Jones Point Park is owned by the National Park Service and it's 52-plus acres compise the largest open space in Old Town Alexandria VA. Jones Point is located on the Potomac River near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the southeast corner of Alexandria, Virginia. Jones Point is a nice place for a walk or picnic by the Potomac and is popular with Alexandria's bird watchers, dog owners and history buffs. In addition to open green space and river banks, Jones Point offers

• two large soccer fields,
• picnic areas with picnic tables,
• walking and biking trails,
• garden plots for rent,
• two fishing piers built over two old ship ramps,
• and a large ship dock north of the bridge along the river.

Although the National Park Service owns Jones Point Park, the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities manages the park. The parks custodians strive to preserve and showcase the 9,000 years of human history evidenced at Jones Point. Recognizable touch-points like Jones Point Lighthouse from the middle of the 19th Century are found here along with artifacts from Native Americans and colonists from the early days of European settlement. During the first World War, Jones Point was an important shipbuilding site and remnants of that abandoned heritage are unearthed for visitors to see.

The survey stones placed here under the direction and guidance of George Washington after 1790 mark the original boundaries of the District of Columbia. The land which George Washington surveyed for the Federal City was within the capital boundaries for 45 years, from February 27, 1801 until September 7, 1846, when Alexandria was ceded back into Northern Virginia by Congress.

Jones Point Park is very accessible for residents of Old Town Alexandria, Ford's Landing, Porto Vecchio and Bearings South.

About the Author --- Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Will Nesbitt Realty and maintains Condo 1 Alexandria. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County.

The Torpedo Factory Art Center is presenting several themed galleries through the month of March. Now is the time to get to Old Town before month's end!

Black White and a Little Bit of Color

Printmakers Inc. will have a special exhibit with examples of prints that use black and white and a little bit of color. This exhibit is open daily from 03/01/2009 to 04/30/2009.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Do you appreciate black and white photography? Prominent Montgomery County photographer Karen Keating explores the visual poetry of everyday life through compelling black and white images. Travels to Europe, Africa, Honduras, Bulgaria, and Cuba have clearly sharpened her vision, allowing her to discover the extraordinary in the quiet moments of everyday life. There will be a reception for the photographer on Sunday, March 8, from 4 to 6 pm. The exhibit is open from March 3rd to April 4th.

Annual Kiln Club Show

This month the Torpedo Factory is hosting the annual show of works by members of the Kiln Club. The show is hosted by Twylene Moyer, editor of Sculpture magazine. The reception is held on Second Thursday Art Night, March 12, from 6pm to 9pm. The show will be open daily from March 9 through April 5.

Old Town is a great neighborhood.

The Torpedo Factory is just one of the reasons that Old Town is such a wonderful place to live. If you're searching for a condo for sale in Old Town here are a few suggestions.

• Alexandria House --- spacious, airy condos with enormous balconies and sweeping views of Old Town
• Bearings South --- cute, brick garden style homes on the South End of Old Town
• Carlyle Towers --- sleek, modern and convenient to King St. Metro and Old Town
• Chatham Square --- stately, nicely appointed, townhouses with garages in Old Town
• Carlyle Square --- elegant, modern and convenient condominiums
• The Duke at Old Town --- under construction in Old Town
• Porto Vecchio --- at the water's edge on the Potomac between Belle Haven Marina and Old Town
• Port Royal --- affordably priced with a condo fee that includes all utilities in the heart of Old Town
• Prescott --- colonial styled condominiums in Old Town
• Royalton --- sparkling gems atop Whole Foods in Old Town Alexandria
• Torpedo Factory --- stylish condos near the waterfront and King St.

If you'd like to search for homes or townhouses in and around Old Town, check here.

The Bearings South are aptly named: here, in the heart of historic Alexandria, one could never feel lost.

Built in 1941 as garden-style apartments and originally called Boulevard of Old Town apartments, these seven buildings were converted into a condominium community in 2006. The 158 units combine solid, red-brick construction with contemporary finishes such as granite countertops, Brazilian hardwood floors, crown molding, and stainless-steel kitchen appliances.

Studios, 1 bedroom, 2-bedroom and loft units are available, with both traditional and open floor plans. The Bearings condos feature galley kitchens, walk-in closets and ceiling fans supplemented by individual air-conditioning units.

Located in the 800 block of South Washington Street, the Bearings opens to the brick sidewalks and shade trees of Old Town, the oldest part of Alexandria --- originally laid out in 1749 --- and a nationally designated historic district. Immediately to the south is St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery, the oldest public Catholic cemetery in Virginia and the oldest active cemetery in all of Alexandria.

Six blocks east is the Potomac River---a pleasant stroll for Bearings residents and their dogs. Nearby are Oronoco Bay Park, the gourmet grocer Balducci's and restaurants such as The Fish Market and Union Street Pub. Cyclists have easy access to the bicycle path to Mount Vernon.

The Bearings condominium association provides:

• Maintenance of a common laundry room
• Maintenance of the grounds
• Maintenance of the exteriors
• Salaries of management staff
• A master insurance policy
• A reserve fund
• Snow removal
• Trash removal

Each condo is assigned a space in the complex parking lot, and on-street parking is available as well. A short walk away is the turn-around for the King Street Trolley, a free shuttle that connects the waterfront with the King Street Metro station. King Street station serves Metro's blue and yellow lines, the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines of the Virginia Railway Express, and Amtrak. It is also a hub for Alexandria's DASH buses and Metro buses, and it features a taxi stand.