Here’s your complete rundown of all the festivities, events, live music, and entertainment happening this weekend in Alexandria; enjoy!
Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.
Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is offering its SoberRide program again this year to offer an alternative to drinking and driving.
Anyone in the region out late on New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day in need of a ride home can get one through the 2023 Holiday SoberRide program. The program runs from 10 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31 to 4 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1.
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.
It’s that time of year again.
This reporter is a sucker for “best of” lists. While this isn’t necessarily a “Best of”, ALXnow will take you on a tour of the most-read stories from this year, from major development news to one restaurant’s fight with a naked neighbor.
The Alexandria Police Department is looking for a 28-year-old man for allegedly striking his roommate in the head with a machete in an apartment in the city’s West End.
The suspect, Kory Anding, got into an argument with the victim in an apartment in the 5400 block of N. Morgan Street on Dec. 23. The suspect allegedly struck the victim with a machete at around 11 p.m., and the victim suffered a serious but non-life threatening injury, according to APD.
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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 Thursday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: Patchy fog is expected to clear by 10am, giving way to partly sunny skies and a high temperature near 59°F, accompanied by a northwest wind at 7 mph. Thursday night sees a 30% chance of rain after 1am, with mostly cloudy conditions and a low temperature around 43°F. Northwest winds will be mild, at 3 to 5 mph.
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A man was shot in the leg in the bathroom of a McDonald’s in the Landmark area of Alexandria, and the Alexandria Police Department (APD) is on a manhunt for the suspect.
APD was notified of a fight in the restaurant when two holdup alarms were activated at around 6:15 p.m., according to the police scanner. Police say that the suspect and the victim know each other.
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(Updated 5:25 p.m.) The owner of an aging office building in Old Town North wants it converted into a 136-unit apartment building, and credits the decision to the “ongoing and diminished office market and current high vacancy rate.”
The five-story, 112,000-square-foot office building was built in 1983. It’s owned by Principal Life Insurance Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, and managed by PF III Abingdon LLC, an affiliate of the D.C.-based real estate investment firm the Pinkard Group.
The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) released a summary of an economic impact report for the new Potomac Yard arena, but so far, much of the online reception has been skeptical.
AEDP hired HR&A Advisors to write an economic impact report in June. The full report has not been released, but AEDP released a summary of the report last week.
Early voting is underway for a School Board District A special election following School Board Member Willie Bailey’s abrupt resignation.
The election sees real estate agent and former Parks and Recreation commissioner Gina Baum square off against Tim Beaty, an Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) substitute teacher and former Global Strategies Director at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.