Alexandria Living Magazine - July/August 2023

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Construction

8 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Make your summertime memorable! Peruse our calendar of events and make your plans now.

24

HOME & GARDEN

One of the most historic homes is for sale in Old Town Alexandria. The home was built in 1787 for Dr. James Craik, the Alexandria doctor who was at George Washington's bedside when he died.

HOME & GARDEN

Small homes are making a big impact in Alexandria. Accessory dwelling units or ADUs can add extra space for relatives, nannies or a home office as well as add value to your home.

PASSAGES

They say that death and taxes are inevitable. Here are some ways you can prepare yourself to say goodbye to loved ones or prepare yourself for "the good goodbye."

30

HISTORY

Heading to Reagan National anytime soon? Next time you're there, keep an eye out for the remnants of what was once Abingdon Plantation.

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15 20 37 38

TRAVEL

Get out and make some memories this summer! We catch up here with some of our regional favorites.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Tall Ship Providence glides toward Alexandria under the Woodrow Wilson drawbridge.

Photo by Daniel Horowitz

THE LAST WORD

We catch up with Alexandria photographer Daniel Horowitz.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WISP RESORT

PHOTO BY DANIEL HOROWITZ

PHOTO BY JESSICA OVERCASH

ADUs: Small House, Big Impact

New Restaurants Opening This Summer

If you're like us, you can't wait to try these new eateries coming to Alexandria!

PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT ALEXANDRIA

PHOTO BY VICTOR WOLANSKY FOR VISIT ALEXANDRIA

PUBLISHER

Beth Lawton

EDITOR

Mary Ann Barton

ADVERTISING

Kate Barton

Cleo Chitester

Kristen Riffle

DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION

Julianne Woehrle

PUBLISHING ASSISTANT

Susannah Moore

Alexandria Living Magazine is published six times per year by Alexandria Living, LLC ©2023. 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

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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 alexandrialivingmagazine.com/subscribe 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

Welcome to summer and another issue of Alexandria Living!

We hope you are making plans to close the laptop during July and August and enjoy all that Alexandria has to offer. From concerts and art exhibits to food festivals and flower shows, there is no shortage of local happenings for everyone. Be sure to peruse our calendar starting on Page 8.

July brings us to the annual celebration along the waterfront of Alexandria's founding, celebrating 274 years this year — older than our nation. Find out more about the celebration on Page 14.

Around every corner in Alexandria, you'll bump into a fascinating bit of history. One of the City's most historic homes recently went on the market and we couldn't help finding out more about it. Read about the Old Town home of Dr. James Craik, one of the doctors (and a good friend) who attended to George Washington at his death, starting on Page 15.

Alexandria writer Susannah Moore reports on ADUs in this issue. ADUs are accessory dwelling units. Recently approved by the City, local residents tell us how they're faring with the design, building and use of these "granny shacks" as some call them, starting on Page 20.

They say that nothing is certain in life but death and taxes. Some of us Baby Boomers (the silver tsunami) are losing loved ones and while it isn't easy, there are ways to help prepare for the inevitable. Read about "the good goodbye" on Page 24.

Our readers love nothing more than hearing about new restaurants opening in Alexandria (we do too!) and we don't disappoint in this issue, reporting on several new eateries on the dining scene, on Page 28.

If you're often heading in and out of town at Reagan National, you may have spied what looks like the remnants of a brick home.

Alexandria writer Glenda Booth reports on Abingdon, the long lost plantation that once stood on the site, on Page 30.

Have you got some vacation plans cooking this summer? We revisit a few of our regional favorite spots within driving distance of Alexandria — the Northern Neck, Keswick and Williamsburg, starting on Page 32.

And in The Last Word, we catch up with local photographer Daniel Horowitz, whose iconic shots of Alexandria can be found for sale at Made in ALX. We feature two of his stunning works on Page 37 and hear about his take on photography on Page 38.

Thank you for being a loyal reader of Alexandria Living Magazine! We hope you are keeping up with us on our website, alexandrialivingmagazine.com, as well as following us on Instagram. You can also sign up on our website for our three weekly newsletters.

We'll see you right back here in September!

Beth Lawton, publisher, and Mary Ann Barton, editor

PHOTO BY MATT MENDELSOHN, TAKEN AT VIRTUE FEED & GRAIN.

Mary Ann Barton and Beth Lawton Founders

Our Team

Meet some of the contributors to this issue.

Mary Ann is editor of Alexandria Living Magazine. She and Beth Lawton founded the magazine in 2018 after working together at Patch.com. A native of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Mary Ann began her journalism career as a reporter in Little Rock. She loves the character and history of Alexandria as well as the camaraderie of the business community. Send her storytips: maryann@ alexandrialivingmagazine.com.

Glenda is a freelance writer who has lived in Northern Virginia for more than 40 years covering travel, history, people and conservation for local, state and national publications.Glenda has volunteered for Earthwatch in Botswana, Greece, France, Saskatchewan (Canada) and the Galapagos Islands. A gardener, outdoors woman and lifelong learner, she lives in Fairfax County and is the mother of two grown sons.

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 or spending time with her rescue cat, Cinnamon, and golden retriever, Kai.

Kate manages advertising and social media for Alexandria Living. She grew up in Alexandria and enjoys highlighting new creators, businesses and events on social media. Kate loves creating unique partnerships with local businesses and finding opportunities for the Alexandria Living brand to grow. If you're interested in advertising with us, email kate@alexandrialiving.com.

Beth founded the magazine in 2018 with Mary Ann Barton after working together at Patch.com. She grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, before "bouncing around the Midwest" and then spending a year in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beth now lives in the West End with her husband Joe, two children, a dog, a cat and two guinea pigs.

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!

MARY ANN BARTON Founder / Editor

GLENDA BOOTH Writer

SUSANNAH MOORE Writer

KATE BARTON Contributor

BETH LAWTON Founder / Publisher

JULIANNE WOEHRLE Designer

SUMMER 2023

Calendar of Events

July

First Thursdays in Del Ray

Held the first Thursday through September along Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood, First Thursday is a series of free outdoor street festivals that bring the community together around a fun theme, benefiting a local nonprofit.

July 6 – Red, White & Brew

Aug. 3 – Del Ray’s Country Music Showdown

Sept. 7 – Star Wars Day in a Neighborhood Far, Far Away

Mount Vernon Avenue, visitdelray.com

An American Celebration

July 4 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Celebrate our nation's independence at the home of the father of our country. During this annual, patriotic event:

• Meet George Washington.

• Watch made-for-daytime fireworks.

• Observe a moving ceremony in which people from across the world become U.S. citizens.

• Hear a musical performance by the National Concert Band.

• See 18th-century magic in upper garden with Mr. Peter Gardiner

Tickets are $26 for adults; $13 for youth ages 6-11 and is free for members.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

Trivia Nights at Historic Sites

July 7, 21 and Aug 4, 18 | 7 p.m.

Join Lee-Fendall House this summer to test your knowledge of all things from pop culture to history! Every trivia night will have a different theme.

For more events and updates, visit alexandrialivingmagazine.com's event calendar!

Photo Courtesy of Visit Alexandria

Concerts at The Birchmere

Check out some of the performances scheduled for July and August at The Birchmere. Check The Birchmere’s website for the latest information and a full concert list. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary.

