A Wrap on Alexandria Birthday Celebration — “We celebrated Alexandria’s 277th birthday and commemorated the nation’s 250th anniversary at Oronoco Bay Park! Despite a little rain, the party went on! There were cupcakes, fireworks and cannons!” [Mayor Alyia Gaskins/Facebook]
Cat Rescued on Woodrow Wilson Bridge — “Maryland National Capital Park Police officers responded to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail on Sunday after a concerned citizen reported witnessing the incident. Police said they located and rescued the frightened cat, which was not injured and is now receiving care.” [WTOP]
Cherry on Top Holds Grand Opening — “A fresh concept is making its debut in Old Town Alexandria as Cherry On Top officially celebrated its grand opening on July 10 with a ribbon cutting. The shop is dedicated to community, connection, and collaboration with fellow local small businesses. Guests are invited to enjoy coffee, wine, exclusive experiences, and a variety of surprises during the celebration as Cherry On Top introduces its unique vision for hospitality—one centered on thoughtfully curated gatherings rather than traditional café service.” [The Zebra]
Alexandria’s New Online Procurement System — “The City of Alexandria has launched a new procurement platform, Euna Solutions’ Sourcing & Contracting system, to improve how the City manages competitive solicitations and works with vendors. The cloud-based platform provides a secure, centralized system to manage the formal solicitations, such as Invitations for Bids (IFBs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Vendors interact with the program through the Solicitation Portal, where they can register, receive opportunity notifications, submit bids, and communicate directly with City procurement staff.” [City of Alexandria]
Early Plans for National Harbor Sphere — “A concept site plan for the entertainment venue, a preliminary document, illustrates the high-level features of the 6,000-seat suburban Maryland facility, including potential locations of the Sphere’s entrances and parking lots across more than 14 acres immediately north of MGM National Harbor.” [Washington Business Journal]
Fitness Studio Utilizes AI for Strength Training — “Victoria Azor and co-founder Brian Bell use ARX at their fitness studio Body Imperium. ARX stands for Adaptive Resistance Exercise. A sign outside touts the gym’s as “AI-powered strength training … The ARX machines basically pool data about a user’s personal capabilities rapidly, including how much weight they are able to resist, which is helpful for the trainer at the end of each session.” [WTOP]
Legal Confusion Over Marijuana Retail Market — “Virginia’s decision to revive legal cannabis sales through the state budget instead of standalone legislation has triggered several days of confusion over the commonwealth’s marijuana laws, with lawmakers, local prosecutors, Virginia State Police and legislative officials offering differing interpretations of when key provisions take effect. Much of the confusion focused on two issues: whether Virginia’s long-delayed retail cannabis market had accidentally been moved up by a year and whether existing criminal penalties for marijuana possession and distribution involving people younger than 21 were still enforceable.” [Virginia Mercury]
Chamber ALX’s Best in Business Awards — “The Chamber ALX is excited to open applications for the 2026 Best in Business Awards, recognizing the organizations whose vision, dedication, and impact make Alexandria an exceptional place to do business.” [Chamber ALX]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of around 84°F. A southeast wind will blow at 3 to 8 mph. During the night, the weather will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to about 65°F and a light southeast wind. [NWS]
