Active Rain/Tomato Blog

Where were you on September 11, 2001?  Virginia and I were at an early morning appointment with our financial planner in Vienna, Va.  It was a first time meeting/planning session and we were optimistic about the future.  I was still in the tire business, Virginia was with a non-profit. As we came...

In today's economy, with local governments pinching every penny, elevated tax assessments are a homeowner hazard. It doesn't happen  every year, but when it does it can come as quite a shock.  If you think your property has been incorrectly assessed, let's look at some strategies for challenging ...

Once again it's a busy fall season in Northern Virginia with a ton of things to do.  In fact, almost every weekend is jam packed.  So get your calendar out and start planning.  This is by no means a complete list but it reflects some of our very favorite people and places. Fall is also a great ti...

I was out early this morning and, while stopped at the light at the end of our street, noticed that I wasn't the only one waiting for the light to turn green.  Is this what they mean by Birds of a Feather and all that flocking stuff?   Just never know when your camera is going to come in handy,

In a report released today, Bing Travel names the Best College Towns in America.  The idea is that each of these cities has a major institution of higher learning plus major draws for visitors.  In other words, if your family and friends are going to visit, these would be some of their favorite p...

Virginia is known as the Mother of Presidents.  Eight United States Presidents, starting with George Washington, were born in Virginia, including six of our first 10 presidents.  The last president born in Virginia was Woodrow Wilson who was our 28th president. Most birthplaces or residences are ...

Who knew that Virginia has so many official symbols?  After our post on the state dog of Virginia, we decided to do a bit more nosing around and see what else had made it into the "official" category for Virginia.  Some of these were familiar, others, like the state boat were a bit more obscure. ...

Who knew?  Virginia has a state DOG!  And it turns out, 10 other states have official canine recognition too.  The latest state to recognize a dog is Alaska.  The Malamute was named state dog in May of this year. Virginia bestowed recognition on the American foxhound in 1966.  The breed is a cros...

Are you new to the City of Alexandria?  Did your street lose trees during the August 5th storm?  Do you just want more trees on your block? The you need to meet John Noelle.  John is the arborist for the City of Alexandria and is in charge of planting trees throughout the city. Of course he's res...

Walking, biking, or just strolling, hundreds of neighbors and friends turned tonight out for First Thursday. Picture perfect skies and the advent of a holiday weekend made Mt. Vernon Avenue seem like one big street carnival.  Yoga demonstrations, wellness tables, doggie treats, balloons - you nam...