JUL. 6, 7

Michael Franks (SOLD OUT)

JUL. 8

Be'la Dona Band

JUL. 9

Acoustic Academy

JUL. 10

Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets (SOLD OUT)

JUL. 14, 15

Kindred the Family Soul

JUL. 16

Rodney Crowell: The Chicago Sessions Tour with special guests Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

JUL. 20

Tab Benoit

JUL. 21

Don McLean

JUL. 29

Maysa

JUL. 30

The Stylistics

AUG. 1

Kamasi Washington

AUG. 11

Jon B.

AUG. 16

Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore with The Guilty Ones, plus special guest Dead Rock West

AUG. 19

Chante' Moore (SOLD OUT)

AUG. 20

Dave Koz & Friends (SOLD OUT)

AUG. 21 War

AUG. 23

Steve Earl

AUG. 27

The Robert Cray Band

SEPT. 1, 2

Raheem Devaughn

The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., birchmere.com

July 7: Alexandria History

July 21: Mythology

Aug. 4: Pets

Aug. 18: 1980s

Tickets are $10 a person which includes one drink. Additional drinks can be bought at a cash bar. Teams may have up to six members each. Ages 21 and over only.

Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden, 614 Oronoco St., leefendallhouse.org

Summer Art Market 2023 at Del Ray Artisans Gallery

July 8-9 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Del Ray Artisans’ Summer Art Market is a two-day, indoor event that gives you the chance to purchase original handmade artwork from talented local artists. The market showcases artwork in a wide range of media including ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, paper, photography and more. Shop original work from local artists—perfect for gifts or treat yourself. Different artists are featured each day, so plan to visit the gallery both days.

Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org

experience, including cupcakes, local vendors and live music.

Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., alexandriava.gov

Mason Social Mojito-Making Class

July 11 | 6-7 p.m.

Shake things up and join Mason Social for an unforgettable mojito-making class! An instructor will guide you through the process, showing you the proper technique for each step, from muddling the mint to shaking the drink to perfection. By the end of the class, you’ll have the confidence and knowledge to create a perfect mojito every time, impressing your friends and family with your newfound mixology skills. Plus, you’ll have a great time in a fun and relaxed environment, meeting new people and enjoying delicious drinks.

Mason Social, 728 N. Henry St., mason-social.com

Summer Garden Tour and Tea

July 13, Aug. 17 | 1-3 p.m.

Take a gentle walking tour of Green Spring’s vibrant summer demonstration gardens with an Extension Master Gardener docent. View some standout plants and plant combinations of the season and hear all about Green Spring past and present. Afterward, relax over a sumptuous afternoon tea in the 1784 Historic House. $38 for tour and tea.

Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

2nd Friday

July 14, Aug. 11 | 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Every second Friday of the month through October, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is open late, holding 2nd Friday. Explore the building full of artists, enjoy music, art activations, try your hand at being creative and more. This event is free.

Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., torpedofactory.org

USA/Alexandria Birthday Celebration

July 8

The City of Alexandria celebrates its 274th birthday and the USA’s 247th birthday the weekend after Independence Day with a performance by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and a grand finale fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Enjoy the big birthday

Archaeology Family Day

July 15 | 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Explore how archeology has shaped what we know about George Washington, Martha Washington, and the lives of the enslaved people who lived at Mount Vernon at Archaeology Family Day! Meet a Mount Vernon Archaeologist and ask

PHOTO BY CHRIS MILITZER

Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale

August 12, 2023

One of the longest running seasonal summer shopping events returns to the D.C. region’s Shop Small destination for independent boutiques, Alexandria, with the annual Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale happening Saturday, August 12, 2023, throughout Old Town and Del Ray.The event features approximately 60 Alexandria boutiques stepping out of their storefronts and offering deeply discounted summer merchandise.

questions about their tools of the trade. Cost is included with admission.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., mountvernon.org

10th Annual Old Town Pub Crawl hosted by Port City Brewing Company

July 15 | 1:30-6 p.m.

Port City Brewing Company invites you to the 10th Annual Old Town Pub Crawl! One day, one crawl, eight stops. Participation is as simple as this: Visit one of the participating restaurants, find a Port City pub crawl guide and obtain a pub crawl pass from them. You'll then take that pass and get it stamped at each participating restaurant between 1:30 and 6 p.m.

Once your pass is complete, take it to the information station (across from Mai Thai) beginning at 5 p.m. to get your limited edition pub crawl glass!

Participating locations:

• Bugsy's Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar

• Chadwicks

• Daniel O'Connell's Irish Restaurant and Bar

• The Fish Market

• Union Street Public House

• Virtue Feed & Grain

• Vola's Dockside Grill / The Hi-Tide Lounge

• Blackwall Hitch portcitybrewing.com

'Freaky Friday'

July 22-Aug. 12

When a mom and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again before the big wedding! "Freaky Friday," a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the two hit Disney movies, is a hilarious and heartfelt update of an American classic in which a mother and daughter really see what it takes to be a family when they experience each other’s lives firsthand for just one freaky Friday.

The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., thelittletheatre.com

Date Night: Margarita-Making Class

July 24 | 6-7 p.m.

Are you looking for a fun and unique experience to share with your significant other, maybe a first date that impresses?

Then check out Urbano’s couples margarita-making class! During this class, you and your partner will learn how to make delicious margaritas from scratch. You can keep it classic or spice it up! Experienced mixologists will guide you through the process, teaching you the proper techniques for measuring, mixing and garnishing your drinks.

Urbano 116, 116 King St., urbano116.com

Beats, Bites and Brews in Old Town Alexandria

July 29 | 11 a.m.

Join Chic Events DC on Saturday, July 29, starting at 11 a.m. at John Carlyle Square for a full day of outdoor entertainment, featuring food, music, cold beverages, shopping and more. Local bands, food vendors, wineries and breweries, as well as other local small businesses will be on site all for your enjoyment. Tasting will be provided by the wineries and breweries, and you can purchase tickets on site from them directly. Admission is free. This event is pet-friendly and will occur rain or shine.

John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St., chiceventsdc.com

Treasures of the DMV Art Exhibit

Aug. 4-26

Celebrate the wonders of the DMV (DC / Maryland / Virginia) from the perspective of local artists in the "Treasures of the DMV" exhibit at Del Ray Artisans. Come explore

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT ALEXANDRIA

the famed, overlooked, natural and abstract highlights from the region. Attend the opening reception on Friday, Aug. 4 from 7-9 p.m. to meet the curator and artists.

Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., delrayartisans.org

Alexandria Summer Restaurant Week

August 18-27

Alexandria Restaurant Week showcases the inventiveness of local chefs in neighborhoods throughout the city with special menu items. Alexandria Restaurant Week is held semi-annually in the summer and winter. The event showcases local chefs throughout Alexandria and the diverse collection of restaurants that call the City home.

Price Structure: Restaurants can choose to offer one of the following per person price points: $25, $35, or $45 King Street

Friendship Firehouse Festival

Aug. 5 | 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Head to the 100 block of South Alfred Street to celebrate Friendship’s 249th year. Visit the historic Friendship Firehouse Museum, learn about fire safety today and in centuries past, and see City firefighting equipment up close. There will be displays by community organizations, local vendors and food and beverages available. Children will receive free Friendship fire hats. Admission is $2 per person or free for city residents.

Friendship Firehouse Museum, 107 S Alfred St., alexandriava.gov/FriendshipFirehouse

Best of the West by West End Business Association

Aug. 5 | 1-5 p.m.

