⛈️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79 degrees. East wind 6 to 8 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%—new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72 degrees. East wind around six mph, becoming calm in the evening. The chance of precipitation is 50%.
🚨 You need to know
Alexandria residents celebrating Independence Day with alcohol will have access to free safe rides home through a regional nonprofit’s annual drunk driving prevention program. The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) announced that its 2025 Independence Day SoberRide® program will offer free Lyft transportation throughout the Washington metropolitan area, including the City of Alexandria.
The program will operate for 12 hours, beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4, and continuing until 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 5. Alexandria residents ages 21 and older can download the Lyft app and enter a special SoberRide promo code to receive up to $15 in free transportation home. The promo code will be posted at 3:00 p.m. on July 4th at www.SoberRide.com.
The initiative targets a significant safety concern during the holiday weekend. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 40 percent of U.S. traffic fatalities on Independence Day involve drunk drivers. “Nearly 40 percent of U.S. traffic fatalities during Independence Day involve drunk drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Kurt Erickson, WRAP’s President.
WRAP’s SoberRide program extends throughout Lyft’s Washington D.C. coverage area, which specifically includes Alexandria along with other Northern Virginia jurisdictions such as Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, plus the cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Since 1991, the program has provided 94,857 free safe rides home to individuals who were intoxicated in the Greater Washington area.
Numerous sponsors, including major beverage companies, local businesses, and government highway safety offices, support the program. WRAP also offers similar SoberRide® programs during other high-risk holidays, including the Super Bowl, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and New Year’s.
Here’s what else you should know
🆕 More than 800,000 immigrants and naturalized citizens comprise 28% of direct care employees at home care agencies, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care companies, including in Virginia. Jordan Rau of KFF Health News brings us the story from the Goodwin House in Alexandria.
👏 Alexandria Living Legend Gayle Reuter is retiring, but staying in Del Ray. ALXnow’s James Cullum caught up with Reuter on Thursday to find out what’s next.
👉 During a media availability on Thursday, and in response to my questions, Senator Mark Warner voiced his skepticism and concern regarding the federal government’s decision to relocate HUD to Alexandria. The Senator is demanding a full cost-benefit analysis of the move, questioning the proclaimed taxpayer savings and expressing worry for the approximately 1,800 NSF employees who will be displaced from their current headquarters. He noted that he has yet to see any cost evaluation justifying the relocation.
📺 Fox 5 DC’s Zip Trip will be broadcasting live from Carlyle Square this morning from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be more than 15 segments showcasing Carlyle and the larger Alexandria community through interviews with local businesses, first responders, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, and more, according to Visit Alexandria.
🏊 The City is postponing today’s scheduled reopening of the Old Town Pool, stating that repairs are progressing well but require a little more time before they can reopen.
🚌 ICYMI: Metro will launch its new bus network on Sunday (June 29). There are a lot of resources here where you can learn more about the new routes and stops.
🗓️ This weekend in Alexandria is packed with major events, including the annual Alexandria Pride Fair at City Hall on Saturday. Plus, Port City Brewing Company is getting a very early start on Oktoberfest, a Mystical Pride Prom takes over the Torpedo Factory, and there’s a full slate of live music, workshops, and family-friendly activities across the city. Weekend Roundup
📈 Thursday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for June 26, 2025.
- USPTO switches Southeast Regional Office from Atlanta to Alexandria, sparking congressional criticism (3801 views)
- Senator Warner demands cost analysis for HUD move to Alexandria, raises concerns about NSF displacement (1540 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here’s what’s happening today and this weekend in Alexandria, courtesy of our event calendar.
- 6:30 pm Friday: Wright at Twilight
- 7:00 pm Friday: Trivia Nights at Historic Sites: Jane Austen
- 👉 8:00 am Saturday: FREE Community Shred Day at West End Village
- 👉 8:00 am Saturday: Alexandria Health Fair
- 10:00 am Saturday: Computer Donation Drive
- 2:00 pm Saturday: Ham Radio Field Day 2025
- 👉 2:00 pm Saturday: NAACP Virginia District 8 to Host Community Town Hall
- 3:00 pm Saturday: Alexandria Pride
Here is what’s happening today, according to our newsletter.
Things To Do
- 10:30 a.m.: Happy Theater Presents: Nest at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 11 a.m.: Oktoberfest returns to Port City Brewing Company
- 2 p.m.: TACA Presents: Kids’ Ghanaian Cultural Dance Class at Patrick Henry Recreational Center
- 6:30 p.m.: Friday Night O’Connell’s Run at Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant
- 6:30 p.m.: Wright at Twilight at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
- 7 p.m.: Tavern Game Night: Pride Edition at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
- 7 p.m.: Trivia Nights at Historic Sites: Jane Austen at Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden
- 7 p.m.: Enchanted Forest: A Mystical Pride Prom at Torpedo Factory Art Center
- 7 p.m.: Guided Meditation With Cats at Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe & Wine Bar
- 219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Alexandria Bier Garden: Broken Ground at 9:30 p.m.
- Blackwall Hitch: Spike Burton at 9 p.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s: Rook Richards at 9:30 p.m.
- Galactic Panther Art Gallery: Supreme Commander, Northeast Regional, and Undoll at 7 p.m.
- Flipside Speakeasy: Karaoke at 8 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: The Satin Doll Quartet at 7:30 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: Strummin & Drummin at 6 p.m.
- Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Rocky Guttmann and Powers & McLaughlin at 9 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessys Pub: Kingpin at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Pieces Of A Dream at 7:30 p.m.
- The Light Horse: Lloyd Braun Band at 9:30 p.m.
- The Little Theatre of Alexandria: The Play That Goes Wrong at 8 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.
City of Alexandria Events & Public Meetings
- 9 a.m.: Industrial Development Authority
