On the evening of December 1st 2012 Old Town Alexandria hosted the annual boat parade of lights. The event featured several pleasure boats decked out in festive lights making rounds in the Potomac. Just past the Torpedo Factory, Old Town features a strip right on the water similar to a board walk; this area attracts street performers, locals, tourists, amongst others. As seen in the photos below the strip provides a great view of the water, the distant Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and National Harbor.
Old Town Alexandria features a robust night life. Along King Street there are several restaurants which also serve as bars in the later hours. Union Street intersects King Street and serves as a pick up stop for the free trolley. Old Town Alexandria is serviced by the King Street metro station.
The parade of lights lasted from 4pm to 830pm
Mai Thai is located right across from the Torpedo Factory
Old Town has several boat taxi’s
Popular bars in Old Town Alexandria Virginia include Chadwicks, Union Street, Flying Fish, Light Horse, Fish Market, O’Connells, the Lizard Lounge and Murphy’s
Charter House in Old Town is located right on the water
Old Town has distinct historic brick laid sidewalks
Plymouth Haven is near the terminus of Fort Hunt Road at the Potomac River.Fort Hunt Park consists of 105 acres located along the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia, approximately 6 miles south of Old Town Alexandria. The Park is a part of the over 7,000 acres that make up the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The lands of Fort Hunt Park were originally a part of George Washington's personal farm then became a military outpost and now serve as a picnic area and nature park.
So that all may better understand the history of Fort Hunt, the Park Service has begun research to uncover the names of the many veterans who served at Fort Hunt when it was a military outpost.
Fort Hunt Park was converted into a fortification during the Spanish - American War. In 1897 the fort was modernized for military operations. During War World II the fort was used as a top secret military intelligence outpost.
After both World War I and World War II, Fort Hunt was virtually abandoned due to military cutbacks. The National Park Service now administers Fort Hunt Park as a recreational park for public use. Fort Hunt has been a focal point of personal dramas of all kind throughout its history, but now it's dedicated to public recreation.
Hours are 7am until sunset year round for general use. From April - October reservations are needed to use some areas of the park. For information about homes and neighborhoods near and around Fort Hunt Road check out Fort Hunt Info.
Washington Monument in Washington DC
The Potomac River is located on the east coast of the United States, and runs through Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. before it empties into the Chesapeake Bay. It is over 380 miles long and wider than 11 miles at its widest point.
As it passes through Washington DC, the nation's capital, the Potomac passes the Washington Monument and the memorials of Jefferson, and Lincoln. Many consider the Potomac to be one of the most beautiful and bountiful rivers on the East Coast. The river is also widely regard its historic, scenic and recreational significance. Among the many who loved the Potomac was George Washington, who worked as a surveyor at many points along the banks of the river. George Washington's mansion
at Mount Vernon is on the Potomac.
The Potomac's source is a small spring at the Fairfax Stone in West Virginia. From there, the river gathers many tributaries, winding through the mountains and valleys of Appalachia. One of its most dramatic turns occurs at Harper's Ferry where the Shenandoah meets the Potomac.
At Great Falls, the Potomac tumbles down from the Appalachian Highlands to the sandy soils of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Visitors from the colonial era to the modern era relish the views here. Today visitors at Great Falls
will not only marvel at the cataracts, but also the engineering efforts of those who sought to fulfill George Washington's dream of connecting the Chesapeake Bay to the Ohio River. The C & O Canal was only operational for a few short years, but remnants of the system are still functional at Great Falls Park.
Finally, the river flows almost 400 miles widening to over 11 miles as it reaches the Chesapeake Bay on the long, low, and barren peninsula named Point Lookout, Maryland. Before the US Civil War, Point Lookout was home to a few hotels and boarding houses, but during the war it was converted into one of the largest and worst of the Union
prisoner-of-war camps.
Fishers, anglers, boaters, sailors and kayakers all enjoy the Potomac.
