Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Wednesday, Sept. 3, the 246th day of 2025. There are 119 days left in the year.
☀️ Today’s weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82 degrees. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 64 degrees. South wind around 7 mph.
🚨 You need to know
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will begin its fall session of Alexandria Animal Academy dog training classes on Sunday, Sept. 7, offering individualized training plans for adult dogs and puppies struggling with behavioral issues.
The seven-week virtual training course features three learning tracks designed to address common canine problems: Confidence Building for shy or fearful dogs, Chill Out for hyperactive pets lacking impulse control, and Leash Reactivity for dogs with on-leash behavioral issues like barking and lunging. Participants can enroll in one, multiple or all tracks, with single courses starting at $200. Course auditing and scholarship options are also available.
The classes are open to anyone regardless of Alexandria residency status and focus on helping dogs and owners live more harmoniously together. The Confidence Building track targets dogs who may act aggressively when faced with new people or situations, while Chill Out addresses dogs with high energy levels who struggle to calm down. The Leash Reactivity track helps dogs who exhibit intense reactions during walks.
All courses are taught by Beth Tumlin, CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed), AWLA’s on-staff behavior and training coordinator. The low-cost program aims to make professional dog training accessible to the broader community.
More information about Alexandria Animal Academy and enrollment details are available on AWLA’s website.
Here’s what else you need to know
👉 Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins outlined the city’s preparations for potential federal funding cuts and addressed numerous infrastructure concerns during her monthly community conversation with ALXnow on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for proactive planning as the City Council prepares to resume meetings Sept. 9.
👋 Virginia Theological Seminary, the largest of the accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church, welcomed 45 new students on Monday for the 2025-26 academic year, bringing total enrollment to 216 students from around the world.
🎶 Summer may be winding down, but Alexandria is heating up with an eclectic mix of events this week that showcase the city’s vibrant arts scene, family-friendly attractions, and thriving nightlife. Things to do this week and weekend.
🆕 A new speakeasy is opening next month in Alexandria.
🏘️ A proposal to build a 275-unit workforce housing multifamily apartment building on the southwest portion of the sprawling WestEnd development is heading to the Alexandria Planning Commission.
Extra! Extra!
City of Alexandria: Affordable Rental Housing Opportunities / Oportunidades de Vivienda de Alquiler Asequible
City of Alexandria: This Week in Historic Alexandria – September 1, 2025
Fox5 DC: Possible plane wreckage found in Potomac may be from deadly DC crash
The Washington Post: Public housing director in Virginia caught living in one of his agency’s units
WJLA: Former US Attorney Jessica Aber’s death attributed to epilepsy
WUSA9: ‘It’s part of a tragedy’ | Man discovers possible airline seat from mid-air collision in the Potomac
📈 Tuesday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Sep 2, 2025.
- Tiki speakeasy Bar 86 to open in Alexandria next month
- Alexandria’s fall scene: New restaurants, art festivals and historic experiences kick off September
- 275-unit workforce housing project at former Landmark Mall site goes to Planning Commission
- SUV driver charged with reckless driving after moped rider suffers life-threatening injuries in Labor Day crash
- Fatal single-vehicle crash claims life of Maryland woman on I-495
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- 1:00 pm: SWaM Certification Workshop
Things To Do
- 10:30 a.m.: Stitcher’s Space at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 1 p.m.: SWaM Certification Workshop at Beatley Central Library
- 5 p.m.: Paws to Read at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 6 p.m.: September Sewing – Zenkis at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 7 p.m.: Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
- 7 p.m.: Love Stays Strong book signing at Old Town Books
- 219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
- Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden: Live music at 5 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Steve Ragsdale at 6 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Port City Brewing Company: Bluegrass Jam Night at 7 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
City of Alexandria Events & Public Meetings
- 5:30 p.m.: Rescheduled: ARHA Redevelopment Work Group
- 6:30 p.m.: Special ATC Board Meeting
- 7 p.m.: Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing
- 7 p.m.: ACPS Budget Advisory Committee Meeting
