event | ALXnow

Government shutdown moves Taste of NoVA from Fort Belvoir to Manassas

Published October 7, 2025 at 4:30PM

Taste of NoVA has moved to NOVA LIVE campus in Manassas (via NOVA LIVE/Facebook)

The government shutdown has prompted the Taste of NoVA to move from the National Museum of the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir, nearly 30 miles west, to the NOVA LIVE event field in Manassas.

More than 120 restaurants and wineries are featured at the Northern Virginia Magazine event on Oct. 11 and 12, and organizers had to think fast as the National Museum of the U.S. Army is closed during the shutdown. Federal workers attending the event can use promo code GOV20 to receive 20 percent off general admission tickets with a valid government ID at TasteOfNoVA.com.

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Metro chase death, hidden bathroom camera, homicide arrests lead this week’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 3, 2025 at 3:30PM

Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.

ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Alexandria leaders to speak at first-ever State of Early Childhood event

By James Cullum

Published October 2, 2025 at 2:30PM

Children listen to Paralympic gold medalist Trevon Jenifer at the Dunbar Alexandria-Olympic Boys & Girls Club at 401 N. Payne Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders will discuss the early childhood initiatives across the city in a first-ever series of conversations.

The Kids’ First Years (KFY) State of Early Childhood 2025 event will be held at First Baptist Church (2922 King Street) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Mayor Alyia Gaskins will kick off the free event with opening remarks, along with KFY CEO Michelle Smith Howard. The event is intended to bring together city leaders, educators, and advocates to “build a thriving early childhood system that fuels the city’s economy, strengthens the workforce and supports every family,” according to the nonprofit.

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Friends of Dorothy, a neighborhood queer cafe, is fundraising to open in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published October 2, 2025 at 12:45PM

Dorothy Edwards is working on opening Friends of Dorothy, a neighborhood queer cafe, in Alexandria (courtesy image)

Are you a friend of Dorothy?

Since World War II, the coded question has been used to determine whether someone is queer. Now, Dorothy Edwards is using the phrase as the name for the first-ever LGBTQ+ focused cafe in Alexandria. For the last several months, Edwards has been raising money to cover six months of operating expenses at a yet-to-be-determined space, build-out of the space, and equipment. She says that once the cafe is up and running, it’s all she wants to do for the rest of her life.

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Sweetside Café and Creamery to hold ribbon-cutting Oct. 11 in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published October 2, 2025 at 11:45AM

The Sweetside Coffee and Creamery opened this week next to Northside 10 restaurant at 10 E. Glebe Road in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood. (Photo via @thesweetsideva Instagram)

A new ice cream cafe is holding a ribbon-cutting on Oct. 11 in Del Ray.

The ribbon will be cut at Sweetside Café and Creamery (10 E. Glebe Road) at 10:30 a.m., and specials and giveaways will be offered at the event, according to the Del Ray Business Association (DRBA). The shop is owned by Teresa Keefer, who also owns Northside 10, which is directly next door, and Southside 815 in Old Town.

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George Washington Birthday Parade set for Feb. 14 in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published October 2, 2025 at 5:30AM

George and Martha Washington ride in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 21, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s more than four months away, but on Wednesday, the announcement was made, confirming that the 2026 George Washington Birthday Parade will take place in Old Town on Saturday, February 14.

Alexandria has been celebrating Washington with a parade since 1801, and it’s the largest and oldest parade celebrating the founding father in the world. The parade will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in Old Town, and this year’s parade marshals are Michael J. Elston, Esq., president general of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and Ginnie Sebastian Storage, president general of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

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Alexandria to cut ribbon on RiverRenew Plaza along Potomac River in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 4:30PM

The ribbon cutting for the RiverRenew Plaza at 501 N. Union Street will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 (via AlexRenew)

AlexRenew will cut the ribbon on the new promenade at RiverRenew Plaza on Oct. 18 at Pendleton and N. Union Streets in Old Town.

The new plaza at 501 N. Union Street sits atop AlexRenew’s RiverRenew project, which will divert millions of gallons of raw sewage from the Potomac River via a 2.2-mile-long underground tunnel that’s been under construction for four years. Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony include Mayor Alyia Gaskins, AlexRenew Board Chair John Hill, AlexRenew CEO Justin Carl, and Waterfront Commission Chair Louise Roseman.

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Lee-Fendall House Museum to host Roaring Twenties speakeasy fundraiser Oct. 4

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2025 at 7:30PM

The annual speakeasy fundraiser at the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden is on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 (via Eventbrite)

Take a step back in time on Oct. 4, as the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden (614 Oronoco Street) hosts a Roaring Twenties speakeasy night.

The annual event commemorating the centennial of state-level prohibition against alcohol will take place in the museum’s historic garden, with music from the Conservatory Classic Jazz Band. Since 2016, the fundraiser has raised over $50,000 to support the museum. Tickets for the event cost $97.88.

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ALX Pink Gala to raise funds for breast cancer screenings

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2025 at 5:00PM

The ALX Pink Gala is on Friday, Oct. 19, 2025 (courtesy photo)

ALX Community is hosting its second ALX Pink Gala in Old Town next month, with proceeds benefiting the National Breast Center Foundation.

The gala will be held at ALX Community’s Atrium location (277 S. Washington Street) on Friday, Oct. 17, from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets range in price from $100 for general admission to $150 for VIPs, the latter of which grants access to an exclusive rooftop experience, according to event organizers.

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Housing Alexandria hosts Fall Festival fundraiser Oct. 9

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2025 at 12:45PM

Housing Alexandria staff will celebrate their annual Fall Festival fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 (courtesy image)

Housing Alexandria is hosting a “laid-back gala” next month with music, games and food.

This year, the annual fundraising event will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Garden Alexandria (5380 Eisenhower Avenue) and will celebrate the nonprofit’s completion of the Cardinal Path Homes project. The project provides 36 townhomes and condos to first-time homebuyers, available via lottery.

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Alexandria pastor’s Charlie Kirk comments lead this week’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published September 19, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated September 19, 2025 at 3:47PM

The Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley delivers his Sunday sermon at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., on Sept. 15, 2025. During the sermon, Wesley criticized the decision to fly flags at half-staff for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling Kirk "an unapologetic racist." (Screenshot via YouTube)

It’s been quite a week, Alexandria. Here’s a look at our top stories.

Our most-read story this week is on Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley sermonizing against President Trump’s decision to fly flags at half-staff across the country for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Speaking at the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, Wesley condemned the Sept. 10 assassination, but said he should not be expected to honor Kirk, who he called an “unapologetic racist who spent all of his life sowing seeds of division and hate into this land.”