The 19th annual Alexandria Film Festival kicks off this weekend with over 60 film screenings in store, from immersive documentaries to experimental films.
Three days of screenings start tomorrow (Friday) and run until Sunday, Nov. 9. Tickets cost $16.79 at each venue, while an all-festival pass costs $85. Federal workers affected by the government shutdown may also receive complimentary tickets at the box office with a valid government ID, while supplies last.
The Alexandria Police Department suspects that a man shot in Old Town last month likely accidentally shot himself.
APD responded to the 300 block of N. West Street around 9:45 p.m. Oct. 8, after receiving reports of six to eight shots fired and an 18-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the thigh. Police now suspect the man fired at himself while fleeing the scene, according to a recent search warrant affidavit.
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.
An Alexandria woman was scammed out of thousands of dollars last month in an elaborate scheme by several suspects pretending to be Sheriff’s Office officials.
No arrests have been made in connection with the Oct. 6 incident, in which scammers coerced the victim to deposit $4,600 into a Bitcoin ATM in Arlandria, through a barrage of texts, calls and false documents, according to a recent search warrant affidavit.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Nov. 6, 1944, ground was broken for construction of the Alexandria Health Center in the 500 block of N. St. Asaph Street. Before this facility was built, local health department staff worked in basement offices at City Hall. The Health Department moved to the West End in 2004.” [Historic Alexandria]
Freedom House Museum Reopens Today — “The process of rehabilitating the exterior of the Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street began in June of 2024. Now the front facade has returned to its pre-Civil War appearance, helping to tell the story of the domestic slave trade in Alexandria. The next phase at Freedom House Museum shifts to the inside where engineers and preservation specialists will design ways to make the interior spaces accessible to all.” [City of Alexandria]
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 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 — Nov 5, 2025.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high of around 57 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 8 to 11 mph and gusts reaching up to 22 mph. As for Thursday night, the weather will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to a low of about 38 degrees, with a light and variable wind. See more from Weather.gov.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”
– Albert Einstein
Thanks for reading!
Update: W. Glebe Road has reopened.
The Alexandria Police Department has shut down W. Glebe Road between Milan Drive and Valley Drive after a vehicle struck a pedestrian early this evening.
The Alexandria Police Department is seeking witnesses and video footage from a scooter crash involving a 16-year-old rider that occurred yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) in the area of King Street and N. Quaker Lane.
APD said that it is asking for assistance as part of the continuing investigation. No information was provided on the victim or how the crash occurred. More from APD is below.
The day after Election Day, Sandy Marks said she felt good, satisfied and tired.
It’s been nearly four years since Marks was elected chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee. After working for months to get Alexandria’s politicians reelected and help secure last night’s statewide Democratic wins, Marks is riding off into the proverbial sunset by stepping down and not seeking a third two-year term.
A 48-year-old Alexandria man charged with forcible sodomy and attempted rape against a woman in her Old Town apartment last year was found not guilty today (Wednesday) in the Alexandria Circuit Court.
Antuan Bostick was found not guilty after a seven-day jury trial. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. April 7, 2024, in an apartment on the 800 block of N. Pitt Street, when a neighbor called 911 and reported that she heard the victim screaming for help for up to five minutes.
