ckbrown's Blog

Sean Taylor: 1983-2007

Photo courtesy ESPN

As you all probably know by now, Redskins safety Sean Taylor died Nov. 27, a day after he was shot at his home in Miami during an apparent home invasion. He was 24. During this disappointing Redskins season, Taylor was one of the few bright spots.

Always known as a fierce hitter, Taylor sometimes went for the big play instead of simply wrapping his man up, and paid for it with missed tackles that went for big gains. This season Taylor came in with a new attitude and a conviction to be the best he could be. (Read more here)

Alexandria gets lit!

Thanksgiving is over, and everyone’s attention is focused solely on Christmas and the upcoming holidays. The city of Alexandria is certainly doing her part, lighting up everything from Del Ray to the Potomac. This past weekend, Alexandria flipped the switch on the official tree in Market Square, while this weekend Del Ray lights up for its Holiday on the Avenue celebration. Not to be outdone, Alexandria’s harbor will brighten up as 50 boats adorned in holiday lights make their annual voyage to DC and back. 

Happy Holidays everyone!

Our new look and a chance to win great gifts!

You may have noticed our new look. We’ve tried to make the site more user-friendly while also adding great new features and sections. Local Kicks is constantly updated with new material and new sections for you to browse. For instance, in Town Talk you can now find areas focused on Alexandria’s Arts and jsp?secID=14" target=_blank>History. The new front page section “Alexandria and Beyond” is where to go to find up-to-the-minute articles on many topics including, Food & Wine, Fashion, and Health. All the sections have RSS feeds, pictures, videos, and much more to choose from. As an added convenience, on the right side of the page is “Recent Topics”, where you can browse out the most up-to-date stories on our site.

Don’t delay! Time is running out to win great holiday gifts from Alexandria’s best merchants! All you have to do is register here (it’s free) for a chance to win anything from gift certificates to a free dinner! Hurry – the contest ends soon!

New bridge to open this weekend

Tired of seeing the orange barrels and traffic delays while crossing the Monroe Ave Bridge? Great changes are coming this weekend! The first span of the new bridge is opening Sunday. The barrels may stay for awhile, but traffic should be smoother. Here’s the city’s press release:

“During the next phase of construction, two-way traffic on Route 1 will be relocated from the old bridge to the new Route 1/Monroe Avenue Bridge span.  The span will include a reversible center lane to accommodate morning and evening rush hour traffic.  Several traffic and pedestrian pattern changes will be taking place with the opening of the new bridge span.  (Read more here)

The Carlyle Club kicks off the holiday season

The holiday season is in full gear, and the Carlyle Club is swinging! Special brunches, Christmas Eve performances, and a New Year’s celebration are in store for Alexandria during this festive period.  First, the holiday brunches will take place on December 15th and 22nd starting at 9 a.m. (read more here)

Alexandria – A Fun Week

by www.localkicks.com

My weekend started early this week. On Wednesday I went to Hanks Oyster Bar for a press luncheon. We were greeted by Chef/Owner Jamie Leeds and Partner Sandy Lewis who had an impressive tasting menu paired with wine waiting for us. It was great! The oysters and fish are fresh, so you can’t go wrong. The marinated sablefish w/ soy balsamic glaze was perfectly cooked. The lobster roll was good but I thought it had too much mayo. Hank’s fits 60 people at the most, so if you’re going there on the weekend make sure to go early! Check digital kicks for more photos of the event.

On Thursday evening, we were invited to the Carlyle Club soft opening night.  I had been waiting for this night since I was there two weeks ago when the place was still under construction. It’s very well designed, with a large bar overlooking the stage, a great dining area, private wine lockers and a VIP lounge.  The bar area needs some work.  It looked too retro with not much on the wall.  The sound system and the acoustics are great.  The dinner menu is good and my steak was cooked to perfection.  That night, the Carlyle Club featured the “Rat Pack Tribute Band” who was really good.  I wish they could have played longer but it was a soft opening.  I just love the atmosphere; it takes you back to the good old days of great music and classic dancing.  Why go to Blues Alley in DC since we have our Carlyle Club here? I think everyone in Old Town should check it out!

Since we’re talking restaurants, I have to mention Peacock Café in Georgetown for brunch or lunch in the friendliest atmosphere you will ever experience.  They are opening their new and third restaurant Peacock Grand Café in November at 2020 K Street.  Check them out!

Just a little bit off-subject, do you feel that Halloween has been going on for two weeks straight?  I’ve been celebrating Halloween for the last two weeks and counting. By the time my kids are taking their costumes off, we are putting them on again.  I also keep on telling my wife to take the chocolates and candy off all our living room tables, because by the time Thanksgiving is here I won’t have any space left for that epic turkey she makes every year.  By-the-way, does anyone know how to deep-fry a turkey without burning down the house?

Sunday was full day, between the Marine Corps Marathon, the Del Ray Halloween festival and the cocktail party we went to for one of the most accomplished scientists of our generation.

I was able to stop by the Del Ray Halloween Parade and take some pictures of all the little trick-or-treaters and parents showing off their costumes.  It was a great event with a huge amount of participation.  Every playground on Mt. Vernon Ave. was covered with kids dressed up as dragons, pumpkins and all sorts of Disney characters.  If you were not able to make it there, check out our pictures.

Speaking of pictures, Dale Photo Imaging is teaming up with Local Kicks to bring you photos of the community.  Localkicks and Dale Photo will be holding photo contests for you to show off all your fun and beautiful experiences in life.  Whether it is your home, kids, sport activities, weddings, travel adventures or just a beautiful shot that you are proud of. 

This week, we will be holding a Halloween costume and home decorations contest and the winner will receive a $25 gift certificate at Dale Photo.  All you need to do is take pictures of your little trick-or-treaters (dressed-up pets are in!) and your decorated homes and drop them by Dale Photo so that they can be posted on Local Kicks to be voted on!   Most of the pictures will be posted with the top ones being voted on.

Alexandria local and owner of Pacers Running Stores Chris Farley ran the Marine Corps Marathon, finishing 85th with a 2:50:24 time.  The wind was a little gusty but the weather was perfect.  I was carving more Pumpkins during the race…

Later on, we all watched the Redskins get whipped.  Before the game, several of us Redskins fans including myself had a feeling that we would win the game.  I was excited, but the excitement did not last long.  I had just finished taunting my brother-in-law about his favorite team the Carolina Panthers losing to the Indianapolis Colts by 24 points and was preparing myself for the biggest upset of the season, but all I got was an upset stomach.  The Patriots are great, but let’s face it - we are horrible right now.  Our 5th-ranked defense looked like a high school team. I don’t care how good the New England Patriots are, you don’t allow your opponent to score 52 points.  I’m not going to mention the offense, since there is nothing to report there.  Al Sanders please pack up and go.  We still have a shot at the 2nd wild card spot, probably competing with Detroit or Green Bay.  We have a lot of work ahead of us to make the playoffs.  The Bandwagon has taken a wrong turn, please let’s not crash!

