Your guide to what's happening in Del Ray, Alexandria this weekend: May 23-25
The long weekend is going to be gorgeous.
Happy Friday Neighbor,
Long weekend, we’ve arrived! Whether you're staying in town or heading out, I hope you get a little well-deserved rest and sunshine.
If you’re staying in the neighborhood, it’s looking gorgeous. The perfect excuse to stroll The Avenue, go for a walk with your dog(s) and neighbor(s), and partake in good food and drinks outdoors.
I’ve been thinking about more ways for us all to enjoy the neighborhood (while also getting off our screens and out into the community). One idea is to create a Things To Do Crew Card. It would feature discounts at 10 businesses throughout Del Ray. It’d be a great way to support local spots, try new places, and get some deals at the same time.
If you have a business and are interested in being on the card, reach out.
Here’s what’s happening this weekend in Del Ray:
✨ Drag Brunch
🍷 Wine Class
🍓 Del Ray Farmers’ Market
🎥 Kids Movies
🧀 Free Wine & Cheese Tastings
🎤 Karaoke
🎶 Live Music
🎨 Face Painting
🏡 Open Houses
🥞 Mulbaby Brunch
📖 Kids Storytime and Craft
…fresh book recs, new events added to the master Events Calendar, and more.
Thank you for being here. Let’s dive in.
– Rachel Turula
Founder + Publisher, Things to do: Del Ray, VA
Friday, May 23
Karaoke, 8pm-11pm at Flipside Speakeasy, 2218 Mount Vernon Ave.
Bring your besties to Flipside Speakeasy (above DRP) on Fridays for a fun night of karaoke. Sing your heart out and kick off the weekend right.Portugal, Unfortified: A Wine Tasting and Class, 6pm-7pm at Planet Wine Shop, 2004 Mt Vernon Ave.
Note: This event is sold out.Free Wine Tasting, 5pm-7pm at Rosemont Cellar, 2 E Walnut St.
Love wine? Sip different tastes with Rosemont Cellar’s free Friday wine tastings. They highlight different producers, regions, and styles each week, so you can discover something new.Movies at Mulberry (7 to 11 year olds), 6pm-8:30pm at Mulberry Lane, 2016 Mt Vernon Ave.
THE MANHATTANS featuring GERALD ALSTON, 7:30pm at The Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mt Vernon Ave.
Saturday, May 24
Del Ray Farmers’ Market, 8am-noon at Pat Miller Square, 2311 Mt Vernon Ave.
Start your day at the Del Ray Farmers' Market with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and prepared foods like chai, breakfast sandwiches, jams, and dumplings. Offerings may vary weekly—open year-round.Kids Storytime and Craft, 10:30am-11:30am at The Company of Books, 2200 Mt Vernon Ave.
Join local author Ganeya Gajaram for storytime. You’ll read a book or two for the first half hour, and then have a related craft afterward.Free Wine & Cheese Tasting, 11am-1pm at Cheesetique, 2411 Mt Vernon Ave.
Savor a delightful tasting experience at Cheesetique with curated wines and gourmet cheeses. It's a great way to discover new flavors in Del Ray. Every Saturday.Drag Brunch, 12pm at Del Ray Pizzeria, 2218 Mount Vernon Ave.
Enjoy a high-energy drag brunch hosted by MaKayla Starr. Expect dazzling performances, great food, and a lively atmosphere.The Judgement of Del Ray Free Wine Tasting, 1pm-5pm at Planet Wine Shop, 2004 Mt Vernon Ave.
A tribute to the legendary 1976 Judgement of Paris, featuring wines from the iconic producers who shocked the world. Enjoy a 10% discount on tasting wines to take home.Movies at Mulberry (7 to 11 year olds), 6pm-8:30pm at Mulberry Lane, 2016 Mt Vernon Ave.
CHRISETTE MICHELE, 7:30pm at The Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mt Vernon Ave.
