Stroll Del Ray’s Mt. Vernon Avenue from 10:00 am to 6:00pm for a full day of activities.  In addition to the arts vendors, look for scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, puppet shows, dance performances and a wide range of music.

And did we mention the food court or the crab cake sandwiches?

Come on out and join us, it’s going to be a great day!

Michael

National Night Out was originally created to combat drug and crime prevention and to foster better citizen/police relationships.

All those things are still true – and still the mission of the organization – but in our neighborhood it has developed into a much anticipated community event.  The entire block takes part – from getting city permits to block off the street, to pitching tents against the heat, pulling out coolers and cookers, setting up tables and chairs and, perhaps the most important part, contributing to a giant pot luck dinner.

In fact, our block is so well known for it’s good food – particularly the fried fish – that we routinely get visits from the mayor, the mounted police, the entire squadron of motorcycle police, the special forces unit, the sheriff, etc. etc.

It’s a great opportunity to meet individual members of the force and to thank them for all they do.  In turn, the kids pat the horses, sit on the motorcycles and climb all over the armored vehicles.

It’s not hard to get started and the National Night Out site has lots of great ideas.  If you’re new to your area it’s also just the best way to meet your neighbors.

For more on what a National Night Out Event can look like, here are some stories from past years:

• National Night Out in Alexandria, VA

• Celebrating Community in Alexandria’s Del Ray Neighborhood with National Night Out

• National Night Out Is An Annual Gathering for Neighbors on East Howell Avenue in Del Ray

My guess is that one big topic of conversation this year is going to be the local election and the increased traffic on East Howell.

You don’t want to miss a thing, I promise!

Michael

At first everything was fine – they grew rapidly, blossoms formed and then the first tiny tomatoes appeared.  The tomatoes got bigger and the anticipation almost unbearable – until one morning there were no tomatoes – at all.  SQUIRRELS!!!!!!!!!

Enter neighbors Michael and Brian whose houses, one on Windsor and one on Custis, share a garden.  They too were plagued by tomato eating renegade squirrels.  But rather than simply give into the inevitable, they took action.  Call it the new urban gardening if you will, but at least these two Del Ray residents will have home grown tomatoes this summer.

Squirrel Proof Tomatoes or Urban Gardening in Del Ray

The first, not very serious plan, was to fence in the entire garden plot but with plenty of room for Winston, a squirrel loving Jack Russell Terrier.  That idea abandoned, Michael and Brian came up with a squirrel proof cage for their tomatoes.  Literally.  It’s amazing what you can do with chicken wire and two by fours.

Early Days

Taking it one step further, these urban gardeners planted so that vertical plants, like green beans, would grow on the outside of the cage, creating a more appealing aesthetic for the neighborhood.

The Cage in all it's glory!

Add in zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, purple cabbage and cucumbers and these two families have their own personal Farmer’s Market.

Michael

There really was something for everyone - books of every shape and size, face painting, a bounce house and and even a spot for learning how to make a book.

Book Tent

Bounce House

Making a BookFace Painting

Don’t you wish YOU lived in Del Ray?  Give me a call at 703.927.4554 and we’ll make it happen.

Michael

As always, each month’s sales are dependent on multiple factors including the amount of inventory, the number of priced-to-sell homes, the number of qualifying buyers, etc. etc.

For more details and a free comparative analysis of your property, give me a call at 703.927.4554.

Michael

Marino's Pizza and Subs

Marino’s, with it’s distinctive purple paint and deck area adorned with fake palm trees, is planning a 2,547 square foot addition that will include a second restaurant.  Owner Ather Subzwari will add 44 seats for a second level, cafeteria style dining room.

The request included a modification of the rear setback from 25 to 6 feet and the installation of new landscaping.  Subzwari is also working with Inturias Auto to use their lot for night time parking.

There are no current plans for alcohol sales but Marino’s will continue to be open till 1:00am on weeknights and 2:00am on Friday and Saturday.

Marino's Deck

The special use permit was granted despite a recommendation of denial by the Del Ray Citizens Association (DRCA).  The DRCA noted their disapproval was more about the lack of long term planning for Route 1 development than about Marino’s. (Marino’s sits directly across the street from the Target at Potomac Yard

At the same time, Marino’s is positioning itself for the development of Potomac Yard and the proposed Metro station.  Drawings show the new Metro station located behind the Target and Marino’s is directly across the street from Target.

Smart moves for all concerned.

Michael

*** Lynhaven is a neighborhood adjacent to Del Ray and Arlandria with Route 1 as one of its borders.

Instead of just giving you the figures for February 2011, we went back five years to get a larger sense of what the market is doing in our area.

At the same time, each month’s sales are dependent on multiple factors including the amount of inventory, the number of buyers, qualifying buyers, etc. etc.

For more details and a free comparative analysis on your property, give me a call at 703.927.4554.

Michael

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

Originally designed to introduce new residents to local businesses, the Meet-n-Greet is now a forum for city agencies, city council members and city programs, as well as our own Del Ray initiatives.

A favorite area for this real estate agent at the Meet-n-Greet is the Developer’s Corner. This is an incredible opportunity to meet with the City’s Department of Planning and Zoning and see scale models of current and future development projects.

This year expect to see designs and/or models for

• Potomac Yard
• The Calvert project
• Waterfront Small Area Plan
• Projects in Arlandria

You’ll also have a chance to meet representatives from the Sheriff’s Department, the Fire Department, the Real Estate Assessment Office (that could be an interesting conversation!) and much, much more.

Michael

After a neighborhood meeting led by Barbara King and Denise Maleug, the decision was made to take a multi-pronged approach.  First, a letter was sent to the businesses on Mt. Vernon Avenue.

The letter, signed by over 50 residents of East Howell Avenue, included information on the city code about “NO THRU TRUCKS, maps showing alternate, legal truck routes and our commitment to identify and report offending trucks.

At the same time, the letter expressed our support for Mt. Vernon businesses and the desire for Del Ray to maintain its small town character.

Second, a similar letter was sent to the Del Ray Citizens Association and the Del Ray Business Association alerting them to our concerns and asking for community support.

Third, our group is working with Bob Barbacz and Richard Baier in the City’s Department of Transportation and Environmental Services to install the signs on Rt. 1 that are so sorely missing – and that should have been installed at the time the Monroe Street Bridge was completed.

And this is just the beginning!  Other items on our agenda include more four way stop signs, cross walks and curtailing car traffic cutting through from Rt. 1 to points beyond.

What can YOU do?  Be a good neighbor. Obey the speed limit.  If you are giving folks directions on how to get to your favorite spot in Del Ray, send them via Monroe Avenue or Mt. Vernon.  STOP at stop signs.  Watch out for pedestrians.  Be a good neighbor.

If you see a commercial truck on a residential street, get a license number or the name of the company and call and voice your concern.

Join the “angry mob” – it’s a great way to meet your neighbors!

Michael