Del Ray | ALXnow

Water main relocation planned on Commonwealth Avenue ahead of flood mitigation work

Published February 18, 2026 at 11:15AM

Commonwealth Avenue and Ashby Street intersection (via Google Maps)

A water main relocation project is coming to a stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in and around Del Ray, where one of the city’s biggest flood mitigation projects is planned.

Virginia American Water, the city’s drinking water utility, said it is starting a water main relocation on Commonwealth Avenue. The work is taking place between the 3700 block of Commonwealth Avenue and Ashby Street, and is intended to make space for new, larger stormwater pipes as part of the city’s Commonwealth, Ashby, Glebe Flood Mitigation Project in northern Del Ray.

News

Democratic City Council candidates lay out differences in first forum in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published February 17, 2026 at 3:00PM

(Left to right) City Council candidates Sandy Marks, Tim Laderach, Cesar Madison Tapia, Charles Sumpter and Roberto Gomez at the Del Ray Business Association's candidate forum at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, Feb. 16, 2026 (courtesy photo by James Minichello)

Five Democratic candidates for an open seat on the Alexandria City Council participated in their first forum together on Monday night in Del Ray.

The Del Ray Business Association’s forum was held in a packed house at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue). All five candidates running in the firehouse primary on Feb. 21 participated in the event and discussed a wide array of issues affecting Del Ray in particular and the city in general.

Around Town

Del Ray Hardware wins 2026 Heart of Del Ray award

By James Cullum

Published February 13, 2026 at 3:45PM

Del Ray Hardware owners Jay and Edea Portlance with their Heart of Del Ray award on Feb. 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Del Ray Hardware was declared the winner of the annual Heart of Del Ray Award on Friday morning.

Hundreds of people voted in the Del Ray Business Association’s annual popularity contest for businesses. Store owner Jay Portlance received an oversized heart to display for a year, symbolizing the store’s place in the community.

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Lunar New Year brings Year of the Horse events to Del Ray and Old Town

By Emily Leayman

Published February 12, 2026 at 9:30AM

Lunar New Year gold and red print card (via Jason Leung/Unsplash)

Festivals and other events in celebration of Lunar New Year have started in Alexandria, kicking off the Year of the Horse.

Lunar New Year officially begins on Tuesday, Feb. 17, but some festivities are happening before then. The holiday is celebrated in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and numerous other Asian cultures, marking the start of the 15-day Spring Festival.

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Valentine’s Day events and dining specials coming to Alexandria this weekend

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2026 at 9:15AM

Red wine pour at Trademark (via Trademark/Facebook)

A lovely Valentine’s Day weekend is coming to Alexandria.

There’s still time to make reservations or sign up for events at venues across the city. It all starts on Friday, Jan. 13, otherwise known as Galentine’s Day, followed by events on Valentine’s Day this Saturday.

Around Town

Annual ‘Raclette Fest’ returns this month, celebrating melted tableside cheese in Del Ray

By Emily Leayman

Published February 4, 2026 at 2:30PM

Raclette, a type of Alpine cheese served at Cheesetique's Raclette Fest (courtesy of Cheesetique)

Cheese lovers can flock to Cheesetique in Del Ray this month for the returning “Raclette Fest,” a ski lodge-inspired event centered around the tableside cheese wheel and other specials.

Raclette Fest will run from Monday, Feb. 23 to Sunday, March 15, following a kickoff Après-Ski Party from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2411 Mount Vernon Avenue. The festival name references a type of Alpine cheese melted from a wheel and served tableside onto bread, seasonal vegetables and sausage.

News

Alexandria man found guilty of felony animal abuse in dog death at Del Ray boarding facility

By James Cullum

Published February 4, 2026 at 12:30PM

The Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A former groomer at Your Dog’s Best Friends was found guilty today of felony animal cruelty resulting in the death of a two-year-old golden retriever named Abigail, and four misdemeanor counts of animal abuse.

Kevin Malik Sanders, 30, pleaded guilty to the felony animal cruelty charge, a Class 6 felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $2,500 fine. Each misdemeanor count also carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail.

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Cafe in Del Ray makes Eater DC list of ’16 Best Coffee Shops Around D.C.’

By Katie Taranto

Published February 3, 2026 at 10:45AM | Updated February 3, 2026 at 4:06PM

Latte from Swing's Coffee (via Swings Coffee Roasters/Facebook)

Swing’s Coffee is one of the best coffee shops in the D.C. area, according to one ranking.

A new list from Eater DC lists the cafe in the top 16 coffee shops in the area, highlighting “the best drip java, pour-overs, and lattes in town.” The coffeehouse with historic local roots has two downtown D.C. shops and a flagship Del Ray roastery at 501 E. Monroe Avenue.

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Crooked Beat Records will close Saturday as owner hopes to find new Del Ray spot

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2026 at 10:30AM

Flooding at Crooked Beat Records at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Crooked Beats/Facebook)

After experiencing catastrophic flooding earlier this month, Crooked Beat Records will close its doors for good this Saturday.

The local vinyl haven plans to open for its last days at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Owner Bill Daly said the building’s management wants to do additional repair work, which would require him and his staff to remove all of Crooked Beat’s inventory and then move it back in.

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American restaurant in Del Ray featured on Yelp’s ‘Top 100 US Restaurants’ list

By Katie Taranto

Published January 23, 2026 at 1:45PM

Dishes from Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar (via Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar/Facebook)

A Del Ray restaurant is one of three Virginia eateries to make Yelp’s annual list of the “Top US Restaurants” released earlier this week.

Matt and Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar just made the rankings, coming in at No. 100 out of the 100 spots featured.

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Flooded Del Ray record store raises over $5K in one day for recovery efforts

By Katie Taranto

Published January 14, 2026 at 9:15AM

Flooding at Crooked Beat Records (via Crooked Beat Records/Facebook)

Over $5,000 has been fundraised for Crooked Beat Records less than a day after the flooded Del Ray business published fundraisers on social media to support its restoration.

A GoFundMe and merchandise fundraiser have quickly garnered more than $5,300 for the vinyl shop, after a burst pipe incident flooded it with several inches of water over the weekend. As of yesterday (Tuesday), water had continued to enter the shop but crews were working to address damage, according to a Facebook video by owner Bill Daly.