News

Hotel AKA in Old Town North will transition into a Marriott Autograph Collection on June 17, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Electra American, which acquired the 180-room former Holiday Inn at 625 First Street in 2021, made the deal to change the hotel brand. The hotel was redesigned by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, then renovated and reopened as Hotel AKA in 2023.


Sponsored

Some of the most ultra high-end (some with an elevator) townhomes in the DC region will deliver in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, just blocks from the King Street Metro.

Sales have already begun and while some new owners have already moved in, there are immediate move-ins available.

Brooks Estate is a collection of 13 sophisticated, four-bedroom and four-and-a-half bath residences that blend custom details, modern amenities and cutting-edge technology.

Looking for walkability? It doesnt get much better than this! Restaurants like Call Your Mother Deli and Hard Times Cafe and Augies Mussel House and Beer Garden are seconds away, and Brooks Estate is just a couple of blocks walk to the King Street Metro.

All of the homes boast 2,600 to over 3,000 square feet of space, chef’s kitchens with professional series Thermador appliances, spa-like baths, as well as rooftop terraces, two-car garages, and some homes available with elevators. Pricing starts at $2,287,500.

The homes at Brooks Estate provide an exceptional blend of luxury living with traditional architectural details that reflect the Old Town neighborhood. Rooms are connected by graceful arches and adorned with traditional flourishes like crown moldings.

Brooks Estate standard finishes include high-end custom cabinetry and custom-built rift and quartered white oak oven hoods and island surrounds. The flooring—by Arlandria Floors in Del Ray—is a true 3/4-inch-thick luxury wide-plank engineered European white oak hardwood floors that are sanded and finished on site.

Cutting-edge details include wireless smart home features throughout the house, with Lutron Wi-Fi light switches; garages fitted with Wi-Fi and cameras, and that are EV-ready; Wi-Fi/Bluetooth unit entry-door locks; Wi-Fi heated floors in the primary bath; nearly soundproof windows; and sound insulation in all bedrooms, bathrooms, and mechanical rooms. (more…)


Around Town

The city has announced various events planned for Juneteenth, a federally observed holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.

On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free — two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American history and freedom.


News

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On June 10, 1919, Alexandria held a homecoming parade for local men who had served in the Great War. Several hundred men from Alexandria served in the war and nearly a hundred marched in the parade which at King and Patrick streets and ended at Washington and Prince streets. The band from Fort Myer and former members of the Alexandria Light Infantry were among those who participated in the procession.” [Historic Alexandria]

Alexandria Resident’s Hazardous Material Release in Storm Drain — “Ahmad Adawi, of Fairfax, and Suhib Derbas, of Alexandria, are accused of intentionally releasing hazardous substances directly into stormwater drains, the Arlington County Office of the Fire Marshal announced (Tuesday).” [ARLnow]


Event

Still We Rise: A Broadway Cabaret to Celebrate America’s 250th is a three-act musical journey that reflects the evolving American experience from the country’s independence through its 250th year and explores what America’s future might yet hold. This new work uses lyrics and love to confront the realities that still test our founding ideals, and to celebrate the strength of American diversity & persistence. Featuring songs & arrangements from acclaimed Broadway shows such as Ragtime, Suffs, and Hamilton, Still We Rise inspires audiences to dream of an America driven by love and rooted in community – and challenges them to turn that dream into reality.

Friday and Saturday at 8 pm / Sunday Matinees at 3 pm


News

Good Tuesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Jun 9, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria seeks $35M in VDOT grants for King Street, Mount Vernon Avenue projects (1042 views)
  2. Alexandria City Council to vote on relocating polling place after 63 years (845 views)
  3. Boutiques to hold ‘Shop the Checkers’ to welcome Croatian team to Alexandria (531 views)
  4. Morning Notes for June 9, 2026 (503 views)
  5. New coffee table book offers glimpse inside Old Town’s historic homes (502 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, especially after 2 p.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 88°F. Winds will be from the south at around 9 mph, and there is a 50% chance of precipitation. Tonight, there’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m. The skies will clear up partially, with a low around 72°F and southwest winds of 3 to 6 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
– John Lennon

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


News

Alexandria’s City Council will soon decide on moving a polling place that’s been active since Aug. 27, 1963.

That’s just one day before the historic civil rights March on Washington. For 63 years, the Blessed Sacrament Precinct at Blessed Sacrament Church (1427 W. Braddock Road) has been the polling place for parts of central Alexandria on primary and election days. City staff will ask City Council at its meeting tonight (June 9) to send the matter to its public hearing docket set for June 13.


News

Gawkers peeking into the windows of historic homes in Old Town need look no further.

On June 16, publisher Simon & Schuster will release “Old Town Style: Inside Alexandria’s Most Beautiful Historic Homes.” In its 253 pages, Robert Weinhagen Jr., president of the Historic Alexandria Foundation, goes inside 44 homes built within the Colonial, Federal and Victorian periods.


News

The city is getting ready for a potential 2027 start date on one of its biggest projects to address stormwater flooding in Lynhaven and the northern part of Del Ray.

The city held a meeting on the Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Flood Mitigation Project last Thursday (June 4) at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center. Since the last community meeting in 2025, the project has received final design plans, and the city is preparing to solicit a construction contractor. It is also coordinating with utility owners for utility relocation to accommodate new stormwater infrastructure. Summer 2027 is the tentative construction start date.


News

Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon is asking for City Council’s permission to apply for $35 million in state funding for two transportation projects approved in 2024.

City Council will consider Parajon’s proposal to apply for the Virginia Department of Transportation SMART SCALE funding at its meeting tonight (June 9). The funding requests include $27 million in mobility enhancements along King Street between Quaker Lane and Menokin Drive, and up to $8 million for pedestrian improvements on Mount Vernon Avenue at the intersections with Executive Avenue and Russell Road in the city’s Arlandria neighborhood. The city has a deadline of Aug. 1 to submit projects to VDOT for consideration.