America’s 250th anniversary flag in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)
Alexandria will mark Veterans Day on Wednesday (Nov. 11) with its annual ceremony and various schedule changes and closures.
The city and Friends of Rocky Versace will host the Veterans Day ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Avenue). The one-hour indoor ceremony will include patriotic music, a name reading of Alexandria’s 68 Vietnam War fallen servicemembers, and recognition of Gold Star families and military veterans attending. Qualified veterans can also receive the DoD Vietnam Era Veterans Lapel Pin.
On Nov. 6, the Alexandria Rotary Foundation hosted its 19th annual Taste For Giving event at the Atrium Building in Old Town, with more than a dozen local restaurants participating, with the proceeds going toward Alexandria nonprofits. The amount collected will be revealed next year. (staff photo by James Cullum)
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On November 10, 1900, the Alexandria Golf Club, located on Shuter’s Hill, hosted its first tournament. Golf course designer Robert White of Cincinnati had laid out the links that fall, and the following year a clubhouse was built. Entrance fees at the nine-hole course were $5 for men and $3 for women.” [Historic Alexandria]
City Council to Meet This Evening — City Council’s meeting begins at 5:45 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. Items of note on the agenda are a state of the economy update, Cameron Run update, recommendation from the School Board election reform ad hoc committee, consideration of the legislative agenda for the General Assembly, and expanding youth helmet requirements. [City of Alexandria]
Skepticism Over Deactivated Flock Cameras — “The city officially decommissioned its 61 Flock cameras Oct. 30 following months of public pushback over privacy and surveillance concerns. But video recorded by an Alexandria resident appears to show the cameras continuing to activate in response to passing traffic. Alexandria police insist that the cameras are no longer recording or collecting data.” [WUSA9]
DASH Board Chair Seeks Options to Repay City — “Chair David Kaplan described the request in a Nov. 7 letter from the Alexandria Transit Company board to Mayor Alyia Gaskins, City Council and City Manager James Parajon. The letter and its two attachments are posted with the materials for the board’s Nov. 12 meeting. The letter also says the costs behind DASH’s $5.9 million fiscal 2027 shortfall ‘are costs DASH should have better anticipated when the budget was developed.'” [Alexandria Brief]
Flood Resilience Plan Up for Public Feedback — “The City is seeking public feedback on its draft Flood Resilience Plan through Tuesday, Dec. 1. The plan is intended to guide future work to reduce flooding and make neighborhoods more resilient. According to the City’s October announcement, the draft incorporates flood-risk assessments, potential infrastructure projects and community feedback.” [The Zebra]
AWLA Shares Need for Paper Bag Donations — “We use paper and reusable shopping/grocery bags to package up Pet Pantry and AniMeals orders for pets and pet parents in our community. You can donate any and all paper/reusable bags (grocery bag size or larger please) at the shelter Monday through Friday 9 am – 7 pm or Saturday and Sunday from 9 am – 5 pm. We’re located at 4101 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304.” [Animal Welfare League of Alexandria/Facebook]
Volunteers Sought for Alexandria Turkey Trot — “Every Thanksgiving morning, the Alexandria Turkey Trot brings thousands of runners, families and visitors to Del Ray, making it one of the neighborhood’s biggest traditions and an important event for the Del Ray Business Association.” [Del Ray Business Association]
A Wrap on Community Fire Academy — “We recently celebrated the graduation of our Fall 2026 Community Fire Academy cohort! The academy provides community members with an opportunity to learn about fire safety, emergency medical response, and the history, administration, and daily operations of an urban fire department. We appreciate their commitment to learning, community engagement, and public safety.” [Alexandria Fire Department/Facebook]
New License Requirements for Young Drivers — “Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginians ages 18 to 20 applying for their first driver’s license will need to meet new licensing requirements. Under the new law, applicants must hold a learner’s permit for at least 90 days and complete an approved driver education course before receiving their license.” [Virginia DMV]
New Concourse Revealed at Dulles International Airport — “Concourse E will provide additional space for airlines and travelers as the airport experiences record passenger growth, the airports authority said. The 435,000-square-foot facility features 14 gates, expanded seating areas, upgraded restrooms and direct access to the airport’s AeroTrain system.” [WTOP]
VDOT Prepares for Winter Weather Season — “Though preparations begin in the summer, it’s this time of year crews focus on inspecting snow-fighting equipment and ensuring materials and drivers are ready for the first forecasted flakes of snow.” [Virginia Department of Transportation/ARLnow]
It’s Tuesday — Sunny with a high near 68 and a southwest wind at 3 to 7 mph. Tuesday night will be clear, with a low around 44 and a northwest wind at 3 to 5 mph. Veterans Day will be mostly sunny, with a high near 66 and calm winds becoming southerly around 5 mph in the afternoon. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
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*Pricing, offers, and availability are subject to change without notice. Some images and renderings may represent a similar home or may have been created or edited using artificial intelligence (AI), and may depict design elements, furnishings, finishes, landscaping, views, or other features that are not included in the home or may not be available. Please see a Van Metre New Home Advisor for details.
Old Town Strength Studio for 50+ Opens 5 Spots in Members-Only Year-End Challenge Revolutionary Fitness, the strength and longevity training studio for people over 50 at 215… [Announcement]
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]
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
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 Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend… [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 NOVA Guide has launched, giving Alexandria residents a new source for local news, upcoming events, business stories, and ideas for their next outing.
The website covers news, businesses, and life across Northern Virginia, with a dedicated Alexandria page for readers who want to explore what is happening nearby. It brings together local stories, upcoming events, business features, and Top Picks lists, making it a useful starting point for both everyday plans and weekend adventures.
