(Updated 7/18) School Board Chair Meagan Alderton was reelected back on Jan. 5, but seven months into a one-year term, the Chair and Vice-Chair positions are up for election again.
Earlier this year, the School Board voted to change the timetable for Board elections to July rather than at the first meeting of the year in January. The new election is scheduled for Thursday, July 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) central office (1340 Braddock Place).
Ever pulled into one of Old Town’s parking garages and been frustrated to find a sign saying the garage is full — or, worse, driven circles around the garage looking for a spot only to realize it’s full?
A solution could be on the way. A series of applications to the Board of Architectural Review for the Wednesday, July 19 meeting, indicate the city is looking at installing real-time parking availability signs.
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.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: The forecast predicts sunny conditions throughout the day with a high temperature of 92 degrees, with northwest winds of 6 mph shifting to southwest in the afternoon. As we move into Monday night, there’s a small chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, with the sky remaining partly cloudy. The temperature is expected to drop to a low of around 73 degrees with south winds of 3 to 6 mph. The possibility of precipitation stands at 20%.
After some weeks of busy policy discussions in city leadership, it was slower this week on that front, but the news keeps rolling regardless.
It’s been a busy week for businesses around Alexandria. Five Guys is preparing to move its HQ to Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood next week. Meanwhile, a new boba tea and Vietnamese spot is coming to Old Town.
Event location
Duvall House
305 Cameron Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Join George Washington at the beautiful, historic Duvall House—the site of his “coming home” celebration after the Revolutionary War! Libations and hearty hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $150 per person, with proceeds benefiting the 2027 George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria. Reserve your space at the event website, or email us at [email protected] if you prefer to pay at the door.
An “experimental” new bar called Dreampt is opening today above Del Ray Pizzeria (2216 Mount Vernon Avenue), Alexandria Living Magazine reported.
The new bar is a “magical new themed experience” with a focus on unique new cocktails. According to the website:
Alexandria School Board members spoke with leaders from nearby school districts on staggered terms and board sizes and the takeaway was: Alexandria’s School Board is too bloated and too prone to rapid turnover.
Last night, Alexandria’s School Board hosted a panel to discuss potentially staggering Alexandria’s election cycle and adjusting the size of the board. On the panel:
An Old Town cafe is celebrating Bastille Day with — in perfectly apocryphal fashion — free pastries for the masses.
Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. The people of Paris fought with the soldiers guarding the Bastille and seized the fortress, liberating the small number of prisoners left inside. It’s considered one of the igniting events of the French Revolution.
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
Today’s weather is mostly cloudy with a high of 88. There’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this morning up until 2 p.m., with showers likely after that. Tomorrow: chance of showers again. High near 92.
Here in Alexandria, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of the most and least expensive single-family homes sold last month (June 2023).
Most expensive single-family homes sold
