Lee Hernly, founder and editor of Port City Wire and its predecessor Red Brick Town, died earlier this week.
According to a Facebook post from his brother Jay Hernly, Lee died on Tuesday, July 26.
The 27-year-old suspect in the July 16 double homicide incident at the Assembly Alexandria apartment complex allegedly broke into the same complex three weeks prior, according to the Alexandria Police Department.
Francis Deonte Rose has only been charged with burglary for the June 25 incident, and has not been charged with the murders of construction workers Adrian Dejesus Rivera Guzman, 48, and 24-year-old Juan Carlos Anaya Hernandez.
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.
Kaiba‘s floppy ears are always on the move.
The curious two-year-old Australian cattle dog/shepherd mix is up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
Alexandria’s Connection to World’s Largest Aircraft — “Beneath a clear sky in mid-June, 1915, a newly built hydro-aeroplane’ named Clare slipped out of its shed on the foot of Duke street and into the Potomac River.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
It’s Thursday — Humid and mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 88 and low of 76. Sunrise at 6:07 am and sunset at 8:25 pm. [Weather.gov]
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.
While several neighbors along Polk Avenue shared thoughts on city plans to replace a stretch of parking with a sidewalk, there was no discussion from members of the Traffic and Parking Board before they unanimously approved the plan.
The city is planning to build a new sidewalk that connects two dead-end stretches of sidewalk that cut off abruptly into dense underbrush. The city said the sidewalk construction will help students in the neighborhood walk to Polk Elementary and Hammond Middle School.
Thinking of going into business in Alexandria?
The latest listings on BizBuySell show all kinds of companies for sale in the city.
Vola’s Dockside Grill is filing a permit to make its outdoor seating permanent, though the application also seemingly kills off any hope to see Riverside Taco return.
The application from Alexandria Restuarant Partners (ARP) includes details of a few changes at the area, including a proposal to take over management of some of the waterfront’s few public restrooms.
In the run up to this fall’s 27th annual Art On The Avenue festival in Del Ray, Dominion Energy is starting off with better footing than last year.
The power company just approved a $20,000 sponsorship to embellish the festival’s Kids Art Corner, a popular activity at the festival where more than a dozen nonprofits provide art activities for kids and families.
For a second year, the Robinson Landing development on the waterfront has announced a series of programs for late summer and early fall, from live music to amateur archeology.
The Owner’s Association for Robinson Landing (7 Pioneer Mill Way) announced a series programs yesterday and a new partnership with the Office of Historic Alexandria.