Abi's II is a family owned restaurant located at 5838 N Kings Hwy. They are inside of the Huntington Station shopping center, next to Huntington Metro.
Abi's is open Monday through Thursday 11:00am to 10pm, Friday 11:00 am to midnight, Saturday 10:00 am to midnight and Sunday 10am to 10pm. Abi's II is casual dining establishment that offers a warm atmosphere and a quick to go service.
The menu sports a variety of classic Mexican and Salvadorean dishes. The alcohol served includes domestic and import beers, margaritas and wine. My favorite entree is the homemade pork and cheese pupusas with a side of cabbage and salsa. The mellow pupusa is contrasted in flavor by the crunchy cabbage drenched in hot salsa. This is a filling meal at a good price.
Il PortoIl Porto
Il Porto is located on King Street as it approaches the water in Old Town Alexandria. Il Porto serves home-made pasta and Italian food in a traditional setting and manner.
One dish I highly recommend is the Chicken Parmesana together with the homemade ravioli's. The portions are generous and the food is high quality and prepared with care. A pictorial menu is online.
Il Porto is definitely one of my favorites and together with a few other classics in lower Old Town, it's one of the reasons I really enjoy living and working in Old Town Alexandria.
From comic books to used books and everything in between, below are 5 distinguished bookstores located throughout Northern Virginia that every local should know about!
Hole in the Wall Books – Falls ChurchNesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in Falls Church.
905 W Broad St
Falls Church, VA 22046
Hole in the Wall Books is indeed just as it sounds - a bookstore the size of a closet chock full of books of every size, shape and color. There are books on shelves, books on the floor, books in boxes, even books piled up to the ceiling rafters. Hole in the Wall Books is especially strong on science fiction, fantasy and comic books, but they have a large selection of almost every other genre as well. As if finding a decent comic book store isn't already a thing of the past, Hole in the Wall stands apart from the rest and sets a new standard in teenage-boyhood envy. They also have boxes of older, back issue comics for avid collectors.
Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in Alexandria.Book Bank – Alexandria
1510 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
For those who are drawn to old and used bookstores like moths to a flame, the Book Bank has a reliable and steady selection/collection of used books. Some pulp fiction, some expository, some historical, and some nobody ever heard of… until now. Stop in and find a used book that's new to you in one of the best little ol' bookstores in Northern Virginia. They have a great credit exchange program and a highly knowledgeable staff.
Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in Mclean.Tree Top Kids – McLean
Langley Shopping Center
1382 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22101
A modest if not somewhat sparse collection of children's books, Tree Top Kids truly embraces the notion of quality over quantity and has a perfect range of age appropriate books and gifts for every child in your life…including your inner child! Tree Top carries an excellent selection of labor intensive, craft-oriented toys as well as an array of educational, innovative, and classic children's books. Both the toys and the books are organized by age group and activity throughout the store, making it easy and comfortable to find just what you’re looking for. Tree Tops' selection of books also includes a few autographed tomes for those who are looking for "collection" items.
Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in Arlington.Busboys & Poets – Arlington
4251 S Campbell Ave
Arlington, VA 22206
Although Busboys & Poets is more of a restaurant than an actual bookstore, this cute amalgamation of eatery/readery is a major highlight of the Shirlington area in Arlington, Virginia. With several additional locations throughout greater Washington, this laid-back, hipster café has quickly become an Arlington favorite and is most well known for its fantastic breakfast and brunch menu. Like its sister locations, B&P has a fun vibe with stimulating books and artwork every where the eye can see, which is great to browse while you wait for your food or for a table. B&P features free wi-fi and they serve breakfast every day until 11a.m.
Aladdin's Lamp Children's Bookstore & Other Treasures – Arlington
2499 N Harrison St
Lee Harrison Shopping Center
Arlington, VA 22207
This truly exceptional, independently run children's bookstore frequently features 'in-house' events designed for children of many age groups. The high-level of service, quality and selection of children's books has helped to make Aladdin's Lamp one of Arlington's best kept secrets. The convenient location and unique retail selection combine to make Aladdin's Lamp a bookstore both you and your children will remember.
Many of the restaurants and shops are ready for Christmas and upcoming holidays.
December snows in Old Town Alexandria shut the city down? No, Old Town is a walker’s paradise, and once the sidewalks were shoveled the town came to life.
Old Town’s finer homes are tastefully dressed for the Winter.
Here’s a historic look down King St. toward the Potomac. You’ll find no free trolley on the streets this day.
If you need a realtor who knows Alexandria, contact us at 703 765 0300.
City Hall is shut down for snow. Market Square is roped off until the snow can be cleaned up.
There is seating at the front of the shop to take a cup of coffee.Grape and Bean is just another example of an Old Town artisan boutique. Shops like Grape and Bean, or as they call themselves Grape + Bean, are community assets and part of what makes Old Town so special. Long-time Alexandria residents David Gwathmey and Sheera Rosenfeld opened Grape & Bean in 2008. Together they have managed to create a place that is comfortable, warm and welcoming, while offering excellent service and high quality products.
Grape and Bean is a retail wine shop, coffee shop and a wine tasting bar. Along with wine by the glass and coffee by the cup, Grape and Bean offers a food menu with cheese plates and other items that are tailored for sharing. As a wine and coffee shop, Grape and Bean of course retails wine by the bottle and coffee by the pound. I find that they are an excellent resource for gift baskets, and they'll really put the time in to help you make your best selection.
