Speak Easy Alexandria Times

Bill Blackburn is one of the minds behind HomeGrown Restaurant Group, the team responsible for some of your favorite restaurants in Alexandria. Blackburn sat down with Alexandria Times Editor Cody Mello-Klein to talk about his entry into the restaurant industry, the lasting impact of the pandemic, kitchen culture and the magic of Del Ray.

This month Marion Brunken sits down with Olivia Anderson to discuss her work with Volunteer Alexandria, a community resource for volunteerism. A German native, Brunken also touched on her experience coming to the United States, as well as some of the differences she’s seen working in the volunteerism nonprofit sector versus corporate settings.

Genealogist and investigative researcher Char McCargo Bah has traced the roots of local African American families for 40 years. Bah stopped by Speak Easy to talk about how genealogy has helped her uncover her own family tree, the stories she's helped uncover over the years and the value of knowing your past.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Ben Fiore-Walker, the city's town crier, stops by Speak Easy for the first episode of 2022. Fiore-Walker sits down with Alexandria Times Editor Cody Mello-Klein to talk about his 10 years in the role of Alexandria town crier, what inspired him to throw his hat in the ring for the role, the psychological experience of donning his Colonial garb and the power of a town crier in 2022.

Audrey Davis, director of the Alexandria Black History Museum, stops by Speak Easy this month. Davis discusses the origins of her deep love for museums, how the city is shedding light on Black history and the importance of remembrance. 

Patricia Washington, president and CEO of the city's tourism bureau, Visit Alexandria, stops by Speak Easy to talk about the city's identity as a tourist destination and how it has evolved over time. Washington also delves into the impacts of the pandemic on the city's businesses and what Alexandria's recovery is looking like.