About Alexandria's Del Ray

Saturdays are for the Del Ray Farmers Market and running errands. But Sunday’s, even on a hot summer day, are for strolling, convertibles and brunch:

Come see us some time!

Del Ray is one of Alexandria’s best and most sought after neighborhoods. Those of us who live here like it because it is compact, easy to navigate and we can walk to all the great shops and restaurants.

There aren’t any parking buildings or big parking lots but that’s ok because we don’t really need them - except when we do - especially when folks from other neighborhoods come to see what all the fuss is about!

But not to worry, parking just got better. Shops and restaurants along Mt. Vernon Avenue have done a terrific job of working with each other and with at least one city-run service to create new parking opportunities.

For instance, from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday-Friday, the lot behind Cheestique, Let’s Meat on the Avenue and the Caboose is leased to the Alexandria Department of Human Services. But after 5:00pm and on Saturdays and Sundays the lot is open to anyone, free of charge.

When our favorite Eclectic Nature closes for the day, it turns over its two spaces to Fireflies. Hey - two spaces is two spaces!

Los Tios, which always has a crowd, now has an agreement with SunTrust Bank to use their lot after banking hours and with Curves to use their lot after they close for the day.

La Strada has partnered with the Salvation Army to use their parking lot in the evening.

Now see, that’s what being a neighborhood is all about . . . want to know more about living in this great area? Give me a call at 703.927.4554 or email me at michael.bergin2@verizon.net

Michael

I never really envisioned writing a post about “mosquito busters” but an article in this morning’s Washington Post couldn’t help but catch my eye. It seems that mosquito busters are all the rage this summer in Alexandria - and especially in Del Ray. Most of the article focuses on the extensive, and expensive, steps that folks are taking to ward off the pesky mosquito.

A local family, the Hartells, decided to fight back against the Asian tiger mosquito in just about the most drastic way possible.

For an annual fee of $699, two men carrying backpack blowers, and dressed like extras from Ghost Busters, spray the Hartells yard with encapsulated pyrethroid, a botanical based insecticide derived from chrysanthemums.

And they don’t just do it once - they do it every 21 days, April thru October.

The article goes on to give good prevention tips and a list of resources for more information. Click here to view the full article.

Michael

First Thursday in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood is all about the Avenue - Mt. Vernon Avenue. And the theme for the August celebration was “Health and Wellness on the Avenue.”

The Del Ray Business Association arranged a stellar line up of speakers around the theme of holistic medical practices including our favorite Stacey Swartz of the Neighborhood Pharmacy. Also new to First Thursday were “pedicabs” - thanks to the generous sponsorship of Dr. Richard Stone and eye2eye.

For a slide show of pictures from this great neighborhood celebration, click here:

First Thursday On Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, VA

Tonight was National Night Out and Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood celebrated in style. East Howell Avenue is particularly known for its concentrated effort to bring family and friends together and tonight was no exception.

The recipe for a good time? Contact ALL the neighbors; block off the street so the little ones can play safely; set up the grill for hamburgers and hot dogs and the fryer for fresh fish. Add salads galore and desserts like peach/blueberry cobbler; wear name tags; talk to everyone; welcome visitors from the police department. Relax and enjoy, it’s National Night Out!

Daniel, Maggie, Michael

Hope you’ll join us next year,

Michael