The West End Business Association (WEBA) invites Alexandrians and neighbors to the inaugural Best of the West event celebrating the neighborhood’s restaurants and consumer-facing businesses. Hosted at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center, the event will feature tastings from local restaurants, vendor booths, free entertainment and some friendly competition to be named “Best of the West.” Pre-registration is recommended for earlier and guaranteed entry.

Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Ave., alexandriaweba.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT ALEXANDRIA

Del Ray Bands & Brews Bar Crawl

2023

Aug 19 | 12:30.-6 p.m.

Join the fun and vibrant Del Ray community for a special summer event, featuring live music in outdoor restaurant venues along the Avenue! Bands & Brews: Del Ray’s Summer Bar Crawl takes place Saturday, August 19 from 12:30-6 p.m. This event is being brought to you by the Del Ray Business Association and will benefit the non-profit, Friends of Duncan Library. The first 250 registrants will get a swag bag with a 16-ounce souvenir collectors cup! Advance tickets are $15 ($25 at the door), and include specials on cocktails, beer, and food at each of the 15-plus participating restaurants, live music at every venue, trolley transportation, 50/50 raffles, a photo booth and many more fun giveaways. You must be 21 or older to participate in the crawl, but children and families are welcome at family-friendly establishments and at the main stage at Pat Miller Square. visitdelray.com

2023 Around The World Cultural Food Festival

Aug 26 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

The Around the World Cultural Food festival is coming back in 2023 to the beautiful waterfront at Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town Alexandria Saturday, August 26, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event is admissionfree, with plenty of national dishes and beverages available for purchase. A national dish is any country’s culinary, and to a large extent, cultural identity. The event is pet friendly and will occur rain or shine.

Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., chiceventsdc. com

Annual Begonia Show

Aug. 26, | 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Aug 27 | noon-3:30 p.m.

Feast your eyes on this free show sponsored by the Potomac branch of the American Begonia Society. Be tempted with splashes of color and shapes for homes,

terrariums and greenhouses that last long after frosts have put our outdoor gardens to bed. The accompanying sale offers a wide variety of begonias, including tropical and subtropical species.

Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

FCPA Summer Entertainment Series

2023

Fairfax County Park Authority is once again hosting its summer entertainment series at parks around Fairfax County. Performances are held outdoors and are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Pack a picnic basket, umbrella, blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy music in the parks from local and national touring groups. Mount Vernon Nights will be held Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Grist Mill Park (4710 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy.) and Franconia Nights will be held Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Franconia Park (6601 Telegraph Road). For a full list of locations and shows visit fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/performances.

Alexandria's 274th Birthday Party

While several surrounding areas will blast off fireworks on the Fourth of July, Alexandria has its own celebration a few days later.

Alexandria’s 274th birthday party (and the United States’ 247th birthday party) is set for Saturday, July 8.

Alexandria was founded in 1749 and re-chartered in 1852 (after a brief time as a part of the District of Columbia).

The birthday celebration will include a performance by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. The birthday party starts at 6 p.m. and includes cupcakes, items from local vendors and live music at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St.

Other Fireworks Shows in the Region

June 30 and July 1: Fireworks at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate. (Tickets are limited and should be purchased online before the event.) Celebration events are from 6 – 9:30 p.m.

July 1: Community Independence Day Fireworks Celebration in McLean. Fireworks begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. The celebration, starting at 6 p.m. at Langley High School, includes food trucks, music and giveaways.

July 2: Town of Vienna Independence Day Celebration. From 4-10 p.m., Yeonas Park (1319 Ross Drive SW) will be filled with music, food and vendors, entertainment for kids, games and more. The fireworks display will begin around 9:30 p.m.

July 3: Belle Haven Country Club traditionally hosts an Independence Day celebration the day before the Fourth of July. While it is only open to members, you may see fireworks that night in the skies over the neighborhood.

July 4: An American Birthday Celebration at Mount Vernon Estate, including daytime fireworks (free with estate admission). Events include a morning Wreath-laying with the Sons of the American Revolution, a naturalization ceremony at 11 a.m. and daytime fireworks at 1 p.m.

July 4: A Capitol Fourth in Washington, D.C. along the National Mall. The pre-fireworks concert is hosted by actor Alfonso Ribiero with performances by Boyz II Men, Belinda Carlyle, Chicago, the National Symphony Orchestra, the United States Army Band and others. More information, including a detailed schedule, are available at pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth.

If These Walls Could Talk

BY MARY ANN BARTON

You can’t pack much more history into the Georgian-style brick house that stands at 210 Duke St. in Old Town Alexandria.

Built in 1787, it was a place where Dr. James Craik lived and practiced medicine (his office was located in the front of the house and he lived in the back and upstairs portion of the house).

It was also frequently visited by his good friend, George Washington. Craik was one of the few people at Washington's side when he passed away in 1799.

A smaller “flounder” house, 208 Duke St., to the left of 210 Duke St., was built in 1794 and was later added to the house. The flounder house gets its name due to its windowless side wall that takes its name from the eyeless side of a flounder fish.

In yet another historic connection, it was the residence of George Coryell, whose family owned the ferry on the Delaware River where Washington made his Christmas crossing in 1776. The crossing led to a major victory in a pivotal American Revolutionary War battle.

Through the years, Craik became friends with Washington, with Craik ultimately becoming Washington’s personal physician. Craik, a Scottish doctor, first got to know Washington in 1754, when Craik became a surgeon for the Virginia Provincial Regiment, which Washington led as a lieutenant colonel.

Fast forward 45 years. On Dec. 13, 1799, an enslaved person from Washington’s estate, Caroline Branham, was dispatched to fetch Craik at 210 Duke St., to bring him to Mount Vernon, eight miles away, to attend to the dying former president. Craik and other doctors did all they could to save Washington’s life.

Craik was one of a small group of people including Martha Washington and Tobias Lear, Washington’s personal secretary, who were in George Washington’s bedroom when he died, according to an account by Lear in the National Archives:

About ten minutes before he expired (which was between ten & eleven o’clk) h[is] breathing became easier; he lay qu[i]etly; he withdrew his hand from mine, and felt his own pulse. I saw his countenance change. I spoke to Dr Craik, who sat by the fire; he came to the bed side. The General’s hand fell from his wrist—I took it in mine and put it into my

bosom. Dr Craik put his hands over his Eyes and he expired without a struggle or a sigh!

Coryell served as a bier-carrier at Washington’s funeral. (A bier is the piece of furniture underneath the casket.)

Craik lived on Duke Street until 1808 and died Feb. 6, 1814 at his mansion, Vaucluse, in what was then Fairfax County (later the West End site of Alexandria Inova Hospital). He is buried in the Old Presbyterian House cemetery, located at 321 S. Fairfax St. in Alexandria.

His Duke Street medical office and home has gone through several iterations over the centuries.

“Before a local couple bought it, it was an apartment building for many years,” said Realtor Babs Beckwith, who recently listed the five-bedroom, four-bath home for sale for just under $5 million.

The couple worked with a local architect and a renovation that began in 2004 took several years to complete, she noted. The home was renovated in consultation with the state Department of Historic

Resources in Richmond and the historic foundation in Alexandria.

The house retains its original heart pine floors, windows and eight fireplace mantels, all protected by preservation easements.

One of the more unique historic aspects of the home is a “horse alley.” “There are very few of those in Old Town,” said Beckwith. Handmade gas-lit copper lanterns, not original to the house, offer a welcoming glow 24 hours a day in the alley.

