(Updated 10:15 a.m.) One month after the Alexandria Library was crippled due to a “data incident,” the library is still recovering services and won’t say more about what caused the outage.
For weeks in early July, many of the library network’s digital services were completely inaccessible, including audiobooks, wifi and signing up for a library card.
Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: The weather forecast predicts mostly sunny conditions with a high temperature near 87°F, accompanied by a west wind at 5 to 10 mph. By Wednesday night, the sky turns mostly cloudy and the temperature drops to around 69°F. The southwest wind at 6 mph will become calm in the evening.
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.
Feeling grimy? A new soap shop is holding its grand opening in Old Town on Saturday.
White Lily Shoppe, now at 101 S. Saint Asaph Street, first launched in 2019 as a “one-woman Etsy shop for brides,” founder Bianca Del Cid wrote on her website. The shop makes and sells small batches of vegan and cruelty free soaps, bath bombs, body scrubs and sea salts,
(Updated 8/9) The Alexandria Police Department said one person has been injured in an officer-involved shooting on the 3500 block of Richmond Highway in Potomac Yard.
“There is a moderate police presence in and around the 3500 block of Richmond Highway in response to a federal law enforcement officer-involved shooting,” police said on social media. “One person was injured. APD is on scene.”
Explore preschool & kindergarten options in Alexandria! Meet schools, ask questions & find the best match for your child’s early education.
Welcome to the Alexandria Preschool and Kindergarten Fair! Join us for a fun-filled event where parents can explore various preschool and kindergarten options for their little ones. Meet with representatives from different schools, ask questions, and gather information to make the best choice for your child's education. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the perfect match for your family! The fair is free to attend but advance registration is encouraged.
Musical duo The Bacon Brothers, consisting of Michael and Kevin Bacon, are coming to the Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mount Vernon Avenue) again this fall.
The two initial nights, Oct. 7 and 8, have already sold out. A third night on Monday, Oct. 9, was added and — as of 1 p.m. on Aug. 8 — tickets were still available.
One month after Nasrat Ahmad Yar’s murder in D.C., the family said the GoFundMe has helped them stay in their home.
Yar worked as an interpreter for U.S. Army Special Forces in Afghanistan before moving to the United States with his family after the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021. Yar lived in Alexandria and worked as a tow truck driver and rideshare driver to support his family.
After years of battling between residents at Southern Towers and building management, a program next week aims to help renters get a better understanding of their rights.
The Tenant’s Rights workshop, presented by Mary Horner of Legal Services of Northern Virginia, is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 17, at 1 p.m. at the Workforce Development Center (4850 Mark Center Drive).
Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: The weather forecast for Tuesday is mostly sunny with a high temperature of around 84 degrees, accompanied by a breezy west wind blowing at 14 to 20 mph, and gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature of about 67 degrees, and a west wind blowing at 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Update at 6:10 p.m. — There are several outages reported around Alexandria due to the storm with around 2,000 total customers affected around the city. The largest outages are currently in the Lincolnia/Landmark areas.
The much-discussed storm has finally hit Alexandria.
