Author: ALXnow.com

Poll: The best coffee shop in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com
Latte art in a white cup on a wooden table in a busy cafe, with a large ALXnow Reader Choice logo in the foreground.

For some, the perfect coffee shop offers tasty caffeinated beverages, an expansive menu and ambiance. Others may say it simply comes down to which brews the best beans. Either way, Alexandria has plenty of options between independent roasters and neighborhood cafes.

Here are the nominees for “Coffee Shop in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your go-to coffee shop? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Restaurant for a Fancy Dinner is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Neighborhood in Alexandria. The results are now official:

1. Del Ray

2. Old Town

3. Rosemont

Poll: The best restaurant for a fancy dinner in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com
Elegant restaurant table set for dinner with wine glasses, plates, and folded napkins; ALX now Choice badge on the right.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to splurge, Alexandria’s fine dining restaurants are known for high-quality offerings, ambiance and attentive staff. From traditional steakhouses to elevated specialty cuisines, there is no shortage of options diners can find without leaving the city.

Here are the nominees for “Best Restaurant for a Fancy Dinner in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your go-to restaurant? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Neighborhood in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Preschool/Daycare in Alexandria. The results are now official:

1. Washington St. UMC Preschool

2. Discovery Time Learning Center

3. Hopkins House – Helen Day Preschool Academy

Weather

WEATHER ALERT: Water could approach buildings during Alexandria’s Coastal Flood Warning

By ALXnow.com
Flooding in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The National Weather Service’s coastal flooding outlook has become more severe in Alexandria.

A Coastal Flood Warning has been issued for Alexandria through 10 a.m. Friday. Forecasters expect tidal flooding to cause up to one foot of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas around the Potomac River. The warning especially applies to high tide, which are at 7:22 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. Thursday.

Go to WEATHER ALERT: Water could approach buildings during Alexandria’s Coastal Flood Warning Read more
Weather

UPDATED: Coastal Flood Advisory in Alexandria extended to Thursday afternoon

By ALXnow.com
Homes on the Alexandria waterfront along the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

As rainfall continued Tuesday, Alexandria could see coastal flooding impacts along the Potomac River through most of the week.

The National Weather Service extended the Coastal Flood Advisory for Alexandria to 2 p.m. Thursday. The risk of coastal flooding on the Potomac River shoreline is greater during high tide. The next high tides will be 6:25 p.m. Tuesday and 6:38 a.m. Wednesday.

Go to UPDATED: Coastal Flood Advisory in Alexandria extended to Thursday afternoon Read more

Poll: The best neighborhood in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com
Row of modern suburban townhomes with neatly manicured lawns and a large circular 'Reader ALXnow Choice' badge on the right side.

Alexandria has a wide range of neighborhoods with their own identities, from the historic Old Town and family-friendly Del Ray to the Latino-influenced Arlandria/Chirilagua and the more suburban North Ridge and Seminary Hill.

Here are the nominees for “Best Neighborhood in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite neighborhood? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Preschool/Daycare in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best New Restaurant in Alexandria. The results are now official:

1. Little Birdie

2. Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar

3. Dok Khao Thai Eatery

Introducing the ALXnow Daily Update podcast

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow Daily Update banner over a brick-campus plaza with American flags at dusk.

Alexandria fits a remarkable amount of local news into 15 square miles.

On any given day there could be a City Council decision, an ACPS budget question, a West End development update, a new restaurant in Del Ray, or an Old Town parking fight. Keeping up with all of it takes time that many Alexandrians don’t have.

That’s why we’ve launched the ALXnow Daily Update podcast, now available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and other podcast apps.

Each episode runs about 4-5 minutes and catches you up on ALXnow’s original reporting from the past day. It’s roughly the length of a walk down King Street, a lap around the Del Ray blocks with the dog, or the tail end of a drive home on the Parkway.

The Daily Update podcast publishes shortly after 4 p.m. each weekday, around the same time our free daily newsletter goes out to around 10,000 Alexandria inboxes.

The podcast is free and open to everyone — no Press Club membership required. It’s read by virtual hosts, which is a deliberate choice: it means producing a daily episode doesn’t pull our reporters away from reporting. The stories are ours. The narration is automated so that covering Alexandria always comes first.

The Daily Update follows the launch of a similar podcast on our sister site ARLnow last month.

We’re still making improvements, so feel free to send feedback after listening. Subscribe via the links above, or get a preview with the player below.

Poll: Best preschool/daycare in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com
Colorful classroom toys on a bright blue surface with ABC blocks, beads, pencils, and a 'Reader ALXnow Choice' badge in the corner.

Finding the right daycare or preschool can be overwhelming for working parents who want to ensure their child is in a safe, nurturing environment. The city has a range of daycare and preschool options to choose from, between home daycares and centers and specialized early education programs.

Here are the nominees for “Best Preschool/Daycare in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your go-to daycare or preschool? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best New Restaurant in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Winery Near Alexandria. The results are now official:

1. Paradise Springs Winery

2. Stone Tower Winery

3. Bluemont Vineyard

Poll: The best new restaurant in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com
Restaurant dining area with wooden tables, teal chairs, and a vertical plant wall, featuring a large 'ALX now' Reader Choice logo overlay on the right.

Alexandria’s culinary scene shows no signs of slowing down, with new restaurants opening across the city’s neighborhoods so far in 2026.

Did we miss your favorite new restaurant? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Winery Near Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Live Music Venue in Alexandria in Alexandria. The results are now official:

1. The Birchmere

2. No. 9 Lounge at Evening Star Cafe

3. The Light Horse Restaurant

Poll: The best winery near Alexandria

By ALXnow.com
Wine glass of red wine on a wooden bar with grapes nearby and wine barrels in the blurred background, featuring a 'Reader ALX Now Choice' logo overlay.

Alexandria has plentiful restaurants and bars to savor a glass of wine at, but it is also within driving distance of the region’s many wineries and vineyards. The region’s wineries offer a variety of wines, tastings, tours and other activities.

Here are the nominees for “Best Winery Near Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your go-to winery? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Live Music Venue in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Dog Park in Alexandria. The results are now official:

1. Westgrove Dog Park

2. Eugene Simpson Stadium Park

3. Ben Brenman Park

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