Let your neighbors in on the fun
Del Ray is a uniquely supportive community with so many fun things to do. Loop in your friends and neighbors by clicking the ‘refer a friend’ button below so you can all enjoy these activities together.
Sunday, May 25
Mulbaby Brunch, 10am-noon at Mulberry Lane, 2016 Mt Vernon Ave.
Drop the kids off and enjoy a peaceful meal next door at Evening Star or HiFi TexMex BBQ. A fun, supervised play session for them—relaxing brunch time for you.Free Kids Face Painting and Crafts, 1pm-5pm at Hops N Shine, 3410 Mt Vernon Ave.
Bring your kids for free face painting at Hops N Shine. From Spider-Man masks to unicorns, the talented face painter can do it all! Enjoy select crafts, coloring books, and a kid's construction area too.CORINNE BAILEY RAE, 7:30pm at The Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mt Vernon Ave.
This weekend’s featured open houses
Hey realtors + lenders: Want to sponsor this section? Email me.
315 E Raymond Ave #A. 2 BR, 2 Bath. 850 sq. ft. $649,000. OH: Sat—1pm-3pm.
13 E Mason Ave. 2 BR, 2 Bath. 1,318 sq. ft. $849,900. OH: Sat—2pm-4pm.
219 E Monroe Ave. 3 BR, 2 Bath. 1,428 sq. ft. $889,000. OH: Sat—11am-1pm + Sun—12pm-2pm.
1400 Mount Vernon Ave APT A. 3 BR, 4 Bath. 2,200 sq. ft. $1,095,000. OH: Sun—12pm-2pm.
10 W Howell Ave. 3 BR, 2 Bath. 1,790 sq. ft. $1,150,000. OH: Sat—1pm-3pm.
110 E Spring St. 4 BR, 3 Bath. 1,879 sq. ft. $1,425,000. OH: Sat—1pm-4pm.
208 E Custis Ave. 4 BR, 3 Bath. 2,058 sq. ft. $1,695,000. OH: Sat—10am-2pm.
Upcoming events
New events added! I am continuously adding to Del Ray’s master events calendar, and just did a big sweep. So that you can enjoy, effortlessly, without having to search. There are so many upcoming events. Concerts, wine classes, mixology class, workshops, Taste of Del Ray, and more. It’s incredible.
Some extra magic
I am ready for as much beach time as possible, including this cute beach towel that folds up into a backpack for easy carrying and this mineral face sunscreen I wear daily.
Reading: I finished The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis, a dual-timeline historical novel set in NYC with threads that reach back to Egypt. It’s got art, archaeology, and a bit of mystery. I enjoyed it and recommend it. Next up: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, a quiet, emotional story about family, identity, and loss that’s been on my list for a while.
If you have young kids, be the hero of the summer with this bubble machine.
Currently sipping: An iced latte out of this stackable, dishwasher-safe Yeti Tumbler in key lime. Also great for lemonade and smoothies.
Add color to your backyard with these moveable grow bags—great for small spaces or patios.
Did you know color combinations can completely shift someone’s emotions and perceptions? Discover your perfect color palette.
It’s the perfect time of year for gathering with family, friends, and neighbors around the solo stove—currently on sale. (I got one for my dad for Father’s Day last year and can attest it makes an excellent Dad’s Day gift.)
Weather
Friday
70 🌡️ 52 | ⛅ | 5% | 💨 WNW 16 mph
Saturday
71 🌡️ 51 | ⛅ | 2% | 💨 WNW 15 mph
Sunday
74 🌡️ 54 | ⛅ | 3% | 💨 NW 11 mph
Temperature readings taken from Alexandria, VA on weather.com the night before publication.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!
Thank you for being part of the Things to do Del Ray community! If you enjoyed this roundup, share it with a neighbor you’ll see this weekend.
See you around the neighborhood,
Del Ray is a wonderful place to live, work, and play. If you’d like to connect with our community, email me for partnership opportunities.
We try to only include accurate information, but sometimes things can change. Everything included in the newsletter is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time the newsletter is sent out.
Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we love and think you will, too!