Dr. James Craik

Painting by Henry Benbridge Used with permission, Smithsonian Institution

The double lot features a heated swimming pool, a garden with large magnolia and oak trees as well as roses and hydrangeas. Completing the picture for outdoor relaxing and entertaining is a Wolfe grill and outdoor furniture. The pool light, which turns on automatically each night, illuminates the surroundings.

Present-day conveniences also include two laundry rooms (one upstairs and one in the basement) three zones of air conditioning (each with its own thermostat), a steam shower in the master bath, a Lacanche stove and a pot filler located just above the gas burners and much more. The kitchen was designed by Lobkovich, a Tysons-based kitchen design firm.

One of the more enviable amenities that anyone who tries to park in Old Town will immediately recognize as priceless: Dedicated parking. Remote-controlled double gates swing open, from South Lee Street, to your own private space.

The addition to the home, 208 Duke St., where George Coryell once lived, currently serves as a home office. Above the office is part of the master bathroom suite. A stairway leads down to the office.

“I believe that this house really is a historic anchor for the entire city of Alexandria,” said Beckwith. “It’s amazing it has lived through these centuries.”

5 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, a pool, garden, horse alley, orginial heart pine floors, 8 mantels.

Offered at $4,985,000

Alexandria Decorator's Unique Approach to Decorating Helps Clients Save Time and Money

Q: How is Decorating and Such different from other decorators?

Alexandria native, Kelly Piatti has spent the last 20 years elevating the daily lives of her clients through her room transformations.

Q: What is your creative process like when working with clients?

My focus is on properly placing the furniture they have, and guiding them through selecting additional purchases. I save them time and money, being mindful of sustainability.

I believe professional design services can be affordable to everyone through decorating for less money. I'm different in that I don't try to sell my clients additional furnishings and décor they don't need.

Q: What kind of feedback do you get from your clients after working with you? My clients share that they feel an immediate improvement in their comfort level when their room looks better and reflects their personality and lifestyle. They tell me time and time again that my process was quick and easy and very accommodating for their busy lifestyle.

Q: How do clients start working with you? It's easy! To get started on your room refresh give me a call or email a photo of the space you want to transform.

210 Duke St.

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Cocktails, Dinner, and Dancing along the Potomac River

Charlotte Moss Honorary Chair

Renowned Interior Designer, Writer, Author, Lecturer, Flaneuse

PHOTO: WWW.ERIKKVALSVIK.COM

Laura Dowling Gala Chair

Former Chief Floral Designer at The White House, Author, Speaker

Cindy Conner & Amy Golden Gala Co-Chairs

Cameron hardesty Young Patrons Chair

Pamela Wurst Vetrini Young Patrons Co-chair Event planner

Small Homes: Big Impact

BY SUSANNAH MOORE PHOTOS BY BETH LAWTON

In a city as densely populated as Alexandria, where the average price for a home is close to $400 per square foot, space is at a premium.

As Alexandria’s population increases and family dynamics shift — from couples starting a family, adult children moving home after college and elderly parents needing help as they age — the demand for additional space is only grows.

One of the solutions to the demand for living space is the rise of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), commonly referred to as “granny flats” or “in-law apartments.”

The City of Alexandria defines ADUs as secondary, independent living units that typically have a separate kitchen, sleeping area and bathroom. ADUs can be attached to an existing structure or internal, meaning they are an addition to or located within a home, or they can be

a completely detached building located on the same property as a primary residence.

ADUs are increasing in popularity across the country, a trend accelerated by the pandemic, when more people found themselves stuck at home.

Since Alexandria passed its ADU policy in January 2021, 43 ADUs have been approved in the city. Of those ADUs, 31 are detached structures and 12 are internal.

“We’ve had a pretty good uptick of people who have applied to use the ordinance,” explained Mayor Justin Wilson, who was

a proponent of the ordinance when it came before city council. “From an interest perspective, I think it shows that there was a real pent-up demand for this among a lot of property owners.”

The ordinance faced its fair share of opposition from residents who were afraid the policy would flood the city with ADUs, causing increased density and eventually leading to the demise of single-family zoning. Supporters of the policy emphasized that ADUs can be a tool to help address the affordable housing crisis in the city, by providing opportunities for rental income for homeowners and space for live-in

In the quest for more space or creative housing solutions, Alexandria residents are getting creative about accessory dwelling units

An ADU under Construction in the Cameron Mills neighborhood of Alexandria

childcare, recent graduates, seniors and people with disabilities.

Wilson admitted that 43 may not seem like a high number, but he is confident that ADUs are one piece in the larger puzzle of housing affordability.

“One of the challenges with housing policy is that any proposal that comes forward, the immediate answer is ‘Well, that’s not going to solve the problem,’ and the reality is that no one thing is going to solve the problem. The problem is so enormous that if there was one solution we would have done it a long time ago, but every little bit helps,” Wilson explained.

It seems like the debate surrounding ADUs lessened since the ordinance passed, but it will continue to pop up as the city considers further reforms to single-family zoning as part of the Zoning for Housing/Housing for All initiative that seeks to make housing more accessible, affordable and available to all Alexandria residents.

Building

Del Ray resident David Scavone was one of the earliest homeowners to go through the ADU approval process to convert his detached garage from a home office to a separate living space now that he is getting close to retirement. Scavone figured converting it into an ADU would increase the value of the property, while also giving him the flexibility to age in place or rent it out for additional income.

Because of the garage’s proximity to the property line, Scavone had to go through the variance process before he could even start the ADU process. He admitted that being one of the first ADUs to be approved had its unique challenges.

“I would say that the staff and the city, everybody was very friendly and very professional, but they were still figuring things out,” Scavone explained. “It was just all so new.”

An ADU Created from a Converted Garage in the Del Rey Neighborhood.

Because the garage already had plumbing, electric and other utilities, the space just needed a kitchen. He hired MHD Builds to create some drawings for the city and complete the work.

Scavone says neighbors have been supportive of the garage-to-ADU conversion.

“I can’t tell you how many people in the neighborhood have just had kids or something who are saying ‘Hey, is [the ADU] available? My in-laws are coming in for a few weeks and it’d be great if they could rent your place and just walk down the street’ because they don’t have room for them.”

Another Del Ray resident, Ryan (who asked that his last name be withheld), is currently in the permitting phase for a detached ADU and has also found neighbors to be supportive and positive.

He and his wife were motivated to start the process during the pandemic when they found themselves both working from home with two young children. “We needed more space for work and play,” he explained.

When asked what the approval process was like, Ryan said, “The process has been slow but steady as the city has been very cooperative and helpful.”

Finding an architect, builder and contractor wanting to take on an ADUonly job was more of a challenge, but they were able to find someone with a little bit of experience with similar projects.

Another city resident, speaking anonymously, said he has had a slightly different experience with the ADU process. He and his family were motivated to redo a level of their home to create additional cooking and food

storage space while at the same time creating a more functional space for a live-in family member with a chronic illness. Because the changes would be made within the home’s existing footprint, it is an internal ADU.

He faced no opposition from neighbors, but he found the ADU approval process disappointing. “Our reno work should not have needed an ADU permit, but according to City staff, any cooking device — in our case, a wall oven without a cooktop, but apparently even the mere possibility of setting a microwave on the counter — is not allowed under the single-family zoning ordinance without an ADU,” the resident said.

