Stephanie Elms
@stephelms.bsky.social
Book lover, Va Tech & Marching Virginians alum (Go Hokies!), YIMBYs of NoVa📍Del Ray, Alexandria | she/her
Great housing thread. Find out what’s going on at the state & city level (and what you can do to help!)
Time for my semi-regular thread on upcoming housing actions & events in Alx! 🧵
Starting off with something for any Virginian: elections are over, now email your state legislators to support statewide housing reforms in the upcoming General Assembly Session!
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Starting off with something for any Virginian: elections are over, now email your state legislators to support statewide housing reforms in the upcoming General Assembly Session!
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Ask Your Delegate & Senator to Support More Homes:
Virginia is short roughly 188,000 homes due to restrictive local zoning rules that limit home construction and prevents affordable homes from being built. This home shortage leads to bidding wars and ...
actionnetwork.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Great housing thread. Find out what’s going on at the state & city level (and what you can do to help!)
I’m sure I have plenty of local library loving friends here, right?
2026 board elections for the Friends of Duncan Library are coming up & we’d love to have you join us!
It’s truly a great group of folks & a fun way to support the community! 📚
www.friendsofduncanlibrary.org/news/2026-du...
2026 board elections for the Friends of Duncan Library are coming up & we’d love to have you join us!
It’s truly a great group of folks & a fun way to support the community! 📚
www.friendsofduncanlibrary.org/news/2026-du...
2026 Duncan Friends’ Board Elections — Friends of Duncan Library
Make A Difference at Duncan Library Join the Duncan Friends’ Library Board! WE’RE LOOKING FOR Members with skills in Accounting, finance, or Administration. WHY JOIN THE BOARD BE A LEADER: Support...
www.friendsofduncanlibrary.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I’m sure I have plenty of local library loving friends here, right?
2026 board elections for the Friends of Duncan Library are coming up & we’d love to have you join us!
It’s truly a great group of folks & a fun way to support the community! 📚
www.friendsofduncanlibrary.org/news/2026-du...
2026 board elections for the Friends of Duncan Library are coming up & we’d love to have you join us!
It’s truly a great group of folks & a fun way to support the community! 📚
www.friendsofduncanlibrary.org/news/2026-du...
Packed house at the ALX YIMBY Social this afternoon. Really loved seeing new & old faces. Had a great time talking about housing in ALX (and how to get more of it!)
yimbysofnova.org/alexandria/
yimbysofnova.org/alexandria/
November 8, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Packed house at the ALX YIMBY Social this afternoon. Really loved seeing new & old faces. Had a great time talking about housing in ALX (and how to get more of it!)
yimbysofnova.org/alexandria/
yimbysofnova.org/alexandria/
This looks cool! Anyone want to meet up with me?
For the program's finale, on Friday, November 21st, AHS will be holding a Revolutionary Watch Party with popcorn, cash bar, and most importantly, local Historians ready to answer your questions!
sites.google.com/view/alexand...
For the program's finale, on Friday, November 21st, AHS will be holding a Revolutionary Watch Party with popcorn, cash bar, and most importantly, local Historians ready to answer your questions!
sites.google.com/view/alexand...
AHS
Alexandria Historical Society is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, with the mission of promoting Alexandria and local history. Over our 50+ year existence AHS has shared research on local his...
sites.google.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:41 PM
This looks cool! Anyone want to meet up with me?
For the program's finale, on Friday, November 21st, AHS will be holding a Revolutionary Watch Party with popcorn, cash bar, and most importantly, local Historians ready to answer your questions!
sites.google.com/view/alexand...
For the program's finale, on Friday, November 21st, AHS will be holding a Revolutionary Watch Party with popcorn, cash bar, and most importantly, local Historians ready to answer your questions!
sites.google.com/view/alexand...
They are destroying everything aren’t they?
I spent two summers interning at a laser optics lab at Goddard in the late 80s (which was really cool but also what actually helped me realize I did not want to be an electrical engineer.) Fun fact: was thrilled to be making $7+/hr (double min wage!)
I spent two summers interning at a laser optics lab at Goddard in the late 80s (which was really cool but also what actually helped me realize I did not want to be an electrical engineer.) Fun fact: was thrilled to be making $7+/hr (double min wage!)
BREAKING: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is illegally closing 13 campus buildings (including ~100 laboratories).
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
November 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
They are destroying everything aren’t they?