By the time the 4th quarter came upon us, I was on my way to an exciting evening.  Our friends Mandy and David Kiernan were hosting a cocktail party at one of Old Town’s favorite hangouts Landini Brothers for local J. Craig Venter, one of leading scientists of the 21st century, for his visionary contributions in genomic research. He is founder and president of the J. Craig Venter Institute and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation.   

He has just published his biography A life Decoded.  A Life Decoded is the triumphant story of one of the most fascinating and controversial figures in science today. In his riveting and inspiring account Venter tells of the unparalleled drama of the quest for the human genome, a tale that involves as much politics (personal and political) as science. He also reveals how he went on to be the first to read and interpret his own genome and what it will mean for all of us to do the same. He describes his recent sailing expedition to sequence microbial life in the ocean, as well as his groundbreaking attempt to create synthetic life. Here is one of the key scientific chronicles of our lifetime, as told by the man who beat the odds to make it happen.  

Craig just came back from London where he was promoting his book and was the featured guest on the Colbert Report on Tuesday night on Comedy Central. You can watch his interview by clicking the “most recent Videos” tab on the Colbert Report website. It is probably the second or third video.

A Weekend in Alexandria

by www.Localkicks.com

My weekend started Friday night with a stop at Hank’s Oyster Bar - I finally got to see the new place. We got there early, so we made a quick stop at Vermilion. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there. The place is still fun, but I have to say it does not have the same buzz it used to have on weekends (we made another stop around 10 pm). Back to Hank’s - since we arrived early, we got the best table by the window and it was fun. We had: oysters, steamed shrimp in Old Bay, and lobster rolls. Yes we were hungry!  The service was great, the staff was very friendly, and the atmosphere is nice, but the bar area is tiny. The bar really fits 3-4 people, otherwise you’re blocking the stairs to where the kitchen is (I felt bad for the chef and servers having to go up and down all day long).  We loved it and I think we finally have a restaurant at that address that will stay a while. Thank you Hank’s!

I forgot to mention The Carlyle Club. Mari Stull, our biggest supporter and the Carlyle's wine director (in addition to Club BV* and Vino Vixen, and probably 20 more things) took me for an exclusive tour Friday of the Carlyle Club. What a nice treat for Alexandria. With a great bar and an awesome stage, get ready to be sent back the 40s and 50s and enjoy big band entertainment. The grand opening is October 20th, with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra playing for two nights. They’ll start with 2 shows on the weekends with ticket prices around $70-$80 (excluding alcohol & gratuity - ticket price includes the show ticket). The menu covers all the bases, with something for anybody’s palate. We wish the Carlyle Club the best of luck. It’s time for Old Town to swing!

Saturday morning Alexandria was in for a treat, with Del Ray hosting the 12th annual Art on the Avenue festival. Not a lot of towns get to enjoy so many fun local activities. Mount Vernon Ave. was closed to automobile traffic as festival goers, artists, locals, tourists, kids and dogs enjoyed the day. If that wasn’t enough, we were also invited to an October Fest neighborhood party off Tulane drive - it was so much fun! The neighborhood was alive, with hay rides, face painting and a band for the kids and adults. The grill was cooking from noon till 3 pm.   

Saturday night we decided to cook a seared tuna steak, so I picked a recipe and went to Balducci's on Franklin and Washington streets. I needed sushi grade tuna, and I only trust Balducci's or Whole Foods when it comes to fresh fish. You are probably saying why should we care about your dinner plans, but it was my experience with Balducci’s staff that inspired me to write about my trip there. Balducci’s seafood assistant Cheikh Seck was great – he listened to what I wanted and helped me find the perfect tuna. I needed one more ingredient (Chili Asian oil), and after looking around I saw store assistant Vicki Albe and asked for her help. After searching high and low we couldn’t find it, so I thanked her and went on. To my surprise, she kept reappearing with alternatives until she finally found what we were looking for. I can still see her smile, wishing me a great tuna dinner (and yes, it was a great dinner -not only because I’m a great cook :) but because Balducci’s friendly and helpful attitude made my dinner 10 times better). 

It’s funny how some gourmet shops seem to believe that the cold shoulder treatment somehow makes their shop more exclusive and special (aren't you special by just being there?). They have it wrong, it’s the friendly, sincere and helpful attitude that makes customers come back again and again.  Balducci's - you have great service thanks to people like Seck and Vicki.

Are you ready for some Football?

Sunday was do-or-die for the Redskins and we were there to witness it all.

I wore my lucky Redskins tee shirt, in which the Redskins have never lost a game (no I don't wear it every game, only when we really need it and I have that feeling). The Redskins for the first time this season gave a full performance.  From start to finish the team played flawlessly. The defense devoured Kitna and on offense, Campbell (even without Moss) never looked back. What a day!  My voice is not back yet from all the cheering.

We have a tough game next week but you know what, I am for the first time this year excited about a tough game. If we play like we played on Sunday, It doesn’t matter who we play – we’ll give ‘em game.  I love Favre, but next week he will be enjoying the dirt in Lambeau field.  

Go Skins!

We have a tough game next week but you know what, I am for the first time this year excited about a tough game. If we play like we played on Sunday, It doesn’t matter who we play – we’ll give ‘em game.  I love Favre, but next week he will be enjoying the dirt in Lambeau field.  

Go Skins!

Chef Morou survives, inspired by the Redskins performance!

Sunday night,Alexandria’s own Chef Morou (Farrah Olivia) was bloodied but unbowed. With amazing speed and great talent he avoided elimination in the first round of the Next Iron Chef.  Keep your blades sharp chef Morou! You can watch the Next Iron Chef every Sunday at 9pm on The Food Network.

You don't have to score a touchdown to win a football game…

I was off Monday and took the kids to see "The Game Plan". At first I thought it was ok - just another kids movie. But it ended up being a great ending to the holiday weekend (an even better ending would be if Dallas loses tonight). The movie is great for the whole family. It’s funny and witty, with a lot good messages for both the kids and parents. Even moms were crying (not usual for a football movie – Anne, I won't tell anybody!!). I truly recommend it!

Old Town – A Week In Review

by: www.localkicks.com

Food and Wine

Hank’s Oyster Bar is finally open (1026 King Street in Old Town), bringing Hank’s legendary seafood to this side of the Potomac.  If you love oysters and seafood like I do, then your stomach has a new place to get excited about!  Don’t forget to try their lobster roll and raw oyster bar.  You can visit their website at www.hanksdc.com (I hope they can get “www.hanksot.com” for Old Town).

O’Connell’s has a new chef and he’s bringing lots of new and exciting items to their menu.  I have to admit that I haven’t tried any of his new creations yet, but the aromas recently wafting from the kitchen while I was downing a pint of beer at the bar are to die for.  Let’s all welcome Chef Colin Abernathy and wish him “ádh mór ort” (best of luck)!

Don’t miss next week - Club BV* Goes DC!

Rumberos Latinamerican Bar and Restaurant 
Wednesday October 10th – 6-7:30 PM

Enjoy eight wines with one endless glass
Thirty dollars all inclusive
Rumberos Latinamerican Bar and Restaurant 
3345 14th St NW
Washington DC 20010

There’s a limited guest list, so don’t delay!
rsvp now

Helping build dreams

Our town hosts some great charity organizations - one that always shines is the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. Last weekend, the ASF held its annual Seaport Day down on the riverfront.

