DEVELOPMENT/ARTS & CULTURAL DISTRICT UPDATES AND WHAT TO DO IN OLD TOWN NORTH THIS WEEKEND
Updates on Montgomery Center Redevelopment Project
Rendering of Montgomery Center Redevelopment (image courtesy of Carr America)
CarrAmerica now anticipates a late Spring start for demolition at the Montgomery Center site with an expected final building delivery date of Q3 2027. The project will include 327 rental units (inclusive of 22 affordable units); a seventh floor pool deck with views of the river; 25,000 square feet of ground floor retail space; and a 13,000 square foot arts venue.
CarrAmerica has recently selected a tenant for the arts venue and expects that a public announcement about the tenant for the arts venue is likely to take place within the next month. The property will also include a public art feature and CarrAmerica has retained an art consultant to activate the entire space
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Director
James Ross Announces Plans to Step Down Following the 2025/2026 Season
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Director James Ross (image courtesy of Alexandria Symphony Orchestra)
The upcoming 2025/2026 season will be the last for the longtime leader of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, James Ross. Upon learning of Ross’s plans to step down, the Board of Trustees “immediately and unanimously named him Music Director Laureate.” The Board of Trustees will convene a search committee to identify a successor.
The final performance of the 2024/2025 season is coming up on April 26th and April 27th and will feature music by Rachmaninov.
Limited tickets are still available for tonight’s Bach performance at 7:30pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. To purchase tickets visit:
https://alexandriasymphonyorchestra.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a03Nt00000PuGjgIAF
For tickets to the April 26th performance of “Ravishing Rachmaninov,” visit:
https://alexandriasymphonyorchestra.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a03Nt00000D93JoIAJ
For tickets to the April 27th performance of “Ravishing Rachnmaninov,” visit:
https://alexandriasymphonyorchestra.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a03Nt00000D93bOIAR
To purchase a subscription for the upcoming 2025-2026 season, visit:
https://alexsym.org/subscriptions/
Alexandria Film Festival Finds a New Permanent Home at MetroStage
MetroStage and the Alexandria Film Festival announced earlier this week that the new MetroStage Theater at Venue (915 N. Fairfax St.) will become the new permanent home of the Alexandria Film Festival starting in 2026. The Alexandria Film Festival, a four-day event featuring a curated selection of short films of independent features from filmmakers around the world, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026.
MetroStage calls the arrangement with the Alexandria Film Festival “a model for future complementary partnerships” and shares that additional film screenings and events hosted by the Alexandria Film Festival may be added to the MetroStage calendar.
MetroStage is hard at work on the final stages of its fundraising efforts to fund the buildout of the new 120-seat theater at Venue.
To contribute to MetroStage’s campaign and help the new theater open its doors, visit:
https://www.metrostage.org/what-we-do
**Demand has been so great for the next Metrostage at the Lyceum event on Monday, May 12th (Roberta Flack Tribute Concert: Simply Roberta) that a second night has been added on Tuesday, May 13th.
Limited tickets remain for May 12th. To purchase tickets for May 12th, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/metrostage-at-the-lyceum-presents-simply-roberta-tickets-1287029583129
To purchase tickets for the newly added performance on May 13th, visit:
WHAT TO DO IN OLD TOWN NORTH
THIS WEEKEND
Thursday, March 20th - Monday, March 31st
Hotel AKA’s a.lounge+bar
presents Spring Wine Fling Menu
625 First St.
From now until the end of the month, enjoy a special Spring Wine Fling menu at Hotel AKA’s a.lounge+bar offering two courses with perfectly-paired wines for $55.
To make a reservation, visit:
Friday, March 21st & Saturday, March 22nd
15th Annual March 150 Art Party & Special Exhibition and Art Sale
Exhibit continues through April 19th
March 150 Exhibition (image courtesy of the Torpedo Factory Art Center)
Gallery @ Canal Center (11 Canal Center Plaza)
March 150 Art Party
Friday, March 21st 6:30pm to 9pm
Special Exhibition and Sale
Fridays through April 19th, 1pm - 8pm
Saturdays through April 19th, 11am - 8pm
The March 150 Art Party on Friday, March 21st is free and open to all. Proceeds from this special event help support free community programs at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. All works are on 10” x 10” wood panels and are priced at $150.
For more information, visit:
https://torpedofactory.org/event/15th-annual-march150/
Saturday, March 22nd
Opening Reception for “Break Water” Temporary Art Exhibition
Rendering of Break Water (rendering courtesy of Nekisha Durrett Studio)
Waterfront Park (1A Prince Street)
1pm to 4pm
“Break Water” is the 7th temporary art exhibition in the Site See: New Views in Old Town series. Attend the opening celebration on Saturday, March 22nd in Waterfront Park to hear opening remarks from artist Nekisha Durrett and enjoy live music and art activities with the Mobile Art Lab.
