Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
⛅ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 52 and low of 41.
☔ Tomorrow: Light rain until evening. High of 52 and low of 38. Sunrise at 7:25 am and sunset at 5:14 pm.
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The massive Inova at Landmark project is headed to the Alexandria Planning Commission and City Council for final approval in March and the project could wrap by 2028.
The city released Inova’s development site use permit application last week and it includes new renderings for the 930,000-square-foot hospital campus. The Planning Commission’s public hearing on the project is on Tuesday, March 7, and the City Council public hearing will be held on Saturday, March 18.
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.
Marijuana was legalized in 2021, but Alexandria is hoping 2023 is the year the state finally settles the weird issues around selling weed.
Currently, it’s legal to possess small amounts of pot and grow them at home, but it’s still illegal to buy it commercially without a medical card.
It’s official: Tatte Bakery & Cafe is coming to 515 King Street in the heart of Old Town — pending the approval of a special use permit.
The plans to open in Old Town were first reported by the Washington Business Journal back in October, but applicant Tatte Holdings LLC just filed the permit to make it official.
Event location
Duvall House
305 Cameron Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
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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.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
🌤 Today’s weather: Clear throughout the day. High of 48 and low of 38.
☔ Tomorrow: Possible light rain in the afternoon. High of 49 and low of 37. Sunrise at 7:26 am and sunset at 5:12 pm.
This week, Alexandria streets were under the microscope as the city eyes changes both in their design and their names.
Five years after adopting Vision Zero, the city’ total number of crashes has continued to trend downward, but the number of crashes resulting in severe injuries or death has remained consistent.
While the city has had some success with pedestrian zones on King Street, city staff say less retail and sloping conditions could make it harder to add a similar zone along the 200 block.
Many residents have welcomed the pedestrian zones that the city added to the 100 and unit blocks of King Street, according to a survey. Motivated by this early support, Chris Ziemann, transportation division chief, said the city is focusing on improving the now-permanent pedestrian zones at the 100 block of King Street and the unit block — the block closest to the waterfront.
Meet the distinguished Kipper who is up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
This 9-year-old is a gray and white short-haired cat who enjoys napping. While a big fan of napping, when he’s awake you’ll have the privilege of seeing his brilliant, startling green eyes. And he also has amazingly soft fur, according to AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter.
Monte Durham says he’s ready to go back to television, but it could mean an end to his days cutting hair.
It’s been more than two years since Durham opened Salon Monte (210 S. Union Street), and during that time he’s worked to jumpstart a new show. Earlier plans to film a reality show in the salon didn’t pan out, he says, but that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing more opportunities.