAvenue,Colasanto Park, 2704 Mount Vernon delrayartisans.orgAve., Beethoven’s Ninth - All Hearts Vie for Oct.Joy1| 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 | 3 p.m. Alexandria Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Vaughan Williams’ "Fantasia" creates a heavenly atmosphere with translucent strings, preparing the audience for the transcendent experience of Beethoven’s final symphony; his "Ode to Joy" fills the concert hall with uplifting voices, unifying and inspiring. U.S. poet a full
Concerts at The Birchmere Check out some of the performances scheduled for September and October at The Birchmere. Check The Birchmere’s website for the latest information and
Revolutionary War Symposium
The theme "The World Turned Upside Down: The American Revolution’s Impact on a Global Scale" explores topics with historians during a one-day symposium. The day will feature five speakers, followed by a happy hour at Gadsby's Tavern Museum from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are $60 or $50 for students and Office of Historic Alexandria members.
150 National Plaza, ForestHeights/2022RedShoe5krunsignup.com/Race/MD/ Paws in the Park
Thousands have enjoyed this event in its previous iterations, and this year promises to be the biggest and most exciting festival yet. Proceeds from this event benefit animals across the community. Wellbehaved, leashed pets are welcome.
Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities and demonstrations at the farm at Mount Vernon. Beer-making, candle-making, surveying, coopering, spinning, textile-dying, cooking and more will be featured. The festival is included with the price of general admission.
Lee-Fendall House laureate Tracy K. Smith’s new English text brings relevance for today. Soloists will appear in collaboration with the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA).
Oct. 21, 22, 28, 29 | 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Celebrate Halloween with a look at Victorian mourning traditions coupled with stories of tragic deaths and mysterious occurrences at the Lee-Fendall House. Customs such as draping the mirrors after a death, funeral practices, hair jewelry, mourning clothing and séances will be explored. These tours offer a rare opportunity to see the house after dark. Tours will be offered every half hour starting at 7 p.m., with the last tour at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person. Tours will be limited to 10 participants and tickets must be purchased in advance. Face masks are recommended.
OCT - NOV 15 - 15 race option. Runners and walkers of all abilities and ages are welcome.
The Little Theatre presents George Batson’s play "Design for Murder," which includes murder, romance and comedy! This fastmoving, highly tense "whodunit" treats the audience to a remote mansion, a sleazy blackmailer, a trench coat-clad detective and even a dark and stormy night. A once-wealthy mother and son struggle to keep up appearances at the old mansion, but when a maid is murdered, everyone becomes a suspect.
11September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS COMING SOON
The Little Theatre of Alexandria, PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LITTLE THEATRE OF ALEXANDRIA
The Return of Eating, Drinking, and Merriment art exhibit is a hybrid show— specifically both a nationally juried ceramic cup and bowl show combined with a regional non-¬ceramic show organized around the theme of eating, drinking and merriment. Celebrate the ways that food and drink bring people together.
Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., pawsintheparkva.com Fall Harvest Festival Oct. 22, 23 | 9 a.m.-5p.m.
Del Ray Artisan’s Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour Oct. 7-9 | 6-9 p.m. Bring a blanket and relax while you enjoy unlimited samples of Virginia wines on the grounds of Mount Vernon after hours. Concessions by the Mount Vernon Inn will be available for purchase. Attendees will have the chance to meet George and Martha Washington. Ticket prices are:
Friday: $49 members, $59 general public
Saturday: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 4915 E. Campus Dr. Sunday: George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Dr. alexsym.org
Oct. 15-Nov. 15
Oct. 16 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Previously known as Alexandria Love Your Pet Day, Paws in the Park is a free, fun-filled day for the whole family (including pets), featuring entertainment, activities, animalthemed vendors and, of course, a whole lot of adorable adoptables! Paws in the Park celebrates the love the community has for animals, with a whole lot of fun on the side.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., thelittletheatre.com 12th Annual Red Shoe 5K and Walk Oct. 16 | 8–11 a.m. This annual 5K run or walk will benefit the Ronald MacDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C. (RMHCDC), which eases the hardship of children’s illness on families through programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children. The Red Shoe 5k Run and Walk is RMHCDC’s one and only annual event held to raise critical funding to support the families and children they serve. The fun family day includes games, activities, prizes, a 5k course along the beautiful waterfront of National Harbor, Maryland and a virtual
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org Grief and Ghost Tours
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org Design for Murder
Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org
The Return of Eating, Drinking, and Merriment Art Exhibit Oct. 7-29
Saturday: $53 members, $63 general public Sunday: $43 members, $53 general public VIP tables are also available.
Various dates and times
Alexandria is well known for its ghost tours and there’s no better time to get spooked than the Halloween season. Check out a few of these tours below.
Lost Boy Cider, 317 Hoofs Run Dr., sugarcoatedbakeryva.com
Oct. 22 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy some seasonal family fun in the garden of the Lee-Fendall House during the Fall Frolic event. Put on your Halloween costumes and join in activities catered to children ages 3-12. Activities include a “ghost” hunt, crafts, a costume parade and more. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance. Sessions start on the hour with the last at 3 p.m. and are limited to 20 children each. Tickets are $15 per participating child age 2-12. Tickets for accompanying adults are $5 each and infants under 2 are admitted free.
Sign up for Alexandria’s Original Ghost and Graveyard Tour. Tour guides wearing Colonial-era costumes lead fright-seekers for an hour by lantern light through six blocks in Old Town Alexandria. Listen to tales of romance, revenge, death and mystery and learn about Alexandria’s most notorious ghosts. Tickets range from $9$15 and children under six are admitted free. Visit the Alexandria Colonial Tours website for a complete list of dates and times.
Various dates and times If you need a little liquid courage while you listen to scary stories, Nightly Spirits offers their Frights and Pints Old Town Alexandria Tour year-round. The two-and-a-halfhour-long tour stops at three or four pubs or bars. A costumed guide shares ghost stories and the history of Alexandria’s most haunted spots along the way. Tickets begin at $25 and participants must be 21 or older. Private tours are also available.
Oct. 29 | 2-6 p.m. Celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. Guests receive a take-home craft and a bag of candy. Tickets for adults are $17 for members or $25 for the general public. Tickets for youth are $9 for members or $15 for the general public. Tickets go on sale to the general public Sept. 12.
Oct. 25 | 6:30-8 p.m. Decorate a half-dozen Halloween cookies while sipping on delicious, award-winning cider from Lost Boy Cider. In this 90-minute class, participants will decorate a halfdozen cookies in three Halloween designs. Amalea from Sugarcoated Bakery will provide expert instruction and tips so you
Trick or Treating at Mount Vernon
Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org Halloween Cookie Decorating Class
ONGOING
COURTESY
Alexandria Colonial Tours’ Ghost and Graveyard Tour
301 King St., alexandriaghosts.com Keep an eye out for the annual doggytrick-or-treating in Old Town hosted by The Dog Park store at 705 King St. and trick-ortreating for the little ones hosted by Old Town Boutique District. can decorate stunning cookies. All the baking, mixing, bagging (and cleanup!) is already done, so you get to focus on the fun. Tickets are $60 and include everything you need to make six cookies plus a cider (alcoholic or non-alcoholic available).
Various dates and times Are you ready to experience Alexandria’s most thrilling ghost tour? From natives who lived here thousands of years ago, to John Smith and the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, join this tour for an unflinching look into the city’s history, and tales of the very real hauntings experienced by its residents. Alexandria Ghosts reveals Old Town’s hallowed past and eerie hauntings to show you why Alexandria is one of the most haunted places in Virginia. Tours last 60-90 minutes. A Brews and Boo’s haunted pub crawl is also available.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org
OCT 29
221 King St., alexcolonialtours.com/ghosttour2020 Frights and Pints Old Town Alexandria Tour
12 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PHOTO OF PIXABAY
301 King St., ghost-tour-pub-crawlnightlyspirits.com/alexandria/alexandriaAlexandria Ghosts' Ghost Tours
CBG After Dark - 11th Annual Halloween "BOO" Cycle Ride Oct. 31 | 5:30-10 p.m. For your riding pleasure, Northern Virginia Casual Bicycling Group (NoVA CBG) presents the 11th Annual CBG's Halloween "BOO"cycle Ride. Fun, festive, battery-powered lights on your bicycles are required, dressing up is optional but highly encouraged. The more lights the better. Being on time is important for this ride. Lumen lights (100-plus) to see with are required. Bring a spare tube for your bike. The ride route will be approximately 15 miles. Alexandria City Hall, 301 King meetup.com/novacbg/events/281798675/St., Fall Frolic
13September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com JILLIAN KECK HOGAN REAL EST A TE GROUP JillianKeckHogan.com Licensed in VA, DC & MD | 703.951.7655 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703.549.9292 | Equal Housing Opportunity With over a decade of experience, we have successfully handled many shifts in the real estate market. We empower each and every one of our clients by offering guidance as they navigate those changes. Even as the markets change, our expertise and comprehensive strategy is always consistent. If you are considering a move and looking for a team you can trust, give us a call. Experience Matters. A L E X A N D R I A F A L L F E S T I V A L A l e x a n d r i a L i v i n g P r e s e n t s RIVERFARM S U N NOV6 Visit alexandrialivingmagazine.com to stay updated on ticket sales, vendors, sponsorship opportunities and more!
Two of the largest fundraisers for the group are its thrift shop and the annual Alexandria Historic Homes Tour. Twig Thrift Shop is located at 106 N. Columbus St. and is open every day from September to June (this year’s opening date is Sept. The7). homes tour is usually held the last Saturday of September and will be held this year on Sept. 24. Guests have the opportunity to tour a half dozen Alexandria homes which often contain unique structures, curated artwork and historical collections. The homes rotate so each year is different.
“This exhibit is to honor the fact that the hospital has been around for 150 years and also that women have played a huge part in its growth,” said Twig member Janet Hawkins. Oral histories from past Twig members and other women associated with the hospital over the decades will be featured.
“Museum visitors will learn about the hospital's founding and facilities, patient care and how it has flourished because local women marshalled support from the community," said Kris Lloyd, with the Office of Historic Alexandria. The exhibition explores hospital history such as the facility opening on the 700 block of Duke Street in 1917, the Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing [which operated from 1894-1987], and the community's role ranging from donating food and goods at Thanksgiving, to the furnishing of the African American wards by the Colored Citizen Association, the Board of Lady Managers continuing assistance and The Twig organization's support of nursing facilities and Theeducation.exhibit will open in October and be on display through October 2023.
The 2020 homes tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2021 pivoted to a garden tour, but the tour will return to its original format this year.
