Located just outside of Washington, D.C., historic Old Town Alexandria is a charming cobblestone area brimming with rich history, funky shopping, and delightful restaurants. A landmark of the Old Town landscape, the Torpedo Factory Art Center attracts over 500,000 artists, visitors, and tourists each year. Established in 1974, it is housed in a former munitions plant (hence the name) and houses the largest number of working artists open studios under one roof. Explore all that you can see and do on a visit to the Torpedo Factory.
Galleries
The Torpedo Factory boasts thousands of square feet dedicated to showcasing the works of established and rising artists alike among its many gallery spaces. The Target Gallery is the center’s space dedicated to exhibiting contemporary pieces. This gallery hosts eight exhibitions each year focusing on contemporary works. Read the rest of this entry »
The 2018 Dodge Durango Is the Perfect Family Vehicle
Are you searching for a car that keeps the entire family cruising along in safety and comfort? Look no further than the 2018 Dodge Durango, packed with features that make it the ultimate family vehicle.
Power
This midsize three-row SUV packs astounding power to get you where you need to be. Available in rear- or front-wheel drive configurations, the Durango also comes with three muscular engine options to best suit your family’s needs. The base model is equipped with a very respectable 3.6-liter V-6 engine that will happily suit most drivers. Read the rest of this entry »
3 of the Best Things to Do in Old Town
Located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Old Town Alexandria is an endlessly charming and historic area to explore. Old Town boasts special shops, delightful restaurants, and historic sites that play a starring role in the foundation of our country. Check out some of the best places to scout out on a visit to Old Town.
Boat Tour
At the foot of the main drag of King Street, the Potomac River lines the eastern edge of Old Town. This beautiful waterfront area features restaurants and public areas for a stroll or outdoor event. It is also the launching point for the many boat tours that leave from Old Town to visit sites along the Potomac from the comfort of a boat.
The Potomac Riverboat Company offers a number of itineraries to suit your interests. See the monuments of Washington from one of their vessels, or head just south down the River for a quick trip to George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon. Particularly popular are the Potomac Riverboat Company’s Canine Cruises. Bring along your favorite Read the rest of this entry »
Hybrid or Not? Choosing a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica
You are spoiled for choice when it comes to the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. It is available in six trims: L, LX, Touring Plus, Touring L, Touring L Plus, and Limited. There is also a hybrid model that is available in three trims: Touring Plus, Touring L, and Limited. In order to help you make a decision, let’s compare the 2018 Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid by focusing on the Limited trim in both models. Deciding between the two will not be easy, as both have a lot to offer and are top contenders in the new-age minivan class.
The Three P’s: Price, Power, and Performance
The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Limited trim comes at a starting price of $44,095. It sports a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that kicks out 287 horsepower and is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The fuel efficiency of this car is rated at 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, and it has a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Quiet Study Spots in Alexandria, VA
If you’re looking for a quiet study spot in Alexandria, Virginia, there are many places you can go. These will help you focus on that big test coming up, so you can pass it with flying colors. From coffee shops to libraries, you’ll be able to find a place of solitude to help you finish your term paper or get ready for the upcoming exam.
Java Loco
Java Loco makes for a good study spot since it’s quieter than your average coffee shop. While it’s great to be at a crowded coffee shop when you want to socialize, it doesn’t make for a pleasant atmosphere to concentrate. As you enjoy the solitude of this place, you have a variety of unique drinks to choose from. These include pistachio lattes, Cubano coffee, and green tea lattes in addition to a variety of food. Good drinks, plenty of food, and quietness is the perfect formula to put in a hard day’s worth of studying. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Upcoming Models Worth Waiting For
The new models of our favorite vehicles come out every year, and it’s always an exciting time to see the updated versions that are available. While there are many to choose from, here are some of the models that are worth waiting for if you’re thinking about purchasing a new car in the upcoming year. From Jeep to Ram to Dodge, many new models are coming out with updated looks, added features, and overall enhancements that will make your driving experience that much better.
2019 Jeep Wrangler Pickup
People are always excited when new versions of the Jeep Wrangler come out, and the 2019 Jeep Wrangler Pickup is no exception. This model comes with a seven-slot grille and LED daytime running lights. There are also rectangular taillights that are similar to the current model. It’s rumored that it will come with both two-door and four-door models. The Jeep also has a single tailpipe on the driver’s side, which is different from the current model which has the tailpipe exiting on the passenger side. Read the rest of this entry »
Clear Your Schedule for These 4 Fun Events
It’s important to make time for fun events and activities, rather than letting the busyness of school, work, and routine responsibilities overrun your life. There are many events to check out this fall in Alexandria, Virginia, so make sure to clear your schedule. From taking a water taxi ride to spending a weekend learning how to teach children yoga, you’ll love filling your time with these events.
