There were no injuries after an elderly woman drove through a front window of Palm Beach Tan (3690 King Street) in the Bradlee Shopping Center on Friday afternoon (Nov. 13).
Palm Beach Tan staff told ALXnow that they saw the blue sedan heading toward the window and were able to get out of the way in time. Staffers then helped the woman out of her vehicle, and the Alexandria Fire Department determined there was no structural damage to the building, according to radio dispatches.
Opposing factions are gearing up for City Council’s public hearing on appeals of the Russell Road Safe Routes to School Project on Saturday.
The city wants to make safety changes to Russell Road near Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School following a Safe Routes to School walk audit, finding that three people were injured in nine traffic crashes along the corridor since 2017.
The decision to seek addiction treatment can come after weeks or months of uncertainty. A family member may finally recognize the need for professional support, or someone experiencing substance use difficulties may decide independently that it’s time to ask for help. In either situation, what happens immediately after that decision matters.
In Alexandria and across Northern Virginia, public health initiatives have strengthened overdose prevention, education, and emergency response. However, another challenge remains: connecting someone who asks for help with an actual treatment provider. Awareness and emergency response are important, but they don’t automatically create a pathway into ongoing care.
The transition from an initial phone call to treatment deserves greater attention. Without a clear process, people seeking care can encounter delays, uncertainty, and administrative obstacles.
At Novara Recovery Center in Fairfax, same-day evaluations help bridge this exact gap. The intake process is designed to connect the initial phone call to structured addiction treatment in Virginia without unnecessary delays.
Virginia has made measurable progress in reducing fatal drug overdoses. According to preliminary 2025 figures from the Virginia Department of Health, the state recorded 1,197 drug overdose deaths, a 23% decrease from 2024. Despite this improvement, the need for substance use treatment remains significant.
Surviving an overdose doesn’t automatically connect someone with continued care. Emergency departments address immediate medical needs, while longer-term treatment requires additional planning.
For Alexandria families researching drug rehab in Virginia, the question extends beyond preventing overdose deaths. It also involves what happens when someone is ready to accept help. A person may leave an emergency setting with a recommendation to seek treatment but still need assistance identifying an appropriate provider and arranging the next step.
A stronger connection between emergency response and ongoing treatment can help close that gap. Prevention, emergency response, and continued care should function as connected parts of a broader approach to substance use treatment.
For families, the first call to a treatment provider often comes after a difficult period of uncertainty. A parent may be concerned about a child’s substance use, or someone experiencing these difficulties may finally feel ready to discuss treatment.
When callers encounter lengthy waitlists, repeated paperwork, or delayed callbacks, an operational gap forms between expressing a willingness to receive help and actually accessing it.
Timing matters during this transition. Someone who has spent considerable time resisting treatment may have only recently become willing to consider it. If the process requires multiple calls and several days of waiting just to arrange an evaluation, that willingness may become harder to maintain.
Families can experience similar uncertainty. They may not know whether a loved one needs medical detoxification, a more structured outpatient program, or another level of care.
The solution isn’t simply to make admissions calls easier. It’s to establish a process that moves individuals from an initial conversation toward appropriate treatment without unnecessary delays.
How Accelerated Intake Removes the Friction
At Novara Recovery Center in Fairfax, the intake process is designed to help people move toward care quickly. Novara Recovery offers same-day evaluations in Fairfax, providing an opportunity to assess treatment needs and begin the intake process for addiction treatment in Northern Virginia shortly after someone reaches out.
After the Northern Virginia Christmas Market was canceled the first weekend of November, an Alexandria holiday market wants to welcome vendors needing an outlet to showcase their products.
The volunteer-run Markets for Good will host The Gratitude Exchange, a free holiday market at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12. All booth fees will support Volunteer Alexandria’s TOYS4alx and Center for Alexandria’s Children’s ALX Closet.
In honor of Veterans Day, Imperium Strength & Longevity, a private strength-training studio in Old Town Alexandria, is launching a permanent Military Appreciation Program for active-duty military personnel, reservists, National Guard members, and veterans.
