Archive for the 'Things to Do' Category
Taste of Del Ray at First Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010
August 30th, 2010 Categories: Del Ray, Real Estate News, Things to Do
You’ve heard about all the great little eateries in Del Ray. You’ve promised to visit at least a thousand times. But nothing has happened. What to do? What to do?
No problem. Join us for Taste of Del Ray at First Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. This is the last First Thursday for 2010 and looks like it is going to be a doozy.
Eateries up and down Mt. Vernon Avenue will pitch their tents in the parking lot directly behind Virginia Commerce Bank from 6-9 pm. (This is where folks park for the Del Ray Farmers Market.)
These updates just in:
- Tickets will be sold in two locations – at the Oxford Street entrance across from Dr. Stone’s and in the entrance between Cheestique and the School of Rock. Everyone must have a ticket – $10 for adults and $5 for children. All proceeds will got to Community Partners for children.
- Food will be served from 6:30pm to 7:45pm or as long as it lasts.
- Deadline to vote is 7:45pm (each ticket holder gets one vote).
- Winner will be announced at 8:00pm
Participating restaurants include:
- ACKC
- Bombay Curry
- Caboose Cafe
- Cheesetique
- Del Merei
- Evening Star
- Italia Di Sapore
- La Strada
- Monroe’s
- Pizzaiolo
- Pork Barrell BBQ (last year’s winner)
- Taqueria Poblano
- Thai Peppers
Seriously, no more excuses. Why even think about going anywhere else for dinner?
We’ll see you at Taste of Del Ray at First Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010.
Michael
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Getting Organized – Family Photographs
August 16th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News, Things to Do
Earlier this summer the Washington Post ran a great article on getting organized.
As a preface they talked to several professionals on the topic. A buyer at Amazon noted that more and more self help organizing books are being published and that “interest exploded with the coverage of hoarders . . . and the steady stream of DIY cable series starring professional organizers.
Gretchen Rubin, author of the Happiness Project, says ” . . . there is something about getting ahold of physical clutter that makes people feel energized, freer and happier. Order contributes to inner calm for most people.”
Make it all go away - Get Organized!
We’re going to break this down into a couple of different posts but for today we are going to look at getting organized – family photos.
- “Be ruthless when editing. Do not keep blurry photos. Do not keep photos of someone you don’t recognize or a vacation you don’t remember.”
- Save photos by having three backup files at all times: one on DVD or an external hard drive; one on your computer hard drive and one with an online digital sharing service such as Flickr, iPhoto, Piscasa or Snapfish.
- Keep photo organizing up to date. At least once a year, go through your latest digital photos and delete anything out of focus or duplicates. Add the rest to your online digital sharing service.”
Personally, I think #1 is the most crucial. How many of us hang onto photos “just because”?
Hope this will start you on your own organizing journey.
Michael
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Everything You Need to Know About Changing Your Address
August 12th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News, Things to Do
A site called Change of Address has taken everything you need to know about changing your address and put it together in one place for easy reference.
In addition to change of address forms for the U.S. Post Office, they also offer change of address forms for government agencies:
- • The Internal Revenue Service – Download the Form
- • Social Security Administration Click Here
- • Social Security Administration: Supplemental Security Income Benefits Click Here
- • Department of Veterans Affairs Click Here
- • State Department of Motor Vehicles Click Here
- • U.S. Customs and Immigration Services Click Here
and lists of other people and organizations that may need to be notified:
Utilities
- • Electric company
- • Water company
- • Gas company
- • Sewer company
- • Trash/Waste company
- • Telephone company
- • Television (cable or satellite)
- • Internet provider
- • Pest control company
Financial Institutions
- • Insurance companies (your home, auto, medical, dental, life, etc.)
- • Banks or Credit Unions (wherever you currently have accounts)
- • Investment brokers (your IRA or other investment managers)
- • Lenders (car loans, personal loans, and more)
- • Credit reporting agencies (especially if you are rebuilding your credit)
Other
- • Your Friends and Family. See SmileBox for ideas.
