A long vacant Arlandria convenience store just landed Dollar Tree as a new tenant.
The former CVS at 3811 Mount Vernon Avenue did not renew its lease more than a decade ago, and the 11,300-square-foot property has been vacant ever since. Over the last several weeks, contractors have erected the Dollar Tree sign on the building and installed store fixtures.
Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: The weather forecast for Tuesday includes mostly sunny conditions with a high temperature around 84 degrees, accompanied by a north wind of 8 to 10 mph. As for Tuesday night, expect a mostly clear sky with a low temperature of approximately 64 degrees. The northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph will become calm after midnight.
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.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) has hit a record for the most adoptions in one day.
The local shelter at 4101 Eisenhower Avenue said that it hit the record with 22 animals adopted on Sunday, Aug. 20.
Alexandria’s Noah Lyles was crowned world’s fastest man after taking home the gold medal in the 100 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Lyles was emotional as he received his medal for running the race in 9.83 seconds, a personal best for the Olympic bronze medalist. Lyles also said that he’s been challenged since the Olympics, and that he had an empty feeling in the days since.
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!
First days back at school are always bumpy, but Alexandria City High School had a particularly rough start with an evacuation first thing in the morning.
Fortunately, the evacuation didn’t last long, but students and staff were outside of the building for around 25 minutes on their first day.
Mya Hall, a manager at Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar in Del Ray (1501 Mt Vernon Avenue) was killed Saturday morning in a single-vehicle crash on I-70 in Baltimore.
Hall, 28, leaves behind one son. Matt Sloan, owner of Matt & Tony’s, launched a GoFundMe to support Hall’s family. Sloan described Hall as a beloved friend who brightened everyone’s day with her smile and humor:
School is back in session, and this year Alexandria City Public Schools wants to make sure kids go to class.
That was the message from outside George Mason Elementary School (2601 Cameron Mills Road) this morning, where Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt and School Board Chair Michelle Rief joined teachers and staff in welcoming back students. Kay-Wyatt said her priorities this year are on improving the welcoming culture within ACPS, academic achievement and absenteeism.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: The upcoming forecast shows partly sunny weather with a high temperature close to 95 degrees. Expect a calm wind shifting to the north at around 6 mph during the morning hours. For Monday night, skies will be mostly cloudy and temperatures will drop to around 71 degrees, accompanied by a north wind ranging from 3 to 7 mph.
Still, at the risk of triggering Alexandria’s flood-afflicted residents: mid-August is the calm before the storm. School starts up again next week, with some students entering a brand new school and others warned to keep away from bad habits.
Alexandria’s boards and commissions start to kick things off again after a short break later this month, which is music to the ears of those scratching through dockets for crumbs. Some local businesses, like a new cafe in Old Town, are already waiting in the wings for approval for move forward this fall.
