Notes: Alexandria neighborhoods unite for National Night Out tonight

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Tuesday, Aug. 5, the 217th day of 2025. There are 148 days left in the year.

🌥️ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82 degrees. Calm wind becoming southeast around five mph in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 68 degrees. Light east wind.

🚨 You need to know

Communities across Alexandria will gather this evening for National Night Out 2025, the annual nationwide event designed to strengthen police-community partnerships and build neighborhood solidarity. From 5 to 8 p.m., dozens of local events will take place throughout the city, ranging from block parties and cookouts to ice cream socials and family game nights.

City personnel, including officers from the Alexandria Police Department’s K-9 Unit, Motorcycle Unit, and Bike Patrol, will visit participating neighborhoods alongside members of the Alexandria Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office. The events aim to increase crime prevention awareness and demonstrate that neighborhoods are organized and partnered with law enforcement to help prevent crime.

Tonight’s festivities span the city, with more than 40 registered locations hosting activities. In the East End, highlights include a courtyard barbecue on Wilkes Street, live music and self-defense demonstrations at Hume Springs, and lawn games at the Carlyle Council. West End events feature everything from a community mixer at Highpointe Condominium to street games and karaoke at Cameron Station.

National Night Out began in 1984 with 2.5 million participants across 400 communities in 23 states. Last year’s event marked the largest celebration to date, involving 38 million people in 17,000 communities nationwide, according to organizers.

Residents are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #ALXNNO25 and tagging the Alexandria Police Department. The city’s participation in this community-building initiative reinforces Alexandria’s commitment to fostering safer, more connected neighborhoods through collaborative public safety efforts.

For a list of events, click here.

Here’s what else you should know

🗓️ On this day in 1774 (251 years ago), Alexandria’s first volunteer fire company was established as the Friendship Fire Company. According to Historic Alexandria, “Initially, the company was provided space in the Market Square area, but over time, several moves ensued as the needs of the company grew. In 1855, the company moved to a new firehouse built on South Alfred Street, which had a tall pointed steeple that could be seen from miles away. During the Civil War, the firehouse was neglected, and by 1871, the impact of wind and weather on the steeple was so devastating that the building was closed and rebuilt. The steeple was removed and replaced by the lower cupola still in place today”.

🍦 Fans of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream won’t have to travel to Arlington anymore to get their fix. The company recently filed an administrative special use permit (DSUP) application with the city to open a location in Old Town.

☕ There’s good news for Old Town coffee enthusiasts, as a new coffee shop and wine bar is asking the city for expanded hours and extra outdoor seating.

🚨 An Alexandria man charged with felony animal abuse was granted bail on July 24 (Thursday), despite objections from the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

🚓 Alexandria Police Department will celebrate National Night Out this evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at dozens of locations across the city.

📈 Monday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for August 4, 2025.

1. Alexandria firefighters help extinguish commercial building blaze in Alexandria area of Fairfax County
2. Bail granted for groomer accused of abusing dogs in Alexandria
3. Old Town coffee shop and wine bar wants more outdoor seats and expanded hours
4. NOW: Northbound lane of Richmond Highway at Monroe Street Bridge is shut down after collision
5. Senator Mark Warner spearheads bipartisan efforts to boost U.S. housing supply

📅 Upcoming events

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

• 6:00 pm: Alexandria Film Festival Presents ‘The Great Divide’

Things To Do

• 10 a.m.: Sunshine Readers at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
• 3 p.m.: Period Products 101 – Exploring Reusable and Disposable Options for Young People at Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop
• 5 p.m.: National Night Out across Alexandria
• 6 p.m.: Kiss the Ground – Documentary Screening and Discussion at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
• 6:30 p.m.: Alexandria Film Festival: ‘The Great Divide’ Film Screening at The Lyceum
• 7 p.m.: BeerYoga at Port City Brewing Company

• 1 p.m.: Understanding ACEs: Building Resilient Communities
• 5 p.m.: National Night Out
• 5:30 p.m.: Mentor Information Session for Space of Her Own
• 7 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Arts Commission Executive Committee Meeting