Some of the group’s most recent pledges have raised funds for Inova’s Simulation Skills lab, which uses realistic anatomic models and simulated rooms for staff to practice team building, procedures and surgical skills, making the patient experience safer during real-life Priorscenarios.tothat,
“We are looking forward to resuming an in-home tour and the ladies of the committee are putting it together," said Rachel Bishop, who co-chaired last year, and is continuing to co-chair this year alongside Cathy Kilcoyne.
The TourHomesHostsTwig80th
The Twig raised funds to renovate the Cardiovascular Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit. The organization also raised critical funds in 2020 for the COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Fund.
of Twig will be featured as part of an upcoming exhibit at the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum called “Alexandria Hospital: Women Mobilize the Community.” The exhibit coincides with Alexandria Hospital's 150th anniversary this year.
14 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022January / February 2022 PHOTOS COURTESY OF OFFICE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 511 Cameron St., PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TWIG
BY SUSANNAH MOORE
The Twig will reevaluate its future pledges as Inova Alexandria transitions from its current location on Seminary Road to its new site off of Duke Street, where Landmark Mall was located. The new hospital is expected to be completed by 2028.Thewomen
If you haven’t heard of The Twig, you should. This group of women has been providing financial aid, volunteer service and support to Inova Alexandria Hospital for nearly a century, since 1933.
The non-profit was named The Twig to describe its role as a small branch of the “tree” which supports the hospital. Over a thousand women have been a part of the group over the decades and have raised $4.5 million for hospital programs and equipment as well as $100,000 in scholarships for nurses.
Other events include the popular Wine on the Water in support of the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, an evening of wine, charcuterie, music and a live auction on Sept. 17. Cocktail bar Captain Gregory’s will be hosting a tiki cruise aboard the Tall Ship Providence on Sept. 18 to wrap-up the week.
15September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
Participating restaurants and retail partners will offer limited-time specialty cocktails, seminars, themed events and programs all week long. This is your opportunity to try out new cocktail combinations and local Thedistillers.week will kick-off on Sept. 9 at Waterfront Park with Art on the Rocks hosted by The Art League from 5-8 p.m. which will feature creative cocktail tastings and small bites crafted by competing bartenders from favorite local establishments.
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Visit #DrinkUpOldTown@oldtowncocktailweekandtown-cocktailwww.oldtownbusiness.org/old-forthelatestlistofeventsfollowalongonInstagramandgetreadyto SUSANNAH MOORE
Old 2022CocktailTownWeek
BY
Old Town Alexandria has a thriving craft cocktail scene. To celebrate the bartenders and businesses that have been on the cutting edge of cocktail innovation in the city, Old Town Business is bringing back it’s week-long Old Town Cocktail Week Sept. 9-18.
PHOTO BY OLENA SERGIENKO
@ d e c o r a t i n g a n d s u c h From helping you with paint selections to deciding on any new pieces you may need, we offer decorating solutions that make your space beautiful, balanced, and better suited to your lifestyle. We create comfortable and stylish spaces properly arranging much of the furniture and décor you already own saving you money! Are you selling your house? Ask us about cost saving staging services! d e c o r a t i n g a n d s u c H c o m ( 7 0 3 ) 7 8 5 9 9 8 1 1 0 9 S F a i r f a x s t O l d T o w n A l e x a n d r i a by A f f o r d a b l e I n t e r i o r S t y l i n g decorating decorating such asuch nd TM decorating A n d s u c hT M Email Newsletters! Sign up for the latest news, events and info in your email every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from Alexandria Living. Scan above or visit alexandrialivingmagazine.com/ newsletter sign up
The Alexandria Breakfast Club BY CHAPIN ROCKWELL AND RACHEL GORDON
FOOD DINING&
We have all heard the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For good reason, this rings true. Medically speaking, it boosts your energy levels and alertness, while also providing other nutrients required for good health. Waking up to a hearty breakfast breaks your body’s fasting period of sleep to help you start your day off. Therefore, shouldn’t it be considered the best? While breakfast might only seem to be about the type and taste of food — sweet or savory, healthy or greasy — it is also about the atmosphere. Enjoying a great meal in a comfortable environment is a surefire way to start your day off on the right foot. There are many wonderful restaurants to try throughout Alexandria. After asking our readers on social media, we’ve gathered the best breakfast spots in Alexandria that will surely satisfy any morning craving. Order’s up!
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17September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
Cafe Du Soleil. PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON.
Café du Soleil 215 S Union St. Serves breakfast 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., $$ At Cafe du Soleil, there are plenty of seating options for your desired atmosphere. Relax in comfortable and cozy indoor seating or bask in the morning sun at a streetside table. The outdoor area of the cafe is pet-friendly, so you might even have a chance to meet a furry friend like a puppy we met named Artemis! If you decide to lounge, this spot offers free wifi for your working needs. Cafe du Soleil serves both savory and sweet, Frenchinspired pastries and dishes. We were recommended to try the blueberry banana bread and Beaucoup Crepe, featuring a balanced ratio of sweet berries and French jam to the delicate crepe. Service proves quick and thoughtful as our pastry was warmed for us without request.
18 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 FOOD DINING&
GORDONRACHELBYPHOTOCafé,RayDel Bagel Uprising, PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON Junction Bakery and Bistro 1508 Mt Vernon Ave. Serves breakfast 7 a.m. - noon, $$ Located in the heart of Del Ray, Junction Bakery is one of Alexandria’s most Instagram-able breakfast spots. Upon entering, you are immediately met with a beautiful interior and the smell of freshly baked breads and pastries. With its marble round tables and aesthetically pleasing pastry counter, this space is nothing short of welcoming — and that’s just the decor!
Bagel Uprising 2307A Mt. Vernon Ave. Serves breakfast 7 a.m. - 2 p.m., $ In accordance with public opinion, we had to include an Alexandria favorite: Del Ray’s Bagel Uprising. “The Uprising” — a reference to their battle against the scarcity of doughy goodness — began in 2015 in response to a lack of authentic (i.e. boiled and baked) bagels in Alexandria. These bagels may be familiar to some from their debut at the Four Mile Run Farmers' Market. In a nod to tradition, they serve just the classics: Everything, sesame, poppy, salt, cinnamon and plain. Their menu also features both sweet and savory sandwiches to satisfy any craving. Locals love the handmade bagels, sandwiches and the variety of spreads and fish sold in-store. The bagels appear petite, but they’re actually the size of your standard New York bagel. There were no scraps left after digging into a fried egg and cheese on an everything bagel, and a cinnamon bagel with cream cheese. We also sampled their seasonal sweet cream cheese option: blueberry and peach. This is all about breakfast — but we can’t help but mention that they have a gourmet version of the delightful childhood staple: pizza bagels.
Del Ray Café 205 E. Howell Ave. Serves breakfast 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., $$ This cozy spot combines French and American cuisine to honor its founder, Laurent Janowsky’s home country of France. Laurent started Del Ray Café as a place for Alexandrians to step away from busy home life and relax in a calm and clean environment. We ordered the Eggs Benedict over a buttery warm croissant, which arrived with a small fruit salad and fresh greens, as well as an order of French toast drizzled in a sweet berry sauce. The service was friendly and quick as our coffee cups were never left empty. Laurent was kind enough to send us off with a couple of gratis dog treats, which are freshly made in-house. Back home, Chip, a blind dachshund, may not have been able to see the treat, but was drooling from the moment he smelled it.
Junction Bakery, PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON
In terms of food, we started off with three pastries– Monkey Bread, cinnamon bun and everyone’s favorite chocolate cream croissant — before diving into a main course of avocado toast and a breakfast sandwich featuring a freshly baked cheddar chive biscuit (I mean, wow). The cream cheese icing on the cinnamon bun was to die for! Junction provides both indoor and outdoor seating and a small parking lot for anyone lucky enough to snag a spot. Fortunately, there are many other street parking options in the vicinity. Another plus? Fun coffee flavors! When we visited, they were offering a Maple Pecan and Peanut Butter Cup latte on their drink menu.
Bob & Edith's, PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON Bob & Edith's, PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON
Bob & Edith’s 1743 King St. Open 24 hours. $$ Craving breakfast for dinner? Bob & Edith’s serves breakfast all day and all night. This traditional diner began as a family business over 50 years ago and now has six locations across Northern Virginia – two of which are located in Alexandria. The menu features all the classic breakfast favorites, including eggs, hot cakes, waffles and French toast. And it has the added bonus of being the only place on our list where you can enjoy your 2 a.m. pancakes with a milkshake.
Stomping Ground, PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON
GORDONRACHELBYPHOTOCafe,andMarketMae's
19September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
Bob and Edith’s is a reliable spot for a casual bite to eat with no need to dress up. I invited a couple of friends and we ordered plain, blueberry and chocolate chip hotcakes and a fluffy belgian waffle. Everyone enjoyed their meal – you can’t go wrong when it’s smothered in butter and syrup. The service was friendly and efficient and we found it to be a comfortable spot to sit awhile and catch up with each other.
Mae’s Market and Café 277 S. Washington St. Serves breakfast 7-11 a.m., $$ Akin to Stomping Ground, we had a great visit to Mae’s Market & Café located in the Atrium Building of Old Town. They have everything available from goodies in the grocery section, prepared meals, fresh baked pastries, wine, beer and hot drinks such as coffee and tea. There are plenty of options for our vegetarian and gluten free early-birds. The frittata is a must try! The interior was visually attractive and well decorated. The menu features madefrom-scratch breakfast sandwiches, salads and quiches. The friendly staff helpfully recommended their favorite smoked salmon and avocado toast and fried egg and cheese on a fresh baguette. Both were delicious and flavorful. The lattes were rich and well-blended. For us, a great coffee is key for an outstanding breakfast experience!
Stomping Ground
2309 Mt. Vernon Ave., Serves breakfast Tuesday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., $$ Stomping Ground is known for their delicious buttermilk biscuits, the staple of their menu. They’re available whichever way you’d like to enjoy them, whether that be with jelly, topped with eggs, cheese, sausage, bacon, fried chicken or smothered in gravy. The “Not a Biscuit'' portion of the menu features yogurt and granola, veggie hash and chilaquiles breakfast nachos. We were urged to try the classic egg and cheese on a biscuit and the frittata loaded with seasonal farm-fresh veggies. Both were excellent and plenty to fill anyone's stomach! It’s a casual dining experience as you order up front and seat yourself wherever you’d like, inside or out. They have also mastered to-go orders through easy online ordering and a fast pick-up window. Don’t miss out on Stomping Ground’s "hump day happy hour," when drip coffee is only $1 each Wednesday from 7-10 a.m.