Grape + Bean offers a well-stocked wine inventory.Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate in Old Town South.
Old Town waterfront
Alexandria's history as a colonial seaport is well-known in the area, and is one of the reasons that this city to calls to visitors from around the country and around the world. Alexandria's seaport was once a bustling place of industry and commerce, but the cargo ships and packets from foreign seas are long gone now. Today, Alexandria's waterfront is geared more toward the pleasant than the practical.
Where the Water Meets the the Road
At the end of King St. where the road meets the water, there are brick walkways and wooden decks. Plenty of benches and gazebos are there and in the evenings this is a place to find street musicians and other performers practicing their craft before wandering walkers .
In the left side of this picture is the Torpedo Factory, an Alexandria landmark. The Torpedo Factory was what the name implies: an edifice dedicated to the construction of naval weapons of war. But as the industry's needs grew beyond the space here on the Alexandria waterfront, the building was repurposed as an art and crafts center. The building now houses a good many artists is is a wonderful place for tourists and residents alike to visit.
The Torpedo Factory
The Torpedo Factory and the waterfront are very close to the Torpedo Factory condos---high end condos in Old Town. For a list of prices and to check the availability of condos click the Torpedo Factory Condos. If you're interested in searching condos, townhouses and houses around Old Town you might find this post useful.
King Street Trolley
Metro Access
Among other things, the waterfront at Alexandria is nice because it's metro accessible. Simply take the Metro to King St. Station and then ride the free trolley to the Waterfront. The trolley is a service of the City of Alexandria for visitors and residents. It's a fun and easy way to make your way across Old Town.
Nearby Parks and Trails
Waterfront Park on the Potomac in Old Town
Parks and paths line the waterfront these days. It's the perfect place for a walk on a Spring day.
Park along the Potomac in Alexandria VA
Benches are found at just the right places. These photos were taking on a weekday morning, but in the afternoons and evenings the waterfront wakes up. Tourists, joggers and walkers share this open public space.
Most of the bars and restaurants in Old TownAlexandria are located on Union St. and King St. There are a few that aren't on King St. or Union St. like Overwood for example, which is on North Lee. The restaurants and bars in Old Town Alexandria feature a wide spectrum of cuisines and atmospheres. There are hole in the wall bars (O'Shaughnessy's pub), karoake bars (Flying Fish), bars on the water (Fish Market, Union Street Pub, Chadwick's), and everything in between.
Union St Pub in Old Town on a weekday evening; if it were the weekend this bar would be jammed full of people from wall to wall
The nightlife at Flying Fish in Old Town during the weekend
The night life at the Rock It Grill Bar in Old Town
About the Author --- Aubrey Nesbitt is a native of Northern Virginia who attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a veteran of the US Army and helps his family business by providing informational articles like this one. In addition to photography and blogging, Aubrey provides administrative support for the office.
Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt is located at 3219 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Their phone number is (703) 751-3764. Sweet Frog is set up as a serve yourself frozen yogurt shop. Sweet Frog has a lot of flavor choices and topping choices.
Sweet Frog is close to Duke St. skatepark. Also nearby is Oriental Star restaurant and Lone Star steak house. Sweet Frog is a short drive from Landmark Mall. Nearby condo's include the Royalton, the Plaza, the Jamieson and the Henry.
Welcome to Sweet Frog
Sweet Frog is close to Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory
Established in 1974 with a mission to reduce homelessness, increase community support and promote self sufficiency, the Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services is operated by a multi-denominational board of directors and staff managing over 70 housing units. Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services is located in the Mount Zephyr Business Center at 8305 Richmond…
Das Best Oktoberfest 2012 took place at National Harbor in Maryland. The Oktoberfest featured all you can drink tickets as well as designated driver tickets. The event had several tents with a variety of business vendors. Das Best Oktoberfest featured live music at three different stages.
The event lasted two days. The event attracted a large crowd on both days. National Harbor is a popular venue throughout the year. National Harbor is close to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
A vendor displays for sale furniture
Das Best Oktoberfest featured a variety of food vendors
Dancers moving to the live music
People wait in line to be served alcohol
A clear view of the outdoor venue
National Harbor features a trail that crosses the Woodrow Wilson bridge
A traditional themed German group
The National Harbor Oktoberfest was near Nando’s Perri Perri
The Oktoberfest was a few blocks away from the Gaylord which is also at National Harbor
A tobacco vendor presents a variety of cigars
Das Best Oktoberfest took place on September 22nd and 23rd
Via Veneto is located at 1309 Shenandoah Rd. Alexandria, VA 22308 (Hollin Hall Shopping Center just off Ft. Hunt Rd). The phone number for Via Veneto is 703.765.6661. The restaurant is close to Safeway, the Variety Store, a gas station, a Chinese food restaurant, a 711, and various other shops and businesses. Via Veneto is open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner all week.
Via Veneto serves authentic delicious Italian food. This area of Fort Hunt is near Walt Whitman middle school and Carl Sandburg middle school. The nearest library is Sherwood Hall library. Hollin Hall and Hollin Hills offer a very peaceful atmosphere.
Via Veneto has carryout and dine in
Via Veneto is a short drive from Old Town Alexandria
