Articles of interest to the site’s sponsor and articles by friends of Condo Alexandria. Doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with real estate or Northern Virginia
The slides are fast and fun at Cameron Run Park
For a great day of fun for the whole family, Cameron Run Regional Park is the optimum choice. Located at 4001 Eisenhower Parking in Alexandria, Virginia. Cameron Run is full of activities such as fishing, swimming, batting cages, miniature golf, with the Great Waves Water Park with plenty of areas for a picnic. Catering is also available for certain events.
This beautiful area is convenient to condos, shopping, dining and night entertainment with beautiful views.
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…
Located off Telegraph Road near Kingstowne and Rose Hill in Franconia, the Lee District RECenter is situated on a 193 acre park with 84,000 square feet of recreational facilities.
For more information, contact the Lee District RECenter at 6601 Telegraph Road in Franconia, VA or call 703 922 9841.
Recreational Outdoor Amenities:
1 Soccer Field
2 Football Fields
4 Basketball Courts
Sand Volleyball Court
4 Tennis Courts
Horseshoe Pits
Playground
Tot Lot
4 Picnic Areas
Amphitheater
Walking Trails
Carrousel
RECenter
Amenities inside the RECenter:
Natatorium
Gym
Fitness Center
3 Multipurpose Rooms
Dance Rooms
Volleyball – Racquetball Courts
Mezzanine
Pre-School
Amenities of the Natatorium inside the RECenter:
50 Meter Heated Pool
Spectator Seating
Super Slide
3 Diving Boards
Spa
Locker Rooms
Family Chaging Rooms
Saunas
Showers
Sun Deck
Grass Sunbathing Area
Amenities of the Fitness Center inside the RECenter:
The Alexandria Little Theatre is located in Old Town Alexandria VA
Alexandria's Little Theatre is a wonderful addition to this community of Old Town Alexandria Virginia. In 1934 it was founded by Mary Lindsey and was first named Peacock Players. Located in the Old Town area at 60 Wolfe Street Alexandria, Virginia it not only produces intriguing shows, you can also volunteer, audition, or take a class. The theatre offers:
Adult Classes
Youth Classes
Summer Camps
Membership
One-Act Playwright Competition
Becoming a member, with an annual fee, you become part of the theatre family by volunteering, using your skills, receiving a newsletter and receiving discounted fees to the productions. If you have any questions or just want to see more you can visit The Little Theatre at www.thelittletheatre.com
Floral Grandeur at Bon Air Memorial Rose GardenBon Air Memorial Rose Garden
850 North Lexington St.
Arlington, VA 22205
Situated at the corner of North Lexington and Wilson Boulevard at North Lexington Street in Arlington, The Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden features 135 rose varieties and over 2500 plant species It is the scenic location for botanical aficionados, lovers or for those who would just like to enjoy the 23.65 acres of nature.
Amenities offered at Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden:
3 Water Fountains
Picnic Shelter
1 Open Leisure Space
Grills
Paved Trails
Stream
Restrooms
Playgrounds
2 Tennis Courts
1 Basketball Court
1 Volleyball Court
The highlights of the Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden, where “All American Roses” is held yearly, are the rose garden, azalea garden, shade garden, sun garden and ornamental tree garden showcasing miniature roses, Hybrid Tea Roses, Floribunda, Grandiflora and more. The rose garden is managed by the Arlington Rose Foundation. For more information about the rose garden, please contact the Arlington Rose Foundation at 703 358 4747.
The Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden is open from Sunrise till half an hour after Sunset throughout the year.
Located on the Waterfront of Historic Old Town Alexandria, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is a great place for art lovers and tourists alike. The center is stocked
A Penthouse unit from the Torpedo Factory
with pieces ranging from “The Nest Project” to at “Fiberworks” Gallery. The museum has over 500,000 visitors annually and has over 82 artist studios, six galleries, two workshops, and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. The center also houses over 165 visual artists who produce artwork ranging from painting to stained glass. The Torpedo Factory is located at 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. (703) 838-4565.
Across the street from the Torpedo Factory Art Center is the Torpedo Factory Condominiums, a collection of apartment and townhouse-style condos at the heart of Old Town's most desirable waterfront locations.
Located just off Route 50 in Fairfax County lies Penderbrook. A quiet community Penderbrook’s faces include: The Fairways -- Town Homes, The Greens -- Executive Style Single Family Homes, The Heights -- Garden Style Condominiums, Inverness -- Town Homes, The Mews -- Town Homes, Oxford House -- Garden Style Condominiums, and Penderbrook Apartments -- Rental Apartments
Although there are many parts to the Penderbrook community, this article will focus on ‘The Greens’.
The Greens -- Executive Style Single Family Homes
One such ‘face’is ‘The Greens’. A collection of single family homes built by Pulte and by Hooker. Combined they provide about seven (7) different floor plans. Generally all have are 3 levels. One Pulte floor plan offers a spacious eat in
kitchen, separate dining room, step down living room, and a half bath. Just off the foyer is a den, and a curved staircase to the upper level.
