Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
🌦️ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76 degrees. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Scattered showers tonight, mainly between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64 degrees. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 50%. Tuesday will be partly sunny, with a high near 82 degrees. West wind 5 to 7 mph.
🚨 You need to know
Runners are gearing up for the inaugural PNC Alexandria Half Marathon on Sunday (April 27), a fresh take on the city’s long-standing Parkway Classic.
The event, organized by Pacers Running, is already making waves. It has raised over $8,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Alexandria, with expectations to reach $20,000 by race day.
The ALX Half is bringing the community together, with over 20 local eateries and shops joining in. Five hotels are also offering special deals, encouraging runners to stick around and explore Alexandria.
The new 13.1-mile course will wind through Old Town and along the George Washington Parkway. Runners can choose between the half marathon or a 5K, both starting at 7:30 a.m. on King Street, in front of City Hall, and finishing on N. Union Street.
After the main event, kids under 12 can join in on the fun with a 600-meter Kids Dash at 10:30 a.m., sponsored by The Kidz Doc.
Happening on the last day of National Park Week, the race continues its tradition of giving back. Since its days as the Parkway Classic, it’s raised nearly $1 million for various local causes.
Runners will get a tech tee, finisher medal, free photo booth, and chip-timed results. For those 21 and up, there’s a post-race beer garden courtesy of Port City Brewing Co. All proceeds from this will support the Boys & Girls Club’s youth programs.
Here’s what else you need to know
⚓ Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation has just released their draft six- year improvement program for fiscal year 2026, totaling roughly $7 billion. The funds cover both operational costs and larger sums for capital improvement projects statewide.
The City of Alexandria, for example, will get money to help cover the $200,000 operational cost for their GO Alex program, which is the city’s outreach program to get residents to ride transit, carpool and commute by bicycle. [Read More]
⚓ The Alexandria Health Department is notifying residents about potential measles exposures in northern Virginia after confirming the state’s first case of 2025. Health officials are currently working to identify people who may have been exposed to this highly contagious virus at two locations in mid-April. [Read More]
⚓ A man was shot to death Saturday night in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Alexandria’s West End, according to the Alexandria Police Department. [Read More]
⚓ Early Sunday morning, the Alexandria Police Department launched a death investigation after finding a man’s body in the street on the 700 block of N. Pitt Street. [Read More]
⚓ The Light Horse Restaurant will be celebrating Dyngus Day, what they call the Polish equivalent to Saint Patrick’s Day, this evening beginning at 5 p.m. Live Polka, Polish beer and food, and more are on tap. [Details]
⚓ Don’t miss your chance to vote in out two current Readers’ Choice polls;
Best Pizza: Here’s your chance to tell us who serves the best pizza in Alexandria. Polls close at 11:59 p.m. on April 21.
Best Bike Shop: Do you have a favorite bicycle shop you recommend to others? Here’s your chance to share your experience and recommendations for the best bicycle shop in Alexandria. Poll close at 11:59 p.m. on April 28.
📈 Sunday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for April 20, 2025.
- Alexandria Police investigating after man found dead in roadway in Old Town North (4538 views)
- BREAKING: Man killed in Saturday night shooting near Holmes Run (4041 views)
- Potential Measles exposures identified at Northern Virginia medical centers (753 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here’s what’s happening today in Alexandria, from our newsletter and event calendar.
Things To Do
- 11 a.m.: Storytime in the Reading Garden at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 4 p.m.: Crafty Kids – Art activities for ages 6+ at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 4:30 p.m.: Alaskan Adventure at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 5 p.m.: Dyngus Day at The Light Horse
- 6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
- 6:30 p.m.: Yoga At The Library – with Human Kind Yoga Collective at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Augie’s Mussel House: Live music at 5 p.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s: Traditional Irish Music Session at 7 p.m.
- Del Ray Pizzeria: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Jim West Piano at 6 p.m.
- Mason Social: Rook Richards at 5 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 of Alexandria
- 1 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Commission on Aging Housing Committee
- 4 p.m.: Alexandria Library Board Meeting
- 5 p.m.: ACPS Board Meeting
- 6 p.m.: ACPS Public Hearing on the Strategic Plan
- 7 p.m.: Social Services Advisory Board (SSAB)
- 7 p.m.: Countdown to the Economic Summit: Virtual Q&A
- 7 p.m.: George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
- 7:30 p.m.: Environmental Policy Commission, Regular Meeting
- 7:30 p.m.: Public Records Advisory Commission
Organizing an event? Submit your event to ALXnow’s Event Calendar.
