Old Town Alexandria

I had to drop off documents at a lawyer’s office, and guess what – that meant driving through Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.  [I’ve been to Egypt, but not their Alexandria.  Sorry.]

It’s old.  It’s fancy.  It’s nice.  It’s cool.

King Street.  This is Route 7, starting somewhere near Winchester, winding its way through Leesburg, Sterling, Tyson’s Corner, Falls Church, and then finally falling into the Potomac River.  It runs northwest to southeast.

Washington Street.  The George Washington Parkway passes by Reagan National Airport and becomes Washington Street as it goes north-south through Alexandria, bisecting King Street.   There’s a cool Confederate statue at the intersection with Prince Street.

Courthouse.  The Circuit Court of Alexandria is a 4 story building on King Street.  It’s nice and fancy without being too old.  I like going to court here, but lately I’ve been filing my uncontested divorces in Fairfax.

Federal Courthouse.   This is over on Duke Street.  It’s a 10 story palace of justice.  Amazing.  Generally, though, although I’m admitted to this court (US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division) I rarely have occasion to practice here.

115 S. Union Street.   I’m more apt to be down here:  the Trustee’s Office, for bankruptcy cases. It’s just a block from the river.  Very nice.

Webelos.  Back in the late 70s, when we were living in the US, our Cub Scout group took a tour of Old Town Alexandria.  The tour began down near the town hall.  I can’t remember much more than that.  We took a similar tour of Annapolis, Maryland.

Old Town Armory.   Fond memories of this gun boutique on King Street.  I got my first Beretta there, an AR15, and my current Mauser Kar98K.  Unfortunately, it’s not there anymore. 

Town Hall.   A big, fancy, modern brick building, where you go if you have City of Alexandria business.  Note: some “Alexandria” addresses (e.g. outside the Beltway) are actually in Fairfax County.

Masonic Thing.  Up on a big hill, right on King Street, is the George Washington Masonic Memorial.  This is NOT a Masonic Temple and no temple activities are conducted here.  It’s simply a large and an elaborate memorial to GW AS a Mason, which he was.  They give free tours which are highly informative and highly recommended.  You get to visit the top of the thing and look down around; the view is spectacular.  Don’t miss it.