A popular South Korean coffee shop chain is opening its first U.S. location in Alexandria in mid-October.
Twosome Place was founded in 2002 in South Korea, and there are now more than 1,750 locations around the world. The cafe will open at 404 King Street on the ground level of the Alexandrian hotel.
Major things are happening at Alexandria’s City Hall, as the city says that the last six months have been spent removing asbestos and other hazardous material from the building at 301 King Street.
In a release, the city also reported that the project has been pushed back 10 weeks due to unexpected areas needing asbestos abatement. Now with that part of the project complete, crews in September will start deconstruction of an addition to the building made in the 1960s.
An Alexandria resident is hoping to find the people who assisted him in a water rescue emergency at Jones Point Park in Old Town over the weekend.
The resident, who opted to remain anonymous, was flying a kite at Jones Point Park on the afternoon of Saturday (Aug. 29). Not realizing there wasn’t a barrier along the Potomac River’s edge, he stepped backward and accidentally fell in.
It’s the final weekend of August, and there’s still summer fun happening even after the kids went back to school.
The Around the World Cultural Food Festival will be the biggest event of the weekend, bringing visitors to Alexandria’s Oronoco Bay Park for food, performances and vendors. Other notable events include the annual remembrance event for lynching victim Benjamin Thomas and the Alexandria City High School Titans’ first home football game of the season.
Chadwicks in Old Town recently won a write-in effort to be named the winner in ALXnow’s Best bar in Alexandria poll.
With only 15 spots available, Chadwicks (203 The Strand) wasn’t listed in the poll, which was held July 31 to Aug. 14. Owner Trae Lamond says that what followed was a grassroots effort for customers to cast write-in votes. After duplicate votes were excluded, Chadwicks edged out the competition and won the poll.
The owner of an Old Town office building is asking the city for permission to modify its parking lot to make space for six three-story townhomes.
Merion Group, the owner of 330 N. Washington Street, will present plans to the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, Sept. 16. The building is home to a Wells Fargo bank, and Merion Group wants to eliminate two of the three drive-thru banking aisles to make way for six three-story townhomes with rear-loading parking garages and rooftop terraces.
Even though Alexandria Restaurant Week ended Sunday, diners have another chance to score special menus for a second restaurant week.
Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s Summer Restaurant Week runs from Monday, Aug. 24 to Sunday, Aug. 30. Participating eateries have a choice of offering $25 or $35-per-person brunch or lunch menus and $40, $55 and $65-per-person dinner menus. Some restaurants may extend specials beyond the weekend.
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.
