News

An amendment to the Business Improvement District (BID) guidelines that could make it easier to pass is headed to City Council for review next week.

The idea behind a BID is that it would be an organization that could advocate and host programs and events that would draw people to the relevant area as well as providing other services.


News

Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend; enjoy! 

Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.


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Many people who look into estate planning ask, “What is the difference between wills and trusts?” While both wills and trusts deal with estate planning, they serve different purposes. In this post, the legal team of PJI Law, PLC, estate planning lawyers from Fairfax, VA, outline the key principles of wills, trusts, and their role in asset protection.

Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell

Here are the basic features of wills and trusts:

A Will

  • Only comes into effect once the will maker is deceased
  • States who will receive the decedent’s assets
  • Appoints an executor to carry out the decedent’s wishes
  • Is potentially contestable and must go through probate, a legal examination by the court

A Trust

  • Can take effect immediately after its creation
  • Allows a person or an institution (a “trustee”) to hold assets for beneficiaries
  • Can distribute property before or after the trustor’s passing
  • Can be irrevocable or revocable/changeable
  • Assets in trust generally avoid probate

While we recommend that everyone have at least a will (whether or not you also have a trust), trusts aren’t strictly necessary for all individuals. Trusts are particularly helpful for individuals who have assets that are potentially going through probate, own property across several states, or have minor children.

Wills: the Basics of Estate Planning

A will, also known as a last will and testament, is a legal document specifying how the will maker wishes to handle asset distribution and other affairs after their death. A will typically includes all of the principal’s assets, such as real estate, vehicles, and other property, and usually a list of debts. A will may also provide directions for a funeral or memorial service.

Usually, every will must go through a probate court before execution. In some states, it may be possible to avoid probate under specific conditions. Certain assets, such as insurance policies and retirement accounts, may, if planned properly, pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate. (more…)


News

Alexandria leaders will cut the ribbon on the Alexandria City High School’s five-story, $190 million Minnie Howard Campus next week.

The new 343,000-square foot facility at 3801 W. Braddock Road doubles the capacity of its 1950’s-era predecessor, and can hold 1,600 students. Construction started two years ago, and the new facility will open for students on the first day of the next school year, August 19, according to Alexandria City Public Schools.


News

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) is seeking help from the public finding the driver who fatally struck a 70-year-old-man on N. Jordan Street earlier this month.

Police say the hit-and-run incident took place on Thursday, May 9, but the victim, Alexandria-resident James Thomson, died on Saturday, May 18.


Event

Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


News

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect showers and thunderstorms primarily before 2pm, followed by possible showers and a thunderstorm after 5pm; mostly cloudy with a high near 84 and a west wind at 3-6 mph, 60% chance of precipitation and new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch. Thursday night, showers and possible thunderstorms before 8pm, then likely between 8pm and 11pm; mostly cloudy with a low around 66, southeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable, 70% chance of precipitation, and new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch.


News

After a rare dip during the pandemic, apartment rents in Alexandria have continued to increase dramatically over the last few years, increasing by 4.8% so far this year.

CoStar data on rents, made available by the City of Alexandria, showed the asking rent per unit has continually risen over the last decade aside from a fluke dip in 2020 due to the pandemic.


News

A 21-year-old man is being held without bond after allegedly shooting a man in the city’s Arlandria neighborhood on Sunday afternoon (May 19).

A man was shot in the left knee in the 3800 block of Executive Avenue at around 12:50 p.m., according to the Alexandria Police Department scanner. The victim and witnesses told police that the suspect lives nearby and fled into his apartment.


News

Del Ray restaurant Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie could be getting a significant expansion.

The restaurant sits at 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue right at the corner with East Del Ray Avenue, but the new application seeks permission to add 86 outdoor dining seats to the empty lot at 2207 Mount Vernon Avenue.