Torpedo Factory Arts Center
105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4565
The Torpedo Factory Arts Center is located on historic Old Town Alexandria’s Potomac River waterfront and attracts approximately 500,000 visitors annually. In the Torpedo Factory Arts Center are 82 artists’ studios, six galleries, two workshops, and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. This is one of the most successful co-op galleries in the country and the model for what I had planned and was devolping with my non-profit in Cairo, Egypt. I would definitely recommend visiting the Torpedo Factory Arts Center and afterwards checking out some of the great nearby local restaurants in in this highly walkable historic district of Alexandria.
4301 N. Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
Tel: (703) 465-8800
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Northern Virginia. It’s an easy metro ride from DC to the Ballston metro stop where you will find Willow right across the street. They have a wonderful outdoor patio. The decor is bright and colorful and not a noisy restaurant. The reviews on this restaurant are many and you will be able to find them by Googling their name. The founders of this restaurant are Tracy O’Grady, former Executive Chef of Kinkead’s Restaurant in DC, and Kate Jansen, Co-Founder of Firehook Bakeries.
For my entree, I had Seared Rack of Australian Lamb because I can never pass up lamb. They were juicy, tender and enough to fill me up. Someone had the Roasted Alaskan Halibut which was very good and would have been my second choice. The portions are a good size and you won’t have to go home hungry or to McDonalds. However, The Apple Crisp wasn’t large enough for me. I could have eaten 3 of them! The Chocolate Marquise is SO good it is worth a trip alone. It is served in a martini shaped glass with the richest, creamiest chocolate mousse I have ever had with chocolate meringue in between layers. I was lucky enough to have Kate Jansen make me a coconut birthday cake this year. It was out of this world! I gave half of it away and finished the other half in 5 days!
To tell you how much I love lamb chops, one time I ordered lamb chops in a French restaurant when I was with a friend. It was lamb chops for two.
I told the waiter, “I’ll have the lamb chops.” and he walked away.
My friend said, “You haven’t taken my order yet!”
The waiter said, “You ordered the lamb chops for two.”
My friend said, “That’s for him.”
Workhouse Arts Center
A Project of the Lorton Arts Foundation
9601 Ox Road
Lorton, VA 22079
Tel: (703) 495-0001
Fax: (703) 690-1880
The brand new Lorton Arts Center host a large variety of both visual and preforming arts and is being renovated in stages. This former prison holds the work is of professional and amateur artists, local art organizations, private collectors, and both national and international artists. They teach glass, painting and ceramic classes. I’m looking forward to when this project is finished!
