There’s a rush of business at Bar 86 in Old Town after midnight, after most of Old Town’s nightlife has died down.
Business is in full-swing at Alexandria’s newest speakeasy. By day, the venue is home to French bistro Café du Soleil, serving coffee, croissants and crepes. But at 5 p.m., a transformation occurs. The business closes, dim green lightbulbs are installed and tables are rearranged and set for 6 p.m. evening service at 215 S. Union Street.
Even though she started work this past summer, Campagna Center CEO Edith Hawkins is still moving into her office.
Hawkins succeeded the nonprofit’s former CEO of 13 years, Tammy Mann, in June. The mother of three commutes twice a week, sometimes more, from Bowie, Maryland, to the educational and social development nonprofit’s headquarters at 418 S. Washington Street in Old Town, where she told ALXnow that needs are growing.
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.
A legislative package to end the government shutdown appears on track Monday after a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to break the impasse in what has become a deepening disruption of federal programs and services, the longest in history.
What's in and out of the bipartisan deal drew sharp criticism and leaves few senators fully satisfied. The legislation provides funding to reopen the government, including for SNAP food aid and other programs, while also ensuring backpay for furloughed federal workers the Trump administration had left in doubt.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Nov. 10, 1900, the Alexandria Golf Club, located on Shuter’s Hill, hosted its first tournament. Golf course designer Robert White of Cincinnati had laid out the links that fall, and the following year a clubhouse was built. Entrance fees at the nine-hole course were $5 for men and $3 for women.” [Historic Alexandria]
Reminder: Old Town Road Closures — “Alexandria will temporarily shut down the streets surrounding City Hall on Monday as part of preparations for the City Hall Renovation Project. N. Royal Street will close to traffic between Cameron Street and King Street from 7 a.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13. Parking will also be prohibited on that section of road from Nov. 13-20.” [ALXnow]
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.
Good Friday 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 — Nov 7, 2025.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.
Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Here are the events planned for Sunday:
The weather will start off partly sunny, eventually transitioning to full sunshine with temperatures reaching around 68°F and a mild west wind at 7 mph. On Saturday night, expect a slight possibility of showers after 1am, while the sky remains partly cloudy and temperatures drop to about 50°F. A gentle southeast wind will blow at 3-5 mph, with a 20% chance of rain. See more from Weather.gov.
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
– William James
We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!
The Alexandria Police Department has detained a suspect over a robbery that took place this afternoon (Friday) near Potomac Yard.
Police were alerted shortly after 2:30 p.m. that a male suspect in a black ski mask had reportedly walked into a battery store on the 400 block of E. Glebe Road and demanded cash. The suspect had his hands in his pockets, and “a weapon was implied but not seen,” an APD dispatcher said.
Get your Santa hat ready, because the Del Ray Pop-Up Bar plans to reopen with a Christmas-themed “Joy on the Avenue” concept in two weeks.
The bar aims to return during the weekend of Friday, Nov. 21 at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue, replacing its spooky “Nightmare on the Avenue” pop-up that closed after Halloween, owner Bill Blackburn told ALXnow.
For Sen. Adam Ebbin, the task of securing dedicated revenue streams for Northern Virginia transit is now 50% complete, as the region’s transit subcommittee approved a new spending package proposal this week.
In conversations with the Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee, Ebbin (D-39) successfully shepherded near-unanimous support for the package, which calls for $400 million annually in new spending.
From the annual Alexandria Film Festival to free crafting, author events and a sold-out Banned Book Speakeasy, this fall weekend in Alexandria is packed with plenty of interesting activities. Catch an independent film, try a candle-making workshop or attend Sunday morning jazz brunch.
Discover all that’s happening in your community this weekend (Nov. 7-9), from events and entertainment to live music and more.
