Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
🌧️ Today’s weather: There is a possibility of rain showers primarily after 9am, with mostly cloudy skies and a high temperature near 80°F. East winds will blow at 6 to 8 mph, and the chance of precipitation during the day is 40%. Monday night will also see a likelihood of showers, with a cloudy sky and a low temperature around 70°F. Winds will continue at 5 to 8 mph from the east, with a 50% chance of precipitation.
(Updated on 8/27/23) Alexandria police are on scene of multiple shootings in the city.
First, a man was shot in the Arlandria neighborhood around 7:45 p.m. Saturday. The shooting happened on the 3800 block of Florence Drive, in the parking lot of an apartment building, and was phoned in to 911 by a child caller, according to scanner traffic.
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 was a busy first week back at school in Alexandria.
The biggest tasks facing Alexandria City Public Schools leadership are combating absenteeism, closing the academic achievement gap, and addressing concerns about school safety. A new report to the School Board last night indicated that most students in Alexandria’s middle and high schools feel unsafe.
A report presented to the School Board last night (Thursday) highlighted safety concerns — but also said there are some positive signs for the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).
Clinton Page, chief of Accountability and Research, said that the report showed that while elementary school students have maintained a fairly high and steady feeling of safety, at the secondary levels — middle and high school — those have trended downward since 2020-2021.
It's that time again – The November 14 Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market!
Saturday, November 14
9am-2pm
Tonight, isolated severe thunderstorms are expected to roll through Alexandria, but the National Weather Service (NWS) said the real threat is severe winds.
Alexandria and much of the rest of the region have been placed on a hazardous warning outlook today (Friday).
Bobby Smith says he’s a new man. The inmate at Alexandria’s William G. Truesdale Detention Center has spent the last three years participating in the jail’s correctional education programs, and on Thursday he and about 50 other inmates received certificates of completion, rounds of applause and lunch.
“I’m a different man than I was when I arrived,” Smith told ALXnow. “I’ve taken every course that I can here — anger management, finance, fitness, conflict resolution.”
Lost Boy Cider (317 Hooffs Run Drive), just off the east end of Eisenhower Avenue, is partnering with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) for an event tomorrow that’s as much for dogs as for drinkers.
From 1-6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, the cidery will host Dog Days of Summer, an event full of dog-friendly activities and a chance to hang out with adoptable AWLA animals.
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: There is a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, gradually transitioning to mostly sunny conditions with a high near 88°F and a south wind of 7-9 mph during the day. On Friday night, there is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly before 9pm, followed by partly cloudy skies and a low around 73°F with light and variable winds. New rainfall amounts could range from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, with potentially higher amounts in thunderstorms.
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 (July 2023).
Most expensive townhouses sold
