The Carlyle neighborhood of Old Town Alexandria, VA

A better idea

2008-08-20T11:54:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the infrequent posting. If anyone is still out there, then I recommend you head on over to http://www.carlylecommunity.org/ for a much better and updated blog on the Carlyle/Eisenhower neighborhood. I'll be making an occasional post over there from now on ...

EXCLUSIVE - Red Hot and Blue coming to Carlyle?

2008-03-15T15:45:00.006-05:00

According to a well-placed source in the neighborhood, Rite-Aid won't be the only new business going into the renovated building at the corner of Eisenhower Ave. and Hooffs Run Drive.

Rumor has it that Red, Hot and Blue will be joining the Rite-Aid and an unnamed "burger joint" in this behind-schedule location. The Rite-Aid was due to be open in January, and the construction doesn't seem to be moving at a very fast pace.

Alexan Carlyle - new apartments sometime next year

2008-03-15T15:22:00.006-05:00

An article in the Alexandria Times by Sarah Mills discusses the new 280-unit apartment complex going in on Hooffs Run across from the Jungles Gym - it's due to be finished in the summer of 2009. This is what it looks like today - a big hole in the ground.

Alexan Carlyle is being developed by Trammell Crow and will feature a pool, clubhouse, business center and exercise room.

For some perspective - the above shot was taken from east on Hooff's Run Drive. Behind the photographer is Jungle's Gym, to the right is the Thrifty car repair center, and to the left is the future Carlyle Plaza One.

Dispute over 10 acres in Carlyle - sewage plant or high-rise?

2008-03-15T15:19:00.007-05:00

The Alexandria Times and Washington Post both have stories about the dispute between one of the founding families of Alexandria and the Sanitation District over 10 acres of land in the southeast corner of the Carlyle neighborhood. Mr. Hooffs wants to sell it to be developed as a high-rise office building (for approximately $40 million). The Sanitation District wants to take it for expansion of the sewage plant and take it via eminent domain (of course the owners would probably get far less than what they want for it). The Alexandria City Council is set to vote on Mar. 15 - the city stands to lose millions in tax revenue if the Sanitation District wins.

As someone who lives and works in Carlyle, people are always stopping me on the street asking for directions. More than once I have had someone ask me "where is the go-kart track"? I didn't know where it was myself, as it has been closed for some time. But when I read about this issue I learned finally where the go-karts used to be. Too bad, as it would be a fun place to have in the neighborhood. Oh well.

From the south end of Hooffs Run Drive - this is the abandoned go-kart track (above) on the south side of the land in dispute. The Beltway is to the right. Behind the photographer is an entrance to the jail. In the picture below is the Thrifty car repair center - to the left is the Alexan Carlyle project and to the right is the go-kart track. The red building to the rear is the current sewage treatment plant. The go-kart track and the Thrifty center are both part of the land in question.

Like the cherry blossoms

2008-03-15T15:16:00.004-05:00

(or whatever they are) along Eisenhower Avenue, we're back!

Updates ...

2007-09-10T22:10:00.001-05:00

From sources ...

Robeks on Ballenger Avenue (smoothies, wraps, salads) will be open around the end of next week.

Bruegger's Bagels are on target to open by the end of October.

Rite-Aid on Eisenhower is supposed to be open February of next year, but I can't really figure out - are they completely tearing that building down at 2000 Eisenhower Avenue, or just going to use the shell for the Rite-Aid? Anyone know?

I need to write about something other than restaurants, but it seems that that's about the only news ...

Starbucks Open!

2007-09-10T22:08:00.000-05:00

Now we are a real urban neighborhood ... love em or not, Starbucks is here and open - corner of John Carlyle Street and Ballenger Avenue. They opened last Friday.

Now all those examiners at the PTO can get their caffeine fix for the end of the fiscal year!

California Tortilla coming?

2007-08-19T17:19:00.000-05:00

According to the Alexandria Planning Commission docket for September, California Tortilla is applying to open a new location at Hoffman Town Center next to Ted's Montana Grill, Cold Stone Creamery, Bread and Chocolate, and Galae Thai. California Tortilla is a fast-food Mexican restaurant with numerous locations already in the Northern Virginia area.

Also, on the Planning Commission docket for October is approval for Jamba Juice coming to Foxchase Shopping Center.

Jerry's opens Friday 8/10

2007-08-08T16:55:00.000-05:00

According to a source, Jerry's Subs and Pizza, at Carlyle Square, will be open on Friday!!!

Jerry's Subs and Pizza

520 John Carlyle Street

Alexandria VA 22314

703.838.0005

New Restaurant - Galae Thai!!!

2007-08-01T22:06:00.000-05:00

If you've been wishing for a full-service Thai and sushi joint in our neighborhood - look no further! Galae Thai just opened at the Hoffman Town Center (next to the AMC Hoffman Theater and Cold Stone/Ted's Montana Grill/Bread and Chocolate) on Swamp Fox Road. In this reviewer's opinion, the sushi here is first-rate! Try the Executive Roll and Spicy Yellowtail.

Another Thai restaurant, Pasura Thai, is on its way to the neighborhood at 2051 Jamieson Ave.

Lots of change at the corner of Ballenger and John Carlyle St.

2007-08-01T21:43:00.000-05:00

Lots of new lunch options are on their way to Carlyle denizens here - first to open looks like Jerry's Subs and Pizza (any day now!), followed by Starbucks and Robeks (smoothies/salads/wraps). Brueggers Bagels and HSBC Bank are also on their way. Georgetown Valet (dry cleaning) and Sushi Ko look like they are coming farther down the road.

