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‘Good Trouble Lives On’ rally to honor John Lewis legacy in Alexandria Thursday

Published July 16, 2025 at 6:30PM

A painting of U.S. Rep. John Lewis outside The Linder Academy at 607 S. Washington Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria residents will commemorate the fifth anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s death Thursday with a rally designed to carry forward his legacy of nonviolent action and defend democracy.

The “Good Trouble Lives On” rally, scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m., will take place at Judy Guse-Noritake Park (600 N. Henry Street) at the corner of Pendleton Street and Henry Street. Indivisible is hosting the event Do Something NCR, a non-partisan community organization whose objective “is to push the country to be kinder and more progressive, ensuring all people are represented and cared for”.

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Southside Community Fest returning to Old Town with free food and entertainment

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2025 at 3:30PM

The Southside Community Fest is returning for its third year at the Nannie J Lee Memorial Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, in Old Town (via Instagram)

Not long ago, Bruce Anderson and a handful of his boyhood friends from Alexandria decided to give back with a free community cookout.

The event was a bigger hit than the group anticipated, with hundreds of people showing up to the Nannie J Lee Memorial Recreation Center (1108 Jefferson Street). Now in its third year, the Southside Community Fest features free food, live musical performances, a DJ, special guest speakers, and more.

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Billy Joel’s first publicist, Sandy Gibson, to talk in Del Ray next month

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2025 at 2:30PM

Former music publicist and producer Sandy Gibson (on left, talking with Bette Midler) will discuss her life in the industry on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at Stardust Vintage & Gift in Del Ray, 1904 Mount Vernon Avenue (courtesy image)

Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Jim Morrison — name a musical icon from the world of rock, soul, and pop, and chances are, Sandy Gibson interviewed them.

Gibson, a longtime Del Ray resident, was also Billy Joel’s first publicist. She was interviewed multiple times for the HBO documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, which premieres on Friday (July 18). Music lovers can also hear Gibson talk about her career on Thursday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Stardust Vintage & Gift (1904 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray.

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Bands and Brews Bar Crawl returning to Del Ray in August

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 4:30PM

Participants of the Bands & Brews Summer Bar Crawl on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Saturday, August 22, 2021. (Via Elijah Walter Griffin, Sr.)

A great end-of-summer event is right around the corner in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood.

The 5th annual Bands & Brews: Del Ray’s Summer Bar Crawl returns on Saturday, Aug. 16. From 12 to 6:30 p.m., more than 20 venues will host live music throughout the neighborhood. The Del Ray Business Association is expecting up to 2,000 visitors at the event, according to a recent event listing.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 11, 2025 at 3:45PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.

This week’s top story is on an Inova Alexandria Hospital employee getting fired after allegedly stealing a patient’s credit cards from a room at the hospital and using them at a nearby store.

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Upcoming Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference puts kids in touch with community leaders

By James Cullum

Published July 9, 2025 at 6:30PM

Alexandria's 12th annual Youth leadership Conference will be held Aug. 12-14, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

Rubbing elbows with community leaders and participating in interactive workshops are in store for participants of Alexandria’s upcoming 12^th annual Youth Leadership Conference.

Registration for rising 9th to 12th graders closes Aug. 8, and the event will be held Aug. 12-14 (Tuesday to Thursday) at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive). This year’s theme is “Young Voices, Powerful Choices!”

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Guest conductor announced for Alexandria’s birthday celebration

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2025 at 2:15PM | Updated July 1, 2025 at 6:30AM

Guest conductor John Devlin will lead the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra at the city's annual birthday celebration on Saturday, July 12, 2025 (via ASO/Facebook)

The guest conductor of Alexandria’s upcoming birthday celebration on the waterfront has been announced.

John Devlin, music director of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra in Ohio, will take the baton and lead the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra through its program on Saturday night, July 12. The concert includes Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture during the dazzling fireworks, as well as live cannons from the U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery.

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The Rink That Rocked: Talk to revisit Alexandria venue that hosted Janis Joplin, Alice Cooper

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 12:15PM | Updated June 27, 2025 at 7:59PM

The Alexandria Roller Rink in Old Town North was open from 1948 to 1986 (via Office of Historic Alexandria)

The Alexandria Roller Rink in Old Town North was open from 1948 to 1986 (via Office of Historic Alexandria)Next month, the Alexandria Historical Society will host a behind-the-scenes panel to reflect on the legacy of a long-lost landmark: the Alexandria Roller Rink.

With its maple floors and Wurlitzer organ, the Alexandria Roller Rink (807 N. St. Asaph Street) could hold 3,000 skaters at a time. It wasn’t all about skating, though. In the 1970s, the rink was advertised as a “psychedelic ballroom” and the “Alexandria Rock Arena” and hosted concerts with stars like Janis Joplin, Jethro Tull, and Alice Cooper, according to the Office of Historic Alexandria.

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Groundbreaking for Eugene Simpson Stadium Park renovation is this Saturday

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2025 at 3:30PM

Eugene Simpson Stadium Park - Illustrative Rendering

Alexandria is set to break ground on improvements to Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.

Construction will result in a phased reopening of the park, with a full reopening scheduled for August 2026. The groundbreaking will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, according to the city.

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Alexandria’s next community cookout is on Wednesday

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2025 at 2:30PM

Community Cookouts (via City of Alexandria)

There’s only three community cookouts left this summer in Alexandria, and the next one is around the corner.

With free food, games and more, the annual series of cookouts started in late April with the intention of connecting residents to their city government and leaders. The next cookout is Wednesday, June 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (5653 Taney Avenue).

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Alexandria needs vendors for its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2025 at 11:45AM

Via RPCA

How’s your calendar looking?

Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities is seeking vendors for the fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4643 Taney Avenue). The party’s on October 11 (Saturday), and the deadline to be a vendor is August 1.