Pictures with Santa Claus in Del Ray and Old Town Alexandria - 11/30/10 09:08 PM
This weekend is your chance to get pictures taken with Santa Claus in both Del Ray and Old Town Alexandria.
On Friday night, Dec. 3, Del Ray will celebrate the holiday season with luminarias, a tree lighting, singing and, of course, Santa Claus.  Professional photographer Mark Blackburn will be on had to take pictures - all courtesy of the Del Ray Business Association.
Festivities get started at 6:00pm at the site of the Del Ray Farmers Market at Oxford and Mt. Vernon Avenue.
Santa Claus will also make an appearance in Old Town Alexandria at the Old Town Firehouse at … (6 comments)

BRAC Move to Mark Center Under Department of Defense Investigation - 11/30/10 09:05 PM
The continuing controversy over the proposed move of some 6,400 military personnel to Mark Center on Seminary Road as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process has taken a new turn.
US Congressman Jim Moran, a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, and Northern Virginia stalwart, announced that the Inspector General's office of the DoD has launched an investigation into the move.
According to an announcement released by the Congressman's office, "The development comes in response to the Congressman’s continued pressure on the Defense Department to suspend or delay the move into the Mark Center site until … (0 comments)

Christmas Concerts in Old Town Alexandria - 11/28/10 09:32 PM
The City of Alexandria is sponsoring a series of Christmas concerts at Market Square in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.
Enjoy the music of the season with gospel groups, barbershop quartets, folk music and caroling.
Saturday, November 27
Potomac Harmony Chorus (Women’s Barbershop) at 1 p.m. Doris Justis (Acoustic Folk) at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 28
Rich Follett (Contemporary Folk) at 2 p.m. Barbara Martin (Acoustic Jazz) at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 5
Shir Tze‘ir (Jewish a cappella) at 2 p.m. The Alexandria Singers (Choral) at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 11
Bell’s Angels, St. John’s Lutheran Church Handbell Choir … (1 comments)

Alexandria Turkey Trot 2010 - 11/28/10 09:30 PM
Over 4,000 runners gathered this morning under cold, gray skies to kick off the 2010 Alexandria Turkey Trot in Del Ray.
This was the 35th running of the Turkey Trot, the premiere DC area Thanksgiving road race.
the front runners Going all out All ages welcome Sponsored jointly by the DC Road Runners Club and the Del Ray Business Association, the course is flat, fast and USATF certified.
What a great way to get ready for mashed potatoes and gravy!
… (1 comments)

Celebrate the Holiday Season in Alexandria VA - 11/28/10 09:28 PM
Celebrate the holiday season in Alexandria with a full roster of activities:
Friday, November 26 – City of Alexandria's Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony Kick off the holiday season by attending the 2010 Annual City Tree Lighting Ceremony in Market Square, located in front of City Hall, 301 King St. Admission is free, and the event will take place rain or shine.  Enjoy a visit from Santa Claus, a performance of Santa's Frosty Follies by the Metropolitan Fine Arts Center, and a community sing-along after the tree lighting.
Friday, November 26 - Alexandria Offers Free Parking at City Garages … (0 comments)

Potomac Yard Development is Underway in Alexandria - 11/23/10 05:37 AM
The long awaited Potomac Yard development is underway.  In fact, it didn't take more than a few weeks after final approval was passed by the Alexandria City Council for the bulldozers to move in and the signs to go up.
It's hard to capture the vast movement of land in these pictures but let's see if I can walk you through it.  The first picture is the entrance at the intersection of Rt. 1 (Jefferson Davis Hwy) and Monroe Avenue.
Before construction this was a maintenance shop for rental cars and then a maintenance shop/parking lot for city school buses.  Adjacent … (0 comments)

A Civil War Christmas at Alexandria's Ft. Ward Museum on Dec. 11 - 11/23/10 05:29 AM
A big thank you to neighbor Fox Vernon and his LesDunBelle Diary for alerting us to the Civil War Christmas at Ft. Ward Museum on Dec. 11.
For those of you who would like to combine a bit of history with your holiday festivities (along with a great way to entertain out of town visitors), this family oriented event features a patriotic Santa Claus, living history presentations, Victorian decorations, refreshments, tours and crafts.
We are particularly drawn to this event after attending our first Civil War reenactment in Mt. Pleasant, SC last weekend.  It wasn't a big battle but … (0 comments)

October 2010 Real Estate Market Report for Old Town Alexandria in Zip Code 22314 - 11/20/10 10:20 PM
We haven't done specific zip code market reports in a few months but it seems like a good time to revive the practice.  The October 2010 Real Estate Market Report for Old Town Alexandria in Zip Code 22314 shows gains in sales prices and a dramatic decrease in the number of days on the market.
October 2009 had 47 sales while October 2010 had a decrease of 22 percent with 37 sales.  At the same time the average sales price in October 2010 increased 9 percent over sales in October 2009.
The biggest change was in days on the market … (3 comments)

October 2010 Real Estate Market Report for Zip Code 22301 in Alexandria - 11/20/10 10:16 PM
Today's market report reflects October 2010 real estate sales for zip code 22301 in Alexandria.
Covering the neighborhoods of Temple Park, Rosemont and Del Ray, the October figures show a decrease in the number of sales, a modest gain in prices and a dramatic drop in the number of days on the market from October 2009 to October 2010.
As always, these numbers must be seen in context.  There were no million dollar sales in October 2010.  In fact, only two of the homes sold in October were above $600,000 yet properties moved at a brisk pace, averaging just 37 … (0 comments)

