Around Town | ALXnow

Holiday ‘condom trees’ arrive at Alexandria clinic and bookstore

Published December 11, 2025 at 1:45PM

Alexandria Health Department's holiday "condom tree" (courtesy of AHD)

New holiday trees from the Alexandria Health Department are seeking to spread cheer while preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

A small, artificial tree in AHD’s clinic waiting room at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) is decorated with about 20 to 30 sexual health items, including internal and external condoms, as well as fentanyl test strips. A second “condom tree” has been placed at Friends to Lovers Romance Book Store at 301 Cameron Street.

Washington Capitals bringing new youth street hockey league to Alexandria

By Katie Taranto

Published December 10, 2025 at 11:45AM

Capitals street hockey programming (courtesy of the Washington Capitals)

Francis C. Hammond Middle School is among three regional venues that will host a new, co-ed youth hockey league led by the Washington Capitals in the new year.

Registration has opened for the team’s first-ever Capitals Street Hockey League (CSHL), intended for kids ages 5-12. The season’s eight weekends of games, lasting from March through May 2026, will take place at three venues, including the middle school at 4646 Seminary Road, according to a release.

Del Ray’s ‘Candy Cane Bar Crawl’ returns this Saturday, with 18 participating restaurants

By James Cullum

Published December 9, 2025 at 1:00PM

2018 Candy Cane Bar Crawl (via Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl/Facebook)

A popular holiday-themed bar crawl is returning to Del Ray this Saturday.

The 10th annual Candy Cane Bar Crawl will be held from 12:30 to 6 p.m., encouraging attendees to eat, drink and be merry, according to a flier posted by the hosting Del Ray Business Association. This year’s crawl includes raffles, trivia, a photo booth and costume contest, along with 18 participating restaurants promising festive libations.

‘Ten Thousand Villages’ store in Old Town to rebrand as ‘The World Crafted on King’

By James Cullum

Published December 9, 2025 at 11:45AM

The previous Ten Thousand Villages at 915 King Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

A longstanding nonprofit retailer dedicated to fair trade practices with artisans around the world is set to undergo a rebranding.

After closing multiple locations around the country and shifting to online sales, Ten Thousand Villages at 915 King Street continue as-is, but with a new identity. In February, the Old Town shop will hold its grand reopening as “The World Crafted on King.”

Friends of Guest House seeks holiday pajama donations for residents

By James Cullum

Published December 9, 2025 at 9:15AM

Christmas tree (via Sapan Patel/Unsplash)

An Alexandria nonprofit is requesting donations of women’s pajamas for its residents who are transitioning back into the community after incarceration.

Friends of Guest House, located at 1 E. Luray Avenue, is collecting women’s pajama sets to provide for its residential program participants during the holiday season. Realtor Maureen Clyne has collected hundreds of sets since starting the annual effort seven years ago.

‘Pink Pony Club’ and ‘Santa Jaws’: Holiday Boat Parade announces 2025 winners

By Katie Taranto

Published December 8, 2025 at 1:30PM

A view of the boat line up. Leading the pack is "Splish Splash, Taking a Bath" which was the winner of the 2025 category "Thinking Outside the Christmas Box" (via Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria’s 25th annual Holiday Boat Parade brought gleaming, spirited displays of holiday cheer to Old Town’s waterfront on Saturday night.

Visit Alexandria has announced the winners of the parade today (Monday), with exhibits ranging from a hot pink Chappell Roan theme that captured “Most Spirited Crew” to a playful “Hanukkah Octopus” named Happy that won “Hardiest Soul.” Here’s a look at this year’s winners and categories.

VIDEO: See Del Ray’s annual Christmas Tree and Menorah lighting

By James Cullum

Published December 8, 2025 at 11:00AM

The Del Ray Christmas tree was lit on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The weather was crisp and cool as hundreds of revelers sang holiday carols at the annual lighting of the Del Ray Christmas Tree and Menorah on Sunday night.

The 36-foot-tall tree is the tallest ever in Del Ray. It was donated by “Mango” Mike Anderson and Bill Blackburn of the Homegrown Restaurant Group.

PHOTOS: Don’t miss ALXnow’s coverage of the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade

By James Cullum

Published December 8, 2025 at 10:30AM

The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums marches at the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Dec. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What a day for a parade it was in Old Town on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The wailing of bagpipes sailed through Alexandria’s historic streets as thousands of community members gathered to watch the 54th annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.

Annual holiday Toys4ALX Collection Drive ends next week

By Katie Taranto

Published December 5, 2025 at 1:45PM

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.

A dessert shop serving churros seeks to open in vacant Old Town storefront

By James Cullum

Published December 5, 2025 at 9:30AM | Updated December 5, 2025 at 10:36AM

1022 King Street (via Google Maps)

A new dessert shop that serves churros has filed paperwork to open in a vacant storefront on King Street in Old Town.

Churrok’s is asking the city to make small modifications to 1022 King Street, the former home of the now-closed Alexandria Cupcake storefront. The application goes before the Board of Architectural Review on Dec. 17.

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

By Katie Taranto

Published December 5, 2025 at 8:15AM

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.”