The Potomac River has a watershed of 14,670 square miles including tributaries in Maryland (the Monocacy, Savage, and St. Mary's Rivers); in Virginia (the Shenandoah and Occoquan Rivers); in West Virginia (the South Branch and Cacapon Rivers); in Pennsylvania (Conococheague and Antietam Creeks); and in Washington DC (the Anacostia River). The Potomac cradles forests, battlefields, farmlands, mountains, parks, and cities. It is known to many as our Nation's River.
If you're searching for a home or condo in Northern Virginia with a view of the Potomac, contact us.
Kim's Barbershop is located in the Huntington Station shopping center at N. Kings Hwy Alexandria, VA 22303. The phone number for Kim's Barbershop is (703) 960-3325. Kim's Barbershop is right across from Huntington metro. Kim's Barbershop is a few shops away from Abi's II.
The Isabella at Monticello Mews is located at 6301 Edsall Road Alexandria, VA 22312. The Isabella is near I-395. The Isabella offers convenient access to shopping, dining, and entertainment. Amenities at the Isabella include: 25 meter pool, expansive sun deck, resident lounge, cabana, private ball park, private 1/4 mile fitness and walking path, on-site metro shuttle, community fitness room, outdoor sports court, controlled access gated community, front desk attendant with controlled lobby access, secure 2 level underground garage parking, community bike rack, and separate freight elevator.
The Isabella has expansive balconies in all units
There are 9 different floor plans for the Isabella
The Isabella is a short drive from Old Town’s lively King St
The Isabella features 9′ ceilings
The Isabella features crown molding in living room, dining room, and kitchen
Kingstowne’s Bone Fish restaurant is a short drive from Isabella
Condos at the Isabella offer high-efficiency full size front loading washer and dryers
Will Nesbitt stands inside of this model home at the Henry in Old Town Alexandria.The Henry is a brand new condominium development in Old Town Alexandria. Most condos are at the Henry are ready for delivery and construction is nearly complete. The builder's representatives that we know and have worked with at the Henry are professional, knowledgeable, honest and hard-working, but it's their job to represent the builder's interest and it's their job to tell you why the Henry is a great place to live. As buyer's representatives, it's our job to learn as much about your needs as possible to make recommendations that make sense for your specific needs. That's one of the reason I like to take a look at the worst parts of a community first. Every home for sale on the market has advantages, but it's not the advantages of a property that make the sale. Buyers buy homes when they can make peace with the worst parts of living at a particular address.
More about why I'm writing this article?
It may interest the reader to know that I was contacted yesterday by a buyer who is currently living overseas in Switzerland. This potential client is familiar with Northern Virginia but doesn't know exactly where or what to buy just yet. Everyday we help people like this find homes in Alexandria and Northern Virginia. For their benefit I'm going to put together a few opinions and facts about the types of homes that most interest them.
This particular buyer is looking for brand-new construction in Old Town Alexandria. At a start hat criteria makes a very short list. This is because brand-new construction is not common in an area that is one of the oldest and most historic settlements in Northern Virginia. The list of developments that are under construction or just completed includes the Henry, Old Town Commons, the Oronoco, and 900 N. Washington. I am also recommending that this buyer take a look at the Eclipse (nearby in Crystal City), Potomac Yard (just north of Old Town) and the Carlyle District (which if not new, is nearly new).
As time permits I'm going to make public some of the thoughts I'm going to share with this client, in the hopes that it will not only benefit this client but others who might be looking for similar opportunities.
One can find glowing details about the amenities and features of the Henry, as well as information about models that are on sale now elsewhere on this site or by talking to builder's representatives. But what people really want to know is "what's the catch?". My clients often say, "Tell me the worst things about this purchase and I'll make the decision about whether this is a good buy for me or not."
So, I'm providing this is a critical look at the Henry and the value of what a buyer might find at the Henry.
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 is a short drive from Old Town Alexandria