In “Break Water,” artist Nekisha Durrett pays tribute to the “creativity and enduring spirit of Alexandria’s Black community.”
“Break Water” will be on exhibit from March 22nd through November of this year. This temporary art exhibition will be a new addition to the 2025 Old Town North Alliance Art & Culture Walk brochure, to be released this spring.
To see previous exhibits from the Site See: New Views in Old Town series, visit:
Monday, March 24th
Captain Gregory’s Cocktail Class at Hotel AKA’s a.lounge+bar
625 First St.
6pm
Celebrate National Cocktail Day and Cherry Blossom Season at Hotel AKA’s a.lounge+bar with a special cocktail class hosted by a talented mixologist from Captain Gregory’s. Learn to make two cocktails with a Japanese-inspired twist and settle in to enjoy a three-course prix fixe dinner featuring seasonal cherry blossom-inspired dishes.
To make a reservation, visit:
PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, April 5th
ALX Dog Walk
Oronoco Bay Park
7am - 11pm
Join fellow dog lovers and in Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday April 5th for the annual dog walk supporting sustainable living. Enjoy performances from the Alexandria Singers and a trio from the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.
For more information about the ALX Dog Walk, visit:
Monday, April 7th
Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail Night
at Royal Restaurant
730 N. St. Asaph St.
4-10pm
Dine at Royal Restaurant and help support this amazing volunteer organization that is in its fourth year as a philanthropic partner of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and was the recipient of the 2024 National Park Service National Excellence in Volunteerism Team Impact Award. Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail works hard to maintain the trail in great shape for all to enjoy! Enjoy a delicious meal at Royal Restaurant and support a great cause! 15% of the day’s sales will go to Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail.
To make a reservation, visit:
https://royalrestaurantva.com/
Thursday, April 10th
NOTICe Spring Membership Meeting:
“What’s up in the Arts in OTN?”
The Gables (525 Montgomery St.)
Doors open at 6:30pm. Meeting starts at 7pm.
On Tuesday, April 10th NOTICe plans to host a panel discussion on the current status of the Arts & Cultural District in Old Town North for their Spring Membership Meeting. The discussion will be moderated by Michael Lee Pope and the panel will include Council Member John Chapman, Diane Ruggiero from the Office of the Arts, Kelly Martin from AEDP, OTNA President Ryan Whitaker, and representatives of MetroStage and The Art League.
The meeting is open to the public.
To register to attend the meeting, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/notice-spring-meeting-tickets-1286569647449?aff=oddtdtcreator
Sunday, April 27th
Silent Reading Party - Hotel AKA & Old Town Books
SOLD OUT
625 First St.
1pm - 3pm
SOLD OUT
The Silent Reading Parties hosted by Hotel AKA Alexandria and Old Town Books have become so popular that they are selling out almost as soon as they are announced! The April 27th Silent Reading Party is unfortunately sold out, but stay tuned to Hotel AKA’s instagram (@hotelaka.alexandria) for future event announcements.
Friday, April 27th
The Art League Presents, “The Art of Comedy”
Rescheduled from March 7th
1201 N. Royal St.
7pm - 9pm
Enjoy a night of comedy in the new Art League space at Muse. Featuring traditional stand up from Matt Chrzanowski, Alex Tyminski, and Izzy Gelfand and an improvisational set from Winston Hodges.
To purchase tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-art-of-comedy-tickets-1275150843499?aff=erelexpmlt
Wednesday, April 30th, 6pm - 7:30pm
Old Town North Alliance Spring Member Happy Hour (Members Only)
Jula’s on the Potomac
Gather with Members of the Old Town North Alliance at Jula’s on the Potomac. This is a Members Only event. If you are interested in joining the Alliance, please contact director@otnalliance.org.
Wednesday, May 28th
Old Town North Alliance Night at Royal Restaurant (Open to All)
Dine at Royal Restaurant on Wednesday, May 28th from 4pm - 10pm and support the Old Town North Alliance. Enjoy a delicious meal and connect with other members and prospective members who are invested in the implementation of the Arts & Cultural District and the future of Old Town North!
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
Congratulations to Salon deZEN
on their Grand Opening Celebration!
Salon deZEN owner (and OTNA Vice President) Maria Elizabeth celebrates the grand opening of her new location at 533 Montgomery St. (image courtesy of the Old Town North Alliance)
Salon deZEN had a full house on Saturday, March 15th for their grand opening celebration. The space at 533 Montgomery Street has been completely transformed with lots of unique design concepts including a ceiling mural for you to enjoy while your hair is getting washed. Stop by and take a look!