News

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories of the week.

With less than a month until the Nov. 4 general election, this week’s most-read story is on the controversy surrounding Virginia’s Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones. The National Review broke the news last Friday (Oct. 3) that in August 2022, Jones sent text messages to Del. Carrie Coyner (R-75), “fantasizing about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children,” according to the Virginia Mercury story posted on ALXnow.


News

There’s a watch party in Alexandria on Tuesday, Oct. 14, to see Amy Begnal, the clinical director at Del Ray Psych and Wellness, appear in the new season of the TLC series Baylen Out Loud.

Begnal will appear in three episodes this season, providing pre-marital counseling to Baylen Dupree and her fiancé, Colin Dooley. The watch party will be held from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Piece Out Del Ray (2419 Mount Vernon Avenue). The show airs at 9 p.m. Dupree, who lives in West Virginia, suffers from a severe case of Tourette’s Syndrome, and the show explores her desire for independence and the steps she takes “toward being in the world on her own,” according to TLC.


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After months of interior renovations, Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar is soft-opening at 1909 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Owner Jay Chainam tells ALXnow that it’s been a lot of work to get the restaurant up and running, and that he and his staff are excited. Earlier this month, Chainam and restaurant co-owner Supattra Pummora held a pop-up to finalize the menu for Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar at their sister restaurant, Gin Ramen & Asian Tapas (500 John Carlyle Street).


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Just in time for the Halloween season, free fall movie nights are headed to Limerick Field (1800 Limerick Street) in the rear of AlexRenew headquarters.

A double feature will be presented on Saturday, Oct. 18, starting with Coco at 6 p.m., followed by The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 9 p.m. The movies are being presented by the Eisenhower Partnership, CatRad Creative, and AlexRenew, and water and Wegmans will donate popcorn.


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Twenty Old Town boutiques are falling into fashion with deals, giveaways, and more on Saturday (Oct. 11).

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the boutiques are featuring exclusive fall collections, interactive in-store activations, and seasonal bites and sips. Customers can also buy a seasonal tote from participating businesses, and enter to win a $1,000 gift card and Aiyana Atelier products, and a second prize of a $500 gift card at any participating boutique.


News

It costs between $6,000 and $9,000 to get a pair of bespoke shoes made at Old House Provisions in Old Town, and there’s a waitlist.

Shoemaker Drew Altizer opened his shop at 315 Cameron Street last December, selling custom-made men’s suits and high-end footwear from Alden, Edward Green & Co. and Viberg. If you want a pair of bespoke shoes, it might take some time, like eight-to-10 months, he says.


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A vehicle fire has shut down two left lanes of Interstate 95 northbound near the Eisenhower Avenue exit, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Alexandria Police dispatch said that a vehicle was on fire in the local lanes at around 3:45 p.m. VDOT reported that the incident occurred at mile marker 174.4 in Fairfax County.


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A man was shot in the leg on Wednesday night in the 300 block of N. West Street, according to Alexandria Police Department dispatches. The injury was deemed non-life-threatening, according to APD.

APD received multiple calls of six to eight shots fired in the 300 block of N. West Street at around 9:45 p.m. Police reviewed security footage from the scene and saw two individuals walk into a playground area, fire multiple shots in a westbound direction, and then flee the scene eastbound, according to radio dispatches.


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More than a dozen Alexandria and area restaurants are participating in the 18th annual Taste For Giving in Old Town next month.

Tickets for the Nov. 7 event cost $75, and proceeds benefit several Alexandria nonprofits and charities. The Alexandria Rotary Foundation is hosting the event at the Atrium Building (277 S. Washington Street) in Old Town. Over the past 17 years, the Rotary Foundation has raised more than $1.7 million for organizations throughout the city.


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A new restaurant has been proposed at the former home of Kismet Modern Indian at 111 N. Pitt Street in Old Town.

Restaurant Finn and Fire is being proposed for the space, according to plans going before the city’s Board of Architectural Review next month. The property’s landlord confirmed to ALXnow that a lease has been signed, although the restaurant did not return calls for comment. The proposal goes before the BAR on Nov. 5.


News

A proposal to build 32 four-story townhouses in Old Town will head back to the Board of Architectural Review next month.

Alexandria land-use attorney Ken Wire is asking the city for approval to demolish the Essex Building, an office building at 333 N. Fairfax Street built in the 1970s, and replace it with townhomes. Renderings show rows of four-story townhouses with garages and second-floor balconies encompassing an entire square block, bordered by N. Lee Street, Queen Street, and Princess Street. The BAR will review the proposal on Wednesday, Nov. 5. It will be the second concept review for the project, and city staff are advising some minor modifications.


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