By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government shutdown is quickly approaching the second longest on record with no end in sight. Some lawmakers are predicting it could become the longest, surpassing the 35 days from President Donald Trump’s first term.
The Alexandria Police Department is advising residents and visitors to plan for multiple events today that will affect traffic and access in Old Town and along the Route 1 corridor. At the same time, early voting continues for the November 4 general election.
A protest against President Trump’s policies will span much of the day, beginning with a demonstration along Route 1 in 90 minutes and continuing with an afternoon rally at Market Square. A City Council public hearing meeting and the weekly farmers’ market are also underway or starting soon.
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.
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 — Oct 17, 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:
Expect mostly cloudy skies to gradually clear up and bring sunshine with a high around 71 degrees. The calm wind will transition into a southerly breeze at 5 to 7 mph during the afternoon. As for Saturday night, it will be mostly clear and a low of approximately 55 degrees, accompanied by a southeast wind around 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
– Joshua J. Marine
We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!
Two Alexandria tourism organizations will receive a combined $35,000 in state matching grants as part of a statewide initiative to boost off-season travel, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday.
The grants, distributed through the Virginia Tourism Corporation, are among 104 awards totaling more than $627,000 given to local tourism programs across the Commonwealth. Local partners committed an additional $729,992 in matching funds, generating more than $1.3 million in new marketing initiatives that will benefit 624 tourism partners statewide.
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.
ALIVE! will host its 44th Annual StepALIVE! Walkathon on Sunday at George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave. The event aims to raise $100,000 for families facing food and housing insecurity.
Registration opens at 12:30 p.m., with the walk starting at 2 p.m. A celebration with music, prizes, and frozen custard from Goodies will follow.
It’s been quite a week, Alexandria. Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories.
The top story this week was on the resignation of all the commissioners overseeing the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board. The crisis began in August when ALXnow first reported that then-ARHA CEO Erik Johnson was living in an ARHA-managed public housing unit. The ARHA board published a statement acknowledging the situation, demanded that he vacate the property, and then terminated his employment in September. In a special meeting on Wednesday, the City Council appointed six new ARHA board members.
Yelyzaveta Pyvovarova is looking for happiness in her portraits. It’s a feeling she’s been trying to recapture in Alexandria since leaving Ukraine after the outbreak of the ongoing war with Russia.
Lyza, as she’s formally known, escaped from Oleksandriya, Ukraine, with her two daughters shortly after the war broke out, and moved to the Alexandria area of Fairfax County in July of 2022. Her husband later joined the family, and since then she launched her own portrait photography business and manages events for ALX Community in Old Town.
Political signs displayed in an artist’s studio window at the Torpedo Factory Art Center have drawn national attention on social media this week, sparking debate over free speech in city-owned facilities. Alexandria officials have not publicly stated whether they can take action on the controversial display.
UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: Artist M. Alexander Gray provided a statement to ALXnow defending his work and questioning the focus on his signs. Story updated below.
By MIKE CATALINI and OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Barack Obama has endorsed the Democratic candidates for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, seeking to boost Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger ahead of high-stakes elections next month.