The program offers substantial savings on both introductory training and ongoing membership:
Hundreds attended a candlelight vigil for Cornerstone Craftsman founder and executive director Roberto Gomez, who died suddenly on Tuesday (Nov. 10).
The vigil was held Thursday evening outside Cornerstone Craftsman’s headquarters. A memorial service for Gomez will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday (Nov. 15), at the Oswald Durant Center at(1605 Cameron Street). Gomez leaves behind his young family, as well as the nonprofit’s 21 teen apprentices. A GoFundMe to support his 1-year-old son and partner has so far raised more than $14,000.
Pass the Gravy, Pass the Business!
Next Level Networking for Arlington Business Leaders
Tired of networking events where everyone talks but nothing happens? This event is for you.
Italian dining spots serve as vital gathering spaces across Alexandria, anchoring neighborhoods with long-standing family traditions and distinct local flavors. This week’s Readers’ Choice poll considers the establishments that shape the city’s Italian culinary scene.
Here are the nominees for Best Italian restaurants in Alexandria as part of our ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite Italian restaurant? Write it in!
Voting will close on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Voting for Best family physician in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best bakery in Alexandria. The full results are now official:
A total of 677 votes were cast, and home-based Rolling Sloane’s Bakery in Del Ray won the most votes.
See all ALXnow Readers’ Choice winners.
More activities are moving indoors and holiday events are starting to appear around Alexandria in mid-November.
This weekend, the Alexandria Film Festival celebrates 20 years, and the newly-renamed Bright Nights—The Winter Village at Cameron Run returns for its final season. Other highlights include the Banned Books Speakeasy and specialty tours at Fort Ward Museum and Lee-Fendall House.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On November 13, 1873, the Alexandria City Council granted permission to the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company, created in 1845 by inventor Samuel Morse, to run its lines through Alexandria providing instant communication for the first time from New York all the way to Richmond … After witnessing a series of electro-magnetic experiments, he later developed the concept of the single-wire telegraph and the Morse code system of telegraphy. [Historic Alexandria]
City Council Holds Public Hearing Saturday — The appeals of the Russell Road Safe Routes to School, partial tax exemption for Community Lodgings’ affordable housing project, the city’s legislative package for the 2027 General Assembly session, and helmet rules for 14 and under are among the items City Council will consider on Saturday. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. [City of Alexandria]
Rep. Beyer, Other N. Va. Reps Oppose Dominion-NextEra Merger — “The Members noted that while NextEra stands to benefit from the expanded investment opportunities created by the rapid expansion of data centers across Northern Virginia, residential customers and small businesses could be left footing the bill. The Members also cautioned that the merger could consolidate market power across the regional electricity grid, stifling competition and ultimately increasing electricity costs for Virginia consumers. They argued that the proposed merger’s temporary incentives fail to offset the merger’s potential long-term costs.” [Rep. Don Beyer press release]
D.C. Region Trends Toward Encrypted Police Scanners — “A recommendation from the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments, a regional advisory body of local governments in D.C., Northern Virginia and Maryland, calls for all local law enforcement to switch to encrypted communications by 2028.” [ARLnow]
Metrorail Adjusts Service This Weekend — Blue Line trains will only run between Franconia-Springfield and Foggy Bottom, while Yellow Line trains run between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square. [Metro/Bluesky]
Condo Dispute Suspected Before D.C. Shooting — “Dr. Matt Lambert, 55, shot and killed James Stuart, 46, and went on to shoot and wound four others early Thursday, police say. The victims include a woman who was shot in the head. Lambert barricaded himself in his penthouse condo in the same block as the gym, shot at officers and took his life, authorities said.” [NBC Washington]
