News

Mellenie Runion (past president of the DRBA) announced that Whole Foods in Old Town Alexandria will be carrying six of her handmade soaps (Lavender, Red Honeysuckle, Coconut, Lemon Thyme, Vanilla Bean, and Fresh Meadow).

Del Ray’s Affordable Signs & Banners celebrated 25 years in business with an Open House and cake cutting ceremony on Tuesday, August 5. Longtime customers, dignitaries, and friends stopped by to congratulate founder, Ken Boland and his team and enjoyed food from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group and cake and cake pops designed by Del Ray Cakery. Informal tours of the facility were also given to interested attendees. 

Originally from Detroit, Ken Boland opened Affordable Signs & Banners in 1989. For 13 years the business operated on Mt. Vernon Avenue before moving to Calvert Ave in the Oakville Industrial Park in 2006.

Affordable Signs & Banners, Inc. is an independently owned and operated, Virginia certified small business specializing in custom interior and exterior signs, banners, awards, vehicle and window lettering for a wide variety of uses ranging from retail and restaurant storefronts, business identification, special events, meetings and conventions. Visit them on the web at http://www.AffordableSigns.com or at their facility in the Oakville Industrial Park 423 Calvert Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301

DRBA member Karen Johnson wrote a charming piece on the neighborhood and highlighted the dog-friendly businesses on the Ave! Follow her dog Boomer as he visits our local shops.

Community resident, María José Ovalle, had a cover story on Del Ray in June's DomiCile Magazine. Her article Del Ray, Virginia: Finding a Place to Call Home describes the history and local businesses of our neighborhood and how she is happy to call Del Ray home.

You can read more from María José Ovalle at her blog, verybusymamablog.com.

Bring the family for a rockin' good time celebrating our great neighborhood!

Come join us on August 7th (from 6 to 9 pm) as we celebrate our First Thursday geared towards families! Playdate in Del Ray will feature lots of activities for everyone including:

• make your own pizza at Fireflies,
• kiddie yoga by YoKid,
• arts and crafts,
• bike demonstrations from VéloCity Bicycle Cooperative,
• storytime,
• music from our favorite Rock of Ages Music bands,
• and more!

See Patch article for full details.

Join the DRBA members for a project update on the Oakville Triangle/Route 1 Corridor redevelopment. Presenters will be Doug Firstenberg from StonebridgeCarras and Duncan Blair from Land, Carroll & Blair PC.

Networking: 11:30am-12pm

Location:  Rosemarino d’ Italia
              1905 Mt. Vernon Avenue

Del Ray’s Affordable Signs & Banners is celebrating 25 years in business with promotional offerings and an Open House on Tuesday, August 5 from 5pm – 7pm. Longtime customers or individuals curious about what they have to offer are encouraged to stop by and join them for a beverage and a piece of cake.

Originally from Detroit, Ken Boland moved to Virginia in 1988. When the direct marketing firm closed the sign division Ken was managing, he decided to set out on his own. With a $5,000 start-up loan and a leased vinyl cutter, Ken launched Affordable Signs & Banners. Foreseeing the future potential the Del Ray neighborhood offered small businesses, Ken searched for four years before he found a suitable storefront and moved the shop from his tiny basement to a 1,000 square foot space in the Potomac Square Town Center on Mt. Vernon Avenue. It was in this space that Ken and employee, Ray Williams cheerfully served the business community for over 13 years. 

In addition to ordering or picking up signs, many regular customers would make a point to stop in and say hello or linger to discuss sports and current events. Although Ray has since retired, most customers from those early days are still customers today.

As Ken’s reputation for providing excellent customer service and quality products spread throughout the Washington, DC area, business boomed and Affordable Signs & Banners required a substantial expansion. Still in Del Ray, Affordable Signs & Banners now operates in a 4,800 square foot facility in the Oakville Industrial Park. To keep up with customer demand, the staff has grown from two to eight employees with most living in Alexandria. 

The inevitable development of the Oakville Triangle will soon have Ken looking to purchase a building for Affordable Signs & Banners’ next location. However, due to residential development pressures, industrial space in the area is now almost non-existent. No matter where their next location will be, providing excellent customer service and quality products will remain Affordable Signs & Banners’ number one priority for the next 25 years.

To learn more about their products and services, visit www.AffordableSigns.com. To R.S.V.P. and get directions to the Open House, call Jessica at 703-836-4199. 

The Del Ray Business Association will hold their July First Thursday (postponed from July 3 due to weather). Many fun things are planned for this month's theme, Home Sweet Home. July's event is sponsored by Brett Rice from Arlandria Floors.

At the Farmers Market parking lot from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, learn about home renovations, energy efficiency in your home, canning, decorating, exercising around your home, and decluttering.

Arlandria Floors will demonstrate how to install flooring.

We will be building an actual dog house and the kids can help paint it.

There will also be displays and activities along the Avenue, including face painting at R & B Plumbing and Heating and adoptable pets from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria next to United Bank.

Community Lodgings in the featured nonprofit, and the community is encouraged to bring their "seconds" to help with worthy organization fulfill its mission "to lift families from homelessness to independence and self-sufficiency." Suggested items include that second blender you never use, an extra frying pan, silverware, etc. Bring your donations to the Farmers Market parking lot and know that you will be helping families as they begin their new lives.

See you on Thursday on The Avenue!

Thanks to all the Volunteers, Restaurants, and Attendees for making Taste of Del Ray so special. 

Congratulations to the Taste of Del Ray Winners - Judge Jessica Sidman's Choice Awards:

First Place -- Evening Star with Chilled Corn Soup

Second Place -- Cheesetique with Macaroni and Cheese Balls

Third Place -- Caboose Cafe with Lentils and Vegetable Samosas

Congratulations to the People's Choice Award Winners:

First Place -- Pork Barrel with Smoked Chicken Chili

Second Place -- We've got two! True Heath and Wholeness with Pork Carnitas, Los Tios with Beef Fajitas

Third Place -- Kaizen Tavern with Seaweed Salad and Calamari Salad