From the Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale to The U.S. Army String Quartet at The Lyceum , there’s a wide variety of events (and something for everyone) happening in Alexandria this weekend.
Organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.
Alexandria has seen an increase in neglected animal seizures over the last few years, including animals rescued from hoarding situations and one confiscated alligator.
This year, 11 animals have been legally seized due to animal cruelty/neglect investigations, versus two animals seized in 2022 and eight in 2021, according to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (4101 Eisenhower Avenue).
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 Alexandria Times reported that DC Poultry Market, the controversial halal meat market at 3225 Colvin Street, was cited with a warning for selling rabbits.
DC Poultry Market’s special use permit was approved back in 2019 in a 5-2 vote, but part of that permit stated that the butchery could only keep live poultry at their facility.
The Appalachian Mountains never touch Mexico, but a concert tomorrow at Alexandria’s Beatley Central Library (5005 Duke Street) will manage the geographically impossible and bring them together.
The musical group Lua Project combines musical styles from Chattanooga to Veracruz, with a narrative storytelling approach similar to the Scotch-Irish style prevalent in Appalachian music but with instrumentation and musical traditions from Mexico.
Event location
Woodson High School
9525 Main Street
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
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Northern Virginia Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and support our upcoming World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims.
World Day of Remembrance is an annual event where we honor those whose lives were prematurely ended after being struck by a person driving. This year is particularly painful and sad as we think about the recent death of a 13-year-old Frost middle school student who was struck and killed by a person driving a truck on Pickett Road. We will also honor the nearly 30 other people (as of today’s date) who have been killed on Northern Virginia streets while, walking, biking, or rolling since last year’s day of remembrance.
Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!
🌧️ Today’s weather: Expect intermittent showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with a 70% chance of precipitation and possible rainfall amounts between a quarter to half an inch. Temperatures will reach a high near 79, accompanied by a south wind of 5-15 mph with gusts up to 22 mph. Conditions will improve Thursday night with a 30% chance of precipitation, mostly before 8pm, followed by clearing skies and a low around 67 with a west wind of 6-10 mph.
A new report on the city’s Floodplain Management Plan offers a look at what’s ahead for flood mitigation projects around the city.
Two items in the report highlight progress on flood mitigation along the waterfront. Two parts of the mitigation plan are re-grading sections of lower King Street and nearby streets to improve drainage and minimize flooding and the construction of an elevated walkway along the waterfront.
More than 700 new backpacks will be handed out on Saturday afternoon at John Adams Elementary School (5651 Rayburn Avenue).
Alexandria law firm Blaszkow Legal, PLLC, is sponsoring the giveaway, which includes other school items and will be held from noon to 2 p.m.
For a while, back when the pandemic had just gotten started, there was a rush on bikes.
In case you were one of those who didn’t get your bike at that time, here’s a new opportunity: the Velocity Bicycle Co-op (2111 Mount Vernon Avenue) is hosting one of its monthly sales next weekend.
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Helenia Bragg had few options.
After getting arrested last year in her Old Town home for possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs, the Alexandria native faced a minimum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Bragg previously spent the greater part of 20 years incarcerated for three possession charges, and had been clean and sober for eight years before falling off the wagon.