Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Thursday, Sept. 18, the 261st day of 2025. There are 104 days left in the year.
☀️ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 3 to 5 mph. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 62. Calm wind.
🚨 You need to know
Alexandria’s DASH bus system will host a community block party this afternoon to celebrate three consecutive years of record-breaking ridership and thank riders for their continued support.
The free event runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center Gymnasium at 25 West Reed Ave. DASH officials said the celebration marks the transit system’s third straight year of unprecedented ridership numbers.
“This is our way of saying thank you for another record-breaking year and for being part of the DASH family,” organizers posted on the DASH Bus Facebook page. The event aims to bring together the entire neighborhood for an afternoon of community connection.
Activities will include face painting, music and announcements, raffle prizes with giveaways, and activity stations designed for all ages. The city will provide catered food and treats, while local departments and community organizations will have information tables set up throughout the gymnasium.
DASH encourages families to attend and help spread the word about the celebration. Donations for raffle prizes are welcome but not required for participation in the free community event.
What else to know
Taste of Old Town North Returns Today with Food, Music and Family Activities – The annual Taste of Old Town North returns today from 4-8 p.m. in Montgomery Park (901 North Royal Street), featuring local restaurant tastings, live music and family-friendly activities. The free event will showcase neighborhood restaurants including Jula’s on the Potomac, Hank’s Oyster Bar, MacMillan Spirit and Ale House, and others. Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley will speak, and musical performances include Hope and Nate (5-6 p.m.) and The Mod (6-7:45 p.m.). Read more about the event.
City Bans Youth Mentor from Recreation Centers for Second Time – Jackie Surratt, founder of the Alexandria Fatherless Coalition nonprofit, has been banned from recreation centers in the city for a year. This marks the second time Surratt has been banned, following a 2022 incident at William Ramsay Recreation Center. Surratt says the latest ban is unjust and is appealing to city leaders to lift it so he can continue his mentorship program for Alexandria boys. Read more.
Alexandria Schools See Dramatic Drop in Student Arrests – Alexandria City Public Schools will present quarterly safety data to the School Board Thursday showing a 59% decline in student arrests and court referrals, with 28 total cases during the 2024-25 school year compared to 69 the previous year. The latest quarterly report covers 262 safety incidents between January and June. Read more.
School Board to Review $9,999 Donation for Male Mentoring Program – The Alexandria School Board will consider Thursday whether to accept a $9,999 donation from McLean-based Proxyware to support a male mentoring initiative at Patrick Henry K-8 School and Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 School. The board must approve any donations over $5,000. Read more.
Commission for the Arts Approves ‘Now or Never’ Waterfront Installation – The Alexandria Commission for the Arts unanimously approved artist Alicia Eggert’s concept for “Site See 2026: Now or Never” Tuesday evening, giving the green light to the eighth temporary public art installation in the Site See series at Waterfront Park. The installation features two billboards positioned face-to-face displaying “NOW” and “NEVER” and will run from March through November 2026. Read more.
📈 Wednesday’s most read
The following were the most-read ALXnow articles on Sept. 17, 2025:
- Single-vehicle crash closes West Braddock Road, causes power outages
- Alexandria pastor’s Charlie Kirk comments spark national debate
- Notes: Five Alexandria leaders make Northern Virginia Magazine’s 50 Most Influential list
- Teacher at Alexandria daycare fired for tying 21-month-old to chair
- Washington Commanders players visit Alexandria school, distribute $5,000 in food, supplies
📅 Upcoming events
Things To Do
- 10 a.m. – Book a Librarian – Applications Assistance at Barrett Branch
- 10 a.m. – English Language Learning Workshop – Beginner Conversation at Central Library
- 11 a.m. – 1000 Books Story Time (Ages 2-5) at Barrett Branch
- 12 p.m. – Line Dancing at Burke Branch
- 1:15 p.m. – Baby Bounce (Ages 0-14 months) at Central Library
- 3 p.m. – Carefull Knit & Crochet – Crafting for Good at Barrett Branch
- 4 p.m. – Preschool Storytime (Ages 3-5) at Central Library
- 4 p.m. – TCG Library League – Magic & Pokemon at Duncan Branch
- 4 p.m. – Taste of Old Town North at Montgomery Park
- 4 p.m. – DASH Block Party 2025 at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center
- 5 p.m. – WEBA Networking Social at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub – Fairlington
- 5:30 p.m. – Alexandria Oddball Cinema – Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel at Central Library
- 6 p.m. – Coding Game Night (Ages 6-12) at Central Library
- 6 p.m. – Nerdy Knotters – Knitting and Crochet Group at Duncan Branch
- 6 p.m. – Art + Wine + Cheese: Master Art Copyists at Nepenthe Gallery
- 6 p.m. – Underground Railroad Legacy Book Talk at ALX Community – Waterfront
- 7 p.m. – Great Books Foundation Discussion Group (virtual via Zoom)
Organizing an event? Submit your event to ALXnow’s Event Calendar.
Live Music & Entertainment
- 5 p.m. – Live music at Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden
- 6 p.m. – Ken Kilpatrick Trio at Laporta’s Restaurant
- 6 p.m. – Live Piano Music at The Study at Morrison House
- 6 p.m. – Gigi MacLaughlin at Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap
- 6:30 p.m. – Trivia at Hops N Shine
- 7 p.m. – 90’s Cartoon Trivia at Port City Brewing Company
- 7 p.m. – Trivia at Aslin ALX
- 7 p.m. – Trivia at Lost Boy Cider
- 7 p.m. – A Galactic RoXplosion at Galactic Panther Art Gallery
- 7:30 p.m. – Trivia at Alexandria Bier Garden
- 7:30 p.m. – James McMurtry (Band) with BettySoo at The Birchmere
- 7:30 p.m. – Ian Blackwood at Evening Star Cafe
- 8:30 p.m. – Rook Richards and Lenny Burridge at Murphy’s Pub
- 9 p.m. – Shovelhead and The Culp at O’Shaughnessy’s Pub
- 9 p.m. – Mike Kelley & Friends at 219 Restaurant
- 9:30 p.m. – Karaoke at Rock It Grill
City Information & Meetings
- City Government: OPEN
- Flag Status: FULL STAFF
- Trash Collection: ON TIME
- Recycling Collection: ON TIME
- Yard Waste Collection: ON TIME
City Meetings & Events
- 8 a.m. – ARHA Special Board Meeting at ARHA Board Room
- 11:30 a.m. – Commission on Aging Outreach Committee
- 5:30 p.m. – Public Health Advisory Commission Meeting at Mark Center Drive
- 7 p.m. – Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting
- CANCELLED – Carlyle Design Review Board Meeting
ACPS Meetings & Events
- 6 p.m. – School Board Meeting at School Board Meeting Room
