Around Town

A family that opened a coffee shop inside a recently closed Italian restaurant in Old Town North has launched a GoFundMe.

In January, Dream Chasers Coffee owners Leo and Brittani Maggio opened Valletta Espresso Bar inside Italian restaurant Valletta Port at 682 N. St. Asaph Street. On Friday (April 17), the restaurant abruptly closed. Maggio told ALXnow that he arrived at work to find the doors locked and the business shut down.


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Alexandria’s Pat Malone is kicking off another year of standing up to cancer.

Starting at 4:26 p.m. today (Tuesday), Malone, a cancer survivor and Air Force veteran, will stand for 24 hours straight at Pork Barrel BBQ (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) for his 12th annual Stand Up To Cancer fundraiser. Malone estimates that he’s raised more than $100,000 for cancer research over the past 11 years.


Around Town

The annual Empty Bowls Alexandria event is returning next month as host ALIVE! says demands for food, housing and emergency financial assistance are on the rise.

In its ninth year, the historically sold-out event brings local restaurants and artisans together to fundraise for the nonprofit’s efforts to address food and housing insecurity. The event comes as ALIVE! has weathered the region’s economic losses over the past year, with requests for support up roughly 30% since the fall, spokesperson Grace Terlinden told ALXnow.


Around Town

A night of live music is coming to Continues Arcade this week as a group of Alexandria high schoolers seek to raise funds for a new scholarship.

A group of juniors at Alexandria City High School is aiming to raise $12,000 over the next two months to create a new award through the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. One fundraising event, the “Titans 4 Scholars Music Festival,” is happening from 6-8 p.m. this Thursday at Continues (1050 N. Fayette Street).


Around Town

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.


News

The annual St. Rita 5K returns tomorrow morning (Saturday), leading to some road closures in and around Potomac Yard.

The annual road race raises funds for St. Rita Catholic School’s classrooms, teachers and appreciation events for educators. The morning kicks off with a 1K “fun run” race at 8 a.m., before the main 5K race at 8:30 a.m. near George Washington Middle School at 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue.


Around Town

Alexandria will celebrate its international sisterhood with Caen, France, next week during a “Bienvenue Beaujolais” wine tasting fundraiser.

Guests at the cultural, culinary evening can expect guided wine tastings and French cuisine to commemorate Beaujolais Nouveau Day, an annual celebration of the year’s first release of the red wine.


News

An Alexandria nonprofit is preparing to send supplies to Jamaica in the wake of mass damage left by Hurricane Melissa.

Good360 is working with partner Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) and other relief agencies after the Category 5 storm made landfall this week to “assess needs on the ground and deploy pre-positioned supplies, generators, shelter materials and other essentials,” according to a release.


News

An annual Alexandria City High School alumni fundraiser at Chadwicks (203 Strand Street) on Oct. 22 (Wednesday) will benefit the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, and will feature some special guests.

Starting at 6 p.m., former ACHS Executive Principal Pete Balas will act as bartender, along with current teachers Andrew Orzel and Matt Zahn. The event, which includes raffles, is a great way to reconnect with former classmates, according to the online event announcement.


News

The 10th annual Walk to Bust Cancer at Fort Hunt Park in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County on Sunday, Oct. 19, has been postponed due to the government shutdown, organizers said.

“With Fort Hunt Park closed and the National Park Service scheduling system offline, organizers are currently unable to secure a backup date,” organizers said in an email. “After an extensive search to try and find an alternative non-government location, this decision rooted in safety, logistics, and respect for survivors, families, volunteers, and supporters was not taken lightly. The Walk is a deeply meaningful moment to honor loved ones and rally the surrounding community.”


News

The Study at Morrison House (116 S. Alfred Street) is bringing back a banned book speakeasy next month.

The speakeasy will run from 5 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, to Saturday, Nov. 8, with $1 from every drink sold benefiting the Virginia Library Association. The event, last held in April, will spotlight several books on PEN America’s 2025 List.


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