Attend the Colonial Market & Fair
From Sept. 15-16, the yearly Colonial Market & Fair takes place for a weekend of family fun. Dozens of the finest historic craftspeople in America will be there to show how they make traditional items. You’ll see everything from woodcarvings, leather works, furniture, food, baskets, tinworks, ironwork, and weavings being made and sold. There will be plenty of entertainment taking place during the weekend, including fire-eating, colonial music being played, a puppet show, and a balloon launch. You’ll even see people in costume showing how they used to make chocolate in the 18th century. Read the rest of this entry »
Beyond the Change: 4 Essential Tire Care Tasks
Tires are where your car meets the road. They are critical for traction, performance, ride, and safety. With all these important functions, it is a good idea to keep your tires in good working order. Although your tires will wear out, there are a number of steps you can take to make them last longer and perform better. Here are four important steps in tire care that are worth considering.
Proper Inflation
Keeping your tires properly inflated is an important tire care task. Having too much or too little air in your tires will cause uneven wear patterns. You’ll also see an increase in fuel economy with properly inflated tires. Check your tire pressure frequently and compare that pressure to the recommended level, which is usually located on the driver or passenger side door frame. Keeping your tires aired correctly will increase tire life and decrease damage to other parts of your vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »
Road-Trip Ready Dodge Models
Depending on who you ask, Dodge is famous either for the muscle cars it offers to drivers who love a thrill or the SUVs the company offers families that want something big and reliable. The Charger and the Challenger are both decent picks for a road trip, but if you want enough room for a big family and all the luggage that comes with them, you should choose one of the following models.
Dodge Journey
The Dodge Journey is the smaller of Dodge’s two crossovers. It’s a midsize model, despite being relatively small it has enough room to fit in three rows of seats. The cargo area behind that third row has enough room for around 11 cubic feet, but if you need more space you can fold down the back rows to get up to 67.6 cubic feet. You can also make use of in-floor storage in the back, plus the second row has a storage space with a plastic lining you can use as a cooler.
Dodge Durango
The Durango is on the large side of the midsize SUV class, and while the vehicle comes standard with two rows you can add a third on the higher trim levels. The Durango also has one of the biggest cargo areas for its class, with enough room to fit 84.5 cubic feet with the rear seats down. This vehicle can also come with some very luxurious highlights, including contrast stitching on leather seats and a second-row console with vents, USB ports, and a 115-volt power outlet.
The Durango also comes with a range of engine options. The standard V-6 has a surprising amount of power in it, and it combines the crossover’s best fuel efficiency numbers with a towing max of 6,200 pounds. The other two options are V-8s, and while the larger V-8 comes exclusively on the performance-based SRT trim, it can also tow up to 8,700 pounds. And no matter which engine you choose, you’ll get an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission that accelerates more smoothly and more efficiently.
Dodge Grand Caravan
When Chrysler Group came out with the Pacifica to replace the old Town and Country minivan, they thought they would discontinue the Grand Caravan since it shares the same design and most of the same parts. However, the grandmother of minivans is still popular enough that you can still buy them new today. The design is an older one, but if you want a low-cost minivan with tons of storage space, the convenience of Stow n Go seats, and third-row seats that can fold toward the back to face the rear, you still have time to buy.
As a brand, Dodge makes both fast cars ready for the track or the drag strip and crossovers ready for the open road and long family vacations. The Journey offers a reasonable size at a reasonable price, the Durango has luxury, style, and the best feature list you could ask for, and the Grand Caravan has room to spare for a real bargain.
What to Do When Your Check Engine Light Comes On
The check engine light can be a terrifying thing. You are driving along and all the sudden there it is, the glowing yellow light with a mysterious meaning. Some problems are easy to fix, while others will require a trip to a professional dealership. Here are four things that your check engine light might be trying to tell you and what you should do about them.
Loose or Faulty Gas Cap
Many modern vehicles have a sensor at the gas cap that generates a code if the cap is broken or has not been installed correctly. If the check engine light comes on soon after you have filled up the tank, check to make sure that there aren’t any cracks in the cap and then replace the cap, being careful to get it screwed in tightly. Though not critical to your car’s function, a loose or faulty gas cap can lead to lower gas mileage and higher vehicle emissions. Read the rest of this entry »
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