Table of Contents
Good morning, Alexandria.
Two blocks of Mount Vernon Avenue are getting new tenants. Hypergoat Coffee Roasters is building out a cafe and roastery in the former First Agape Baptist Community of Faith building at 2423, and Crooked Run Fermentation has posted an Aug. 28 opening date for its first Alexandria taproom at 2003.
Also today: about 67 people turned out at Beatley Library on Saturday to talk about the Edsall Road data center, with four of seven council members there. The two Fairfax County votes are Sept. 22 and Sept. 24, and Alexandria residents can testify at both.
And a marker worth noting: ACPS students return one week from today, and the sun sets at 7:59 tonight — back in the 7 o'clock hour for the first time since spring. Summer's winding down.
Here's what you need to know for Monday, Aug. 17.
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1️⃣ Hypergoat Coffee Roasters plans cafe, roastery in former Del Ray church building
Hypergoat Coffee Roasters is building out a cafe and roastery in the former First Agape Baptist Community of Faith building in Del Ray, according to city permits posted in the storefront window at 2423 Mount Vernon Ave.
Rodrigo Ramos, who co-founded the business and serves as head roaster, declined to discuss the project with The Alexandria Brief Friday, saying it was too early and that the company preferred to keep plans low-key while it continues to develop them. He said Hypergoat would share more when ready.
2️⃣ Not everything that happens "in Alexandria" happened in Alexandria
If you live in Huntington, Belle Haven, Hybla Valley, Franconia, Groveton, Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Hollin Hills, Rose Hill or Kingstowne, your mailing address may say Alexandria, Virginia. Your Amazon driver knows you as an Alexandria resident. So does your mail carrier.
But your city council doesn't represent you. Neither does Alexandria City Public Schools, the Alexandria Police Department or the Alexandria Sheriff's Office.
You live in Fairfax County.
3️⃣ Crooked Run sets Aug. 28 opening date for Del Ray taproom
Crooked Run Fermentation will open its Del Ray taproom Friday, Aug. 28, according to signage posted in the window at 2003 Mount Vernon Ave.
The hand-lettered sign, photographed Friday evening, advertises "crispy lagers, hazy IPAs, fruit-forward sours" and what the brewery calls award-winning food. A decal on the adjacent window identifies the space as a Crooked Run brewery and taproom serving beer, wine and snacks.
In brief
About 67 residents turned out at Beatley Central Library on Saturday for a community discussion of the proposed Edsall Road data center and substation in Fairfax County, organizers with the Alexandria People's Assembly said. Four of the seven City Council members attended — Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Councilmembers John Taylor Chapman, Sandy Marks and Abdel Elnoubi — along with city Climate Officer Ryan Freed. Two dates are ahead: the Mason District Land Use Committee votes on a recommendation at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Mason District Governmental Center in Annandale, and the Fairfax County Planning Commission holds its public hearing and vote at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Government Center in Fairfax. Alexandria residents may testify at both despite living outside the county. (The Brief)
Residents now have until Sept. 15 to comment on the working draft recommendations for the Duke Street Land Use Plan, the city announced Friday, extending the deadline by nearly four weeks. (The Brief)
The city will lead a community walking tour of the Taylor Run Infrastructure Stabilization Project from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, giving residents a chance to see the project area and question staff about the design now on the table. (The Brief)
The city is looking for Alexandrians who will be 100 or older by Dec. 31 so it can honor them at a celebration this fall. The deadline is Tuesday for nominations. (The Brief)
The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums will perform a free outdoor concert at Waterfront Park in Old Town on Friday. (The Brief)
Reminder: Alexandria Restaurant Week continues through Sunday. (The Brief)
Crews responded to a reported water main break near W. Timber Branch Parkway and W. Alexandria Avenue on Sunday. Police confirmed the break and said the water utility had been notified. Crews were on scene overnight. The Brief has asked Virginia American Water for an update.
Crews are scheduled to work on four street segments this week under the city's repaving and street maintenance program: concrete and storm drain work at King Street and Dawes Avenue; concrete work on the 200 block of King Street between South Fairfax and South Lee streets; on Woodland Terrace from Russell Road to Braddock Road; and on Laird Place from Tennessee Avenue to Manor Road. (City of Alexandria)
Virginia localities mull data center pauses as industry-backed report shows how local tax revenue could aid in housing needs. (Virginia Mercury)
Sports
The Washington Spirit settled for a 1-1 draw at Angel City FC on Sunday night, giving up an 85th-minute equalizer after Trinity Rodman had put them ahead. (The Brief)
Christian Scott pitched into the seventh inning for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery and Luis Torrens hit a two-run homer Sunday, helping the surging New York Mets to a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals and a three-game series sweep. (The Brief)
Tai Baribo scored a goal for the fifth consecutive game and Sean Johnson had six saves Saturday night for D.C. United in a 1-1 tie with CF Montreal. (The Brief)
Malik Willis got off to an impressive start as Miami's new quarterback, leading a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive as the Dolphins lost 20-7 to the Washington Commanders Friday night in the preseason opener for both teams. (The Brief)
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90 degrees. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73 degrees. Light northwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 6:23 a.m., sunset at 7:59 p.m. 13 hours & 35 minutes of sun.
High tide at 12:09 a.m. & 12:32 p.m. Low tide at 6:50 a.m. & 6:50 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Crescent.
🗓️ Things To Do
- All Day: Alexandria Restaurant Week throughout Alexandria
- 6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Aslin ALX: Dungeons n' Drafts at 6 p.m.
- Clyde’s at Mark Center: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s: Traditional Irish Music at 7 p.m.
- Del Ray Public House: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Epicure on King: Open Mic at 7 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Jim West at 6 p.m.
- Mason Social: Rook Richards at 5 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Colby Sard at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
- 10 a.m.: Memorial Pool open
- 4:30 p.m.: Warwick Pool open
- 4:30 p.m.: Old Town Pool open
- 6:30 p.m.: ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame Committee Meeting (virtual)
- 7 p.m.: George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee meeting at Lloyd House
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: Alexandria Library: A Legacy of Service Since 1937 at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 11 a.m.: Falls Prevention Workshop at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 1 p.m.: English Language Learning at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 3:30 p.m.: Teen and Tween Summer Craft Camp at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning 2 Workshop — Intermediate Conversation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 5:30 p.m.: Writing Your Voice — Your Kind of Story at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 6 p.m.: Horror Fans Unite! at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 6:30 p.m.: Stability in Motion weekly yoga at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
⚾ Sports
- No games are scheduled for today.
On this day in Alexandria's history
In 1814, the town waited for an attack it knew was coming. Capt. James Gordon sailed a British fleet into the mouth of the Potomac, hoping to pull American attention from the assault taking shape on Washington from the north. He brought the 38-gun HMS Seahorse, the 36-gun Euryalus, the rocket vessel Erebus, and the bomb vessels Aetna, Devastation and Meteor. Between that fleet and Alexandria stood only Fort Washington — then called Fort Warburton — and the shoals of the riverbed. Gordon's ships ran aground at least 20 times. He kept coming.
In 1956, someone set a three-foot cross wrapped in a kerosene-soaked towel alight on the front lawn of Mayor Leroy S. Bendheim's home on Mansion Drive, shortly after 11 p.m. Bendheim was in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention. His wife found the fire and put it out with a bucket of water. Police never established a motive, and a canvass of the neighborhood turned up no witnesses.
And in 1963, fire destroyed a warehouse taking up an entire block of South Pickett Street. Six companies fought the blaze, which caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. (Historic Alexandria)
Ryan Belmore is the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief, Alexandria's independent daily community news source. Send news, tips, and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
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