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Burn Calories and Have Fun Doing It at The Barre Tech

March 17, 2015 by

If you’re a fan of yoga, Pilates, or ballet, you’ll likely enjoy the barre classes at Alexandria’s The Barre Tech. Regulars say the instructors here are friendly and remember not only your name, but also your history of injuries and even your general background. Teachers at The Barre Tech are also knowledgeable about fitness and know exactly how to help you achieve your optimal workout. Classes like urban dance cardio are great for getting your heart rate up, and classes like barre:60 are excellent for your core.

While the studio at The Barre Tech is relatively small, it's still comfortable since classes are typically limited to 15 students. The Alexandria location is convenient and easy to find with plenty of parking. Early morning classes are available for those with busy schedules.

The Barre Tech
2409 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 299-0259
www.barre-tech.com/contact-locations
www.yelp.com/biz/the-barre-tech-alexandria

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Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum: A Unique NoVA Museum

February 17, 2015 by

From 1792 to 1933, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum was a family business selling everything from medicine to garden and farm equipment to soap, perfumes, cigars, and art supplies. Famous customers included Robert E. Lee and Martha Washington. Today, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is home to what visitors call a truly astonishing array of historic and archival materials.

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum has been operated as a museum pretty much since the doors closed to mercantile customers during the Great Depression, so the entire original inventory remains on display. Visitors say the structure itself has been flawlessly preserved, and it’s a great cultural experience for anyone interested in herbal remedies or the history of pharmaceuticals and medicine.

Tours are available, and history buffs will likely be fascinated by the curiosities on view.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 S. Fairfax Street
Alexandra, VA 22314
(703) 838-3852
www.alexandriava.gov/Apothecary
www.yelp.com/biz/stabler-leadbeater-apothecary-museum-alexandria

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Ultra Zone Laser Tag: Arcade Fun in Alexandria

January 27, 2015 by

Fun is the name of the game at Ultra Zone in Bailey's Crossroads. This entertainment venue, which doubles as a laser tag arena and family amusement center, hosts arcade games, air hockey tables, and a pizza cafe for some between-game sustenance. However, the real highlight of Ultra Zone is, unsurprisingly, the laser tag. The multi-level arena can hold up to 66 players, each vying to become the victor of this high-tech version of "capture the flag."

Never played laser tag before? Here's what to expect: First, you don a vest that's equipped with blinking LED sensors, then you grab a laser gun. After a debriefing from the staff, you'll be set free to roam the arena's dark, labyrinth-like corridors, hiding in the cover of fog as you strategize a shot against one of the members of the opposing team. Games typically last 30 action-packed minutes, proving laser tag to be a popular choice for birthday parties, corporate outings, and other group events.

Ultra Zone Laser Tag is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Free Wi-Fi is offered.

Ultra Zone Laser Tag
3447 Carlin Springs Road
Bailey's Crossroads, VA 22041
(703) 578-6000
www.ultralasertag.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ultra-zone-laser-tag-falls-church

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Grounded Coffee Shop: Grab Coffee in Alexandria

December 16, 2014 by

According to Yelp reviewers, Grounded Coffee Shop is just what a great neighborhood coffee house should be. The owners are committed to keeping prices as low as possible, and they only serve fair trade organic coffees and teas. The baristas are skilled and knowledgeable about the coffee they're preparing and are happy to make recommendations. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and kid-friendly (you'll even find a miniature train table for the little ones). The shop's baked goods are prepared on-site, and the 100 percent real fruit smoothies are freshly prepared to order.

And, most importantly, the coffee is dark, rich, and delicious. Treat yourself to a foamy cappuccino, or spend an afternoon sipping a sweetly spiced chai tea. Start your morning right with a steaming cup of joe, or wind down after a long day at the office with a comforting cup of hot cocoa.

Whatever you choose, it’s hard to go wrong at Grounded Coffee Shop.

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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Paint Your Own Pottery at Paint This! in Alexandria

November 18, 2014 by

An afternoon of creative possibilities awaits at Paint This!, a paint-your-own-pottery studio in Alexandria. Here, budding artists young and young at heart are invited to create their own ceramic masterpiece, choosing from what Paint This! boasts is the most expansive selection of ceramics in the area.

The process is simple: Choose from mugs, vases, plates, piggy banks, cups, frames, figurines, and much more, then settle in for an afternoon of no-pressure painting. After one week, you return to pick up your glazed and fired personalized creation. Better yet, the studio fee is easy on the wallet: just $8 per hour or $12 for an entire day. In addition to ceramics, Paint This! offers DIY mosaics and glass fusion.

Paint This! is open noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays through Mondays and noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. The studio is closed Tuesdays.

