The Torpedo Factory Art Center is located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria VA. Here's a look at the Torpedo Factory in 1980.
The Torpedo Factory, 1980 on Union Street
The area looks very different today.
Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria VA
Welcome to the Torpedo Factory
Snow at the Torpedo Factory Entrance on Union Street
The Springfield Art Guild's (SAG) 46th anniversary was well attended, and very culturally enriching. The event was hosted from 6pm-9pm at the Richard Byrd Public Library. The event kicked off with socializing over refreshments and viewing of SAG members artwork. Next, there was a speech given by some of the founding members (i.e. Judy Wengrovitz and her husband). This speech highlighted different eras of SAG and Northern Virginia in general. Can you imagine a time when Fairfax County homes cost 15k, yearly salaries were 9k, dirt roads were not uncommon, and the Pentagon (built in 1949) was a recent edition to the region?
Following some SAG updates (e.g. new website transition, Springfield Town Center proposition, etc.), the event concluded with a speech from a Torpedo Factory / Art League representative. Her speech covered a variety of art related topics (e.g. pricing works, gallery submissions process, tips on framing, etc.). Overall, the SAG 46th anniversary was a milestone which marked past accomplishments (e.g. 5k donation from local area builders) and current developments to usher in the next chapter for this art based community.
SAG is a non profit
Judy Wengrovitz and her husband give a speech for the 46th anniversay of the SAG
Transportation: Walk, Bike, Metro, Bus, Train, Plane, Drive
According to walkscore.com, Old Town has a walk score of 86 and is the second most walkable neighborhood in Alexandria. Additionally, there are several walking and bike trails that promote a healthy life style in the Old Town neighborhood. Lots of homes in Old Town have reserved
Nesbitt Realty can help you buy and sell real estate near King Street Metro.
parking spaces for residents, which can be very convenient.
For those considering a green or minimalistic lifestyle, public transit is an excellent option. On the Blue and Yellow line, there is the King Street Metro Station which provides access to other stations in the Northern Virginia DC and Maryland areas. Just two stations up there is Ronald Reagan National Airport, for those looking to fly elsewhere. Just behind the King St Metro Station, in front of the George Washington Masonic Memorial, there is an Amtrak Station.
History, Art and Culture
Old Town Alexandria is filled with history, art, and culture. History buffs will enjoy the plethora of museums in Old Town, like Gadsby’s Tavern, Carlyle House, Ramsay House (the ghost tours here are a ton of fun), etc. For those looking for art, there is a variety of options, like Paint This! (Great for dropping in and painting ceramics), Torpedo Factory (lots of local talent and also there are classes here through the nonprofit, the Art League), the Principle Gallery (tasteful artisan creations for sale), etc.
Restaurants and Nightlife
With over a hundred restaurants in Old Town, there are plenty of options to choose from. Countless cuisines, tons of
O'Connell's is a popular restaurant in Old Town Alexandria
atmosphere’s and a lot are within walking distance of each other. Old Town’s nightlife has a lot of variety, from live music at O’Connell’s, to mellow crowds and craft beer at Overwood, to lively karaoke at the basement of the Flying Fish, to Irish folk songs at Murphy’s or Irish Walk, to shuffle board games at Light Horse, there is something for everyone here.
Diverse Home Options
Looking for a high rise condominium? You might like Alexandria House, or Port Royal. Looking for a townhouse community? You might like Cameron Mews. Looking for a garden style condo, closer to Arlington? You might like Canal Place condominiums. There are a wide variety of homes in the various neighborhoods in Old Town Alexandria.
Waterfront
For boaters, there is prime real estate at the Alexandria City Marina. Boating can be a very fun past time, especially if you’re thinking about making a trip out
Old Town Alexandria has water taxi's to Washington DC
to Tim’s Rivershore Restaurant. The waterfront is also a great spot to fish, or just to admire the view. A popular hangout in Old Town is on the waterfront behind the Torpedo Factory.
Parks and Courts
Old Town has a ton of well-maintained parks and courts. Whether you’re looking for a nice dog park to socialize at, somewhere to picnic at in the summer, a kickball field or ultimate Frisbee field, a pickup tennis game, a pick up volleyball game, a pickup basketball game, there are plenty of choices in Old Town.
Old Town is popular because of it's cultural attractions, shops and numerous restaurants.
Ideal Location
Being located in the in the heart of the City of Alexandria is amazing due to the aforementioned reasons. Also, Old Town is close to Arlington and Fairfax County. Old Town has lots of great aspects to it and is a great place to live in Northern Virginia. Additionally, Old Town Alexandria has a very nice school system, with the high school for the area being the famous T.C. Williams High School.
Are you seeking a water-view or waterfront home? Try our map search below.