7 a.m. - 4 p.m., $ Table Talk has been the go-to breakfast joint for locals since it opened in 1976. The outside might not look so becoming to those not in-the-know, but this little restaurant couldn’t be more darling. Inside, the place is flooded with natural light, full of live plants and fitted with retro decor. Popular menu items include the homemade classics like Eggs Benedict or creamed beef on toast, as well as the three-egg omelettes that are made to order. We ordered the chocolate chip pancakes, a Greek omelet with feta and tomatoes and the Eggs Benedict. The service was incredibly quick, even on a Sunday morning. We each enjoyed a rich hot cup of coffee with the meal. Both the omelet and the Benedict were served with a generous side of hashbrowns. I’d have to give Table Talk the award for best pancakes: Fluffy, rich and mouthwatering, served with plenty of butter and ample syrup. General Manager Nick Kapetenakis shared that they also serve a Crab Cake Benedict for any crab lovers out there, though he prefers the classic. A huge plus is their fairly large parking lot, making it easily accessible.
20 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 FOOD
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Matt and Tony’s 1501 Mt. Vernon Ave. Serves breakfast all day! (8 a.m.-9 p.m.), $$ Craving a more upscale brunch experience? We recommend that you head to Del Ray’s newest edition: Matt and Tony’s. For those of age, the cocktails are both beautifully done and tasteful — what’s not to love? The menu also features an array of non-alcoholic spirits. The atmosphere is a lovely cross between rustic and modern elements that complement each other. On a weekday you are likely to get a spot; however, on a weekend the restaurant tends to be packed (reservations encouraged). Excellent food is bolstered by excellent service. Everything was delicious and presented masterfully, but our group especially enjoyed the chicken and waffles and the cornflake-crusted French toast. Both dishes contained tree nuts but they courteously dealt with an allergy and served them without. Another plus with being in a residential neighborhood — there is plenty of street parking available. You truly can’t go wrong with good, hearty food that’s presented well and delicious, and at reasonable prices.
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Table Talk (Above and Below),
PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON
The Chewish Deli 807 Pendleton St.
Additionally, there is one thing that lacks across the board for Alexandria’s breakfast spots: A breakfast burrito. However, Bread & Water finally answered our prayers. Their robust burrito is served with potatoes, scrambled eggs, grilled onions and peppers with your choice of chorizo, smoked bacon, kielbasa or grilled Portobello. We substituted the veggies for avocado which proved to be a tasty hack.
Wednesday - Friday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., $ We’d argue the competition for best bagel is between Bagel Uprising and The Chewish Deli. The only way to decide for yourself is to try both! This breakfast favorite is perfect for onthe-go bites and hand-rolled bagels as the small shop does not have seating available.
For our waffle fans, Bread & Water serves both savory and sweet options! Dig into the cinnamon apple or roasted pepper, spinach, and feta waffle. Wash it all down with an excellent vanilla latte or get creative and customize your own coffee!
21September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
King Street Café 1018 King St. Serves breakfast 8-11:30 a.m., $ King Street Café is an amazing little spot. With an extensive menu — from Korean bulgogi to your standard bacon, egg, and cheese — the break fast options are wildly underrated. Complimenting the quick, quality food, the atmosphere is characterized by a warm ambience as the staff is always friendly and welcoming.
Bread & Water Pastries (Above) Bread and Water Breakfast (Below),
Serves breakfast
Bread & Water 1512 Belle View Blvd. Serves breakfast 7 a.m.-3 p.m., $$ When you’re ready to venture south of the City, Belle Haven’s Bread & Water Company is a must. Located in the Belle View Shopping Center, the spot is reminiscent of a hip European boulangerie and patisserie as their menu features coffees, teas and fresh soups and sandwiches on daily-baked artisan breads and pastries. Additionally, it is hard to resist the house-made cakes and pies. The Key lime pie is “to die for'' and the Blueberry Buckle coffeecake are described as “dangerous!” We had a taste for something savory, so the "BreakfastWich" (smoked bacon, over easy eggs and melted cheddar cheese on a freshly baked sourdough bread with a smear of garlic aioli) was a perfect choice.
Alexandria certainly has no shortage of mouth-watering breakfast options. We’ve included a few more excellent spots on our honorable mentions list that should not be overlooked.
PHOTO BY RACHEL GORDON
Jack’s Place 222 N. Lee St. Serves breakfast
Monday - Friday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday - Sunday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., $ In a small nook located near Old Town’s waterfront, you'll find Jack’s Place, a local Mom 'n Pop eatery serving all-day breakfast and lunch options. With two high-top tables and limited counter seating, it is definitely what would be considered a treasured "hole in the wall." However, it remains a gem for locals as people rave about the “eggcellent” sandwich selections.
Honorable Mentions
Jeff Creager, who lives in the Belleview area, has had his fair share of feral cats make themselves at home in his backyard. After one of the cats had five kittens, he and his wife decided to
BY SUSANNAH MOORE
22 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022
Anybody who has lived with a cat knows that domestic cats are not that different than their wild cat cousins. Studies show that cats share nearly 96 percent of DNA with tigers, and they have retained many of the characteristics needed to survive in the wild such as being active at dawn and dusk and having a high prey drive.
According to the American Bird Conservancy, outdoor cats kill 2.4 billion birds every year and the Smithsonian says that cats kill 12.3 billion small mammals. Many outdoor cats are often not fixed, contributing to overpopulation and 1.4 million cats being euthanized in U.S. shelters every year, according to the ASPCA. Because of this, many rescue groups will require owners to sign a contract stating that they will not allow their cats to be outside, but this can be tough when Whiskers is bored and begging to explore the great outdoors.
Patios, Catios and Tents
We spoke to some local cat owners to find out how they balance giving kitty outside time, while keeping them and the local wildlife population safe.
Some cat owners let their cats go outside whenever they want, and many neighborhoods have a population of feral or community cats that live outdoors. But letting cats roam outside is not always safe for wildlife or the cats themselves. Cats can be hit by cars, get trapped, pick up parasites and diseases or be targeted by larger animals. They can also harm other wildlife.
One of the simplest ways to get your cat some outside stimulation is allowing them to hang out on a screened-in porch, if you are lucky enough to have one. If you don’t, consider buying or building your own A"catio."catiois a structure often made from wood and wire mesh and can range in size. A premade catio can cost anywhere from $250-$5,000. The catio can be attached to a window and cats can access it via a cat door and catwalk or it can be a standalone structure. Keep in mind, if it’s a stand-alone catio, you will need to leash-train your cat to get there or use a cat carrier. Just make sure the structure is compatible with any homeowner association rules or other city or county laws.
Keeping Your Indoor Kitty Safe and OutdoorsHappy
Galahad, PHOTO BY REBECCA CRITICSHank and his jiobit, PHOTO BY SABRINA WOODS
“
If you’d like your cat to have a little mobility, consider training them to use a cat backpack (the cat rides along in the backpack, on your back) or a harness and leash which can be purchased at some pet stores or online. Cat backpacks can be mesh or clear plastic and allow your feline to go with you on a hike or walk. Some cat backpacks expand to give kitty more space and have a hook that you can clip to a cat harness for added safety. Make sure to carry water and a fan to keep kitty hydrated and comfortable, especially in warmer weather.
23September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com PETS
take them in as indoor cats. “I first had a tent with a tunnel going out of the basement door. Well, they loved that so much that I built a 12 by 12 by 8-foot catio so they can go in and out of the living room window,” he explained.
Backpacks and Leashes
Rebecca Critics, who lives near Fairlington, trained her Norwegian Forest Cat, Galahad, to wear a harness and walk on a leash. “It took a solid couple months for him to want to go further than a couple feet down the block, but as soon as he made that breakthrough and he realized all the fun stuff going on out there, he asks for it every day now,” Critics explained.
What does walking with a cat look like?
Cat Tent, PHOTO BY JEFF CRAEGER
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Critics lets Galahad set the pace. “It starts with him sitting at the front door and meowing at me to go for a walk, or I can even ask him if he wants to go for a walk and he runs to the front door and waits for his vest. Then he’ll dash out the door down the front steps
I first had a tent with a tunnel going out of the basement door. Well, they loved that so much that I built a 12 by 12 by 8-foot catio so they can go in and out of the living room window. ”
Ziggy, PHOTO BY RACHAEL DICKSON
“There’s a lot of stuff that cats can get into outside, and if you’re going to let them outside at all, you need to make sure they’re protected,” she said. This includes putting them on flea and tick prevention, getting them all their vaccines and regular vet visits. Also, avoid areas that have been treated with pesticides or other chemicals.
While Ziggy loved hunting cicadas during last year’s cicada "apocalypse," his impact on wildlife in their backyard has been low (minus two unlucky chipmunks), Dickson reported. She put a bell on his collar to warn away all wildlife in the future. It took some getting used to, but now he even comes when I call because he recognizes that 'collar on' means outside time,” said Woods.
Ziggy, a social butterfly, took the pandemic quarantine particularly hard, to the point he started taking an antidepressant, so Dickson tried to figure out ways to get him outside safely.
Dickson finally had her backyard fenced in and made sure it was escape-proof. Now, she lets Ziggy get some outdoors time 20-30 minutes at a time. An in/ out of office sign by the back door reminds everybody in the house when he is Dicksonoutside.reminds cat owners to be mindful when letting cats outdoors.
“I tried a leash with a harness, a cat carriage, and a cat pouch (like a purse). He liked all of those options, but they had their drawbacks,” explained Dickson.
Critics' advice for other cat owners looking to leash-train their cat is to have patience. “I got frustrated a little bit because I knew he would enjoy it, but he was scared. So, it was very much, I let him take it at his pace. Yeah, it was frustrating, and I’m fairly certain my neighbors thought I was slightly crazy, but he loves it now, so it was definitely worth it. It’s all about patience. Cats don’t have the same type of confidence dogs do, you have to make them feel safe,” Critics said. You can follow along on Galahad’s adventures on Instagram @criticsra.
Backyard Privileges West End resident Rachael Dickson rescued her cat Ziggy in 2016 when she was living in Chicago. While living there, Ziggy enjoyed a screened-in patio, but since living in Virginia, Ziggy has been trying to get outside in some pretty creative ways, including hiding behind the curtains near the front door until he can make his break.
