Got a Christmas tree yet?
The Alexandria Police Department has already sold more than 300 trees in its annual sale at 110 Callahan Drive — just outside Alexandria Union Station.
Old Town
After yet another push to get an Old Town Business Improvement District (BID) off the ground in Old Town failed, business advocacy group Old Town Business is shutting down.
Old Town Business was launched 40 years ago and helps to oversee advocacy, events and marketing for shops around Old Town. The group was one of the driving forces behind the latest in a series of efforts to launch a more formal, taxpayer-funded effort to take over for marketing and representing Old Town Businesses.
In what is maybe the most Old Towny of business openings: a new cobbler is setting up shop in Old Town just behind City Hall.
Old House Provisions, a menswear store launched by 29-year-old “bespoke shoemaker” Drew Altizer, is opening next weekend at 315A Cameron Street. The store will also feature an on-site shoemaking workshop.
Two popular Alexandria parks on the waterfront are about to close for a while, and the city is soliciting feedback on their redevelopment.
Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street) and Point Lumley Park (1 Duke Street) in Old Town are prone to frequent flooding. Both will be redeveloped as the city plans on rebuilding segments of sea wall and installing a pumping station at Waterfront Park to move floodwaters back out to the Potomac River.
Thanida Thai Restaurant and Bar has a new home in Old Town.
The traditional Thai restaurant was forced to move due to the redevelopment of the Montgomery Center in Old Town North. It’s now located at 1210 N. Fayette Street, which is about a half-mile from the Braddock Road Metro station.
The holidays officially brightened up in Alexandria with the annual lighting of the city’s Christmas tree on Saturday night.
Mayor Justin Wilson joked with Santa Claus onstage in front of City Hall (301 King Street) before the official countdown to spark the 40,000 lights on the 40-foot-tall plastic tree.
There’s a lot that people want to see out of the renovations to City Hall and the adjacent Market Square. Fundamentally, though, most respondents to the city’s survey want Market Square to continue operating as a real market.
Market Square regularly hosts activities on the plaza, including the ever popular Old Town Farmers’ Market — the oldest farmers’ market in the country continuously held at the same site.
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GLO30, a skincare studio that says it uses “breakthrough AI technology”, opened last month in Old Town.
The new studio opened at ALX Community Founders Hall (106 N. Lee Street) last month.
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No one was injured, but a fire this weekend has shuttered three Old Town businesses.
The Friends to Lovers Bookstore opened four days ago at 103 S. St Asaph Street, and closed along with Madam Coco — Emporium and Everything Chocolate and the Little Birdies kids boutique.
Get your walking shoes on, because the Alexandria City Council voted Saturday to shut down the 200 block of King Street this holiday season, as well as next spring and summer.
The unanimous vote was made without discussion, and the closure will happen in two phases. The 200 block will first close from Nov. 22 to Jan. 6, and the second phase is from March 14 to Sept. 30.
Bagpipes, kilts and crowds in red-and-green plaid. The 53rd annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is around the corner.
Here’s your guide to one of Alexandria’s most celebrated and well-attended weekends of the year. Hundreds of costumed musicians, dancers, performers and thousands of spectators are expected to attend the free event, which is produced by Visit Alexandria, the Campagna Center and the city.