Around Town

Virginia native Phil Vassar brings ‘Paradise’ tour home to The Birchmere

By Ryan Belmore
Phil Vassar will perform at The Birchmere on Oct. 26. (Photo Credit: Phil Vassar on Facebook)

Country music star Phil Vassar returns to his Virginia roots this month, bringing his “25 Years of Paradise” tour to Alexandria’s Birchmere Music Hall on Oct. 26. The Lynchburg native celebrates the 25th anniversary of his breakout No. 1 hit “Just Another Day in Paradise” with an intimate acoustic performance that promises nightly setlist changes and covers of musical legends like Billy Joel and Elton John.

For Vassar, who attended James Madison University before moving to Nashville in the 1980s, performing at the Birchmere holds special meaning. “I used to go there when I was starting out as a musician, and I went to James Madison,” Vassar said in an interview with ALXnow on Wednesday. “It’s just such a historic venue, and I just love coming to rock.”

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News

Award-winning author to read latest children’s book at Alexandria elementary school

By James Cullum
Award-winning author Chris Van Dusen will speak to kids at Cora Kelly School on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 (via Instagram)

Award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen will read his latest book to Alexandria kids next week.

Van Dusen will read from his book, “If I Built a Town,” to students at Cora Kelly School for Science, Math, and Technology (3600 Commonwealth Avenue) on October 15. Inspire Lit and Old Town Books sponsor the 9 a.m. event and is part of Van Dusen’s book tour.

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Sponsored

A 5-Star workday in the heart of Old Town Alexandria

By Sponsor
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Image from A 5-Star Workday in the Heart of Old Town Alexandria
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News

Alexandria Police target high-crash corridors with increased patrols

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Alexandria Police Department announced on Tuesday that it will focus enforcement efforts on speeding and distracted driving as part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on local roads.

The department is targeting three intersections where crashes have clustered over the past three years: Duke Street and Washington Street, King Street and Interstate 395, and Duke Street and Van Dorn Street. Those areas account for a significant portion of the 73 injury crashes recorded in Alexandria during October over the past three years, according to police data.

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Announcement

Made in ALX Launches Summer Art Camps

By Made in ALX

Creative activities help prevent learning loss by keeping young minds active, encourage healthier habits by reducing excess screen time, and strengthen essential skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and imagination.

It’s even better in a focused, supportive and positive environment, like the opportunities for kids at Made in ALX’s Summer Art Camps.

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News

Grocery store opens inside Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden

By James Cullum
The Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden at 1913 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden, located at 1913 Mount Vernon Avenue, has just opened a small grocery store inside its premises.

Owner Jay Portlance soft-opened the grocery store today (Oct. 8), selling vegetables, fresh bread, and eggs. He said that the store will support local vendors and farms. Portlance noted that the store is a “micro-version” of a standard grocery store and plans to expand its offerings over the next several weeks.

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News

Alexandria Health Department needs volunteers to craft five-year health improvement plan

By James Cullum
Alexandria sign in the city's Arlandria neighborhood (via Facebook)

The Alexandria Health Department is looking for volunteers to join community coalitions to create the city’s next five-year Health Improvement Plan.

In the upcoming 2026-2031 plan, AHD will focus on citywide mental wellness, as well as in the Landmark/Van Dorn corridor in the West End and the city’s Arlandria neighborhood. The focus areas were chosen in AHD’s most recent State of Health Report. Each subject matter area will be worked on by a coalition, which will be made up of “Alexandria residents, businesses, faith leaders, community groups, and others who work and spend time here,” according to AHD.

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News

Comey pleads not guilty at Alexandria federal courthouse as lawyers signal intent to argue Trump foe’s case is politically motivated

By The Associated Press
This courtroom sketch depicts former FBI Director James Comey, second from left, and his attorneys Jessica Carmichael, seated left, and Patrick J. Fitzgerald, standing right, during his arraignment at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons, is seated right. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)

By ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — James Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Department’s efforts to target adversaries of President Donald Trump, with lawyers for the former FBI director saying they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed.

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News

Researchers to share findings on Alexandria’s Civil War history, LGBTQ+ community

By James Cullum
Alexandria during the Civil War (image via Visit Alexandria)

Three grant recipients will unveil their findings on Alexandria’s history during the Civil War, records at Douglas Cemetery and more.

The grants were awarded as part of the Alexandria Historical Society‘s 50th anniversary celebration. The “golden grantees” will present their findings at the free event at the Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) on Wednesday, Oct. 22, starting at 6:30 p.m.

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News

Alexandria City Council tackles capital priorities amid tight debt capacity

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria City Council held a Capital Improvemnt Work Session on Oct. 7. (Photo by Ryan Belmore/ALXnow)

Alexandria City Council members grappled with difficult decisions on Tuesday evening about which major infrastructure projects deserve funding over the next decade, as Alexandria approaches its debt capacity limits while facing $307 million in unfunded needs.

The work session at City Hall focused on prioritizing projects within the city’s Capital Improvement Plan — a $2.1 billion blueprint for infrastructure investments through 2035 that includes everything from school replacements to fire station upgrades and recreation facilities.

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News

America 250 sculpture proposed for Alexandria courthouse courtyard

By James Cullum
Sandy Williams IV speaks at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Oct. 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Next week, Sandy Williams IV will submit his proposal for an art installation in Alexandria to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Williams’ proposal for public art to adorn the courtyard of the Alexandria Circuit Court (520 King Street) from April to November must first receive approval from the city’s Commission for the Arts. The design is still under wraps, although the artist, who is known for creating pieces that defy convention, says that the issues the signers of the Declaration of Independence wrestled with in 1776 are similar to those faced by contemporary Americans.

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