Cat Tracker
Sabrina Woods was decidedly not a cat person (she prefers dogs) when a stray kitten she named Hank showed up in her backyard in 2020. She tried to find owners and went through the steps of trapping him to get him fixed and vaccinated and somewhere along the line, Hank decided Woods was his person and she decided to keep him. Hank still very much wanted to go outside even though he was increasingly spending more time indoors. One day, Hank didn’t come home, and Woods started to worry. Woods was sent out of town for work, but neighbors continued to help search for him. Five days passed and after Woods returned, she decided to grab a flashlight, throw on some tactical gear and go hunting for Hank. She eventually found him locked in a storage shed at Paul Springs Retirement Community. He was meowing loudly, hungry and frightened. She frantically got the attention of a front desk worker. “My cat is in your storage shed. I have a pair of bolt cutters at home. I will run the mile back home and get them and there will be next level B&E (breaking and entering) if you don’t get me in that storage shed,” Woods recalled. Thankfully, no laws were broken and a security person freed Hank from the shed. Both Hank and Woods were traumatized by the experience, and she vowed it would never happen again. She researched the best GPS tracker and purchased a Jiobit that Hank wears on his collar. The device was $130 and $9 a month but the peace of mind is priceless, she said. Whenever Hank wanders outside of a geo fence that is within a 300-foot radius of the house, Woods can track him, although ever since getting trapped he doesn’t wander far.
24 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 and then it’s basically his direction. Sometimes we get to the end of the corner and he’s like 'No, I don’t want to continue, and we double back. I’m following him. I just make sure he doesn’t run into the streets. He stops, he sniffs, he stares at birds, he chases squirrels up trees,” Critics said.
Galahad mostly goes on adventures in the neighborhood. Critics tried to take him on walks at nearby parks, but said she has run into problems with off-leash dogs when owners don't follow leash rules or laws. These types of encounters can set Galahad back on his training. One of his favorite spots has been Theodore Roosevelt Island and exploring the marshes and boardwalk.
25September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
A group of like-minded history and bottle lovers, aka Virginia Bottles, is excavating old Alexandria wells and privies to find historic artifacts. For Tom Leveille, one man’s trash re ally is another man’s treasure. Leveille and his group of volunteers have dubbed themselves “Virginia Bottles” and they dig up 18th- and 19th-century privies (outhouses) and wells to find old bottles and other items that might have been discarded there.
This Page, PHOTOS BY SUSANNAH MOORE
• September / October 2022 BY SUSANNAH MOORE
HISTORIC BOTTLES
Leveille’s fascination with archaeol ogy began when he was a student at Old Dominion University. In 2011, he began visiting towns and cities around Virginia and speaking with owners of historic homes to see if they would want to work with him to uncover some of the history on their property that may have long been hidden.
Virginia Bottles is based out of Richmond, but Alexandria is one of Leveille’s favorite cities to work in because of its history, which has been well preserved as well as the preva lence of outhouses. Every house built before 1920 had an outdoor privy built with it, which wasn’t the case for some other Virginia cities. Oftentimes, these archaeological features are discovered when there is a sinkhole or depression in a homeowner’s backyard.
“Large metropolitan areas in the 19th century had lots of wells and privies that are important archeological fea tures that for their purposes, when they were abandoned for indoor plumbing, they were just throwing trash away," explained Leveille, "but 100, 200 years later, the stuff they threw away is im portant to us now."
Leveille will knock on doors and ask if he can dig out a homeowner's privy or well, for free, with the guarantee of filling it back up after he is finished. He and his helpers collect some of the bottles and items they find, but always offer them to the property owners first. Sometimes, property owners want to keep everything that is found, and
Janet Bertin, Allied ASID 703 299
Iridescent Bottle, PHOTO BY VIRGINIA BOTTLES Boots, Baby Doll, and Clear Glass Bottle, PHOTOS BY SUSANNAH MOORE
Leveille has agreed because to him, saving the history is the priority. Digs typically take one to two days and the number of bottles, ceramics and other items found varies. Leveille says he often finds glass bottles printed with the names of local bottlers and businesses during his Alexandria digs. “It’s not like anywhere else that we do work as far as how much local interac tion there is,” he said.
janetbertin@decoratingden.com0633janetbertin.decoratingden.com
Leveille has dug up more than 500 wells and privies in the past decade, from North Carolina to Philadelphia, including digs at more than 50 homes in Alexandria. His favorite dig in Alexandria was at a house dating from 1835 at 918-920 Queen St. It took him nearly 10 years to get permission to dig, but once they finally did, they discovered a privy that was 6 feet wide and 20 feet deep filled with items dating from the 1830s to the 1920s, in cluding the most intact pre-Civil War soda bottles than in all previous privies dug up Leveillecombined.admitshe is not an archae ologist, and the digging is more of a weekend hobby than a job and defi nitely does not pay the bills, let alone the gas money he spends traveling from city to city. He works two full time jobs as a surveyor and runs an antique business with his girlfriend.
27September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com JANET BERTIN Decorating Alexandria for more than 25 years We love the homes we dohighly traditional with a flash of glam to rock star with notes of classic, and everything in between! Call us and we can help you love your home too!
Leveille collects pre-Civil War bottles and his friends who assist him have their own collection interests. He does sell some of the items he finds at bottle shows and has won awards for some of the bottles he has found. Bottles aren’t the only items that Leveille finds. He has uncovered items like a Civil War-era boot, porcelain
One of the most prevalent bottles is that of the Alexandria-based Robert Portner Brewing Company. The brew ing company was one of the largest in the country in the post-Civil War period thanks in part to Portner’s patent on refrigerated train cars meaning he could deliver cold beer. Unfortunately, the company did not survive Prohibition.
For Leveille, Virginia Bottles is all about the thrill of finding something new about history.“When we do these digs, we will uncover a new druggist that no one has ever heard of before or a variation of a soda that isn’t in any books or none of the museums have ever seen it before. The puzzle of Alexandria is so large that almost every single time you do an excavation, you find something that was previous ly unknown,” he explained. You can see some of these finds on the Virginia Bottles’ Instagram page @ Notvirginiabottles.everyoneis as thrilled with Leveille’s hobby. The Office of Historic Alexandria, specifically the office of Alexandria Archaeology, encourages Alexandria residents to contact them if they find a well or privy in their backyard. “We are happy to work with them to help preserve Alexandria’s important history,” said Eleanor Breen. “The buried history of Alexandria is like a book full of stories that have yet to be read…every time a well or privy is dug just to find and keep the bottles, we lose an important page in Alexandria’s history book,” reads a webpage on backyard archaeology on the City’s website (alexandriava.gov/ Ivyarchaeology/backyard-archaeology).Whitlatch,thechairofthe Alexandria Archaeological Commission, penned a letter two years ago to the editor of The Zebra newspaper, in response to an article published about Leveille. “Finding old bottles certain ly can be exciting, but if excavated properly, we can discover who owned them, what food they ate, and other details of their lives. Without context, objects, even the smallest fragments, are robbed of a great deal of their power to tell a story and help us learn more about our past,” she wrote. City archaeologists do not necessarily dig up wells and privies unless they are under threat by development, believing it is important to preserve them underground for future genera tions of archaeologists to explore.
28 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022
“We believe history should be shared,” said Breen. You can view some of the millions of items in the care of Alexandria Archaeology at the Archaeology Museum on the third floor of the Torpedo Art Factory (105 N Union St. Unit 327). To find out more about the work of City of Alexandria Archaeologists, follow them on Instagram @alexandriaarchaeology.
Digging, PHOTO BY VIRGINIA BOTTLES
Working Site (Top), Bottles in Cans (Right Center), Garrett & Co. (Right Bottom), PHOTOS BY SUSANNAH MOORE doll heads, ceramic chamber pots, old medical syringes and lots of buttons and marbles.
Old HistoryMirrorsBusybodyTownKeepAlive
HISTORY
On a beautiful night it is hard to miss the crowds engaging in the local ghost and Civil War tours; however other historic elements are more obscurely embedded — quite literally — into the city’s structure.
Across the Atlantic though, these mirrors are attributed to American inventor Benjamin Franklin. The “busybody” device is traditionally a collection of three mirrors hung from a window by a horizontally placed metal rod so that a person within the home can view who is at the door stoop without being seen (or even leaving the second floor!).
PHOTOS
Characterized by its historic flavor, the city of Alexandria, most notably Old Town, proves to be celebrated for its hidden gems. Alexandria remains renowned for its rich Colonial roots as it is home to attractions frequented by America’s founding fathers, such as Christ Church and Gadsby’s Tavern.
Distracted by the beauty of the preserved and manicured historic Old Town homes, even local Alexandrians may neglect to spot the so-called “gossip” or “busybody” mirrors that still adorn their windows.
Mirrors that allow residents to ‘spy’ on their front doors are architectural gems.
An early form of "neighborhood watch" or closed-circuit surveillance, these mirrors were first introduced to coastal towns in Sweden and Finland in the 18th century. Researchers claim that the introduction of these spying devices occurred amid an increase in urban populations and feelings of insecurity caused by subsequent transnational mobility.
29September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
Franklin, serving as an ambassador to France at the time, supposedly created the busybody mirror after observing one in the red light district of Paris. Though it seems like a trivial antiquity as our contemporary world has since experienced a technological takeover, the architectural pieces that remain on some Old Town homes (especially those bearing Historic Alexandria Foundation plaques) appear in functional condition. However, in addition to being visually concealed, its history as it pertains to Alexandria proves ambiguous. In rummaging through construction plans, city layouts and previous articles of the local history library, the useful invention remains unmentioned.
BY CHAPIN ROCKWELL BY CHAPIN ROCKWELL
PHOTOS BY BETH LAWTON
I
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There are no records of residents requesting to be taken down, and the mirrors remain a common entity around town. That being said, they must be doing their job. suppose another round of applause to Franklin is in order.
While it seems some ditch the mirrors for monetary gain on eBay, Old Town homeowners continue their usage. Because many of the faces of these historic townhomes were constructed in 1915, it is important — as one homeowner expressed — that these elements, including the old boot scrapers, be Oneappreciated.currentreal estate listing even advertises the presence of the mirror; therefore it is clear that though there are more high-tech options, this historic gadget has yet to go out of style.
31September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com landingalexandria.com 2620 Main Line Blvd. Alexandria, Virginia571-487-929122301 INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING THE MEMORYBRIDGECARE A lifestyle filled with activity— and possibility With elevated amenities and personalized care in the North Potomac Yard neighborhood, The Landing is a different kind of community for seniors. Offering refined Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care residences, along with innovative wellness programs and opportunities for connection, it’s enriching, inspiring— and above all, fulfilling. Contact us at 571-487-9291 to schedule a private tour. A SILVERSTONE/WATERMARK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY License #ALF 1104995
soldiers floated tethered balloons at the midway mark and at the turnaround point on Shooter’s Hill. Signal Corps soldiers also strung a temporary telegraph line to Shooter’s Hill, hoping to provide the authorities at Fort Myer a mid-course update on the Flyer’s Now,progress.finally, it was time to fly. An enclosed aircraft cabin had not yet been invented. Orville and Foulois seated themselves on the lower wing of the biplane. As Foulois hung two stopwatches around his neck and strapped a compass on one leg and a barometer on the other, Orville started the engine. As the pilot and one of the few experienced airmen in the world, Orville then turned to his passenger, who was making his first flight, and shouted over the engine noise: “If I have any trouble, I’ll land in a field or the thickest clump of trees I can find.”
