The Ethiopian Community Support and Assistance Center will host its fifth annual Ethiopian Fall Festival on Sunday at Chinquapin Park, featuring live music, traditional dance and authentic cuisine.
The event runs from 1-7 p.m. at the park at 3210 King St. and is open to the public.
Good Wednesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 8, 2025.
Noteworthy: High-performance design meets timeless luxury in Alexandria
Welcome to 1004 Virginia Ave—a custom-built 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath residence that seamlessly blends timeless luxury with forward-thinking design. Every detail has been thoughtfully curated to create a home that feels both elevated and effortless, offering the perfect balance of sophistication, comfort, and everyday practicality. Whether you’re looking for room to grow or a lifestyle centered around ease and convenience, this exceptional home delivers.
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.”
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.
July 9th, Revolutionary Fitness, Old Town Alexandria
Your bathroom scale can’t tell you if you’re losing fat or losing muscle. It can’t see the visceral fat wrapping around your organs. It can’t measure the bone density that determines whether you stay strong and independent into your 60s, 70s, and beyond.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
