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Let Shop Owner Kinde Show You the Ropes at Tennis City

August 9, 2016 by

Loyal customers travel all the way from Washington, D.C. to Tennis City, where they say the owner, Kinde, offers some of the best customer service in the area. A veteran tennis teacher, Kinde is very knowledgeable about the game, and puts the needs of customers first. According to frequent shoppers, you’ll never feel pressured to spend money on equipment you don’t need. If you’re new to the game of tennis, Kinde will help you choose good equipment that won’t destroy your budget.

Prices here are very reasonable, even considering the area, but the real reason to shop at Tennis City is to benefit from the invaluable advice you’ll receive from Kinde, who draws upon his decades of experience with the game in order to help every customer. As your game improves, return to Tennis City to upgrade your equipment. You can have your racquet restrung here, too.

Tennis City
6550 Little River Turnpike
Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 256-4040
www.tennis-city.com
www.yelp.com/biz/tennis-city-alexandria

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Travel Back to 18th-Century Virginia with a Visit to the Carlyle House

July 19, 2016 by

Take a step back in time with a visit to the Carlyle House in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Built in the 1700s, this magnificently crafted stone mansion was home to John Carlyle, the founder of Alexandria.

Take a tour to see the mansion come to life. Docents and actors lead you through the home portraying scenes from its’ history, from John Carlyle himself to his slaves in the garden and the kitchen. This peek into daily life in the 1700s and 1800s is a real historical eye-opener for many visitors. The tour comes with rave reviews from locals and visitors alike.

A great perk is the affordable price tag for entry, so bring the whole family. Children under 5 visit free, ages 6-12 are $3, and over 13 is just $5. If you’re a history buff and think you’ll be visiting more than once, consider purchasing a membership, which provides free admission, discounts, and invites to members-only events and exhibits.

Carlyle House
121 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 549-2997
www.novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park

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Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Osprey and Beavers at Huntley Meadows Park

June 28, 2016 by

Enjoy the great outdoors at the beautiful Huntley Meadows Park in the heart of Alexandria. This wetland park is a hidden gem that you may be surprised to find amongst such a metropolitan area.

Boardwalk structures lead the way through this marshy eco-wonderland, with a variety of other trails connecting throughout the 1,500-acre reserve area. Among the wildlife you can spot on your stroll are beavers, blue herons, osprey, snakes, frogs, turtles, and many more. Be sure to have your camera ready, and don’t forget the bug spray. Stop by the visitor center before your walk to learn more about the ecosystems through a variety of exhibits and classrooms.

Do note that they don’t allow running, biking, or dogs as to not disturb the ecosystems and wildlife. Parking is easily accessible, and as the park is a nonprofit there is a $2 suggested parking donation.

Huntley Meadows Park
3701 Lockheed Boulevard
Alexandria, VA 22306
(703) 768-2525
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows-park

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Explore History in a Bottle at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

May 17, 2016 by

For an unusual look at life in Colonial and Civil War era America, stop into the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. This apothecary-turned-museum first opened in 1792 and functioned for decades as a widely popular place to get herbal remedies and medicines. Records maintained at the shop reveal that Martha Washington, Robert E. Lee, and hundreds of sickly Union soldiers picked up medicines here! In fact, many of the antique bottles still hold 200-year-old bottles labeled with ingredients like mercury, dragon’s blood, and opium!

With museum hours that vary by season, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum charges an admission fee of $5 for adults and $3 for children. Request a guided tour, or stop by for special events including lectures, dance classes, and hands-on science demonstrations.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 South Fairfax St
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 746-3852
www.alexandriava.gov/Apothecary

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Escape Room Live: Can You Beat the Clock During This Exciting Team-Building Adventure?

April 19, 2016 by

Whether you’re planning a birthday party or looking for a unique team-building exercise to do with your coworkers, Escape Room Live is tons of fun for all types of groups. This unique facility currently features two different “rooms” to choose from, each of which you’ll need to try to escape with the help of your fellow teammates. The Sherlock Holmes: A Matter of Time and Sherlock Holmes: Moriarty's Madness rooms each contain their own unique games, clues, and challenges to enable you to solve the mystery and win the game, but if you don’t solve the challenges within the allotted timeframe, you’ll have to admit defeat and try again another day.

Groups can either book one of the rooms or reserve the entire facility for private parties or functions, but whichever one you choose, you’re in for a truly fast-paced, thrilling adventure at Escape Room Live.