I spent two summers interning at a laser optics lab at Goddard in the late 80s (which was really cool but also what actually helped me realize I did not want to be an electrical engineer.) Fun fact: was thrilled to be making $7+/hr (double min wage!)
I spent two summers interning at a laser optics lab at Goddard in the late 80s (which was really cool but also what actually helped me realize I did not want to be an electrical engineer.) Fun fact: was thrilled to be making $7+/hr (double min wage!)
Seeing people vote always makes me feel good. 🗳️ Really fun feed.
So much excitement on the I VOTED! feed today! I'll be checking it all day, and I hope you will be too bsky.app/profile/did:...
November 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Seeing people vote always makes me feel good. 🗳️ Really fun feed.
Great thread here. Lots going on housing-wise on Thursday!
This is a great look at what's being considered for Potomac Yard on Thursday - most detail you can get without reading the full staff report.
We've heard there's some well-meaning pushback on the proposal, which would build 432 market units w/ retail, 88 AH, & 120 townhouses on 3 lots near PY metro
We've heard there's some well-meaning pushback on the proposal, which would build 432 market units w/ retail, 88 AH, & 120 townhouses on 3 lots near PY metro
The Alexandria Planning Commission will consider on Thursday whether to allow more flexibility for developers in South Potomac Yard’s remaining vacant blocks.
November 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Great thread here. Lots going on housing-wise on Thursday!
The deed is done! Did my part to turn Virginia blue. Let’s hope everyone else does theirs! 🗳️
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The deed is done! Did my part to turn Virginia blue. Let’s hope everyone else does theirs! 🗳️
Having FOMO about not being able to work as an election officer this time around (though appreciated the much later wake-up time this morning)!
Here’s to the folks that make democracy happen! 🗳️
Here’s to the folks that make democracy happen! 🗳️
November 4, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Having FOMO about not being able to work as an election officer this time around (though appreciated the much later wake-up time this morning)!
Here’s to the folks that make democracy happen! 🗳️
Here’s to the folks that make democracy happen! 🗳️
Highly recommend this (you can also listen to this as a podcast.)
The history geek in me loves hearing historians share their work. Side benefit: learning about the messiness of history can be weirdly comforting with *everything* that is going on.
The history geek in me loves hearing historians share their work. Side benefit: learning about the messiness of history can be weirdly comforting with *everything* that is going on.
Hey folks--
I've been asked to pin this link here, so here you go.
The lectures and podcast episodes for "America at 250," the lecture course that I'm teaching with David Blight and Beverly Gage are at this link.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
I've been asked to pin this link here, so here you go.
The lectures and podcast episodes for "America at 250," the lecture course that I'm teaching with David Blight and Beverly Gage are at this link.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
America at 250: A History - YouTube
This one-time-only course examines U.S. history from 1776 to the present, in advance of the nation's semiquincentennial (or 250th birthday) in 2026. Taught j...
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Highly recommend this (you can also listen to this as a podcast.)
The history geek in me loves hearing historians share their work. Side benefit: learning about the messiness of history can be weirdly comforting with *everything* that is going on.
The history geek in me loves hearing historians share their work. Side benefit: learning about the messiness of history can be weirdly comforting with *everything* that is going on.
Off to count absentee ballots! 🗳️
November 1, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Off to count absentee ballots! 🗳️
It’s a Del Ray Halloween! 🎃 👻
October 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM
It’s a Del Ray Halloween! 🎃 👻
With my brother in my parents’s bedroom on a tv next to their bed (they did not want to risk “ruining” the main tv’s display). Kind of funny now how much fun we thought this was.
October 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
With my brother in my parents’s bedroom on a tv next to their bed (they did not want to risk “ruining” the main tv’s display). Kind of funny now how much fun we thought this was.
Anyone love their primary care doc? Mine (who I just found this year & really liked) has left the practice. Preferably a woman. Doubly annoying bec my ins is no longer offering a plan in Va. So back to square one on all counts.
Side note: anyone else see Dr. Veronica Ortiz & know where she’s gone?
Side note: anyone else see Dr. Veronica Ortiz & know where she’s gone?
October 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Anyone love their primary care doc? Mine (who I just found this year & really liked) has left the practice. Preferably a woman. Doubly annoying bec my ins is no longer offering a plan in Va. So back to square one on all counts.
Side note: anyone else see Dr. Veronica Ortiz & know where she’s gone?
Side note: anyone else see Dr. Veronica Ortiz & know where she’s gone?
Forgot to take a selfie, but made it to the first No Kings protest in Alexandria. Fun bumping into some fellow ALX Skeeters.