Friday was Corporate Team Boat Building Day.  Among participants were teams from Northrop Grumman and Shirley Contracting.  The teams began at 9:00 AM and had beautiful wooden boats built by 3:00, which were then launched & raced.  It was great fun!

Saturday, under beautiful skies, several families came down for Seaport Day to build a Bevin Skiff, a wooden rowboat/sailboat.  They completed and launched them on Sunday. The families loved the experience.

Thanks to all the great sponsors!

- Tee Shirts   (Vineyard Vines of Greenwich, CT)
- Trophies     (Descosta's)
- Lunch          (Faccia Luna)
- Fresh Fruit (Trader Joe's)
- Pastries       (Firehook)

For more information on either event, contact Kathy Seifert at Alexandria Seaport Foundation....703-549-7078
www.alexandriaseaport.org

FitOne's Grand Opening

This past Friday, FitOne celebrated the Grand Opening of their new studio in Old Town. Over 90 people dropped by and were treated to Boxing, Belly Dancing, and Pilates demonstrations while enjoying healthy cocktails and appetizers (including cake!).The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce hosted the official ribbon cutting.

Congratulations FitOne!

Tale of two cities

We’re not a political publication, but we do like hearing your opinions.  Recently, we held a poll about our city and how friendly and helpful it is towards our businesses, and your response has been pretty negative. We interact daily with local businesses, and most have echoed your opinion.  We’d love to hear more on the subject - visit our forums and leave your opinions. By the way, local elections are Nov. 6 – get out and vote!  It’s the best way (with Local Kicks a close second) to have your voice heard.

Beyond this Season – What will the Redskins do?

I’m sure nobody is thinking about next season yet.  The redskins are 2-1 and playing Detroit (3-1) on Sunday.  Some of us are thinking playoffs and some are not.  But is anybody thinking about the future of the Redskins? I’m talking about the next 3-5 years.  Why do I bring this up now? Because always thinking ahead is how winning organizations are built.  The coaches are planning a game at a time during the season based on their existing talent and schedule, while there’s another part of the staff whose sole job is plotting out the next 3-5 years, evaluating undergraduate talent and future free agents.  With one year left (after this year) in Joe Gibbs’s contract, two things can happen:

1. He will renew his contract and hopefully take this organization to the next level - which means one or both of his assistant coaches could go since they both think they will be the next head coach.  This scenario begs the question, why did we pay “head coach” salaries for assistant coaches who will be gone soon and haven’t performed up to expectations?

2. He will leave and pass his job to one of his assistant coaches (probably Al Sanders).  But then what did we accomplish during the Gibbs era? I’m still seeing a lot of similarities with the past. We still make a lot of the same mistakes and now have an older team. Do we have a good rebuilding plan in place? 

I’m not pessimistic, but I don’t think we are a great team yet.  We still make so many mistakes and it’s going to take some time to correct.  I just hope management is not going to repeat the same mistakes they’ve made in the past (we are pros at that). 
Now back to the present, one game at a time.  Tough game next week but a must win, especially after losing last week to the Giants. We cannot afford to lose more home games. 
Go Skins!

Old Town – A Week In Review

by: www.localkicks.com

Places to go and things to do

Craving some French cuisine, search no more, Bastille Restaurant a modern French Bistro located at 1201 North Royal Street in Old Town is the place to be.  Founded by Chef Christophe Poteau and Chef Michelle Garbee formerly of the Watergate hotel, Bastille is a great addition to Alexandria.  Check it out! http://www.bastillerestaurant.com

Another reminder - Farrah Olivia will be holding its first wine dinner with George Sparks from Silverado Winery on Thursday September 27 at 7:30pm.  Farrah Olivia welcomes guest to come join them at 7pm for complimentary champagne and cocktails. 5-Course Dinner with Silverado wine pairing is $80 plus tax and tip.

Wine tasting anyone?  Club BV* is the place to go on Thursdays.  This Thursday, Club BV* is featuring eight Italians wines at 100 King.  To ensure substantial enjoyment, education, and wine for all, only a limited number of reservations will be accepted. Please RSVP at www.vinovixen.org.

Want to have fun this weekend and help the Alexandria Seaport Foundation? Drop by the waterfront this weekend and participate in Seaport Day, the foundation’s annual boatbuilding weekend.  Enjoy a weekend of boat building, boat shows, model boat building, boat rides, and more! (Check out our article in The Word for more info)

Our community is writing for Local Kicks

From the beginning, we’ve envisioned Local Kicks as a bridge between Alexandria’s organizations and businesses and our readers.  Today, we are happy to announce the addition of three distinguished local writers to our Local Kicks offerings.

Cindy McCartney owner of Diva Boutique brings Local Kicks an urgent sense of fashion coupled with her witty humor.  If you have not been to Diva Boutique, we invite you to read her first article and you can ask her questions on our forums if you want.

We also welcome Robyn Webb, M.S., L.N. cookbook author, nutritionist and owner of Alexandria's A Pinch of Thyme Culinary Services as our new food and health editor.  For the last 17 years Robyn Webb has served Alexandria and surrounding areas with her expertise in healthy cooking and nutrition.  Her services include private cooking classes, nutritional counseling with a specialty in diabetes management, speaker services and catering.  She has written 10 books with the American Diabetes Association, Readers Digest and now her most recent with the prestigious Cleveland Clinic.  She is a regular cooking segment guest on NBC Channel 10 in Philadelphia.  She is the food editor of Diabetes Forecast Magazine and her articles have also appeared in Cooking Light.  And when you see her shopping at the Whole Foods, please do say hello!! She can be reached at www.robynwebb.com or 703-683-5034.  You can read her first article here, or watch her video on our front page.  

And lastly, we introduce Bob Madison, author of “Walking with Washington: Walking Tours of Alexandria, Virginia”. Bob is vice-president of the Alexandria Historical Society, which is dedicated to researching, recording, discussing, and publishing every aspect of Alexandria’s contributions to the Nation. He is also active in volunteer work around Alexandria. He’s been honored with Alexandria Archaeology’s Volunteer of the Year award; he is a docent at the Carlyle House; and he gives “Walking with Washington” walking tours in Alexandria.

Welcome all and thank you for your contributions!

A tough loss to swallow followed by a tougher schedule to come?

I was invited to go to the game on Sunday, but I was out with kids all week (thank God).  I always find it extremely hard when I go to a game and we end up losing.  For some reason, it feels different than when I am at home. Maybe it’s because at the game you really feel like the 12th man.  This week , I watched the game at home and by half time we were all cheering, thinking 3-0 and screaming “We want Dallas”.  After eating more food and having a couple of beer, I was stuck to the couch.  The Redskins followed my pursuit.  The Offense went 3 and out twice and could not deliver anything.  At the end we lost which was coupled with the drama of going 4 and 0 yards from the 1 yard line. 
But maybe the loss was a good thing to get us ready for the touch schedule ahead.  We have the lions home who just got humiliated so don’t count them out. after that we play Green Bay one of the hottest teams in the league and 2 weeks later we play the Jets and New England on the road. 

