Old Town | ALXnow

Published September 25, 2026 at 1:45PM

The 100 block of King Street in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

September is already approaching its end, and fall events are ramping up around Alexandria.

Some of the month’s biggest events are taking place this weekend — the returning Alexandria Fall Art Festival in Carlyle and sold-out 84th Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour in Old Town. Other highlights include the new Old Town Beauty Crawl, Alexandria Film Festival’s premiere of “Ask E. Jean,” the Friends of Beatley Central Library book sale, Wilderness Kids Alexandria Music Festival and an event with “The Silver Linings Playbook” author Matthew Quick.

Around Town

Jewelry store gorjana files paperwork to open on King Street

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2026 at 9:15AM

Rendering of proposed changes to 726 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

A California-based jewelry store has filed paperwork to open a location at 726 King Street.

There are more than 130 gorjana jewelry stores across the country, the nearest located in Tysons Corner, D.C. and Bethesda, Md. The company is asking Alexandria’s Board of Architectural Review to approve its certificate of appropriateness at its meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

News

Asbestos removal drains $3M from Alexandria City Hall renovation budget

By James Cullum

Published September 24, 2026 at 3:45PM

City Hall renovations (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s City Hall renovation faced a major challenge this summer with the removal of additional asbestos, city staff told City Council on Tuesday (Sept. 22).

Contractors working on the massive renovation project spent 10 weeks and more than $3 million in reserve funds to demolish and safely remove an entire section of asbestos-contaminated wall facing King Street that was installed in the 1960s.

News

ALX Pink Gala supporting breast cancer care returns Friday to Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 23, 2026 at 2:45PM

As seen at the ALX Pink Gala (via ALX Pink Gala)

It’s time to dig the pink dress or suit out of the closet, because tickets are still available for the third annual ALX Pink Gala.

The ALX Pink Gala will return to the ALX Community Atrium at 277 S. Washington Street in Old Town on Friday, Sept. 25. Tickets cost $125 apiece, and $175 to attend a rooftop VIP reception. Proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Collective, an Alexandria-based nonprofit that helps women in underserved communities get access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Weather

UPDATED: Coastal Flood Advisory in Alexandria extended to Thursday afternoon

By ALXnow.com

Published September 22, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated September 22, 2026 at 4:05PM

Homes on the Alexandria waterfront along the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

As rainfall continued Tuesday, Alexandria could see coastal flooding impacts along the Potomac River through most of the week.

The National Weather Service extended the Coastal Flood Advisory for Alexandria to 2 p.m. Thursday. The risk of coastal flooding on the Potomac River shoreline is greater during high tide. The next high tides will be 6:25 p.m. Tuesday and 6:38 a.m. Wednesday.

News

Carlyle House and Winkler Nature Preserve set for upgrades under new NOVA Parks budget

By Emily Leayman

Published September 21, 2026 at 3:45PM

Winkler Botanical Preserve (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Plans for upgrades at two NOVA Parks-owned Alexandria properties are getting a boost under the regional park system’s latest capital budget.

The fiscal years 2027-2031 budget adopted by the NOVA Parks Board of Directors on Sept. 17 allocates $1.5 million for building renovations at Carlyle House Historic Park (121 N. Fairfax Street) and $1 million for Winkler Botanical Preserve (5400 Roanoke Avenue) entrance improvements.

Around Town

Alexandria Oktoberfest, Chalk-A-Block, Classic Car Show lead weekend events

By Emily Leayman

Published September 18, 2026 at 3:45PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins at a previous Chalk-A-Block in Old Town North (courtesy of Old Town North Alliance)

As September continues, more and more festivals and other events are happening around Alexandria.

Families will find events for all kinds of interests, from shopping and art to history. It’s a busy weekend between Alexandria Oktoberfest, The Lyceum’s Classic Car Show, Old Town Boutique Community’s Alexandria Days and Alexandria Library’s Black Family Reunion. Old Town North particularly has a lot going on — Chalk-A-Block, Alexandria Canal History Pub Crawl and Vintage Flea and Artisans Market.

News

Hundreds of near-misses prompt push for stop sign cameras, more measures in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published September 15, 2026 at 3:45PM

The roundabout at Hickory and Kennedy Streets in Alexandria's Potomac West neighborhood, November 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After collecting reports on hundreds of near-miss crashes over the last year and a half, Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets is calling on Alexandria to deploy new authority over stop sign cameras and other measures to address driver behaviors.

Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets, which includes an Alexandria chapter, collected 241 near-miss reports in the city between January 2025 and June 2026. While crashes are recorded on the city’s dashboard, the organization takes resident reports of near-misses by text and online survey.

Around Town

Alexandria’s first-ever Old Town Beauty Crawl organized by over a dozen businesses

By Emily Leayman

Published September 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

Inside perfume store Arielle Shoshana in Old Town (courtesy of Arielle Shoshana)

More than a dozen shops and salons will team up to offer specials in Alexandria’s first-ever beauty crawl.

The Old Town Beauty Crawl will run Friday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Sep. 27 at participating businesses in Old Town. Shops and salons specializing in cosmetics, fragrance, skincare, haircare or beauty treatments will offer promotions and prizes throughout the three-day weekend.

Around Town

Alexandria’s Bastille Brasserie & Bar celebrates 20 years with exclusive anniversary dinner

By James Cullum

Published September 14, 2026 at 3:45PM

Bastille Brasserie & Bar at 606 N. Fayette Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

Bon appétit! Bastille Brasserie & Bar (606 N. Fayette Street) is celebrating a milestone this Thursday, Sept. 17.

It’s the French restaurant’s 20th anniversary, and the evening features a one-night-only, $155 per-person four-course dinner with wine pairings. Chefs and owners Christophe and Michelle Poteaux opened the restaurant in 2006, and they’re calling the anniversary celebration “Icons at 20.”

News

Residential developments, outdoor stage and fine increase on City Council’s Sept. 19 docket

By James Cullum

Published September 14, 2026 at 11:45AM

415 N. Alfred Street (via Google Maps)

It’s going to be a long public hearing with the Alexandria City Council on Saturday, Sept. 19.

New construction in the Parker-Gray Historic District, adding outdoor entertainment to a Del Ray business and increasing fines for writing bad checks to the city are just a few of the items the Alexandria City Council will consider. This is City Council’s first public hearing since returning from summer recess.