Old Town | ALXnow

Izalia Hair Removal & Rejuvenation Laser Spa permanently closes in Old Town

Published June 5, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated June 5, 2025 at 1:33PM

Izalia Hair Removal & Rejuvenation Laser Spa at 114 S. Patrick Street is permanently closed (via NextDoor)

After nearly 20 years in Old Town, Izalia Hair Removal & Rejuvenation Laser Spa permanently closed this week. The company’s website is down, and so are their Facebook and Instagram pages.

In a farewell email to customers, founder Annette Antonelli stated that the situation is “heartbreaking” and that the business had been operating at a loss for “quite a while.” She also said the closure is partly due to customers who did not meet their agreed-upon dates for multiple laser hair removal sessions and consequently expected free treatments.

News

Livewell Animal Hospital to open location in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 4, 2025 at 5:30PM

Livewell Animal Hospital rendering at 277 S. Washington Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

National veterinary chain Livewell Animal Hospital is planning on opening in Old Town.

Livewell is currently hiring a hospital manager and a lead veterinarian for its Alexandria location in the Atrium building at 277 S. Washington Street in Old Town. Additionally, there is a Board of Architectural Review meeting scheduled for Thursday night (June 5) to discuss adding an illuminated sign to the exterior of the building and animal-shaped vinyl decals to the glass windows and front doors.

Around Town

Alexandria’s ‘Make in Public Day’ returns to showcase local creativity

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 3, 2025 at 6:45PM

fibre space Announces Alexandria Make in Public Day: A Colorful Celebration of Creativity to Celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day (via fibre space)

Alexandria is gearing up for its annual Make in Public Day on Sunday (June 8).

Make in Public Day is a vibrant, community-wide celebration of creativity and craft. Originally launched 16 years ago as a small local meet-up for World Wide Knit in Public Day, the event has grown into a beloved tradition that drew over 350 participants last year.

News

Old Town edges Del Ray 24-23 in annual softball battle

By James Cullum

Published June 3, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated June 3, 2025 at 3:41PM

Team Old Town at the seventh annual softball game against Team Del Ray, June 2, 2025 (via Visit Del Ray/Facebook)

The John Porter Cup is back in Old Town.

Old Town’s business community defeated Del Ray 24-23 in their seventh annual five-inning softball game at Eugene Simpson Park (426 E. Monroe Avenue). The win put an end to Del Ray’s three-year streak.

News

Check out the concept designs for Waterfront Taco Factory in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 3, 2025 at 12:30PM

Concept design for 2 Prince Street near the Alexandria waterfront in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Plans to partially demolish the former Big Wheel Bikes property in Old Town and replace it with a taco restaurant are heading to Alexandria’s Board of Architectural Review.

On June 5 (Thursday), the Board will assess a permit to demolish and a certificate of appropriateness for proposed alterations for the property located a block away from the Potomac River.

News

Red or Gray brick? Designs for Old Town multifamily apartment building head to city review

By James Cullum

Published June 3, 2025 at 11:30AM

Red brick -- Pedestrian perspective from the southeast of the project at 802-808 N. Washington Street (via City of Alexandria)

A plan to convert a former motel on N. Washington Street into a multifamily building and a townhouse is heading to the Board of Architectural Review on Thursday (June 5).

Maryland-based PT Blooms is asking the Board of Architectural Review to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness to redevelop the property at 802 and 808 N. Washington Street into The Whitley — Phase 2, a 48-unit building with one- to three-bedroom condos. That’s the former Towne Motel property, which closed in 2017 and didn’t reopen as a Holiday Inn Express as planned.

News

Moms Demand Action hosting Wear Orange rally against gun violence in Old Town on Friday

By James Cullum

Published June 2, 2025 at 1:45PM

Wear Orange Day rally (via Moms Demand Action/Facebook)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Del Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) will join the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action onstage at Market Square (301 King Street) on Friday (June 6).

Friday is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and the annual rally is part of Wear Orange Weekend. Gun violence victims will be honored in events throughout the country by affected families and supporters. The city’s new Poet Laureate, Cristi Donoso, will also speak at the event, which includes an on-site blood mobile and a community resource fair.

News

Notes: Old Town, Del Ray businesses battle tonight for charity, bragging rights

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 2, 2025 at 8:00AM

The 7th Annual Del Ray vs. Old Town Softball Battle is on Monday, June 2, at Simpson Field (Via Visit Del Ray/Facebook)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 76 degrees. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the morning. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 55 degrees. Calm wind.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 30, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated May 31, 2025 at 12:49AM

Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, May 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What a week we just had in Alexandria!

Here’s our recap of everything worth talking and reading about over the past week in the Port City. This week, Alexandria was named a Sanctuary Jurisdiction by the Trump administration, a distinction Mayor Alyia Gaskins said “wrongly targets and mischaracterizes Alexandria and dismisses core principles that make up the foundation of our democracy.”

News

Alexandria’s City Hall grows 26% in new development plans

By James Cullum

Published May 30, 2025 at 12:45PM

Alexandria City Hall preliminary site development plan (via City of Alexandria)

The preliminary development site plan for the renovation of Alexandria’s City Hall, Market Square Plaza, and underground parking garage is heading to the Planning Commission.

The city wants to increase the gross floor area at City Hall from an existing 122,171 square feet to 153,332 square feet (a 26% expansion), while maintaining the size of Market Square plaza at 2,975 square feet and the 234-space parking garage at 91,562 square feet.

News

Alexandria City Pipes and Drums to play summer concert in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published May 29, 2025 at 12:00PM

The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums at a celebration for Noah Lyles at Chinquapin Park, Sept. 22, 2024 (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Bagpipe and kilt lovers can get their fill early next month, as the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums will take the stage for their summer concert at Market Square.

The June 5 (Thursday) concert will be held in front of City Hall (301 King Street) from 7:45 to 8:30 p.m.