Escape Room Live
814 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(800) 616-4880
www.escaperoomlivealx.com

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Get Centered First Thing in the Morning at Grounded Coffee Shop

March 15, 2016 by

At Grounded Coffee Shop in Alexandria, local coffee lovers stop in for hot cups of fresh, flavorful coffee before a day at work or an afternoon of running errands in the area. This colorful coffee shop is very homey inside, and it is furnished with leather couches, rainbow-hued walls and handmade artwork decorating just about every surface.

There is a glass display case overflowing with desserts and other baked goods, and Grounded Coffee Shop even offers savory dishes like homemade quiche and croissant breakfast sandwiches to give you fuel for the day ahead. The friendly baristas whip up steaming cups of drip coffee and classic espresso drinks at the espresso bar, and there are also iced teas, frappes and fruit smoothies made fresh on the spot. Settle in with a good book on a relaxing day off, or play one of the café’s board games over cappuccino with a group of friends.

Grounded Coffee Shop
6919 Telegraph Road
Alexandria, VA 22310
(703) 341-6612
www.groundedcoffeeshop.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grounded-coffee-shop-alexandria

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Get Creative at Torpedo Factory Arts Center

February 16, 2016 by

Looking for something fun, unique, and inexpensive to do in Old Town Alexandria? Swing by the Torpedo Factory Arts Center for an afternoon of artistic discovery. As you stroll through the 82 workshops and seven galleries, you’ll see a few real torpedoes that harken back to the building’s history as a World War I munitions factory.

Since the 1970s, the factory—which opens out onto a walking path on the picturesque Potomac River—has functioned as a communal space for working artists to interact with the community. You can see artists at work and discuss the process with them. Be forewarned: the artists make their own schedules and if there’s someone you’d specifically like to see, you need to schedule privately with them.

Don’t miss the third floor, where the Alexandria Archaeology Museum resides, or the gift shop where you can purchase art, jewelry, clothing, and other goods made by the Torpedo Factory artists!

Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-4565
torpedofactory.org

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Swing’s Coffee Roasters: Sip a Latte at This Cafe-Meets-Roaster in Alexandria

December 29, 2015 by

Upon entering Swing’s Coffee Roasters, the first thing you'll notice about this small coffee shop and roaster is the earthy aroma of roasting beans. Order your coffee or latte at the wooden coffee bar (and maybe even pick up a pecan tart or fresh-baked muffin), then set up camp at one of the cozy cafe tables to enjoy your coffee with a good book, good conversation, or a few good hours spent catching up on computer work.

As for the decor, exposed pipes and floor-to-ceiling windows fill the space, while glass doors keep the roasting area separate while still inviting visitors to take a peek inside.

Swing’s Coffee Roasters' Alexandria location is open Mondays through Fridays.

Swing’s Coffee Roasters
501 E Monroe Ave
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 370-5050
www.swingscoffee.com
www.facebook.com/Mark1013

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Explore 47 Acres of Preserved Wilderness at Dora Kelley Nature Park in Alexandria

December 22, 2015 by

At the 47-acre Dora Kelley Nature Park in Alexandria, adventurous locals can get a sense of native wildlife while also escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday living. While this beautiful wooded park is located just minutes from the downtown area, its self-guided nature trails and rocky creek will make you feel like you’re a world away. There are both paved and non-paved trails to accommodate all types of hiking, biking, and walking, so bring your bike for a scenic ride along the well-maintained trails, or embark on an afternoon hike to get a bit of exercise outdoors.

Dora Kelley Nature Park also hosts the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center, founded in 1978, where local school groups can learn about Alexandria’s local wildlife, including snakes and turtles.

Dora Kelley Nature Park
5750 Sanger Ave
Alexandria, VA 22311
(703) 746-5559
www.yelp.com/biz/dora-kelley-nature-park-alexandria

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Embrace Italian Desserts at Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato

December 15, 2015 by

If you love Italian pastas and pizzas, you haven’t even experienced all of this delicious cuisine’s decadent offerings. Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato offers a less common taste of Italian dining in the form of authentic gelato, a cold dessert similar to ice cream that is made with a creamier consistency and unique, dense flavors.

This Alexandria dessert shop is hip and relaxed, with chalkboard menus displaying the day’s current flavors and a stainless steel gelato counter imported from Italy for the freshest, most authentic taste possible. The gelato itself comes in flavors like coconut, dulce de leche, merlot and apple cinnamon, and there is also a small selection of sorbettos for dairy-free guests.

If you’re planning a party or ordering for a group, Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato also makes its gelatos in the form of cakes that are even more decadent and delicious.

Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato
111 S. Payne Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 349-1001
www.crgelato.com
www.yelp.com/biz/casa-rosada-artisan-gelato-alexandria-2

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