The terrain was so absent of landmarks, such as roads or easily identifiable buildings, that Signal Corps believed navigation aids were necessary, so
Foulois gulped, knowing it was too late to second-guess why he had picked out a course with no fields on the whole route.
“OK!” Orville called back. As the 32-horsepower, four-cylinder engine cranked to full power, the rotating propellers whipped the hats of spectators standing a little too close.
Thunderstorms rolled through the Arlington District of Alexandria County on the morning and afternoon of July 30, 1909. An agitated crowd on the parade ground of Fort Myer, who had been awaiting the then-most daring feat of heavierthan-air flight yet attempted, now dreaded a disappointing, third consecutive weather delay, following rolling storms that had cancelled flight attempts over the previous two days. As the afternoon turned to evening, however, the air suddenly cleared. Just as quickly, two former bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio — Wilbur and Orville Wright — set to work shortly after 6 p.m., rolling their unfathomable flying machine out of a shed on the side of the parade ground and making final tweaks to the biplane’s rigging and engine.
BrothersofinStarringAlexandria’sRoletheStorytheWright
BY STEVE
TRIMBLE
Five-and-a-half years had passed since Orville, the younger brother, had made the first, tentative, heavier-than-air flight by a human being — a lurching, 12-second hop over the windswept sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In the interim, Orville and Wilbur had mastered their flying skills and refined their flying machine at Huffman Prairie on the outskirts of Dayton, Ohio. Now, the brothers had come to Alexandria County in 1909 — 11 years before the land north of Alexandria city was renamed to Arlington County — to turn
Orville released a restraining cable, and the Flyer slowly gained speed down the parade ground. To some in the crowd, it appeared that the Flyer still might not take flight that day. The machine crept along only several inches above the ground for several hundred feet. Finally, Orville pulled the nose up slightly, allowing the Flyer to start a gentle climb as it turned to circle the crowd over the parade ground. By the second circle, the Flyer had risen to 125 feet, and the speed test was set to begin. Orville turned the aircraft sharply to pass over the starting line in the middle of the Thefield.Flyer now advanced toward the first signal balloon about 2.5 miles away, skimming over treetops roughly where Washington Boulevard is today. As the designated passenger, Foulois
First, however, the Wrights had to prove to the military’s arms buyers that their fragile biplane — a spruce frame wrapped in canvas — could fly 10 miles over rough country, averaging a speed of at least 40 mph with a passenger on board. Orville and Wilbur trusted the Flyer could manage the task — as long as the engine kept working. More than five years after Kitty Hawk, however, neither had attempted such a flight before, preferring instead to circle over a clear field or a carefully planned route with plenty of options to make emergency landings. Estimates of the crowd assembled on the Fort Myer parade ground varied between 6,000 and 7,000 people. The tension rose as the brothers prepared the Flyer for the long-awaited proving flight. Only nine months earlier, Orville had been severely injured after crashing on the same Fort Myer parade ground. His passenger, 1st. Lt. Thomas Selfridge, was killed, becoming the first fatality in the history of heavier-than-air flight. As a matter of family honor, the brothers had decided that Orville would attempt the mandatory cross-country flight to claim the Signal Corps contract. For his passenger, the Wrights chose 1st. Lt. Benjamin Foulois. The short Foulois may have been the lightest officer in the Signal Corps, and, thus, preferred for a long-distance speed test. Foulois also had mapped the 10-mile course from Fort Myer to Alexandria city, passing over what was then an almost entirely rural landscape of farms, ravines and woods. The route called for the Flyer to travel nearly due south for five miles to the then-unoccupied crest of Shooter’s Hill, which is now the site of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial, overlooking Old Town Alexandria.
HISTORY
the Wright Flyer into a real product. A contract worth at least $25,000 was at stake. The Signal Corps, the communications arm of the U.S. Army, had been operating lighter-than-air balloons since the Civil War, and now recognized the promise of fixed-wing aviation for a wide range of military missions.
“Everything all right?” Wilbur asked his brother from the edge of the wing, according to an account of the event the next day by The Washington Post.
“Ion-site.wantyou boys to get a few things right,” Wilbur told them. “Remember that this is the first cross-country flight ever made over rough country in a heavier-than-air machine, over a course which had not been carefully picked out beforehand, with the idea in mind of reducing to the minimum the chance of risk in alighting. … I want you to get those things right, because Orville accomplished some few things today.”
"Suddenly, the Flyer disappeared from the vantage point at Fort Myer, as if the vehicle fell out of the sky as it crossed the valley for Four Mile Run."
Wilbur was among the first in the crowd to greet Foulois and his brother after they landed on the parade ground. It was the first time Foulois had seen the normally taciturn, elder brother with a smile on his face.
For Orville and Wilbur to pocket the $25,000 Signal Corps contract, Orville needed to make up a lot of time on the downwind leg. The Flyer suddenly banked steeply to the left, as Orville tried to make the turn at Shooter’s Hill as tightly as possible. The sudden maneuver alarmed his passenger. “It seemed to me that the angle of bank of the plane was awfully steep as we rounded the turn and the wing tip was much too close to the tops of the trees,” Foulois remembered. “A downdraft hit us, and I thought we were going to cartwheel into them for sure.” Again, Orville righted the airplane, but over-corrected. He steered the Flyer to an altitude of 400 feet. The climb inadvertently set a new world record, but cost Orville precious time in lost speed. The Flyer was now high enough to be spotted back at Fort Myer as a tiny speck in the sky. “It was then that 6,000 waited with ‘baited breath,’ anxiously, every one in all the crowd,” a correspondent for The Washington Times wrote from the parade ground. Wilbur Wright, still standing at the starting point, strained to track Orville’s progress through a spyglass, while offering reassurances to their nervous sister, Katherine Wright.
“You got the money! You got the money!” Wilbur called out to his brother.
HISTORY managed emotions ranging between delight and panic. The air seemed clear on the ground, but 15 stories higher, it was turbulent. The design of the Flyer was a breakthrough in aeronautical engineering, but the Wrights’ had not yet conquered the challenge of full stability. As the Flyer encountered sudden downdrafts, the wind would momentarily point the nose toward the ground, requiring Orville to gently steer it back to level flight again. “It was as if someone on the ground had a string attached to us and would pull it occasionally as they would a kite,” Foulois recalled in his autobiography nearly 60 years later. As they passed over farmland, they startled cows and enchanted the sparse settlements. On the flight between the small villages of Nauck and Addison Heights on the southernmost ridge of Arlington, local residents waved bed sheets from their rooftops, saluting the first airmen of a heavier-than-air vehicle to pass over their heads. After the flight, Orville remembered passing over the tops of 40 to 50 houses over the entire 5-mile course to Alexandria. A crowd of several hundred gathered on top of Shooter’s Hill was still unaware that the Flyer was heading toward them. A strong wind had blown up and toppled the temporary telegraph station, leaving the Alexandria audience to guess whether the flight was being attempted. Finally, the white canvas wings of the biplane could be seen over Braddock Heights. On board the Flyer, Foulois noticed the crowd on the brow of the hill, waving umbrellas and handkerchiefs in his direction. The flight had reached the halfway point, and now it was time to turn back. As Foulois clicked his stopwatch, he might have noticed they were slightly behind schedule. They averaged a speed of only 37.735 mph on the upwind leg from Fort Myer to Alexandria, a rate over 5 percent too slow for the Army’s specifications.
Suddenly, the Flyer disappeared from the vantage point at Fort Myer, as if the vehicle fell out of the sky as it crossed the valley for Four Mile Run. The crowd hushed and Katherine turned away from Wilbur, and walked to the comfort of her friends. For his part, Wilbur did not seem to react to the disappearance of the Flyer at all.
“You bet we did,” Orville replied. In the end, the Signal Corps paid the Wrights $30,000 for the first military Flyer, including a $5,000 bonus for exceeding the 40 mile per hour standard. Heavier-than-air flight was no longer an experiment; it was now a product line. The flight also redeemed Orville as a pilot nine months after the fatal crash, and his older brother wished to make that clear to the journalists
“All was uncertain,” the Post's reporter Inwrote.fact, Orville and his passenger were in no danger. The pilot, hoping to correct his previous mistake, descended to a lower altitude to gain speed in the final minutes of the proving flight. To the crowd, the Wright’s biplane finally appeared beyond the farthest treetops, according to the Post’s account, provoking a chorus of cheers. A smiling Orville passed over the starting point at full speed, completing the speed test. The measured 10-mile portion of the flight had lasted 14 minutes and 42 seconds. The Army subtracted the 26 seconds Orville needed to make the turn at Shooter’s Hill, giving a final time of 14 minutes and 16 seconds. Thanks to a helpful downwind boost, the Flyer had averaged 42.583 miles per hour, beating the Army’s performance standard by more than 6 percent.
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35September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com ALEXANDRIA BY BETH LAWTON UNDER DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS PHOTOS COURTESY OF PIXABAY
Bring up the word “density” and you’re sure to spark a response from just about anyone in the area. Alexandria is the most densely populated city in Virginia and there are several new housing developments coming, but the city — and much of Northern Virginia — is still suffering from a serious lack of affordable housing for many families, young professionals and service workers.
“With rents continuing to rise and incomes not keeping up, many critical frontline and essential workers are finding it increasingly difficult to find homes in the communities where they work,” Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck wrote in July in a piece advocating for continuing Fairfax County’s commitment to affordable housing development.
More than half of all housing units in the city of Alexandria (52%) are occupied by renters, who are feeling the effects of inflation and high demand, too. Rental costs have increased in the past year, with the average rent for all apartments at $1,944 per month in the City of Alexandria, according to RentCafe data.
That’s an increase from a pandemic-era low in November 2020 of about $1,700.
Increasing the focus on affordable housing development is the right thing to do, according to residents who responded to the National Community Survey in the city of Alexandria in 2020. In that survey, just 18% of residents rated the “availability of affordable, quality housing” as excellent or good. In the same survey, 79% of residents said it was "essential or very important” for city officials to focus on housing affordability. This is not a unique problem for Alexandria. Nearly half of all Americans (49%) say the availability of affordable housing in their local community is a major problem, according to Pew Research. That concern is up 10% from 2018.
• Some 474 affordable housing units are in development in Arlandria by the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation (AHDC).
