Around Town

The tradition of picking out pumpkins and other gourds for the fall season is returning to Alexandria’s Seminary Hill neighborhood in October.

For a 33rd year ​Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill (3606 Seminary Road) will host its annual Pumpkin Patch from Saturday, Oct. 3 to Saturday, Oct. 31. The Pumpkin Patch will offer pumpkins in a variety of sizes grown by Navajo Nation farmers, as well as other gourds, homemade soups, baked goods and seasonally-themed crafts. Prices start at $1 and vary by size.


News

Passage of a boat will prompt a drawbridge opening at the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge tonight (Oct. 1). The drawbridge will open around 11 p.m. to allow the boat Sweet Pea to pass underneath, the bridge management reported.

According to the city, the opening is expected to last for 15 to 20 minutes. Drivers should plan for travel delays when the drawbridge is open.


Around Town

Royal Restaurant has transformed into a horror fan’s paradise in time for Halloween season.

The restaurant at 730 N. St Asaph Street opened Royally Spooked Halloween Pop-up today (Oct. 1) on its patio. The pop-up with themed food and drink specials runs from 3 p.m. to closing.


News

Alexandria households are feeling a greater impact of federal government workforce reductions than the D.C. regional average, according to a recent regional survey.

The report released last Thursday (Sept. 24) from Gallup and the Greater Washington Community Foundation, titled “Voices of the Community: DC, Maryland, Virginia,” incorporated research on federal government disruptions on the region’s residents.


News

As the Transportation & Environmental Services plan for Russell Road is being appealed to City Council, the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board rejected additional proposals for parking spaces on Russell Road.

On Monday (Sept. 28), the board considered parking additions that T&ES director Leah Riley had recommended in her Alternative C. The board voted against adding five on-street parking spaces in the 600 block of Russell Road, two loading zone spaces in the 600 block of Russell Road with time restrictions and six on-street parking spaces in the 700 block of Johnston Place.


News

At just 10 months old, Alexandria baby Ava Pasley has earned her place in the national spotlight.

Ava is in the top 10 of the 2026 Baby of the Year competition run by Colossal Management to support nonprofit Baby2Baby. She has advanced to the round of voting that will determine the top five babies. She comes from an Air Force veteran mother who is now a deputy sheriff at the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and active-duty Air Force father.


News

The City of Alexandria and Arlington County are joining forces to intervene in the proposed Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy merger case.

The neighboring localities announced Monday (Sept. 28) they filed a joint representation agreement on Sept. 22 to join the case.


Around Town

September is already approaching its end, and fall events are ramping up around Alexandria.

Some of the month’s biggest events are taking place this weekend — the returning Alexandria Fall Art Festival in Carlyle and sold-out 84th Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour in Old Town. Other highlights include the new Old Town Beauty Crawl, Alexandria Film Festival’s premiere of “Ask E. Jean,” the Friends of Beatley Central Library book sale, Wilderness Kids Alexandria Music Festival and an event with “The Silver Linings Playbook” author Matthew Quick.


News

Metro is moving forward with seeking developers for the Braddock Road Metro station‘s kiss-and-ride area.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority released a request for proposals today (Sept. 24) for a developer to construct a “new mixed-use, transit-oriented development.” Metro says its vision for the 3.4-acre property involves new housing, neighborhood-serving retail and other amenities near public transit.


News

Alexandria’s mayor wants to keep the connection going with Croatia after the city hosted the Croatian National Football Team as its World Cup home base.

At Alexandria City Council’s meeting Tuesday (Sept. 22), Mayor Alyia Gaskins proposed a memo to establish a friendship city with Osijek, Croatia.


News

Organizations and residents opposed to planned data center development just outside city limits are leading a march starting in Alexandria’s West End.

At 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, the march will run from Aslin Beer Company (950 S. Pickett Street) to the Plaza 500 center (6295 Edsall Road in Lincolnia) where data centers and a proposed substation are planned.


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