🌱 24/7 Animal Clinic Planned For West End + Local Filmmaker Premiere

Hey, everybody. It's Saturday in West End Alexandria and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally.

But first, your weekend weather:

• Saturday: Intervals of clouds and sun. High: 55 Low: 31.
• Sunday: Sunshine; breezy, cooler. High: 46 Low: 28.
• Monday: Partly sunny and warmer. High: 54 Low: 28.
• Tuesday: Sunny. High: 60 Low: 33.

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Here are the top three stories in West End Alexandria today:

1. New York City-based Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) has filed an application to open a new location in the Shoppes at Foxchase in West End Alexandria. VEG, a national 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital chain, plans to transform a 5,279-square-foot space into an animal clinic that would be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The proposed location at 4525 Duke Street, currently occupied by Mattress Firm, would be the first VEG location in the state. (ALXnow)
2. "There is a Monster," a feature-length film by Alexandria native Mike Taylor, premieres on Mar. 20 at the AMC Shirlington 7. The film, shot primarily in Alexandria, is a medical mystery intertwined with a drama inspired by a family member's experiences. The movie stars several local actors, including Joey Collins in the lead role, and features local landmarks such as Southside 815 and David Wiegold Photography. (Alexandria Living Magazine)
3. On Mar. 15, a residential building in the 200 block of S. Fairfax Street caught fire. The incident was upgraded to a second alarm when fire crews encountered heavy fire conditions inside the three-story structure. Although the fire caused approximately $1.2 million in damages and resulted in the condemnation of the residence, no civilians were injured; three Alexandria Fire Department firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries while responding to the call. (City of Alexandria, VA)

Coming up in West End Alexandria:

Saturday, March 18

• SONOVA Presents: Scheherezade And Gala At George Washington Masonic National Memorial (6:30 PM)

Sunday, March 19

• Watch Awards At Birchmere (7:00 PM)

Monday, March 20

• Clay Snails N' Things At Charles E. Beatley Jr., Central Library (6:00 PM)

Tuesday, March 21

• Line Dancing At Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (11:00 AM)

Wednesday, March 22

• Knit Nite! At Charles E. Beatley Jr., Central Library (6:00 PM)

Thursday, March 23

• Gerald Albright At Birchmere (7:30 PM)

Friday, March 24

• Spring Fling At Spring Hills Mt. Vernon (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Whether you're looking for a new place to call home or just like to see what's on the market, there are two open houses scheduled for today (Saturday, Mar. 18) — one in Alexandria and the other in nearby Arlington. (West End Alexandria Patch)
• The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is in the running to win $10,000 in CommonWealthONE's "The Big Giver Contest!" Voting is open through Mar. 31. (Animal Welfare League of Alexandria via Facebook)
• Ready to explore some new local cuisine? Check out this roundup of new and upcoming restaurants in Alexandria. (Visit Alexandria VA via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• HIRING DAY: Alexandria Pet Care (pet sitting & dog walking) (March 21)
• Spring Fling Event (March 24)
• Lights-Out Hour DC (March 25)
• HIRING DAY: Alexandria Pet Care (expert pet sitting & dog walking) (March 28)
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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.