News

Morning Notes for December 30, 2025

By ALXnow.com
View of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial after a night of snowfall, Dec. 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

‘Toy Stories’ Art Exhibit Coming to ALX — From Jan. 2-31, “browse toy-inspired art pieces curated by Gordon Thomas Frank and created by NoVA-area artists. The exhibit highlights the joy of play and evokes childhood nostalgia through the creative expression of toys. Del Ray Artisans Gallery: 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, free.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

VA Revenue Loss Predicted Amid International Student Uncertainty — “With college students returning to class after the New Year, international students face heightened uncertainty in Virginia, as ongoing federal actions — including visa bans and disruptions to application processing — have led to a projected $23 million revenue loss for the commonwealth compared to last fall. Virginia received $893.5 million from more than 23,000 international students at its colleges and universities from 2024 to 2025, according to the Association of International Educators (NAFSA).” [Virginia Mercury]

Go to Morning Notes for December 30, 2025 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Dec 29, 2025

By ALXnow.com

Good Monday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 29, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria seeks to streamline office-to-residential conversions (1160 views)
  2. After 50 years, Chris Collins wants dance studio to stay in Alexandria (707 views)
  3. Ulta Beauty ‘opening soon’ in Potomac Yard Center (348 views)
  4. Woodbine health care center receives three-year extension for stalled expansion project (331 views)
  5. Morning Notes for December 29, 2025 (286 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect a sunny day with a high of 35 degrees accompanied by breezy west winds ranging from 17 to 23 mph, gusting up to 37 mph. For Tuesday night, the clouds will increase while the temperature drops to a low of 26 degrees. The west wind will settle down to 7 to 10 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
– Vidal Sassoon

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Ulta Beauty ‘opening soon’ in Potomac Yard Center

By James Cullum
Ulta Beauty is coming to 3501 Richmond Highway in the Potomac Yard Center (staff photo by James Cullum)

The largest beauty retailer in the world is coming to Potomac Yard this spring.

After months of construction, “opening soon” signs have been erected for Ulta Beauty at 3501 Richmond Highway in the Potomac Yard Center. That’s the former home of Dressbarn, which closed in 2019, along with hundreds of other Dressbarn locations around the country.

Go to Ulta Beauty ‘opening soon’ in Potomac Yard Center Read more

Friends of Guest House residents get donations of pajamas and comfy socks for Christmas

By James Cullum
Friends of Guest House residents opening Christmas presents, DEC. 24, 2025 (courtesy photo)

Friends of Guest House residents will have a comfy new year, as more than 75 sets of new pajamas and cozy socks were donated to the nonprofit and handed out on Christmas Eve.

The donations are enough to keep the residents outfitted with pajamas for an entire year, and were made possible by Maureen Clyne, a local realtor, who started the holiday effort seven years ago.

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After 50 years, Chris Collins wants dance studio to stay in Alexandria

By James Cullum
Chris Collins and his daughter, Tiffany Hopper, at his dance studio at 5408 Eisenhower Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum) 

Chris Collins never wants to retire.

For 50 years, the Alexandria native has taught tap, ballet, jazz and pointe to thousands of aspiring movers and shakers at his private company, the Chris Collins Dance Studio. The studio at 5408 Eisenhower Avenue is a second home for Collins, who works there with his wife, Vickie, and daughter, Tiffany Hopper.

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The 6th annual Del Ray Holiday Scavenger Hunt runs until Jan. 3

By James Cullum
The Del Ray Christmas tree was lit on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Where can you find a green tree and Santa with his reindeer and sleigh on the roof of a business along Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray?

Correctly answer this and at least 19 other questions from a clue sheet by Jan. 3 (Saturday) for bragging rights and a chance to win the 6th annual Del Ray Holiday Scavenger Hunt.

Go to The 6th annual Del Ray Holiday Scavenger Hunt runs until Jan. 3 Read more

Woodbine health care center receives three-year extension for stalled expansion project

By James Cullum
Woodbine expansion plans (image via City of Alexandria)

The stalled expansion of a nursing home in Alexandria’s Rosemont neighborhood just got a three-year extension from the Alexandria City Council.

The Council has unanimously re-approved a 2022 plan by Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center to build a three-story, 31,909-square-foot addition. The development permits expired in October and were held back by increased construction costs and interest rates, Woodbine said in its application.

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Alexandria seeks to streamline office-to-residential conversions

By James Cullum
The conversion of 601 Wythe Street in Old Town from office to residential was approved in 2025 by City Council (via Google Maps)

Alexandria city staff want to establish a standard permitting process for commercial-to-residential conversions.

Amid a struggling office real estate market, the city has seen a number of old office properties convert to residential use over the last several years. The proposal to create a special use permit (SUP) process for the conversions will head to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

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Morning Notes for December 29, 2025

By ALXnow.com
As seen around Old Town Alexandria and Waterfront Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

First Night Alexandria Returning for NYE — “First Night Alexandria will bring hours of live music and performances, family-friendly fun and fireworks to Old Town and Carlyle for New Year’s Eve next week. In its 31st year, the annual holiday festival includes a packed schedule of activities and arts, culminating in a countdown to midnight at the Old Town waterfront.” [ALXnow]

Chamber Releases 2026 Agenda — “The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce has officially released its 2026 Legislative Agenda—their most important advocacy document of the year. Crafted by Chamber members, the agenda reflects the collective voice and priorities of Alexandria’s business community and outlines how the Chamber will advocate on their members’ behalf in the year ahead and beyond.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Dec 26, 2025

By ALXnow.com

Good Friday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 26, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Morning Notes for December 26, 2025 (815 views)
  2. Firefighters make rescue from flipped vehicle in North Ridge (690 views)
  3. Plaintiffs in Zoning for Housing lawsuit file notice of appeal (451 views)
  4. Most and Least Expensive: December 23, 2025 (241 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Man arrested after robbery and barricade in Del Ray (4590 views)
  2. Police investigating assault and robbery at bus stop in Alexandria West (3874 views)
  3. Waterskiing Santa returns to Old Town waterfront for 40th annual Christmas Eve show (2818 views)
  4. Annual New Year’s Eve music, fireworks and performances returning to Old Town (2120 views)
  5. Man stabbed early Saturday morning in Landmark (2083 views)
  6. UpCycle Creative Reuse Center reopens in new location after six-month closure (1364 views)
  7. Former mayor getting settled into new leadership role with regional parks (1344 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌤️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect a partly sunny day with highs near 43 and a north wind between 8-10 mph. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy with lows around 32. The northeast wind around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”
– Plutarch

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

Firefighters make rescue from flipped vehicle in North Ridge

By James Cullum
Overturned vehicle on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 25, 2025 (via Alexandria Firefighters, Inc. IAFF Local 2141/Facebook)

The Alexandria Fire Department rescued two people stuck inside a flipped vehicle in North Ridge on Wednesday.

The vehicle flipped near the intersection of W. Braddock Road and Davis Avenue at around 1:30 p.m. after the driver crashed into a tree. Firefighters rescued the two occupants within 15 minutes, according to AFD dispatches. Both were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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