topic Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA in Among Friends

OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

qvc chick — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 14:37:05 GMT

I am going for a weekend to Alexandria. Staying at a hotel in town.

Any thoughts on what to do, restaurants, etc.? I won't have a car, so looking to do something in the town.

We are foodies, wondering if there are any food tours, cooking classes, etc.

Thanks!

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

novamc1 — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 15:20:33 GMT

Check the weather. If the Potomac River is high due to Hurricane Florence, the historic waterfront in Old Town could be underwater. Businesses along the waterfront will have sandbags in front as a rather meager form of protection and get flooded regularly, and coud be even worse now.

As for restaurants, Bilbo Baggins, The Wharf and The Fish Market were some that I used to visit. Check TripAdvisor website for ratings and info on many Old Town eating places.

It's a charming town with many quaint shops. Many of the tiny townhomes lining the streets date back to the 1700's. It's a good place to walk around and browse.

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

stevieb — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 15:35:06 GMT

@novamc1 wrote:
Check the weather. If the Potomac River is high due to Hurricane Florence, the historic waterfront in Old Town could be underwater. Businesses along the waterfront will have sandbags in front as a rather meager form of protection and get flooded regularly, and coud be even worse now.

As for restaurants, Bilbo Baggins, The Wharf and The Fish Market were some that I used to visit. Check TripAdvisor website for ratings and info on many Old Town eating places.

It's a charming town with many quaint shops. Many of the tiny townhomes lining the streets date back to the 1700's. It's a good place to walk around and browse.

I'd add Landini Brothers to the restaurant list... Love The Wharf and The Fish Market is good, if a bit more boisterous... So many restaurants in Old Town you could never hit all the good ones... All three of these are close to each other at the river end of King Street...

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

Jannyg — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 15:39:27 GMT

Gadsby's Tavern. If it was good enough for George Washington, I figured it was good enough for me. It's historic and I was surprised that the food was quite good

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

qvc chick — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 15:43:07 GMT

We are not going until next month. So there should be no problem with flooding.

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

Hooty — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 16:56:54 GMT

@qvc chick, if you're not going till Oct., the weather should be really great for walking tours, be sure to wear comfortable shoes, many of the streets are brick and cobblestone! If you love Greek food, my favorite is Taverna Cretecu, and yes Gatsby Tavern is also a great place!

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

jackthebear — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 18:08:23 GMT

my daughter used to live there

tons to do

Torpedo Factory it's a gallery

lots of restaurants

the Masonic Temple https://gwmemorial.org/

there was a wonderful wine/cheese place we went to can't remember the name La Fromagerie Cheese and Wine Bistro

Hen Quarter for low country food

There are many restaurants and it's a lovely place to walk

you could probably get a bus or taxi to take you to DC if you want

have fun

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

LTT1 — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 19:01:57 GMT

@qvc chick

La Tasca for Tappas...within walking distance from the Alexandria Hilton & metro station, etc.

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

Bhvbum — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 19:55:46 GMT

If you are staying in a hotel in Alexandria, check for daily parking charges for your car. The rates are from about $15-$35 a day. It can be hard to find this information on their website so you may have to give them a call.

Also having a car is a big liability up there so walking is easy to do in old town Alexandria, you will leave your car parked. If you want to get into DC you could easily take the metro or get a taxi/Uber.

Note from years and years of experience, there is absolutely no place to park in the city of Washington DC!

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

VaBelle35 — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 21:15:07 GMT

You'll be able to take a taxi pretty cheap, so don't feel like you have to stick to Old Town.

Metro - King Street Metro is within walking distance (or a trolly or a cab), so you can go to DC easily as well.

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

Hayfield — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:42:09 GMT

I love Old Town Alexandria! We lived in the area for 40 years and went to Old Town quite often. The Wharf, The Fish Market & Bilbo Baggins are favorites of mine! Go to the Xmas Attic on Union Street, a very eclectic & unique store, I know the owners! Have a great time! Go to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, the drive up the GW Parkway is lovely. I worked there for over 9 years! Beautiful views of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon!

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

Shanus — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 17:03:22 GMT

@qvc chick wrote:
I am going for a weekend to Alexandria. Staying at a hotel in town.

Any thoughts on what to do, restaurants, etc.? I won't have a car, so looking to do something in the town.

We are foodies, wondering if there are any food tours, cooking classes, etc.

Thanks!

@qvc chick I recommend Pop’s on King St. for great ice cream. The Torpedo Factory, near the water, is a wondeful accumulation of artist studios, artists at work and a lot of things to purchase from pottery, paintings, jewelry, yard art, etc.

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

Mj12 — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 17:56:29 GMT

@qvc chick wrote:
I am going for a weekend to Alexandria. Staying at a hotel in town.

Any thoughts on what to do, restaurants, etc.? I won't have a car, so looking to do something in the town.

We are foodies, wondering if there are any food tours, cooking classes, etc.

Thanks!

Sur La Table on King Street has cooking classes - here is their calendar:

https://www.surlatable.com/browse/storeCalendar.jsp?storeId=131

For food tours - DC Metro Food Tours offers a tour of Old Town:

http://www.dcmetrofoodtours.com/old_town_1.html

We've been on a DC Metro Food Tour, but not the Old Town tour.

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

Financialgrl — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 16:17:53 GMT

Moved to N. VA in 1966 and another heads up - rush hour in DC and it's suburbs begins around 2-3pm and ends about 7pm and I believe it's now considered the worst in the US. During that time you will want to try to use Metro bc even if you take taxis or Uber those modes of transportation will have to be out there battling the same roads during this time. Metro will be more crowded but at least you are not using the crowded roads into or out of the city!

Re: OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VA

Evie2004 — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 03:03:15 GMT

@qvc chick, it so happens that our son & his wife have a booth at the art show going on there THIS weekend..today was nice, but they expect rain tomorrow (Sunday)

he makes beautiful wood & glass lamps, sort of a Frank Lloyd Wright- style..

so, if you go to the art show, maybe you will see him, hope you have a fun day!