Sunday Farmer's Market

Having gone to Sherwood Hall Lane in South Alexandria on Wednesday, I decided to try West Alexandria's Sunday Farmer's Market in Ben Brenman Park.

Oil Slick Coffee is a gourmet local roaster who has samples of the various roasts to try.

If you have a knife that is just not cutting it (or scissors or pruners), you can take them to Rod on the first Sunday of every month, and he can give you a new edge, which you will need for slicing the fabulous tomatoes and grass fed beef and all of the other goodies that you can get at this market.

A couple who bought goats to clean up their Great Falls yard instead of buying a riding mower did not know how it would change their lives.  When their daughter was born, they got into breeding the goats to have Goat's Milk. They got more goat's milk than they could drink, and they started making products, which is now a full time business, Amalthea Ridge hand-crafted goat milk products.  The Ginger Lime Body Souffle is really fabulous.

Then you have your wonderful veggies and melons and, yes, there are still some peaches.

There are many other unique offerings to explore, and it is great just to walk around the park.

So check it out sometime on Sunday between 8:30 am and 1 pm!

Penrose Public Square on Columbia Pike fulfilling its promise

Am embarrassed to say that Saturday was my first trip to Penrose Public Square on the "new" Columbia Pike.

The occasion was a client/friends "wetting down" celebration for being promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the Coast Guard at the Taqueria Poblano on Columbia Pike.  Adults were wetted down with the famous Taqueria Margaritas (or a thirst quenching lime cooler for the designated drivers). Great toasts, games for the kids, and Taqueria's unique Mexican fare had everyone in good spirits.  And for the children, Lisa special ordered several large boxes of Georgetown Cupcakes with an edible Coast Guard Emblem on top of each one.  Of course, she got enough so that the adults could have cupcakes too!  An entire week or maybe month of Weight Watcher's points in one sitting.

As an aside, it was great to know that you can have Georgetown Cupcakes do special emblems like that for special occasions (with enough advance notice).

It seems that Penrose Square has become quite the gathering place. Many people were cooling off with Menchie's Frozen Yogurt or enjoying fish and chips from Eamonn's.  Children (and some adults and their pets) took full advantage of the "water feature" to get "wetted down" and cooled off from Saturday's heat wave.

For everyone who has not yet checked out the "new" Columbia Pike places in Penrose Square, it also has a huge Giant with an hour's free covered parking. So check it out soon at 2500 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA!

Please email me at kay@kayblemker.com with your comments. Thanks!

Home Tip: Be Prepared for a Stormy Summer

Just over one year ago the derecho hit our neighborhood hard -- several weeks ago another one threatened, and we had substantial flooding in many areas only this week.  For those who remember suffering through 90 degree heat and humidity, losing all of the food in their freezers and refrigerators, and worrying about running out of batteries and candles before Dominion restored the power to your home, there are ways you can be prepared in the future.  

The first way to be prepared is to install a natural gas or propane generator that kicks in if the power is lost. This is an expensive solution, but more and more people are choosing this option in our area.  This will be the subject of another blog post. 

Assuming you do not have a generator and have lost power, how do you notify Dominion Power that you have no power when you can't turn the computer on or there is no internet connection? Below is an easy "cheat sheet" that you can print out and store in a safe place -- maybe with your flashlights, candles and batteries.  Or load these emergency numbers - at least the Dominion one - into your cellphone. You'll be glad to have it handy in case of emergency.

And remember one other tip from the power companies themselves.  Don't assume the power companies know that you've lost power.  One power company executive told WTOP that -- in the last neighborhood to get power back on -- after five long days -- not a single household had called to report the outage.  The bottom line?  The squeaky wheel gets the power back sooner. 

Dominion Virginia Power: 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357) This is the number you should store in your cell phone for power outages and downed lines. If the number you are calling from is the one that Dominion has on file for you, they will automatically recognize which address you are reporting as having no power. The automated system will identify your property and ask you to confirm that there is no power, and they will also ask you whether you would like to be notified when power has been restored. You should indicate that you would like them to notify you. This is where it gets tricky. If you have not been notified, you can assume that power has not been restored. But if your cell phone runs out of battery or you have a phone that is not working, they obviously cannot call you back to notify you. You might have to call back from another phone  -- only to discover that Dominion thinks power has been restored but you still have no power. 

Hazardous and fallen trees/branches

If I see a fallen tree, especially one that has knocked down power lines, I call the non-emergency police number, which is 703-838-4444 in Alexandria.  Whoever answers the phone can usually refer the emergency to the appropriate jurisdiction if it is not in Alexandria City. High voltage power lines that have come down and are still hot are very lethal. I had a friend in college who was working for the State cleaning up roads after storms and accidentally grabbed a hot wire hidden under some branches and was electrocuted. So please don't go around trying to clear these trees and branches yourself and don't allow your loved ones or pets around them either. 

For trees or branches that have fallen across roads, I also call 911. Let the police figure out who to call to get the road cleared.   If they have an emergency and can't get through because the road is blocked, they need to know. 



To Report Utility Outages 

Dominion Power - to report power outages only: 
1-866-DOM-4357 (HELP)

Washington Gas: 1-800-752-7520 or 703-750-1400, TTY 711
Comcast Outages: 703-841-7700
Verizon Phone/Fios Outages: 1-800.837.4966
Verizon Phone/TV Outages: 703.378.8422

Please email me at kay@kayblemker.com with your comments. Thanks!

