Posts Tagged ‘Alexandria’
Posted by Lynn Norusis / Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
Burglar goes on Reston crime spree
Baby Jesus snatcher caught after posts on Facebook
Spotsylvania student dies after being pinned between two cars
Search still on for Shane Donahue, missing since March 2010
POTUS shops Alexandria
Style Sense: Susan Lilly Gerock
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
Light pours onto the deep purple walls from the corner bay window, decorated with puffs of cotton snow, sparkling glitter Christmas trees and glistening silver and gold ornaments. Two men aimlessly wander the store as owner Susan Lilly Gerock effortlessly picks the perfect gift for their better halves – a periwinkle cashmere scarf and fuchsia party dress.
Zoe Boutique owner Susan Gerock. (Photo courtesy of Susan Gerock)
Gerock, the owner of Zoe Boutique in Old Town, is bringing feminine and flirty fashion to the Washington-area woman with her collection of designers, colors and patterns fit for every fashionista. With a goal to add “a little extra sparkle” to the working woman’s wardrobe, Gerock has lent her personal style to the Alexandria boutique, making for the chic and stylish career woman’s upscale haven.
Q: How did you first get started in fashion? Was it always a part of the plan?
A: I actually had spent most of my career in information technology, and I’d reached a point where I had accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish in that field. My husband was actually the one who suggested I open a boutique. He said, “You love fashion, you love people, and you have a business background, so you have all the pieces you need to open a boutique.” I just laughed at him in the beginning – what a fantasy, you know?
Q: What’s your vision for Zoe Boutique? What are you hoping to offer to the Washington-area woman?
A: I’m really trying to focus on bringing things that are just a little bit different to the Washington-area woman – things they can use to compliment what’s already in their closet, things they can wear more than one season. In this day and age, clothing is a necessity, but we want to be able to wear it for a long time, we want it to be stylish but timeless and we want to get the most for our clothing dollar.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Image: Eireann/Shutterstock
The Christmas season is also the tastiest season!
Virtue Feed & Grain, the comfortable escape to tasty morsels, beer inspired ‘hoptails,’ big screens and vintage arcade games is prepared to provide the classic backdrop for the holidays.
Decorated with hanging Christmas trees (kissing under trees is better than kissing under mistletoe), sparkling Christmas lights, and reefs on many walls, the decorations are only a precursor for the seasonal beer list that will feature a different holiday beer everyday from now leading up to Christmas. (Stay tuned to Facebook/Twitter for announcements.)
Pastry Chef Rebekka Baltzell’s special creations for the holiday season include a Chocolate Candycane Cake, Guinness Gingerbread Cake and White Chocolate Eggnog Mousse.
New Year’s Eve at Virtue Feed and Grain:
For New Years, the restaurant will be serving the full menu, including Feast Specials of Lobster, Prime Rib, and Whole Suckling Pig. There will be a midnight toast alongside the dropping of the ball on the big screen.
– Jennie Whistler
Bon Appetit Lists Virtue Feed & Grain’s “Hoptails” as 2012 Trend
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Monday, December 19th, 2011
Photo courtesy: Virtue Feed & Grain / Ken Wyner
Nestled between porky Asian sandwiches (heeelllo Cambodia’s Num Pang), funky finger limes (caviar of the fruit world) and the creme bruele-like canelé (move over cupcakes), Bon Appétit gives a shout out to Virtue Feed & Grain’s beer cocktails in the magazine’s 2012 trend-watch list.
Alexandria’s Virtue turns the classic Old Fashion into a “hoptail” with the addition of Brooklyn Brown Ale to the bourbon and SoCo concoction. With beer love on the rise, expect plenty more area bars to combine brews and spirits for a spin on adult beverage fun.
[Virtue's Shock Me hoptail recipe]
–Stefanie Gans
Christmas Countdown: Town Christmas Trees
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011
So you’ve got your own decorations up and looking flashy in the winter air, but nothing quite compares to a professional, humongous Christmas tree. Here’s where to find the area’s best town Christmas trees, to make your holiday season even better.
A sampling of Alexandria's stunning Christmas decorations. Photo courtesy City of Alexandria.
Reston Town Center’s tree is quite famous in the area. The town center always looks lovely this time of year, and their enormous tree is no exception. Right smack in the middle of RTC, where the fountain resides, the tree dominates the festive landscape and glitters merrily all day and night.