Recycling in Alexandria - What Those New Embedded Chips Really Record - 11/19/10 11:04 AM
Earlier this year the City of Alexandria announced a new recycling program.  At the heart of the program were new containers with embedded chips.
Goodbye open yellow containers, hello sleek rolling blue cans!
Truthfully we didn't pay much attention to the announcement, nor to the fact that each new container would carry an embedded chip.
It soon became evident however that this embedded chip was the source of great angst for many.  Government conspiracy, a way to raise taxes, invasion of privacy, etc., etc.
Now, thanks to a forum sponsored by Agenda Alexandria and reported by interested neighbors, we … (1 comments)

The Mosby - A Luxury Condominium in Alexandria's Del Ray Neighborhood Part Three - 11/17/10 08:32 PM
Back in August we introduced you to The Mosby, a luxury condominium in Alexandria's popular Del Ray neighborhood. In fact, the Mosby sits right on Mt. Vernon Avenue in the very heart of Del Ray.
Like most things construction, developer Brian Thomas lost a few weeks because of errors in shipping, coordinating workmen and, well, there was a new baby too!
All that is behind him now and not only is the Mosby officially on the market, the first unit has been sold.  The penthouse is waiting for a few finishing touches but the units on the bottom are open … (0 comments)

Getting Ready for a Home Inspection - 11/13/10 03:46 PM
I did a home inspection with some clients this morning and it reminded me that buyers need to get ready for a home inspection just like sellers do.
While sellers need to attend to annoying caulking or loose wires or faulty plumbing, buyers need to educate themselves - and stand up for what they want.  A recent discussion on our neighborhood list serv is a good example of what can go wrong when you do
Neighbor "X" noted that although they wanted, and offered to pay for a separate chimney inspection, both their Realtor® and the home inspector talked them … (5 comments)

Bike Accessibility Is a New Standard for Some Homeowners - 11/13/10 03:43 PM
Here on GW, we have talked a lot about walkability and the impact on potential homeowners.  But now a new standard for homeowners - bike accessibility - is demanding attention too.
Washington, DC leads the way in the number of local bike commuters - helped in no small part by the city's 45 miles of bike lanes including a dedicated stretch on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Arlington and Alexandria residents however can take advantage of the Mt. Vernon Bike Path and Four Mile Run, both of which connect to bike commuter routes in the District.  Just last April, Alexandria installed some of … (2 comments)

Real Estate Market Report for Alexandria and Northern Virginia October 2010 - 11/13/10 03:40 PM
The Real Estate Market Report for Alexandria and Northern Virginia for October 2010 was released yesterday along with the annual Housing Opportunity Pulse Survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
The survey questioned Americans from across the nation on their attitudes towards homeownership.
The results?  Homeownership still figures prominently in the American dream with nearly 8 out of 10 respondents believing that buying a home is a good financial decision.
According to NAR, pending home sales have increased for the second consecutive month, rising 4.3 percent to 82.3 based on contracts signed in August.
The data reflects contracts, … (0 comments)

The Mission at San Juan Capistrano - 11/07/10 02:39 PM
On a recent trip to Southern California to see our daughter, we took in the Mission at San Juan Capistrano.  The only mission in Orange County and one of the oldest in California, San Juan Capistrano is know for the swallows who return every year on March 19, St. Joseph's Day. 
The return of the swallows is widely celebrated and visitors come from around the world to witness this annual migration.  On October 23, the Day of San Juan, the swallows begin their return flight to Argentina. For history and garden buffs alike, the Mission at San Juan Capistrano is … (2 comments)

Thought YOU Were Confused About Copyright Issues? - 11/05/10 11:39 AM
If you thought you were confused about copyright issues, then it's time to see what the "professionals" have to say.  Or not.  Countless space on Active Rain is devoted to copyright issues.  Lynn Harley in particular refers us time and time again to specific copyright law about internet content - images and words. 
This is a good thing.  For the most part we are Realtors® who write, not writers who sell real estate.  Nor are we professional editors (except for my spouse).  In other words, we are your average folks trying to get along and make a living without stepping … (7 comments)

One Bedroom Condo in Arlington - Perfect for First Time or Investment Buyer - 11/04/10 08:37 PM
… (0 comments)

Bourbon and Oysters at Historic Woodlawn Plantation - 11/04/10 03:48 PM
Historic Woodlawn Plantation will host a rolicking afternoon of bourbon, oysters, cigars and bluegrass on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 4-7pm in celebration of the "very vices that made Virginia great."
This is a rare opportunity to rediscover Woodlawn's historic reputation as the home of Virginia's finest food, drink and entertainment  -  along with a cadre of chefs from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group.
Wrap your appetite around these menu highlights:
• OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL • FRIED OYSTERS • ROASTED OYSTERS • DEVILED OYSTERS • PIG ROAST • BEER-BRAISED BISON SHORT RIBS • CIDER-GLAZED DUCK • PORK JOWLS • BRUNSWICK … (6 comments)

Six Outrageouly Overpriced Products - 11/04/10 03:45 PM
I picked this information up - Six Outrageously Overpriced Products -  from an early morning news read on the internet.  And except for the college textbooks I am a totally guilty consumer.  Unit pricing in grocery stores isn't the only place to pay attention! 1.  Movie popcorn - average markup 1,1275% 2.  Greeting cards - average markup between 100-200% 3.  College textbooks - cost an average of $900 a year and are rapidly extinct

4.  Bottled water - research shows that 45% of bottled water comes from    municipal taps (!!!) but it is still the second most popular purchased drink … (4 comments)