George Washington’s cherry-filled past will be celebrated this month with the second annual GW Cherry Challenge.
The challenge is sponsored by George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate and requires participating venues to create the best “cherry-oriented appetizer, entrée, beverage, or dessert,” according to organizers.
Two Alexandria restaurants made Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants 2025 list, with one Old Town spot landing at the number 8 spot.
The list ranks restaurants around DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
❄️ Today’s weather: Expect scattered flurries later this afternoon, followed by sunny conditions and a high near 32 degrees. West winds will range from 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. Tonight, flurries will clear up before 9pm and give way to a mostly clear sky, with temperatures dropping to around 19 degrees. The northwest wind will persist at 13 to 15 mph, while gusts may reach 30 mph.
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect partly sunny skies and a high near 44 today, with light variable wind increasing to southeast at 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight, rain is likely to begin after 1am, with a low around 38 and southeast winds at 5 mph easing off after midnight. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, and rainfall amounts may range between a tenth and a quarter of an inch.
With pocketbooks lighter from the holidays, it’s a good thing that Alexandria Restaurant Week is around the corner.
Nearly 100 restaurants are participating from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, by offering multi-course dinner menus for $30-to-$50 per person in neighborhoods across the city.
An Azerbaijani bakery and cafe has applied for a change of ownership for the former Chewish Deli at 1640 King Street.
Despite stellar reviews, Sharbat Bakery & Cafe closed its D.C. location earlier this year. Now owners Ilhama Safarova and Natavan Aliyeva are asking the city to also approve adding outdoor tables and chairs to the proposed shop.
A Japanese steakhouse is opening a new location in Arlandria.
Sake Express Japanese Hibachi will open within the next two months at 3827 Mount Vernon Avenue, staff told ALXnow.
Thanida Thai Restaurant and Bar has a new home in Old Town.
The traditional Thai restaurant was forced to move due to the redevelopment of the Montgomery Center in Old Town North. It’s now located at 1210 N. Fayette Street, which is about a half-mile from the Braddock Road Metro station.
The Subway restaurant at 3829 Mount Vernon Avenue closed on Nov. 19.
The business has been in the Del Ray North shopping center for decades. The owner of the Arlandria franchise said that paying rent was becoming increasingly difficult and that he was forced to shut down.
Outdoor dining is officially coming to Oakville Triangle.
On Saturday, City Council unanimously an ordinance to allow outdoor dining on the sidewalk at 461 Swann Avenue for Founding Farmers.
Damage from a grease fire has shut down the McDonald’s at 121 W. Glebe Road in the city’s Arlandria neighborhood, according to the Alexandria Fire Department.
Walls, ceiling panels, vents and the roof were damaged in the Oct. 18 (Friday) blaze, according to AFD. The fire in the frier area was reported to AFD by an employee at around 7:15 p.m. The fire was contained in about 35 minutes and AFD was on-scene for an hour, according to dispatch reports.
