art | ALXnow - Part 4

Virginia Theological Seminary to break ground on memorial honoring enslaved laborers

Published August 26, 2025 at 3:15PM

Virginia Theological Seminary (staff photo by James Cullum)

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held next month for the construction of a memorial recognizing slave laborers who built Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS).

Black slave laborers built the seminary in the early 19th century, and for the last five years, the VTS Reparations Program has awarded millions to direct descendants of those workers. At 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, VTS will host a free gala at Coffield Refectory (3720 Bishop Walker Circle) celebrating the descendants with dinner, dancing, and a display of genealogical research compiled to date. The memorial groundbreaking ceremony will be held the following day, Sept. 6, at 12:30 p.m.

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Del Ray Artisans to showcase recycled art in September exhibit

By James Cullum

Published August 26, 2025 at 10:30AM

The Second Time Around art exhibit opening reception is on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue (via Eventbrite)

Trash, treasure, or art? Recycled materials will be featured at Del Ray Artisans (2704 Mount Vernon Avenue) next month.

The Second Time Around exhibit will open with a complimentary reception on Friday, Sept. 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. and will run until Saturday, Sept. 27.

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Alexandria Choral Society announces 2025-26 season

By James Cullum

Published August 16, 2025 at 9:00AM

The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic and the Alexandria Choral Society perform their holiday concert at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Dec. 8, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Get your tickets now, because the Alexandria Choral Society just announced its 2025-26 season.

It’s the 55th season for the ACS, and the five performances in this year’s program are being held at venues across the city. Season tickets cost $125, and individual event tickets are suggested $30 apiece.

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Made in ALX Fall Maker’s Market returns Sept. 6 to Port City Brewing

By James Cullum

Published August 14, 2025 at 5:15PM

Made in ALX is hosting its Fall Maker's Market at Port City Brewing on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 (via Made in Alx)

Get ready to create, because Made in ALX‘s third annual Fall Maker’s Market is returning to Port City Brewing Company (3950 Wheeler Avenue).

The free family-and-pet-friendly event will feature more than 20 Alexandria makers/artists, and multiple make-and-take stations. The event is from 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6.

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10 Questions: Alexandria alt-rockers The MAYSUNS on their musical journey

By James Cullum

Published July 11, 2025 at 1:30PM

The MAYSUNS (Left to right - Gabriel Harr, Max Powell, Beck Moniz and Nathan Argust) relaxing at a mural of musical legends outside St. Elmo's Coffee Pub in Del Ray, July 9, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Talking to the MAYSUNS outside at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub in Del Ray feels like you’re sitting in their living room.

Sitting at a table in front of a mural of iconic musicians (Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison), just around the corner from the music school they attended for years, four out of the six bandmates sat with ALXnow to discuss the latest.

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Imagine Artwear to close in Old Town after more than three decades, KiSMET mural to be painted over

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 2:00PM

Imagine Artwear at 1124 King Street is closing June 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Imagine Artwear is closing at 1124 King Street on Monday (June 30), and soon after, their “KiSMET Mural: Love is All You Need” painting on the outside of the building will be removed.

Owner Carol Supplee says that there are still many good pieces available at bargain prices. She also noted that there are custom-made store fixtures and a lot of “free stuff” for the taking.

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Imagine Artwear in Old Town gets an extra month and will close June 30

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2025 at 11:45AM

Imagine Artwear at 1124 King Street is closing June 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

If you’re looking for a silver lining, there’s a bunch of positives about Imagine Artwear (1124 King Street) closing in Old Town.

Owner Carol Supplee is scaling back to focus on her health and just got approval from her landlord to keep her women’s clothing, art and jewelry shop open another month (until June 30). Until then, customers can get 50% off all merchandise. Supplee also said that she’s reached an agreement with her vendors as the store is moving online.

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10 Questions with Rozalia Finkelstein, cartoonist behind ‘West End Girls’ at Alexandria City High School

By James Cullum

Published April 10, 2025 at 3:50PM | Updated April 11, 2025 at 12:12AM

Cartoonist Rozalia Finklestein draws in Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Life at Alexandria City High School isn’t easy, not even when you’re a cartoon.

Just follow the latest adventures of best friends Nyx and Soliana in the monthly West End Girls comic in the Alexandria City High School newspaper, Theogony. The cartoon is the creation of comics editor Rozalia Finkelstein, who won two awards for her work at last year’s National High School Journalism Conference.

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PHOTOS: Going down a dual language rabbit hole in the Alexandria Children’s Theatre production of Alice In Wonderland

By James Cullum

Published April 8, 2025 at 5:45PM | Updated April 11, 2025 at 8:08AM

Alice and the Cheshire Cat in Down The Rabbit Hole at Mount Vernon Community School, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Spoiler warning: Alice doesn’t make it back from her trip down the rabbit hole in the Alexandria Children’s Theatre’s (ACT) dual language production at Mount Vernon Community School (2601 Mount Vernon Avenue).

“Que curioso,” Alice says, bewildered. “Everything seems so much different since I fell into that rabbit hole.”

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James Bond-themed poster unveiled for the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2025 at 2:00PM

Artist Tom Kuster unveils the poster for the Old Town Festival of Speed and Style, March 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Glitz, glamor and speed.

The poster for this year’s Old Town Festival of Speed & Style was unveiled at the Principle Gallery on Wednesday (March 20). This year’s theme is Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel “Casino Royale,” and the poster by Tom Kuster shows people in and around a red Lamborghini at the Alexandria waterfront.

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Alexandria renews push to kickstart beleaguered Old Town North arts district

By Vernon Miles

Published February 18, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated February 18, 2025 at 2:33PM

Sculpting at The Art League (image via The Art League/Facebook)

Alexandria’s efforts to turn Old Town North into an arts hub has hit some hurdles in recent years, but the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) is making a renewed effort to entice arts and cultural organizations to move into the neighborhood.

The district was created in 2017 but so far, the ambitious plan to fill mixed-use development spaces with arts uses has only had one notable success: The Art League’s relocation to a new 800 Slaters Lane location (technically outside of the bounds of the district) along with a home in the new Muse development.