To stay within traditional guidelines where housing does not take up more than 30% of pre-tax monthly income, comfortably affording a $1,922 apartment requires a household income of more than $76,800 per year.
For those able to purchase homes, prices are up significantly from just a few years ago. The average price of residential real estate in the City of Alexandria (including condos, townhomes and single-family properties) was $719,893 at the end of June, according to data from the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. In Fairfax County, the average price of a home was $792,686. In June 2017, five years ago, the average price was less than $600,000 in both localities.
36 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022
There are parts of Alexandria that are nearly unrecognizable compared to just a few years ago — and with cranes in the sky and plans in the pipeline, Alexandria will continue to change.
DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY
While the city has made progress on creating more affordable housing, there is more work to do. Several projects are in the development process that will increase the number of affordable housing units available. The following are planned or in the development process now:
• Wesley Housing plans to build a 373-unit affordable housing tower along Holmes Run in the West End called ParcView II.
DEVELOPMENT
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PIXABAY
• The Heritage in southwest Alexandria will be demolished and replaced with a much larger development that will preserve 140 affordable units and add about 50 more.
• Nearby in southeast Fairfax County, Wesley Housing is building a 126-unit affordable development near the Huntington Metro station.
TRANSPORTATION
Here are the top 5: City of Alexandria – 10,667 people per square mile
A nonprofit group called YIMBYs of Northern Virginia focuses Already the most densely populated city in Virginia, with almost 10,700 people per square mile, a variety of residential and retail projects are set to ensure Alexandria retains its spot at the top of that list.
Some residents think increasing density and using zoning tools to create affordable housing opportunities is part of the answer.
Source:U.S.Census(2020)
on advocating for changes in zoning regulations allowing for denser housing, including things like accessory dwelling units. This summer, Alexandria officials considered another zoning tool to help encourage developers to build more affordable housing. The “bonus height” allowance proposal would have allowed buildings traditionally limited to a height of 45-feet to request an additional 25-feet of height if one-third of the additional housing the height provides is committed as affordable in the long-term. The proposal was met with strong opposition from some residents who worried about too-tall buildings popping up in otherwise low-rise neighborhoods. The proposal has been put on pause while city officials gather and provide more detailed information to residents.
• 94 affordable housing units could replace the former Land Rover dealership on Duke Street near Telegraph Road.
• North Hill, with 216 multifamily and 63 senior units, is under construction in Groveton.
• AHDC plans to tear down the 66-apartment Samuel Madden housing complex and build a much larger mixed-income community that doubles the number of affordable units there.
City of Manassas Park – 5,675 ppl/mi2
For years on end, Northern Virginia and the District ranked in the top three metro areas with the worst traffic congestion in the United States, according to Texas Transportation Institute data. The pandemic provided a reprieve as many professionals worked from home, but the combination of increasing population and people slowly (and reluctantly) returning to a regular workday commute means traffic is now almost as bad as it was back in 2019.
37September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com BUSINESS
Alexandria’s Most Expensive Homes for Sale Alexandria’s real estate prices continue to increase, in part due to inflation and an increasingly competitive real estate market. Here are the most expensive properties on the market in the Alexandria area as of the end of July: $45,000,000 — Not yet built, this home designed for 7983 E. Boulevard Dr. could be more than 25,000 sq. ft. on 10 acres of waterfront property. $5,400,000 – This historic Potts-Fitzhugh-Lee House at 601 and 607 Oronoco St. sits on a half-acre in Old $3,695,000Town.
Arlington County – 9,179 ppl/mi2
City of Charlottesville – 4,544 ppll/mi2
– 2 Wolfe St. is a townhome along the water with a 35-foot boat slip.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY
City of Falls Church – 7,164 ppl/mi2
In both Alexandria and Southeast Fairfax County, expect to see more dedicated bus lanes by the end of this decade. Fairfax County officials are working with state and local partners to widen Richmond Highway and put dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) lanes in the middle, along with safer pedestrian crossings, bike routes and traffic signal improvements for cars.
38 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022
People in their own cars aren’t being left out entirely. The Virginia Department of Transportation is considering adding HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes to the rest of the Beltway in Virginia, from the Springfield Interchange (the Mixing Bowl) through the Alexandria area and across the Woodrow Wilson TheBridge.Potomac
The City of Alexandria is reimagining bus transportation in several areas, including at the new “WestEnd” development on the former Landmark Mall property, along North and South Van Dorn, Beauregard and Duke streets. Depending on how studies and finances play out, these routes could see a combination of signal prioritization, dedicated bus lanes and other improvements to keep traffic flowing along those frequently congested roads, while providing safer pedestrian and bicycle routes. In September 2021, the Alexandria Transit Co., which operates the DASH bus system, made the buses free to ride to encourage usage.
Yard Metro station is expected to be fully operational by November, but not before a few more growing pains. Extensive work on the Yellow and Blue lines is expected to start in early September, including shutting down a portion of the Metro lines south of Reagan National Airport to connect the new Potomac Yard rail station to the rest of the system.
Metro is also planning to spend millions of dollars and about eight months rehabilitating the Yellow Line bridge and adjacent tunnels. That will effectively cut off Alexandria from points north on the Metro rail system until at least May 2023. Buses will provide routes around the affected Metro rail stations.
HEALTHCARE
Two of the largest developments in the Alexandria area have a common anchor: Inova. In Alexandria’s West End, the 51-acre Landmark Mall site is being leveled. By 2028, a new hospital and trauma center, medical offices and related services will fill the 10 acres at the former Sears. The rest of the development will include a variety of residential, retail and civic uses, open space and more. The City of Alexandria received the Red Clay Development of the Year Award for its Landmark Mall Redevelopment Plan from the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the other end of the city, Inova is working with developer Stonebridge on Oakville Triangle, a $300 million project at the corner of Swann Avenue and Richmond Highway. The project includes more than 1 million square feet of residential space, a new Inova HealthPlex with a comprehensive emergency room and 55,000 square feet of retail. The first buildings could open by the end of 2023. With the opening of the new Inova Hospital and Trauma Center at the WestEnd (formerly Landmark Mall) in 2028, the “old” Alexandria Hospital will be closing. With some controversy, the hospital was able to pre-emptively rezone the hospital land for redevelopment in an effort to make it more attractive
PHOTO COURTESY OF WATERMAN PLACE
The new BRT system, called “The One,” will be the largest bus rapid transit system in Virginia once it is complete in 2030. The system will have nine stations along Richmond Highway from Huntington Metro Station to Fort Belvoir and expects to serve 15,000 passengers a day.
There are many changes coming as local, regional and state officials work to make commuting, running errands and visiting friends a bit less painful.
OFFICE SPACE
RiverRenew officials have been careful to explain that this project is focused on water quality and is not a stormwater control project. In other words, RiverRenew will not reduce the likelihood, frequency or effects of tidal and rainstorm flooding that routinely affect low-lying neighborhoods in Alexandria. For that, Alexandria city officials are investing in and playing catchup on a variety of projects, including culvert remediation and larger sewer lines for new developments.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LENNAR
In July, the star of the show arrived — a subterranean tunnel boring machine named Hazel that will construct a new 2-milelong tunnel 100 feet underground. The tunnel will run along the Potomac River from the end of Pendleton Street, through an outfall at the end of Royal Street where it will continue to the AlexRenew wastewater treatment plant in the Eisenhower East area. Ultimately, the project will prevent 120 million gallons of combined sewage from affecting local waterways every year.
39September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com BUSINESS
Although a lot of businesses are telling their employees to return to work in the office, many of those businesses are offering flexible terms for remote work. As their office leases end, many of those same companies are seriously reconsidering how much space they actually need for the years ahead. That means there’s a lot of office space for lease in Alexandria, and a number of office buildings are converting to residential use. In Eisenhower East, a plan to build two office buildings was scrapped in favor of building residences. On King Street, an office condo building is undergoing renovations to become residential. Such conversions are happening in Old Town North, Buttoo. one single office tower in Alexandria accounts for more than 15% of the city’s empty office space: The Victory Center at 5001 Eisenhower Ave. Built in 1973 and renovated several times, the office building is best set up for a government client, but the building has sat empty for years. An affiliate of Stonebridge bought the entire property just before the pandemic hit, and sold the eastern portion of it to another company. Winchester Homes is now building 130 townhomes on what was the parking lot east of the office building. Stonebridge is planning to redevelop the western portion of the property. The future of the Victory Center building itself is still to be determined. Stonebridge has reportedly considered demolishing the building and building a multifamily residential building above a parking garage there.
to potential buyers. It is likely that the hospital’s land at 4320 Seminary Road will become a new residential development — how dense and what other uses are considered will depend on who purchases the land.
WATER
Of all the projects in Alexandria, the most complex project is happening mostly underground. Alexandria is one of hundreds of cities nationwide with a combined sewer system, and the state-mandated RiverRenew project is designed to significantly reduce the pollution the combined system can cause when the system is overwhelmed by rainfall.
40 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 395 495 DUKE ST F RANCONIA RD N.BEAUREGARDSTLITTLE RIVER TNPK SEMINARY RD TELEGRAPHRD 95 1. Upland Park 2. Alexandria City High School, Minnie Howard Campus 3. ParcView II 4. Virginia Paving Co. 5. Greenhill South 6. WestEnd 7. Franconia Governmental Center 8. 6003 Kingstowne Village Pkwy 9. Mom's Organic Market Shopping 10.Center2525Mt. Vernon Ave. 11. ADHC Arlandria Affordable Housing Development 12. Potomac Yard 13. Oakville Triangle Redevelopment 14. GenOn/Hilco Redevelopment 15.ProjectTidelock/Transpotomac Plaza (Formerly The APTP Complex) 16. Waterman Place 17. Samuel Madden Homes 18. The Heritage 19. Huntington Club Redevelopment 20. Lennar Homes 21. North Hill DEVELOPMENT KEY 1 2 3 4 5 6 8
41September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com KINGST 1 1 MOUNTVERNONAVEWBRADDOCKRD 1 PLAIROMEMWGKWYFORTHUNTRD 10911 13 14 15 16 1718 19 2120 12
WestEnd Former Landmark Mall Property
21 43 65 PHOTOS COURTESY OF PARCVIEW PHOTO COURTESY OF INOVA
Upland Park Northwest Alexandria Developer Hekemian & Co. is moving forward on building a new residential neighborhood and park on land occupied by a number of small singlefamily homes in Alexandria’s West End near the intersection of North Beauregard Street and Seminary Road. Several vacant homes in the area will be torn down to make way for a large, multifamily development. Groundbreaking could happen later this year, according to the developer.