There are several things that worry me:

1 – Our offensive line is so thin and I am not sure if they will be able to protect Campbell.    
2 – Campbell is still learning and while he sometimes throws these brilliant passes, the next play he will surprise us with an interception or a bad pass.
3 – What is Al Sanders doing?  Gibbs had a more aggressive offense before he arrived.  His calls are so predictable and conservative.
4 – Dallas looks so good.  I will still say “We want Dallas” but with caution.
5 – Oh and by the way Brandon Lloyd, is he still playing with Redskins or taking pictures of himself?  We should at least give him a chance after all the money we paid him.

I am still on the bandwagon and excited about rebuilding this team, but if you asked based on our performance this last 3 games, I would say we are a 7-9, 8-8 or 9-7 team.  I hope they prove me wrong.

Go Skins!

The Nationals say goodbye to RFK in style!

Sunday was a beautiful day for watching the final Nationals game in RFK stadium. The weather was perfect, and the Nationals had a chance to do something positive for the record books. Incredibly, after three years in Washington, the Nationals had a dead-even 121-121 record at home. Well, the Nats came through in front of the largest crowd this year; beating the Phillies 5-3 and leaving RFK with a winning overall record.

I have mixed emotions about leaving RFK. The stadium was certainly good to us, and we all have our own great stories about the place. The stadium is seeped in sports legend. I’ll miss its unique shape and broken chairs, I’ll miss the seismic shaking of the stands during the cheers.  I am looking forward to the new stadium, if only for the increased number of restrooms and food choices, better seating, sight lines, audio and video. It’s up to the Nationals to endear us to the new stadium.

May they give us players, plays and memories that will make us love the new stadium as much as we’ve loved RFK.

By: www.localkicks.com

Old Town Restaurants and Chefs

Our neighborhood restaurants have been in the press quite a bit lately, winning accolades such as the James Beard and Rammy Awards. Most recently (and for the second year in a row), Farrah Olivia’s chef Morou will be sharpening his knives on the Food Network’s Iron Chef series. This season the show is called the “Next Iron Chef” and will debut Sunday, October 7th at 9 PM. The Next Iron Chef features 8 chefs chosen from around the country competing for a permanent “Iron Chef” spot, joining Bobby Flay, Mario Batali and Morimoto. Chef Morou appeared on Iron Chef America in July 2006. For more information about the show please visit http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_io

If you would like to get a sneak preview of Chef Morou’s beautiful and tasty food creations, you should definitely RSVP for Farrah Olivia’s first wine dinner with George Sparks from Silverado Winery on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 7:30pm. They also welcome guests to come in at 7pm for complimentary champagne and cocktails. The 5-Course Dinner with Silverado wine pairing is only $80 plus tax and tip.

We wish Chef Morou the best of luck! See you on the 27th

The Redskins are 2 –0 after a battle of wills on Monday night

I have to tell you I was scared last night.  We are 2-8 on Monday nights and for the last 3 years going to Philadelphia has not been a pleasant experience.  But last night, you could sense something different was in the air. It all started with a surprising long pass from Campbell to Cooley (which Cooley dropped, but made up for it later in the game). That pass summed up the new confidence the offense is showing. The players seem to be buying into Al Saunders, and the offense is starting to click.  It was also great to see our defense go after Donovan McNabb, rushing and sacking him all night long. 

This is a huge win for the Redskins.  If we beat the Giants and Detroit the next two weeks, we will be in great position to weather the tough part of the schedule, with games against New England, Green Bay and Dallas on the road. 

We contribute a lot of the Redskins’ early success this year to the brilliant move by Danny Snyder to hire Belle Haven local Janice Schmidt as his Senior Vice President of Marketing.

Go Skins.  Any spots left on the Bandwagon???

Gunston Soccer – A community icon

Being that I have two girls ages 5 and 7, I now know Gunston Soccer pretty well.  I literally spend about an hour on Thursdays and about 4 hours every Saturday with the other Gunston Dads and Moms.  What a wonderful place! 

Even though we had to be there at the crack of dawn last Saturday for my youngest daughter’s game, as soon as they started we were all wide awake, energized and cheering our young kids.  Community activities such as Gunston Soccer Club make our neighborhood very special.  It brings us all together as coaches, parents, kids and cheerleaders.

For more information about Gunston Soccer Club, please visit
http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=gunston>

Old Town – A Week In Review

by www.localkicks.com

Last week was a busy one in Alexandria, with the Arts Festival, Fireworks, Redskins, and Senator Warner’s surprise announcement. Here’s our take on it all.

Alexandria’s 5th Annual Festival of the Arts

On Saturday September 11th, Old Town Alexandria was transformed into a huge outdoor Gallery with over 200 artists from around the country. The festival featured paintings, drawings, life-sized sculptures, jewelry, photography, ceramics and more. All of King Street, from Washington Street down to the water, was filled with artist’s booths. It was really quite a site!

King Street was alive (and hot!) with busy shoppers and art enthusiasts all day long.  My only complaint was the lack of easy access to cold water and beverages. It was really hot this weekend, and a few outdoor vendors would have helped immensely.  I understand local restaurants wanted people to come inside their own establishments, but who wants to go inside a sit down restaurant to get a bottle of water (and would they even have one)? Anyway, the festival was great, and we’ll definitely be making a return visit next year!

If you loved the Art Festival, then you should save the date for the Alexandria International Film Festival (September 27-30). They’ll be featuring 8-10 international films not seen before in our greater Washington area, as well as films produced by students from the Mount Vernon Community and the Samuel W. Tucker Elementary Schools. For more information you can visit:
http://www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org/  (703) 838-6348





Alexandria’s Great (but not well publicized) Birthday Fireworks

Happy (belated) Birthday Old Town!

What a great night it was Saturday, sitting in 70-degree weather under the stars in Oronoco Park listening to great jazz and watching the fireworks.  Kids played and rolled down the hills while adults relaxed, sipping wine and enjoying the delayed but never cancelled city Celebration. Why the delay? On July 7 (Alexandria’s official birthday), it seems there was a mix-up and the fire department wasn’t notified in time to do a proper inspection. Mayor Euille apologized and promised Alexandria that the show would go on, only at a later date. I just wish the event was better promoted! Although it was nice to have plenty of space to spread out a blanket and relax, it’s a shame more people didn’t know about it. We asked numerous people on the street during the Art Festival, and the majority had not heard about it. Everybody there had a great time - I just wish we could have had more Alexandrians celebrating with us.

Happy (belated) Birthday Alexandria!

Should we be excited that the Redskins won?

The answer is absolutely, a win is a win.  We should celebrate and get ready for the Eagles next week.

