Obamas' Easter Visit, Clinton Picks Kaine, Why Not? Shop Closes: Top Stories of 2016 in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The Obama family visiting Alexandria for Easter, Sen. Tim Kaine being chosen as Hillary Clinton's running mate, a restaurant cook refusing to serve a police officer at a local restaurant. Those were some of the top stories in Old Town Alexandria this year.

Other stories included the discovery of an 18th-century ship, the opening date of the MGM National Harbor casino and resort across the river and the closing of the Why Not? Shop on King Street.

Those are just some of the top headlines from Old Town Alexandria Patch in 2016. Take a look back at the year that was, as Patch highlights some of the top stories of 2016 (just click on the headline to read the full story):

Obamas Celebrate Easter Sunday in Old Town Alexandria

• President Obama and his family celebrated Easter Sunday at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Old Town Alexandria, according to TIME magazine and other media reports. It's the second year in a row the first family has worshiped at the church on Easter Sunday.

Who Is Tim Kaine? He's on Hillary Clinton's Short List

• An under-the-radar U.S. senator from Virginia takes the national stage on Saturday as Hillary Clinton's pick for a running mate.

Cook Refuses to Serve Officer in Alexandria: Police

• Restaurant cook said she would not serve a police officer, so the officer left the restaurant, according to a police department spokeswoman.

Remains of 50-Foot, 18th-Century Ship Discovered at Construction Site

• George Washington was still a young man at the time, and the area was still a British colony, the City of Alexandria noted after the find.

MGM National Harbor Announces Opening Date

• Company announces opening date of new casino resort opening at National Harbor, across the river from Alexandria.

Tall Ship to Visit Old Town Alexandria

• Weather problems changed dates for visit from authentic replica of a 16th-century Spanish Galleon. Ship will visit the city for six days.

The Why Not Shop to Close in Old Town Alexandria

• Children's toy and clothing boutique is closing after 53 years in business, according to an announcement made Saturday.

T.C. Williams Basketball Coach Let Go Just Before Season Starts

• Some parents say an ACPS school board member who has two sons in the program made it his business to oust the coach.

Captured ISIS Fighter from Alexandria Area

• Fairfax County Public Schools identified the man as a 2007 graduate of Edison High School in the Kingstowne area of Fairfax County

Meghan Baroody to Open Meggrolls in Alexandria

• Meggrolls, which was helped with a successful Kickstarter crowdsource funding campaign, will take over the Five Guys hamburger spot.

Will PBS Renew Civil War Series 'Mercy Street'?

• PBS aired six episodes of the Civil War series "Mercy Street," inspired by events in the City of Alexandria. Will it be renewed?

Gym Members Collapse from Dangerous Carbon Monoxide Levels

• People collapsed on treadmills Saturday due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels from swimming pool heater, Alexandria fire department says.

PHOTOS (clockwise from top left): Why Not? photo courtesy of business; Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine at Northern Virginia Community College, courtesy of Clinton campaign; 18th century ship photo courtesy of City of Alexandria and Obama family photo courtesy of the White House.