Around Town

After nearly seven years in business, Whiskey & Oyster is set to close at the end of the month.

“Mango” Mike Anderson of the Homegrown Restaurant Group told ALXnow he did not renew his lease at 301 John Carlyle Street. The restaurant’s last day is Saturday, Feb. 28.


News

Sparks flew last night (Tuesday) as City Council candidates debated topics like immigration enforcement and budgeting at the Departmental Progressive Club in Old Town.

The event was hosted by DPC and the Alexandria branch of the NAACP, and it was the second debate in two days for the five Alexandria Democrats vying for their party’s nomination in the upcoming Feb. 21 firehouse primary. Independent candidate Frank Fannon, a former Republican member of City Council, also participated and received significant pushback from several candidates for his opinions on governance, housing and immigration.


News

A teacher at Alexandria City High School has been awarded a $5,000 grant to create a project commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year.

ACHS math teacher Essie Jones is one of 51 educators nationwide to be selected for a Teaching America250 Award. The grant will allow her to “design and implement an engaging learning experience that helps students explore the history of America’s founding and the ideals of the Declaration of Independence,” according to Alexandria City Public Schools.


Around Town

Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar just hit a milestone.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, the restaurant at 112 King Street will host its 20th anniversary party. The festivities start at noon with live music and continue for 12 hours, featuring raffles, contests and happy hour from 3-5 p.m. with $6 pints of Guinness — the price of a pint back in 2006.


News

Five Democratic candidates for an open seat on the Alexandria City Council participated in their first forum together on Monday night in Del Ray.

The Del Ray Business Association’s forum was held in a packed house at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue). All five candidates running in the firehouse primary on Feb. 21 participated in the event and discussed a wide array of issues affecting Del Ray in particular and the city in general.


News

The Alexandria Learning Cooperative wants to expand into a full-time private school and move operations to Fairlington United Methodist Church.

The school has submitted a special use permit application to transition from a homeschool cooperative into a full-time private school for up to 75 students. The move means renting out three classrooms at Fairlington UMC and expanding its current two-day-a-week program to allow for full-time Montessori-inspired classes for kids ages 5 to 9, where students learn at their own pace in mixed-age classes.


Around Town

With the temperature in the low 60s, it was a picturesque Saturday (Feb. 14) for the annual George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town.

Thousands participated in the annual event to commemorate the country’s founding father, including city leaders, local groups, kids and more.


News

Frank Fannon, the last Republican to be elected to Alexandria City Council, will run for the office again in the April 21 special election.

Fannon announced his City Council campaign at the annual Friendship Firehouse Breakfast yesterday (Monday). The former councilmember told ALXnow he is running as an independent for the seat formerly held by Kirk McPike (D), who won the special election for Virginia’s 5th House District seat.


Around Town

Del Ray Hardware was declared the winner of the annual Heart of Del Ray Award on Friday morning.

Hundreds of people voted in the Del Ray Business Association’s annual popularity contest for businesses. Store owner Jay Portlance received an oversized heart to display for a year, symbolizing the store’s place in the community.


Around Town

A new high-end fitness boutique plans to open early next month in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood.

Owner Kenyatta Kavo is opening MuVe Studios on March 1 at 2050-B Ballenger Avenue, according to the fitness boutique’s Instagram page.


News

Former Alexandria City Councilman Frank Fannon is hosting his 18th annual Alexandrians Have Heart food and clothes drive in Old Town on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Fannon started the drive after getting elected to City Council in 2008, and says that he’s hoping this year to deliver a record six Ford F-150-sized truck beds full of food and clothes to ALIVE!, Carpenter’s Shelter and Christ House.


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