At the same time, he said, staff ignored the part of the ordinance (section 2-141) that makes considerations for dwelling units that share HVAC with the main house and are not separated by walls and doors.

These complications delayed the renovation by several months and increased the cost of the project, he noted. “We had to find and hire an expensive design-build firm with ADU experience to ensure that we could navigate the City's bureaucracy without even more delays.”

Designing

There are certain considerations homeowners should keep in mind when considering an ADU. Cody Stadler is an architect who has worked on seven different ADUs in the area. “In recent years, there has been a notable shift to multigenerational living in our region, and this has created an interesting opportunity for architects to work with homeowners and creatively design additions or standalone structures to suit their needs,” Stadler explained.

One of the key features Stadler says that ADUs should have is accessibility for wheelchairs and for older adults with mobility issues. “These ADUs will likely serve as the final home for the older generation, so designing a space that is wheelchair accessible with accommodations for zero-barrier living is very important,” Stadler said.

Stadler was quick to point out that building an ADU is a worthwhile but complicated process, and homeowners should understand that ahead of time. Each jurisdiction has its own regulations when it comes to ADUs which, he said, “requires working with a skilled and technically comprehensive architect to determine what is feasible and allowable.”

Stadler says it can take over a year for an ADU to be designed and built which requires patience on the part of the homeowner.

According to Architectural Digest, homeowners should keep in mind that designing small spaces can end up being more expensive per square foot. It is also essential to keep flexibility and functionality in mind when designing an

ADU because of the various uses it could take on over the course of time.

ADUs should be comfortable for any resident, whether it’s for a nanny, the returning college grad or granny.

“As ADUs have become more prevalent, the most common design issues that I have seen are related to privacy, comfort, and accessibility,” Stadler said. Visuals of the ADU are also something to consider, especially if you as a homeowner want to maintain curb appeal and stay on your neighbors’ good side.

“Ensuring that the accessory dwelling and the primary dwelling have a harmonious design aesthetic is crucial to the success of a project,” Stadler explained. The ADU shouldn’t be bigger or more prominent that the main dwelling.

Selling

Micki MacNaughton, a Realtor with McEnearney Associates, said additional square footage or living space is always a win when it comes to home values, and ADUs are one way of achieving that.

“We work with a lot of buyers who either need live-in child care or would like live in

child-care or even have younger siblings that might be moving back from college,” MacNaughton said. “I think that ADUs are becoming more popular because it allows homeowners to add additional square footage where they couldn’t have before.”

MacNaughton says that one of the trade-offs of ADUs, specifically detached ones, is that they take away yard space, which some prospective homebuyers with young kids or pets may not find desirable. She also said that another way an ADU could negatively impact a home is from an aesthetic perspective if it is situated toward the front yard or blocks light going into neighboring homes.

Circling back to Mayor Wilson, he currently has no plans to build an ADU at his own house. Wilson said he considered it when he and his wife were taking care of his in-laws, but he found the lack of room on their property to be a challenge. Instead, Wilson admits he is considering (thanks to his wife) looking into allowing residents to keep chickens within city limits.

An ADU under construction in a backyard in Del Rey.

The 'Good' Goodbye

BY MARY ANN BARTON

Benjamin Franklin once said nothing is certain but death and taxes.

Although death is inevitable, it's often a shock when someone close to you passes away, even when they are elderly.

How can you make such a momentous and sad event "good"?

After experiencing the death of several close family members in the past few years, I feel like I've learned a thing or two when it comes to planning ahead, memorial services and even how to cope with the loss afterward.

Make Time

My mother passed away earlier this year and my brothers, sister and I were lucky enough to visit her several times before she died. My lesson to pass along here

is if you're questioning whether to take off work or take that flight to visit a loved one, go. It might be your last visit. If the phone rings and it's a loved one, don't send it to voicemail and promise yourself that you’ll call later. Take the call.

Be Grateful

The conversations we had toward the end of my mother's life were mostly walking down memory lane — from her childhood in Memphis to our years living in South America, Minneapolis and Houston. I think it was important for her to hear that she had led a full life in her 88 years, and that is what we talked about.

Ask for Help

Find someone to talk to, whether it's a relative or friend, about the person who is dying or passed away. So many times, people think they have to tiptoe around the subject, but I found that I wanted to talk about it. If you or someone you

know is religious, be sure to call on clergy who will make time to visit someone who is getting close to dying as well as their family. If you aren't religious, call on close friends and family members.

Obituary

We had joked over the years a little bit about what my mother might want in an obituary someday — and I think we hit all of the high notes when the day finally came. These days, newspaper obituaries can be on the pricey side, but if you get all your solid facts into the newspaper with information about where to find a longer obituary (on the funeral home web site or legacy.com, for example). One question you might ask someone who is elderly is if they have a preference on what photo to use.

Don’t be afraid of humor. (The saying “It’s funny because it’s true!” comes to mind.) One of the funniest obits ever published, in The Hartford Courant, was for a man named Joe Heller, who died at 82. His

paid obituary, written by a daughter for mainly his friends (but it ended up going viral), read that he was a "consummate napper" and a "regular browser of collectibles at the dump."

Service

If you belong to a house of worship, you'll work with the staff and clergy to create a memorable service. This can include readings by friends and family, hymn and music choices, flowers and eulogies. For my late husband, the Christ Church organist ended the service with a flourish from the organ that included Paul's Aggie War Hymn from Texas A&M. Some religions do not allow eulogies. Afterward, many plan a luncheon or catered reception held either at home, at the house of worship or a local restaurant. It's a great chance to remember your loved one with others. Many skip flowers and instead request donations to a loved one's favorite charity.

Burial

Death can be expensive. For many, cremation is the choice these days over burial, partly due to the cost being less expensive. But you'll want to contact the funeral home (ahead of time to find out the cost, if you can) and find out what is included. Usually, a funeral home can help you with choosing an urn and even create a special photo presentation of your loved one. For yourself, you can contact a funeral home or cremation company while you're healthy to get your affairs in order ahead of time, making the process easier on those you leave behind.

According to the Cremation Association of North America, cremation has grown by 57 percent in the last 15 years. In Virginia, about 50 percent choose cremation. The highest rates of cremation can be found mainly in Western states as well as Minnesota, Florida and Maine. The state with the

highest percentage of cremations is Nevada; the lowest is in Mississippi.

Alternatives to Cremation

In recent years, new types of burials have gained acceptance in the United States.

This includes water cremation (also called alkaline hydrolysis), which is legal in Virginia and several other states. The person’s body is essentially dissolved in a liquid mixture (95% water) in a high-pressure chamber. It is said to be an eco-friendlier process than traditional cremation, since there is no toxic gas or air pollutants from the process, according to the Mayo Clinic. This method has been denounced by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as disrespectful to the person’s body, but other religious organizations have accepted it.

Human composting is another option. While it is not legal in Virginia, it is legal in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York and Nevada. Human composting involves placing an un-embalmed body in a container with carbon-rich materials such as wood chips. The container is sealed and monitored as the body turns to compost.

Another option: Burial at sea, which can be costly. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows burials at sea only under certain conditions: The remains must be placed more than three nautical miles from shore and may not be accompanied by any materials that do not decompose easily such as plastic or metal items, wreaths, tombs or nonbiodegradable containers. (Additional information is available on the EPA’s website.)

