Old Town | ALXnow

Published August 3, 2026 at 3:45PM

Tax free weekend at participating boutiques in Old Town (via Old Town Boutique District)

As retailers across Virginia will have tax-free promotions on certain items during this weekend’s sales tax holiday, a group of Alexandria’s independent boutiques will cover the sales tax for their entire stores.

More than 15 Old Town Alexandria boutiques are participating in a tax-free shopping weekend Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 9, covering the sales tax for customers on clothing, gifts, home decor and other items. The Old Town Boutique Community is hosting the event with support from the City of Alexandria to encourage support for local businesses during back-to-school shopping.

News

Alexandria opens remote court e-filing to non-attorneys, reversing decades-long policy

By James Cullum

Published July 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

Computer at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in the Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Clerk of the Court just launched an e-filing system for non-attorneys representing themselves in civil and criminal case filings.

Clerk Greg Parks launched the portal on July 20, reversing a decades-long practice where only Virginia attorneys have been able to file cases and look at court records remotely. The new system allows people who aren’t lawyers to register in the court’s e-filing portal and file documents via the Virginia Judiciary eFiling System.

Around Town

Old Town resident’s Velvet Wax & Beauty salon pays tribute to late mother

By Emily Leayman

Published July 30, 2026 at 9:15AM

Velvet Wax & Beauty founder Montie Green (via Velvet Wax & Beauty)

As Black Business Month approaches in August, Montie Green is reflecting back on her journey to open her Old Town business Velvet Wax & Beauty.

Green is a licensed cosmetologist and opened her first salon in Hampton ten years ago. The location at Old Town’s Crilley Warehouse (218 N. Lee Street, Suite 100) has been open for four years.

News

Upgrades underway for permanent 200 block of King Street pedestrian zone

By Emily Leayman

Published July 29, 2026 at 1:45PM

200 block of King Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

After the permanent closure of the 200 block of King Street to vehicular traffic was approved last year, Alexandria is making upgrades to the block.

The Alexandria Department of Transportation & Environmental Services announced plans to add permanent improvements to the pedestrian block. The last city budget allocated $350,000 to make improvements to the 200 block pedestrian zone.

Around Town

Mudhouse Specialty Coffee Roasters opens doors on King Street this week

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum

Published July 28, 2026 at 9:15AM

Mudhouse Cafe at 1119 King Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

The King Street corridor in Old Town is gaining another coffee shop as Mudhouse Specialty Coffee Roasters opens its doors this week.

Mudhouse will open on Wednesday (July 29) at 1119 King Street, staff confirmed to ALXnow. This will be the Charlottesville-founded coffee roaster’s sixth location, joining two in Charlottesville, and ones in Richmond, Crozet and Charleston, S.C.

Around Town

Alexandria Restaurant Week returns in August at over 75 eateries

By Emily Leayman

Published July 24, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated August 20, 2026 at 3:28PM

1799 Prime Steak & Seafood (via Misha Enriquez for Visit Alexandria)

Foodies will have the chance to try new eateries or return to old favorites during the next Alexandria Restaurant Week in August.

Alexandria Restaurant Week, held twice a year in January and August, will be held over 10 days from Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 23. Full-service restaurants will serve prix fixe dinner menus at $35, $45 or $55 per person, and fast casual restaurants will have their own offers.

Around Town

Penny Post expects line for popular Stationery Store Day in August

By Emily Leayman

Published July 23, 2026 at 2:45PM

Penny Post at 1201 King Street (courtesy of Penny Post)

Old Town stationery store Penny Post is getting ready for its biggest day of the year.

Penny Post (1201 King Street) will hold its fifth annual Stationery Store Day, an in-store-only event to celebrate all things pen, paper and analog. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.

Around Town

Fish Market celebrating 50th anniversary in Old Town this Thursday

By James Cullum

Published July 20, 2026 at 11:45AM

Customers waiting for food orders outside of The Fish Market on King Street, April 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The Fish Market, a fixture on lower King Street in Old Town, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this Thursday (July 23).

The one-night-only party starts at 5 p.m. with live music, a throwback menu and 32-ounce beer schooners.

Around Town

What’s on in Alexandria this weekend: Old Town Pub Crawl, Stewart Copeland show

By Emily Leayman

Published July 17, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated July 17, 2026 at 4:29PM

Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar at 112 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Old Town Pub Crawl, a sold-out show with The Police drummer Stewart Copeland, historical tours and other events will keep Alexandrians busy throughout the weekend.

After a Code Purple Air Quality Alert on Friday, conditions should somewhat improve for outdoor events this weekend. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is predicting a moderate air quality index on Saturday.

News

Police: Accidental shooting in Old Town sends man to hospital Friday morning

By James Cullum

Published July 17, 2026 at 12:15PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A man was injured when he accidentally discharged his gun Friday morning (July 17) inside a home in Old Town.

The 66-year-old man called 911 around 6:15 a.m. to report that he was alone at home in the 300 block of Wilkes Street when he shot himself in his left hand with a handgun, according to Alexandria Police Department radio dispatches.

Around Town

Lee-Fendall House names new director amid ongoing preservation efforts

By Emily Leayman

Published July 16, 2026 at 10:30AM

Jenny Waters was named the new museum director of Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden (via Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden)

The Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden has announced the appointment of Jenny Waters as the new museum director in the midst of preservation efforts for the historic property.

The promotion was made by the museum’s board of directors. Waters first joined the Lee-Fendall House as a collections management intern in summer 2022 to catalog and care for the museum’s collection. She was named collections assistant in fall 2022 and the collections and programming manager in summer 2023.