News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Sep 17, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow header banner reading 'Daily Debrief for Sep 17, 2026' in large white text over a river landscape with a bridge; a person walks along the shore in the foreground.

Good Thursday 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 — Sep 17, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Metro’s Yellow Line service to be suspended over two weekends (1033 views)
  2. Two restaurants at Shoppes at Foxchase remain closed after Aug. 25 truck fire (928 views)
  3. APD: Clerk pepper-sprayed during cigarette theft at Richmond Highway gas station (527 views)
  4. Morning Notes for September 17, 2026 (431 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌤️ Friday’s forecast

Expect partly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of 85°F and a gentle north wind of 7 to 9 mph. In the evening, skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 65°F, accompanied by a light north wind at about 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

News

AWLA’s Paws in the Park returns in October with largest adoptable animal section to date

By Emily Leayman
Couple walking two small dogs in blue coats at a busy outdoor market with white tents in a sunny park.
Paws in the Park (via Duane Rogers for AWLA)

As the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, its fall festival will be bigger than ever.

Paws in the Park will return to Oronoco Bay Park, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. The annual event celebrates all things animals, with vendors, adoptable animals, live music, and entertainment for kids and adults. The first 1,000 attendees will get a swag bag.

Go to AWLA’s Paws in the Park returns in October with largest adoptable animal section to date Read more
Sponsored

NaLa Noches: A free Latin music series in National Landing

By Sponsor
A man in a blue cap and sunglasses dances with a smiling woman in a floral dress at an outdoor city park festival, with onlookers and tents in the background.

Met Park becomes your dance floor this fall with the return of NaLa Noches, a high-energy celebration of Latin music and culture in the heart of National Landing. Sigue el sonido/follow the sound of the güiro, clave, and timbales during live performances from top regional acts curated by DC trumpet legend Joe Herrera. During the set break, Inspira Dance leads short, beginner-friendly dance lessons, from salsa to merengue and more!

Grab empanadas and alfajores onsite from local favorite Peruvian Brothers, cool down with a complimentary Topo Chico, and partake in hands-on “Colores y Cultura” art activations by Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington.

FREE TO RSVP

Musical Lineup:

September 17 — René Ibáñez & Cubano Groove (Latin Jazz)

September 24 — Punto i Aparte (Salsa Merengue)

October 1 — Orquesta Manplesa (Salsa)

October 8 — Monte Cimarrón (Cuban Son/Salsa)

October 15 — Son Cubano Subterráneo (Cuban Son)

Art Activities & Artist Lineup:

Join Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington for fun and free “Colores y Cultura” arts activities each week.

September 17: Talavera Pottery-Style Clay Crafts // sculpt decorative pieces with air dry clay!

September 24: Artist Spotlight: David Amoroso — Papel Amate Inspired Painting // paint vibrant scenes of flora + fauna on natural paper.

October 1: Artist Spotlight: Michelle Espinoza — Corn Husk Flowers // craft flowers out of corn husks.

October 8: Artist Spotlight: Jaqui Falkenheim — Little Houses on Caminito Street // color and collage houses inspired by Caminito Street in La Boca, Buenos Aires!

October 15: Mini-Nicho Shadow Boxes // create a personal little shrine with colorful embellishments!

Please refer to the National Landing website for transportation and full event details: www.nationallanding.org/events/nala-noches

NaLa Noches is produced by the National Landing BID in partnership with Amazon.

News

Two restaurants at Shoppes at Foxchase remain closed after Aug. 25 truck fire

By James Cullum
Fire behind the Shoppes at Foxchase in Alexandria’s West End on Aug. 25, 2026 (via AFD/Facebook)

Two restaurants are still temporarily closed and without power since a delivery truck driver hit a power line behind the Shoppes at Foxchase on Tuesday night, Aug. 25.

That’s more than three weeks ago. The fire that destroyed a pickup truck, two dumpsters and fencing has also shuttered La Casa Restaurant (4551 Duke Street) and Hong Kong Express (4545 Duke Street).

Go to Two restaurants at Shoppes at Foxchase remain closed after Aug. 25 truck fire Read more
News

Visit Alexandria celebrates 30th anniversary as city records $1 billion visitor spending milestone

By Emily Leayman
Man in a dark suit speaks at a podium on a stage, with a large blue screen reading 'TOURISM CHAMPION AWARD' beside him, in an audience hall.
Visit Alexandria President and CEO Todd O’Leary announces the first-ever Tourism Champion Award (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Visit Alexandria founders, city leaders and businesses from the hospitality industry gathered to celebrate the organization’s 30th anniversary and the tourism industry’s achievements Wednesday (Sept. 16).

