New desk awaiting the return of ASOR staff.

Summer has arrived at the Strange Center! Staff are still working remotely, with one staff member coming into the office to check mail a couple of times per week. One of the last moves we made before closing down in March 2020 was purchase a beautiful Queen Anne desk that will eventually find it’s home in one of our staff offices.

Orchid blooming in the Strange Center.

The first floor houses Andy’s and Meagan’s office spaces, and also contains the kitchen and work space for processing mail, printing, and scanning. The second floor has the ACOR/CAARI office, Marta and Felice’s offices, and the conference room. The third floor of the Strange Center is still empty and we hope to see the space being used by new colleagues and research associates in the upcoming years. We look forward to hosting our ASOR family at the Strange Center as travel and social interaction become easier.

Last fall saw the arrival of our Eastern Redbud tree in front of the building, made possible by William Andreas and planted in honor of China Shelton (ACOR, CAARI). The tree is now well-established and even bloomed a little this spring. We look forward to many more years of showy pink-purple blossoms in the spring and some much-needed shade during hot Alexandria summers.

King St. construction.

Construction of a multi-purpose building on King St. behind the Strange Center started this spring. The four-story building will have a mix of condos, retail, and restaurant space. The building will incorporate a historical building on the corner of King St. and Payne St. that previously housed a restaurant, as well as a parking lot next to it. So far, the construction seems to be going smoothly and there were even some archaeologists surveying and test-pitting the lot this spring.

Our neighborhood in Old Town Alexandria is primed for summer with arrival of a new neighbor across the street, Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats. Goodies occupies a previously unused old ice house (ca. 1931) on Commerce St., a perfect setting for frozen treats. They just opened Memorial Day weekend.

Ice House across from the Strange Center.

ASOR Summer Hours

As in previous years, ASOR staff have the option of taking a half day on Fridays during June, July, and August, with the understanding they will work the extra hours earlier in the week. This means that after 12:30 PM ET on Fridays, ASOR staff may not be around to answer emails and office phones. ASOR staff are grateful for the chance to have a somewhat longer weekend during the summer months. Normal hours will resume in the first week of September and we look forward to the day when we are all back in the Strange Center.

We wish our ASOR family a joyful summer!