Author: Katie Taranto

Katie Taranto is a reporter at ALXnow. She previously covered local businesses at ARLnow and K-12 education at The Columbia Missourian. She is originally from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

Around Town

Annual holiday Toys4ALX Collection Drive ends next week

By Katie Taranto
Volunteer Alexandria's Toys 4 ALX holiday toy drive (via Port City Brewing Company/Facebook)

Science kits, race cars, Legos and sport balls.

Those are just some of the donation ideas Volunteer Alexandria is calling on the community to contribute to its annual holiday drive, Toys4ALX, which closes next Thursday, Dec. 11. Volunteers are aiming to collect more than 3,500 new, unwrapped toys for 700 kids and counting across the city.

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News

NWS issues another Winter Weather Advisory throughout N. Va. tonight

By Katie Taranto
Walking on E. Reed Avenue in Alexandria, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Following this morning’s wintry weather, the National Weather Service has issued another Winter Weather Advisory for Northern Virginia and the D.C. region.

The advisory goes into effect at 7 p.m. this evening (Friday) and will last until 1 a.m. Saturday, warning of freezing rain and drizzle, with a “light glaze of ice expected.”

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News

Snowfall continues in Alexandria ahead of holiday parade weekend

By Katie Taranto
Snowfall in Alexandria on Dec. 5, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s a marshmallow world in Alexandria this morning (Friday) as the snowy regional forecast is expected to continue into the afternoon.

The National Weather Service’s Winter Weather Advisory will remain in effect until 4 p.m. today, with total snow accumulation estimated around one inch. As a result, residents should “plan on slippery road conditions.”

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News

School Board seeks more time to address concerns about APD contract

By Katie Taranto
The Alexandria City School Board will meet on Jan. 8. (via Alexandria City School Board)

The Alexandria City School Board voted unanimously last night (Thursday) to extend its contract with the Alexandria Police Department through June 30.

The extended memorandum of understanding (MOU) will give the School Board’s Governance Committee more time to draft a new contract proposal that fully addresses its concerns, Division Counsel Robert Falconi said at last night’s meeting.

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Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Max, your ‘loving sidekick’

By Katie Taranto
Max (courtesy of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Max, an adorable four-legged companion in foster care who spent much of the past year at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

The three-year-old “gorgeous guy with his perfectly mismatched ears” weighs about 73 pounds, according to an AWLA volunteer. The pup is “playful and engages enthusiastically with chew toys and food puzzles.”

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News

JUST IN: Two-hour delay for Alexandria City Public Schools tomorrow

By Katie Taranto
A City of Alexandria marker in Arlandria, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

All Alexandria City Public Schools and offices will open with a two-hour delay tomorrow (Friday) due to the snowy morning forecast.

ACPS announced the district’s first snow-related delay of the season this evening, joining schools in Arlington and Fairfax County. The announcement is available to view on the district’s website.

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News

UPDATED: Firefighters recover contractor stuck in sewer near AlexRenew wastewater plant

By Katie Taranto
Near the AlexRenew wastewater plant (staff photo by James Cullum)

Firefighters from Alexandria and Arlington recovered a contractor who was unable to exit a sewer while working in Eisenhower East yesterday afternoon (Thursday).

The Alexandria Fire Department’s Engine 205 and Battalion 201 responded to 1500 Eisenhower Avenue to rescue the 32-year-old man, who was reportedly trapped in the sewer, according to city dispatches around 4:15 p.m.

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Around Town

New Indian restaurant promises a taste of Mumbai in Eisenhower East next month

By Katie Taranto
The Bombay Canteen is coming to 2010 Eisenhower Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new restaurant in Eisenhower East hopes to share the cuisine of Mumbai with locals in the new year.

The Bombay Canteen plans to open in January at 2010 Eisenhower Avenue near Paisano’s, replacing a vacancy left by Hunan Cafe. The new eatery is the longtime dream of founder and chef Nishi Barua, who is from Bangladesh and learned to cook during her college years in India.

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News

Alexandria’s annual snowplow training takes place tomorrow

By Katie Taranto
A snow plow drives up Richmond Highway, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Snowplows will be roving around Alexandria tomorrow morning (Friday) as part of an annual training exercise.

The “dry run” training is part of the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services’ yearly effort to prepare for winter weather. Residents should expect to see plows and other “winter response vehicles” on the streets, according to a city announcement.

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Around Town

WBJ: Longtime D.C. Italian restaurant is coming to Old Town

By Katie Taranto
The Atrium building at 277 S. Washington Street in Old Town (image via WC. and A.N. Miller Development Company)

A longtime Italian restaurant from across the Potomac has its sights set on Old Town, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Floriana has reportedly leased a ground-floor space in the Atrium Building at 277 S. Washington Street. It’s aiming to replace a 5,800-square-foot vacancy left by Virginia’s Darling and Mae’s Market as early as June.

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Around Town

Scottish Christmas Walk and Holiday Boat Parade prompt Saturday road closures

By Katie Taranto
The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums performing at the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Dec. 6, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Two of Alexandria’s iconic holiday season parades will lead to some road closures throughout Old Town this weekend.

The Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights both take place this Saturday, prompting the closures as well as reserved parking and no-parking zone enforcement.

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