🌱 Housing Reform Starts This Month + Stomping Ground Closure

Hello, everybody. I'm here right on time with your fresh copy of the West End Alexandria Patch newsletter, filled with all the local information you need to know right now.

But first, your weekend weather:

• Saturday: Breezy in the morning. High: 49 Low: 30.
• Sunday: A couple of afternoon showers. High: 46 Low: 39.
• Monday: Morning showers; cloudy. High: 48 Low: 33.
• Tuesday: Clouds and sun; windy, chilly. High: 45 Low: 31.

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Here are the top three stories in West End Alexandria today:

1. Alexandria will launch a large-scale initiative called Zoning for Housing/Housing for All to review and rewrite the city's zoning code to prioritize affordability and equity. The initiative aims to examine the impact of past discriminatory housing policies on people of color and low-income families. The initiative will explore issues related to historic development patterns, affordable housing, expanding housing opportunities in single-family zones, and more, with community and civic engagement events scheduled for Mar. 20 and 21. (ALX Now)
2. Beloved Alexandria restaurant Stomping Ground will be closing next month after owner Nicole Jones announced that the business never fully recovered from the pandemic and struggled with rising ingredient costs. Jones said that the restaurant lost the magic that made it a popular destination pre-pandemic and had been treading water since COVID-19 hit. While Jones said she was excited about a new project, the restaurant's closure marked the end of an era for the Del Ray staple. (ALX Now)
3. Get ready for the Shamrock Stampede Bar Crawl in Carlyle, Alexandria, on Mar. 11, from 2-6 p.m.! The bar crawl will offer festive drinks, party favors, contests, giveaways, and prizes at Whiskey & Oyster, Sweet Fire Donna's, Tequila and Taco, and Lost Boy Cider, with trolley transportation provided between the locations. A $10 registration fee is required and will be donated to the ALIVE! nonprofit in Alexandria. (Visit Alexandria)

Coping up in West End Alexandria:

Saturday, March 11

• 90's Drag Brunch At King & Rye (11:00 AM)
• March150 Art Party Opening Art Party At Torpedo Factory Art Center (7:00 PM)

Sunday, March 12

• Music Bingo Night At Lost Boy Cider (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• New homes have been listed for sale in the West End Alexandria area. Available properties range from an 885-square-foot, one-bed, one-bath home for $350,000 to a $1.1 million home with three beds, four baths, and 2,678 square feet. Get all the property details at the link. (West End Alexandria Patch)
• The Alexandria Visitor Guide has a new cover, which can be found at the Visitor Center, stands around town, or ordered online soon! The brand-new logo reflects the progressive spirit of Alexandria, including refreshed colors and fonts, as well as a water-inspired element. (Visit Alexandria VA via Facebook)
• The Alexandria City Council will hold its Special Budget Public Hearing Meeting on Mar. 13 both in person and electronically via Zoom. The city is encouraging the public to attend the 5:30 p.m. meeting to learn about the proposed plans for the City of Alexandria. (AlexandriaVA.gov via Facebook)

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Featured businesses:

• Yates Automotive — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market! This Saturday, March 11th! (March 11)
• Spring Fling Event (March 24)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you back in your inbox next week with a new update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.