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
Lola, Urban and Will
One of the best things about being a real estate professional is that many of the folks we serve become friends. For a period of time when we managed Lola's condo in West End Alexandria. Eventually, she decided to move to Sweden with her husband Urban so she asked us to help her with the sale of her property. The overseas transaction was just one of the difficulties with this sale, but in the end it all turned out for the best.
Gifts from Sweden
Urban and Lola live in Stockholm Sweden now---Urban is Swedish afterall. But When Urban and Lola came to Northern Virginia for the holidays and to visit family they were kind enough to bring gifts. The little thank you's of life make a big difference.
Doeg Indians Marker at the pull off area along VA 235
A tribe of Native American Indians called the ‘Doeg’ or ‘Doages’, ‘Dogues’, ‘Taux’, Dogi’, ‘Tacci’ and more had resided in villages of Northern Virginia along the Potomac River and Occoquan Rivers, including Tauxenent near the mouth of the Occoquan River, Assameck near Alexandria and Namasingakent near Mount Vernon in 1607. The ‘Doeg’ were said to be a branch of the Algonquian language family who lived on hunting, fishing and farming according to the seasons while frequently residing in different locations.
A large number of the ‘Doeg’ were forced out by the English colonists within the 17th Century while the others died from European diseases. The remaining ‘Doeg’ moved towards the eastern bank of the Potomac River and south of the north bank of the Rappahanock.
The Dogue Creek is named after the ‘Doeg’ Indians.
Lewinsville Park is a heavily-used district park with athletic fields, sport courts, playground, garden plots, historic house and seasonal farmers market. Spring Hill Park has athletic fields, a playground, picnic area and a RECenter with an indoor pool and fitness facilities. The 41-mile Cross County Trail traverses a portion of the western edge of the McLean District along the Difficult Run stream valley.
From May to December Lewinsville Park is the home of the Mclean Farmer's Market.
Lewinsville Park is a pick-up point for Fairfax County's free mulch. Fairfax County operates a brush grinding operation which produces double-shredded wood mulch for residents. Leaf mulch also is available on a seasonal basis, usually November through March.
Lewinsville Park is off Chain Bridge Road in McLean, Virginia. The neighborhoods here are generally very pleasant and upscale. You can learn more about homes for sale in this neighborhood by checking-out West Mclean.
Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run is located at 6310 Georgetown Pike in McLean, VA 22101.
The mission of the park now known as Claude Moore Colonial Farm is to recreate the life of 1771 tenant farmers. The vast majority of Virginians in 1771 were tenant farmers who grew tobacco to pay their rent and food to eat.
Originally named the Turkey Run Farm when it opened in the early 1970s as a National Park Service operation, Claude Moore Colonial Farm was renamed for a local land developer named Claude Moore. Mr. Moore's large bequest at the time of his death allowed the farm park to establish itself as the only autonomous site in the park system. Claude Moore Colonial Farm takes no NPS funding and operates off of the dividends of its endowment, as well as donations from the public.
Claude Moore Colonial Farm is open to the public (including school groups) Wednesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 4:30 PM from April 1st to mid-December. There is a nominal admission charge for visitors, but memberships are available.
Through-out the year, Colonial Farm hosts numerous 18th-Century events. These events include Farm Skills Day, Dairy Day, clothing workshops, salting fish, herbal remedies, dancing workshops, wheat harvest, tobacco harvest, pickling, the 18th-Century Wedding, Spinning and Dyeing Day, and a winter traditions workshop.
Locust Shade Park is located at 4701 Locust Shade Drive in Triangle VA 22172 of Prince William County known for its facilities offering an array of recreational activities in its 400 acres of land.
Locust Shade Park has its own marina where boating and fishing is offered on an 8 acre lake.
Locust Shade Park Facilities:
Batting Cages
6 Tennis Courts
500 Seat Amphitheatre
3 Playgrounds
Horseshoe Pits
Fitness Trails
Nature Trails
Volleyball Court
8 Picnic Pavilions
Picnic Areas
Mini Golf Course
Driving Range
Snack Shops
Tournament Golf Course
Volleyball Court
Programs, festivals and events are also held at Locust Shade Park.
“Zero-loss” of remaining County-owned natural lands
248 County-owned acres identified for preservation
Three-year inventory found seven unmapped streams, 600 native species, including 14 rare plants
ARLINGTON, VA – The Arlington County Board today approved the County’s first comprehensive plan to preserve and manage County-owned natural lands.