There are several other options for a burial whether you are cremated or not, including a burial plot at a local

cemetery, possibly affiliated with your house of worship; or a columbarium either at a cemetery or affiliated with your house of worship. Veterans can be buried at U.S. national cemeteries, the most popular being Arlington National Cemetery. (Most veterans who have at least one day of active service other than training and an honorable discharge are eligible.)

Some houses of worship will allow the burial of ashes on their grounds. There is

How to Support Those Who are Grieving

It can be hard to know what to say to people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Here’s advice.

What to Say

· Say you’re sorry for the person’s loss.

· Share a positive, happy memory of the person who passed away.

· Compliment the deceased person’s best characteristics.

What to Do

· Give the bereaved room to talk and cry — sometimes being present without saying much is the best comfort.

· Avoid saying that you know or understand how the grieving person feels, even if you’re trying to be empathetic. Each person grieves in their own unique way.

· Be patient. Grief can come and go in waves, even after months or years.

also scattering of ashes in special places depending on the wishes of loved ones, though there are rules and laws about doing so on private property or on or near federal lands. It’s always best to check with a landowner beforehand.

In some cases, families choose to divide the ashes so they can be buried, kept or scattered in multiple places. Some glass or metal artists can create jewelry that incorporates the ashes on a loved one, as well.

Recommended Reading

"Advice for Future Corpses: A Practical Perspective on Death and Dying" by Sallie Tisdale. (This book has a handy six pages called "My Death Plan" that you can discuss with loved ones.)

New Summer Bites

A French (restaurant) Revolution has started in Alexandria

BY BETH LAWTON

Two new French restaurants opened in June in the city.

At 109 S. St. Asaph St., a new restaurant named Josephine Brasserie & Bar opened in the building that formerly housed Columbia Firehouse.

“Inspired by classic Parisian eateries, Josephine brings the timeless charm and culinary traditions of France to the local dining scene,” the restaurant’s website notes.

Chef Matt Cockrell created a menu with classic dishes like French onion soup, beef bourguignon and unique, new French-inspired dishes. The menu

also includes a raw bar and a curated cheese list with only French cheeses. Diners can pair their meals with any of more than 350 French wines, including 30 by the glass and a special focus on Champagne. Beer, cider and craft cocktails are also available. The menu and more info are at josephineoldtown.com.

Cockrell has worked at La Chaumiere, Le Diplomate and led the kitchen at Mintwood Place. He joined Brasserie Liberte in 2020.

A brasserie is a French restaurant, though the word is also used for brewery.

Up in Del Ray, Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie — the blue building says Gostov on it — opened at 2213 Mt. Vernon Ave. The building formerly housed Bean Creative, a marketing agency and website development firm.

A boulangerie is a French bakery with bread baked on the premises.

Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie features traditional French breakfasts, an espresso bar and the region’s first macarons bar.

Learn more at gustaveboulangerie. com.

More to Look Forward To…

Another cultural, iconic restaurant is making a big change this summer. Village Brauhaus at 710 King St. will be closed through mid-July for an extensive renovation and a complete rebranding.

When the newly decorated restaurant reopens, it will be called Alexandria Bier Garden. The inside will resemble an outdoor garden.

In addition, Alexandria Bier Garden will feature a new rooftop bar overlooking King Street.

What will remain are multiple menu favorites, including German bier, the giant pretzel, sausages and more.

Village Brauhaus opened in 2018. More information is available at alexandriabiergarden.com.

If you’re looking for dessert, July will bring the opening of the Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar at 716 King St. in Old Town Alexandria.

The self-described "artistic, over-thetop, crazy creation, ultimate dessert destination" will open in the former Hollywood Fashion Wigs spot.

The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar offers sweet treats of all kinds, specializing in unique milkshakes and sundaes served in keepsake custom designed mason jars.

The original store, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, first opened in June 2020. The Alexandria location is the 10th Crazy Mason. The owners of the company's Ellicott City, Maryland location, Erin and Robert Studer, are expanding to Alexandria.

This new location is projected to open this summer. Learn more at thecrazymason. com.

Before It Was Reagan National Airport, It Was Abingdon Plantation

STORY AND PHOTOS BY GLENDA BOOTH

Next to Reagan National Airport’s parking garage A, a triangular brick wall protrudes up from a quiet, grassy knoll into the sky. Amid the nonstop noise and hubbub of 860 acres of vehicles, road, runways, terminals, parking lots, garages, trains, takeoffs and landings is a tranquil, three-quarter-acre, park-like site. There stands a brick wall, the remains of an 18th and 19th-century planation called Abingdon..

In the 1600s, for bringing 120 colonists to Virginia, ship Captain Robert Hawson was granted a land patent on 8,000 acres in the area of today’s Gravelly Point and National Airport. He sold the property to John Alexander, whose grandson, Gerard Alexander, inherited the land and in 1746, built a house there that became the center of a plantation complex with terraces that sloped down to the Potomac River.

Over the years, the property had several owners, including Alexander Hunter, Jr., who after the Civil War recalled fond memories in his 1904 book Johnny Reb and Billy Yank: “We lived on a

splendid estate of 650 acres, lying on the Potomac, between Alexandria and Washington. I doubt whether in the whole Southland there had existed a finer country seat; the house was built solidly, as if to defy time itself, with its beautiful trees, fine orchards, its terraced lawns, graveled walks leading to the river a quarter of a mile away; the splendid barns, the stables with fine horses (for which my father, a retired naval officer, had a special fondness), the servants quarters, where dwelt the old family retainers and their offspring, some fifty or more.”

A Thriving Plantation

After the Alexanders, for whom Alexandria was named, Abingdon had several owners, including Martha Custis Washington’s son by her first marriage, John Parke (“Jacky”) and his wife, Eleanor Calvert Custis, who wanted to be close to Mount Vernon. Eleanor Custis gave birth to Eleanor, known as “Nelly,” and George Washington (“Little Wash”) Parke Custis. John served in the Revolutionary War as an aide de camp to General George

Washington, but he contracted “camp fever” and died at Yorktown. Martha and the General adopted Nelly and Little Wash.

The plantation’s name likely comes from Abingdon, England, the ancestral home of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington.

Today’s visitors can see the triangular brick wall, part of an original structure, probably a kitchen or dependency that had a two-sided hearth shaped like a sideways capital letter “I” with a serif font.

Also remaining is the foundation of the Alexanders’ Georgian-style house which was about 30 by 50 feet tall with two stories tall and a garret. The house had a central hallway with a parlor on each side. For them, it was not a grand mansion because as wealthy people, they had multiple houses and this was their “country estate.”

The plantation had two entry lanes, one from the river over the terraces' boat arrivals and a carriage road on the west side and a circular drive.

The estate’s history is interlaced with many early prominent Americans. George Washington probably visited. Owner Alexander Hunter in the mid1800s entertained at least three presidents: Andrew Jackson, John Tyler and James Polk.

Before the Colonists

Prior to English settlement, Indigenous people lived, hunted, fished and camped along the Potomac River for thousands

of years. English colonists displaced the Piscataway people in the area of Abingdon.

Archaeologists have found numerous prehistoric objects, including pottery and projectile points. They found an ax-like tool called a “celt,” that had been carried into the kitchen. Historians believe that oysters shells, perhaps used to make lime for mortar, came from Indigenous peoples’ shell mounds. Most of Reagan National Airport sits on fill or created land and its other acres have been massively altered over time, which leaves Abingdon’s current three-quarters of an acre the only intact part surviving since colonial days. Given the massive human disturbance in the area, most prehistory evidence was destroyed long ago.

