Katie Taranto | ALXnow

Plaintiffs in Zoning for Housing lawsuit file notice of appeal

Published December 26, 2025 at 9:30AM

The Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

After a judge dismissed their case last month, plaintiffs in Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All lawsuit have announced a notice of appeal.

Under The Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, several Old Town residents are seeking to overturn a Circuit Court decision upholding Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All initiative last month. The group announced its intent to appeal in an email on Wednesday.

Around Town

Annual New Year’s Eve music, fireworks and performances returning to Old Town

By Katie Taranto

Published December 23, 2025 at 3:45PM

First Night Alexandria fireworks (via First Night Alexandria/Facebook)

First Night Alexandria will bring hours of live music and performances, family-friendly fun and fireworks to Old Town and Carlyle for New Year’s Eve next week.

In its 31st year, the annual holiday festival includes a packed schedule of activities and arts, culminating in a countdown to midnight at the Old Town waterfront.

News

Alexandria government offices closing for Christmas, New Year’s Day

By Katie Taranto

Published December 22, 2025 at 11:45AM

Holiday wreath in Old Town (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Government offices in Alexandria will close on Wednesday and Thursday to observe Christmas.

Closures this week will affect Alexandria courts, the Alexandria Library, the Department of Motor Vehicles, health facilities, the city’s impound lot and more. Metered parking restrictions and residential permit parking will not be enforced during this period.

Around Town

These were the most popular books in Alexandria this fall

By Katie Taranto

Published December 19, 2025 at 2:30PM

The Kate Waller Barrett Branch of the Alexandria Library (staff photo by James Cullum)

What did you read this past fall?

The Alexandria Library system shared its most-checked out books from mid-September through last week with ALXnow, with over a dozen fiction reads topping the charts. The library recorded a grand total of 1,811 check-outs of its top 20 titles during that period.

Around Town

Several Alexandria artists nominated in regional Wammie Music Awards

By Katie Taranto

Published December 19, 2025 at 12:30PM

Wammie Awards crowd (via The Wammie Awards/Facebook)

Fourteen Alexandria artists and groups have received nominations in a program recognizing musical talent across the D.C. area.

Alexandria’s nominees for the 37th Annual Wammie Music Awards represent several genres, from funk and folk and hip-hop and pop. The voting period for the 2026 awards is now open and will run through Jan. 15, ahead of the March 28 awards show in D.C.

Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Diesel, a dog ‘full of love and curiosity’

By Katie Taranto

Published December 19, 2025 at 9:15AM

Diesel the dog (courtesy of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Diesel, a sweet, wrinkly-faced pup at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria who is ready to go home for the holidays with fur-ever humans.

The three-year-old cutie patootie is about 89 pounds, “with a heart to match his impressive physical presence,” according to an AWLA volunteer. The social pup is “full of love and curiosity.”

News

New ACPS budget proposal defers Cora Kelly project, schedules K-8 conversions in 2030

By Katie Taranto

Published December 18, 2025 at 2:45PM

Capital Improvement Program add/delete session on Dec. 16, 2025 (via Alexandria City Public Schools)

An updated $282 million budget proposal would defer renovations at an Alexandria elementary school while securing funding for two contentious K-8 conversion plans in 2030.

The new Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget from Alexandria City Public Schools comes in at $58 million less than the Alexandria City School Board’s original proposal and remains under the city’s guidance of $285.8 million, following weeks of workshopping by school and city leaders to trim it down.

News

Gravestone relocations planned at Douglass Memorial Cemetery ahead of stormwater project

By Katie Taranto

Published December 18, 2025 at 12:30PM

Douglass Memorial Cemetery following flood damages in 2021 (photo courtesy Michael Johnson)

About 250 gravestones at Douglass Memorial Cemetery will be temporarily relocated as a new stormwater improvement project gets underway next month.

Anticipated to begin Jan. 20, the project aims to replace hundreds of feet of aging stormwater pipes and regrade the historic Black cemetery’s drainage systems at 1421 Wilkes Street. Construction will prompt the temporary removal of about 250 gravestones, and will affect traffic along Wilkes Street, City Archaeologist Eleanor Breen told ALXnow.

Around Town

‘Yarn Storm’ at Alexandria Library collects hundreds of hats, mittens and scarves for donation

By Katie Taranto

Published December 18, 2025 at 11:45AM

Jessica Shea sits among piles of hats and cold weather accessories for donation (courtesy of Alexandria Library)

If you visited Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library recently, you might have noticed a colorful collection of pom-poms planted in the grounds outside.

The whimsical pom-pom garden encouraged donations to the Alexandria Library’s annual Yarn Storm drive, which collected some 400 hats, mittens and scarves for donation to an Alexandria shelter.

Around Town

Alexandria anime convention ‘PatCon’ opens vendor applications for February celebration

By Katie Taranto

Published December 17, 2025 at 1:45PM

PatCon 2025 (via Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities, City of Alexandria, VA/Facebook)

Alexandria is calling on artists, makers and small businesses to apply for vendor spots at PatCon 2026, the city’s grassroots anime festival.

Vendor registration is open now through Jan. 23 for the festival, which is happening from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center at 4653 Taney Avenue. The annual celebration is hosted by the recreation center’s Anime Society and is free to attend.

Around Town

New ‘Finn and Fire’ seafood and steak restaurant aims for March opening in Old Town

By Katie Taranto

Published December 17, 2025 at 12:30PM

Kismet, formerly at 111 N. Pitt Street (via Google Maps)

Finn & Fire, a new international restaurant specializing in seafood and steaks, hopes to debut in Old Town in late winter.

The new eatery is preparing to replace Indian restaurant Kismet at 111 N. Pitt Street sometime in March, owner Ghazal Amir told ALXnow. The business previously hoped for a January opening but is still securing its permits.