Ryan Belmore | ALXnow

200 Marathons, One Goal: Transforming Alexandria classrooms

Published April 14, 2025 at 2:15PM

Brooke Sydnor Curran, Move2Learn president and CEO, runs 200th marathon to champion movement in education. (Contributed photo)

Alexandria resident Brooke Sydnor Curran, founder and CEO of Alexandria-based nonprofit Move2Learn, just completed her 200th marathon.

Curran crossed the finish line at the Coastal Delaware Running Festival in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Sunday (April 13), adding another impressive feat to her running resume. She’s now completed marathons in all 50 states, tackled all six World Marathon Majors, and raced on every continent.

Around Town

Four-day “Banned Book Speakeasy” at Morrison House will celebrate forbidden literature

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 14, 2025 at 11:15AM

The Study at Morrison House (via The Study at Morrison House on Facebook)

The Study at Morrison House (116 South Alfred Street) is gearing up for a unique “Banned Book Speakeasy” event from April 23 to 26, 2025. They’re mixing things up by offering cocktails inspired by controversial books, with a dollar from each drink going to the Virginia Library Association.

The hotel’s website teases, “We want to let you in on our little secret… The Study at Morrison House is filling its shelves —and cocktail menu—with banned books. As a haven for storytelling, we’re celebrating the power of literature in all its forms while supporting local libraries”.

News

Landmark/Van Dorn residents invited to shape community health via a ‘Walk & Talk’ event

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 14, 2025 at 10:15AM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The City of Alexandria is inviting Landmark/Van Dorn residents to join a “Walk & Talk” event on Saturday, April 26, to share their thoughts on community health. The two-hour gathering starts at 2 p.m. at the ALIVE! Food Hub on S Van Dorn Street, where participants will take a one-mile loop around the neighborhood in small groups.

This event is part of Alexandria’s 2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA), which will shape the city’s next five-year Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). City staff will be on hand to listen to residents’ concerns and ideas for change.

News

Notes: Clean out your cabinets – Alexandria Drug Take Back Day is April 26

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 14, 2025 at 8:00AM

Next Drug Take Back Day: Saturday, April 26 (via City of Alexandria)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72 degrees. Calm wind becoming south around six mph in the afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms tonight before 2 a.m., then scattered showers. Low around 60 degrees. East wind around seven mph becoming west after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 80%—new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

News

Vinyl enthusiasts line up overnight at Crooked Beat Records for Record Store Day

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 12, 2025 at 11:16AM | Updated April 12, 2025 at 12:38PM

Carol and her fiance on Record Store Day at Crooked Beat Records. (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Music enthusiasts lined up for hours – some overnight – outside Crooked Beat Records (2417 Mt. Vernon Ave.) in Del Ray on Saturday for the annual Record Store Day celebration, hoping to score limited-edition vinyl releases.

By 8:39 a.m., approximately 120 people had formed a line outside the independent record store. The first customers had arrived nearly 12 hours before the doors opened at 9 a.m.

News

Crooked Beat Records is ready for Record Store Day

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 11, 2025 at 2:45PM

Crooked Beat Records prepares for Record Store Day (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Crooked Beat Records in Del Ray (2417 Mt. Vernon Ave.) is preparing to join more than 1,400 independent record stores across the United States for Record Store Day on Saturday, April 12.

The annual celebration of vinyl culture will feature special releases, including exclusive offerings from Crooked Beat’s in-house label.

News

ACPS redistricting process advances with release of two new proposed boundary maps

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 11, 2025 at 1:00PM

The Red Plan. One of the proposed redistricting plans. (via ACPS)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has unveiled two new proposed boundary maps as part of its ongoing School Boundary Redistricting Process.

The Red and Indigo plans are now open for community review and input. A Green Plan, Blue Plan, and Purple Plan were also recently presented to the public.

News

Traffic Alert: Lane closed at N. Washington Street at Pendleton Street due to motor vehicle accident

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 11, 2025 at 12:24PM | Updated April 11, 2025 at 1:14PM

Motor vehicle collision at North Washington Street at Pendleton Street on Friday, April 11, 2025 (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police Department (APD) is on the scene of a two-vehicle collision at N. Washington Street at Pendleton Street.

The right lane of N. Washington Street is currently blocked due to the accident.

News

Traffic Alert: Lane closed at North Henry Street and Queen Street due to motor vehicle accident

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 11, 2025 at 12:13PM | Updated April 11, 2025 at 1:14PM

Left lane of N. Henry Street (Route 1) is blocked due to two-vehicle crash. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police Department (APD) is on the scene of a two-vehicle crash at North Henry Street and Queen Street.

The left lane is currently blocked due to the accident.

Opinion

More local news than ever: Help ALXnow keep it coming by joining our Press Club

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 11, 2025 at 11:30AM

ALXnow has never done more local news reporting than we’re doing now.

In March, we published 220 stories (the most stories ever published in one month on the website) and reached 430,316 visitors (38% more traffic year over year). Just ten days into April, and we’re averaging nine new stories per day.

News

What’s next for Alexandria? Chamber’s City Council Breakfast offers insight and discussion on May 6

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 11, 2025 at 10:15AM

Breakfast with City Council. (Photo via The Chamber ALX)

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber ALX) is gearing up for its annual City Council Breakfast on Tuesday, May 6. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the National Industries for the Blind (3000 Potomac Ave.).

Several key city officials are scheduled to attend, including Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, and council members John Taylor Chapman, Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi, Jacinta Greene, and Kirk McPike.