Finally we are starting to get the food and retail places we have needed in the neighborhood!

Also, construction has started on the fourth corner of this intersection of a 4-5 story office/retail building. We won't see any new businesses there till 2008.

Rite-Aid coming to Eisenhower Ave.

2007-08-01T21:36:00.000-05:00

The Hoffman Town Center has started to be torn down at the corner of Hooffs Run Dr. and Eisenhower Ave. A Rite-Aid and other retail are scheduled to be built here, and completed sometime next year.

New Parking! Part Two.

2007-08-01T21:30:00.000-05:00

The other parking garage now open is the one next to the Federal Courthouse on Elizabeth Lane. It apparently is open and hopefully will provide parking for those people using the Courthouse (the ones who aren't staying at the Alexandria Jail already!)

Monthly parking is available - call 703.299.0019.

The next parking garage in the area to open is the HUGE one next to the AMC Hoffman Theaters and that will hopefully happen in October.

New parking in the neighborhood! Part One.

2007-08-01T21:19:00.000-05:00

As you might know, parking has been tight in the neighborhood, and many USPTO employees have found members of the public using the crowded parking garages on the campus. Fortunately, there are some new options for everyone to use. Here is the new Colonial Parking garage on Ballenger Avenue, next to the future Robeks and Starbucks - the price is $10 per day max and closes at 7 PM.

First-ever Alexandria Film Festival to be held at the USPTO campus

2007-08-01T21:17:00.000-05:00

from Sept. 27-30 - for more info see the Alexandria Commission for the Arts

Poetry Festival comes to Carlyle and USPTO

2007-04-15T19:16:00.000-05:00

from washingtonpost.com -

The final day of the Yockadot Poetics Theatre Festival will be May 5 in the office's Madison building on Dulaney Street. The festival, which starts the previous weekend in Del Ray, will feature readings of plays and a sculpture performance.

New Boutique Hotel near King Street Metro

2007-04-15T19:13:00.000-05:00

The Alexandria City Council approved construction of a luxury hotel on upper King Street near the Metro station yesterday, fresh evidence of Old Town Alexandria's transformation into an upscale tourist mecca.

The new complex, which will include a top-drawer restaurant, coffee-wine bar and day spa, will be built on a site previously approved for a condominium development that was shelved. It will incorporate one historic building and preserve the facade of another.

More at washingtonpost.com

Stella's is closed!!!

2007-04-06T14:18:00.000-05:00

Didn't see this one coming - what happened? It was probably the best sit-down restaurant in the area and had been open for a number of years. Was it the torn-up brick sidewalks around the building that killed business? The lack of obvious parking? Hiked rent?
This summer the Carlyle Club is opening a block or so away. Are the two somehow related? (Both are said to have art-deco themes). I guess time will tell. Sad to see you go, Stella's.

More on the Carlyle Club ...

2007-03-19T17:29:00.000-05:00

from a tipster at the USPTO on their intranet ...

Q: I heard a rumor there's finally going to be a full-service restaurant here in Carlyle soon. Can you confirm that?

A: According to the City, you heard right. "Carlyle Club" is scheduled to open this summer at 1900 Jamieson Avenue, directly adjacent to the Remsen Building. The restaurant will feature an art-deco design and will be open daily from 7:00 a.m. to midnight for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with live big bands performing on select evenings. In addition, the Westin Hotel, adjacent to the Randolph Building, is scheduled to open this fall and will also include a full-service restaurant ("Sauciety"), as well as Starbucks.

Westin Hotel coming in October 2007

2007-03-17T09:41:00.000-05:00

That building going up between the USPTO and the Federal Courthouse is a combination hotel/condo project. The Westin Alexandria Hotel and The Jamieson condominiums share a building. The schedule is for them to be completed in the fall. Condo owners will have access to the room and maid service of the hotel - ritzy, huh?
A high-end restaurant, Sauceity, will be part of the hotel. Now all we need is a swanky hotel bar there too ...

Restaurants coming to Carlyle Center

2007-03-17T09:34:00.001-05:00

This is Carlyle Center - a five story office/retail building just completed between Jamieson and Ballenger Avenues on John Carlyle Street. According to What's New in Alexandria, a Potbelly Sandwich Works and a Starbucks are headed there this spring. Zoning notices on the building also say a restaurant named The Carlyle Club is also destined there. There is a Lebanese restaurant in Baltimore named The Carlyle Club - not sure if it is the same place, however, a destination restaurant with a lounge and hookahs would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood!

New Retail coming to Carlyle Square

2007-02-23T14:53:00.000-05:00

The condos at Carlyle Square (520 Carlyle Square) are finally almost finished. TCB has learned through postings on the City of Alexandria websites that retail is scheduled to come to the first floor street-level of the building in the next several months. Jerry's Subs and Pizza, Bruegger's Bagels, Serenite Vie Day Spa, and Sushi Ko are on their way! This is welcome news to USPTO employees looking for more options at lunchtime. Sushi Ko is an upscale sushi restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown - hopefully this is the same establishment. According to the manager at Bruegger's in Old Town, the Carlyle Square location will open mid-June.

welcome!

2007-02-23T14:39:00.000-05:00

Hi - like a lot of people, I live and work in Carlyle, and have wondered what is going on in the neighborhood, what the "master plan" is, and have spent a lot of time looking for the info. I thought I would post what I come across online so you aren't in the dark either! Hope you find it useful.