City Council at its annual budget retreat, Sat. Nov. 7, 2026 (via City of Alexandria)
City Manager Jim Parajon and his staff laid out a stark budget reality at Alexandria City Council’s annual budget retreat.
As he contends with an estimated $10 million to $15 million budget shortfall in the 2028 fiscal year budget, Parajon is asking all city departments to submit their budget proposals to him with 3% cuts. He’s also asking that Alexandria City Public Schools limit its operating budget transfer request to 2.25% over what was approved in the current budget, amounting to a cap of $7.1 million.
Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School at 1501 Cameron Street (via Jefferson-Houston/Facebook)
Amid declining student enrollment numbers, an Alexandria city councilman is wondering whether Alexandria City Public Schools should shelve a costly conversion project to handle middle school capacity.
ACPS recently reported that its student population has fallen about 4% since the 2025-26 school year, descending from 15,928 to 15,295 students as of Sept. 30, 2026. The data follows Acting Superintendent Grace Taylor’s unveiling of a proposed $370.6 million Capital Improvement Program budget that exceeds the city’s budget guidance by more than $186 million.
N. Beauregard Street near Roanoke Avenue in Alexandria West (via Google Maps)
Three additional Opportunity Zones have been added in Alexandria’s West End to support revitalization, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) announced Friday (Nov. 6).
The U.S. Department of the Treasury approved all 153 new Opportunity Zones the Spanberger administration requested in Virginia. The zones are intended to promote long-term private investment in low-income urban, suburban and rural census tracts through federal tax benefits such as deferral of previous capital gains, step-up of previously earned capital gains and exclusion of taxable income on new capital gains in Opportunity Zones. The program was created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Cora Kelly Elementary School, 3600 Commonwealth Avenue, on Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
As winter gets closer, Alexandria City Public Schools officials indicated there will be four traditional snow days this school year and changes to how snow day decisions will be shared.
Julia Burgos, the ACPS chief of school and community relations, said the decision-making process isn’t changing, but communications will.
Traditional Renovated Brick Houses in Old Town Alexandria (licensed via Adobe Stock)
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On November 9, 1949, the Alexandria officials formally dedicated the new Theodore Ficklin School. The elementary school was located on Second Street between North Pitt and North Royal streets and was named for longtime Alexandria principal who also was also a Confederate officer in the Civil War. The new school cost just over a half million dollars and featured modern amenities, like a water fountain in every classroom.” [Historic Alexandria]
Temporary Library Branch Closure — “The James M. Duncan Branch Library (2501 Commonwealth Ave.) will temporarily close from Saturday, November 7, to Monday, November 16, for repairs due to a roof leak. The library is anticipated to reopen Tuesday, November 17. During the closure, the City will clean the affected areas, repair the roof, and replace damaged building materials.” [Alexandria Library]
Status of Leaf Collection — “🍂Leaf collection is underway in Alexandria! Starting Monday, November 9, crews will begin collecting leaves in Zone 3 and Zone 5B. Check the schedule to see when crews are expected in your neighborhood and get your leaves ready for collection at: alexandriava.gov/leafcollection.” [Alexandria T&ES/Bluesky]
City Council/School Board Subcommittee Meets This Evening — The subcommittee will discuss policy and state legislative goals from 5-6 p.m. Monday at the ACPS Central Office. [Alexandria City School Board]
New Affordable Housing Units Available — “Twelve income-restricted apartments are opening at Newport Village on West Braddock Road, the City of Alexandria announced Tuesday. The garden-style community at 4757 W. Braddock Road is offering two- and three-bedroom apartments for households earning between 40% and 50% of the area median income. The City says eight apartments will be available in November and four in December.” [The Zebra]
Concerns Raised at Dominion-NextEra Merger Hearing — “The final in-person public testimony hearing highlighted Dominion ratepayers’ key gripes ahead of the proposed merger’s litigation process, chiefly spiking electricity bills. In recent years Dominion’s base rates have increased and riders have been added to bills to cover the costs of several energy generation projects. Opponents fear the merger will only worsen their utility costs as demand grows.” [Virginia Mercury]
Two-Way I-95 Express Lanes in Study Phase — “The express lanes currently operate in one direction at a time, with the direction changing based on established weekday and weekend schedules; drivers traveling in the opposite direction cannot access the express lanes. The proposed bi-directional configuration would allow express lane travel in both directions at all times.” [Inside NoVA]
Pumpkin Composting Offered — “Your jack-o’-lanterns, pumpkins, squash, and gourds can get a fresh start with the 2026 Pumpkin Rescue – just bring your unpainted, unvarnished items to a Farmers’ Market compost station and we’ll handle the rest. Learn more at alexandriava.gov/go/4299.” [Alexandria T&ES/Bluesky]
November Snowstorm Not Likely Next Weekend — “According to [NBC4 meteorologist Doug] Kammerer, several major weather models have significantly reduced their snowfall projections. The European model continues to show some potential snow in mountainous areas, including the Blue Ridge, while the European AI model, which previously indicated snow for the region, now shows virtually none. The American GFS model, which suggested a major snowstorm just a day earlier, has also backed off considerably.” [MoCo Show]
It’s Monday — Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 62 and west winds at 15 to 24 mph, gusting up to 34 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 40 and lighter northwest winds at 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]
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Revolutionary Fitness, the strength and longevity training studio for people over 50 at 215 N. Payne St., is opening 5 spots in its members-only year-end challenge.
Every year, the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year’s knocks people off track. Workouts get skipped, schedules fill up, and the plan becomes “I’ll start in January.”
