Grape and Bean in Old Town

From what we understand, Grape and Bean would also operate as a small grocery, carrying on a long tradition in this location and offering  basics in addition to well selected cheeses, wine and bread.

Rosemont is a heavily residential neighborhood without the shops and restaurants of either Old Town or Del Ray.

We’ve heard a few folks question the feasibility of a wine bar and whether that would attract an ‘unsavory element’ and add to parking woes.

Rosemont Market

Other residents look forward to walking in their own neighborhood for a cup of coffee, a glass of wine and a bite to eat.

Sounds good to me – and it would definitely add to Rosemont’s walkability score.

Want to know more about houses in Rosemont?  Give me a call at 703.927.4554 and we’ll go exploring!

Michael

Update (August 13, 2001) – we met a friend in Old Town the other day for a good ‘catch up’ over a cup of coffee and choose the Grape and Bean on South Royal.  What a treat!  Small, friendly and quiet,  this establishment seems to have ‘good neighbor’ written all over it.

We’re not exactly sure how this post Fourth of July celebration got started (or why) but it’s been going on for as long as we have lived in the area,

So, if you missed the Fourth or just didn’t want to fight the crowds downtown, make your way to Oronoco Bay Park along Alexandria’s waterfront between 4:00 and 10:00pm.  The celebration includes children’s activities, community exhibits and birthday cake.

The highlight of the evening is a concert by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, topped off with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”  and fireworks. “Cannon support” will be supplied by the United States Marine Corps, Basic Training School, Quantico, VA at 9:30 p.m.

In the event of inclement weather, fireworks only will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 10 at 9:30 p.m.

Oronoco Bay Park has lawn seating, and visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, shaved ice and kettle corn will be available for purchase or bring your own.  (No is grilling allowed however.)

Visitors to the historic district are encouraged bike, walk or take the Metrorail Yellow or Blue lines to the King Street Station and take King Street Trolley to the unit block of King St., a short walk to Oronoco Bay Park. The King Street Trolley will operate until midnight for individuals wishing to return to the King Street Metro following the celebration.

Michael

Ecstatic at not having to travel to one of the big box stores, we would take my pick up truck to the Eisenhower Avenue site and simply start shoveling.

Then we got older and wiser.  Now we pay the City of Alexandria to deliver the mulch to us!  A call to the Department of Solid Waste at 703.746.4410 and a $40 check will get you either a half load or a full load (same price) dumped in your driveway. FYI – the check must be received before the City will deliver.

A great bargain - and exercise to boot!

One dump truck equals approximately six cubic yards.  A half load is just about right for our townhouse.  (Last year we got a full load and I resorted to begging strangers to come and get some mulch!)  It’s also a great way for two or three neighbors to share the cost with everyone getting what they need.

And if you’re really smart, you’ll find a “helper” on your local neighborhood list serv.  Let me tell you, college students eager for extra cash, have very strong backs!

Anyway you look at it, leaf mulch is a bargain in the City of Alexandria.

Michael

Specifically, Mayor Euille is supporting a proposal offered by Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) to delay the move for up to a year to work on road improvements and public transportation.

Mark Center overlooks lake at Winkler Botanical Preserve

This delay has been called a “small, fragile last-minute victory for common sense“, coming as it does on the heels of a report that calls the move “profoundly misguided.”

In addition to unmanageable traffic on both surface and interstate roads, the move has the potential to negatively impact the Winkler Botanical Preserve.

Michael

The Wine Glass Pulpit at Christ Church

Small baskets in the side windows

Larger baskets in the Palladin windows flanking the pulpit

And flowering trees and flowers everywhere in the church yard

Over a 1,000 visitors and congregation members attended four services beginning with the 7:30am.

Michael

Sales of 166 in March 2011 were up >19.4% over March 2010 sales of 139 and up  >15.3% from 144 sales in February 2011.

Overall March 2011 YTD sales are running 14.4% ahead of last year.

The average price of homes sold in Alexandria was up >10.7% from $400,668 in March 2010 to $443,507 in March 2011 and up >5.7% from February 2011.

