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.
King Street Metro buried in snow.
During the great snowstorm of December 2009, WMATA closed all outdoor metro stations for fear that the snow was higher than the electrified third rail of the track.
Here's a few properties currently for sale at the King Street Metro in Alexandria VA.
Old Town Alexandria Art Festival
Old Town Alexandria is a vibrant community. Festivals and Farmers Market's are a common activity during the weekend. Weekends in Alexandria offer a wide variety of farmers markets, where Old Town's Market Square bustles with the same energy as the days when George Washington would send down his produce from Mount Vernon. Whereas Del Ray's market kicks in early Saturday mornings, the West End and Four Mile Run showcase their fresh goodies on Sundays. Find fresh flowers for your home or a jar of jam to take home as a creative souvenir; but first make sure you have enough room in your suitcase.
King Street Gardens Park is located at the foot of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial near the King St. Metro in Old Town Alexandria VA. This small park is surrounded by hotels, office buildings, AMTRAK and a Metro stop. The signature feature of King Street Gardens is a large metal sculpture with hanging gardens. This together with the sunken gardens are intended to provide references to historic aspects of the site.
King St. Garden Park
The abstract metal sculpture sculpture hints at a ship's prow, a plow, or a colonial-style three-cornered hat. The sunken garden, and plantings therein, are intended to reference the wetlands that originally existed on the site. In the Victorian era, trellised gardens were popular in Old Town and the gardens here remember that era when the street grid followed the plan originally laid out by George Washington.
The park is intended for the general public's enjoyment and serves as a place for outdoor concerts. On Wednesdays through the summer the Old Town Farmer's Market sets up here.
Hanging Gardens
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.
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.
Charter House in Old Town is located right on the water
Mai Thai is located right across from the Torpedo Factory
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
Old Town has several boat taxi’s
Old Town has distinct historic brick laid sidewalks
The Parsian Restaurant is located at 703 King Street Old Town Alexandria 22314. Their phone number is 703 838 9090. The Parsian Restaurant serves Persian / Iranian food. The atmosphere inside is a good environment for a date, family occasion, or other dining experience.
The Parsian Restaurant is a great destination in Old Town to park, and walk to, to enjoy the weather depending on the season. At one end of King there is the waterfront and at the other there is the Masonic Temple. Just a few blocks in any direction and their are several neighborhoods distinct to Old Town. Further along King Street and there are several shops and restaurants.
Inside the Parsian Restaurant there is a clean, crisp decorative lay out
Inside the Restaurant looking out towards the streets of Old Town
We were met by a lovely hostess at the Parsian Restaurant.
A gyro ready to eat
The menu at the Parsian Restaurant features a variety of Persian and Iranian dishes
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…
The City of Alexandria's free King Street Trolley transports residents, visitors, and those who work in Old Town, between the King Street Metrorail Station and the Potomac River waterfront. The free trolley operates along the one-and-a-half mile route seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. providing access to accommodations, dining, entertainment and shopping. The free trolley departs from the Potomac River Waterfront and from the King Street Metro every :10, :30, and :50 minutes after each hour. Every 20 minutes riders can board at any of the 20 stops along King Street.
Traveling towards the King Street Metro Station, the designated trolley stops include:
King Street Trolley
King and Union
King and Lee
King and Royal
King and St. Asaph
King and Columbus
King and Patrick
King and Fayette
King and Peyton
King and Diagonal
King Street Metro Station
Traveling towards the Potomac River waterfront, designated trolley stops include:
King Street Metro Station
Trolley at King Street
King and Diagonal
King and Peyton
King and Fayette
King and Patrick
King and Columbus
King and St. Asaph
King and Royal
King and Lee
King and Union.
Please remember there is no smoking, eating, or drinking on the trolley. Passengers with strollers must close strollers before entering. The trolley only stops at designated stops. Passengers must pull the cord to signal a stop.
Biking is a fun way to see the sites of Northern VA
Tandem bikes are available
Go green and explore the city by bicycle! Bike and Roll Alexandria offers bike rentals including Trek comfort hybrid bikes as well as tandem bikes. Children’s bikes and accessories such as tandem trailers and burleys are also available.
Bike rentals allow you to hop on two wheels and see DC and Northern Virginia in a completely new way. All rentals come with a helmet, U-lock, bike rack, flat kit and city map. Just let us know where you are heading and we’ll point you in the right direction! You may even rent from one shop and ride one-way to our other location (in Washington DC) for a small drop-off fee.
Choose between comfort or performance.
For day long reservations for any equipment in Old Town Alexandria, VA, call: 703.548. ROLL (7655).
Bike and Roll Alexandria
One Wales Alley
Alexandria, VA 22314
Bike and Roll Alexandria is located at the corner of Wales Alley and The Strand in Old Town Alexandria. This
Bike Path on GW Parkway
shop is convenient to the King Street Trolley Stop at North Union Street and a couple hundred yards south from the Water Taxi.
Bike and Roll
Plaques are found on many buildings and homes in Old Town Alexandria. "Plaqued" homes are not uncommon in Old Town Alexandria and a historical plaque is generally considered to enhance the value of the property. The plaque for the Marshall House is found on King Street on the Hotel Monaco. It reads:
History is around every corner of Northern Virginia
The Marshall House stood upon this site and within the building on early morning of May 24, 1861 James W. Jackson was killed by Federal soldiers while defending his property and personal rights, as stated in the verdict of the coroners jury.
He was the first martyr to the cause of Southern Independence. The Justice of History does not permit his name to be forgotten.
Not in the excitement of battle, but coolly and for a great principle, he laid down his life, as an example to all, in defence of his home and the sacred soil of his native state, Virginia.
Erected by the Sons and Daughters of Confederate Soldiers