- • Magazine Subscriptions Click Here
- • Daycare providers
- • Elementary, middle, or high schools
- • Your attorney
- • Doctors, dentists, eye doctor, etc.
- • Clubs you belong to
- • Professional associations
- • Church
- • Licensing and Certification boards
The magazine subscription box alone offers Web sites and 800 numbers for over 500 publications.
I only have one caveat. Change of Address makes money by offering home improvement/maintenance services and if you do not want to get on these mailing lists you will need to opt out.
Still, this site has the potential to make moving for any home owner just a bit easier – and that’s worth a lot in my book.
Everything You Need to Know about Changing Your Address.
Michael
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Alexandria Restaurant Week, August 20-29, 2010
August 11th, 2010 Categories: Alexandria, Del Ray, Things to Do
Alexandria will kick off Restaurant Week, August 20-29, 2010. More than 60 restaurants, bars and coffee shops will take part in this annual summer eating extravaganza.
There are three categories of participation -
- a $35 Prix-Fixe Three Course Dinner
- a $35 Dinner for Two and
- $3.50 Sweet Treats.
Participating restaurants are located all over Alexandria, from Mango Mike’s in the West End to the Union Street Public House on the riverfront in Old Town Alexandria to La Strada in our Del Ray neighborhood.
Also in Del Ray are sweet treat favorites, ACKC Coca Bar and the Dairy Godmother.
For a complete list of restaurants and menus, click here. Make your reservations on line and enjoy a special night out with Alexandria Restaurant Week, August 20-29.
Michael
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The Old Town Alexandria Summer Sidwalk Sale, Saturday August 14
August 5th, 2010 Categories: Old Town, Real Estate News, Things to Do
Love to shop? Love a good bargain but don’t like malls? Love to find that ‘must have’ item in unexpected places? Well, get ready.
The Old Town Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale is coming your way Saturday, August 14th.
This is a first for Old Town Alexandria and it’s shaping up to be quite an event. Participating merchants, from upper King Street to the waterfront, will showcase their products from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Sidewalk Sale
Each participating business will host a unique event or promotion for the Summer Sidewalk Sale. Some retailers will offer deeply discounted summer merchandise while others will demonstrate their product lines or have some other special event.
So far 55 retailers have signed on, including our own favorite Diva Boutique. This is a great opportunity to shop, eat, stroll and visit with neighbors and friends. Don’t miss the first Old Town Summer Sidewalk Sale Saturday August 14.
And if you want to do some shopping for real estate, give me a call at 703.927.4554.
Michael
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It’s County Fair Time in Northern Virginia
August 3rd, 2010 Categories: Things to Do
Days are getting shorter (!!!), the start of school is just around the corner and retailers are dusting off their holiday decorations. That means it’s County Fair time in Northern Virginia.
Traditionally held at the end of summer, August and September are chocked full of county and state fairs. County fairs, which are more correctly known as agricultural fairs, began in the early 1800’s.
According to Ag History, the fairs ” gave rural families an opportunity to see first hand the latest agricultural techniques, equipment, crops, and livestock.
Over the course of the nineteenth century, fairs also incorporated a wide range of educational, recreational, competitive, and social activities into their programs.
Within a few short generations, county and state fairs became a quintessential American tradition.”
Today, county fairs are more often about the carnival rides and food – after all, who can resist a deep fried Oreo or Twinkie – but I get the biggest kick out of the livestock.
Dozens of varieties of chickens and bunnies, cows, horses, and 4H Club members showing off their prize pigs, llamas and goats.
If you get a chance to see a demonstration of working sheep dogs don’t miss them, it’s my favorite.
- Fairfax County – August 7-8
- Howard Country – August 7-14
- Montgomery County – August 13-21
- Prince William - August 13-21f
- Arlington Country – August 18-22
- Prince George’s – Sept. 9-12
- Anne Arundel County – Sept. 15-19
- Frederick County - Sept. 17 – 25
and the granddaddy of them all, The Virginia State Fair, Sept. 23 – Oct. 3. Have fun – it’s county fair time in Northern Virginia.