But concerning the season, how excited should we be?  The jury’s still out on that one.  As in years past, the Redskins have succeeded in transforming this summer’s anticipation and excitement into guarded optimism and big question marks.  Are we a 9-7 or 7-9 team?  Are we worthy of making the playoffs?  Is Gibbs’ 4th year (and probably his most important) of his 5 year contract going to finally produce the team of the future?  I’m not
sure anybody knows the answers, especially after yesterday’s performance.  The offense looked shaky (with a few bright spots), but it’s not an offense that could beat Dallas or the Eagles (who we face next week).  Our defense looked good, with the exception of the cornerbacks who allowed some big plays.  With our great history, we’re perhaps overly optimistic and expect the Skins to go to the Super Bowl every year, even though it’s been a long 16 years since the last trip. To show you how optimistic I was, I picked Brandon Lloyd against Miami in my fantasy football roster (he got 0 yards).  But again, I’m a Redskins fan. If I lose my optimism, I’ll have nothing!

 Next week at Philadelphia, we have a big test.

Go Skins!

Senator Warner will retire after 3 decades in the Senate, will another
Warner take his place?

Senator John Warner announced he’s retiring from the Senate at the end of this term. We want to take the opportunity to thank this proud Alexandrian for his 3 decades of service to Virginia and the United States.

Former governor (and also Alexandrian) Mark Warner has expressed an interest in running for the Senate if a seat was to become vacant. Will he take the plunge, or go for an even bigger prize – the White House?

Also, you might not know that Senator Warner is a great Tennis player. Maybe with the extra time he’ll soon have and knowing the senator’s dedication to everything he does, we’ll see a new name atop the club champions list!

Browse The Arts by www.localkicks.com

We’ve added a new section to Local Kicks! The Arts is where to go to find out what’s happening in Alexandria’s vibrant arts scene.. Alexandria is known as one of the Top art destinations in the US, and with good reason. Two great organizations are headlining the section, The Art League and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. They’ll keep us plugged in to Alexandria’s art current, through event postings and commentaries on the state of art in Alexandria. If you know others who would be interested in contributing, go to our forums and leave us a message!

The Art League

"By nurturing the artist, we enrich the community. The Art League develops the artist through education, exhibition, and a stimulating, supportive environment,
while sharing the experience of the visual arts with the community."

For over 50 years, The Art League has been the patron saint for art in Alexandria. Located in the Torpedo Factory, the Art League is an arts organization that is many things at once; a gallery to display member artist’s works, an art school for people of any skill level, and a supply store for local artists. There are monthly juried shows for member artist. There are also internships available for students. Classes in all mediums are available for children and adults, and are very popular.

Volunteering is an integral part of The Art League, and it’s a great way to get involved! Anything from hospitality & telephoning, to carpentry & computer work is greatly appreciated. Drop by and make a difference! 

The Art League
105 North Union Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 683-1780
www.theartleague.org    

The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra

“The mission of the ASO is to provide quality, affordable and accessible music in the greater Metropolitan area of Northern Virginia through its highly respected,
innovative, professional performances and programming. To foster a life-long appreciation of symphonic music, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to strengthening arts education in schools.”

The ASO was founded in 1954, and is the oldest professional orchestra in Northern Virginia. The ASO is known for its ability to combine classical and contemporary music with other art forms. "If I were to look at all the orchestras in the region -- and we're lucky to have dozens -- I would say that the distinguishing feature for the Alexandria Symphony would be its partnerships with the other arts," recently stated maestro Kim Allen Kluge (musical director of the ASO) to the Washington Post.

How good is the ASO you ask? It can go toe-to-toe with any symphony in the region, including the big one across the river. Proof? Kluge was recently awarded Best Conductor at the annual Washington Area Music Awards (the Wammies).The ASO produces eight concerts each year in the beautiful Schlesinger Concert Hall. Visit the ASO and hear for yourself!

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
2121 Eisenhower Ave., Suite 608
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-0885
www.alexsym.org

www.localkicks.com

Do you shop for fashion in Old Town, or do you go to DC, Tyson’s Corner, or maybe online?  We’ve a compiled a list of favorite fashion stops in Old Town. 
Please share your opinion and let us know which spots you frequent. 
Also, don’t forget to take advantage of the special offers at Periwinkle and Diva.

1) American in Paris – Paris fashion at your fingertips!

Owned by the colorful Joelle Solimano, American in Paris boutique offers fashion-forward styles by American and European designers. Gowns, dresses, bridesmaid’s attire, suits, tops, jeans, handbags and jewelry combine to create a classic yet versatile wardrobe. Want more? Get trusted advice from their personalized style consultant services.  We say “colorful” because people either love her as the tres chic Madame with the exuberant and welcoming “Bonjour”, or grouse about how she doesn’t allow anyone to touch the fabrics in her store, and has cameras watching their every move.  Everyone agrees that she has a great selection of fashionable and unique clothing lines.  You make the call and don’t forget to let us know…

American in Paris
1225 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 519-8234

2) Diva – Do you want to be a diva?

Cindy McCartney opened Diva, a designer consignment store just off King Street in a beautiful building from the 1880’s.
She opened her shop so her “shopaholic compatriots (including herself) could recover some of the money they had spent
on things they had worn once--or had never worn at all.” She carries new and almost new women's designer clothing, shoes
and accessories by Prada, Chanel, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Burberry and Diane Von Furstenberg, and more.

Drop by Diva and use their special offer!

Diva
116 S. Pitt Street
Alexandria VA 22314
(703) 683-1022
http://www.divaboutiqueva.com/

3) Hysteria – Everything is beautiful, so feel free to go crazy!

In 1999, Courtney Reynolds opened Hysteria to fill a void she saw in women’s accessories. By 2001, she had moved the store to Old Town and added upscale women’s clothing to the mix. Hysteria offers a unique mix of fashion lines such as Trina Turk, Milly, Lela Rose and others in a beautiful, friendly, and fun environment. Recently, Hysteria was acquired by Sherman Pickey, a “authentically preppy" clothing store in Georgetown. Not to fret! Sherman Pickey says that they’ll keep the store exactly as it is now, and have even retained the same buyer. Drop by and tell us what you think.

Hysteria
125 S. Fairfax St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-1615
http://www.shophysteria.com

4) Periwinkle – Pick your favorite dress

The selection is very feminine and hip. Elizabeth Mason started with pieces that could be easily added to a work wardrobe, including accessories such as shoes and belts. Now she expanded into jeans, weekend wear and more youthful clothing. She also carries clothing suitable for weddings, showers, and black tie events. Elizabeth’s mantra - “No hard sales! I want you to be 100% happy with what you buy here. The clothes aren’t cheap, so you better feel like a million bucks. What you get here should make you feel better about yourself – this will transfer to your life.”

Don’t forget to check out Periwinkle’s special offer!

Periwinkle
1557 Potomac Greens Drive
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 519-5242
www.periwinkleshop.com

5) The Shoe Hive – Where the shoes are buzzing

Fashion starts with great shoes, and the Shoe Hive is buzzing with all your shoe needs.  The Shoe Hive covers all the bases - from inexpensive everyday flats to high-end heels and wedges.  They carry unique and fun designers such as Bronx, Gola, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch and others. 

The Shoe Hive
115 South Royal Street
Alexandria VA 22314
(703) 548-7105
www.shoehive.com

6) Treat – Treat yourself to great fashion at great discounts.

