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

New Indian restaurant ‘The Bombay Canteen’ celebrates opening on Eisenhower Avenue

By Katie Taranto
A look inside The Bombay Canteen (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new Indian restaurant celebrated its recent foray into the Eisenhower East neighborhood over the weekend with festivities alongside local city and business leaders.

The Bombay Canteen rolled out the red carpet at 2010 Eisenhower Avenue yesterday (Sunday) for a grand opening of its Mumbai-inspired dining room and kitchen. The new eatery, which soft opened last month, is led by D.C.-area restaurateur Asad Sheikh and chef Nishi Barua, replacing a vacancy left by Hunan Cafe.

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Three candidates meet filing deadline to run for Alexandria City Council

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

Three candidates have submitted the paperwork necessary to run for Alexandria City Council, meeting the city’s 5 p.m. deadline today (Friday).

Democrat Sandy Marks, independent candidate and former Republican City Councilman Frank Fannon, and independent Alison O’Connell have each turned in the necessary paperwork to be on the April 21 ballot, Director of Elections & General Registrar Angie Maniglia Turner confirmed to ALXnow shortly after 5 p.m. Friday.

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Around Town

Volunteer Alexandria to honor dozens of community helpers at ceremony next month

By Katie Taranto
About 75 volunteers helped assemble the nearly 1,000 backpacks donated to the seven United Way of the National Capital Area community schools, including Alexandria’s Francis C. Hammond Middle School (courtesy photo)

Dozens of volunteers in Alexandria will be recognized next month for their contributions to the community last year.

Eighty-five honorees have been announced in Volunteer Alexandria’s annual awards program, Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria, happening Thursday, March 12. The nonprofit, a top coordinator of volunteer services in the city, recorded more than 112,000 service hours in 2025 from over 4,260 volunteers — an estimated value exceeding $3.8 million.

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Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Spike, a ‘softie at heart’ with a zest for life

By Katie Taranto
Spike (courtesy of AWLA)

Meet Spike, a happy dog at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria who is full of energy.

The three-year-old furry friend weighs 49 pounds and is known by his distinctive tri-colored coat “and a personality that can’t be beat,” an AWLA volunteer told ALXnow.

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Around Town

Ballyshaners’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade returning to Old Town for 43rd year

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A festive afternoon of Irish dancing, pipe bands and emerald-green outfits and decorations is returning soon to Old Town.

The Ballyshaners‘ 43rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is expected to draw thousands of spectators to celebrate alongside a lineup of performers and community organizers. Local dignitaries plan to kick off festivities at noon Saturday, March 7, with the parade stepping off at 12:30 p.m.

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News

Old Town Pool renovation updates expected at city meeting next week

By Katie Taranto
Old Town Pool (via City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria is expected to provide an update next week about ongoing plans to replace the Old Town Pool.

City staff will share updates on the project’s design and construction timeline, and attendees will be able to provide feedback at the meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at the Oswald Durant Center (1605 Cameron Street).

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Regional officials briefed about ongoing response to Potomac River sewage spill

By Emily Leayman and Katie Taranto
A sailboat on the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Regional officials were briefed yesterday (Monday) on continued repairs and efforts to mitigate health risks five weeks after a sewage pipe collapsed, releasing an estimated 243 million gallons of sewage into the Potomac River.

DC Water officials outlined steps it has taken since the Jan. 19 sewer pipe collapse, just east of the American Legion Bridge, during a virtual meeting with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments that included Vice Chair, Mayor Alyia Gaskins. The collapse happened in a section of the Potomac Interceptor, which carries about 60 million gallons of sewage daily from Fairfax and Loudoun counties, the towns of Vienna and Herndon, Dulles Airport and Montgomery County, Md.

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National summit for churches seeking to support housing kicks off in Old Town North

By Katie Taranto
The Waypoint at Fairlington site in September 2022 (via Wesley Housing/Facebook)

Leaders from religious communities, development groups and financial institutions are gathering in Old Town North today (Tuesday) for a summit on faith-based housing development.

The sold-out event, “Restoring Hope and Building Opportunities,” is taking place now at United Way Worldwide’s Alexandria headquarters, where speakers and attendees “will examine how faith-based institutions can move beyond advocacy to serve as structured development partners — leveraging land, capital, and community trust to address housing shortages and expand economic opportunity,” according to a release.

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All Alexandria streets are clear of snow as ACPS returns to classrooms today

By Katie Taranto
Wintry morning along Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, Feb. 23, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria crews were quick to finish clearing Sunday’s snowfall, aided in part by some warmer temperatures and a lack of “snowcrete.”

As of last night (Monday), all primary, secondary and residential streets have been cleared, as well as Alexandria City Public Schools buildings, bus stops, city facilities and adjacent sidewalks, according to a city announcement. Roads are clear as ACPS students and staff make a return to classrooms today on normal schedules, following yesterday’s synchronous learning plans.

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Alexandria sets Friday filing deadline for City Council candidates in April special election

By Katie Taranto
Voting sign at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

The City of Alexandria has confirmed the April 21 special election date for an open seat on City Council, and candidates are required to file by the end of this week.

Candidates are required to have all paperwork submitted to the General Registrar by 5 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 27 in order to appear on the ballot, according to a city announcement this afternoon (Monday).

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VDH: Measles outbreak not likely in N. Va. despite uptick in cases

By Katie Taranto
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Maintaining high childhood vaccination rates is key to preventing measles outbreaks, state health experts say, as cases have seen an uptick in Northern Virginia and across the country this year.

In the first two months of 2026, Virginia has confirmed 10 cases of measles — double the total cases recorded last year — and nine of them have been in the northern region, with exposures reported in Alexandria, Fairfax County and surrounding areas.

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