Upstairs contains 3 bedrooms, and three full baths. Most of the homes on ‘The Greens’ have 2 car garages. Access to the house from the garage is available in many of the homes.
The community of Pernderbrook is on the north side of U.S. 50, across form Fair Oaks mall. Penderbrook has easy access to and from interstate 66. West Ox road, that borders the western edge of Penderbrook, provides access to office buildings and Fairfax Towne shopping center. Fairfax Towne features grocery, banking, a 10 screen theater and many other shops and restaurants. Fair Oaks hospital is also close to Penderbrook.
The Occoqan Regional Park is located in Lorton, Virginia, in Fairfax County, right across from the Town of Occoquan. It's located on the Occoquan River. It opened in 2008 making it 1 of 29 parks in the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority. It has around 400 acres of recreational space. There are many different things to do there such as, hit the batting cage, have a picnic, get a snack at the snack bar in the marina, play your favorite sport on one of their athletic fields, etc. They also have a boat ramp and boat storage. Their hiking trail is 1.1 miles round trip and forms a loop. The trail is well maintained. Most say that the blue trail is a great running trail and is very well marked. Dogs are of course welcome in the park. Historic black kilns from the early 1900's can be found on the property, reminding us of the women suffragists who demonstrated in front of the White House and were then imprisoned on the prison farm where these are found.
If you're shopping for a home you might be surprised to learn just how affordable and pleasant some homes in Occoquan and near the park might be.
Thinking about remodeling your kitchen? Whether it be, trash, lighting, style, cabinets, etc., kitchen trends have changed a lot for this year.
Below is a list of kitchen trends decreasing and increasing in popularity, that may be of help to you.
Quality designs for each unitTrash:
Popular: Recycling and trash can pull outs, trash compactors, and garbage disposal.
Not so popular: Random trash can placement.
Lighting:
Popular: Energy efficent LED lighting
Not so popular: Regular non energy saving light bulbs.
Stovetops:
Popular: Electric or induction stovetops, and also double wall ovens.
Not so popular: Gas stovetops. Warming drawers and single wall ovens are also losing their popularity.
Granite kitchen counters at the Duke.Freezers/Refrigerators:
Popular: Side by side door and french doors.
Not so popular: Freezer on top refrigerator on bottom models.
Upgrades in Cabinetry:
Popular: Unchilled wine storage
Not so popular: Lazy susans, tall pantries, pull out racks, things like that.
Countertops:
Popular: Low maintenance countertops, quartz and granite are very popular. Marble seems to be gaining popularity as well.
Not so popular: Laminate countertops.
Design/Style:
Popular: Traditional remains number 1. Shaker style is increasing in popularity since last year.
Not so popular: Contemporary style.
Colors:
Popular: Grays, bones, and beige
Not so popular: Off whites, whites, brown tones.
Kitchen finishes:
Popular: Light and dark natural finishes, as well as colored paint finishes.
Not so popular: Glazed, medium natural, painted and distressed finishes.
Cabinetry:
Popular: Maple!
Not so popular: Cherry
Info gotten from the national kitchen and bath association.
Last summer it was the interior. Now, if you’ve passed by the growing mounds of dirt surrounding McLean’s Spring Hill Recreation Center, there’s no doubt it’s time for the exterior.
Changes started last August when the center closed for renovations to the air conditioning system, locker rooms, classrooms and fitness room. Those were completed in October. The center, managed by the Fairfax County Park Authority, includes a heated indoor 25-yard by 25-meter pool with ramp and two one-meter diving boards, a poolside spa, beach and wading areas.
This is the first renovation to the center since it opened in 1988.
Parking will double when 250 new spaces are completed in June. A new entrance, replacing the one on Art Nauman Lane, will take a little longer since it will include a new traffic light on Lewinsville Rd. in front of Spring Hill Elementary and the Rec Center.
Finally two new artificial turf fields for soccer will be built near the corner of Lewinsville Rd. and Spring Hill Rd. Those are in addition to the two turf fields that opened at the center in 2008.
For now it’s a bit of mess. (Wear your work boots when you visit Spring Hill Rec.) But soon its transition will benefit all in the McLean, Tysons Corner and Fairfax County communities.
The Newseum located in the heart of DC claims itself to be the most interactive museum in D.C. It is found on 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001 and is kid friendly. The newseum is a great place for younger audiences to interact with local and national headlines. It offers a balcony flaunting an excellent view of the capitol (pictured below).
View of the Capitol from the Newseum Balcony
A first Amendment Tablet made of marble is located on the front of the museum. The exhibits include a Great Hall of News, a Pulitzer Prize Photography Gallery, a 4-D film adventure theater, a Berlin Wall Gallery, a Documentary Theater, and a Sports theater. Special sites include a September (9-11) gallery of the news coverage of this landmark event and an archive of major news headlines ranging from the presidential impeachments to technological achievements.
The museum is very visitor oriented; there is even a broadcast studio that guests can report the news themselves. It features a green screen and teleprompter that guests can read off of. Options even include a weather reporting station.
Homes for Sale in Arlington
