Old Town | ALXnow

Published August 17, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated August 21, 2026 at 1:24PM

The upcoming location of Long Dark House at 1510 King Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

Long Dark House, a bookstore dedicated to horror, science fiction and other dark titles, will open its doors at the start of September.

The independent bookstore will open at 1510 King Street at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1. A grand opening from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 will include special activities all day. Author Lisa Jones Gentry will be at the opening to sign copies of “A Dead Man Speaks,” which can be preordered through Long Dark House. The grand opening will also have specially themed matcha drinks from Whisked Away Cafe, chocolates and gifts from Madame Coco’s Emporium, raffle prizes, music and more.

News

Roof replacement sought at Old Town’s Carlyle House to avoid water damage

By James Cullum

Published August 17, 2026 at 11:45AM

Carlyle House in Alexandria (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Some exterior changes could be coming to Carlyle House in Old Town.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is asking the city to approve a plan to replace the wood shingles with a standing seam metal roof on the nearly 275-year-old mansion at 121 N. Fairfax Street. The first mansion ever constructed in Alexandria was built by city founder and merchant John Carlyle in 1751.

Around Town

Restaurant Week, Bands & Brews, Sidewalk Sale top busy weekend of Alexandria events

By Emily Leayman

Published August 14, 2026 at 3:45PM

Food at Elaine’s (via Cynthia Higgins for Visit Alexandria)

If you’re staying in town this weekend, there’s plenty to look forward to from Alexandria’s lineup of events.

Between the Summer Sidewalk Sale in Old Town, Bands & Brews in Del Ray and the ongoing Alexandria Restaurant Week across the city, there’s no shortage of event options.

News

The Twig prepares for 84th annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour to support Inova hospital

By Beth Lawton

Published August 13, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated August 25, 2026 at 12:42PM

Inside the 810 Prince Street home on a previous Historic Alexandria Homes Tour (courtesy of Home Visions Media)

Tickets are on sale now for the popular fall historic homes tour organized by The Twig.

The 84th annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Ticket sales end on Sept. 10. There are 1,400 tickets available — 200 more than last year — and the event usually sells out.

Around Town

Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale set for this weekend at dozens of Old Town boutiques

By Emily Leayman

Published August 13, 2026 at 1:45PM

Eries Interiors at 103 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Shoppers will descend upon Old Town this weekend in search of the best deals of the summer at local boutiques.

The Old Town Boutique Community will host its 17th annual Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale from Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 16 at participating boutiques. Dozens of independent boutiques will offer merchandise displays on the sidewalk and their deepest discounts of the season, and some will have extra promotions or activities for shoppers.

News

Tech startups with high-growth potential chosen for Alexandria business accelerator

By Emily Leayman

Published August 12, 2026 at 1:45PM

Railroad view from the Potomac Yard Metro station in January 2026 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Eleven tech startups with high prospects of growth have joined Alexandria’s first-ever tech accelerator program, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership announced with program manager FedTech and the City of Alexandria Wednesday (Aug. 12).

The 11 participants were chosen among 41 applications for the Accelerate ALX program beginning in August. According to AEDP, the companies “represent high-growth sectors including defense, aerospace, health tech, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and cybersecurity.”

Around Town

South Korean coffee shop chain Twosome Place to open in Old Town

By Beth Lawton

Published August 11, 2026 at 11:45AM

The future Twosome Place at 404 King Street (staff photo by Beth Lawton)

The expansion of coffee shops continues as an international brand plans a location in Old Town.

Construction has started on Twosome Place, a new coffee shop and dessert cafe at 404 King Street.

Around Town

Tax-free shopping and Port to Port Festival lead off Alexandria’s weekend events

By Emily Leayman

Published August 7, 2026 at 3:45PM

Port to Port Beer Festival (via Port City Brewing Company)

Beer lovers and shoppers alike will find things to keep them busy this weekend in Alexandria.

If you want to sample beers from different places, Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Co. is gathering breweries from around the country for its Port to Port Beer Festival. Shoppers will have extra reason to head out on the town between Virginia’s sales tax holiday and Old Town Boutiques’ special Tax-Free Weekend promotion.

Around Town

Del Ray Montessori School moving to Old Town in December

By James Cullum

Published August 6, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated August 6, 2026 at 6:05PM

721 N. Columbus Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

The Del Ray Montessori School, earlier this month, won approval from the city to change ownership and reopen a decades-old daycare that closed in Old Town last year.

The city’s planning and zoning director, on Aug. 5, approved change of ownership paperwork, allowing Del Ray Montessori School to reopen at 721 N. Columbus Street. That is the former home of the Flagstone School, a licensed daycare for young children (18 months to five years old) that closed last fall after more than 30 years in business.

Around Town

Bookstore Long Dark House, Madame Coco’s Emporium aim for September opening in Old Town

By Beth Lawton

Published August 5, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated August 5, 2026 at 11:50AM

Long Dark House’s Chanthal Harris and Madame Coco’s Meshelle Armstrong (courtesy of Meshelle Armstrong)

Madame Coco’s Emporium will return to Old Town in mid-September alongside Long Dark House, a new bookstore focused on science fiction, horror and dark titles.

The new businesses will share space at 1510 King Street. Madame Coco’s Emporium is the brainchild of Meshelle Armstrong, while Long Dark House is the realization of a lifelong dream by Chanthal Harris.

News

APD seeks suspect in struggle over vehicle in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published August 4, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Alexandria Police Department is looking for the suspect behind an alleged attempted robbery involving the victim’s vehicle earlier in July.

Around 12:15 a.m. on Monday, July 13, APD was dispatched to the area of N. Henry Street and Pendleton Street in Old Town for a fight without weapons. The victim told police that he parked his white Toyota Corolla sedan and left it running with the hazard lights on and doors open to “conduct business” outside a dental office, and returned to his car to find an unknown man getting into it, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.