Getting Organized – The Hall Closet
August 28th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News, Whatever
A week or so ago we ran a post about getting organized – family photographs. Today we are going to talk about getting organized – the hall closet.
According to uber closet organizer Alison Lukes Teer, the hall closet is “the junk drawer of closets. Because your hall closet is used every day. . . it tends to gather a lot of random junk.” Teer goes on to say that a hall closet is valuable real estate and should contain only things you are using right now.
- Use products to increase storage. Hanging pocket organizers, hooks, clear plastic boxes, etc.
- Use matching wooden hangers for everything and keep several empty ones available for visitors.
- Mark your calendar to empty and sort twice a year. Clear out the winter accessories in late spring and then pack up summer about mid September.
Our hall closet doesn’t get much use in the summer but the winter is another story. So maybe if I get started now . . .
Don’t have a hall closet? Call me at 703.927.4554 and let’s go find one for you.
Michael
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Moon Over Alexandria
August 26th, 2010 Categories: Alexandria, Whatever
- Moon Over Alexandria
We were out visiting friends and as we headed home from Vienna this brilliant moon lead the way.
A photograph doesn’t even begin to do it justice.
Michael
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Del Merei Grill First to Close with Redevelopment of the Calvert
August 25th, 2010 Categories: Arlandria, Real Estate News
The City of Alexandria is expected to release a highly anticipated proposal this week supporting the redevelopment of the Calvert in Arlandria.
The Del Merei Grill has already announced that they will be the first business to close in conjunction with the redevelopment.
The Calvert is located near the corner of West Glebe Road and directly across from the newly opened Del Ray Central Apartments.
A linchpin between the neighborhoods of Del Ray and Arlandria, the redevelopment of the Calvert comes as Arlandria is beginning to stake it’s own identity with a neighborhood centric blog and new Farmers Market.
According to Duncan Blair, attorney for the Calvert’s owner, United Dominion Realty (UDR), This development will take a building that contributes very little to it’s immediate environs and create an active streetscape . . . . it’s energy in the community.”
All residential tenants in the Calvert are on year-to-year leases and UDR expects the building to be completely empty by 2012. The commercial tenants have all signed a confidentiality agreement and are not at liberty to discuss current negotiations.
Mary Reid, co-owner of the Del Merei Grill with her brother Eric, choose to leave early noting “It’s better to be the first one out.”
The City of Alexandria Planning Commission will consider the Calvert Proposal at their September meeting.
Michael
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An Afternoon at the Hard Times Cafe in Old Town Alexandria
August 25th, 2010 Categories: Old Town, Real Estate News
Monday was a beautiful day here in Alexandria. A nice breeze, low humidity and temperatures that made you want to be outside every minute.
I happened to notice this trio sitting outside at the Hard Times Cafe in Old Town Alexandria and couldn’t help but stop for a picture. And oh did I wish I could join them -
This is the McElroy family from Austin, TX - visiting, relaxing, taking in the sights and smart enough to know that the Hard Times Cafe is a local favorite.
Come back and see us again -
Michael
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It’s Bulldogs, Hokies and the Crimson Tide on North Payton Street in Old Town Alexandria
August 24th, 2010 Categories: Old Town, Real Estate News
This afternoon I was out checking on a listing in Old Town Alexandria when I noticed a row of townhouses on North Payton Street.
There, separated by only one house, were flags for The University of Georgia, Virginia Tech and the University of Alabama.
Bulldogs! Hokies! Crimson Tide!
My guess is that a lot of football gets watched here on the weekends. I’m thinking I may have to do some door to door prospecting . . .
Michael
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Bed Bugs Are No Laughing Matter
August 23rd, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News
I’m sure many of us think of bed bugs as something from the past (like good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite) or something that only happened in “those” kind of places or to other people.
Unfortunately none of that is true and bed bugs are no laughing matter.
In fact, the United States is experiencing an unheralded infestation of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) with reporting up 5000% in the past year. Shortly after WWII, bed bugs were almost universally eradicated with DDT. But now that DDT has fallen out of use as a toxic agent, bed bugs are back with a vengeance.
Entire office buildings (the Time Warner Center), residential buildings, retail stores (Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret), movie theaters (AMC’s Empire 25), in New York City have been invaded and reports are coming in from all around the country.
In fact, just this week, bed bugs have been the subject of two New York Times articles and a series on National Public Radio.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed solely upon the blood of warm-blooded animals.”
- Bed bugs are not socio-economically oriented
- Bed bugs are not hygiene related
- Bed bugs like to hide in the dark – particularly under furniture, in your mattress, and in any cracks or crevice
- Bed bugs are “hitchhikers” – they like to travel with you.
Kinda of scary isn’t it?
How can you tell if you have bed bugs?
- Because bed bugs are small (like an apple seed) and are active only at night, the first indication may be bites that occur while sleeping. The bites are usually in a pattern of three and leave big, bumpy welts.
- Look for dark brown/reddish fecal spots on mattresses, mattress covers, other bed linens on walls near the bed.
- In some heavily infested areas a coriander like odor may be present.
What do you do if you have bed bugs?
First, don’t panic. Second, try and find a specimen (crack and crevices are your best bet) and have it tested. Third, read everything you can and develop a plan from there. Both the Harvard School of Public Health and Medicine.Net are excellent resources.