Virginia Paving Co. 5601 Courtney Ave. The Virginia Paving Co. will be winding up operations by 2027 so redevelopment of this area can start. Potential uses include residential, retail or civic uses, but development remains far off. Across Van Dorn Street, developers are eyeing the former Vulcan materials plant site for 37 traditional townhomes, 80 2-over-2 townhomes, 204 condo units, plus a 256-room hotel with some retail space on the ground level. The spot will need at least a year of remediation before construction can start.
42 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022
Greenhill South Southeast of South Van Dorn Street and Edsall Road
Known to some as “Pickett Place,” developers have proposed reimagining the area just southeast of the intersection of S. Van Dorn Street and Edsall Road, where there is now a large shopping center. The property area borders Backlick Run and ecological restoration of the land is part of the plan. There are few other details available at this time.
The wrecking ball hit Landmark Mall in May to make way for an entirely new development. Inova will open a new hospital and trauma center along with medical offices, and developers will build hundreds of homes along with retail, civic buildings, parks and more on the 51-acre site. The neighborhood will also have a bus transit hub. The first buildings could open as early as 2024, but the hospital will not be completed until 2028. The original Alexandria Hospital will be demolished and likely replaced with housing after the new hospital opens.
Alexandria City High School, Minnie Howard Campus 3801 W. Braddock Road As part of The High School Project, the Minnie Howard campus of Alexandria's high school will be rebuilt to accommodate more students and more educational options for Alexandria's high schoolers. The school board took up extensive debate about whether to include affordable housing at this site, before ultimately deciding against it. Construction has started on the site, just east of the current Minnie Howard school building. ParcView II 5380 Holmes Run Pkwy. Wesley Housing is moving ahead on constructing a new apartment building next to the current ParcView high-rise on Holmes Run Parkway. The original ParcView will be renovated, and the project is slated to add hundreds of new affordable apartments to the neighborhood. Residents raised concerns about the construction, density, parking and more — particularly after the Surfside, Florida condo collapse — but city council approved the project in early 2022.
6121 Franconia Road
The Franconia Governmental Center building may be razed and replaced with affordable housing in the coming years. A new governmental center will be built nearby. Fairfax County is seeking bids from developers for the project to redevelop the 3.25acre site, which is occupied by the 28,000-square foot government building built in 1991. Fairfax County officials have put the following limitations on developers: The number of units cannot exceed 120, the building cannot be more than four stories high and 20% of the units must be made available to the Fairfax County magnet housing program for qualified police, fire, teachers and medical personnel. 6003 Kingstowne Village Pkwy.
ADHC Arlandria Affordable Housing Development Glebe Road at Mount Vernon Avenue
87 109 131211 PHOTO COURTESY OF MID-ATLANTIC REALTY PARTNERS PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF ALEXANDRIA
The Alexandria Housing Development Corp. is starting work on hundreds of new affordable housing units at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and West Glebe Road. These properties include Sherwin Williams (formerly Safeway) and El Cuscatleco restaurant. Construction could be completed in 2024.
Kingstowne South A developer submitted a plan to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for a new multi-family residential development in Kingstowne. The plan included a 5-story complex with up to 324 condos or apartments, a new dog park and an activity field that would be open to the public. Kingstowne Parcel O is the plot of land that includes the former Toys R Us (now an Aldi grocery store) La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery and Ashley Home Store. However, the Halle Companies sold the fully leased buildings to a private party in mid-2021 and it is not clear if the new owner, Santay Realty, is planning to continue with the previous development proposal.
Del Ray Alexandria-based Bonaventure Realty is planning to redevelop the former Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services building at 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. A site plan submitted to city officials by Bonaventure earlier this month shows that the 42,301-square foot office building currently located on the 0.86 acre lot could become a four-story, 72,000 square foot building with ground floor retail and 73 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Construction could begin at the end of 2023 and will take approximately 20 months to complete.
Potomac Yard National Landing Virginia Tech is reimagining the current Potomac Yard shopping center as a walkable neighborhood with a unique focus on education and a $1 billion Innovation Campus at its core. The first part of the development, including an academic building and office, is under construction where the now-demolished Regal Cinemas used to sit. In addition to Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus, the development will include new retail buildings, residences, office space and belowground parking.
Franconia Governmental Center
Oakville RedevelopmentTriangle
Oakville Inova Health System and Stonebridge Associates have started construction on a new Inova HealthPlex as part of the larger Oakville Triangle redevelopment. The neighborhood will include a mixed-use development with retail and residences that include townhomes and apartment or condo buildings. Delivery is expected in 2023.
Mom's Organic Market Shopping Center 3800 block of Mount Vernon Avenue Mid-Atlantic Realty Partners is seeking to redevelop a shopping center in the 2800 block of Mount Vernon Avenue — near Mom's Organic Market — into a mix of retail and multifamily residences in a project dubbed Mount Vernon Village Center. The proposal calls for the demolition of the existing buildings and the construction of 23,332 square feet of ground-floor retail including a spot for a grocery store, 593 residential units and approximately 706 parking spaces divided between two buildings.
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RedevelopmentGenOn/Hilco
Project 1400 N. Royal St. Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP), based out of the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, Illinois, announced the purchase of the old Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS), a 20-acre site at 1400 N. Royal St. in Old Town North (more commonly known as “the GenOn Power Plant”). The site was purchased from Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), which will retain a small portion of the site in order to run an electrical substation. The project will include housing, commercial office, dining and retail, and public open space along the Potomac River. Hilco does not expect to break ground on any buildings until at least 2023 and full development could take seven to 10 years or longer.
Complex)PlazaTideLock/TransPotomac(formerlytheAPTP 1033 – 1111 N. Fairfax St. Three office buildings formerly owned by the American Physical Therapy Association will be redeveloped from office to residential and arts. The three buildings are located at 1033, 1055 and 1111 N. Fairfax St. and back up to Tide Lock Park and the Potomac River.
Waterman Place 901 N. Pitt St.
The office building at 901 N. Pitt St., called Waterman Place, is a three-story brick office building that The Carr Companies is planning to tear down. The new building in its place will be eight stories with up to 250 housing units. The project at 901 N. Pitt St. will include public open space and an underground parking garage. A timeline for the project has not been set. Carr has led multiple projects in the Old Town North neighborhood, including the former Crowne Plaza, now called Venue, at 925 N. Fairfax St., and 1201 N. Royal St., which is now called Muse.
The three buildings at TransPotomac Plaza, called TideLock, will undergo renovation and conversion into approximately 232 residential units consisting of condominiums and rental units.
14 15 16 PHOTO COURTESY OF HILCO
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Samuel Madden Homes 899 and 999 N. Henry St.
A new residential development project, called North Hill is now under construction. The final project will include 216 affordable multifamily apartments, 63 units of affordable independent living for older adults, plus 175 market-rate townhomes and a 12-acre park. The development covers 33 acres in Southeast Fairfax County and is a partnership between Community Housing Partners and Philadelphiabased developer Pennrose.
The Heritage Southwest Old Town Asland Capital Partners is moving forward on plans to replace the current garden-style apartments (The Heritage) near Wilkes Street Park with a much larger mixed-income community, including affordable housing. The project went through much back-and-forth with the Board of Architectural Review, which requested numerous changes to the size, scope and design of the project. The number of apartments in the project has been reduced and the plans call for 750 housing units in the project.
The Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority (ARHA) is planning to tear down the Samuel Madden affordable garden apartments and work with national development companies Fairstead, Mill Creek Residential and The Communities Group (TCG) to build new mixed-income housing on the site. There are 66 affordable units on the property now and the new project could at least double the number of affordable units there in addition to adding workforce housing and marketrate apartments.
Huntington Club Redevelopment Huntington IDI is working toward redeveloping the Huntington Club neighborhood into what it describes as a “vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use community.” The plans call for 200 townhomes, more than 1,200 apartments and retail, office, hotel and senior living space in addition to parks. Redevelopment is not certain and no timeline has been set for the project.
Lennar Homes Penn Daw Lennar Homes is proposing to build 470 multifamily and townhome units on the 7.61-acre site between Shields Avenue and Quander Road. The project is in the very early planning stages. The application could propose a 6 or 7-story multifamily building containing 385 units and an above ground parking garage directly on Richmond Highway, with 85 townhome units tapering the height down to 4 stories and 2 stories toward Quander Road.
191817 2120 PHOTO COURTESY OF TORTI GALLAS + PARTNERS
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North Hill Groveton
BY BETH LAWTON
The caverns and related attractions were the focus of our day trip over the summer. Designated a U.S. Natural Landmark in 1974, the caverns were discovered in 1878 by Benton Stebbins (a schoolteacher and photographer) and his colleagues while they were hunting for fortunes in and around the Wemountains.rolledout of our driveway in Alexandria around 8 a.m., arriving at Luray Caverns around 10 a.m., just af ter the caverns opened. I had my kids (an 8-year-old girl and 11-year-old
46 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022
Nestled in the Shenandoah moun tains, the town of Luray, Virginia, has a population of about 5,000 people. A variety of mom-and-pop shops, family-owned restaurants and a couple of art galleries line the historic downtown area, a few miles from the Incaverns.addition, the South Fork Shenandoah River is easy to access, as are hiking and biking trails, and it’s a quick drive to Massanutten ski resort and other attractions.
LURAY CAVERNS
About two hours west of Alexandria is one of the largest caverns in the eastern United States, famous for its size, preservation and the “largest natural musical instrument” in the world.
“You just took us in a LOOP!” “Didn’t we already see this?!”
47September / October 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com TRAVEL boy) with me, who were excited about the day ahead (and thankful to be out of the car). They were loudly playing and running on the brick path that led to the cavern entrance, but they quieted with amazement as soon as we walked It’sin.
hard for even the best photos to do justice to the ancient formations along the cold, underground path that winds past stalagmites and stalactites, Skeleton Gorge, Giant’s Hall and the Fried Eggs formation. The hour-long walk through the caverns is sometimes steep and slippery and brings you with in inches of ancient underground rocks shaped by centuries of water erosion. In addition to the ancient formations, the caverns are home to Dream Lake. The shallow lake has water so clear that it’s difficult to tell where the rocks end and their reflection begins.
The family that owns Luray Caverns has built up a variety of attractions on the caverns land, ensuring there’s plenty of things to do and see above ground.
ADJACENT ATTRACTIONS
“My brain Truthfully,hurts.”themaze was a bit of a challenge even for adults. We found three of the four words and gave up — it was lunchtime. Fun Fact! It was a cool 54 degrees in the caverns (more than 90 degrees outside). At one point, a tour guide told us that a former property owner built a system to pump the cool air into a building above, so the caverns powered the United States’ first central air conditioning.
