Old Town

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Pro-Palestine groups in Old Town protest ‘dangerous’ bills in the Virginia General Assembly

By James Cullum
Salma Jahani, an organizer with Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights, speaks against a number of bills in the General Assembly at a protest outside City Hall in Old Town, Jan. 25, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A number of pending bills in the Virginia General Assembly reward Israel and threaten Palestinian supporters, according to protestors outside Alexandria’s City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

The weather was near freezing as more than 50 protestors held signs, chanted and spoke out against legislation that they say targets Palestinian solidarity and activism, in addition to free speech and academic freedom. The effort was organized by three groups seeking a ceasefire in Gaza — Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights, Arlington for Palestine, and the George Mason University Coalition for Palestine.

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Old Town restaurant cracks top ten in Washingtonian’s ‘100 Very Best Restaurants’ ranking

By Vernon Miles
Dish at Nasime Japanese Restaurant (via Nasime Japanese Restaurant/Facebook)

Two Alexandria restaurants made Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants 2025 list, with one Old Town spot landing at the number 8 spot.

The list ranks restaurants around DC, Maryland and Virginia.

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NBC4 hosting early morning pep rally for Washington Commanders in Old Town on Friday

By James Cullum
The Washington Commanders Read program visited Mount Vernon Community School, Sept. 26, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

NBC4 is hosting a pep rally Friday morning for the Washington Commanders in the run-up to the NFC Championship against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

NBC4 journalist Molette Green will host the pep rally at Cooper Mill (10 Duke Street), a former Civil War mess hall that recently opened as a restaurant.

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Old Town’s Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe celebrates getting 1,000 cats adopted

By Vernon Miles
Tigger, the 1,000th cat adopted at Mount Purrnon (photo via Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and Wine Bar/Facebook)

Cute kitty Tigger has found his “forever home” and has the unique distinction of being the 1,000th cat adopted via Old Town’s Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and Wine Bar (109 S. Alfred Street), Alexandria Living Magazine reported.

The cafe posted on social media that the cat marks a milestone for the cafe that started back in 2020.

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Faulty POS system caused fire that shuttered three Old Town businesses

By James Cullum
(Left to right) Meshelle Armstrong, Aung Sone and owner Stacey Wharam at their new venture, The Parlour, at 115 S. Royal Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A faulty point of sale (POS) system is the cause of the November fire that destroyed three businesses in the heart of Old Town, one of the business owner’s tells ALXnow.

No one was injured in the Nov. 17 blaze at 103. S. St. Asaph Street, but it shut down three local businesses — Friends to Lovers Bookstore, Madam Coco — Emporium and Everything Chocolate and the Little Birdies kids boutique.

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PHOTOS: The first snowstorm of the year in Alexandria

By James Cullum
(Left to right) Giuseppe H, Ariel L. and Luca H. at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria was transformed into a winter wonderland Monday morning.

It was quiet around the city Monday morning, as schools were canceled and local roadways are snow-covered.

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Big Wheel Bikes in Old Town braces for replacement by taco restaurant

By Vernon Miles
Big Wheel Bikes manager Bennett Moore (courtesy photo)

Big Wheel Bikes has been selling bicycles to Alexandrians or renting them out to visitors traveling the Mount Vernon Trail for 30 years, but its current location at 2 Prince Street could close sometime in the next year.

Store manager Bennett Moore told ALXnow that the shop had gone from a long term lease to a year-to-year lease and that, ultimately, waterfront developer Murray Bonitt wanted to put a restaurant called Waterfront Taco Factory in the space.

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Former Abyssinia Market in Old Town being replaced by a new location from another local coffee spot

By Vernon Miles
Croissant at Cafe du Soleil (image via Cafe du Soleil/Instagram)

Abyssinia Market, a cafe at 720 Jefferson Street that closed this past June, is being replaced with a new location from Old Town’s Cafe du Soleil.

In a new special use permit filing, Cafe du Soleil owners stated the new location will be a coffee house much like the current location at 215 South Union Street with light breakfast foods like egg sandwiches, avocado toast and other breakfast items like crepes.

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Things To Do in Alexandria this Weekend: Dec. 27 – 29

By Ryan Belmore
Ice & Lights: The Winter Village At Cameron Run in 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Here’s a roundup of all the festivities, events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend, Friday, December 27, through Sunday, December 29, 2024.

Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.

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