If you have a kid with a knack for Legos, or you’re an age 6-12 Alexandrian who pays unusually close attention to local news sites: there’s a Lego competition planned today at the library in Del Ray.
The competition emphasizes teamwork, creativity, and skills with using plastic bricks to make something new.
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect patchy fog to clear by 9am, giving way to partly sunny skies and a high near 69. Southerly wind speeds range from 5 to 11 mph and may gust up to 20 mph. Friday night brings a slight chance of showers and mostly cloudy conditions, with a low around 52. Winds will slow to around 6 mph, becoming light and variable. Precipitation chances stand at 20%.
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.
Here in Alexandria, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of the most and least expensive townhouses sold last month (October 2023).
Most expensive townhouses sold
A robbery was reported at the Tobacco Hut (3500 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Arlandria.
Robbers in black puffy jackets and ski masks reportedly took around $400 from the store and implied that they had weapons, according to the police scanner.
It's that time again – The November 14 Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market!
Saturday, November 14
9am-2pm
While the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) is going into excruciating detail to restore the Freedom House museum‘s exterior to its pre-Civil War appearance, city leaders are unsure if a sign advertising the sale of slaves might take that too far.
Today, the Freedom House Museum is a city-owned museum dedicated to telling the stories of the Black men, women and children trafficked through the building between 1828 and 1861.
On tap this weekend – Old Town Cookie Crawl, Ice & Lights, Alexandria Cider Festival, the City of Alexandria’s Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, and more. Get your full rundown of all that’s happening for events, live music, and entertainment this weekend in Alexandria below, enjoy!
Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.
Once again, suspected car thieves have eluded Alexandria police by driving across state lines into Maryland.
At around 10:45 a.m., the Alexandria Police Department discovered a stolen red Kia Sorrento with D.C. tags in the area of Duke Street and Callahan Drive in the Carlyle neighborhood of the city, according to the police scanner. APD reported multiple suspects inside the vehicle.
Are you a chill, laid back type of person? Are you looking for a companion of the furry nature?
Meet Oscar, a 7-year-old black and white dog up for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. This gentle giant is ready for his forever home!
With food insecurity in more than 30% of Alexandria households, the city wants feedback on food access for its residents.
In a new survey, the city’s Department of Community and Human Services is working with a consulting firm to get the latest on food access for residents. The effort is part of an effort to develop a citywide food security strategic plan.
