Around Town

New York City-based food hall Wonder is opening a new location next month at the Potomac Yard Center.

The new food hall opening at 3615 Richmond Hwy plans to offer food from more than two dozen restaurant concepts. It will be the fourth Wonder in Northern Virginia, joining others in Arlington and Fairfax County as the company continues to expand throughout the D.C. region.


News

The city of Alexandria will not collect waste on New Year’s Day, and the remainder of the week’s collection will follow a modified schedule.

After Thursday, waste collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week, according to the city.


News

The Alexandria Police Department arrested a Woodbridge teenager in Landmark this month after he was allegedly found in possession of fentanyl, more than seven ounces of marijuana, a loaded handgun and nearly $1,500 in cash.

The 17-year-old suspect agreed to meet an undercover APD officer on Dec. 11 to sell five fentanyl pills in a parking lot at the 5700 block of Edsall Road, after he had advertised selling drugs on Instagram. His arrest followed an undercover operation that began in October, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.


News

‘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]


Event

Join Breast Cancer Collective for the 2026 Walk to Bust Cancer on Sunday, October 18, at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria.
Walk alongside survivors, caregivers, friends, families, and neighbors for an uplifting community event supporting access to breast cancer screening and care across the DMV.
Walk to Bust Cancer brings our community together to turn hope into action and help expand access to timely breast health care. Register to walk, gather your team, and join us at Fort Hunt Park.


News

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!


News

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.


News

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.


News

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.


News

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.