Archive for the 'Cameron Station' Category
Alexandria Has 8 New Additions to ZAGAT’s 2008 Dining Guide
February 15th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Cameron Station, Dining Favorites, Old Town, Real Estate News, Things to Do
The 2008 Zagat guide for the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore metropolitan areas features 8 new listings for Alexandria restaurants for an overall total of 47.
Nina and Tim Zagat, fanatic New York “foodies” started the first guide in 1979 as a hobby involving 200 friends and friends of friends. Today more than 300,000 individuals contribute to the surveys for 15 U.S. cities and 6 cities around the globe. Zagat is considered the world’s leading provider of consumer survey-based information on where to eat, drink, stay and play worldwide.
As The New York Times said, the Zagat Survey is “a necessity second only to a valid credit card!”
So, what are Alexandrian’s raving about? In alphabetical order:
BASTILLE
1201 North Royal Street, 703.519.3776
Charming rusticity transports diners to provincial France at this wine bar and bistro. The menu reflects the recent Parisian revolution in Gallic fare as the chef-owners reinvigorate the classics with Mediterranean flavors. Outdoor patio. Conveniently located next to a wonderful store, Abaca Imports, which is located next to Metro Stage. Shop, have dinner, go to the theater and never leave the block.
BUZZ
901 Slaters Lane, 703.600.2899
Industrial-chic, WiFi-equipped coffeehouse, dessert lounge and bakery is an unofficial community center for nearby and newly minted neighborhood, Potomac Greens. A recently added wine bar serves wine and cocktails. I can vouch for the cupcakes!
EAMONN’S, A Dublin Chipper
728 King Street, 703.299.8384
Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong (owners of other local fav’s Restaurant Eve and the Majestic) bring Dublin to town via this small, spare recreation of Irish fast food. Fish ‘n’ chips, battered burgers, Irish beer. Tip - when the blue light outside an unmarked door on Columbus Street is “on”, patrons can buzz for entry to the upstairs PX, a speakeasy-themed lounge. Easily the best fish ‘n’ chips anywhere; very casual.
Farrah Olivia
600 Franklin Street, 703.778.2233
A white tablecloth setting for distinctive New American cuisine featuring influences from France and chef-owner Moruo Quattara’s native Ivory Coast. Quattara was a recent contestant on Iron Chef America.
FOOD MATTERS
4906 Brenman Park Drive, 703.461.3663
Cafe, wine bar and gourmet market in Cameron Station with a 15-seat room serving communal diners with locally sourced ingredients. Co-owners, Christy and Tom Przystawik were formerly with Cafe Atlantico in the District.
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“Walkability” - What It Means for Home Owners - and Buyers - in Alexandria
February 4th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Cameron Station, Del Ray, Old Town, Parker-Gray, Potomac Yard, Real Estate News
The benefit of living in a walkable neighborhood has gone to a whole new level with the Web site Walk Score, www.walkscore.com. Launched in the summer of 2007 by a group of tech geeks in Seattle, the site got over 1,000,000 hits in just four weeks from visitors who wanted to know a property’s Walk Score!
The site uses Google Maps and business listings to compute a Walk Score for any address in the United States. It bases the assigned points on the distance to local amenities and then averages the score. Matt Lerner, one of the co-founders, says that since the site launched they have received lots of emails from users saying that walkability is the number one priority they focus on when buying a house.
That should come as no surprise to residents of Old Town Alexandria and Del Ray in particular, who have always boasted about walking to their favorite restaurant, coffee shop, bank, or farmer’s market as an everyday occcurence.
Seattle based Lerner noted that while some of the benefits were obvious, like walking is good exercise and helps to reduce environmental pollution, walkability also supports local businesses and local culture.
While the MLS doesn’t offer a Walk Score yet, it’s a great way to start thinking about your own property.
Our home in Del Ray got an 80. What about yours?
Thanks for stopping by,
Michael
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