Meet Bugsy, a guinea pig doubling as an aspiring magician who can make her favorite veggies disappear.

Bugsy is a white and brown guinea pig awaiting her forever family at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. She’s ready to dazzle people with her food vanishing talents.


A block party involving numerous independent boutiques is coming to Old Town this weekend.

The Old Town Boutique Community, an organization of 30 small businesses in Old Town, will host the Spring Fling: An Old Town Block Party, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (May 2). The family-friendly block party will feature activities for all ages, including tarot card readings, build-your-own flower bouquets and other hands-on crafts, outdoor yoga sessions and snow cones.


A longtime Italian restaurant in Old Town is celebrating its rebranding with a special dinner tomorrow night (Thursday).

Il Porto Ristorante is working on “refreshing the brand” at 121 King Street, with plans for a new logo, revised website and updated menus “to reflect a more modern look while staying true to what Il Porto has always been,” a spokesperson told ALXnow.


This will be the first year the Del Ray Business Association is not hosting First Thursday block parties since it founded the event nearly 30 years ago.

Del Ray’s First Thursdays have been turned over to the Del Ray Citizens Association, which runs other neighborhood events such as last weekend’s Del Ray GardenFest and the upcoming Del Ray House and Garden Tour on Saturday, May 9.


An Alexandria-based food tour company is celebrating two years of teaching people about the local Korean culinary scene.

Alexandria resident Soomin “Mina” Kim spends her weekdays immersed in the world of law as a paralegal in Old Town. But her weekends are reserved for Annandale in Fairfax County, where she guides culinary Koreatown adventures for her small business, Virginialicious.


After being open for a year, a vintage gift shop in Del Ray is closing at the end of June.

Amy Sills Eggers, the owner of Stardust Vintage and Gift (1904 Mount Vernon Avenue), told ALXnow that she needs to focus on her family. She said she’ll be selling all of her merchandise and fixtures at a discount.


With spring underway, wildlife help lines are receiving increasing calls about baby animals that residents believe need help. But wildlife experts say intervention is often unnecessary.

Tony Rankin, chief of Animal Services at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, told ALXnow wildlife calls begin to increase in mid-March and steadily rise through early October. Last year, the city’s animal services responded to nearly 1,000 wildlife calls during that period, and most were resolved by educating residents about wildlife.


A Mediterranean restaurant in Old Town North has reopened after temporarily closing for renovations.

The Perfect Pita reopened earlier this week at 951 N. Fairfax Street. The restaurant’s previous plans for a second level and additional interior seating never materialized, but the newly renovated space features an expanded kitchen, a new shop counter and forthcoming outdoor seating.


Meet Arturo, a 2-year-old dog who would love a family that can keep up with his energetic nature.

Arturo is a young dog who has started his training but has much more potential to learn tricks through the motivation of treats. He would enjoy activities like a treat puzzle, chasing balls, and going on a run or hike, an Animal Welfare League of Alexandria volunteer told ALXnow.


Alexandria’s waterfront will get a taste of the Polynesian islands for much of the warmer season.

The Tiki Pop-Up Bar opened today (Thursday) in Vola’s Dockside Grill’s Hi-Tide Lounge (101 N. Union Street), which Alexandria Restaurant Partners owns. The pop-up is decked out in tropical decorations and serves Tiki cocktails and bites. Reservations are not accepted for the pop-up.


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