ALXnow has grown significantly in the last year, but we want to do even more to serve the Alexandria community.
That’s why we’re again conducting out annual reader survey. Your feedback will set the stage for everything we do over the next 12 months, including adjustments to our news coverage mix and the addition of new site features.
St. Elmo’s opening third coffee shop — “St. Elmo’s awnings are up in Fairlington.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
ParcView II development draws support from Planning Commission, concern from neighbors — “Another controversial project that has raised concerns about density, parking and safety, but which would considerably boost Alexandria’s supply of affordable housing, will come before City Council at Saturday’s public hearing.” [Alexandria Times]
Alexandria already feels like home. It’s the trails you walk, the restaurants you return to, and the easy reach of D.C. that make it all work. The question is whether your home feels as right as the city around it. For those who love Alexandria but want more space, more privacy, and more choice, Van Metre at Banner Heights offers a new opportunity to have it all, just minutes from I-495, I-95, and Old Town Alexandria.
Every Van Metre homesite at Banner Heights has a backyard that doesn’t face into another homesite, so the space behind your home is entirely yours, and a deck or covered terrace makes it the spot for a quiet morning or a long evening with friends. Four levels offer up to five bedrooms and an optional elevator. From there, 20+ personalization options let you decide the rest: add a bedroom on the lower or fourth levels, a great room fireplace with ceramic detailing, or a wet or dry bar, plus upgraded flooring and packages for electrical, tech, and comfort.
With more than 70 years of building across Northern Virginia, Van Metre designs homes around the way people live. At Banner Heights, that means the T-27 townhome plan with 3-5 bedrooms, 3-4 full and 1-2 half baths, 3,014+ square feet, a 2-car garage, and 20+ personalization options, starting from the $1.25Ms.*
Van Metre at Banner Heights is now open for Early Access, giving interested buyers the chance to purchase before our grand opening, when initial homesites deliver.
*Pricing, offers, and availability are subject to change without notice. Some images and renderings may represent a similar home or may have been created or edited using artificial intelligence (AI), and may depict design elements, furnishings, finishes, landscaping, views, or other features that are not included in the home or may not be available. Please see a Van Metre New Home Advisor for details.
Other than the stabbing, this week was relatively sedate — especially compared to last week.
With the drama behind Governor Youngkin’s recent visit mostly in the rearview mirror, the city’s been getting to the internal business of budget issues. Residential property assessments are up and hotel revenue down, not to mention an election safely behind a new Council, but remains to be seen whether the city will see a tax rate increase.
Revolutionary Fitness, the strength and longevity training studio for people over 50 at 215 N. Payne St., is opening 5 spots in its members-only year-end challenge.
Every year, the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year’s knocks people off track. Workouts get skipped, schedules fill up, and the plan becomes “I’ll start in January.”
The thoughtful dining experiences have paid off. Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap was awarded the Heart of Del Ray award on Friday (Feb. 11), beating out four other local businesses.
More than 1,000 voters cast ballots for the spot that captured the heart of the community. The Del Ray Business Association presented the restaurant with a large heart-shaped award on Friday morning — just in time for Valentine’s Day on Monday, Feb. 14.
StoryWorx: Workhouse's First Ever FREE Book Festival
Sat, Nov 14 | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Lorton, VA
Meet bestselling authors Angie Kim (Happiness Falls), 4× NFL Pro Bowler Ken Harvey (first-ever dramatic reading), and Emmy-winning WUSA9 anchor Wisdom Martin, plus Marcie Atkins, Omar Abed, Ellen R.B. Smith, and more for panels, signings, poetry, and workshops. Kids' Corner features author readings, crafts, and storytime. Browse the artisan market, catch a live Upstart Crow podcast, and explore the Workhouse galleries and artist studios—all part of Second Saturday.
After being canceled last month due to weather and rising Covid numbers, the monthly Del Ray Vintage Flea Market is back this Saturday.
Looking for Valentine’s Day-inspired gifts? The market will feature more than 50 vendors and be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of 1900 Mt. Vernon Avenue and the back parking lot of the Salvation Army Corps building.
The Alexandria Library is hosting an art contest for Alexandria teens and the deadline is early next week.
The Teen Winter Creativity Contest is open to all local writers, visual artists and photographers in grades 6 through 12. Entries must be received by the Alexandria Library by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 15). The entry forms are available at the bottom of the contest page and only one entry is permitted per student in each category.
Community conversations about the future of the shuttered GenOn plant in Old Town North continue with another community meeting later this month.
A virtual community meeting on the future of the plant will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m.
Freedom House Museum aims to reopen in April — “With its purchase of Freedom House several years ago, the City of Alexandria took tangible steps to ensure that its African American history is not forgotten. Now, following a long closure due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and several renovations, the Freedom House Museum is getting ready to reopen its doors.” [Alexandria Times]
Lee-Fendall House names new executive director — “Amanda Roper takes the reins at the historic property and museum in Old Town.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
(Updated at 11 a.m.) West End residents are fuming over Wesley Housing’s plan to expand a 14-story 1970s-era apartment building into a three-building affordable apartment complex. Plans for the ParcView II complex at 5380 Holmes Run Parkway would add hundreds of affordable units to Alexandria’s West End, and City Council will consider them on Saturday (Feb. 12).
Wesley Housing owns the property and is managing its redevelopment, and wants to redevelop the 14-story building with 146 affordable units and build two new nine-story apartment buildings with 227 affordable units on a three acre lot.
Dear Members:
Following the 2026 NAACP Election Procedures, the Alexandria Branch of the NAACP held a General Membership meeting on Thursday October 22, 2026. The purpose of the meeting (in part) was to select candidates for branch officers including President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary and at-large members of the Executive Committee positions.
