Tom Shupe is looking for a new home in Alexandria for a chess school.
Shupe describes himself as a U.S. chess expert and was previously an examiner with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for 12 years until 2023. That’s when he gave it all up to write for Chess.com and founded MVP Chess Center. Shupe currently teaches dozens of kids and adults and hosts weekly events and monthly tournaments at The Link co-working office (215 N. Payne Street) in Old Town.
The Alexandria Police Department is investigating the theft of copper and security wire from the Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark construction site.
No arrests have been made, but around 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 30, the senior superintendent of Clark Construction reported a burglary to APD. Just 10 minutes before, at 4:05 p.m., surveillance footage showed a white U-Haul cargo van drive into the construction site and two male suspects enter one of the hospital buildings under construction, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.
Steeped in history yet thoughtfully reimagined for modern living, this exceptional detached residence, originally built in the 1880s, seamlessly blends timeless architecture with sophisticated luxury. Following an extensive renovation and expansion completed between 2022 and 2025, every detail has been meticulously curated to honor the home’s historic character while introducing today’s finest finishes and amenities. Spanning nearly 3,200 finished square feet, the home offers four to five spacious bedrooms, three full and one half baths, and beautifully proportioned living spaces with soaring ceilings, oversized windows, and an abundance of natural light.
The striking rear addition is defined by a dramatic wall of rare floor-to-ceiling black Marvin windows and doors, creating a stunning architectural statement while seamlessly connecting the interior living spaces to the private rear courtyard. The expanded kitchen and family room serve as the heart of the home, thoughtfully designed for both everyday living and effortless entertaining. The chef’s kitchen showcases custom inset cabinetry, Honed Danby marble countertops and full-height backsplash, herringbone hardwood flooring, high-end hardware and fixtures, and a premium suite of Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, including a paneled refrigerator and dishwasher, built-in espresso/coffee maker, and wine refrigerator.
The Ethiopian community in Alexandria will share its food and culture at a returning fall festival this weekend.
The Ethiopian Community Support and Advocacy Center will host the sixth annual Ethiopian Fall Festival from 1-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Chinquapin Park (3210 King Street). Ethiopian families and local residents alike are invited to the festival to celebrate Ethiopian heritage and share culture, traditions, food, music, dance and art with the community.
Michigan-based Acorp Services recently closed on a 1.3-acre office building in Old Town North, buying a property assessed at nearly $21 million in value for $9.05 million.
The sale of the 1970s-era Class A office building at 11 Canal Center Plaza marks Acorp’s first building acquisition in Northern Virginia.
Event location
Fort Hunt Park
8999 Fort Hunt Rd
Alexandria, Virginia 22308
Join Breast Cancer Collective for the 2026 Walk to Bust Cancer on Sunday, October 18, at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria.
Walk alongside survivors, caregivers, friends, families, and neighbors for an uplifting community event supporting access to breast cancer screening and care across the DMV.
Walk to Bust Cancer brings our community together to turn hope into action and help expand access to timely breast health care. Register to walk, gather your team, and join us at Fort Hunt Park.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, recognized on the federal Columbus Day holiday, will bring an array of closures and schedule changes to Alexandria.
The holiday falls on Monday, Oct. 12, which will mean a three-day weekend for some employees and students. The City of Alexandria has recognized the holiday as Indigenous Peoples’ Day since 2019 and has shared the history of Indigenous peoples in the city on its website.
Alexandria’s recently reported unemployment rate was down from a year before and on the lower end of what has been seen citywide during the past year.
But like much of the rest of Northern Virginia, there also has been an exodus in the total number of city residents with jobs.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On October 8, 1943 U.S. Marine Corps Major General Charles Dodson Barrett, who had grown up in Alexandria, died in World War II in the South Pacific. Barrett was the first Commanding General of the 3d Marine Division. A new elementary school in Parkfairfax was name in Barrett’s honor not long after his death.” [Historic Alexandria]
Metro Adjusts Yellow and Blue Line Service Today — “From 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., trains will single track on the Yellow and Blue lines between Pentagon City and National Airport. All Yellow Line trains will run between Huntington and Greenbelt only.” [Metro/Bluesky]
A 34-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after allegedly drugging a woman at an Old Town bar and raping her on an outdoor patio of a nearby hotel.
The victim told police that on the night of Sept. 15, she had dinner and drinks with a friend in Old Town. Afterward, she and her friend walked to a popular bar near the waterfront, where she had another drink and waited with her friend for two men to join them, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.
The Virginia Board of Historic Resources last month approved a new historical marker recognizing the lynchings of Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas in Alexandria.
The 19-year-old McCoy was arrested without a warrant and then lynched by a mob on April 23, 1897, according to the city government. A mob of white residents stormed the Police House (now City Hall), where McCoy was being held after being accused of sexually assaulting three women. He was shot, stabbed and hanged from a lamppost at Cameron and Lee Streets.