Our first post-cave stop was a wan der through the garden maze. The tall evergreen bushes hid four signs with words that players were to find and put together into a sentence. It’s the largest evergreen hedge maze in the Mid-Atlantic and includes a half-mile of interconnected trails (and dead ends). With flowers, butterfly sculp tures and even some planted jokes, the maze could be a pleasant walk through the hedges — if the kids hadn’t started “Ibickering.thought we already went this way!”
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Toy Town Junction was housed in a large room next to the cafeteria and filled with weird and wonderful toy history. Artifacts included an original Gerber Baby Doll, a still-in-the-box “Archie Bunker’s Grandson” doll and multiple original My Little Ponies from the 1980s. The room also contained a large model train exhibit.
Highlights included a Portuguese Nobility Carriage from the mid-18th century, an 1898 Benz Vis-à-vis, a 1904 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout and one of the earliest electric cars, a 1908 Baker. Vehicles from Westcott, Locomobile, Maxwell, Cord and Rolls Royce were in the building, as well.
On the Way… We took slightly different routes to and from Luray, Virginia. The ride through the Shenandoah Mountains is beautiful — and is likely to be gorgeous when the leaves start to turn later this fall. It’s easy to stop by the Thornton Gap Entrance to Shenandoah National Park via State Route 211. You also have opportunities to stop in Sperryville, Flint Hill and at a variety of wineries near Front Royal.
Although the town of Luray has a variety of highly rated, family-owned restaurants, the kids wanted to eat on-site. Similar to a ski resort cafeteria, we spent $30 on hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks before continuing on to the next attraction.
The next stop: The Car & Carriage Caravan Museum. Adjacent to the toy museum, the museum features vehi cles that date back to the late 1800s.
Other on-site attractions include a Rope Adventure Park. There are two ropes courses (one low to the ground that’s easier for younger children, and one more challenging high-ropes course).
The Ropes Course website notes: “Each course consists of several poles that are connected by different acrobatic elements. The park incor porates a sophisticated safety system using ropes, belay devices and har nesses with trained personnel su pervising every participant.” Learn more at adventure-ropes-course.luraycaverns.com/attractions/ TheTip caverns can get crowded by 11 a.m., so if you want to enjoy the peaceful quiet of the caverns without tons of other people, get there as early as possible. The cavern’s hours vary seasonally, so check the website for the latest information. Timed reservations are available. Masks are optional but recommended.
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After declaring old cars “creepy,” the kids asked to go across the street to the Shenandoah Heritage Village, which includes a wide variety of buildings dating as far back as 1760, including a blacksmith shop, an African American School, a meeting house, and a barn and residences on a 3-acre museum campus. One of the most popular attractions was panning for “gold.” Visitors can purchase bags of sand and dirt that hide gemstones and dig for them.
Janet Bertin, Allied ASID janetbertin@decoratingden.com703-299-0633janetbertin.decoratingden.com
50 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 SPONSORED PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY
The same holds true for floors and floor coverings. For natural-wood floors, the option of doing a full sanding and re-staining is always there but if you’re not eager to have your house double as an active worksite for an extended period, think about re-painting the baseboard in an accent color that can be muted or dramatic. It’s a great way to dip your toes in the water. The same holds true for repainting window trim, doors and door frames, or even single walls in a room. Start big or start small . . . it’s all up to you. And of course, underpinning EVERYTHING in your redecorating journey is about color. On that ques tion, I advise my clients to simply look in the clothes closets of their house hold members. There always are colors and themes that tie together, even if one hue is dominant and others are complementary. As you build your palette, keep in mind that there doesn’t need to be a single dominant color for the entire household or even an entire room; there’s nothing wrong with mixing and matching colors to suit your particular tastes. Start with those principal hues and then exper iment. Any color has near-infinite shades, feel free to play with those and those of the dominant color’s comple ments to see what combinations are pleasing to your eye. You are the only judge who matters. We’ve all been living with muted grays and off-shoots of monochromatic themes for the past five or ten years, but what I am experiencing now is a desire on the part of my clients to break away and be freer with colors and textures and accents. It’s a welcome change and I urge you to join them.
Under the heading of “nothing stays the same,” next time I’ll be filling you in on what’s next in the design com munity after I attend the High Point furniture market where I’ll be seeing what the home-fashion industry has in store. Stay tuned. And if you’d like to continue the conversation, please feel free to get in touch. To start your next interior design project contact Janet Bertin at 703-299-0633 janetbertin.decoratingden.com.or
JANET BERTIN Decorating Alexandria for more than 25 years
The Decorating Conversation
I'm Glad That's Over With... But What's Next?
As you gather ideas, keep a particular eye on textures: changing up the fabric on accent pillows or upholstery can yield dramatic results. New window treatments also are a way to bring a dramatically different feel to a room via a straightforward process. And while every room has a focal point, how you address that focal point often can be changed by steps as simple as reorienting furniture or replacing indi vidual pieces (think: the inevitable sofa that faces the video display or the piece that supports said display). The results can be quite dramatic but achieved quite simply.
I suspect we’re in agreement that we’ve all had just about all the summer we can take. The heat, the running around, the packing and unpacking and the unsettled schedules all take their toll. That toll takes many forms, but inevitably one of them shows itself in our homes.
We love the homes we dohighly traditional with a flash of glam to rock star with notes of classic, and everything in between! Call us and we can help you love your home too!
Let’s admit it: things don’t look quite as crisp now as they did in May. No doubt there’s subtle (or obvious) wear and tear that earlier wasn’t there and the rooms we love the most are show ing the effects of being used the most. Are there remedies to the fatigue that’s showing in your home? Of course there are and they range from simple, subtle touches to reimagining entire rooms. Not much appetite for the latter? You’re not alone. Some of the most success ful projects I’ve undertaken with my clients started small and evolved over Thetime.best place to begin involves keep ing your eyes open to the outside. If you see an ad with a room whose look you like, clip it and save it. Make use of resources like Houzz and visit de signers’ websites. Mine is janetbetin. decoratingden.com.
533 Montgomery St. Or order online at madeinalx.com for curbside pickup, local delivery or nationwide shipping. Unique, local, ePwCihandcraftedtemslassesandorkshopsartiesandvents
A: Like almost all of the businesses we work with, AEDP has needed to make pretty significant changes throughout the pandemic to respond to need, and to find new and different ways to achieve our mission. Change is always hard and my challenge moving forward is to continue to grow our staff and Board team in ways that support each individual, speak to their strengths and interests, and weave togeth er our collective output to meet AEDP’s ambitious goals.
Q: How is AEDP funded and how many employees are there?
A: One of my guiding principles is: “There is nothing that a Sour Patch Kid can’t fix” — and my Peloton handle is evidence of how seriously I take that to heart!
Q: For people who aren't familiar with AEDP, what's your "elevator speech" that describes its role?
A: AEDP is a team of smart and passion ate staff and Board members who have a vision that Alexandria should be a vibrant, creative, diverse city where large and small businesses can locate and grow. Every day we work to promote the City of Alexandria as a premier location for busi nesses providing services ranging from evaluation and selection of business loca tions, facilitating business and investment connections and general help in navigat ing city, state and federal processes. Our role is based in sharing information and making connections!
Q: Is part of AEDP's job to try to balance the character of Alexandria with new development?
A: I am surrounded by family, friends and colleagues that make my day-to-day life feel very rich. I also LOVE being minutes from DCA, to facilitate my constant desire to travel and explore!
52 alexandrialivingmagazine.com • September / October 2022 THE LAST WORD
A: AEDP is funded by the City of Alexandria, through the annual budget process. At full staffing, we have almost 20 amazing people working on economic development!
Q: What would you say you are most proud of?
A: Doug McMillon, Karen S. Lynch and Andrew Witty. Those names don’t ring a bell? They are the CEOs of the #1, #4 and #5 companies on the Fortune 500 list (Walmart, CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group). Our NOVA EDA already landed #2 (Amazon), #3 (Apple) just made some major decisions elsewhere, so why not try to bring the remainder of the Top 5 to our region over dinner!
Q: What's something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
Q: If you weren't working for AEDP, you would like to try your hand at...
Q: What about the city might cause a company to hesitate moving here?
Q: What's your favorite part about living in Alexandria?
With a story on upcoming development front and center in this issue, featuring new growth in Alexandria, we wanted to touch base with expert Stephanie Landrum, president and CEO of the Alexandria Economic Develop ment Partnership (AEDP). Here's what she had to say (and we found out a little bit about Stephanie too!)
A: While we have specific metrics and indi cators for all of the programs and initiatives we work on, at the end of the day AEDP is successful when we can show increases in commercial tax revenue in the City, the creation of new employment opportunities and tangible examples where our role as
Q: How do you measure the success of AEDP?
A: Being rude to other humans. Life is short, the world can be crazy and stressful, and there’s just not any good excuse for not being kind to each other!
A: Absolutely. Alexandria’s character speaks for itself, and is a core part of the pitch to companies we’re trying to attract. As we work to facilitate investment and new de velopment, we’re all committed to building and amplifying that character!
Q: What seems to be the biggest draw for companies considering Alexandria as a place to do business?
A: Thanks to a bold, forward-looking vision and committed community investment, a unique combination of small-town charm paired with big-city access and resources, businesses choose Alexandria because they see the opportunities for exponential future growth. That growth is dependent on our world-class talent pool and pipeline, business friendly climate, and a quality of life that most places envy!
Q: What's your biggest challenge head ing up AEDP?
BY MARY ANN BARTON
A: We spend a significant amount of time talking to companies about the pipeline for talent and cost of living. Our experi ence finds that most companies consider multiple locations in the United States, and that they need to be convinced that they can hire the right talent in our market, and that their staff will be able to afford to live proximate to their location. Depending on the industry, and the salaries and benefits, Alexandria does not always rank highest in these two critical areas when compared to other markets. We have spent a lot of time over the last 5-7 years tackling these issues head on; the best way to overcome a weakness is to acknowledge it, identify im provements and then execute! We work so closely with our partners in the affordable housing, higher education and workforce training spaces to make sure we continue to make progress in converting these weak nesses to opportunities.
Q: What's your pet peeve?
A: I think I would LOVE being a sports or entertainment agent.
Q: Who are three people (anyone!) you would invite to dinner?
CONNECTINGALEXANDRIA
A: From my AEDP perspective, our team had the vision and commitment to craft a local investment package to land Amazon’s HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus that put community benefit FIRST; which encouraged the State to follow-suit. It is the first package in the Commonwealth of Virginia’s history to include dedicated funding for affordable housing, and it has inspired MILLIONS of additional commit ments from the State government, Amazon directly and other private sector leaders in the region. The package itself is held up nationwide as an example of how to do incentives right!
connecters and facilitators has created economic impact in Alexandria.
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