Old Town | ALXnow

Georgetown Olive Oil Co. planning October opening on King Street in Old Town

Published October 16, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated October 16, 2025 at 2:44PM

Georgetown Olive Oil Co. is opening at 1314 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Georgetown Olive Oil Co. is opening at the end of this month at 1314 King Street in Old Town, its owner tells ALXnow.

Emil Merdzhanov and his team have been working on the interior of the space since July, and said he’s excited to reopen a brick and mortar location since his Georgetown location closed on M. Street four years ago. The company was founded in 2016, and bottles and sells dozens of olive oil and balsamic vinegar flavors, among other items, in their warehouse, distribution center and showroom at 4719 Eisenhower Avenue.

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Banned book speakeasy returning to Morrison House in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published October 15, 2025 at 2:30PM

The Study at Morrison House (via The Study at Morrison House on Facebook)

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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Police investigate $5,500 theft from Old Town Lululemon

By James Cullum

Published October 15, 2025 at 1:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating the theft of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from the Lululemon store (700 King Street) in Old Town.

On Sept. 23 (Tuesday), the store manager reported that two women stole $5,536 in merchandise from the store at around 8:30 p.m. The manager told APD that the suspects “began selecting clothing while appearing to check the sizes of the merchandise,” and then left the store with the clothing, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Jones text scandal, ice cream assault case lead Alexandria’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 10, 2025 at 3:30PM

Democrat Jay Jones speaks in Richmond during his 2024 campaign kickoff for attorney general. Jones is now facing bipartisan backlash over newly surfaced text messages containing violent remarks about a former Republican House speaker. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories of the week.

With less than a month until the Nov. 4 general election, this week’s most-read story is on the controversy surrounding Virginia’s Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones. The National Review broke the news last Friday (Oct. 3) that in August 2022, Jones sent text messages to Del. Carrie Coyner (R-75), “fantasizing about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children,” according to the Virginia Mercury story posted on ALXnow.

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20 Old Town Boutiques ‘falling into fashion’ with deals and giveaways on Saturday

By James Cullum

Published October 10, 2025 at 12:00PM

Alexandria Days returns on Oct. 11, 2025 (courtesy image)

Twenty Old Town boutiques are falling into fashion with deals, giveaways, and more on Saturday (Oct. 11).

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the boutiques are featuring exclusive fall collections, interactive in-store activations, and seasonal bites and sips. Customers can also buy a seasonal tote from participating businesses, and enter to win a $1,000 gift card and Aiyana Atelier products, and a second prize of a $500 gift card at any participating boutique.

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Bespoke shoemaker draws months-long waitlist in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published October 9, 2025 at 5:30PM | Updated October 9, 2025 at 6:06PM

Shoemaker Drew Altizer of Old House Provisions at 315 Cameron Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

It costs between $6,000 and $9,000 to get a pair of bespoke shoes made at Old House Provisions in Old Town, and there’s a waitlist.

Shoemaker Drew Altizer opened his shop at 315 Cameron Street last December, selling custom-made men’s suits and high-end footwear from Alden, Edward Green & Co. and Viberg. If you want a pair of bespoke shoes, it might take some time, like eight-to-10 months, he says.

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Taste For Giving fundraiser returns to Old Town Nov. 7

By James Cullum

Published October 9, 2025 at 3:00PM

The 18th annual Taste For Giving in Old Town is on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 (courtesy image)

More than a dozen Alexandria and area restaurants are participating in the 18th annual Taste For Giving in Old Town next month.

Tickets for the Nov. 7 event cost $75, and proceeds benefit several Alexandria nonprofits and charities. The Alexandria Rotary Foundation is hosting the event at the Atrium Building (277 S. Washington Street) in Old Town. Over the past 17 years, the Rotary Foundation has raised more than $1.7 million for organizations throughout the city.

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32-townhome project in Old Town returns to BAR in November

By James Cullum

Published October 9, 2025 at 11:00AM

A proposal to build 32 four-story townhouses in Old Town will head back to the Board of Architectural Review next month.

Alexandria land-use attorney Ken Wire is asking the city for approval to demolish the Essex Building, an office building at 333 N. Fairfax Street built in the 1970s, and replace it with townhomes. Renderings show rows of four-story townhouses with garages and second-floor balconies encompassing an entire square block, bordered by N. Lee Street, Queen Street, and Princess Street. The BAR will review the proposal on Wednesday, Nov. 5. It will be the second concept review for the project, and city staff are advising some minor modifications.

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Researchers to share findings on Alexandria’s Civil War history, LGBTQ+ community

By James Cullum

Published October 8, 2025 at 9:30AM

Alexandria during the Civil War (image via Visit Alexandria)

Three grant recipients will unveil their findings on Alexandria’s history during the Civil War, records at Douglas Cemetery and more.

The grants were awarded as part of the Alexandria Historical Society‘s 50th anniversary celebration. The “golden grantees” will present their findings at the free event at the Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) on Wednesday, Oct. 22, starting at 6:30 p.m.

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America 250 sculpture proposed for Alexandria courthouse courtyard

By James Cullum

Published October 8, 2025 at 8:00AM

Sandy Williams IV speaks at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Oct. 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Next week, Sandy Williams IV will submit his proposal for an art installation in Alexandria to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Williams’ proposal for public art to adorn the courtyard of the Alexandria Circuit Court (520 King Street) from April to November must first receive approval from the city’s Commission for the Arts. The design is still under wraps, although the artist, who is known for creating pieces that defy convention, says that the issues the signers of the Declaration of Independence wrestled with in 1776 are similar to those faced by contemporary Americans.

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Inaugural Alexandria Book & Craft Festival bringing 14 artists, 25 authors to Old Town

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2025 at 10:00AM

The first-ever Alexandria Book and Craft Festival will be held in the Tavern Square courtyard behind 415 King Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2025 (courtesy image)

Local authors and artists will converge in Old Town later this month for the inaugural Alexandria Book and Craft Festival.

The free event from Elaine’s Literary Salon and Made in Alexandria will be held Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Tavern Square courtyard behind 415 King Street in Old Town’s Historic District. More than 15 artists and 25 authors will be on hand to display and sell their work.