Like expert fingers knitting a long scarf, Danielle Romanetti is busy.
Romanetti’s yarn shop fibre space (1319 Prince Street) is prepped and ready for Plaid Friday, an alternative to Black Friday for shoppers who want to find local deals in Old Town. Back when she first opened in 2009, Romanetti was one of the first business owners in the city to recognize the holiday weekend as an opportunity to capitalize.
The Alexandria Health Department is advising residents to take COVID-19 tests before and after traveling this Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
“Everyone has a role in keeping COVID-19 out of holiday gatherings,” AHD said in a release, and advised unvaccinated residents to skip traveling altogether. “If travel is unavoidable, get a COVID-19 test 1-3 days before and 3-5 days after travel. Those who are fully vaccinated should still monitor themselves for symptoms after travel or large gatherings and get tested if needed.”
Before the pandemic, I ran a Reddit forum that brought people together for local happy hours. It became a great outlet for an in-person social life: you could get out, get to know people nearby, and have a familiar group to spend time with. I enjoyed being the person who helped make that happen.
Getting people together became harder after the pandemic. Friends moved away, had kids, or settled into different routines, and organizing a night out took more effort. I still wanted that camaraderie, but having people to invite didn’t necessarily mean we could get something on the calendar.
I’m in my late 30s and live in Old Town. About a year ago, I joined Choros, a local membership community that helps guys build friendships through small-group activities. Since then, I’ve been to close to 50 hangouts, and it’s given me a regular group of guys to do things with around Alexandria and beyond.
I host board game nights and help host a monthly happy hour at the Commodore in Old Town. I’ve done escape rooms on King Street, trivia, food festivals in Del Ray, movie discussions, and Dungeons & Dragons (which can be especially tricky to get going as an adult with a busy schedule). Having that variety means I can find something that fits my mood and schedule, and there are usually familiar faces when I get there.
One of my favorite things, though, is getting on my bike, picking a destination, and making a day of it. Through Choros, I’ve found a consistent crew to ride with almost every month. That’s the kind of thing I wanted more of: people who enjoy the same stuff and make time to get out and do it together.
I still like hosting and bringing people together. What makes Choros useful is having a community to draw from, so every plan doesn’t depend on the same few friends being available. Other guys suggest and host things too, which gives me plenty of opportunities to join something without organizing it myself.
Over time, seeing the same guys at different activities builds familiarity. You have conversations to pick back up and another reason to make plans together. That’s how it’s become a circle of friends for me.
If you’re in Alexandria, check out Choros and come to one of our monthly happy hours at the Commodore. I’d be happy to meet a few more neighbors, whether you’re into board games, bike rides, or just getting out for a drink. There’s plenty happening here, along with activities throughout the rest of the D.C. area.
(Updated 1:30 p.m.) Police say a barricade situation that’s been ongoing for roughly 24 hours has been peacefully resolved.
It started with a road-rage incident around noon yesterday (Tuesday) that spiraled into a barricade situation where the man fired at police outside of his home on the 1000 block of Woods Place. Nearby roads were shut down and athletic activities at the nearby Alexandria City High School campus were canceled.
Revolutionary Fitness, the strength and longevity training studio for people over 50 at 215 N. Payne St., is opening 5 spots in its members-only year-end challenge.
Every year, the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year’s knocks people off track. Workouts get skipped, schedules fill up, and the plan becomes “I’ll start in January.”
(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) A two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 24) shut down traffic on N. Van Dorn Street from Taney Avenue to Holmes Run Parkway earlier today.
The incident was reported to the public via Twitter at 10:55 a.m., the Alexandria Fire Department and police are at the scene. Police and medics were dispatched to the scene, according to scanner traffic.
Explore preschool & kindergarten options in Alexandria! Meet schools, ask questions & find the best match for your child’s early education.
Welcome to the Alexandria Preschool and Kindergarten Fair! Join us for a fun-filled event where parents can explore various preschool and kindergarten options for their little ones. Meet with representatives from different schools, ask questions, and gather information to make the best choice for your child's education. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the perfect match for your family! The fair is free to attend but advance registration is encouraged.
(Updated 5/9/22) A 38-year-old Maryland man is being held without bond after a violent argument against his ex-girlfriend in her West End apartment on November 2.
The incident occurred at around 12:30 p.m. in the 5400 block of Bradford Court. The victim told police that she was driving home and talking with the suspect on Facetime, but that he was already waiting for her in the parking lot to meet in person. They met and went inside the apartment, where the victim allegedly told the suspect that she was starting a romantic relationship with someone else, according to a search warrant affidavit.
A barricade and shots-fired situation at Woods Place is still ongoing one day after it allegedly started with a nearby road-rage incident.
Police said the man inside the house has fired at police outside the building, but police have not returned fire:
Police barricade situation unresolved — “The barricade situation is still unresolved. No other updates at this time.” [Twitter]
Alexandria Film Festival movies available for streaming — “The 15th Alexandria Film Festival draws to a close on Thanksgiving Day, but if you haven’t been able to join it in person yet, fear not–you still have time to unlock and enjoy all 40+films.” [Zebra]
Healthcare providers, pharmacies and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) are now offering COVID-19 booster shots to all residents over 18 years old, the city said in a press release.
the press release notes that those receiving a booster shot can use either the Moderna or Pfizer booster, regardless of which vaccine they took.
Thanksgiving is scheduled for later this week, so do you have any travel plans for this upcoming week?
Last year, during some of the peak COVID-19 numbers, a majority of poll respondents said they weren’t planning to travel for the holidays. Last year, the vaccines had not been approved yet and daily cases were trending upwards. The latter is true again this year, but it’s generally much safer to be around family provided everyone takes some precautions.
Dear Members:
Following the 2026 NAACP Election Procedures, the Alexandria Branch of the NAACP held a General Membership meeting on Thursday October 22, 2026. The purpose of the meeting (in part) was to select candidates for branch officers including President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary and at-large members of the Executive Committee positions.
