Old Town North | ALXnow

Teacher at Alexandria daycare fired for tying 21-month-old to chair

Published September 15, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated September 16, 2025 at 2:12PM

A teacher at Vinci School Alexandria North was fired after allegedly tying a 21-month-old child to a chair during lunchtime on Aug. 13, 2025 (via Google Maps)

A teacher at a daycare in Old Town North has been fired, and her aide was reprimanded after a 21-month-old child was tied to a chair for 22 minutes during lunchtime on Wednesday, August 13.

The Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) made an unannounced inspection of the Vinci School Alexandria North (1001 N. Fairfax Street) on Aug. 21, after receiving a self-report on forbidden actions from the daycare’s licensing office. The toddler was tied to a chair with a thin blanket after throwing food on the floor and moving from a table while eating during lunchtime, DSS reported.

News

Video: Inside Pupatella’s new Old Town North location opening Sunday

By James Cullum

Published September 12, 2025 at 3:15PM

(Left to right) Pupatella vice president Natasha Neely, managing partner Michael Berger and CEO Jim Biafore at the new location at 700 Slaters Lane in Old Town North (staff photo by James Cullum)

It takes about one minute to cook a pie in the 1000-degree oven at Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza, and ALXnow just got a sneak peek inside their newest location in Old Town North.

The new restaurant is the twelfth for the company, and has been in development for more than two years. It will officially open on Sept. 15. Today, (Sept, 12) Pupatella had a soft opening for special guests and the restaurant’s Managing Partner Michael Berger was at the opening today, and was joined by company CEO Jim Biafore and Vice President Natasha Neely. Biafore said that the opening feels like crossing the finish line.

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Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza to open Sept. 15 in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2025 at 2:30PM

Pupatella at 700 Slaters Lane in Old Town North (staff photo by James Cullum)

After more than two years of planning and redevelopment, Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza has revealed its opening date to ALXnow.

After an extensive renovation, the pizza chain will open at 700 Slaters Lane on Monday, Sept. 15.

News

HRP Group to conduct free tours of power plant property in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published September 5, 2025 at 1:52PM

Tour gathers outside the GenOn power plant in Old Town North (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The owner of the dilapidated former Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North will conduct guided tours of the property next month.

HRP Group bought the former power plant in 2020, and plans to convert the 18-acre site at 1300 N. Royal Street into a mixed-use development. The guided tours will be held Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4, and “will give community members the chance to meet the project team and visit the site, which has been inaccessible to Old Town North for decades,” according to HRP Group.

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8 affordable units available via lottery at new luxury condo building in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published September 4, 2025 at 5:00PM

The Whitley at 811 N. Columbus Street in Old Town North (courtesy image)

A new luxury condominium building in Old Town North is offering eight affordable units to first-time homebuyers who live or work in Alexandria.

The city’s Office of Housing announced on Thursday (Sept. 4), that the eight units at  The Whitley, a new 78-unit complex at 811 N. Columbus Street, are available and due to high demand buyers will be chosen in a lottery. The units, ranging from one-to-three bedrooms, will start accepting applications from Friday, Sept. 26, to Friday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.

Around Town

Taste of Old Town North returns Sept. 18 with food, music and family activities

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 29, 2025 at 8:00AM | Updated September 2, 2025 at 9:16AM

Taste of Old Town North (Credit: Old Town North Community Partnership)

The annual Taste of Old Town North will return Thursday, Sept. 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. in Montgomery Park, featuring local restaurant tastings, live music and family-friendly activities.

The free event at 901 North Royal Street will showcase neighborhood restaurants, including Jula’s on the Potomac, Hank’s Oyster Bar, MacMillan Spirit and Ale House, Hank’s Pasta Bar, Hotel AKA Alexandria’s a.lounge+bar, and St. Elmo’s Old Town North Coffee Pub.

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Art League to celebrate opening of 2 new Old Town North locations with block party

By James Cullum

Published August 26, 2025 at 4:15PM

The Art League is hosting a grand opening for a new studio and block party in Old Town North on Sept. 6, 2025 (via Eventbrite)

After years in development, The Art League will celebrate the opening of two new locations for art classes in Old Town North with a block party.

The free, family-friendly event will be held at the new Slaters Lane Annex (800 Slaters Lane) at 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, featuring art demonstrations, food, and ice cream bowls created by local artists, among other activities.

News

Woman found dead during eviction tops week’s news in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 22, 2025 at 3:30PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

It’s been an intense week in Alexandria. Here’s a look at our top stories.

Our most-read story is on a woman found dead outside her apartment during an eviction process on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office reported on social media that deputies were conducting an eviction at an apartment at 400 Madison Street at around 9 a.m., when they found the adult woman dead outside the building. The woman’s identity and the circumstances surrounding her death have not been released.

News

Old Town North pub crawl to highlight Alexandria’s historic canal

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2025 at 10:00AM

Canal Watering Holes: A History Tour and Canal Crawl is being held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 (via NOTICe)

An upcoming pub crawl in Old Town North will teach participants a little bit of Alexandria history.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, the North Old Town Independent Citizens Association (NOTICe) is hosting Canal Watering Holes: Alexandria Canal History and Pub Crawl. Tickets for the event, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., cost $35 for individuals and $60 for couples.

News

Alexandria planning board to discuss Duke Street, small area plan updates Sept. 2

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated August 27, 2025 at 12:19PM

Exercising near the closed GenOn power plant in Alexandria near the Potomac River. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Department of Planning and Zoning has a full docket at its upcoming bi-monthly virtual community meeting.

On Sept. 2 (Tuesday), planning and zoning staff will conduct a meeting via Zoom to discuss updates to these issues:

News

GloWell Hair Spa to hold ribbon cutting July 19 in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2025 at 3:00PM

GloWell Hair Spa is open at 712 N. Washington Street in Old Town (via Facebook)

A new hair spa will hold its ribbon cutting later this month in Old Town North.

GloWell Hair Spa officially opened in May at 712 N. Washington Street. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, spa owner Alleyah Miner, her staff, and visitors will formally cut the ribbon for the business.