A popular El Salvadoran restaurant has moved around the corner in Arlandria.
Last Friday, El Cuscatleco Restaurant held a packed grand opening at their new 3,359-square-foot location at 3819 Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray North shopping center. The restaurant/dance club was forced to move from their longtime home at 251 W. Glebe Road since Housing Alexandria is turning the property into a massive affordable apartment building.
(Updated 8/24) A group of adventurers slowly entered a dimly lit tavern with a locked cage at the center of the room. The commoners of the town, including the party cleric’s brother, were locked in that cage.
As the group filed in, suddenly from out of the shadows, things began to crawl forward. As the group of children at the Alexandria Library listened eagerly to Dungeon Master Aly Ahn describe what was lurking in the shadows, one of them hopefully suggested “Kittens?”
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 still August, but for those looking to plan ahead for spooky season, tickets are on sale this week for a can’t-miss Alexandria Halloween experience.
Edgar Allan Poe reenactor David Keltz is returning to The Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) for a performance of Poe’s works. It’s an annual event and tickets are limited.
The Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia (SONOVA) just hired a new conductor and he wants to connect to younger audiences.
Ethan Lolley recently started work as SONOVA’s new conductor, and the upcoming season will focus on seasonal and holiday themes. The group of 60 musicians plays four seasonal concerts at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (101 Callahan Drive) every year.
Join us for an evening of made-up-on-the-spot improv comedy! We'll be calling on you to give us suggestions for a totally unique show that'll never be seen again!
Show is 18+ recommended. We perform free shows for the Alexandria, VA and surrounding community. Donations help us rent space, supply drinks, and defray other costs!
Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Expect a sunny day with a high temperature near 84 degrees accompanied by light and variable wind. In the evening, anticipate increasing cloud coverage and a low around 68 degrees, with a southeast wind ranging from 6 to 8 mph.
A local show celebrating classic cars is making a comeback in Alexandria next month.
The Classic Car Show is back on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) in Old Town. The focus of the show is cars that are no longer manufactured.
There were no injuries, but also no arrests, after two shots fired incidents this past weekend around Alexandria.
The first was on the 4700 block of Kenmore Avenue, just across from Francis C. Hammond Middle School in the West End early Saturday morning.
The 7-Eleven at 1025 W. Glebe Road is no longer open 24 hours a day.
A rash of overnight robberies prompted store management to close the store from 12 to 4 a.m. last month.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced yesterday that Virginia Tech students at the new Potomac Yard-adjacent campus will get unlimited metro trips at a significant discount.
WMATA said Virginia Tech is being added to the transit network’s “U-Pass Program.” The program is included in the cost of attendance at schools for around $1 per day.
