News | ALXnow - Part 218

Alexandria Cybersecurity Executive named to Virginia Israel Advisory Board

Published June 28, 2025 at 3:02PM

American Flag and Israel Flag. (via Virginia Israel Advisory Board)

Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Alexandria resident Micah Edmonds, COO of Kloke Cybersecurity, to the Virginia Israel Advisory Board in his latest round of state appointments announced Friday.

Edmonds becomes the sixth Alexandria resident to receive a state appointment in the past two weeks. Last Friday, Youngkin named five other locals to Virginia university boards, including Daniel Gade (Christopher Newport University), Hillary Waldron (William & Mary), and Preston Cooper (George Mason University).

Old Town Pool reopens after week-long repairs

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 28, 2025 at 12:04PM | Updated June 28, 2025 at 12:25PM

Old Town Pool (via City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA) on Saturday (June 28) announced that Old Town Pool would reopen at noon.

The pool, which had shut down on Monday (June 23) for repairs, is “back up, running, and safe for the community to enjoy,” according to the RPCA.

Savannah Bananas take over Alexandria Dunkin’ for fan event

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 28, 2025 at 11:04AM | Updated June 28, 2025 at 11:45AM

Savannah Bananas Bring 'Greatest Show in Sports' to Alexandria Dunkin' (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Hundreds of fans wrapped around the Alexandria Dunkin’ building twice this morning as players from the Savannah Bananas took over the Richmond Highway location to serve customers and hand out promotional items.

The event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., drew such large crowds that some people waited in line for more than an hour to meet the players and receive free merchandise.

Notes: Chewish Deli leads tight race for Alexandria’s Best Bagel Shop as voting nears end

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 28, 2025 at 7:22AM

Poll: The best bagel shop in Alexandria (via ALXnow)

⛈️ Today’s weather: Areas of drizzle before 8 a.m. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 101. Calm wind becoming southwest around six mph in the afternoon.

With just days remaining before voting closes on Tuesday (July 1) at 11:59 p.m., The Chewish Deli has established a commanding lead in ALXnow’s “Best Bagel Shop in Alexandria” poll. After cleaning up multiple votes from the same IP addresses, the popular eatery maintains its strong position with 46.85% support from 2,262 voters out of nearly 4,900 total participants in the survey.

EXCLUSIVE: Warner, Kaine, Beyer demand answers on NSF’s forced exit from Alexandria headquarters

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 27, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated June 27, 2025 at 3:20PM

(Left to right) Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, HUD Secretary Scott Turner, and GSA Commissioner Michael Peters announce HUD would be taking over NSF headquarters on June 25, 2025. (Staff Photo by Ryan Belmore)

Alexandria’s congressional delegation is escalating pressure on federal officials regarding the controversial decision to relocate the National Science Foundation (NSF) from its Alexandria headquarters to accommodate the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to a letter obtained exclusively by ALXnow.

Just one day after Senator Mark Warner criticized the move and demanded a full cost-benefit analysis during a media availability, the Virginia delegation has now formalized their concerns in writing.

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 2:30PM

National Science Foundation at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (via NSF)

It’s been another fast week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories over the last several days.

Our Tuesday (June 24) story on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development taking over the National Science Foundation’s headquarters (2415 Eisenhower Avenue) garnered more than 125,000 views, making it the most-read story of the year. While bringing in more than 2,700 HUD workers, the move will also displace about 1,800 NSF employees over the next two years.

Imagine Artwear to close in Old Town after more than three decades, KiSMET mural to be painted over

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 2:00PM

Imagine Artwear at 1124 King Street is closing June 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Imagine Artwear is closing at 1124 King Street on Monday (June 30), and soon after, their “KiSMET Mural: Love is All You Need” painting on the outside of the building will be removed.

Owner Carol Supplee says that there are still many good pieces available at bargain prices. She also noted that there are custom-made store fixtures and a lot of “free stuff” for the taking.

Alexandria riders face new bus routes, signs as Metro launches system-wide overhaul

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 27, 2025 at 1:00PM

Metrobus near Potomac Yard (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria residents will experience a fundamentally different bus system starting Sunday as Metro launches its Better Bus Network Redesign, the first comprehensive overhaul of Metrobus service since 1973.

The transformation, which takes effect June 29, introduces new route naming conventions across the Washington metropolitan area. Alexandria bus routes will now carry the “A” designation, indicating their service to the Arlington and Alexandria communities.

The Rink That Rocked: Talk to revisit Alexandria venue that hosted Janis Joplin, Alice Cooper

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 12:15PM | Updated June 27, 2025 at 7:59PM

The Alexandria Roller Rink in Old Town North was open from 1948 to 1986 (via Office of Historic Alexandria)

The Alexandria Roller Rink in Old Town North was open from 1948 to 1986 (via Office of Historic Alexandria)Next month, the Alexandria Historical Society will host a behind-the-scenes panel to reflect on the legacy of a long-lost landmark: the Alexandria Roller Rink.

With its maple floors and Wurlitzer organ, the Alexandria Roller Rink (807 N. St. Asaph Street) could hold 3,000 skaters at a time. It wasn’t all about skating, though. In the 1970s, the rink was advertised as a “psychedelic ballroom” and the “Alexandria Rock Arena” and hosted concerts with stars like Janis Joplin, Jethro Tull, and Alice Cooper, according to the Office of Historic Alexandria.

AWLA social media post of adoptable ‘Doodles’ with curly wigs goes viral

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 11:45AM

An Animal Welfare League of Alexandria Facebook and Instagram post from June 25, 2025, went viral (via Instagram)

A recent social media post from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria just went viral on Facebook and Instagram.

The short video shows what appears to be Pit Bull mixes with wigs, and the message: “Our dogs thought it would help them get adopted if we listed their breed. This goes against our policy, but they were adamant.”

No injuries in industrial fire in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 10:00AM

An early morning fire in the 600 block of Burnside Place in Alexandria's West End, June 26, 2025 (via Facebook)

No injuries were reported after the Alexandria Fire Department extinguished a blaze at a commercial building in an industrial area of the West End on Thursday (June 26).

The Alexandria Firefighters Inc. Local 2141 reported the blaze just after 3 a.m. in the 600 block of Burnside Place, which is just off S. Van Dorn Street.