The Enslaved People

Abingdon could not have functioned without the 300 enslaved people who labored there in the fields, gardens, fishery and buildings. Their owners valued each person at $1.00 and listed them side by side with cattle, records show.

Archaeologists found 19th century Colono-ware, a low-fire type of earthenware made of local clay that reflects West African ceramic traditions. They also unearthed evidence of “house magic” or “hoodoo,” caches of small objects like quartz crystals thought to bring good luck and ward off bad spirits. These collections were probably buried under a hearth or door.

Some enslaved people likely slept in the house, perhaps on the floor. Slave quarters were on the south end of the plantation.

This summer, the airport will install new panels describing the lives of the enslaved people who lived and toiled there, alongside current interpretive panels.

Civil War Era and Beyond

During the Civil War, the federal government confiscated the plantation, then owned by the Hunters, and turned it into a military base for the Union Army. After the war, the Hunters, whose attorney was future U.S. president James Garfield, wanted it back, won their case in the Supreme Court and then sold it.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was the site of a brick manufacturing operation.

By 1924, the railroad had extended railyards onto the west side of the property. In the 1930s, the mansion mysteriously burned down. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities stabilized the ruins, installed plaques and walkways and called it Abingdon Ruins. Some boxwoods from that era survived the fire.

In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that the federal government would build an airport on the mudflats at Gravelly Point, 4.5 miles south of Washington, D.C. At that time, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) was using the land to test highway materials. The brick buildings standing today on the airport’s south end were part of the DOT lab.

In World War II, the government built 200 military structures there, including a radar tower, for the Army Air Corps

and the military airlift command. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) removed the last military building in the 1970s and moved operations to Andrews Air Force Base.

In the early 1990s, when airport managers wanted to build a parking garage on the Abingdon site, local preservationists mobilized. Among those who championed saving what was left of Abingdon were the Office of Historic Alexandria, the Arlington Historical Society and the Arlington Heritage Alliance. WMATA decided to preserve the ruins and make the site an interpretive park.

“The full sweep of history is there,” says Henry Ward, a consultant and the airport’s Historic Preservation Coordinator. “With Metro zipping by and an airplane landing every five minutes, the juxtaposition makes it so interesting. You can actually stand on the land of colonial buildings in the middle of an airport. Visitors can experience the airport’s layers of significance.”

How to Visit

Visitors can walk to the Abingdon site from Garage A or B. From the Metro station, take the exit for Terminal B, use the bridge to Garage B/C and walk through the garage on level 2 to the site. It is open during airport operating hours. There is no admission fee.

An exhibit hall in Terminal A,, which opened in 1941,, tells some of the story of the plantation and the airport’s early history with artifacts from a dig on Abingdon Plantation and displays about the airport’s early aviation history.

Making Summer Vacation Memories

BY MARY ANN BARTON

Summer is a time to get out, explore and make some memories. Sure, there are memorable meals, beautiful sunsets and walks along the beach. But sometimes it’s the unexpected incidents that make the best fodder for a stroll down memory lane.

While I've had many memorable meals, sunsets and walks on the beach, there are a few wacky things that have happened over the years that I'll never forget. The time a bear lumbered onto the back porch of the log cabin in Hot Springs, Va. where we were celebrating my daughter’s 21st birthday. A family trip to Dauphin Island, Ala., where we almost ran the clock out as a hurricane approached. The time a seagull grabbed a sandwich from my friend Nan’s

plate in St. Petersburg, Fla. Or the flat tire on the Road to Hana in Maui. Come to think of it, I also had a blowout in the Keys!

Whether you’re playing tourist here in our own backyard or planning a road trip to explore a new town, restaurant, resort or gardens, just remember — things can (and will) go wrong but you’ll likely look back on it with a smile.

In this issue, we’re checking in on some of our favorite spots around Virginia to see what’s new for a relaxing summer weekend or weekday getaway. Enjoy! And as author Richard Carlson said, "Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all Small Stuff.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

Northern Neck

Driving time: 2.5 hours from Alexandria

One of our favorite spots especially in the summer is the Northern Neck, located between the Potomac and Rappahanock rivers. The area is known for its Rockfish, Blue Crabs and oysters. If you’re spending a few days, a beautiful spot is The Tides Inn, at 480 King Carter Dr., in Irvington. It’s located along Carter’s Creek, a tributary of the Rappahannock River.

During a recent stay there, we left our bags at the front desk and stretched our legs along the new boardwalk that winds around the property along the waterfront. Afterward, we enjoyed an hourlong tour of the creek from the inn’s marina on one of the Tides Inn boats, where we watched egrets, ducks and ospreys on the water.

Back at the inn, we got to our room and were pleasantly surprised with a beautiful view of the water (ask for a water view). Dinner later at the resort’s Chesapeake Restaurant and Terrace also offers great views of the creek at sunset. We sat inside due to it being a bit chilly out, but if the weather is nice, opt for outdoor seating. A stand-out on the menu is the Signature She Crab Soup. Next time, I’ll try the Rappahannock Oysters, baked with crab, bacon, garlic butter, parmesan and breadcrumbs.

Wine lovers take note: The restaurant has two five-course outdoor wine dinners planned this summer, under the Great Cedar Tree overlooking the water and marina, with special guests and speakers. The first is set for July 20 with Elena Barber from Williamsburg Winery; the second is August 8 with a Southern Italy theme.

The resort has a relaxing pool and small beach along the creek with the less-formal Fish Hawk Oyster Bar that offers lunch, snacks, an ice cream bar and more from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, including lawn games, pickleball, bicycling, paddle boarding, kayaking and more. A kids camp for ages 4 to 16 is offered from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $100 per child, offering bayside activities.

If the weather is rainy, the hotel offers a spa and makerspace activities including painting and pottery-making. For golfers, the resort offers picturesque play at the George W. Cobb-designed Golden Eagle Golf Club; the course is designed around a 50-acre lake.

Looking beyond this summer, make plans to attend the 66th annual Urbanna Oyster Festival, coming up this fall Nov. 3-4. The festival is about a 20-minute drive from The Tides Inn.

If you plan to stay at the inn, be sure to ask the resort about their discounts for military, age 60 and older, AAA and Virginia residents.

If you just want to try the restaurant for lunch or dinner, a less-expensive option is staying at the Best Western Kilmarnock Hotel.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TIDES INN

Keswick Driving time: Two hours from Alexandria

Luxury resort Keswick Hall, 701 Club Dr., is a two-hour drive from Alexandria in Virginia wine country. The 600acre property features a Pete Dye-designed golf course that served as a U.S. Open qualifying venue in May. The resort lies about nine miles east of Charlottesville.

The 80-room resort has undergone a multimillion-dollar, 2.5-year renovation from a more historic inn (think darkwood, smaller rooms) to a more open, airy and modern look.

Dining at the resort’s Marigold by Jean-Georges restaurant is a treat. The eatery is helmed by award-winning French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, whose restaurants are

renowned around the world. The restaurant is a relaxing spot that overlooks the golf course and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Be sure to kick off the evening with their signature Ginger Margarita. A standout on the menu is the Crispy Sushi (sea trout, chipotle emulsion, soy glaze and mint).

You can start or end your evening outdoors on the terrace or at the cozy bar, Crawford’s. The bar also offers small plates for those just looking for a bite to eat.

