The wait for early voting should be a little shorter next year.
The City of Alexandria is working to expand its Office of Voter Registration and Elections in Old Town (421 King Street) to accommodate a surge in early voting.
The Alexandria Police Department is investigating the theft of an ATM stolen from the 7-Eleven at 6120 Lincolnia Road in the West End early yesterday morning.
APD was notified of a hold-up alarm in the store at around 2:30 a.m. A store employee called police and said that four male suspects entered the store, that employees were told to keep their heads down, and that the suspect fled in a vehicle, according to the police scanner.
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 Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunshine and a high near 46, with calm winds picking up from the south at 5 to 9 mph during the morning. For Tuesday night, the sky will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to around 32. South winds of 5 to 7 mph will shift to the west after midnight.
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Virginia lawmakers are meeting today to consider a deal to bring the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Potomac Yard, the Washington Post first reported.
The teams could be moving to a new mixed-use facility in the Potomac Yard neighborhood, multiple officials involved with the proposal told the Post. A Virginia stadium authority would own the complex and lease it to Capitals and Wizards’ owner, Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
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It's that time again – The November 14 Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market!
Saturday, November 14
9am-2pm
Alexandria has been expanding some of its “no turn on red” restrictions this year and is now eyeing five intersections along Duke Street for new limits.
In a release, the City of Alexandria said the following intersections along Duke Street, between North Ripley Street and Jordan Street, are being considered for turn restrictions.
Alexandria City Public Schools has unveiled two new logos, both of which are getting skewered by parents on social media.
ACPS is asking students, families and staff to weigh in on the two options for “consideration in the superintendent’s final recommendation” by Dec. 18. Last year’s effort to redesign the logo were denied 7-2 by the School Board.
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(Updated 10 p.m.) The Alexandria Police Department is investigating two reports of gunshots over the weekend in the Seminary Valley neighborhood.
No injuries were reported from both incidents. The first occurred on Friday night (Dec. 8) at around 10:15 p.m. when an APD officer reported shots fired in the 5300 block of Taney Avenue. The officer chased two suspects on foot, but both eluded her by running through a neighborhood of townhomes, according to scanner traffic.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
🌧️ Today’s weather: Rain is expected mainly before 9am, followed by mostly cloudy skies that will gradually clear up, reaching a high near 43. The day will be breezy with a northwest wind of 16 to 21 mph and gusts up to 39 mph. Precipitation has a 60% chance with less than a tenth of an inch possible. For Monday night, expect clear skies, a low around 28, and a northwest wind of 5 to 10 mph that becomes light west after midnight.
It was another busy week in Alexandria.
The fallout of Wilson’s announcement that he would not run for reelection continues, with two City Council members — Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and Council member Alyia Gaskins — announcing their campaigns for mayor.