Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

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BREAKING: Alexandria rideshare driver arrested for sexual battery against passenger near Mark Center

By Vernon Miles
Location of alleged sexual battery (image via Google Maps)

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) announced that it has arrested Ahmed Reshad Nasseri, a 33-year-old resident of Alexandria, on charges of “aggravated sexual battery” against a passenger.

The incident occurred on July 19 in the 5000 block of Seminary Road, near Mark Center and Southern Towers. According to APD, “Nasseri worked as a rideshare driver on the night of the incident and the victim was a passenger he picked up following their request for transportation.”

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Cameron Station residents holding ’emergency town hall’ in response to S. Pickett Street plans

By Vernon Miles
Pickett Project Area Map (image via City of Alexandria)

Move over Seminary Road, there’s a new “road diet” fight brewing.

S. Pickett Street is a four-lane roadway running between Duke Street and Edsall Road in the West End and — crucially for this story — runs adjacent to the Cameron Station neighborhood.

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Braddock speakeasy Captain Gregory’s partners with local tattoo shop for ‘flash tattoos’ and cocktails

By Vernon Miles
Tattoo design by Danny Zelsman at Madison Street Tattoo (image courtesy Captain Gregory's)

Braddock neighborhood bar and speakeasy Captain Gregory’s (804 N. Henry Street) is making a new menu and tattoo designs in partnership with a local tattoo shop.

The bar is partnering with nearby Madison Street Tattoo (1012 Madison Street) for a new crossover  menu with cocktails inspired by tattoos and flash tattoos inspired by cocktails.

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Alexandria Black History Museum receives grant to jump-start next step in digitization project

By Vernon Miles
The original sculpture of Earl Lloyd at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Photo via City of Alexandria)

A historical collection ranging from NBA player Earl Lloyd to Mayor Bill Euille could be going digital soon.

The Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe Street) is receiving a $99,772 grant to help digitize its extensive collection and make more of its exhibits available online.

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Old Town chili spot Hard Times expansion to include new second-floor porch

By Vernon Miles
Hard Times in Old Town (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Hard Times (1404 King Street) is scheduled to close sometime this year to undergo extensive interior renovations, but a new Special Use Permit said those plans could now include new second-floor outdoor porch seating.

The SUP says the plan is to “add new second floor outdoor porch with seating for 30, located in rear of the existing restaurant.”

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A look back at Biden and ARPA’s impact on Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
President Biden delivering remarks at Sportrock Climbing Center in Alexandria (via White House/Twitter)

With President Joe Biden announcing last week that he would not be running for reelection, it’s worth examining the somewhat understated impact Biden had on Alexandria.

Though most of its discussion was relegated to long City budget meetings, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that Biden helped spearhead had a significant impact on Alexandria’s recovery from Covid.

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Nonprofits collaborate to build new temporary housing for families in crisis

By Vernon Miles
Common area after renovations (image courtesy HomeAid)

Alexandria nonprofit ALIVE! has a new trio of affordable housing units thanks to some help from HomeAid National Capital Region, a nonprofit building homes for those in need.

The project took a three-story, single-family home and created three separate housing units along with office space.

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Friendship Firehouse Festival is back this weekend!

By Vernon Miles
Friendship Firehouse Festival (photo via Friendship Firehouse Museum/Facebook)

This weekend the city of Alexandria is celebrating the 250th birthday of the Friendship Fire Company, the first volunteer firefighters in the city, with the annual Friendship Firehouse Festival.

The free festival is on the 100 block of South Alfred Street from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3. It will feature antique fire equipment on display alongside current equipment, as well as hands-on activities, face painting, live music and more.

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Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe make “Childless Cat Lady” shirts in response to JD Vance comments

By Vernon Miles
Childless Cat Lady shirt (photo via Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe/Facebook)

Old Town’s Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and Wine Bar (109 S. Alfred Street) is taking a dig at neighbor JD Vance after the Trump running mate’s “childless cat ladies” comment.

A 2021 interview in which Vance called Democrats being “childless cat ladies” who “want to make the rest of the country miserable too” resurfaced. Vance also advocated for parents to cast additional votes based on their number of children.

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Metallica visits record pressing plant just outside Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett watching a record being made at Furnace Record Pressing (image via Metallica/YouTube)

Heavy metal band Metallica swung by a record pressing plant a few blocks west of Alexandria earlier this week.

The band visited Furnace Record Pressing, a record pressing company that’s been in business, which Metallica gained a majority interest in last year.

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Speed limit reduction and traffic calming approved for Eisenhower Avenue

By Vernon Miles
Eisenhower Avenue (image via Google Maps)

Alexandria’s Traffic and Parking Board approved changes to major streets, including Eisenhower Avenue, that safety advocates hope can save lives.

On Monday, the Traffic and Parking Board approved changes to Eisenhower Avenue that would reduce the speed limit, implement no turn on red restrictions, and several other changes — particularly near the Van Dorn Metro station.

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