OTNA Night at Royal Restaurant, Development Updates, & June Events Round Up

 

OTNA Night at Royal Restaurant

OTNA Members and Board Members Gather at Royal Restaurant on May 28, 2025 (image courtesy of Old Town North Alliance)

 

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Old Town North Alliance Night at Royal Restaurant on Wednesday, May 28th. Despite the rainy weather, it was a good crowd and it was wonderful to see so many of our Members and to watch connections being made among them. Together we can work to realize the full potential of Old Town North!

Thank you to Royal Restaurant for hosting us in their newly re-designed space. Everyone loved the new menu and cocktails and the cozy decor provided an intimate and welcoming space for gathering together.  

If you haven’t been to the new Royal, stop by and check it out soon!

DEVELOPMENT UPDATES

June Meetings on HRP Group’s Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS) Redevelopment

The June meetings will focus on revisions to the DSUP submissions for Blocks A, B, & C as well as the Waterfront and Rail Corridor Open Spaces, and will continue to offer an opportunity for engagement.

Virtual Community Meeting #18

Date: Monday, June 9th

Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm

To register for the meeting, please visit the registration page. Participants will have the chance to provide feedback and ask questions in real time through a live Q&A session. Questions and comments can also be sent in advance to HRPInfoMidatlantic@hilcoglobal.com.

Urban Design Advisory Committee (UDAC)
Date: Wednesday, June 11th
Time: 9am

For more information about the meeting, please visit the UDAC website.

Alexandria Waterfront Commission
Date: Tuesday, June 17th
Time: 7:30 am

For more information about the meeting, please visit the Alexandria Waterfront Commission website.

Alexandria Parks & Recreation Commission
Date: Thursday, June 26th
Time: 7pm

For more information about the meeting, please visit the Alexandria Parks & Recreation Commission website.

For more information about the PRGS redevelopment, visit:

https://www.hrpalx.com/

Robinson Terminal North Redevelopment Hearings

Robinson Terminal North, a two-phase mixed-use project in Old Town North, is scheduled for hearings this month before the Planning Commission and City Council.

Planning Commission

Date: Wednesday, June 4th

Time: 7pm

City Council

Date: Saturday, June 14th

Time: 9:30am

The Alliance has submitted a letter to the Planning Commission offering our strong support of the Robinson Terminal North DSUP, but emphasizing the need for further attention and commitment from the developer with regard to Public Art and the integrated development of Open Space, Site Activation, Streetscape, and the Oronoco Street End. OTNA Secretary/Treasurer Tommy Volk plans to speak at the meeting on behalf of the Alliance.

On May 19th, 2025, a virtual community meeting was held to discuss the Robinson Terminal North redevelopment.

A copy of the presentation can be found at:

https://rooneypropertiesllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Community-Mtng-4-May-19-2025.pdf

JUNE EVENTS ROUND UP

Wednesday, June 4th

St. Elmo’s Old Town North presents:

Wine Wednesday - Barboursville Vineyards

529 Montgomery St.

5pm - 7pm

Stop by St. Elmo’s for their monthly Wine Wednesday (the first Wednesday of each month) to sample wines from the award-winning Barboursville Vineyards outside Charlottesville, VA. Try a flight of 3 wines for $14 or a flight of 6 wines for $26. Grab a seat inside or on St. Elmo’s inviting patio and indulge your inner oenophile.

Saturday, June 7th

National Trails Day - Volunteer with Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail to Remove Invasive Kudzu in Old Town North

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail volunteers work to remove invasive kudzu along the Mount Vernon Trail (image courtesy of Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail)

Meeting Point (On the Mount Vernon Trail just north of Muse)

9am

Join Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail to volunteer for National Trails Day. Help remove invasive tree-killing kudzu on the Mount Vernon Trail near the Potomac River Generating Station.  

For more information and to register to volunteer, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-trails-day-invasive-kudzu-removal-on-the-mount-vernon-trail-tickets-1265591170259

Saturday, June 7th

Volunteer Alexandria Presents:

Old Town Alexandria Arts & Crafts Fair

(image courtesy of Volunteer Alexandria)

Waterfront Park

10am - 5pm

Volunteer Alexandria presents this annual fair featuring over 80 local and regional artisans. Explore a variety of pieces including ceramics, jewelry, stationery, textiles, photography, and more.  Food and drink vendors will be on site.

For more information, visit:

https://www.volunteeralexandria.org/arts-and-crafts-festival

Starting Wednesday, June 11th

Made in ALX presents:

Free Crafts for Kids

415 King St.

10am - 4pm

A different creative craft every Wednesday all summer long! Crafts are suitable for ages 2-12. All children must be accompanied by a teen (16 or older) or an adult. Continues through Wednesday, August 13th.

