Fragrance boutique Arielle Shoshana is planning to open across the street from City Hall in Old Town in November.
The company planned to open at 313 Cameron Street over the summer, and has a sign on the door with a QR code. The code leads to the company website with the message, “After 10 years as D.C/’s first niche fragrance boutique, Arielle Shoshana is bringing out curated collection of exceptional, exclusive fragrances to Cameron Street!”
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer on Friday released a webpage with resources for federal workers and contractors affected by the partial government shutdown that began this week.
Beyer represents Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Alexandria and has one of the highest concentrations of federal employees and contractors in the nation. More than 72,000 of his constituents work directly for the federal government, with thousands more employed as government contractors.
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.
By STEPHEN GROVES, MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown faded Friday as Democrats refused to budge in a Senate vote and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government.
Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.
ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.
**Sips & Shells: Holiday Oyster Shell Workshop at Hank's Oyster Bar**
Gather your girlfriends for a creative night out in Old Town Alexandria!
The city has mailed second-half 2025 real estate tax bills to property owners and mortgage companies, with payment due Monday, November 17, the city announced Friday.
The 2025 real estate tax rate for the calendar year is $1.135 per $100 of assessed value.
Biscoff is living up to his cookie-inspired name — he’s sweet, he’s a crowd-pleaser, and he’s impossible not to love.
The 3-year-old large breed dog at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) is eager to find a home where he can enjoy all the best parts of fall in Alexandria, from crunching through leaf piles to going on long neighborhood walks.
HRP Group will welcome 200 visitors during sold-out public tours of the former Potomac River Generating Station site this weekend, providing residents with a firsthand look at the 18.8-acre property before it is transformed into a mixed-use waterfront community.
The tours, held on Friday and Saturday, marked the latest community engagement effort as the developer pursues final approvals for the first phase of construction. HRP Group expects to begin demolishing the defunct coal-fired power plant in 2027, with the first residential buildings scheduled to open by 2029 or 2030.
CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union will cut the ribbon on its newest location in Alexandria on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
The ribbon cutting will be held at 4557 Duke Street (in the Shoppes at Foxchase) from 4 to 5 p.m., and include the credit union’s CEO Frank Wasson, elected officials and representatives from the Chamber ALX. The event will be followed with a reception, and door prizes will be handed out.
It’s time to say “nevermore” again, because Edgar Allan Poe actor David Keltz is returning to Alexandria’s Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) Oct. 29 and 30.
Keltz will recreate Poe’s visit to the city before he died in 1849. The program will include recitations of Poe’s poems “The Raven” and “El Dorado,” as well as two chilling stories, according to the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA). The actor has been performing as Poe since 1991.
