Notes: Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita to open in former Bark Social space

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Saturday, June 21, the 172nd day of 2025. There are 193 days left in the year.

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 92 degrees. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 74. South wind around seven mph.

🚨 You need to know

Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita will open at 529 E Howell Ave in Alexandria (via Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita Mexicana on Facebook)

A popular local Mexican restaurant chain is breathing new life into a Potomac Yard space that sat empty after the sudden closure of a dog-friendly bar last fall.

Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita announced this week that it will open its fourth Washington area location at 529 E. Howell Avenue, the same address that housed Bark Social until its abrupt shutdown in November 2024.

The new restaurant will operate with ambitious hours—8 AM to 2 AM daily—making it one of the few late-night dining options in the area. The company expects to open sometime this summer, according to a social media announcement.

“We are EXCITED to announce our 4th location will soon be OPEN this summer!!!” the restaurant posted on Instagram, marking another expansion for the growing chain that has built a following across Northern Virginia.

The Alexandria location joins three existing Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita restaurants: the original “Traditional” location on Columbia Pike in Arlington, a second Arlington spot on Fairfax Drive, and a 24/7 location on Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church.

The company is actively recruiting bilingual cashiers and Mexican bakers as it prepares for the summer opening, suggesting robust hiring in advance of launch.

For more information and updates, visit https://www.tortasytacoslachiquitadmv.com/.

What else you need to know

👣 Alexandria’s Waterfront Commission is gearing up for its yearly walking tour of the Old Town North waterfront on Saturday. This two-hour public event will showcase recent developments and ongoing projects along the Potomac River.

👉 The Del Ray Citizens Association (DRCA) is hosting a Historic Preservation Workshop on Saturday at the Mt. Vernon Community School auditorium. This workshop aims to educate the community and explore ways to protect the Town of Potomac Historic District. There is also talk of possibly creating a new, larger district that would encompass the rest of Del Ray.

🕺 Alexandria is set to burst with activity this weekend, offering a vibrant mix of Pride celebrations, Juneteenth commemorations, and a plethora of summer events for all ages. Weekend Roundup

📈 Friday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for June 20, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here’s what’s happening today and this weekend in Alexandria.

Feature in our event calendar.

10:00 am Saturday: Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour
10:00 am Saturday: Juneteenth Celebration at Frederick Douglass Cemetery
10:30 am Saturday: The Sky Tonight: Live Planetarium Show
👉 12:00 pm Saturday: NAACP Alexandria Branch and City of Alexandria Celebrate Juneteenth 2025
1:00 pm Saturday: Shrub Drinks and Cheesy Bites
6:00 pm Saturday: Summer Movie Nights
👉 6:00 pm Saturday: Bring Your Dog to the Movies Night: AirBud!
8:00 pm Saturday: Improv Comedy Show with the Auxiliary

Saturday, June 21

Things To Do

7 a.m.: Old Town Farmers’ Market at Market Square Plaza
8 a.m.: Del Ray Farmers’ Market at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square
8:30 a.m.: Murphy’s Saturday Run at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
10 a.m.: Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour at Carlyle House Historic Park
10 a.m.: Juneteenth Celebration at Frederick Douglass Cemetery
10 a.m.: Running At The Brewery at Aslin ALX
12 p.m., 2 p.m., & 4 p.m.: Alexandria Black History Bus Tour in Old Town
12 p.m.: Juneteenth Festival at Charles Houston Rec Center
1 p.m.: Shrub Drinks and Cheesy Bites at Carlyle House Historic Park
1 p.m.: Pittie Party Adoption Event with P3 at Port City Brewing
2 p.m.: Sip, Create & Celebrate Pride at Lost Boy Cider
3 p.m.: Lucky Dog Rescue Pop-Up at Lost Boy Cider
6 p.m.: Bring Your Dog to the Movies Night: AirBud at AlexRenew Terrace at Limerick Field
6:30 p.m.: Jellyfish Terrarium Workshop at PlantHouse
8 p.m.: Improv Comedy Show with the Auxiliary at The Lyceum
8:30 p.m.: Cinema Del Ray – Despicable Me 4 in Del Ray

Live Music & Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Exit 10 at 9 p.m.
Alexandria Bier Garden: SugarCoat at 9:30 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Black Coffee at 9 p.m.
Daniel O’Connell’s: Rook Richards Trio at 9:30 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Sharon Clark Trio at 7 p.m.
Makeda Restaurant: Negussie & Nani at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pat Carroll & The Wavos at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessys Pub: Austin Miller & The Old Town Killers at 9 p.m.
Piece Out Del Ray: ”80s/’90s Dance Party with DJ Thunderbunny at 8:30 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Ohio Players at 7:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: A Night To Forget at 9 p.m.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria: The Play That Goes Wrong at 8 p.m.
The Lyceum: Improv Comedy Show with the Auxiliary at 8 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.

City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools

10 a.m.: Specialty Tour: Hamilton’s BFF & Frenemies
10 a.m.: Eugene Simpson Stadium Park Groundbreaking
12 p.m.: Juneteenth Festival
5 p.m.: Apothecary Night Shift

Sunday, June 22