🌱 City Of Alexandria Recognized For Being A 'Vibrant Place To Live, Work, Play': Best Of 2025

Hey there, Alexandria! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Alexandria earned a Best of 2025 spotlight from locals
• How will 640 new Potomac Yard homes change Alexandria’s housing mix?
• How a new subcommittee could reshape Alexandria’s crowded middle schools.

Also on today's calendar: Frosty Fun Workshop on December 20th!.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Alexandria? Post it to Alexandria photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 40 and low of 28 degrees.
• Wednesday: Times of sun and clouds, temps: high: 52, low: 30.
• Thursday: A stray afternoon shower, with a high of 53 and low of 45 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. City Of Alexandria Recognized For Being A 'Vibrant Place To Live, Work, Play': Best Of 2025 (patch.com) — Residents are celebrating Alexandria’s recognition as a vibrant place to live, work and play, highlighted in Patch and T-Mobile’s Best of 2025 series. The nomination praises the city’s support for local businesses, parks, bikeways and Restaurant Weeks, and invites Alexandrians to share their own standout people and places from this year.
   

2. 640-Unit Mixed-Use Project In Alexandria's Potomac Yard Approved By City Council (patch.com) — Alexandria City Council has approved a 640-unit mixed-use project in Potomac Yard, adding market-rate and affordable apartments, townhomes, and new retail near the Metro. The development spans several sites along Main Line Boulevard, Potomac Avenue, and E. Glebe Road, promising more housing options, open space, and community amenities like a gym, community room, and potential neighborhood-serving shops.
   

3. Advocates support proposal for new ACPS subcommittee focused on capacity challenges (alxnow.com) — Alexandria officials are considering a new joint City Council–School Board subcommittee to tackle long-term school capacity issues, starting with middle schools. Advocacy group Save Jefferson-Houston backs the idea, arguing it could reshape how Alexandria plans facilities while protecting recent academic gains at Jefferson-Houston and reexamining controversial K-8 school conversions.
   

4. Alexandria menorah lighting brings light and unity after Sydney attack (dcnewsnow.com) — A public Hanukkah menorah lighting in Old Town Alexandria went ahead Monday night with added security and a required RSVP, as residents gathered despite grief over the deadly Sydney attack. Local Jewish leaders and Alexandria’s police chief emphasized unity, safety, and publicly celebrating Judaism in the face of rising antisemitism worldwide.
   

5. Alexandria leaders honor 50th anniversary of the Chris Collins Dance Studio (alxnow.com) — Alexandria City Council has officially honored the Chris Collins Dance Studio on Eisenhower Avenue as it marks 50 years of teaching tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop. Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley praised founder Chris Collins as a mentor and community leader, highlighting the studio’s deep roots in Alexandria’s cultural life and its thousands of students over the decades.
   

📸 Around Alexandria

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Alexandria

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Frosty Fun Workshop on December 20th!
  Mount Vernon Community School, 2601 Commonwealth Ave, Alexandria
  8:30 am

Monday December 22

• The Holiday Project
  Cherrydale Health & Rehabilitation Center, 3710 Langston Blvd., Arlington
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• U.S. Citizenship Class (Online)
  Shirlington Library , 4200 Campbell Boulevard , Arlington
  10:30 am

📣 Alexandria Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Family Storytime at Central
  Central Library , 1015 N Quincy St , Arlington
  10:15 am
• English Conversation at Central
  Central Library , 1015 N Quincy St , Arlington
  10:30 am
• Baby Lapsit Storytime at Courthouse
  Courthouse Library , 2100 Clarendon Blvd , Arlington
  2:00 pm
• English Conversation (Online)
  Shirlington Library , 4200 Campbell Boulevard , Arlington
  2:00 pm
• Paper Crafts at Glencarlyn
  Glencarlyn Library , 300 S Kensington St , Arlington
  3:30 pm
• Builders' Club
  Shirlington Library , 4200 Campbell Ave , Arlington
  4:00 pm
• Pajama Storytime at Cherrydale
  Cherrydale Library , 2190 N Military Rd , Arlington
  5:00 pm
• Pajama Storytime at Glencarlyn
  Glencarlyn Library , 300 S Kensington St , Arlington
  6:00 pm
• Keep Calm & Carry Yarn
  Aurora Hills Library , 735 S 18th St , Arlington
  6:00 pm
• Spanish Conversation at Courthouse
  Courthouse Library , 2100 Clarendon Blvd , Arlington
  6:00 pm
• Aurora Hills Readers Book Club: "Table for Two"
  Westover Library Aurora Hills Library
  6:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Alexandria PatchAM possible:

• Essen Alexandria — (571) 630-3977
  Essen Apartments Offers 2 Months Free in Alexandria, VA

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Winter driving tips from an Ohioan:
  Remember to turn IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SKID. Kitty litter/sand in the back is good. Weighs you down, great for traction! Take it slow, give… (Nextdoor Sequoyah Condominiums)
• Update: Owner reached out and sweet boy is home!
  Found this guy in the neighborhood. Called/texted owner but no response. Can anyone help me get this sweet boy back to his home? (Nextdoor Nottingham)

• Firebirds Wood Fired Grill posted a job opening for Back of House Team Member in Alexandria. Apply here.
• TJX posted a job opening for HomeGoods Potomac Yard - Seasonal Backroom and Merchandise Assoicate in Alexandria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Alexandria here.

Ok Alexandria! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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