In addition to golf, the resort offers red clay tennis courts, a new pickle ball court, a spa, fitness center and a lovely infinity-edge pool geared to grown-ups that overlooks the golf course. Another brand new pool for the whole family also just opened this summer.

Another nearby option for overnight accommodations, that are less expensive, includes The Forum, a new Kimpton hotel on the University of Virginia campus that overlooks the Darden School. On-site dining is available at Birch & Bloom.

There are plenty of wineries if you’re looking for more excursions to choose from in the area, including Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard; Keswick Vineyards; Gabreile Rausse Winery and Jefferson Vineyards.

While you’re in the area, make plans to check out “Incanto: An Oasis of Lyrical Sculpture,” stunning outdoor sculptures at the 50-acre Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden by Burning

Man artist Kate Raudenbush, a New York City artist who grew up in Falls Church. The sculptures are as tall as 14 feet and are lit up at night (the garden has extended hours Wednesday through Saturday, ’til 9 p.m. Regular daily admission is $17 per person; $14 for seniors and $8 for children. Ages 3 and younger are admitted free.

The sculptures were created with the botanical garden’s landscape in mind and Raudenbush worked with the horticultural team to select the plants around the sculptures. The exhibition will be on display through Oct. 29. The gardens are about an hour’s drive from Keswick.

SCULPTURE BY KATE RAUDENBUSH; PHOTO COURTESY OF LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN

PHOTO BY MARY ANN BARTON

Williamsburg

Driving time: Three hours from Alexandria

If you’re a history buff, you’ll want to make plans to head to Williamsburg this summer; you’ll also have nearby Yorktown and Jamestown as historic options to visit. The crown jewel is Colonial Williamsburg, and the surrounding area includes Busch Gardens as well as Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor waterpark and resort.

If you’re a foodie, you’ll want to save room for a special five-course meal (for $128; each course paired with a special wine is an extra $58) at The Rockefeller Room at the Williamsburg Inn. The ambiance, service and cuisine are impeccable. During a recent visit, the standouts of the evening were the braised beef short rib, pan-roasted scallop with corn pudding and the hazelnut ice cream torte. Our waitress, Sharon, helped steer us in the right direction on our choices and explained each dish as

around the gardens; there are also historic taverns where you can dine including Christiana Campbell, which recently reopened. Colonial Williamsburg offers five options for accommodations on-site in addition to the Williamsburg Inn — colonial houses; the Lodge; Griffin Hotel and Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites.

Outside of Colonial Williamsburg, dining options include Second Street American Bistro and Food for Thought, both family-run operations that have been around for many years.

In Yorktown, be sure to check out the American Revolution Museum. There are plenty of dining options nearby, including the Yorktown Pub (a lively spot with locals) offering great food; the Water Street Grille, which tends to get quite busy but has outdoor seating looking out on the York River; Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters and Petite Cafe offers picnic tables in a tranquil setting under the trees. Afterward, save room for a cone at Ben & Jerry's or some carrot cake from Carrot Tree. There is a nice mile-long walking path, Riverwalk Landing, along the water and a small sandy beach. There are live free concerts each Thursday and plenty of free parking.

Across the river, York River Yacht Haven offers boat rentals and chartered sailing trips as well as York River Oyster Company, a bar and restaurant on the water. They don't take reservations, so get there early, it fills up fast.

it came out of the kitchen. It's definitely a spot fit for celebrating a special occasion!

Afterward, be sure to enjoy an after-dinner drink on the patio behind the Williamsburg Inn or walk off that big meal

Wherever your travels take you this summer, remember, if your trip doesn’t go exactly as planned — you burn the burgers at your beach rental, you get a sunburn after you fall asleep reading a new novel or your rental car gets a flat tire —file it away in your summer vacation "Remember the time?" memory bank!

THE WILLIAMSBURG INN; PHOTO COURTESY OF COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

PHOTO BY MARY ANN BARTON

Photography: Alexandria in Focus

Alexandria photographer Daniel Horowitz enjoys taking nighttime photos of scenes around Alexandria.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL HOROWITZ

"I FIND I'M BETTER OFF WORKING WITH WHAT'S FAMILIAR TO ME, BUT STILL ALWAYS LOOKING OUR FOR SOMETHING UNUSUAL OCCURRING." READ MORE ABOUT HOROWITZ ON PAGE 38.

Daniel Horowitz Photographs Alexandria

FAVORITE MOVIE:

“Dr. Strangelove”

YOUR LAST MEAL:

“No strong preference but I’d go to a restaurant known for extremely slow service.”

THREE PEOPLE YOU WOULD INVITE

TO A DINNER PARTY:

Ansel Adams, Rachel Carson, and Herman Melville

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT:

Tuscany

LAST BOOK READ:

Susan Sontag, On Photography

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN ALEXANDRIA:

Stracci

FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR:

Dulce de leche

Local photographer Daniel Horowitz grew up in Pasadena, Calif. and moved to Alexandria 23 years ago to work for the government.

“I’ve been taking pictures since I was a kid,” he said. “At a young age, my parents bought me a pinhole camera kit made out of cardboard. I could never find any film for it, but I would still go around pointing it at things.”

As a graduate student in England, Horowitz traveled around Europe a lot, which got him interested in urban and landscape photography, and images of historic or abandoned places.

“People liked the pictures and that encouraged me to keep clicking away,” he said.

Horowitz worked for a federal agency for “a couple of decades” and now he’s a lobbyist for a labor union.

“In my federal job, I developed a program of safety videos, which improbably developed a large following of fans,” he said. “I think this has helped me later on in still photography.”

Whether it’s video or still photography, “you have to keep the viewer focused on what’s important in a scene and create a shared understanding of the subject,” he said. “Which then means thinking constantly about the composition, about what to include or exclude and how to keep people engaged.”

Horowitz especially enjoys making mostly nighttime and long-exposure images of scenes around Alexandria. “I find I’m better off working with what’s familiar to me, but still always looking out for something unusual occurring,” he said.

His more successful images are mostly within walking distance of his house. “People enjoy seeing their hometown, especially if it’s a vantage point or situation they didn’t really imagine,” he said. “People marvel over pictures of the Woodrow Wilson drawbridge on the rare occasions when it’s raised.”

Horowitz said he noticed that many people who live here have never seen it open. “Some people argue vehemently that it’s not a drawbridge at all,” he said. “More broadly, people like the monuments, King Street, the waterfront. The important thing is just to keep surprising them.”

One of his favorite photographers is Baltimore photographer Aubrey Bodine, whose historic industrial photos hang on his walls.

Other favorite photographers? “It’s hard to pick a favorite, but maybe André Kertész, the great Hungarian-American photographer of the early and mid 20th century. Kertész could take a fork and a plate and turn out a compositional and tonal masterpiece. The most mundane scenes seem to be invested with great meaning.”

“In his 80s, he created an extraordinary set of works with nothing more than a Polaroid instant camera and some small objects and figurines set in the window of his New York apartment. To me, that’s the epitome of photography.

His tips for budding photographers? “Shoot often — every day. Keep going back to the same place until you figure out why you went there at all. Then find some way to communicate that.”

Read more about Horowitz on his website, danielhorowitz.art or visit Made in ALX to peruse his photographs for purchase.

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Danielle DelToro

Rhonda Folkestad Richard Griswold III Shagufta Hasan

Martine & Alex Irmer

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Kari Steinberg

Sheryl Lambson