Friendly
Friendly, MD · Food & Drink
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Tabby's Pantry
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Bay Net
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Neighborhood Guide: Where to Eat, Shop, and Play in Alexandria
Alexandria and DC have a complicated history. When the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801 established the 100 square miles that would become the nation’s capital, Alexandria—founded in 1749 and one of the oldest cities in the country—sat within its boundaries. But representatives of Alexandria immediately wanted out: As part of DC, they’d lost their position as the county seat in Fairfax, they couldn’t vote in congressional and presidential elections, and political and economic discord grew. Eventually, the interest in retrocession became mutual as abolitionists sought to outlaw slavery in DC and wanted Alexandria—then a hub for the trade of enslaved people—to be moved back to Virginia. In July 1846, that happened. The city continued to grow, with its prosperity, according to the tourism organization Visit Alexandria, “inextricably linked to the work of enslaved and free African Americans,” whose stories make up much of the town’s past. Today, it combines centuries of history with modern-day shops, restaurants, and activities for residents and visitors alike.