On This Day in Alexandria History — “On October 16, 1824, the beloved Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Alexandria for an extended visit during his ‘Grand Tour of America,’ one of the social high points in history of the young nation he had so fervently fought for. The Alexandria Gazette of October 19, 1824, vividly described his entrance to the city: ‘Between twelve and one o’clock General LaFayette entered the line from the Potomac Bridge, under a salute of artillery from Capt. Williams’s company. Here he was met by General Walter Jones and suite…. LaFayette then entered a splendid barouche, drawn by four fine greys, [and escorted to Alexandria]…. The procession entered the town through Columbus Street, went through a part of King into Fayette…to Washington Street.” [Historic Alexandria]
Amtrak Service Adjustments to Happen on Five Days — “Work will start after service ends on Friday, Oct. 16 and be completed before morning service on Monday, Oct. 26. Work will be done at the ‘A-Interlocking’ track and control point within D.C.’s First Street Tunnel. The point controls routing of all Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express trains between D.C.’s Union Station and Virginia. During the work, two train lines will run in segments, with the southern segment starting or ending in Alexandria.” [ALXnow]
Track Work on Metro’s Blue, Orange and Silver Lines — “This weekend, Oct. 17 and 18, shuttle buses will replace trains at Court House, Rosslyn, and Arlington Cemetery stations as Metro performs track work, including replacing switch timber ties, insulators, and fasteners to improve system reliability.” [Metro]
Keith Burns Field Dedication Set for Friday Night’s Football Game — “The Alexandria City School Board will dedicate the field at Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium to Keith Burns on Friday, honoring the 1990 T.C. Williams High School graduate who won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos. The ceremony is scheduled for about 6:30 p.m. at Alexandria City High School’s King Street campus, 3330 King St., according to Alexandria City Public Schools.” [Alexandria Brief]
Car Seat Checks Offered This Weekend — “The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office (ASO) invites parents and caregivers to participate in a free Car Seat Safety Check Event on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place in the visitor parking lot of the Alexandria Public Safety Center, located at 2003 Mill Road in Alexandria.” [Alexandria Sheriff’s Office]
Dominion Energy-NextEra Merger Webinar Planned — “You’re invited to a free webinar hosted by the City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and the Arlington County Climate Change, Energy and Environment Commission on Monday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 7 p.m. Jennifer Fioretti, Arlington’s Assistant County Manager in the Climate Policy Office, and Ryan Freed, Alexandria’s Climate Policy Officer, will present the joint testimony, provide a merger status update, and moderate questions from attendees.” [City of Alexandria]
Croatian Embassy on New Friendship City Agreement With Osijek — “What began with football is opening the door to so much more: new opportunities in business, sports, culture, tourism, and people-to-people connections. We believe this first year is just the beginning of a lasting relationship between our two cities. Alexandria, with its rich history and vibrant waterfront, and Osijek, the heart of Croatia’s Slavonia region, have plenty in common — including a love of good food, community, and making guests feel at home.” [Croatian Embassy in Washington D.C./Facebook]
Titans Sweep Citywide Cross Country Meet — “The 2026 Joe Halm Memorial City Cross Country Championships took place at Episcopal High school on Oct. 7. Named in memory of Joseph (Joe) Halm, a former Episcopal teacher and coach, the meet dates back to the 1970s. Titans cross country participated as well as Bishop Ireton High School, Episcopal High School and St. Stevens and St. Agnes Upper School.” [Theogony]
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO to Retire — “Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and Chief Executive Officer John E. ‘Jack’ Potter, who has led the organization through 15 years of record-setting growth, unprecedented challenges and profound change, has announced he will retire in early 2027.” [MWAA]
Gaps Remain for Kindergarten Readiness in Virginia – “In 2020, state lawmakers found that 44% of Virginia’s children enter kindergarten without literacy, math and social-emotional skills. Lawmakers argued those skills are necessary for children’s success, especially for at-risk children. The study found that kindergarten readiness is improving, rising from 51% in 2025 to 57% in 2026, with improvements among Latino children (+7%), Black children (+6%), low-income children (+6%), English learners (+5%), and children with disabilities (+4%).” [Virginia Mercury]
Arlington’s Missing Middle Reviewed in Virginia Supreme Court — “The Virginia Supreme Court has been reviewing a ruling from the Court of Appeals that allowed Arlington County to resume issuing permits under the Expanded Housing Options (EHO) in mid-2025 — a decision that has let developers continue building up to six-unit buildings in previously single-family-only neighborhoods. The high court is scheduled to hear arguments in that case on Oct. 28, which will inform a final ruling.” [ARLnow]
It’s Friday — Patchy fog early, then cloudy skies gradually clear by midday with a high near 82. Southwest winds will blow 10–14 mph, gusting up to 24 mph. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly before 3 a.m., with a low around 50 and northwest winds gusting up to 23 mph. Rainfall totals should be around a tenth to a quarter inch, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. [NWS]
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