Become an “insider” – get your designer fashions for deep discounts at Treat. Treat is a new concept that does all the legwork for you. They search boutique and department clothing stores' overstock for the best designers and designs and offer them at great savings (30-70% off) in their boutique, which is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Treat
114 S. Royal Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 535-3294
http://www.shoptreat.com

Find more about our community at www.localkicks.com

Hey wine-ohs! Last week, I read the www.LocalKicks.com  “Best Coffee Shops in Alexandria” article with interest and a smile. Before I begin tasting wine for my critiques, I always have to rev up with some serious caffeine. Along with that caffeine, I often enjoy area coffee houses for an office respite to concentrate on my wine writing. Suffice to say, I enjoyed that article immensely – and hope you did, too.

To compliment last week’s splendid compendium of coffee digs, this week Local Kicks asked me to compile my picks for some of the best wine lists and wine specials in Alexandria. Here they are - there are lots more outside the historic cobblestone streets of Old Town, but I limited my assemblage to those within walking distance of my home.

 Le Refuge
127 Washington Street
(703)548-4661

Le Refuge Chef and Proprietor Jean-Francois Chaufour firmly believes that wine makes every meal an occasion - and there is an occasion for every wine. Accordingly, Chaufour has taken great pains to assemble a stellar list of French wines that appeal to every taste and credit card limit. A lovely 2004 Muscadet Sur Lie sells for under $28, while a 1989 Margaux Grand-cru tops the list at $165.95. Over 65 other wines remain in between. 

Although the wines represent a diverse assemblage of interesting French labels, the real appeal of this list is its price to quality ratio. Often Chaufour purchases good young wines that will age beautifully to exceptional wines. Chaufour then marks the cases with the price paid and ages them – sometimes for a decade. When ready, Chaufour lists them on his menu using the original price paid as the basis for list price. The result yields a well-priced list of mature wines not obtainable in most wine shops. I have pored through Le Refuge’s wine list and recommend the following wines as examples of these value wines

RED
1998 Chateau La Gurgue - $56.95
Bordeaux
Margaux, France
Heard of the impossibly expensive “Chateau Margaux”, producer of one of the world's greatest and most sought-after Bordeaux?  Well, this wine hails from the same village and its teeny vineyard sits among the same grapes as its famous cousin. This is a beautiful, classic Bordeaux, blended with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Lovely that Monsieur Chaufour has already graciously aged it for you. (from Alexandria Times Vino Vixen Column July 2006)

WHITE
2003 Le Mâcon-Loché - $29.95
Macon Villages, France
This white Burgundy is 100% Chardonnay aged in French (naturally) oak. This is a lighter style Chardonnay and is very easy to drink. Has notes of floral and honey. Try this with Le Refuge’s fish of the day.

 OVERWOOD Restaurant
220 North Lee Street
(703)535-3340

One of Old Town's newest culinary additions, OVERWOOD deserves a "well done" on their inventive and well-priced wine list.
Visit on a Tuesday and enjoy any wine on their thoughtful list for 1/2 price. By the glass, try:

2005 Dr Loosen - $7.00/glass
Riesling
Mosel, Germany
Throw away any preconceptions about Rieslings being sweet. This Mosel classic Kabinett-style Riesling is crisp with racy minerality. Notes of green apples and a hint of pear round out this very food-friendly wine.

100 King Restaurant
100 King Street
(703)299-0076

100 King has arguably the most inventive wine by the glass list in Old Town, with 24 wines by the glass and another 50 by the bottle.
And after work, you can enjoy a large 6 oz pour of a select red or white for just $4.  

A recent addition to their wine list that I specifically request whenever I sip is:

2005 Kaiken $8/6 oz glass, $31/bottle
Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina
Stupendous wine a solidly good price. Tannins will soften substantially if you ask the bartender or waiter to open it 30 minutes before your entrée. Nice fruit, complemented by a body of oak and cassis.
Here is the steal of the month for August: between 5 – 6.30 Tues-Fri, tell them The Vino Vixen sent you and enjoy a ¼ pitcher of Kaiken for just $4.  REALLY. Go sip some. At that price, it’s cheaper than buying a bottle at your wine shop. VINO VIXEN TOP VALUE*

Bistrot Lafayette
1118 King Street
(703)548-2525

A well-rounded wine list leaning towards the Francophile in you. 

Enjoy the list on Mondays when all day long the wines are half price.

Vermilion Restaurant
1120 King Street
(703)684-9669

The Restaurant Group always ensures their wine lists are among the best priced and selected around. Vermilion is no exception to their rule. Four bucks at happy hour between 4-7 pm gets you a glass of the bartender’s choice. This week enjoy a Chilean Temperanillo. Nice thing about the Vermilion wine list is that is so extensive by the glass – over 20 wines are regularly featured. 
Try a few – ½ pours are ½ price. I particularly enjoy this Argentinean gem:

2004 Tittarelli Reserva de Familia - $7/glass, $28/bottle
Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina
The Tittarelli family has been producing outstanding wines in Argentina since 1915. This Malbec is an extraordinary value – Vermilion did us a favor by pricing it so reasonably.  Well-structured wine with notes of eucalyptus and black cherry.  Beautiful inky dark hue. 

Geranio Restaurant
722 King Street
(703)548-0088

Really fine wine list – obviously leaning towards the Italians. Geranio hosts several wine dinners each year and they always hold back some bottles from the dinners – ask to see the list of those labels. Often only one or two remain, and they are usually well priced and unique. My favorite on their regular wine list is a Valpolicella, which is produced Ripasso style. Made in a similar fashion to the oh-so-expensive Amarones. This is a steal:

2004 Begali Vigneto La Cengia - $32/bottle
Valpolicella Repasso
Piemonte, Italy
Unbelievable, elegant, and well-structured wine with a long, lush finish that is an absolute steal. Compare to a $70 Amarone.

Geranio waives corkage on Sunday and Tuesday and for their preferred guests (sign up in the restaurant or via website www.geranio.net and get a 50% discount on their wine of the month, sent out via email newsletter).

Have I missed your favorite wine list?  Share the wealth and let me know.  Leave me a message in the forums at www.localkicks.com , or drop me a line at: VinoVixen@VinoVixen.org. Also, Check out the great event Club BV is throwing at Morrison House. Champagne and chocolate for everyone!

Cheers!

Alexandria’s Unique Coffee Shops

by: www.localkicks.com

Nowadays, there's that coffee shop with the green logo just about everywhere you look. We’ve decided to highlight ones that
do it a bit differently – their own special way. Our list highlights local coffee houses that have their own unique signature.
We know there are others out there, but we’re going to have to limit it to ones we’ve tried.

If you know of one that we’ve missed, tell us about it in our forums.We’d love to try it out!

Here’s our roundup of Alexandria coffee shops:

1) St Elmo’s

Opened in 1996, this quickly became the definition of the neighborhood coffee shop. Located on Mt. Vernon Street in Del Ray, St. Elmo’s is situated in the center of a neighborhood that prides itself on its uniqueness and community spirit. St Elmo’s is the
meeting place for the community. Neighborhood artist and musicians display their wares while local businessmen, mothers with strollers, and neighborhood leaders hold court at the tables and couches that abound here.

