News

A faulty point of sale (POS) system is the cause of the November fire that destroyed three businesses in the heart of Old Town, one of the business owner’s tells ALXnow.

No one was injured in the Nov. 17 blaze at 103. S. St. Asaph Street, but it shut down three local businesses — Friends to Lovers Bookstore, Madam Coco — Emporium and Everything Chocolate and the Little Birdies kids boutique.


News

Public school students across Virginia would soon be getting free breakfasts under a newly proposed bill by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) and Sen. Danica Roem (D-30).

Bennett-Parker and Roem unsuccessfully tried to get free breakfast and lunch approved for students in the General Assembly’s 2024 session. With a $172 million pricetag, Bennett-Parker’s bill never made it out of the House Appropriations Committee.


News

City staff have signed off on a California-based yoga chain’s request to partially demolish a 90-foot section at the front of a historic building on King Street in Old Town.

Alo Yoga is asking the city to grant a certificate of appropriateness and permit to partially demolish the wall and replace it with glass panel and two French doors at 814 King Street — the current location of the Random Harvest furniture store.


News

A 29-year-old man was sentenced to 53 years in prison for murdering his roommate by shooting him in the head as he left for work in the West End.

Dontae Lashaun Drumgold was convicted in May of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a murder in the 2022 death of 25-year-old Elijah Williams. On Thursday (Jan. 9), he was sentenced to 60 years for the first degree murder charge, with 10 years suspended, and three years for the use of a firearm charge. After his release he will undergo five years of supervised probation and must exhibit uniform good behavior for 10 years.


News

After years in development, plans for a luxury condominium project in Old Town North are heading to the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review.

The BAR will look over the concept review for the proposed The Whitley – Phase 2, a six-story residential development project at 802-808 N. Washington Street on Wednesday, Jan. 15.


News

Three prominent Alexandria Democratic politicians threw their hats in the ring for reelection on Tuesday night (Jan. 7).

Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th), Sheriff Sean Casey and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter announced their intentions to run for reelection at a virtual meeting of the Alexandria Democratic Committee. The meeting was supposed to be held at Alexandria City High School, but went virtual because of this week’s snowstorm.


News

Alexandria’s Pat Malone will stand up to cancer for 24 hours straight on Feb. 10 for his 11th annual Stand Up To Cancer fundraising event.

The 67-year-old Malone suffers from hereditary spastic paraplegia, making those last hours of standing very painful, he tells ALXnow.


News

Tops of Old Town owner Sheila Mitchell says her mom tricked her with prosperity.

Sheila is the owner of not only the only hat store in Alexandria (2400 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray), but throughout Northern Virginia. There’s a hat kiosk at the Pentagon City Mall and a Hats In The Belfry in Baltimore, but that’s it for hat stores in this area.


News

Without getting into specifics, Alexandria’s new Mayor Alyia Gaskins says that the city has to be intentional and take “big, bold swings at economic development.”

More than 80% of the city’s revenue comes from residential real estate taxes, versus about 19% from commercial properties. The issue was a major political conversation from council candidates leading up to the Democratic primary in June and general election last month.


News

Alexandria was transformed into a winter wonderland Monday morning.

It was quiet around the city Monday morning, as schools were canceled and local roadways are snow-covered.


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