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

Red Barn Mercantile to host annual ‘Holiday Unveiling’ in Old Town tomorrow

By Katie Taranto
Holiday decorations at Red Barn Mercantile posted ahead of its 2024 Holiday Unveiling (via Red Barn Mercantile/Facebook)

A longtime boutique in Old Town is getting ready to spread some wintery holiday cheer in the week following Halloween.

Red Barn Mercantile is hosting its annual Holiday Unveiling at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) at 1117 King Street. The festive gathering will reveal a “winter wonderland” of new holiday decorations and gifts at the boutique, along with complimentary treats and party favors.

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News

‘This is day one’: Alexandria Democrats celebrate statewide wins with Rep. Beyer

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) speaks at an election night watch party at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Democrats celebrated a blue wave of election wins in Virginia yesterday (Tuesday) with a night of whoops, cheers and excitement in Del Ray.

Voters and local officials packed Pork Barrel BBQ, cheering on Democrats’ three high-profile statewide wins, including Abigail Spanberger for governor. They pointed to these as evidence that Democratic momentum is up and political tides are turning against President Donald Trump.

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News

Alexandria voters reelect sheriff, commonwealth’s attorney and three state delegates

By Katie Taranto
Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter speaks at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria voters reelected Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter, Sheriff Sean Casey and three House of Delegates members in resounding victories.

Running without opposition, Porter and Casey each received 96% of votes. Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3), Del. Charniele L. Herring (D-4) and Del. Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (D-5) also held onto their statehouse seats.

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News

UPDATED: Over half of Alexandria voters have cast ballots

By Katie Taranto
Voters at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

This story has been updated to reflect new information from the General Registrar at 4:27 p.m. 

As of 4 p.m. today (Tuesday), about 53.4% of registered voters in Alexandria had cast ballots in the general election, according to the city’s top elections official.

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Around Town

Five Alexandria spots make NoVA Magazine’s ‘50 Best Restaurants’ list

By Katie Taranto
Bucatini Carbonara at Thompson Italian (image via Thompson Italian/Facebook)

Five Alexandria eateries are highlighted in Northern Virginia Magazine’s new list of the area’s top 50 restaurants.

The magazine’s food critics highlighted Alexandria restaurants offering Italian, modern American and Mesoamerican fusion food in their annual list, released late last month. Here’s a look at the city’s featured spots.

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News

Federal shutdown and governor’s race on Alexandria voters’ minds this Election Day

By Katie Taranto and James Cullum
Voters at Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

As Alexandria voters shuffled to the polls this morning (Tuesday), many said they were casting ballots motivated by the government shutdown and their views on the Trump administration.

At precincts in Old Town, Mount Vernon and near Seminary Hill/Landmark, several voters lamented the shutdown and told ALXnow they do not like the political direction the country is turning toward — a sentiment fueling their ballot box decisions, particularly in Virginia’s gubernatorial election.

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Around Town

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra offers free tickets for federal workers

By Katie Taranto
The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (photo via Alexandria Symphony Orchestra/Facebook)

The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra is providing free concert tickets to federal employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown.

The promotion extends to the orchestra’s “Mozart & Mendelssohn” concert at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, as well as a seasonal “Holiday with a Twist” concert next month. The orchestra is offering the freebies at a time “when many may need the arts most,” Executive Director George Hanson said in a release.

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News

Who is on the ballot and where to vote in Alexandria on Election Day tomorrow

By Katie Taranto
Voting at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library in Alexandria's West End, Nov. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and members of the House of Delegates are all on the ballot in Alexandria tomorrow.

The city’s voters are also poised to re-elect incumbent Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter and Sheriff Sean Casey, both of whom are running unopposed.

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News

Leaf collection starts today in Old Town and Seminary Hill

By Katie Taranto
Changing leaves in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s annual leaf vacuuming and collection program kicks off today (Monday).

Crews will begin with a “first pass” at two of Alexandria’s five collection zones today. They’ll be in Zone 2, which encompasses some residential areas of Seminary Hill, and parts of Old Town in Zone 5, Section A.

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Around Town

What’s happening this weekend in Alexandria: Dog-O-Ween, ghost tours and more

By Katie Taranto
Handing out candy on Halloween on Lee Street in Old Town, Oct. 31, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Halloween weekend in Alexandria brings spooky festivities aplenty this year, with haunted parties, dog-friendly celebrations, bar crawls and more.

Discover all that’s happening in your community this weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 2), from events and entertainment to live music.

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Around Town

A fast food-fueled ‘Taco Bell DC 50K’ kicks off in Old Town next month

By Katie Taranto
King Street Taco Bell Cantina (via Google Maps)

A Taco Bell Cantina on King Street will be the starting point and finish line for hundreds of runners competing in a “Taco Bell DC 50K” race next month.

Described as “the ultimate mix of endurance and spice,” the unlicensed event takes runners through a course of eight Taco Bell restaurants across Alexandria, Arlington and D.C., where they must eat at least one menu item per stop — Baja Blasts not included.

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