Paint This!
1013 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 519-7499
paintthis.com/paintthis/Welcome.html
www.yelp.com/biz/paint-this-alexandria

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Ben Brenman Park: A Military Base Turned Local Park

September 23, 2014 by

Despite taking up nearly 60 acres, Alexandrians seem to consider Ben Brenman Park something of a hidden gem. Slightly off the beaten path, this park welcomes mostly families and couples for relaxing afternoons. It's named for Colonel Ben Brenman, a late U.S. Army official who stayed active in Alexandria for more than three decades and played a role in acquiring the acreage for the park. The name is fitting, since Ben Brenman Park sits on the former site of a U.S. Army base.

But you won't see many indicators of its military past at the park. Instead, you'll find picnic benches and a pavilion, walking paths, athletic fields, and a playground. There's also a pond and an amphitheatre, as well as a fenced-in dog park where pooches can run free with new friends.

Ben Brenman Park
4800 Brenman Park Drive
Alexandria, VA 22304
alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=12284#brenman
www.yelp.com/biz/ben-brenman-park-alexandria

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Mount Vernon: George Washington’s Family Estate

September 9, 2014 by

George Washington may be best known for the starring role he played in United States history, but at Mount Vernon he played another: homeowner. A family estate built by his father in 1735, what would later become a famed mansion started out as a modest farmhouse with one-and-a-half stories. When George took full ownership of the estate in 1761 (though he'd already been renting the property from his brother's widow), he transformed it into the grandiose home visitors see today.

George personally oversaw the teams that expanded to home to encompass 21 rooms, raised it another story (for a total of two and a half), and added the two-story piazza that overlooks the Potomac. Today, guests can explore the mansion on guided tours that focus on everything from the rarely-seen rooms to the way the Washingtons ate—and where. The grounds themselves are cause for a visit, as is the separate museum that showcases more of the Washington family's life at Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Alexandria, VA 22121
http://www.mountvernon.org/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mount-vernon-alexandria-2

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Fort Ward Museum: An Important Historic Spot in Alexandria

August 19, 2014 by

During the Civil War, Fort Ward stood as a symbol of strength, protecting the nation's capital (and the president who called it home), Washington, D.C. The fort still stands today in its original Alexandria home as a reminder of the brave men who fought not only for their own freedom, but also for that of others. It's touted as one of the best preserved Union forts still standing, which is why it makes for the perfect spot for a Civil War museum.

Fort Ward Museum houses exhibits that explain the role it played in the Civil War. Learn about everything from the way its military personnel lived and operated at the time to its effect on history as a Union Army crossroads. The museum also hosts special events, such as Civil War reenactments and lecture series.

Fort Ward Museum
4301 W. Braddock Road
Alexandria, VA 22304
(703) 838-4848
http://www.alexandriava.gov/FortWard
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fort-ward-museum-alexandria

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Founders Park: A Historical Waterfront Spot Fit for a Picnic

July 22, 2014 by

In the early 1700s, residents of what would one day become Alexandria would've never heard of "Founders Park,"but they knew West Point well. After all, West Point marked the first major European settlement along the river, popping up in 1732 (even before Alexandria did) with the construction of its first warehouse. But West Point eventually devolved into an industrial area and, in the 1960s, an abandoned expanse of land. When plans to build an apartment complex there became public in 1976, nearby residents put their foot down; instead, a park took shape in the space.

Known as Founders Park, this riverfront spot finally came to life in the late '70s. Volunteers worked hard to rid it of clutter and trash, unearthing the picturesque lawns and waterfront paths that you see there today. Home to native plants and flowers, it makes for an ideal spot to watch the sun set. But you can also play volleyball, walk your dog, or lay out a picnic spread on the lawn.

Founders Park
351 N. Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://www.alexandriafounderspark.org/index.php
http://www.yelp.com/biz/founders-park-alexandria

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Jones Point Park: A Recently Renovated Piece of Local History

June 24, 2014 by

In 2012, Jones Point Park completed a radical makeover—one seven years in the making. Initiated by its owning agency the National Park Service, this seven-year endeavor began with a push for a park that not only incorporated public input, but also made little impact on the environment. What the agency unveiled in 2012 was a 65-acre park that did just that, with the same unique fixtures that always drew locals to the park.

That includes the historic lighthouse perched on the water's edge. It also encompasses a small playground fit for younger and older children alike. But now the park also boasts basketball courts, running trails, and picnic tables. If you take a stroll around the park's walking trail, you can stop along the way to learn tidbits about its past described on historical markers.

Jones Point Park
125 Jones Point Drive
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=34692
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jones-point-park-alexandria

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