Hume School is now a museum about Arlington past.
Arlington Ridge Road traces the crest of Arlington Ridge, a steep rise of land that parallels the Potomac in Virginia. This the same geographic feature that creates the bluffs in Mclean and the rise of land through Arlington National Cemetery. Throughout Northern Virginia, this rise of land is home to some of the most desirable land in the Metro area and the neighborhood around Arlington Ridge Road is no exception.
Residences here have easy access to DC, Arlington and Alexandria because of both the road network and the neighborhood itself. In addition to easy access to thoroughfares like Rt. 1, I-395 and Army Navy Drive, this old neighborhood has plenty of back streets and cross-streets to help avoid trouble when things back up. In addition because this is an older neighborhood, it's generally very low density.
The homes in this neighborhood often have sweeping lawns with mature and towering hardwoods. Many of these homes were built as summer get-aways for old-time Washington DC. Some were not much more than simple cottages. Some are spacious lodges. Many of these homes have had extensive renovations and additions. A good many have been replaced entirely by stately manor homes that speak to the affluence and prestige of this community.
View from Arlington Ridge toward Crystal City
The real estate here is among the priciest in Northern Virginia, but if you're seeking convenience, elegance and a quiet neighborhood, it's really tough to beat Arlington Ridge.
Mount Vernon Elementary School serves grades Pk-5 in the Alexandria City Public Schools system. Alexandria City Public SchoolsMount Vernon Elementary School is located on 2601 Commonwealth Ave in Alexandria, VA 22305. The phone number is (703) 706-4460.
For more information or to set up an appointment call Julie at (703)765-0300.
Life at the Torpedo Factory does not center around a swimming pool. The Torpedo Factory is about life in one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive neighborhoods.
Most units at the Torpedo Factory are situated around a private formal and well-tended courtyard.
crepe myrtles at the Torpedo Factory
Units come with garage parking in Old Town. If you know the colonial streets of Old Town, you know what a luxury this is.
Union and King in Old Town
The single biggest amenity at the Torpedo Factory is the neighborhood.
Art Center
Torpedo Factory condos
A gloomy day at the Torpedo Factory condos
Roofline
A Penthouse unit from the Torpedo Factory
Snow at the Torpedo Factory Entrance on Union Street
African Americans have been an important part of the Alexandria's history and vibrant community back to the city's founding in 1749. Both as enslaved people and as free men and women, African-Americans have contributed to the city's tapestry of life benefiting the community of Alexandria with rich economic and cultural contributions. Alexandria was a key city during the US Civil War and though Robert E. Lee is one of the city's sons, the city was quickly occupied by the Union and remained in Federal hands through-out the war.
After the war the city was segregated but a defining moment in the history of segregation in Alexandria occurred in 1939 when five young African-American men staged a "sit-in" at the city's segregated Queen Street Library. The young men brought focus to the issue of the inequality of educational opportunities and as a result Alexandria built the Robert Robinson Library in 1940. This library was used by African-Americans until desegregation in the early 1960's. Today, that structure is a foundational element of the Alexandria Black History Museum.
Alexandria Black History Museum
902 Wythe Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 838-4356
Fax: (703) 706-3999
In time, additional sites were added to the museum. At the eastern bound of the Carlyle District one will find the Alexandria African American Heritage Park. Next door to the Museum, the Watson Reading Room houses a non-circulating collection of books, videos, documents, and periodicals on African-American life and culture.
The African American Museum is a source of pride for all Alexandrians. The museum has a calendar of events and rotating exhibits, so check back even if you have already been to the museum. From Benjamin Banneker in Alexandria's earliest days, to Dr. Albert Johnson to Samuel Wilbert Tucker during the Civil Rights Movement, Alexandria is a focal point in that courageous and audacious journey that led to the diverse, vibrant and prosperous Alexandria of today.
image courtesy of Harris Teeter
Foxchase Shopping Center is a recently renovated strip mall in West End Alexandria almost directly across the street from Forty Six Hundred (a high-rise condominium complex) and Mango Mike's (a casual dining restaurant and West End hang-out).
Foxchase is anchored by Harris Teeter, a high-end grocer. Other businesses at Foxchase include La Casa Restaurant, Hong Kong Express, General Dentistry by Dr. Paul Stasiewicz, Art Display Company, Rite Aid, Curves, Braids, Hana Tokyo Steak House, PNC Bank, Sleepy's, My Eye Dr. and more.
Snow on the Montebello courtyard
They called it "Snowmageddon". I can remember snow storms like this in Virginia, but that was more than 30 years ago. It will probably be 30 years before we see snow like this again. Three weeks after the storm the courtyard at Montebello still was covered in snow, but it made a very pleasant site from a balcony at Montebello.
Montebello Condominiums in Alexandria 22303
Dual gazebos at Montebello
plenty of parking at Montebello. Many units also have garage parking.
Abi's II is a family owned restaurant located at 5838 N Kings Hwy. They are inside of the Huntington Station shopping center, next to Huntington Metro.
Abi's is open Monday through Thursday 11:00am to 10pm, Friday 11:00 am to midnight, Saturday 10:00 am to midnight and Sunday 10am to 10pm. Abi's II is casual dining establishment that offers a warm atmosphere and a quick to go service.
The menu sports a variety of classic Mexican and Salvadorean dishes. The alcohol served includes domestic and import beers, margaritas and wine. My favorite entree is the homemade pork and cheese pupusas with a side of cabbage and salsa. The mellow pupusa is contrasted in flavor by the crunchy cabbage drenched in hot salsa. This is a filling meal at a good price.
