Faves and raves by Linda Kelly
President of the Alexandria PTA Council. Her children attend Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology.
PERSONAL STATS
AGE: 44
NUMBER OF YEARS IN D.C. AREA: 20 years this past August. We will always remember the month and year, because my husband and I drove a rental truck down from New England in the middle of Hurricane Bob. The move was a bit tense.
NEIGHBORHOOD: Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria
– Lisa Gartner
1. FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD HANGOUT
The Caboose Cafe (2419 Mount Vernon Ave.) — where else can you order great Ethiopian food and PB&J sandwiches?
2. BEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
Foot power
3. FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS EVENT
Alexandria Aces games. The Aces are a Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League team that plays behind my kids’ elementary school. Tickets are $5. Lots of foul balls to be had and the players are thrilled to sign them for the kids.
4. BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC
Our front porch on Saturday mornings where we can hear the Irish Breakfast Band practicing at our neighbors’ house across the street.
5. BEST PLACE FOR OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS
D.C. monument tour by night!
6. FAVORITE MUSEUM
National Museum of the American Indian — in addition to cool exhibits, they have the best food of all the Smithsonian museums, plus beautiful architecture that is very unexpected on the Mall.
7. MOST ROMANTIC SPOT
The riverboat Cherry Blossom, docked in Old Town Alexandria, where I married my college sweetheart.
8. FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A LAZY SUNDAY
Pancakes, newspaper, Arlandria Farmer’s Market.
9. FAVORITE RESTAURANT
With kids — Sapore D’Italia on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. Without kids — Majestic Cafe in Old Town. When I am not paying — Citronelle in Georgetown.
10. BEST RETREAT OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY
Shenandoah National Park — hike in from the boundary to avoid the crowds on Skyline Drive. (Doh! Just gave away the secret to all your readers …)
11. BEST RETREAT INSIDE THE BELTWAY
I love wandering the grounds at Mount Vernon.
12. BEST PLACE FOR LATE-NIGHT EATS
I’m a middle-aged mom. My late-night eats usually involve 7-Eleven or CVS. Perhaps Target if I am going upscale.
13. PROUDEST PART OF LIVING IN THE D.C. AREA
D.C. is full of lots of smart, well-meaning people committed to making the world a better place.
14. EMBARRASSING PART OF LIVING IN D.C. AREA
Some of these smart, well-meaning people take themselves way too seriously.