Alexandria’s Christmas tree is exceptional as well. Located in historic Market Square in Old Town Alexandria, their Christmas tree compliments the multitudinous lights around Old Town. Lights string along each tree like frosted spider webs. And colored bulbs shine off store windows, creating an atmosphere of wonder.
The Christmas tree at Shirlington is quite the spectacle. Check out this video from their official tree lighting earlier this month:
As you can see, the ceremony is a community event, with loads of good cheer to go around.
Manassas has a Christmas tree as well, located on the Manassas Museum lawn at 9101 Prince William St.
And for you Loudouners, head to Leesburg. Their Christmas tree is looking sharp, and can be found on the town green at 25 W. Market St. Check out even more of Leesburg’s festive spirit in our previous blog post all about the holidays in Loudoun’s county seat.
And don’t forget to check our shopping guide every day. Our experts at S.W.A.G. have dozens of gift ideas for you to choose from.
Merry Christmas!
–Matt Basheda
Popped! Republic Opening in NoVA
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
Image copyright and courtesy of Popped! Republic
Popped! Republic, the first gourmet hot air-popped popcorn company in our nation’s capital, will soon be joining the food truck scene in Washington DC. Popped! Republic will offer the finest in gourmet popcorn in a selection of classic and enlivening flavors and will be licensed in DC, with Montgomery County and Arlington to follow.
Staple flavors include:
- Political Plain ™
- K Street Kettle Korn ™
- Congressional Cheddar ™
- Capitol Caramel ™
- Monumental Mix ™ (Mix of any two flavors)
Weekly specialty flavors and freshly popped movie theater-style buttered popcorn will be offered on the Popped! Republic mobile truck. Whether enjoyed as a snack or given as a gift, they’re going to offer the freshest and most delicious air-popped popcorn that caters to all ages and tastes. Their truck will be located off of Duke Street in Alexandria sometime in February 2012 so keep your eyes peeled and pop in for a unique treat!
Visit them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter
to see updates and locations.
– Jennie Whistler
Evening Star Café Re-Opens TODAY!
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, December 8th, 2011
Out of the loop on Evening Star Café?
The 15-year old restaurant in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria has been closed for the past month while undergoing fun and communal renovations. Today, December 8, the restaurant re-opens with a revamped look, new menu and new chef Jim Jeffords.
Doors open to the neighborhood today to reveal a refurbished space — original wooden banquettes still line the walls, but a new center with bold blue, plush benches boost the seating capacity to 60. New lighting and artwork by local artist Rick Singleton brings a retro feel with old junk turned into new art, in particular, an old Erector set that hangs the lights from the original ceiling in the dining room.
If you look around the restaurant, you’ll notice small vintage details from unique light fixtures made out of old metal to the trophy display on the back wall of the Majestic Lounge bar (the trophies were donated by community members and date back to 1901).
A light fixture made out of vintage jars hangs over the Majestic Lounge's bar.
As a matter of fact, everything about the renovation process has involved the community, from old trophy donations to a yard sale to sell the old furnishings from the pre-renovated restaurant, to a cocktail-naming night that will take place a couple weeks after today’s opening.
The Evening Star menu still features classic-meets-modern American comfort food, but with a more Southern tone. The back bar (dubbed “The Majestic Lounge”) now features 30 bottles of craft beer, 19 draft beers — served from 1950s vintage refrigerators — and one cask, which will feature local brews and rotate constantly. The bar will be serving original cocktails, including “The Hipster,” made with mezcal, chipotle peppers and PBR. You can also order any bottle of wine from Planet Wine next door with your meal.
The kitchen gets cookin’ today for dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. — and it sure isn’t going anywhere for a while.
The Evening Star Café is located at 2000 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria (703-549-5051). Visit www.eveningstarcafe.net for more information.
-Julia Harbo
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
ALICITA®Salsa announced today that all five flavors of their tangy, not–too–hot staple will now be available at TODOS Market in Woodbridge.
In September of this year, TODOS was named a finalist in UVA’s 2nd Annual Toyloe Murphey Resilience Competition. Carlos Castro and his team were honored along with the other finalists for their continued efforts and remaining resilient in harsh economic times. TODOS has also just opened a brand new 50,000 sq. ft. market in the Marumsco Plaza in Woodbridge. Come check out the new store and be sure to grab some of our delicious ALICITA®Salsa.