“By adopting this plan today, we are taking much-needed action to protect our remaining open spaces, and the plants and animals they shelter, for future generations,” County Board Chairman Jay Fisette said. “Our parks department has done an outstanding job of comprehensively mapping this County’s natural resources and giving us the information we need to preserve Arlington’s natural resource assets.”
The plan is based on an unusual, comprehensive inventory of Arlington’s natural resources carried out between 2005 and 2008 by the County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources. The inventory found that only 4.7 percent of Arlington’s surface area — a little more than 700 acres — remains as natural lands. Of these, well over half are owned by the U.S. Park Service as part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway system. Fifty percent of all surface streams have disappeared and invasive plant species are widespread. (View presentation to the PDF, 2MB)
Highlights of the plan’s 19 recommendations for preserving and managing natural lands include:
Adopting a general policy goal of “zero-loss” of County-owned natural lands.
Developing a new GIS-based environmental review process to protect significant individual natural resources on County-owned open space.
Establishing a single, specialized management unit to manage Arlington’s natural resources.
Establishing a new administrative category of County-owned open space, or Natural Resource Conservation Areas (NRCA).
Developing an individual natural resources management plan for each County-owned park designated as a Natural Resource Conservation Area, or containing NRCAs.
The Board voted 5-0 to approve the plan.
To read more about the plan, visit the County’s website.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
Foxy likes fishing!
Beginning on Friday, October 8, 2010, the waters of Lake Fairfax will teem with a fresh stock of rainbow trout. Friday’s 1,000 pound stocking will mark the start of a two-week trout season at the park which ends on October 22.
Fishermen will appreciate the abundance of above average size fish. (The smallest fish will be one-foot in length.) Fishing at the park is open from dawn until dusk. An accessible fishing pier provides a safe place to cast a line for enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.
A Virginia fishing license is required for all fishermen age 16 and older. Because the fish were purchased by Fairfax County, the state trout stamp doesn't apply. The 2010 seasonal fishing pass for the park is also required, or a daily pass can be purchased. Daily passes are available for $12 per adult (16 to 63 years), $10 per senior (64 years and older) and $10 per child (7 to 15 years).
Only one pole is allowed in the water at a time, and the daily catch limit is six fish per person. Fishermen are expected to keep what they catch. The local game warden will be present.
Lake Fairfax Park is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston.
For more information, please contact Lake Fairfax Park at 703-471-5415.
Fresh-cut flowers at Farmer's Market at Sherwood Hall Library
Opened in 1971 and located at 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane in Alexandria, the Sherwood Regional Library provides many resources and services for residents, including hands-on technology classes, one-on-one tutoring sessions, 27 internet stations with Microsoft Office Suite and a computer with ZoomText software.
For those hosting community meetings or gatherings, the library has numerous spaces, including a meeting room that fits 200 and is often used for family literacy classes. Other spaces are four conference rooms for 12-45 people each, a group study room for four people and a quiet study room for 10. The library also hosts the Mt. Vernon Farmers Markets on Tuesday mornings from May to November and an ongoing book sale. For more information on library events, click here.
In addition, visitors can bring their laptop and use the wireless internet or bring children to use the Read to Me Room with puzzles, flannel boards and board books. For more information about the library and its services, click here or call 703-765-3645.
Grand Mart at Lincolnia in West End Alexandria
Grand Mart International Food is a supermarket chain primarily based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with locations in North Carolina and Georgia. It is owned by Annandale, Virginia-based Man Min Corporation, a family company. My wife shops there from time to time and she loves the wide selection of Korean and East Asian groceries and fresh produce.
The store in Lincolnia is somewhat international offering Asian, Latino, African and traditional North American groceries, but Grand Mart caters to Korean cooks and grocery preferences. Grand Mart supermarkets also offer in-store Korean bakeries and video rental shops which rent out DVDs of television shows from South Korea.
Bristow Manor Golf Club is located at 11507 Valley View Drive in Bristow VA 20136, and had been chosen as one of Golf Digest’s (1998 – 2001) 100 Top Places to Play. The 18 hole championship golf course was designed by Ken Killian ASGCA in a breath taking setting in 1993, where many golf outings and events have been held through the years. Private and group lessons are also available for everyone at Bristow Manor Golf Club. The Bristow Manor Golf Club is beautiful place to hold weddings and receptions with its grand ballrooms and interiors.
Amenities of the Bristow Manor Golf Club:
