The Port City Star - Alexandria's News
Port City Star Launches in a Nod to Women's History Month
Publisher's Note:
Welcome to Port City Star - Where Alexandria Shines!
We are excited to launch this local community news and media resource. What better time for a woman-owned business to start up than while paying homage to those trailblazing women that came before as Women's History Month begins. We look forward to the stories that will come to light in the days ahead for this publication but start by asking our readers: What positive female role models would you like to see highlighted this month? What events should have a spotlight as we learn and look forward? Drop those ideas in the story ideas and event sections.
At Port City Star, our mission is to deliver the latest news and insights for Alexandria, Virginia. We strive to provide accurate information that empowers our audience to stay informed and engaged with the world (and Stars) around them.
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Business As Usual at The Chamber ALX Chair's Reception
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce kicked off the 2026 session last night with the annual Chair’s Reception in band t-shirts and jeans, welcoming Bob Brant as the newly installed Board Chair of the Chamber. With a nod to the West End, land use attorney and shareholder of the night’s presenting sponsor Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley and Walsh, chose Aslin Beer Company as the venue for the low key, but spirited event – with high energy dueling pianos for the occasion.
A relative newcomer to the Alexandria beer scene, Aslin Beer Company is celebrating six years at their West End Alexandria facility off of S. Van Dorn Street, and hit its stride last night in hosting a crowd of Chamber members and past chairs – most notably attorney Gant Redmon, who served as Chair of the Alexandria Chamber 37 years ago – there to support Brant’s new leadership role.
Brant addressed the packed venue by reinforcing the tenants held by the Chamber since its inception 120 years ago: the need to support the business community and cultivate partnerships throughout the city that will lead to a stronger economy. Brant focused on the City’s “ALX Forward” framework as a working basis of his tenure. The ALX Forward vision is that “Alexandria is a resilient, competitive, future-ready city where innovation thrives, opportunity is accessible to all, and economic growth enhances quality of life.” (www.alexandriava.gov/ALXForward)
Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Councilman Canek Aguirre, Councilman John Chapman, and a myriad of other event sponsors, community and business leaders were also on hand to show their support of incoming Chair Bob Brant.
The evening’s program also included the usual introductions made by Joe Haggerty, President and CEO of the Alexandria Chamber, with Allen Brooks, owner of Continues Arcade, being the infamous Master of Ceremonies for the silent auction proceedings.
The Chamber is now looking forward to the rest of their 2026 lineup of events, including The Annual Women’s Leadership Forum Breakfast (March), the 11th Annual 40 Under 40 (July), and the 2nd Annual 40 Over 40 (August).
Breaking Bread and Empty Bowls: Alive's 9th Annual Community Fundraiser
Empty Bowls: Breaking Bread While Serving Alexandria
“It used to be we would feed 20,000 per year. That was before Covid-19. Now, it’s easily 20,000 people per month. It’s staggering,” says Jennifer Ayers, the Executive Director of Alive!, Alexandria’s food bank, since 2019. “That’s why Empty Bowls is such an important fundraising event for us. It continues to keep our pantry full with the resources we need to feed our community members who need that additional support.”
The 9th Annual Alexandria Empty Bowls is set to take place tomorrow night, Saturday, February 28, 2026. “We found a new home for Empty Bowls this year at Beth El Hebrew Congregation. We needed space to accommodate the growing event,” said Ayers.
Ayers continued, “Our business co-chairs, restaurants, faith congregations, and sponsors have certainly helped promote the event in our community over the years, and so, it has grown over time. Alive!’s event reached capacity at several venues such as the Seminary and Durant Center throughout the years. We are now grateful to have Beth El host Empty Bowls this year. It will mitigate capacity challenges and help our restaurants with their prep work in a full kitchen.”
With a host of sponsors spanning the city, Empty Bowls has been able to raise about $75,000 in previous years with 95% of that returning to Alive!. This year, it is on track to raise the same if not more due to the moderate ticket price of $95, the increase in capacity equating to more tickets sold, and our committed sponsorships that are already totaling upwards of $70,000.
Empty Bowls is a national movement that was created by grassroots artisans to bring awareness to food insecurity. When Alive! spearheaded its own event for Alexandria, the Alexandria Clay Cooperative and NOVA Arts partnered to create 50-100 handcrafted pottery bowls for the guests at each event. It’s a feat. The Alexandria Clay Cooperative continues to create ceramic bowls for the cause and will donate nearly 200 this year.
Empty Bowls 2026 is sure to be another successful fundraiser with the outpouring of support. This year’s Honorary Empty Bowls Business Chairs include: Morgan Babcock (Carlyle Council), Mary Ann Burstein (WEBA), Charlotte Hall (Connections/Old Town), Dan Roth (DRBA), and Joe Haggerty (ALX Chamber of Commerce). This year’s Restaurant Community Chairs include: Bill Blackburn (Homegrown Restaurant Group), Donna Anderson (Homegrown Restaurant Group), Mike Anderson (Homegrown Restaurant Group), and Scott Shaw (Alexandria Restaurant Partners).
Ticketed guests have a chance to win themed baskets in the silent auction donated by several of Alive!’s partner faith congregations, and a 50/50 raffle. All will have a keepsake from the evening: a beautiful artisan bowl.
Empty Bowls is not the only way to help Alive! feed and care for Alexandrians in need. Alive has partnered with Pat Miller (of Alexandria Celebrates Women) and The Zebra Press to “Fill the Truck”, which met with great success on Saturday, Feb. 21st at the Del Ray Farmers’ Market. Due to the weather last Sunday, “Fill the Truck” had to be postponed, but will continue on Sunday, March 1st at the Old Town North Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market (Montgomery Park, 901 North Royal Street) from 9am-1pm with nonperishable food items, diapers, and protein drinks (like Ensure) for our seniors.
Ayers added, “Capital Area Food Bank does a tremendous job lifting us up, but this is a crisis without the relief. There is no funding like we saw with The CARES Act. We have definitely seen an increase in need since the furloughs. Alive! has seen a 33% increase in clients in the last quarter alone. When ICE was in neighborhoods, it went down, but essentially we had higher totals in all of our locations.”
What else can we do to help besides donate food and funding? “We are one of the three “survival organizations” in our city,” says Ayers, “Tell City Council we need more money in the budget allotted to feeding our community. Their support is essential to meet the growing needs of our residents, families, and children.”
For more information, contact Alive! at www.alive-inc.org
