Michael Bergin, Northern Virginia Real Estate

We are so excited, Pork Barrel BBQ is coming to Alexandria! And even more specifically, it's coming to our very own Del Ray neighborhood.

But first, a little background. My parents used to live in Southern Maryland in a community known as Scientist's Cliffs near Port Republic, MD. Getting there was a straight shot down Rt. 4 (Pennsylvania Avenue) with only a slight detour down a side road in Huntingtown, MD. There, situated between a deserted post office and a Maryland state road equipment yard, in a gravel parking lot, was John's Open Pit Barbecue.

It didn't matter if we were on the way to Thanksgiving dinner or Mom and Pop's annual Fourth of July crab feast, we always stopped at John's. And it was always the same - a huge, towering sandwich of pulled pork, full of crispy bits, (topped with coleslaw for Virginia), and hot sauce.

Take out only, you grabbed a huge handful of napkins and headed out to the broken down picnic tables in the parking lot. There, juice dripping to your elbows, you entered barbecue nirvana. Turkey, crabs - oh pshaw - the name of the game was BARBECUE!

In fact, we loved John's so much that when it came time to plan our wedding, we opted for a down home menu with fried chicken, deviled eggs, cornbread, potato salad, coleslaw and BARBECUE!

Sadly, John's closed many years ago. We have been looking for good barbecue ever since.

And that's why we are so excited about Pork Barrel BBQ coming to Alexandria! Barbecue, real barbecue, takes time and bears careful watching so we are taking our time with this story. Be patient - it's worth the wait.

Tomorrow, part two.

An email thread on the Del Ray listserv this afternoon called into question just what the City of Alexandria is liable for in terms of "public property."

The question was posed by a neighbor whose car was parked on the street under a tree in front of their house. Sidewalks and the strip of land between the sidewalk and the curb/street are city property, as are trees planted by the city.

The question was posed by a neighbor whose car was parked on the street under a tree in front of their house. Sidewalks and the strip of land between the sidewalk and the curb/street are city property, as are trees planted by the city.

A tree limb fell on the car, damaging the hood and bumper to the tune of about $1200. Neighbors, sitting on their porch, witnessed the incident and called the police to file a report.

The couple in question then called the Office of the City Attorney, Risk Management Division. The city is self-insured, so the claim was processed by a third party.

After sending photos, a police report, getting two estimates and providing other information (several times), the couple was notified that the city will not cover the damage because they (the city) were not notified about dead limbs - although none were readily visible.

Consider: does this mean that citizens have to monitor the health of city trees and contact the city aborist about potential problems? What if that happened to a car parked by a visitor along King Street?

Stay tuned tomorrow for how another neighbor fought the City - and won.

Michael

The Commonwealth of Virginia is rich in both history and natural scenic beauty. From the extravagant majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the poignant battlefields of Petersburg and Appomatox, Virginia is awash in things to do and see.

Whether you want to camp or hike, bike or raft, Virginia offers multiple opportunities for day trips as well as overnight adventures.

And if you prefer a pristine B&B and an elegant restaurant after a day of exploring, well that's available too.

These are just some of the titles that we found to help you plan your trip:

Exploring Virginia

• Exploring the Appalachian Trail - Hikes in the Virginia's
• Best of the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Off the Beaten Path - Virginia
• Fun with the Family in Virginia
• Waterfalls in Virginia and West Virginia
• 75 Hikes in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park
• Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide
• Official Guide to America' s Historic Triangle
• Birds of Virginia Field Guide
• Guidebook to Virginia's Historical Markers

From my wife Virginia - "My family used to make the 300 mile+ trek from West Virginia to Savannah, GA every summer. There was no completed interstate then and we took advantage of the more leisurely pace to stop at EVERY historical market along the way. I credit that early experience to my life long love of history."

This week, Sept, 13-20, is Virginia Cyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Week in Virginia. A joint effort of BikeWalk Virginia and Drive Smart Virginia, the effort is aimed at making the roadways safer for everyone.

Just last year over 90 people died and 2,300 people were injured while biking and walking on Virginia Roads. Collisions can be reduced and even prevented in many instances by knowing the law and following guidelines.

KNOW THE LAW: Bicycles ARE VECHICLES when ridden on the highway -

• Follow rules that apply to motor vehicles
• Obey all traffic signs, signals, lights, and markings
• Ride on the right, with traffic
  
• Stay as far to the right as safely possible or use the shoulder
• Ride no more than two side by side
• Ride single file when moving slower than traffic
• Obey signs that restrict riding on Interstate highways and on limited access roads
• Yield to pedestrians when approaching from behind and to pass
• Use hand signals for turns and stops

• When turning, use motor vehicle turn lanes
• Keep one hand on the handlebars when carrying articles
• Don't carry adutls on bicycles not built for more than one
• Carry children securely in special seats or trailers
• Don't wear earphones in both ears
• Use white headlamps visible 500 ft. when bicycling between sunset and sunrise
• Use rear reflectors at night; if using roads with speed limits of 35 mph or more, use a red taillight visible for 600 ft.
• Be sure brakes work properly
• Stop when involved in an accident with injury or damage
• Report name, etc., to police or others involved in an accident
• Report property accidents to police for 24 hrs.
• Obey local ordiances for riding on sidewalks, wearing helments, and having a bicycle license.

As they used to say on one of my favorite TV shows, "Let's be careful out there."

Real estate trends in Northern Virginia, especially for Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood continue to track upward. There were 18 houses sold in August 09 compared to 15 in August 08 and the average price is up 13 percent. The only reverse in this trend is longer days on the market - an average of 48 days in August 08 but 62 days in August 09.

These numbers represent sales in zip code 22301 which encompasses the primary neighborhoods of Del Ray and Rosemont which is bordered by Rt. 1, King Street and the Braddock Rd. Metro tracks.

For more information about single family houses, condominiums and townhouses in Northern Virginia for these great Alexandria neighborhoods, give me a call at 703.927.4554.