Days on the Market? - Literally Less Than One Week Is the Norm

The above graphs show the days on the market and the listing prices for the 87 detached homes in zip code 22301 that have been on the market in some fashion within the past 90 days (as of today, June 26, 2013).

Actually, there were 91 detached properties that are either active, under contract, sold, withdrawn, or have in some other way been on the market within the past 90 days. I left off only 4 properties because they had days on the market in excess of 180 days.   I don't consider that they are really on the market if they have been on the market over 180 days (6 months) and still haven't sold when most properties are on less than a week.

The most popular price range is between $600,000 and $700,000, so if you plan to buy in this price range, you can see that you need to be ready and move quickly.


Please email me at kay@kayblemker.com with your comments, questions, or for more information. If your zip code is not 22301, I would be glad to do a similar and more detailed analysis to show you what is happening in your neighborhood with your type and style of home. Thanks!

Local Hot Spot: Chocolate, Gifts and Whimsy in Old Town

Looking for that perfect quirky gift for your hard-to-buy-for friend or family member?  I had almost forgotten that Artfully Chocolate has two locations - 2003A  Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray and a more spacious and bright Artfully Chocolate and Gifts on John Carlyle Street near the Patent & Trademark Office in "New" Old Town.

The newer gallery location is open until 8 pm Tuesday through Saturday (and until 5 pm on Sunday). They offer a host of summer pleasantries and gifts -- my favorites include the colorful paper plates and matching napkins.  And if you want to grab the perfect hostess gift on the way to a party, the bon bons will be most appreciated.  (The salted caramels -- I am told -- are a shop favorite.) 

They also offer a range of unique cards ranging from very touching to LOL funny.  If you wonder where that person found just the right card to send to you, this might be the place. 

In the heat of summer, we're not thinking too much about hot chocolate (and this is the kind you find in Paris...no Swiss Miss here), but as an alternative, try attending one of the chocolate and wine pairing classes on alternate Thursday evenings for $60. This might also be the perfect gift for the wine and chocolate lover.  Or maybe just cool off with some Gifford's ice cream (perhaps a milkshake?) while you write your card out at the colorful cafe tables.  

While you're there, browse the gallery of items painted and painstakingly crafted by local resident and owner Eric Nelson.  Colorful and full of energy (just like Eric), you'll love the hand-crafted mosaic cafe tables (where you can sip your beverage and nosh on some hand-made chocolates) and whimsical paintings. You can even commission Eric to do something more personal, should the desire strike.  

It's a can't miss place -- and plenty of on-the-street parking is a plus.  

Please email me at kay@kayblemker.com with your comments. Thanks!

The Perfect Backyard BBQ Gift

 

If you have a neighbor or friend who is a diehard Nationals or Steelers or (god forbid) Dallas Cowboys fan, here is an idea that is sure to brighten up their day. Sure, you could bring a six-pack of beer to the neighbor’s cookout…but why not level it up and bring something that everyone can enjoy?   Impossible, you say?  Not at all.   

Allow me to suggest a churchkey outfitted with the logo of your neighbor’s favorite sports team.

A churchkey, for those who may not be familiar with hardcore barware, is a bottle opener on one end and a can opener on the other.  It’s usually larger than your average kitchen-drawer opener and incredibly sturdy. 

My friend Sean saw several while browsing the gift store Show of Hands.   They are made by Kathie Perry Lynch, a local glass artist.

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Being from Chicago, he wanted a Bears churchkey for his father’s birthday but the shop only had New York, Boston and Washington, DC.  So,smart man that he is, Sean asked if the artist might be able to make one for him with the Chicago Bears logo – and sure enough, the artist was happy to comply. 

The churchkey cost just under $19 (and just $2.50 to mail) and was happily received by Sean’s dad, who immediately pried open a beer and placed the churchkey on his bar in a place of honor. 

If you know me well, you know that I first asked “Who are the Bears?” before it clicked that this is the perfect summer gift at the right price, too.  Remember, if you don’t see your team, be sure to ask!  And tell them Kay Blemker sent you. 

Please email me at kay@kayblemker.com with your comments. Thanks!

Wire Me Up!

Need a scoop of mouth-watering home made sorbet gelato to get you through a lazy, hazy summer afternoon?  Or perhaps you just need a jolt of espresso to start off your day jam-packed with meetings.  Whatever the reason, I’ve got just the spot for you. 

I stumbled upon Killer ESP (Espresso Sorbet Pie) last week while wandering down King Street in Old Town in search of a pick-me-up.  Their double shot of espresso was bracing, to say the least, and got me charged immediately.  My friend sampled their chai latte and loved the real cardamom flavor infused throughout it.  We shared an empanada from Julia’s Empanadas, the famed DC outpost by Farragut North, which was delivered in the cutest red/white checkered rectangular paper container.  All of this for an even $10.  Let me repeat that.  Just $10! 

Rose Sorbetta

Located at 1012 King Street, in between Patrick and Henry, this little shop features a few outdoor seats and lots of small tables and couches inside. Those imbibing can power up their iPads using the free wireless or simply enjoy one of the movies playing over the projector. 

Homemade gelato, Stumptown Coffee from Portland, Oregon, service with a smile and a charming interior that rocks a 60’s vibe.  Open Sunday-Thursday: 9 a.m. – 9:30ish p.m. Friday & Saturday: 9 a.m. – 11:00ish p.m.  

Please email me at kay@kayblemker.com with your comments. Thanks!