News

The Washington Wizards will tip off the 2025-2026 school year at William Ramsay Elementary School next Friday (Aug. 15).

Even though school officially starts on Monday, Aug. 18, Washington Wizards rookies Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Jamir Watkins are joining mascot G-Wiz and the Wizards Dancers in handing out free Wizards backpacks filled with school supplies, water bottles, and more. The event will be held at the school, located at 5700 Sanger Avenue, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m.


News

An ABC store in Alexandria’s West End closed to retail customers last month and converted its operations to serve alcohol licensees only.

The store at 4349 Duke Street closed July 15 after nine years of operation, according to Virginia ABC. The agency moved the location’s contents to 901-929 S. Pickett Street, about 2 miles away, where it now serves licensees rather than walk-in customers.


News

On Aug. 21 (Thursday), The Chamber ALX is hosting its first-ever 40 Over 40 Awards Celebration. The event will highlight the 40 Alexandria movers and shakers announced in May, and tickets cost $120. The event is hosted by United Bank, and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Freeman Headquarters (11 Canal Center Plaza) in Old Town North.

“We’re throwing a party — and it’s all about celebrating people who prove that life doesn’t slow down after 40… it levels up,” the chamber said in the event listing. “(Y)ou won’t want to miss the panoramic waterfront views.”


News

A proposal to open a 24-hour Mexican restaurant in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood is facing pushback from neighbors.

In June, Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita announced it would be opening this summer at 529 E. Howell Avenue, the former home to Bark Social until last November. The restaurant also announced 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. operating hours on its website. However, in its special use permit application filed in July, the restaurant said it will be open 24 hours a day.


News

Olivia Troye has lost friends and made powerful enemies since moving to Alexandria.

The former career intelligence officer made national headlines after resigning from a top post at the White House under President Donald Trump in 2020, and then speaking out against the administration. The lifelong conservative Republican went so far as to endorse former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for president, even spoke at the Democratic National Convention, and is a frequent anti-Trump commentator on national TV. Now living in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, she makes public appearances at protests, publishes multiple weekly posts to more than 300,000 subscribers on her Substack, and says she’s dedicated to spending the rest of her life fighting President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.


News

A new Vietnamese-Japanese fusion restaurant soft-opened today in Arlandria.

2D Noodles (3823 Mount Vernon Avenue) is testing out its kitchen and menu today (Tuesday, Aug. 5) and plans to fully open once several more staffers are hired, the restaurant’s general manager told ALXnow. The restaurant is located in the Del Ray North shopping center, just two stores down from their sister restaurant, Sake Express Japanese Hibachi.


News

Atlas Brew Works, which opened a taproom in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood last year, was awarded this year’s RAMMYS Award for Beer Program of the Year on Sunday, August 3.

Atlas Brew Works (2425 Mandeville Lane) was one of three businesses in Alexandria up for regional awards from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), along with Andy’s Pizza (107 N. Fayette Street) and Josephine (109 S. St. Asaph Street).


News

Local businesses are being praised for their efforts in supporting the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA).

AWLA recently thanked several contributors to its Adopt-the-Shelter program, where the names of donors and the amounts donated are displayed at the shelter’s dog yard, community room, visiting rooms, and other areas. The program has resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in donations, including $2,500 from Old Town Books, which funded the addition of “Book Buddies shelves” in the Cat Adoption Room, allowing children to read to rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, and other small animals.


News

DASH has submitted plans to the city to build a new electric bus charging station at a city impound lot next to the transit company’s headquarters at 3000 Business Center Drive.

The open canopy structure is part of DASH’s goal to have a fully electric bus fleet by 2035. The garage would allow for parking, maintenance, and storage for 24 electric buses, according to the special use permit filed with the city. The Planning Commission will review the submission at its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 4.


News

Fans of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream won’t have to travel to Arlington anymore to get their fix. The company recently filed an administrative special use permit (DSUP) application with the city to open a location in Old Town.

The New York City ice cream shop wants to open at 400 King Street, next door to the Alexandrian Old Town Hotel and Southern restaurant King & Rye. Proposed hours would be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, and the business expects between 150 and 250 daily customers, according to the SUP. The last day for public comments on the proposal is Aug. 21.


News

There’s good news for Old Town coffee enthusiasts, as a new coffee shop and wine bar is asking the city for expanded hours and extra outdoor seating.

LaPluma Coffee & Wine Bar opened in May at 1000 Cameron Street in Old Town, and now its owners are asking the city to expand their operating hours only on Sundays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and add 12 more seats and two tables to the outdoor patio, for a total of 40 seats.


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