(Updated at 10:40 a.m.) Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with patchy fog clearing by 9am. Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 89°F, with calm winds turning south at 5-7 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday night, there’s a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, followed by partly cloudy skies, a low of 68°F, and calm east winds at 6 mph.
The Alexandria Black History Museum closed yesterday (Sunday) for nearly three weeks for interior renovations to ward off mold and water damage.
The city announced the temporary closure, through Aug. 10, in a release on Friday.
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.
Ten months after Alexandria’s City Council struck down an appeal from neighbors to prevent a sidewalk from being built on Polk Avenue, construction on the sidewalk is now underway.
The project would add a sidewalk to the north side of the street — with the goal of helping students in the neighborhood walk to the nearby Polk Elementary and Hammond Middle School.
(Update at 11:10 p.m.) A man who was hospitalized after a shooting in Arlandria has died, according to police.
Alexandria police identified the victim as 29-year-old Eric Holmes Jr. and asked the public for tips.
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.
Alexandria’s garages aren’t the only parking tool getting an overhaul.
A report for a meeting of the Traffic and Parking Board later today (Monday) said the city is working through a replacement of the city’s parking meters.
Alexandria hopes to award construction contracts before the end of the year for the long-awaited Del Ray Gateway project.
The finished product, which includes an interactive spray park and new public art, is expected to begin this year and wrap in 2024. Still, there is currently no specified date for when construction will begin, according to the city.
🌦️ Today’s weather: Rainy conditions will last all morning with the possibility of a thunderstorm after 9 a.m., with a predicted quarter to half-inch of rainfall. The sun will eventually break through patchy, mid-morning fog with temperatures reaching a high near 85. Rainy weather could start up again this evening with fog setting in around 5 a.m. tomorrow. After another rainy day Tuesday, prepare for sunny and hot temperatures reaching up to 99 degrees later this week. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has these tips for beating heat exhaustion.
(Updated at 9:10 a.m.) In case you missed it, on Saturday, someone was shot multiple times in an alley several blocks east of the Braddock Metro station, ALXnow and other outlets reported.
One person is fighting for his life after being shot in an alley, several blocks east of the Braddock Metro station.
The shooting happened around 2:30 p.m., in the alley along the 800 block of N. Henry Street. Initial reports suggest that the victim was shot multiple times, including in the head, by two suspects who were wearing hoodies and ski masks.
ALXnow’s had some pretty busy weeks this year, but this week was a little slow.
Still, there was interesting news about locations around town that might become tourist destinations. First was the reveal that Landmark Mall plans included an ice skating rink, then that the Art League might have a new home on Slaters Lane.
