It’s time to settle the score.
ALXnow’s sister site, ARLnow, got caught in the crossfire yesterday between two public officials hoping to clear up one question: Which locality is more fun, Arlington or Alexandria?
Arlington County Board member Maureen Coffey reposted ARLnow’s story about the county’s snowplow-naming competition on Bluesky yesterday, but not without a little message for Alexandrians.
“Among my most important and treasured duties as a board member is making sure everyone knows: a) they can submit names for our snow plows and b) we are having more fun than our neighbors in Alexandria,” Coffey wrote.
Among my most important and treasured duties as a board member is making sure everyone knows:
a) they can submit names for our snow plows and
b) we are having more fun than our neighbors in Alexandria— Maureen Coffey (Arlington, VA) (@maureencoffeyva.bsky.social) November 20, 2025 at 10:59 AM
It wasn’t long before Alexandria Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley chimed in to defend the city’s honor.
“Yeah but how many cold weather parades do you have over there in Arlington??? Who’s having fun now!” Bagley responded, before pointing out Alexandria’s “TOWN CRIER and TARTAN!”
Councilman Kirk McPike joined the thread, reminding Coffey of Arlington’s lack of fireworks displays and waterskiing Santas.
Yeah but how many cold weather parades do you have over there in Arlington???
Who’s having fun now!
— Sarah Bagley (the one in Alexandria VA) (@sarahbagley.bsky.social) November 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I love the spectacular fireworks show Arlington does every year for its … wait, no, that’s Alexandria.
But then there’s the water skiing Santas at Christmas … oops, nope. Alexandria again.
That being said, there are lots of great things about Arlington. Such as its proximity to Alexandria.
— R. Kirk McPike (@kirkmcpike.bsky.social) November 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
“That being said, there are lots of great things about Arlington,” the councilman wrote. “Such as its proximity to Alexandria.”
The exchange brought a great debate to Bluesky that even included ALXnow’s dear former editor, Vernon Miles, with a reporter’s notebook perspective.
It’s so funny how Arlington is so culturally and geographically close to Alexandria but the vibe is just tangibly different and delightfully weird.
I know I go back to this well a lot, but you have to dig to find out about ‘The Beast of Barcroft’ whereas Alexandria has ‘Goosepigs’ on a city plaque
— Vernon Miles (@corbie.bsky.social) November 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Alexandria turned an expensive sewer project into a cartoon mascot. When Alexandria floods, people canoe through the streets. Alexandria’s police fundraisers feature Kevin Bacon doing karaoke. Let’s be real, Alexandria is the fun city.
— Vernon Miles (@corbie.bsky.social) November 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
And at least one unnamed reporter from The Washington Post seemingly agrees, according to a former Alexandria Times opinion column.
Hell yeah. Take that, Arlington (ignore the rest of the column)
— Alex Goyette (@alexgoyette.bsky.social) 2025-11-20T21:46:03.807Z
So, once and for all: Which locality is having more fun? Take the poll, which is also appearing today on ARLnow.