There’s also Wifi, plenty of outdoor seating for people watching, and it’s dog-friendly.

St Elmo’s
82300 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 22301
              (703) 739 - 9268 
      

2) Misha’s

Misha’s is the oldest coffee house in Alexandria – it’s been around since 1991. Walk in and you immediately notice the aroma, the jars of coffee beans, the burlap bags, and the coffee roaster in the corner. They’ve been roasting their beans in house since day one. To insure the highest quality, all of their beans are hand-picked and high grown (altitudes ranging from 3000-6000 feet).
There’s only one location, and they’re proud of it. Misha’s won’t be confused with a Starbucks – there’s a worn, beatnik look
to it, with a smoker’s room and enough locals to keep it crowded. They take their coffee seriously.

Misha’s
102 South Patrick Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone:               703-548-4089
       

3) Perk Up

Owned by 2 twenty-somethings, this shop is the epitome of “laid back”. Adam and Ryan are two local guys who are really enjoying their business, getting to know their regulars by their first name. Their coffee is Illy (can’t go wrong with that), and they’re doggy treats and free WiFi for everyone. This place is so well-liked by its customers that they don’t even complain when they’re
locked in after closing (true story)!

Perk Up
2000 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
              (703) 549-5051   
    

4) Buzz

Buzz is the latest creation of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group (owners of restaurants such as Evening Star, Vermilion, and Rustico). In this endeavor, they focus on great coffee and great pastries. Illy Coffee is their choice, and Chef Lisa Scruggs is the pastry wizard. Buzz is open and airy and quite kid-friendly during the day. There’s an area for kids to play while you relax with
your coffee. Free WiFi as well. At night, it livens up and gets more of a loungy feel, serving liquor, live music and fun times!

Buzz
901 Slater’s Lane
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
              (703)600-2899    
   

5) Old Town Gourmet Market

This has just opened, but deserves quick mention because these guys buy their beans directly from the source in Ethiopia. Their agents in Ethiopia buy directly from the farmers. All of it is free-trade, organic, and one-batch. They roast and package the coffee themselves. The owners are friendly, and you can people-watch on King Street while you enjoy your coffee! Try it out – tell them you heard it from Local Kicks!

Old Towne Gourmet Market
904 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

6) Firehook

Since 1992, Firehook is probably better known for its bread, but people fill in for coffee as well. Since it now has 11 locations,
some might label it a chain. But the store has its roots in Old Town, so it gets a mention. The coffee is good – I don’t know what it is or where it comes from, but it’s always good.

Firehook
105 S. Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
              (703) 519-8021   
    

7) River’s Bend Café

Never heard of it? It’s not right under your nose, but above it. This shop (which is above Olsson’s books on Union Street), is not as well known perhaps as the other ones, but its view beats them all. A panorama of the Potomac River greets you as you walk up the stairs inside Olsson’s. Here you’ll find good coffee, salads, sandwiches, and wraps. And yes, dogs are welcome!

River’s Bend Café
106 South Union Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Phone:               (703) 519-8886
       

Once again, if you know a coffee shop we’ve missed, tell us about it in our forums!

Check out others by www.localkicks.com

Alexandria’s Unique Coffee Shops

by: www.localkicks.com

Nowadays, there's that coffee shop with the green logo just about everywhere you look. We’ve decided to highlight ones that
do it a bit differently – their own special way. Our list highlights local coffee houses that have their own unique signature.
We know there are others out there, but we’re going to have to limit it to ones we’ve tried.

If you know of one that we’ve missed, tell us about it in our forums.We’d love to try it out!

Here’s our roundup of Alexandria coffee shops:

1) St Elmo’s

Opened in 1996, this quickly became the definition of the neighborhood coffee shop. Located on Mt. Vernon Street in Del Ray, St. Elmo’s is situated in the center of a neighborhood that prides itself on its uniqueness and community spirit. St Elmo’s is the
meeting place for the community. Neighborhood artist and musicians display their wares while local businessmen, mothers with strollers, and neighborhood leaders hold court at the tables and couches that abound here.

There’s also Wifi, plenty of outdoor seating for people watching, and it’s dog-friendly.

St Elmo’s
82300 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 22301
              (703) 739 - 9268 
      

2) Misha’s

Misha’s is the oldest coffee house in Alexandria – it’s been around since 1991. Walk in and you immediately notice the aroma, the jars of coffee beans, the burlap bags, and the coffee roaster in the corner. They’ve been roasting their beans in house since day one. To insure the highest quality, all of their beans are hand-picked and high grown (altitudes ranging from 3000-6000 feet).
There’s only one location, and they’re proud of it. Misha’s won’t be confused with a Starbucks – there’s a worn, beatnik look
to it, with a smoker’s room and enough locals to keep it crowded. They take their coffee seriously.

Misha’s
102 South Patrick Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone:               703-548-4089
       

3) Perk Up

Owned by 2 twenty-somethings, this shop is the epitome of “laid back”. Adam and Ryan are two local guys who are really enjoying their business, getting to know their regulars by their first name. Their coffee is Illy (can’t go wrong with that), and they’re doggy treats and free WiFi for everyone. This place is so well-liked by its customers that they don’t even complain when they’re
locked in after closing (true story)!

Perk Up
2000 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
              (703) 549-5051   
    

4) Buzz

Buzz is the latest creation of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group (owners of restaurants such as Evening Star, Vermilion, and Rustico). In this endeavor, they focus on great coffee and great pastries. Illy Coffee is their choice, and Chef Lisa Scruggs is the pastry wizard. Buzz is open and airy and quite kid-friendly during the day. There’s an area for kids to play while you relax with
your coffee. Free WiFi as well. At night, it livens up and gets more of a loungy feel, serving liquor, live music and fun times!

Buzz
901 Slater’s Lane
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
              (703)600-2899    
   

5) Old Town Gourmet Market

This has just opened, but deserves quick mention because these guys buy their beans directly from the source in Ethiopia. Their agents in Ethiopia buy directly from the farmers. All of it is free-trade, organic, and one-batch. They roast and package the coffee themselves. The owners are friendly, and you can people-watch on King Street while you enjoy your coffee! Try it out – tell them you heard it from Local Kicks!

Old Towne Gourmet Market
904 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

6) Firehook

Since 1992, Firehook is probably better known for its bread, but people fill in for coffee as well. Since it now has 11 locations,
some might label it a chain. But the store has its roots in Old Town, so it gets a mention. The coffee is good – I don’t know what it is or where it comes from, but it’s always good.

Firehook
105 S. Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
              (703) 519-8021   
    

7) River’s Bend Café

Never heard of it? It’s not right under your nose, but above it. This shop (which is above Olsson’s books on Union Street), is not as well known perhaps as the other ones, but its view beats them all. A panorama of the Potomac River greets you as you walk up the stairs inside Olsson’s. Here you’ll find good coffee, salads, sandwiches, and wraps. And yes, dogs are welcome!

River’s Bend Café
106 South Union Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Phone:               (703) 519-8886
       

Once again, if you know a coffee shop we’ve missed, tell us about it in our forums!

