A popular multicultural food festival is returning to Old Town at the end of the month.
The 10th annual Around the World Cultural Food Festival will bring the flavors of 20 countries, live performances representing 12 countries and more than 100 artisan and craft vendors to Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street) on Saturday, Aug. 29. The festival is free to attend and will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The developers of an office conversion project in Old Town want to start leasing the building’s 45 new residential units by summer 2027.
That’s according to Colin Thomas, principal of Thomas Development LLC, and one of the partners in 1625 Prince LLC, a joint venture with Alexandria-based Winstanley Architects and Planners and Pizzano Contractors.
A metaphysical shop and “spiritual apothecary” is reopening in an expanded location early next month in Old Town.
Lumos Collective is moving from its pop-up location at 106 N. St. Asaph Street and will hold grand opening festivities at the new location at 1511 King Street on Sept. 4 and 5. The shop sells candles, ritual oils, tarot and oracle cards, as well as supplies to cast spells and rituals. The business hosts Reiki training events, book swaps and artist markets, and a monthly virtual membership program for “Modern Witches, Mystics & Magic-Makers,” the company says on its website.
Plan to refurbish that creaky old porch or add an EV charger in a historic district? Consider holding off until at least Wednesday (Aug. 19).
That’s when the Board of Architectural Review Design Guidelines Committee is hosting a community meeting on updated design guidelines for the city’s Parker-Gray and Old & Historic Alexandria Districts. The meeting is open to the public, and the committee will receive public comments.
Long Dark House, a bookstore dedicated to horror, science fiction and other dark titles, will open its doors at the start of September.
The independent bookstore will open at 1510 King Street at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1. A grand opening from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 will include special activities all day. Author Lisa Jones Gentry will be at the opening to sign copies of “A Dead Man Speaks,” which can be preordered through Long Dark House. The grand opening will also have specially themed matcha drinks from Whisked Away Cafe, chocolates and gifts from Madame Coco’s Emporium, raffle prizes, music and more.
Some exterior changes could be coming to Carlyle House in Old Town.
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is asking the city to approve a plan to replace the wood shingles with a standing seam metal roof on the nearly 275-year-old mansion at 121 N. Fairfax Street. The first mansion ever constructed in Alexandria was built by city founder and merchant John Carlyle in 1751.
If you’re staying in town this weekend, there’s plenty to look forward to from Alexandria’s lineup of events.
Between the Summer Sidewalk Sale in Old Town, Bands & Brews in Del Ray and the ongoing Alexandria Restaurant Week across the city, there’s no shortage of event options.
Tickets are on sale now for the popular fall historic homes tour organized by The Twig.
The 84th annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Ticket sales end on Sept. 10. There are 1,400 tickets available — 200 more than last year — and the event usually sells out.
Shoppers will descend upon Old Town this weekend in search of the best deals of the summer at local boutiques.
The Old Town Boutique Community will host its 17th annual Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale from Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 16 at participating boutiques. Dozens of independent boutiques will offer merchandise displays on the sidewalk and their deepest discounts of the season, and some will have extra promotions or activities for shoppers.
Eleven tech startups with high prospects of growth have joined Alexandria’s first-ever tech accelerator program, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership announced with program manager FedTech and the City of Alexandria Wednesday (Aug. 12).
The 11 participants were chosen among 41 applications for the Accelerate ALX program beginning in August. According to AEDP, the companies “represent high-growth sectors including defense, aerospace, health tech, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and cybersecurity.”
The expansion of coffee shops continues as an international brand plans a location in Old Town.
Construction has started on Twosome Place, a new coffee shop and dessert cafe at 404 King Street.
