Diana Maurer, chair of the Alexandria LGBTQIA+ task force, loves living in Alexandria, which she calls “such a welcoming and friendly inclusive city.” Maurer and the task force work to keep that feeling going, meeting quarterly to plan community events and improve services for people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual.
The team’s efforts are lauded, with Alexandria earning a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Municipal Equality Index for six consecutive years and maintaining Visit Alexandria’s membership in the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association. The task force is also the 2023 winner of Equality NoVa’s Equality Award.
This June is an important time for the Alexandria LGBTQIA+ task force with the celebration of Pride month. “As we get closer to Pride, you’re going to see a lot of businesses with the Pride flag or sticker. There are so many businesses that go out of their way to make everyone feel welcomed and valued, which is tremendous,” Maurer says.
We asked Maurer what she would do in Alexandria on a perfect day, when she had no work or obligations, and her answers involved bike riding, live music and a few sweet treats.
Morning
Maurer is a cyclist, so her dream day would begin with a group bike ride organized by one of Alexandria’s cycling shops. “Conte’s Bike Shop on King Street has a ride every Saturday morning,” Maurer says. “That ride goes out of Old Town south, down to Fort Hunt park and winds its way back through Alexandria. We go up some hills, and back to Conte’s, where we typically have beignets from the BenYays’s Beignets bakery across the street from the bike shop.”
She’d follow up pastries with a walk through Old Town around King Street and Prince Street, enjoying the sights, and perusing the neighborhood’s local boutiques. “There are so many different places to pop in and do a little bit of shopping,” she says. Friends to Lovers, a bookstore created by and for women and queer people, is on her list of shops to check out.
Afternoon
After going for a walk along the Alexandria waterfront and grabbing lunch while she’s out, another sugar fix is in order. While there are a plethora of options for sweets in Old Town, she knows exactly where to go. “There are three phenomenal dessert locations all within about a one block area,” she says of the combination of Casa Rosada for gelato and MidnighTreats for cookies on S. Payne Street and Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats just across the way on Commerce Street.
After that, she’d swing back to Carlyle, her own neighborhood, for a low-key hang with friends at one of her favorite spots, Lost Boys Cider. “It’s really fun and really chill and serves great drinks. I like the vibe there,” she says.
Evening
To end the dream day, Maurer heads to Del Ray for dinner and a show. It’s a toss-up between Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar or Del Ray Public House for a meal, and either the Birchmere or the Majestic Lounge for live music. And don’t forget Dairy Godmother for custard. “If it’s a perfect day, I can have as much dessert as I want,” she jokes.
For more information on how the task force recognizes LGBTQ+ people and their contributions to Alexandria’s diverse community, click here. And visit the Unlock Your Story homepage for more inspiring, only-in-Alexandria itineraries.
Explore more LGBTQ+ offerings and travel itineraries, including experiencing Alexandria like Queer Eye’s Fab Five, from Visit Alexandria here.
