News

There are only 40 days left until the June 17 Democratic primary for Virginia lieutenant governor and attorney general, and early votes are trickling in in Alexandria.

Early voting started on May 2, and 7,309 mail-in ballots were sent to early voters, according Alexandria’s election dashboard. So far, 71 Alexandria residents have cast in-person ballots, and 19 have returned mail-in ballots.


Around Town

This weekend, May 9 to May 11, Alexandria offers a diverse lineup of activities, from outdoor festivals and farmers’ markets to an abundance of live music performances.

Residents and visitors can enjoy unique experiences like “Cocktails by Candlelight,” tarot readings, and various craft workshops. Sunday is also Mother’s Day, with several events specifically tailored to celebrate moms, including special markets, teas, and concerts.


Sponsored

Among the movers serving Alexandria, VA, 495 Movers stands out for a simple reason: its local hourly rate includes packing materials, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and protection for floors, walls, and elevators. The company has been in business since 2009 and has completed more than 20,000 moves, a number that keeps climbing.

Anyone who has hired movers in the DC area knows the familiar pattern. A low hourly rate wins the call. Then the invoice arrives with a charge for boxes, a charge for taking the bed apart, a fee for the stairs, and another for the elevator. By the end, the number on the bill has little to do with the number in the ad. 495 Movers was built to avoid that.

495 Movers at a glance

  • In business since: 2009 (17 years)
  • Moves completed: more than 20,000, local and long-distance
  • Licensed in: Virginia
  • Serves: Alexandria and the rest of the DMV
  • Local hourly rate includes: packing materials, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and home protection on every move
  • No separate fees for: stairs or elevators
  • Also offers: junk removal, custom crating, and self-storage
  • Reputation: 4.7 stars across nearly 1,000 Google reviews

Who is 495 Movers?

495 Movers is a full-service moving company serving Alexandria and the rest of the DMV, founded in 2009 by people who had worked as movers for several other companies first. They wanted to do it differently.

“We wanted to take a different approach, offering a simple, honest, and transparent approach for the customer,” said Moti Kachlon, co-owner at 495 Movers. For local moves, that meant building the most common extras into the hourly rate. Seventeen years and more than 20,000 moves later, the company is still growing.

What makes moving in Alexandria different?

Alexandria is a hard place to move. A truck on an Old Town block gets watched by neighbors, property managers, and a family wondering whether the sofa will make the turn on a staircase built long before sofas got this big.

Old Town’s rowhouses have narrow staircases and tight turns, which is why large furniture often has to come apart to get out. Del Ray’s bungalows and rowhouses have basements that hold more than anyone remembers. And condo and apartment buildings in Carlyle, Potomac Yard, and the West End often require movers to carry a certificate of insurance and book the elevator, with building managers who care a great deal about scuffed hallways. The street adds its own complications, from cobblestones to limited curb space.

That’s the context for how 495 Movers prices its work.

What does 495 Movers include in its hourly rate?

For local moves, the rate covers four things that many movers bill separately:

  • Packing materials. Boxes, tape, paper, and wrap are provided at no additional cost, whether a move needs a few or a few hundred.
  • Furniture disassembly and reassembly. Beds, tables, desks, sectionals, and wardrobes are taken apart, moved, and put back together at the new home. In an Old Town rowhouse, that’s often the only way a dresser gets down the stairs.

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News

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber ALX) has unveiled its 2025 40 Under 40 list, spotlighting young professionals who are making waves across various sectors.

The Chamber ALX has released the names of 40 individuals under 40 who’ve made their mark in business, tech, nonprofits, civic engagement, public service, education, and the arts.


Opinion

The ALXnow Press Club, which kicked off in March, is seeing a surge in membership and offering more ways for people to get involved.

Nearly 100 founding members have already joined, allowing Alexandria residents to back independent journalism while getting special perks and content.


Event

Join us for our second annual CatRad Halloween Eve! A night of ghoulish fun, spooky treats, and a wicked good time!

It's time for CatRads 2nd Annual Halloween Eve! Join us at St. Elmo's Old Town North for an evening of Halloween fun. Join us for:


News

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Sunny during the morning, then cloudy during the afternoon, with a high near 80 degrees. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 30%. A chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 p.m. Low around 58 degrees.  The chance of precipitation is 80%.


News

Better get the Slip ‘N Slide out of storage, because this year’s Alexandria City High School seniors are getting their diplomas a week early.

The commencement ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 28, at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena, instead of on the first Saturday in June. Here’s why.


Opinion

As the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) redistricting process nears its final stages, members of the ACPS Strategy and Accountability Committee: Kelly Carmichael Booz (District B), Christopher Harris (District C), and Ryan Reyna (District A), are providing an update on their progress, detailing how community feedback has been instrumental in refining new boundary proposals and shaping key policy decisions.

While acknowledging the complexities and tough trade-offs involved, the update emphasizes a more straightforward path forward to strengthen the school system with students at the center of every decision.


Around Town

Coffee lovers in Alexandria have a new spot to get their caffeine fix. Café Du Soleil has just opened its second location in the heart of Old Town.

The new café is located at 720 Jefferson Street and is ready to serve your favorite brews and bites. The new location is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.