October 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Forgot to take a selfie, but made it to the first No Kings protest in Alexandria. Fun bumping into some fellow ALX Skeeters.
Great rundown of housing advocacy opportunities coming up in the next couple of weeks!
Lots of opportunities to advocate for more housing in Alexandria in the next couple weeks.
Here's a little thread, arranged by each action's due date
I'll also quote-skeet the items back onto your feed as their dates approach. 1 person told me those reminders are helpful, now you all suffer 😏
Here's a little thread, arranged by each action's due date
I'll also quote-skeet the items back onto your feed as their dates approach. 1 person told me those reminders are helpful, now you all suffer 😏
October 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Great rundown of housing advocacy opportunities coming up in the next couple of weeks!
Gotta love a listserv thread where they blame Justin for the current tree destruction at George Mason & then imply he’ll do the same at NoVA Parks. No acknowledgment that these same people were just as certain that Justin’s next job was to make bank working for a developer…
October 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Gotta love a listserv thread where they blame Justin for the current tree destruction at George Mason & then imply he’ll do the same at NoVA Parks. No acknowledgment that these same people were just as certain that Justin’s next job was to make bank working for a developer…
Some of these google street view photos of post offices aren’t great - poorly framed, blocked by cars. Some don’t even include a building.
But every once in awhile you get a truly wonderful shot.
But every once in awhile you get a truly wonderful shot.
GREENWOOD SPRINGS: 52066 HIGHWAY 278 E, GREENWOOD SPRINGS MS 38848-9998
October 12, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Some of these google street view photos of post offices aren’t great - poorly framed, blocked by cars. Some don’t even include a building.
But every once in awhile you get a truly wonderful shot.
But every once in awhile you get a truly wonderful shot.
I never jumped over to TikTok because it felt random & disconnected fr actual people (though lots of folks obv enjoy it!) I also prefer to listen to podcasts/read articles vs watch videos. The morphing of social media to taking over our lives is fascinating (if you ignore how terrible it is).
1. Social media is now 5% following friends and 95% watching videos made by strangers.
2. Every podcast is turning into a YouTube show.
3. AI companies can't stop building TikTok clones.
Everything is becoming television.
I wrote about why that matters.
www.derekthompson.org/p/why-everyt...
2. Every podcast is turning into a YouTube show.
3. AI companies can't stop building TikTok clones.
Everything is becoming television.
I wrote about why that matters.
www.derekthompson.org/p/why-everyt...
Everything Is Television
A theory of culture and attention
www.derekthompson.org
October 10, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I never jumped over to TikTok because it felt random & disconnected fr actual people (though lots of folks obv enjoy it!) I also prefer to listen to podcasts/read articles vs watch videos. The morphing of social media to taking over our lives is fascinating (if you ignore how terrible it is).
Love this! Would also love to see more of this type of thing across the city outside of Del Ray.
Grocery store opens inside Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden
Grocery store opens inside Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden | ALXnow
The Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden, located at 1913 Mount Vernon Avenue, has just opened a small grocery store inside its premises. Owner Jay Portlance soft-opened the grocery store today (Oct. 8),...
www.alxnow.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Love this! Would also love to see more of this type of thing across the city outside of Del Ray.
What? How on earth do the 54% of you people function? I have 100+ on my phone and multiple windows all with multiple tabs on my computer.
How many browsing tabs do you typically have open?*
1: 6%
2-5: 54%
6-10: 14%
11-20: 8%
21-30: 2%
More than 30: 3%
*across all windows, on desktop/laptop
yougov.co.uk/topics/techn...
1: 6%
2-5: 54%
6-10: 14%
11-20: 8%
21-30: 2%
More than 30: 3%
*across all windows, on desktop/laptop
yougov.co.uk/topics/techn...
October 8, 2025 at 6:39 PM
What? How on earth do the 54% of you people function? I have 100+ on my phone and multiple windows all with multiple tabs on my computer.
Obligatory Art on the Avenue post.
October 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Obligatory Art on the Avenue post.
Gotta love living in a city where, on a gorgeous October morning, I can get a haircut then spontaneously decide to walk to a local coffee shop & bump into @canawa.bsky.social & @travisaniles.bsky.social. ♥️
October 2, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Gotta love living in a city where, on a gorgeous October morning, I can get a haircut then spontaneously decide to walk to a local coffee shop & bump into @canawa.bsky.social & @travisaniles.bsky.social. ♥️