Michael
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Create A National Night Out Event in Your Neighborhood on August 3
July 27th, 2010 Categories: Alexandria, Things to Do
Why not create a National Night Out Event in Your Neighborhood on August 3? 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 amored 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:
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National Night Out in Alexandria, VA
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Celebrating Community in Alexandria’s Del Ray Neighborhood with National Night Out
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National Night Out Is An Annual Gathering for Neighbors on East Howell Avenue in Del Ray
Would it surprise you that folks from surrounding blocks tend to migrate our way? Go ahead, organize a National Night Out for your neighborhood.
Michael
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Swimming Holes in Virginia
July 26th, 2010 Categories: Things to Do
I don’t know about you but with these 100 degree days, I’m ready for a good old fashioned swimming hole. Clear, cold water, not many folks around, maybe even a waterfall or a few rapids and no chlorine. Doesn’t that sound good?
We did a bit of scouting around and came up with a great site for swimming holes created by someone right here in Alexandria, Virginia – Tom Hillegass.
Tom and his Website partner, Dave Hajdasz of Connecticut, focus on fresh water spots with moving water – creeks, rivers, springs and waterfalls. We’re happy to say that there are 80 swimming holes right here in Virginia.
There are also selected hot springs and lakes, quarries or bays with unique features that make them especially beautiful or fun for swimming.
I talked to Tom about how he got started on this project. After a childhood in Philadelphia where there were no ‘natural’ places to swim, Tom moved to Oregon and fell in love with swimming in local rivers. A final move brought him to Alexandria and it was then that he began collecting information about swimming holes in Virginia.
Sugar Hollow, VA
He and his daughter built the Web site in 1996 and listed 35 swimming holes. Now he has hundreds of listings, many of which have been sent by faithful fans of the site.
Tom tells me, “I get lots of emails . . . and the ones I especially like are from parents who took their kids (to a swimming hole) and opened them to a whole new/old world of delight. People used to know where the local swimming holes were, but today we travel all over the world yet don’t know what’s in our back yard. Young people, especially, have no idea but are discovering them as a result of my site.”
Tom’s site is utilitarian but includes important tips around water temperature, currents, underwater rocks and in some cases, very detailed instructions on how to find some of the more out of the way swimming holes.
Safety tips are another big part of Tom’s site and they are well worth reading.
There’s still some traveling time, and plenty of hot weather, before school starts so pull out your map and plan your next adventure – to a swimming hole in Virginia.
Michael
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Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon
July 22nd, 2010 Categories: Alexandria, Things to Do
Get your running shoes on! Plans have just been announced for the first Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon on September 19.
Sponsored by Burke and Herbert Bank and their six charity partners, this first time event will see runners take off from Mt. Vernon, move up the George Washington Parkway, cross the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and finish at the Awakening sculpture at National Harbor.
Awakening sculpture
The race will be limited to 4,000 starts and all entrants must be able to average 15 minutes per mile.
Not quite ready you say? Training groups for this half marathon are under way and it’s not to late to sign up.
The 13.1 mile course has been certified by the USA Track and Field Association and local anchor woman Dorren Gentzler will be the official race ambassador.
Time to get ready – it’s the first Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon!
Michael
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West’s Point Park on the Waterfront in Alexandria
July 20th, 2010 Categories: Alexandria, Things to Do
West’s Point Park is part of the linear park system that connects some 14 different park areas along the waterfront in Alexandria.
Observation Deck
West’s Point is one of the smaller parks in the system, consisting of just 0.07 acres and is immediately adjacent to Waterfront Park.
The property was deeded to the City of Alexandria by Robinson Terminal in 1986.
Populated by just a few benches and an elevated observation deck, West’s Point is what is know as a “passive” park, continuing the line of open spaces along Alexandria’s waterfront.
It is also the connecting point between Waterfront and Founder’s Park.
Michael
Related stories:
Tide Lock Park on Alexandria’s Waterfront
Rivergate Park on Alexandria’s Waterfront
Oronoco Bay Park on Alexandria’s Waterfront
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