For more information, visit:

https://www.madeinalx.com/s/stories/free-crafts-for-kids-every-wednesday-this-summer-2

Saturday, June 14th

Alexandria Jazz Fest

Waterfront Park

3pm - 9pm

Stroll down to Waterfront Park and enjoy an afternoon and evening of live jazz music from some of the area’s top performers including The JoGo Project, Jeanette Berry, We Were Here Before, Fran Vielma Quartet, Carolyn Malachi, and Warren Wolf. This free event will also offer hands-on art projects and lawn games. Food vendors and Port City Brewing will be on site.

For more information, visit:

https://www.alexandriava.gov/arts/alexandria-jazz-fest

Tuesday, June 17th

Democratic Party Primary

(No Republican Primary - Republican Candidates Have Already Been Determined)

Various locations

6am - 7pm

Don’t miss the opportunity to make your voice heard in the Democratic Party Primary on June 17th to determine the Democratic nominees for Lt. Governor and Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia.  

For more information and to find your polling place, visit:

https://www.alexandriava.gov/Elections#UpcomingElections

Friday, June 20th

The Art League Presents:

Draw-a-Thon at Muse

(image courtesy of The Art League)

Muse Studio One (1201 N. Royal St.)

10am - 8pm

Bring your sketchbook and drawing or painting supplies and get ready to create! Choose all day access ($125), a 4-hour block ($50), or a 2-hour after work block ($30). Draw-a-thon will take place in a large room with two live, clothed and/or costumed models offering a mixture of quick gesture poses and long sustained poses. All levels are welcome.  

To purchase tickets, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-art-leagues-draw-a-thon-tickets-1368969457499?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=The+Art+League+E-mail+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4f3f070f8b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_08_02_04_25_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-191d94a546-567151853&mc_cid=4f3f070f8b&mc_eid=576aa6bfa8.

Saturday, June 21st

Waterfront Commission Walking Tour of Old Town North Waterfront

TideLock Park in Old Town North (image courtesy of the Old Town North Alliance)

Starting point TBD

8:30am

The Waterfront Commission has selected the Old Town North Waterfront for its Annual Walking Tour. The tour will take place on the morning of Saturday, June 21st at 8:30am and is open to the public. Stay tuned for details on the starting point for the tour.

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES

Tennis courts in Montgomery Park (image courtesy of the Old Town North Alliance)

Tennis Court Repairs. The tennis courts in Montgomery Park will be closed from June 2nd through June 17th while the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities makes repairs to address surface cracks, apply a new color coating, and re-line the courts. These repairs are weather dependent so the schedule could shift based on the weather conditions.

For more information, contact bethany.znidersic@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-5490, Virginia Relay 711.

Congratulations to Jula’s on the Potomac for being voted the Best of Alexandria by Zebra Press readers in the following categories: Bar, Cocktails, Fine Dining, New Restaurant, Outdoor Dining, Restaurant with a View, and Waterfront Dining.

Vote for The Art League as Best Art Class and Best Arts and Culture Nonprofit in Washington City Paper’s 2025 Best of D.C. Don’t wait—the deadline is June 12th!

To cast your vote, visit:

https://bestof2025.washingtoncitypaper.com/

The City of Alexandria’s Beautification Commission is now accepting nominations for the Alexandria Beautification Awards. Nominations are due by June 15th. In 2024, Canal Center won a Community Beautification Award for their unique artwork and weekly community events. Consider nominating another Old Town North venue for 2025. Categories include: Residential, Excellence in Architecture, Community, and Commercial.  

For more information and to make a nomination, visit:

https://survey.alexandriava.gov/s3/2025-Beautification-Award-Nominations

Don’t miss these regularly scheduled events in and around

Old Town North!

Farmers Market (UPDATED HOURS) on Thursdays (4pm - 7:30pm) and Sundays (9am - 1:30pm). Presented by Old Town North Community Partnership in Montgomery Park.

  • Free Yoga in the Fresh Air presented by River’s Edge Yoga - Sundays from 11am - 12pm under the gazebo in Montgomery Park.

  • Lalita Method Pilates Mat Classes on the Hotel AKA Terrace. Enjoy pilates outdoors on Saturday mornings and Monday evenings through June at Hotel AKA Alexandria (625 First St.). To reserve your spot, visit: https://lalitamethod.com/pages/reformer-pilates

  • Made in ALX classes. To register, visit: https://www.madeinalx.com/shop/classes-events/68

  • Lee-Fendall House (614 Oronoco St.). Various historical events including the return of the Trivia Nights at Historic Sites series on the 2nd and 4th Fridays in June and July. This month features U.S. States (June 13th) and Jane Austen (June 27th). For more information, visit:

https://leefendallhouse.org/pages/events

Linda Vitello