In addition to their not-too-hot Original, made from a Kansas heartland family-owned recipe and named after mother Alice who now resides in Maryland, Alicita*Salsa® offers a flavorful array of four international tastes – Japan, Germany, India, and Greece – and will be releasing several new flavors being kept under wraps, very soon.
“We’ve had great success with each new flavor we release,” stated Alicita’s founder and owner, Suzanne Fields, “I am confident in Alicita’s ability to continue producing salsa that is neither too hot for children, nor too bland for adults. We want the entire family to enjoy our product.”
Alicita*Salsa® comes in 12-oz jars with wide mouths for easy dipping and first of its kind; unique 4-oz dipping cups; Snackitas™ perfect for packed lunches, food service, take-outs and more! Alicita*Salsa® can also be found in Giant Food stores as well as select local Walmart’s. Watch your local groceries for these healthy, diverse salsa flavors which are sure to be the stars of your next meal.
Alicita*Salsa® is a privately held company that donates part of its proceeds to over 20 Children’s Charities, such as Feed The Children,St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Food Allergy Network, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and others.
– Jennie Whistler
Port City Beer Meets RedRocks Pizza
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, December 1st, 2011
Tonight from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Beer? Check. Pizza? Check. Awesome? CHECK.
Go out to RedRocks Pizza Napoletana in Old Town Alexandria TONIGHT for fun, food and beer! Join them to celebrate Alexandria’s own Port City Brewery and RedRocks Pizza.
Port City founder Bill Butcher will be there to showcase his fine selection of draft beers, accompanied by samplings of RedRocks famous Neapolitan pizza, small plates, charcuterie and dessert!
Port City Brewing Company is an innovative brewer of top-quality beers right in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. A new craft brewery, they take great pride in producing locally crafted ales for the DC and Mid Atlantic market. If you haven’t tried it yet, tonight is the perfect time to sample their IPA, Pale Ale, Witbier, and Porter.
Beer and pizza: possibly the best combination since peanut butter and jelly.
Tonight, December 1, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at RedRocks Pizza Napoletana in Old Town. Admission is $35 pp + gratuity.
For more information or to make a reservation call (703)717.9873 or email info@redrocksoldtown.com.
RedRocks Pizza Napoletana – 904 King Street, Alexandria
– Jennie Whistler
Pajama Brunch at Virtue Feed and Grain
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
Virtue Feed and Grain in Alexandria
At Virtue Feed and Grain, wearing your pajamas is not only encouraged, but rewarded!
On the first Sunday of every month, Virtue Feed and Grain is going to be offering a pajama brunch where you can enjoy traditional Irish breakfast, great beer and live music- all in your coziest pair of jammies!
And on Sunday, December 4th, Virtue Feed and Grain will host the Georgetown Saxatones, who will perform some of their greatest hits for Virtue’s guests.
The Georgetown Saxatones are the newest co-ed a cappella group on Georgetown’s campus. Originally founded as an oldies group in 2000, the Saxatones have expanded their repertoire to include everything from Motown to Michael Jackson, Alanis Morissette to Stevie Wonder, and Timbaland to Taylor Swift. The Saxatones were created with the purpose of serving the community through performance and music, and regularly partner with organizations both on the Hilltop and in the greater DC region.
Virtue Feed and Grain is the latest culinary endeavor from Chef Cathal Armstrong and his business partner/wife Meshelle. Specializing in modern American “pub grub,” Virtue is the ideal spot for a relaxing Sunday brunch. Chef Ryan Wheeler compiled a menu based on all time brunch favorites, including Corned Beef Hash with poached egg, French Toast with bacon and even the traditional Irish Breakfast, a nod to Chef Armstrong’s upbringing in Dublin.
Priced at $23 per person, prix fixe brunch includes coffee & juice, your main course, and the morning spread: assorted pastries, organic yogurt with various fruit fillings, assorted cereals, fruit salad, cured meets, cheese, smoked salmon, fresh bread and other goodies—the perfect way to get your appetite going.
Virtue Feed and Grain - 106 S. Union St., Alexandria; (571)970.3669
– Jennie Whistler