Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. resigned abruptly on Friday morning (June 10).
Hutchings’ resignation comes after a tumultuous few weeks for the school division, following a closed-door session asking the School Board to not talk with the media and about the fatal stabbing death of a student.
Drivers along Duke Street in the West End should expect lane closures starting tonight and continuing intermittently through Friday, June 24.
The closures are connected to work on the Duke Street bridge over I-395 near Lincolnia. Planned improvements for the bridge include replacing the concrete bridge deck and beams, upgrading the westbound sidewalk to a shared-use path and widening the eastbound sidewalk.
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.
Victorian townhouse in Old Town for sale — “One of the “Four Sisters” Victorian townhouses is listed for sale in Old Town Alexandria…” [Patch]
It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 79 and low of 62. Sunrise at 5:44 am and sunset at 8:35 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated 6/14) A pair of new affordable housing projects are headed to the City Council for financing.
Both of the new developments will have just under 100 units; all locked in at various levels of affordability.
Explore preschool & kindergarten options in Alexandria! Meet schools, ask questions & find the best match for your child’s early education.
Welcome to the Alexandria Preschool and Kindergarten Fair! Join us for a fun-filled event where parents can explore various preschool and kindergarten options for their little ones. Meet with representatives from different schools, ask questions, and gather information to make the best choice for your child's education. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the perfect match for your family! The fair is free to attend but advance registration is encouraged.
Updated at 5:30 p.m. On April 19, at 6:30 p.m., a social worker at Inova Fairfax Hospital contacted the Child Protective Services hotline.
The social worker reported that a three-year-old girl was overdosing and was brought to the hospital emergency room by her mother in a Lyft transport, according to a police search warrant affidavit.
If you’ve been grumbling about potholes in Alexandria’s northern neighborhoods, there’s good news: relief is on the way.
The City of Alexandria released the lineup for upcoming street repaving and the list of prioritized streets is a whose-who of northern Alexandria residential avenues.
Updated at 4 p.m. A 29-year-old man was seriously injured after being shot in the Braddock area on Thursday night.
Police responded to the incident in the 700 block of North Fayette Street at 12:36 a.m., and it was reported by Alexandria Police via Twitter at 1:23 a.m.
Nobody is quite sure why, but Lars has lived at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria for a while without being adopted.
The two-year-old male gray and while domestic short-haired cat has been staying with a foster family lately.
(Updated 7:45 a.m.) Alexandria serial killer case featured in true crime show — “When an Alexandria, Virginia man was murdered in 2013, police noticed an eerie similarity between his death and a crime that happened a decade before.” [Investigation Discovery]
It’s Thursday — Possible light rain in the morning. High of 78 and low of 70. Sunrise at 5:44 am and sunset at 8:34 pm. [Weather.gov]
