News | ALXnow - Part 106

Alexandrians launch Victorian mystery game series

Published October 7, 2025 at 5:30PM | Updated October 8, 2025 at 10:45AM

(Left to right) Kiernan McGowan, Raven Bonniwell, Kerry McGee and Jon Reynolds of the Alexandria-based Literary Adventure Society (courtesy photo)

Ready to solve a mystery at home?

Four years ago, a group of Alexandrians combined their talents to launch the Literary Adventure Society, a play-at-home mystery game series based on classic detective stories set in Victorian London, featuring sleuths Sherlock Holmes and Loveday Brooke. Would-be detectives (up to six at a time) can order the $55 interactive mystery boxes that include audio plays, clues, as well as custom tea blends and scented candles to get everyone in the right frame of mind to unravel mind-bending crimes like A Scandal in Bohemia, The Dancing Men, and The Mystery of the Black Bag.

Government shutdown moves Taste of NoVA from Fort Belvoir to Manassas

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2025 at 4:30PM

Taste of NoVA has moved to NOVA LIVE campus in Manassas (via NOVA LIVE/Facebook)

The government shutdown has prompted the Taste of NoVA to move from the National Museum of the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir, nearly 30 miles west, to the NOVA LIVE event field in Manassas.

More than 120 restaurants and wineries are featured at the Northern Virginia Magazine event on Oct. 11 and 12, and organizers had to think fast as the National Museum of the U.S. Army is closed during the shutdown. Federal workers attending the event can use promo code GOV20 to receive 20 percent off general admission tickets with a valid government ID at TasteOfNoVA.com.

Mayor Gaskins discusses federal shutdown impacts, ‘Alexandria first’, and infrastructure projects during monthly Q&A

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 7, 2025 at 3:30PM

Ryan Belmore, Publisher of ALXnow, and Mayor Alyia Gaskins in conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (via YouTube)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins outlined the city’s response to the ongoing federal government shutdown and provided updates on significant infrastructure projects during her monthly virtual conversation with ALXnow on Tuesday.

The mayor emphasized that Alexandria has proactively prepared for the shutdown’s impact on the community, which includes nearly 16,000 federal workers employed full-time and part-time in the city. A resource page on the city’s website offers information on housing assistance, food assistance, and property tax payment plans.

Warner, Kaine demand removal of partisan messages from federal websites

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 7, 2025 at 3:00PM

Screenshot of HUD.gov on Tuesday, Oct. 7

Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined 22 Senate colleagues Monday in demanding the Trump administration remove partisan political messages from federal agency websites and employee email accounts.

The Democratic senators sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought claiming the messages violate federal law prohibiting the use of government funds for propaganda purposes.

Alexandria activist group plans 1,200-person protest along Route 1 as part of national ‘No Kings’ movement

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 7, 2025 at 2:30PM

No Kings Protests Return on October 18 with Hands Across Alexandria (via Indivisible Do Something Alexandria)

About 1,200 people are expected to line the sidewalks of Route 1 on Saturday, Oct. 18, as part of a national day of protests targeting the Trump administration, according to organizers.

The “Hands Across Alexandria” demonstration will run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. along northbound Route 1 between Powhatan Park and Potomac Yard, Indivisible Do Something Alexandria announced Tuesday.

Two Alexandria choruses qualify to compete in international competition

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2025 at 1:30PM

The Alexandria Harmonizers (via The Harmonizers)

Two Alexandria-based choruses have qualified to perform in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international competition next year in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Alexandria A Cappella Collective’s choruses, the Harmonizers and Metro Voices, recently competed at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Mid-Atlantic District Competition in Cape May, New Jersey, qualifying to compete at the event, which will take place from June 28 to July 6.

Rep. Beyer says federal workers guaranteed back pay despite Trump administration memo

By Ryan Belmore and The Associated Press

Published October 7, 2025 at 12:33PM | Updated October 7, 2025 at 1:10PM

The Capitol is illuminated at dawn in Washington, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., whose district includes Alexandria and has one of the largest concentrations of federal employees in Congress, said Tuesday that federal workers are guaranteed back pay “without question or exception,” pushing back against Trump administration warnings that retroactive pay is not assured during the government shutdown.

Beyer, who sponsored the 2019 bipartisan legislation guaranteeing back pay, called the administration’s memo an attempt “to frighten federal employees and their families as a negotiating tactic, which is despicable.”

DASH to break ground for electric bus charging station in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2025 at 12:30PM

Rendering of DASH electric bus charging station at 3000 Business Center Drive (via DASH)

Alexandria’s DASH bus system will break ground later this month on its expansion project to build a new electric bus charging station at a city impound lot next to the transit company’s headquarters at 3000 Business Center Drive. The groundbreaking will be held on Thursday, October 30, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. With a completion goal of early 2027, the project will “support our growing fleet and the City of Alexandria’s transition to 100% zero-emission buses,” DASH said in an email.

“This expansion project is about looking ahead, and as we see more people choose transit, this will help ensure DASH is ready to support cleaner, more efficient service,” said DASH General Manager & CEO Josh Baker. “The new facility will give us the space to grow, the infrastructure to charge electric buses, and the flexibility to improve how we operate.”

ACPS to hold public forum on fiscal 2027 budget Oct. 15

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2025 at 11:30AM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Where should Alexandria City Public Schools prioritize funding in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2027 budget? The school system is soliciting feedback from the public at an upcoming meeting at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus.

While the School Board will unveil its fiscal forecast and budget priorities at its meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9, the public forum will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The theme of this year’s budget is Nurture, Educate, Inspire. Respondents who can’t attend can submit questions and comments to [email protected].

Inaugural Alexandria Book & Craft Festival bringing 14 artists, 25 authors to Old Town

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2025 at 10:00AM

The first-ever Alexandria Book and Craft Festival will be held in the Tavern Square courtyard behind 415 King Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2025 (courtesy image)

Local authors and artists will converge in Old Town later this month for the inaugural Alexandria Book and Craft Festival.

The free event from Elaine’s Literary Salon and Made in Alexandria will be held Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Tavern Square courtyard behind 415 King Street in Old Town’s Historic District. More than 15 artists and 25 authors will be on hand to display and sell their work.

Alexandria lands No. 3 spot on Condé Nast Traveler’s best small cities list

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 7, 2025 at 9:32AM

Old Town Alexandria - 100 block of King Street - pedestrian zone (Credit Chris Cruz)

Alexandria has claimed the No. 3 position on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 “Best Small Cities in the U.S.” rankings, extending its streak of top-five placements to eight consecutive years.

The city placed behind Charleston, South Carolina, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, while surpassing popular destinations including Savannah, Georgia, and Honolulu, Hawaii, according to results from the magazine’s 38th annual Readers’ Choice Awards announced Tuesday.