Twelve hours after a pedestrian was struck by a driver in the Landmark neighborhood, a crash between the drivers of a Ford Explorer and a motorcycle left the biker with life-threatening injuries.
The second crash occurred at the intersection of West Braddock Road and High Street near the Rosemont neighborhood.
Virginia Police Departments Offering More Signing Bonuses to Attract Recruits — “Alexandria Police just posted new information that they are offering an up to $5,000 signing bonus for new officers.” [ABC7]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 54 and low of 41. Sunrise at 7:22 am and sunset at 6:27 pm. [Weather.gov]
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.
Alexandria Hyundai‘s special use permit has been extended to 2045 — with conditions.
After nearly three hours of deliberation on Saturday (October 15), City Council approved three special use permit requests to allow the dealership to continue operating until 2045, with the caveat that Council will take another look in 2040 at the permit for a service and storage parking lot.
(Updated 2:55 p.m.) Short staffing reportedly led to a fire engine serving parts of the Rosemont and Carlyle neighborhoods — along with parts of Del Ray and Old Town — due to a staffing shortage.
IAFF Local 2141, which has been battling with the City of Alexandria for months over staffing issues, has repeatedly cited engine shutdowns due to staffing shortages as an example of the impact caused by short staffing.
**Sips & Shells: Holiday Oyster Shell Workshop at Hank's Oyster Bar**
Gather your girlfriends for a creative night out in Old Town Alexandria!
The leaves are turning around Alexandria, which for those in the city with yards means it’s leaf collection season.
“The City of Alexandria will begin its annual leaf vacuuming and leaf bag collection program on Monday, October 31,” the city said in a release. “Leaf collection is expected to continue into January.”
There were no injuries after shots were fired in the West End on Sunday night (October 16).
Police reported the incident at 8:35 p.m. in the 4100 block of Duke Street.
A pedestrian has been transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a driver on Van Dorn Street this morning.
Alexandria Police spokesman Marcel Bassett said around 6:36 a.m. the police received a call about a woman struck by a car. The woman was transported to a hospital while the driver remained on the scene.
75-Year-Old Alexandria Man Dies From Motorcycle Crash Injuries — “An Alexandria man died Thursday from injuries he received in an Oct. 3 motorcycle crash in the Groveton part of Fairfax County, police said.” [Patch]
It’s Monday — Possible light rain in the morning. High of 66 and low of 54. Sunrise at 7:21 am and sunset at 6:29 pm. [Weather.gov]
Why don’t you tell us how you really feel?
This week’s top story was our poll on Alexandria’s new speed cameras. About 54% (406 voters) responded that adding speed cameras to school zones is a good idea, while 38% (289 voters) are against them and 8% (57 voters) are indifferent.
