Madame Coco’s Emporium will return to Old Town in mid-September alongside Long Dark House, a new bookstore focused on science fiction, horror and dark titles.

The new businesses will share space at 1510 King Street. Madame Coco’s Emporium is the brainchild of Meshelle Armstrong, while Long Dark House is the realization of a lifelong dream by Chanthal Harris.


As retailers across Virginia will have tax-free promotions on certain items during this weekend’s sales tax holiday, a group of Alexandria’s independent boutiques will cover the sales tax for their entire stores.

More than 15 Old Town Alexandria boutiques are participating in a tax-free shopping weekend Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 9, covering the sales tax for customers on clothing, gifts, home decor and other items. The Old Town Boutique Community is hosting the event with support from the City of Alexandria to encourage support for local businesses during back-to-school shopping.


If you’re in need of a mellow office assistant at your home, look no further than Charlotte.

Meet Charlotte, a 10-year-old golden girl who will be a reliable companion for strolls around the block or time lounging at home. According to an AWLA volunteer, the senior’s ideal day is moving from her dog bed to the couch and back with her human at her side.


July will turn into August this weekend as a packed lineup of events arrives in Alexandria.

Alexandrians may see aspiring witches and wizards around for several Harry Potter-themed events lined up for the weekend — the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum’s A Magical Apothecary tour and Lee-Fendall House’s Pop Culture Trivia: Harry Potter Edition. Both events are already sold out.


As Black Business Month approaches in August, Montie Green is reflecting back on her journey to open her Old Town business Velvet Wax & Beauty.

Green is a licensed cosmetologist and opened her first salon in Hampton ten years ago. The location at Old Town’s Crilley Warehouse (218 N. Lee Street, Suite 100) has been open for four years.


The King Street corridor in Old Town is gaining another coffee shop as Mudhouse Specialty Coffee Roasters opens its doors this week.

Mudhouse will open on Wednesday (July 29) at 1119 King Street, staff confirmed to ALXnow. This will be the Charlottesville-founded coffee roaster’s sixth location, joining two in Charlottesville, and ones in Richmond, Crozet and Charleston, S.C.


Dream Chaser’s Coffee is back.

Three months after being forced to close their new coffee shop in Old Town North, Leo and Brittani Maggio have found a new home for the business. On Saturday (July 25), the shop reopened in a large commercial flex space at The Garden Alexandria at 5380 Eisenhower Avenue (Suite C), joining Building Momentum, Saltenna and Dominion Electric Supply, and guaranteeing a steady stream of customers who’ve relied for years on brewing single-cup coffee pods.


The 20th annual Alexandria Film Festival is off to a flying start.

In August and September, the film fest will showcase screenings of documentaries about gun violence and E. Jean Carroll, the former advice columnist who won a sexual assault and defamation trial against President Trump.


Foodies will have the chance to try new eateries or return to old favorites during the next Alexandria Restaurant Week in August.

Alexandria Restaurant Week, held twice a year in January and August, will be held over 10 days from Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 23. Full-service restaurants will serve prix fixe dinner menus at $35, $45 or $55 per person, and fast casual restaurants will have their own offers.


Old Town stationery store Penny Post is getting ready for its biggest day of the year.

Penny Post (1201 King Street) will hold its fifth annual Stationery Store Day, an in-store-only event to celebrate all things pen, paper and analog. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.


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