Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Monday, Sept. 29, the 272nd day of 2025. There are 93 days left in the year.
🌥️ Today’s weather: Increasing clouds, with a high near 79°F. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the morning.
A slight chance of showers tonight before 7 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 67°F. Calm wind. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
🚨 You need to know
Alexandria City Council and School Board members will meet Monday evening to consider a pilot program that would transition some high school students from yellow buses to public transportation.
The joint work session, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the ACPS Central Office, located at 1340 Braddock Place, is open to the public, with both in-person attendance and Zoom access available.
The meeting addresses two initiatives that could reshape how the city educates and transports its roughly 16,000 public school students.
City and school officials will present details of a fall 2026 pilot that would move Alexandria City High School students living within a quarter-mile of DASH routes 31 and 36A/B from traditional school buses to the city’s transit system. Special education students, younger students, and those requiring after-school transportation would continue to use yellow buses.
At a Sept. 11 work session, school board members voiced significant concerns about City Manager James Parajon’s recommendation, with several calling for scaled-back pilot programs or questioning the timing.
DASH already carries about 1,100 students daily and maintains an 87% on-time rate, the highest in the Washington region, according to presentation materials. The system recorded one student-involved incident last year out of approximately 400,000 student trips.
The plan requires community engagement and approval from both bodies. If approved, officials would establish success metrics to determine whether to expand the pilot.
The meeting’s second major item involves updating the Joint Long Range Educational Facilities Plan, last revised in 2018. That plan made 12 recommendations, several of which have been implemented, including the construction of a new west-side elementary school and renovations at Douglas MacArthur Elementary.
Officials aim to refresh the plan to guide decisions through fiscal year 2040, incorporating current enrollment projections, facility condition assessments underway this fall, and available sites identified in the city’s small area plans.
Staff presentations indicate that the next steps would include establishing a timeline, identifying stakeholders, and defining the scope for hiring a planning consultant.
Meeting materials are available on the city website.
What else you need to know
Flyover planned this morning – From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an aircraft flyover in the National Capital Region (NCR) over Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 9:16 a.m.”
Titans stay unbeaten with comeback win – The Alexandria City High School Titans rallied from a 14-7 first-quarter deficit to defeat C.G. Woodson 23-21 on Friday night, remaining unbeaten on the season. (Full story)
City Council, School Board meet tonight on DASH, facilities – The City Council and School Board will hold a joint work session tonight at 6 p.m. to discuss DASH updates, ways of working together, and the Long-Range Educational Facilities Plan. The meeting is in-person with Zoom access available.
30th Annual Art on the Avenue this Saturday – Del Ray’s top arts festival returns Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mount Vernon Avenue. The free event features over 350 local and regional artists, live music, international food, children’s activities, and a pie-baking contest.
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📈 Sunday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Sept. 28, 2025.
- Starbucks closes at least one Alexandria location as part of national restructuring (Ryan Belmore)
- Youngkin names two Alexandria residents to state boards (Ryan Belmore)
- Alexandria woman dies in Hybla Valley after being struck by a hit-and-run driver, police officer (Ryan Belmore)
- Visit Alexandria expands tourism focus beyond Old Town with new neighborhoods initiative (Ryan Belmore)
- Alexandria man sentenced to 1 day in $4M COVID fraud scheme (Ryan Belmore)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s happening today in Alexandria, as per our newsletter and event calendar.
Things To Do
- 10:15 a.m. – Baby Time at Duncan Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m. – Storytime in the Reading Garden – Cuentos en el jardín de lectura at Beatley Central Library
- 11:15 a.m. – Baby Time at Duncan Branch Library
- 1 p.m. – English Language Learning (ELL) at Burke Branch Library (CANCELLED)
- 5 p.m. – Spitfire – 4th and 5th grade book club at Duncan Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m. – Adults and Dragons at Duncan Branch Library (Registration closed)
- 5:30 p.m. – English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop – Intermediate Conversation at Beatley Central Library
- 6 p.m. – DIY Teens – Pressed Flower Jar Lanterns at Barrett Branch Library
- 6:30 p.m. – Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
- 6:30 p.m. – Author Event: M.L. Rio, bestselling author of IF WE WERE VILLAINS and HOT WAX at Old Town Books
- 6:30 p.m. – Five Course Wine Pairing Dinner at Piece Out Del Ray
- 6:30 p.m. – Yoga At The Library with Human Kind Yoga Collective at Duncan Branch Library
- 7 p.m. – Lectures on Tap – College Application and the Secret to getting into the School of Your Dreams at Lost Boy Cider
- All day – The Order Of The Zine (T.O.O.T.Z.) – Week #2 at Beatley Central Library (ages 7-14)
- All day – “Determined” – The 400 Year Struggle for Black Equality Traveling Exhibit at Local History/Special Collections
- Sept. 25 – Oct. 5 – Old Town Cocktail Week at various locations throughout Old Town
Organizing an event? Submit your event to ALXnow’s Event Calendar.
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant – Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden – Live music at 5 p.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant – Traditional Irish Music Session at 7 p.m.
- Del Ray Pizzeria – Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant – Jim West at 6 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub – Colby Sard at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub – Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill – Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
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
- 6 a.m. – Chinquapin Open
- 1:30 p.m. – VIRTUAL: Commission on Aging Executive Committee Meeting
- 4 p.m. – Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility Open
- 6 p.m. – ACPS Board/Council Work Session
- 6:30 p.m. – Nethergate Flood Improvement Community Meeting at Charles Houston Recreation Center
- 7 p.m. – Eisenhower West/Landmark Van Dorn Implementation Advisory Group Meeting – Hybrid
- 7 p.m. – VIRTUAL: Human Rights Commission Meeting
ACPS Meetings & Events
- 6 p.m. – Joint City Council/School Board Work Session at School Board Meeting Room
- 6 p.m. – Advanced Academic Services Advisory Committee at ACHS College and Career Center
- 6:30 p.m. – Budget Advisory Committee Meeting at ACHS Guidance Conference Room
Alexandria City High School Sports
- 5 p.m. – Field Hockey: Coed Freshman at South County High School at South County High School (Lorton, VA)
