Del Ray | ALXnow

Braddock Road bike lane and parking removal appeal heads to City Council Saturday

Published May 14, 2026 at 11:55AM

Segments of Braddock Road where the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board approved changes (via City of Alexandria)

The appeal of the Traffic and Parking Board’s February decision on the Braddock Road redesign in the Rosemont and Del Ray neighborhoods is heading to City Council Saturday (May 16).

Four petitions against the redesign came from residents living along the Braddock Road corridor, as well as Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Community Praise Church on W. Braddock Road. Appellants are hoping City Council will overturn the board’s decision, which would remove parking on Braddock Road between Mount Vernon Avenue and Russell Road to add new bike lanes. According to a city memo, appellants are concerned that the loss of parking will affect access to homes and places of worship.

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Crooked Run Fermentation plans to open Del Ray taproom later in 2026

By Emily Leayman

Published May 12, 2026 at 1:45PM

Crooked Run Fermentation's future location in Del Ray (via Crooked Run Fermentation/Facebook)

Northern Virginia brewery Crooked Run Fermentation is planning to expand its footprint with a new location in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood.

After filing for a Virginia ABC permit earlier this year, the brewery confirmed it is planning a Crooked Run Brewery Taproom at 2003 Mount Vernon Avenue, the former location of Dolce & Bean. Crooked Run Fermentation, founded in Leesburg in 2013, also has a production facility and taproom in Sterling and a location at D.C.’s Union Market.

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Del Ray Business Association cancels yearly ‘Well Ray’ festival

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 11:55AM

Yoga at a previous Well Ray festival (photo courtesy Del Ray Business Association)

Well Ray, Del Ray’s annual wellness festival, has been canceled this year as its organizers go back to the drawing board.

Previous festivals, which were held in June, closed down a large section of Mount Vernon Avenue and featured dozens of vendors practicing outdoor yoga, boxing, meditation, chiropractic assessments, nutrition counseling and more. This year would have marked the event’s 10-year anniversary.

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Alexandria’s annual community cookout series launches today

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 10:00AM

Community Cookouts (via City of Alexandria)

The 19th annual Alexandria Community Cookout series launches today (Thursday), bringing weekly events with free food, activities and giveaways across the city.

More than 50 city agencies and nonprofits are participating in the weekly cookouts, which are expected to reach thousands of Alexandria residents this spring and summer. The first cookout, delayed by yesterday’s weather, will take place on its rain date today at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center from 6-7:30 p.m.

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Driver with learner’s permit who struck child at Del Ray crosswalk receives citation

By James Cullum

Published May 4, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

First responders transported a nine-year-old girl to the hospital as a precaution after a driver struck her in Del Ray early Friday evening (May 1).

The child did not sustain serious injuries, and the driver, who had a learner’s permit and was accompanied by a licensed driver, received a citation for failing to yield at a crosswalk, APD told ALXnow in an email.

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Crooked Beat Records closing this weekend in Del Ray as store plans new location

By James Cullum

Published May 1, 2026 at 1:45PM

Crooked Beat Records is closing at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue on May 3, 2026 (via Crooked Beat Records/Facebook)

After spending months recovering from flooding, Crooked Beat Records is closing its Del Ray basement location for the last time this Sunday (May 3).

Store owner Bill Daly and his staff were forced to close the store after catastrophic flooding in the building at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue on Jan. 11. The business closed briefly after losing an estimated $60,000 of merchandise, of which $23,500 was recovered through a GoFundMe campaign. The store reopened at the end of February.

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Del Ray’s First Thursday dates reduced as citizens association takes over event

By Emily Leayman

Published April 29, 2026 at 8:30AM

First Thursday in Del Ray (via Del Ray Business Association/Facebook)

This will be the first year the Del Ray Business Association is not hosting First Thursday block parties since it founded the event nearly 30 years ago.

Del Ray’s First Thursdays have been turned over to the Del Ray Citizens Association, which runs other neighborhood events such as last weekend’s Del Ray GardenFest and the upcoming Del Ray House and Garden Tour on Saturday, May 9.

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New Traffic and Parking Board member testified on Braddock Road changes for civic association

By Emily Leayman

Published April 28, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated April 28, 2026 at 9:48PM

The Traffic and Parking Board in March 2026 (via City of Alexandria)

A new Traffic and Parking Board member appointed by Alexandria City Council had testified on behalf of a citizens association on the Braddock Road changes the board approved in February.

Rosemarie Spano was appointed by City Council as a citizen member of the board on April 14. Spano replaces former Chair Ann Tucker, who had served on the board for 10 years and had her last meeting in March. Spano told ALXnow her term starts in May.

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Stardust Vintage and Gift shop closing in Del Ray in June

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2026 at 2:45PM

Grand opening of Stardust Vintage & Gift (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

After being open for a year, a vintage gift shop in Del Ray is closing at the end of June.

Amy Sills Eggers, the owner of Stardust Vintage and Gift (1904 Mount Vernon Avenue), told ALXnow that she needs to focus on her family. She said she’ll be selling all of her merchandise and fixtures at a discount.

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PNC Alexandria Half, MV Big Flea among April 25-26 weekend events in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published April 24, 2026 at 3:15PM

MV Big Flea sign in Del Ray (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

There’s much to do in Alexandria on this last weekend of April.

Here’s a guide to what’s going on this weekend around the city:

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Crooked Beat Records closing May 3 in Del Ray after flood impact

By James Cullum

Published April 13, 2026 at 11:45AM

Crooked Beat Records prepares for Record Store Day (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Crooked Beat Records will officially close its Del Ray location Sunday, May 3, following the adverse effects of flooding earlier this year.

Owner Bill Daly said in a social media post he has tried to stay in Alexandria and has placed bids on several rental properties in and around the city, though there is a chance the business could move outside Alexandria.