As a real estate agent I would tell you that bed bugs are no laughing matter. Just because a property looks clean doesn’t mean that it is free of infestation.
Bed bugs can survive for months without ‘feeding’, just waiting for someone new to take up residence.
Whether you are a renter, a buyer, a seller or a landlord, consider the steps you need to take to insure that your property is properly maintained and bed bug free.
Bed bugs really are no laughing matter.
Michael
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A Goodwin House Garden Box
August 22nd, 2010 Categories: Scenic Sundays
This garden box at Goodwin House Alexandria belongs to my almost 92 year old mother-in-law. It is just one of three that she maintains and works daily.
Michael
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The Tomato Man at the Del Ray Farmer’s Market
August 21st, 2010 Categories: Del Ray, Real Estate News
The Tomato Man at the Del Ray Farmer’s Market is to tomatoes what Mario Batalli is to pasta; what Morton’s is to steak; what fresh squeezed is to orange juice.
In other words, the Tomato Man is the real deal.
I come from a long line of tomato snobs. We don’t eat hydroponic tomatoes, we don’t eat tomatoes from the grocery store and we don’t eat tomatoes from about mid-September to July. In other words, we are tomato deprived for most of the year.
We wait, with almost palpable anticipation, for the road side stands and farmer’s markets that signal summer’s bounty.
David Giusti aka Tomato Man
Imagine then our delight in finding the Tomato Man at the Del Ray Farmer’s Market.
Tomato Man is also known as David Giusti, an Alexandria native, Oberlin College graduate and now, farmer.
While still in college, David saw a flyer offering a summer ‘internship’ working on a farm in Virginia.
He thought it sounded ‘kind of cool’, signed up and went back year after year.
In 2009 he struck out on his own, renting land and joining the network of farms that make up Local Harvest.
David’s farm, Second Spring, grows “crop varieties [that] are selected for flavor and farmed with sustainable, responsible practices only.” Whether by choice or chance, David seems to have majored in heirloom tomatoes – much to our delight.
Each week his table is filled with at least 10 varieties of heirlooms from the classic red Brandywine to the beautiful yellow Pineapple. David can tell you about each one and what it is best used for.
We have sampled all of them and have yet to declare a favorite. It’s more fun to mix and match and just let the flavors explode. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, tomatoes are on the menu. After all, we only get to do this for a few more weeks.
Ummm, wonder if Virginia would like to take up canning?
But don’t take my word for it. Make your own pilgrimage to the Tomato Man at the Del Ray Farmer’s Market.
And after you’ve finished shopping we can go house hunting. Call me at 703.927.4554.
Michael
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Slaters Lane Shopping in Alexandria, VA
August 19th, 2010 Categories: Del Ray, Old Town, Potomac Yard/Greens, Real Estate News
I’ve tried really hard to find an official name for the row of shops on Slater’s Lane in Alexandria but to no avail.
So, we’re just going to call it the “Slater’s Lane Shopping Center.”
Except of course that it’s not really a shopping center and it’s not a strip mall either.
Instead, it’s a charming collection of shops at the entrance to the Potomac Greens and Old Town Greens townhouse development, across the street from the Old Town Crescent (condominiums) and half way between the Monroe Street Bridge and the George Washington Parkway.
Got it? In other words, it’s conveniently located for a lot of folks in North Old Town and Del Ray. Here’s what you will find at the “Slater’s Lane Shopping Center”:
- the Russian Gourmet
- Buzz Bakery
- Hairy Situations (dog grooming)
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe
- Rustico
- Periwinkle
- JonRic Salon
- Potomac Plaza Cleaners
- Domino’s Pizza
Want to know more about properties around this shopping area? Give me a call at 703.927.4554.
Michael
Related stories:
-
City of Alexandria Approves Potomac Yard Redevelopment and New Metro Construction
-
Station at Potomac Yards Celebrates Grand Opening
-
Potomac Yard Development Expands with New Fire Station and Sewage Pumping Station
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Ninth Annual Del Ray Chili Cook Off – Mark Your Calendar for Oct. 23, 2010
August 18th, 2010 Categories: Del Ray, Real Estate News
I know, I know, it’s only August but we want to give you a big head’s up and plenty of time to plan. So, mark you calendar for Oct. 23 and the Ninth Annual Del Ray Chili Cook Off.
Started, organized and planned every year by our neighbor Laura Fries, the Del Ray Chili Cook Off is about as unassuming and homespun as you can get.
Anybody can enter, it can be any kind of chili - beef, pork, turkey, venison, duck, rabbit, beans, no beans, chopped, sliced, diced, vegetarian, etc. - and anybody can win. Pretty simple isn’t it?
All you really have to do is pay a small “entrance fee”, make up enough chili to feed a lot of neighbors, make up a catchy name and come on down to LaGrande Avenue.
And if you aren’t up for the rigors of competition, well, we’re always looking for great side dishes and desserts.
Sheriff Dana Lawhorne is one of our regular judges and you never know what local musical talent may show up. Last year, driving rain (what’s new about that!) threatened to cancel the cook off but instead it turned into a very special night.
It’s some of the best fun you can have on a fall afternoon/evening in Alexandria so mark your calendars for Oct. 23 and the Ninth Annual Del Ray Chili Cook Off.
Stay tuned for details . . .
Michael
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