Old Town | ALXnow

Published May 20, 2026 at 11:45AM

The Tall Ship Providence sails to its new home, The Senator John Warner Maritime Heritage Center at Waterfront Park (staff photo by James Cullum)

As Alexandria prepares for a major waterfront festival next month, the Office of Historic Alexandria is seeking hundreds of volunteers to assist with four tall ship tours.

The city put out a call for volunteers to take shifts at the Sails on the Potomac waterfront festival from June 12-14, one of the city’s America250 events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. A highlight of the three-day festival will be free timed tours of four tall ships — Swedish Navy warship replica Kalmar Nyckel, Royal Navy schooner replica Sultana, historic fishing vessel Gazela and Alexandria’s own Continental Navy ship replica Providence.

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Former CIA officer turned chef from Alexandria teases long run on Food Network’s ‘100 Cooks’

By James Cullum

Published May 19, 2026 at 3:45PM

Alexandria's Amy Decker is appearing on Food Network's new show 100 Cooks on Sunday, June 7 (courtesy of Amy Decker)

Alexandria’s Amy Decker can’t say exactly what happens in her upcoming appearance on Food Network’s new show “100 Cooks.” Still, she felt comfortable enough to say that she didn’t win the $250,000 final prize but told ALXnow, “I got pretty damn far.”

Decker lives in Old Town with her husband and started cooking in 2020 while working as a staff operations officer for the CIA’s director of operations. She says she learned everything from cookbooks and that same year started Decker Delights, creating how-to videos for people stuck at home during the pandemic. That same year, she applied to be on a Food Network show hosted by Valerie Bertinelli, but it didn’t get picked up.

Around Town

INTERVIEW: Alexandria’s world-champ whistler shares life lessons

By James Cullum

Published May 15, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated May 15, 2026 at 3:10PM

Chris Ullman whistles at a Duke University basketball game (Jon Gardiner/DukePhotography)

Alexandria’s world champion whistler Chris Ullman has his sights — and lips — set on whistling at an NFL game and before the Pope.

Ullman, the subject of a recent Wall Street Journal profile, sat down with ALXnow to talk about being a four-time national and international whistling champion (1994, 1996, 1999 and 2000) and the author of the memoir “Find Your Whistle.” Ullman has whistled for President George W. Bush and top administration officials in the oval office, on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno and “The Today Show” with Katie Couric, at Major League Baseball games, college basketball games, with jazz bands and symphony orchestras, and even a funeral.

Around Town

‘I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing,’ says Old Town shop owner after mid-career change

By James Cullum

Published May 15, 2026 at 12:15PM | Updated May 15, 2026 at 4:05PM

Jess Moak, owner of Eries Interiors at 103 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

In 2023, Jess Moak left behind a career as a program manager for large nonprofits to start her own interior design shop in Old Town.

The New York native opened her store Eries Interiors opened Eries Interiors at a 300-square-foot space at 101 S. St. Asaph Street in October 2024. The following month, a fire next door at 103 S. St. Asaph Street temporarily shuttered three women-owned businesses. The landlord spent nearly a year renovating the 1,800-square-foot space and approached Moak with a proposal to help design the interior and move in. Last October, Moak signed a lease and opened in time for Black Friday at 103 S. St. Asaph Street.

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No injuries after townhouse fire on Prince Street in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2026 at 2:30PM | Updated May 15, 2026 at 11:54AM

Fire in the 100 block of Prince Street in Old Town on May 14, 2026 (via APD/Facebook)

No injuries were reported after a fire at a townhouse on Prince Street in Old Town this afternoon (Thursday).

Alexandria Fire Department crews responded at around 1 p.m. and found a fire on the second floor of a three-and-a-half-story townhouse in the 100 block of Prince Street, near the intersection with S. Union Street. The fire was extinguished around 1:20 p.m., according to radio dispatches. AFD reported on social media at 1:40 p.m. that the fire was out, that no one was injured and asked the public to avoid the area.

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City Council members revive Old Town Business Improvement District discussion after previous failed attempts

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated May 14, 2026 at 2:26PM

Members of the Alexandria City Council at the Chamber ALX's annual City Council Breakfast at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town on May 14, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Despite multiple failed attempts over the past decade, two Alexandria City Council members advocated Thursday (May 14) for bringing a Business Improvement District to Old Town.

Under a challenging economic outlook, City Council Members Sandy Marks and John Taylor Chapman said that Old Town’s business community needs an organized push to attract visitors. The council members made the remarks during the Chamber ALX’s annual City Council Breakfast, which was held at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town (1767 King Street).

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Alexandria looks for creative parking solutions after closure of Market Square parking garage

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2026 at 3:55PM

Alexandria City Council on May 12, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With the closure of the parking garage underneath City Hall, Alexandria is working on several creative solutions for a growing problem — parking in the heart of Old Town.

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1800s Old Town home could give way to three-story townhouse under owner’s proposal

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2026 at 11:45AM

A rendering of 1126 Prince Street (center) in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

The owner of a small historic home in Old Town wants to demolish and replace it with a three-level townhouse.

The Board of Architectural Review will consider the proposal at its meeting June 3. The one-story building at 1126 Prince Street is only 22 feet wide by 40 feet deep, and its use has shifted from residential to commercial and back over the years. The building was constructed in 1830 and was assessed at $117,855 earlier this year. The 1,700-square-foot lot was assessed at $385,951, putting the total property value at just over half a million dollars.

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City hosting pre-construction meeting for median project on Route 1 in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2026 at 9:45AM

Blueprint of the S. Patrick Street Median Improvement Project in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria will host a pre-construction meeting on Monday (May 11) ahead of several months of planned construction on a section of Route 1 in Old Town.

The city says that its South Patrick Street Median Improvement Project will “improve pedestrian safety and improve connectivity between the Southwest Quadrant neighborhood and Old Town Alexandria east of South Patrick Street (US Route 1).” The project, totaling nearly $4.3 million, is expected to break ground on June 1 and wrap up in late January 2027, according to a meeting description.

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Developer cancels rooftop deck in Old Town office-to-residential conversion

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2026 at 8:30AM

720 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town North (via Google Maps)

Plans for a roof deck in an Old Town office-to-apartment conversion project need to be canceled, according to paperwork recently filed with the city.

The building’s owner wants to convert the 1970s-era office building at 720 N. St. Asaph Street into a 12-unit multifamily apartment building with ground-level commercial space. Previous plans also called for a roof deck, which the current building would not be able to support, according to a special use permit amendment application.

Around Town

Alexandria’s annual community cookout series launches today

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 10:00AM

Community Cookouts (via City of Alexandria)

The 19th annual Alexandria Community Cookout series launches today (Thursday), bringing weekly events with free food, activities and giveaways across the city.

More than 50 city agencies and nonprofits are participating in the weekly cookouts, which are expected to reach thousands of Alexandria residents this spring and summer. The first cookout, delayed by yesterday’s weather, will take place on its rain date today at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center from 6-7:30 p.m.