Check out others by www.localkicks.com

Local Kicks Picks

www.localkicks.com

Ok – this week we’re starting a new feature called “Local Kicks Picks”. Every now and then we’ll present our choices for “best of” in Alexandria. Read and see if you agree with our picks. Have we left out a great bar? – leave your responses here. !

We’re starting this off with our picks for the best bars:

1) Best Place for a Beer – Rustico

30 beers on tap, more than 250 bottled beers (some very exotic) –need I say more (I don’t need to but I will)? This place opened in 2006 and has been an Alexandria favorite since day one. Rustico runs great promotions too - Brewer nights, where they highlight a certain brewery and the reps give away beer glasses & other merchandise. They have All-American beer dinners, where the chef prepares the meals around a selection of specialty beers. Not to miss – the “Don’t Hassel the Hof Brau Fest”, where Hasselhoff wannabes come out of the woodwork and party down with us (kinda) normal folk…

Rustico
827 Slater’s Lane
Alexandria, VA 22314
              (703) 224-5051   
    

2) Best Irish Pub - Daniel O'Connell's

Here’s a great new addition to Old Town – a modern Irish Pub that makes you feel when you walk off the street that you’ve walked straight into Ireland! Much of the interior architecture was dismantled and shipped from buildings in Ireland – many older than the United States. The friendly owners and staff are authentically Irish. There are four bars (one for smokers), as well as private rooms to rent for special occasions. The pub has a great year-round feel – in the warmer months, step outside to the rooftop patio, while in the winter gather around the fireplace and enjoy a pint of Guinness.

Daniel O'Connell's Restaurant
112 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314 
              (703) 739-1124   
    

3) Best Wine Bar – Evening Star

They’re plenty of bars in Alexandria with a great wine selection, but how many have nearly 1000 to choose from? Evening Star actually has two bars – The Majestic Lounge and the No. 9 Lounge, where you can sit back and try any of their 20 wines by the glass or their 1000 by the bottle. The No. 9 is available for private parties, and has a great casual “lounge” feel to it. The restaurant also does special wine dinners with pairings by regional experts. It’s a hit with the locals – and for good reason.

Evening Star Cafe
2000 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
              (703) 549-5051   
    

4) Institution – Fish Market

According to Webster’s online dictionary an institution is, “something or someone firmly associated with a place or thing”. We think the Fish Market and their Schooner beers aptly fit this definition. The Fish Market has been an institution of Old Town since 1976, when Ray Giovannoni acquired the building and brought it back to its original look and feel. Run into anyone who’s bar-hopped in Old Town in the past 30 years and their first question is “does Fish Market still have the schooners?” The correct answer would of course be “yes”. A Schooner is giant 32oz glass of beer that’s the perfect compliment to the great seafood available at the bar. Be careful though – wipe the spicy shrimp off your hands before trying to handle the big glass. You’d much rather drink it than wear it.

The Internationally Famous Fish Market
105 & 107 King Street
Old Town, Alexandria 22314
              (703) 836-5676   
    

5) Best “Dive” Bar - Rock It Grill

When we say “dive”, we mean it in a good way. Rock It Bar and Grill has that “no pretense, no snob” feel to it that makes you relax and have a good time. Once a cowboy bar (remember GW’s?), Rock It takes pride in what they do well – burgers, beer, and karaoke. Walk in and hear people belting out karaoke tunes and you’ll see what I mean – nobody comes in with an attitude, and everybody has fun.

Rock It Grill
1319 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
              (703) 739-2274   
    

6) Best Young Crowd - Southside 815

This one’s definitely our subjective opinion. There aren’t many bars in Alexandria that I would label as having a “young” crowd, so Southside wins by default (if you know a better place, tell us in our Forums). There’s a lively happy hour scene, with either live music or sports as the central theme. The food’s great, with a definite Southern flair that makes me think back to my Dixie roots. There are video games in the back, and when Pittsburgh’s playing football, look out! It’s the local headquarters for the Steelers faithful.

Southside 815
815 S Washington St
Alexandria, VA 22314
              (703) 836-6222   
    

7) Best Outdoor Bar - Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant

How many of you even know there’s a courtyard at Gadsby’s Tavern (unless you were at our event there last month, I think not many)? The courtyard is beautifully landscaped, with trees and flowers that give shade in the summer. There’s a full bar outside, with occasional live music. Order appetizers off the main menu, and you’re set for a great night. Sound interesting? Well, come by this Thursday (August 9th) and join Local Kicks as we celebrate summer with happy hour prices and free appetizers! See if you think it’s worthy of our “best of” rating!

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant
138 N Royal St
Alexandria, VA 22314
              (703) 548-1288   
    

National Harbor – Friend or Foe?
Alexandria – National Harbor is coming, are you ready?

After Monday’s meeting of the National Harbor Collaborative, we came away with a feeling of both excitement and dread. The committee, created by the City of Alexandria and comprised of various local business groups (Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, AEDP, Alexandria Convention and Visitor’s Association, etc.) was formed to study and suggest ways for Alexandria to prepare and benefit from the opening of the huge National Harbor project across the river.

How huge? When completed (scheduled to open April1, 2008), National Harbor’s hotels, will boast 4000 rooms, equal to all the space in Alexandria. In addition, they’ll be 1 million square feet of retail, with high-end boutiques and restaurants, all strategically placed to get maximum benefit from the 1 ¼ miles of riverfront the property enjoys.

Sound nice? It is. The group backing this venture is taking a $2 billion gamble, so they’re pulling out all of the stops. For starters: an 85-foot sculpture that will greet arriving guests, live entertainment, nightly waterfront light shows, 4 piers, 2 marinas, comedy and night clubs, fountains, gardens, etc.

OK, so the question begs – will this be a boon for Alexandria, or a bust? From what we’ve seen so far, it looks like both. On onehand, Alexandria’s hotel bookings are already benefiting from next years convention overflow (which will continue until all the proposed hotels at National Harbor are finished). On the other hand, everyone we’ve talked to seems to think the project will actually suck visitors away from Alexandria. As mentioned earlier, National Harbor is spending $2 billion to attract visitors. So far, Alexandria’s response has been to allot $700,000 for “improvements” to Old Town’s appearance and functionality.

Granted, some of the suggested improvements the Collaborative has come up with are spot-on (such as a free trolley service running up and down King Street, improved visitor’s center located at the city marina, frequent cleaning of floating debris at marina, extra bathrooms, etc.). Our problem with these improvements is that most of it is common sense and should have been done years ago. It feels like all the city is doing is getting everything up to the state it should already be, and not “getting a foot up on the issue”, as the Collaborative has stated. It’s going to take a lot more than new benches and trash cans to keep businesses flowing here.

Some residents have told us that they are happy National Harbor is opening, because it would “take all the tourists and partiers out of Old Town – free up parking and make it easier to get around. Well, if that happens, all their neighbors with shops here will have a very hard time surviving, and we could see a return of the boarded-up storefronts that greeted drivers-by in the ‘70s.

What are your thoughts? Is National Harbor a godsend or a curse to Alexandria? Visit my forums on www.localkicks.com  – leave your thoughts and questions. We (or hopefully more enlightened souls than us) will be there to respond.