Author: Beth Lawton

Beth Lawton is the former publisher and co-founder of Alexandria Living Magazine and has previously worked in roles at Lawrence Journal-World, KUSports.com, The V.I. Source and Patch.com. Lawton has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and after graduating was the founding online editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s publication MKE. In 2020, Lawton co-founded Made in ALX, a shop for Alexandria-based makers.

Published August 10, 2026 at 9:15AM

Cyclists along the Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River near Belle Haven (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The 18.5-mile Mount Vernon Trail is vying for the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s 2026 Trail Hall of Fame and needs public votes to win the accolade.

Mount Vernon Trail is one of three nominees for Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame, which the nonprofit has been recognizing multi-use trails on since 2007. Other nominees this year are the National Battlefield Trail in Texas and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Ohio. Online voting started Aug. 5 and closes Aug. 16. Mount Vernon Trail fans can vote daily.

Around Town

Bookstore Long Dark House, Madame Coco’s Emporium aim for September opening in Old Town

By Beth Lawton

Published August 5, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated August 5, 2026 at 11:50AM

Long Dark House’s Chanthal Harris and Madame Coco’s Meshelle Armstrong (courtesy of Meshelle Armstrong)

Madame Coco’s Emporium will return to Old Town in mid-September alongside Long Dark House, a new bookstore focused on science fiction, horror and dark titles.

The new businesses will share space at 1510 King Street. Madame Coco’s Emporium is the brainchild of Meshelle Armstrong, while Long Dark House is the realization of a lifelong dream by Chanthal Harris.