The Alexandria Choral Society has named Victoria Benson as its new executive director, effective at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season.
Benson succeeds Megan Yingst and brings experience in both arts management and commercial real estate operations to the 55-year-old organization. She previously served as board chair, producer and director at Fresh Squeezed Opera Company in New York City, where she produced dozens of musical events and increased donor engagement and revenue.
Port City Brewing Company will host its second annual Port to Port Beer Festival on Aug. 16 from 12-4 p.m. at the brewery’s Alexandria location.
The festival will feature 19 breweries from across the United States and Germany, including international participants Radeberger from Radeberg, Germany, and Jackie O’s from Athens, Ohio. Local and regional favorites include The Veil from Richmond, Virginia, and Jailbreak Brewing from Laurel, Maryland.
The Old Town North Alliance will transform the sidewalks and parking lots of Alexandria’s Arts & Cultural District into outdoor canvases during the second annual Chalk-A-Block festival on Sunday, Sept. 7.
The free, family-friendly event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature chalk artists creating temporary masterpieces throughout Old Town North. Attendees can follow Old Town North Tern footprints from site to site across eight locations, including Hotel AKA, West Elm, and the Sheraton Suites.
The votes are in, and Alexandria has spoken: Smoking Kow BBQ is the city’s favorite barbecue destination, according to the ALXnow Readers’ Choice Awards.
After two weeks of voting that concluded Tuesday night, Smoking Kow BBQ at 3250 Duke Street secured victory with 31.67% of the vote, earning 711 votes from barbecue lovers across Alexandria. The restaurant maintained its frontrunner status throughout the entire voting period.
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Alexandria Restaurant Week will return Aug. 22-31, offering diners 10 days of special menus at dozens of restaurants throughout the city.
Participating restaurants across Alexandria’s neighborhoods will feature prix fixe dinner menus priced at $30, $40, or $50 per person for in-person dining. Fast casual establishments will also offer additional specials and discounts during the event.
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The clock is ticking for Alexandria’s barbecue enthusiasts. Tonight at 11:59 p.m., voting closes for ALXnow’s Readers’ Choice Award for Best Barbecue Restaurant, and the competition has been sizzling hot.
With just hours left to cast ballots, Smoking Kow BBQ has maintained a commanding lead throughout the two-week voting period, capturing nearly 32% of the vote with 617 supporters rallying behind their smoky specialties. The popular spot has clearly struck a chord with local diners craving authentic pulled pork and tender brisket.
Alexandria is serving up a diverse menu of activities this week, from Monday’s comedy nights and yoga sessions to a spectacular glow paddle adventure on Saturday evening. The Tax-Free Weekend kicks off Friday at select Old Town boutiques, while music lovers can catch everything from Three Dog Night at The Birchmere to traditional Irish sessions at local pubs. Families won’t want to miss the Friendship Firehouse Festival on Saturday or Harry Potter’s birthday bash at Del Ray Pizzeria on Thursday.
Whether you’re looking to swap plants, learn ventriloquism, or enjoy chamber music at the Lyceum, Alexandria’s packed calendar offers something for everyone through August 3rd.
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Steven Hahn will address political violence and democracy at a remembrance event for Benjamin Thomas, a Black man lynched in Alexandria 126 years ago.
The Aug. 8 event at Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 1401 Jamieson Ave., will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m., with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. The program marks the anniversary of Thomas’ death on Aug. 8, 1899.
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