Dan Snyder’s Home Back on Market Near Alexandria — “The Snyders sold the Washington Commanders in July 2023 to a group led by Josh Harris for $6.05 billion. They bought River View in 2021 for a reported $48 million and put it up for sale in June 2024 for $60 million. That listing came down around the end of February 2026. The estate returned to market May 20 at $49.9 million, where the asking price still stands nearly six months later.” [The Zebra]
Microplastics Found in Tested Waterways — “The study from Environment America tracked microplastics at Maryland sites along the Patapsco, Choptank, Nanticoke and Susquehanna rivers — and in the Chesapeake Bay itself near Talbot County. Lab researchers also analyzed samples from sites in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. All of the sites contained plastic microfibers, 93% of them contained microfragments, 47% had microfilm and 27% had microbeads.” [Virginia Mercury]
Alexandria Library Collects Winter Gear Donations — “We are collecting handmade or store-bought scarves, hats, and mittens for Alexandria’s Community Lodgings. 🧣🧤 Drop items at any Alexandria Library Branch donation box between now and December 2. 🧶” [Alexandria Library/Bluesky]
New Legal Notice — Trustee seeks court approval to decant trust assets into special-needs trust; respondent must answer by December 22, 2026. [Public Notices]
It’s Friday — Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers before 1 PM. High near 48, with north winds 14 to 16 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Tonight will remain mostly cloudy, with a low around 36 and north winds 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. [NWS]
No time to read? Now you can listen to your local news. Subscribe to the ALXnow Daily Update on Apple, Spotify or Amazon.
Good Thursday evening, Alexandria. Here’s a look back at today’s most-read stories and a look ahead to tomorrow.
Everything else we published today, Nov 12, 2026.
A New Source for News, Events, and More in Alexandria, VA
The NOVA Guide has launched, giving Alexandria residents a new source for local news, upcoming… [Announcement]
John Hopkins-Gillispie Running for NAACP Alexandria Branch President
At its October general membership meeting, the NAACP Alexandria Branch 7043 Nominating Committee… [Announcement]
NAACP Alexandria Branch Elections Announcement
Dear Members: Following the 2026 NAACP Election Procedures, the Alexandria Branch of the NAACP… [Announcement]
Old Town Alexandria Strength Studio Introduces Permanent Military Discount for Veterans Day
In honor of Veterans Day, Imperium Strength & Longevity, a private strength-training studio… [Announcement]
Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Alexandria Preschool & Kindergarten Fair
Nov 14: Preschool & Kindergarten Fair [Event]
Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market
Nov 14: Free, Open Air Flea & Vintage Market with 70+ Vendors, "Best in VA!" [Event]
StoryWorx Book Festival/ Meet the Authors at the Workhouse Arts Center
Nov 14: Family Friendly Book Festival [Event]
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Nov 15: Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and… [Event]
Sips & Shells: Holiday Oyster Shell Workshop at Hank’s Oyster Bar
Nov 17: Gather your girlfriends for a creative night out in Old Town Alexandria! [Event]
Washington Spirit Alum Meet & Greet + The Amazing Race Watch Party
Nov 18: Meet Washington Spirit alum Joanna Lohman, then stick around to cheer on Joanna and Ali Krieger as they compete on The Amazing Race! [Event]
💡 November Leadership Incubator Weekend, hosted by Shifting Waters Leadership
Nov 19: Shifting Waters Leadership Institute (SWLI) is bringing a new kind of leadership experience… [Event]
Improv Comedy Show with the Auxiliary
Nov 21: Join the Auxiliary Improv for a night of comedy in Old Town, Alexandria VA! [Event]
The Cards You Were Born With
Nov 22: Interactive beginner Tarot workshop on learning your own Birth Cards. [Event]
Submit events, announcements, or home listings to ALXnow.
Today: Alexandria saw a high of 66° at 1:55 p.m. (7° above normal), a low of 50° at 3:30 a.m., no rain and a peak gust of 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
The photo above is from the City of Alexandria’s marina webcam.
Thanks for reading!
Home sales across the city took a tumble in October, but the median sales price was higher, according to new data.
A total of 125 properties went to closing across Alexandria last month, according to figures reported Nov. 10 by Bright MLS. That’s down 27.3% from a year before.
