One year after her race against incumbent Mayor Justin Wilson, Annetta Catchings has been elected chair of the Alexandria Republican City Committee (ARCC).
A release from ARCC noted that Catchings is the first black woman elected to the position in ARCC.
Pedestrian Dies After Hit-and-Run Crash — “Police say the woman was crossing just outside of a crosswalk in a dimly lit area when she was struck.” [WUSA9]
It’s Monday — Clear throughout the day. High of 82 and low of 66. Sunrise at 5:54 am and sunset at 8:36 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’s 273rd birthday celebration has been postponed due to rain to Sunday, July 10.
Visit Alexandria announced that inclement weather forced the fireworks show to be held off.
ALXnow had another slightly shortened week thanks to Fourth of July celebrations.
The big news this week is the GenOn Power Plant redevelopment plans moving forward despite pushback from local tenants and worker unions and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
**Sips & Shells: Holiday Oyster Shell Workshop at Hank's Oyster Bar**
Gather your girlfriends for a creative night out in Old Town Alexandria!
Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood celebrated red, white and blue on First Thursday (July 7).
The evening included live music at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square (at Oxford and Mount Vernon Avenues) with bands, cake pops and the annual Pork Barrel Watermelon Seed-Spitting Contest.
Here’s a look at some of the open houses taking place in Alexandria this weekend:
See all Alexandria open house listings here.
Earlier this week, Alexandria’s City Council approved two major steps forward for plans to redevelop an abandoned power plant at the north end of Old Town’s waterfront.
The project faced some pushback from tenants and worker unions and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), but ultimately the city voted to approve a master plan amendment for the site and a coordinated development district (CDD) to encompass the project. The master plan amendment was unanimously approved, but the CDD was approved in a 6-1 vote with Council Member Alyia Gaskins voting against it.
Want to go into business in Alexandria?
It can be easier to buy an existing business, and the latest listings on BizBuySell show all kinds of companies for sale in the city.
(Updated at 4 p.m. on July 9) Alexandria Police are investigating a shots fired incident in the Braddock neighborhood last night that left a man hospitalized.
The incident occurred sometime after 9 p.m. last night (Tuesday). Police said a man was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