For a more detailed look at individual markets, click on each of the specific areas below:

Alexandria

Arlington

Fairfax Country

Faquier County

Loudoun County

Prince William

Washington, DC

And for a free comparative market analysis of your neighborhood, give me a call at 703.927.4554.

It’s a great time to buy a home!

Michael

While it’s too early to make any sweeping statements on the spring selling season, news of multiple offers are coming in across various regions and multiple price brackets.

A recent study by Coldwell Banker Real Estate surveyed 300 first-time home buyers who purchased a home in the last year and found that 87 percent of those queried want to buy homes that are in move-in-ready condition.

First-time buyers essentially want to buy a home that is affordable, but don’t want to spend the time and additional money to improve a fixer-upper like they did in years past.

• The study also found that 67 percent said the market afforded them the opportunity to buy a home sooner than expected.
• Half said they found a home in a more desirable neighborhood than expected, and
• 61 percent were able to get the home at a better price than expected.

This survey is important because it explores what is most important to new buyers and provides insight for those looking to buy or sell in 2011.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), first-time home buyers accounted for half of the market in 2010. 

For home sellers, the message is clear.  You must price your home competitively and ensure that it stands above the crowd.

Want more information on buying or selling in Alexandria or Northern Virginia?

Give me a call at 703.927.4554 and let’s get started.

Michael

Our friends over at the Arlandrian were to first to pick up on an article from the Alexandria Police Department’s newsletter, The Police Beat.

It involves graffiti, often used by rival gangs to initiate threats, a stretched city budget, two resourceful police officers and a company called (what else?) Graffiti Removal, Inc. It’s a story that makes you proud.

Want to know more about living in this great community?  Give me a call at 703.927.4554 and let’s make this your home too.

Scriptorium

Imagine my delight then in finding the Scriptorium in Old Town Alexandria.  Tucked away in Norford Court off Cameron Street (just behind City Hall), the Scriptorium is a destination shop for anyone who wants expert advice, personal service, quality materials and a beautiful, beautiful product.

The Scriptorium is also one of the oldest independently owned businesses in Old Town.

Proprietor Judy Shavin opened her store in 1976 after her presidential candidate lost and dashed her plans to work in the White House.

Casting about for an entrepreneurial opportunity, Judy was encouraged to open a cigar store, a children’s clothing store or a store for fine writing papers.  The first two options held no appeal but the third suggestion was right on the mark.

Judy did her homework, took classes at the Small Business Administration, made friends with savvy retailers and, although she lives in the District, cast her lot in Alexandria.

When asked about the biggest change in the past 35 years, the answer was easy – the use of reply cards and envelopes with wedding invitations rather than the expectation of a handwritten response.

What about etiquette questions around the proliferation of blended families and ‘interesting’ family dynamics?  Judy modestly says she is still learning and sensitive questions see her through.

Her best seller?  Anything by Crane.  Why?  Because Crane is 100% rag content.  In other words, the paper is not made from trees but from cotton fibers.  Wonderfully heavy, ecologically friendly and simply classic.

Judy’s infallible reference is Crane’s Book of Etiquette and her business philosophy is to treat her customers the same way she would like to be treated.

Having gone in for a box of Crane’s envelopes and walked out with an order for engraved correspondence cards, I would say that Judy’s philosophy is working just fine.

So whether you need wedding invitations, save the date cards, birth announcements, party invitations, guest books or personal stationery, the Scriptorium should be your destination.

Expect understated, elegant and tasteful, just like Judy herself.   In the all too frequent world of email invites or worse, the Scriptorium is a beacon of light.

Virginia Amos

The future Le Cafe Del Ray

The location is in an old, two story house (commercially zoned) at 205 East Howell, just east of the intersection with Mt. Vernon and 3 short blocks from my house.

The building has off street parking but will also be a huge walking destination.  A special use permit application has received administrative approval from the city’s Department of Planning and Zoning.

Off Street Parking

The application, which uses the name “Le Cafe Del Ray,” calls for a “full service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and carryout for home consumption of bakery goods.”

Anyone for coffee and croissant?

Michael