The milestone came as Visit Alexandria reported strong financial results from visitor spending. At the Visit Alexandria meeting at The Westin Alexandria Old Town, Mayor Alyia Gaskins reported the city had reached a milestone of $1 billion in visitor spending in 2025 for the second consecutive calendar year. The figure applies to visitors coming to Alexandria from 50 or more miles away.

Go to Visit Alexandria celebrates 30th anniversary as city records $1 billion visitor spending milestone Read more
Event

Manassas Latino Festival

Poster for Manassas Latino Festival featuring two dancers in colorful traditional dresses with bold event text and festival logos. Date: Sept. 26, 2026, 11 AM–6 PM; free admission.

Event location

Harris Pavilion

9201 Center Street

Manassas, Virginia 20110

Add to Calendar

Manassas Latino Festival is the oldest Hispanic/Latino, family-centric festival in the area! Held during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), join in the celebrations with live music, dance performances, diverse foods, and fun for the whole family! Come enjoy this premier annual tradition filled with cultural heritage and contributions of the Latin American community.

Go to Manassas Latino Festival Read more
News

APD: Clerk pepper-sprayed during cigarette theft at Richmond Highway gas station

By James Cullum
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating the theft of multiple cartons of cigarettes after a clerk was pepper sprayed at a gas station near Potomac Yard.

The employee reported that around 7 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, the suspect walked into the convenience store of the Exxon gas station at 2320 Richmond Highway and asked what time they started serving food. The clerk responded, and the suspect then allegedly pepper-sprayed the clerk, walked behind the counter and stole multiple cartons of Newport cigarettes, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

Go to APD: Clerk pepper-sprayed during cigarette theft at Richmond Highway gas station Read more
News

Metro’s Yellow Line service to be suspended over two weekends

By Emily Leayman
The Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Metro riders looking for that Yellow Line shortcut into D.C. won’t find it this weekend.

Metro announced Yellow Line service will be shut down Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20. That’s due to planned bridge and track rehabilitation, according to the transit agency.

Go to Metro’s Yellow Line service to be suspended over two weekends Read more
News

Morning Notes for September 17, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Walking at the Potomac waterfront (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On September 17, 1949, the George Washington High School in Del Ray was just beginning its football season. It was a magnificent fall day; the stadium was filled with excited fans, including the President of the United States, Harry S Truman, who had come earlier to Alexandria to assist with the burial of a time capsule, honoring the City’s bicentennial at the flagpole near the north goal post. The capsule, a stainless steel cylinder, approximately 4 feet long and 8 inches in diameter, was filled with photographs, newspapers, documents, books and artifacts recording life in Alexandria dating back to 1749. Warner Brothers Pathe News recorded the event and it was shown in over 176,000 theaters nationwide.” [Historic Alexandria]

Taste of Old Town North is Today — “The Annual Taste of Old Town North, a free, family- and pet-friendly event held in Montgomery Park returns on September 17, to include a weekend of great food and drink tastings, interactive art activities, and live music.” [Old Town North Community Partnership]

Go to Morning Notes for September 17, 2026 Read more
News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Sep 16, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow daily debrief banner with the date Sep 16, 2026, over a twilight cityscape featuring a tall central building and surrounding trees and buildings

Good Wednesday 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 — Sep 16, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. ACPS targets intersections across Alexandria in rush to resolve bus dispute (1007 views)
  2. JUST IN: Arlandria stabbing suspect arrested, was recently indicted after traffic incident (792 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛅️ Thursday’s forecast

This afternoon will be mostly sunny with a high around 89°F and a slight 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM, with south winds at 5 to 7 mph. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with a low near 71°F, and there is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 PM, then continuing as showers until midnight. Southwest winds will be 3 to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
– Henry David Thoreau

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Around Town

Halloween-themed pop-up bar opening Saturday in Del Ray

By James Cullum
The Nightmare On The Avenue pop-up bar at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

For the fifth consecutive year, a Halloween-themed pop-up bar will soon open in Del Ray.

Nightmare on the Avenue is opening at the seasonal Del Ray Pop-Up Bar this Saturday (Sept. 19) at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue. Customers can expect Halloween-themed cocktails and bites, culminating with a spooky party on the big day itself, Saturday, Oct. 31.

Go to Halloween-themed pop-up bar opening Saturday in Del Ray Read more
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