Emily Leayman | ALXnow

‘Now or Never’ art exhibit to open with reception at Waterfront Park in Alexandria

Published March 11, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated March 11, 2026 at 9:52AM

Rendering of artist Alicia Eggert's "Now or Never" installation (via Alexandria Office of the Arts)

The eighth annual public art installation at Alexandria’s Waterfront Park is set to open next week.

Artist Alicia Eggert’s “Now or Never” installation will have an opening reception Saturday, March 21, from 1-4 p.m. at Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street). Artist remarks will happen at 1:30 p.m.

News

New addition to arborist memorial installed at Fort Ward Park

By Emily Leayman

Published March 10, 2026 at 1:45PM

New plaque at Fort Ward Park's Charles W. Hendryx Memorial (courtesy of J. Glenn Eugster, Fort Ward Observer)

A new plaque honoring past arborists has been installed at Alexandria’s Fort Ward Park, adding to the existing Charles W. Hendryx Memorial.

City of Alexandria’s Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities spokesperson Catrice Callands confirmed to ALXnow a new plaque was added to the Fort Ward Arborist Memorial. The arborists honored on the plaque are Gregory A. Kernan, Jennifer Hollings, Tere O’Rourke, John Noelle and John Marlin.

Around Town

Two Alexandria chefs will compete in new season of ‘Top Chef’

By Emily Leayman

Published March 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

Chef Anthony Jones competes in Top Chef's season 23 (via Paul Cheney/BRAVO)

Two chefs from Alexandria are vying to be the next “Top Chef” winners as the show’s new season premieres today (Monday).

Anthony Jones, the executive chef at Marcus DC, and Jonathan Dearden, corporate chef at KNEAD Hospitality + Design, are representing Alexandria in season 23 of Top Chef. The first episode will appear on Bravo at 9 p.m. tonight.

News

UPDATED: Residents, churches appeal Traffic and Parking Board’s Braddock Road changes

By Emily Leayman

Published March 6, 2026 at 3:55PM

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (via Google Maps)

Two appeals on the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board’s approved Braddock Road changes to accommodate bike lanes are heading to City Council.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Pastor Kate Costa said the church is submitting an appeal Monday, March 9 after getting signatures from church members over the weekend. The appeal concerns the board’s Feb. 24 decision to remove on-street parking on Braddock Road, including an accessible parking space in front of the church.

News

Former Councilman Mo Seifeldein banks on grassroots support as fundraising trails Beyer

By Emily Leayman

Published March 6, 2026 at 2:45PM

Former City Council Member Mo Seifeldein, who is running for Virginia's 8th Congressional District, at the Alexandria Democratic Committee's Labor Day Picnic at The Garden Alexandria, 5380 Eisenhower Avenue, Sept. 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Former Alexandria City Councilmember Mo Seifeldein is second to Rep. Don Beyer in fundraising for the Aug. 4 Democratic primary race in the 8th Congressional District.

According to FEC filings through the end of 2025, incumbent Beyer led Democratic candidates with $1.16 million in fundraising. Seifeldein followed with over $117,000. The only other Democratic candidate reporting donations through the end of 2025 is fired State Department worker Michael Duffin, with over $23,000.

Around Town

Alexandria Girl Scouts earn leadership award for projects benefiting local causes

By Emily Leayman

Published March 5, 2026 at 11:45AM

Sadia Hussain distributes free Halloween costumes (courtesy of Laura Hussain)

Three students at Alexandria Country Day School have earned the highest Girl Scout Cadette award for their projects addressing bullying, sustainability, charitable giving and animal welfare.

Eighth graders Eleanor Chambers, Sadia Hussain and Cece Baker will be honored during a troop meeting next month for earning the Girl Scout Silver Award. Girl Scout Cadettes in sixth to eighth grade can earn the Silver Award by completing a service project focusing on a community issue.

News

New startup accelerator program seeks to foster tech company growth in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published March 4, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard (staff photo by James Cullum)

An accelerator program to support new tech startups is launching in the city, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership announced today (Wednesday).

The program will provide mentorship, coaching, technical support, capital connections and structured founder engagement for up to 15 startups over four to six months. It will serve startups in high-growth sectors such as robotics, aerospace, quantum, artificial intelligence (AI), energy tech, computer services, cybersecurity and defense.

News

Alexandria joins N. Va. opposition to bill that would allow by-right housing in commercial zones

By Emily Leayman

Published March 3, 2026 at 3:45PM

Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

Despite opposition from Alexandria and other Northern Virginia localities, bills permitting by-right multifamily development in commercial zones are advancing in the Virginia General Assembly.

HB 816 by Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) and SB 454 by state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-16) would require local zoning ordinances to permit by-right multifamily and mixed-use residential development on a portion of commercial or business zoning district land. The amended bills calls for localities to allow by-right development on at least 50% of commercially zoned land, which is less than the 75% originally proposed.

News

Shiloh Baptist Church receives $360K grant to preserve historic sanctuary

By Emily Leayman

Published March 2, 2026 at 3:45PM

Shiloh Baptist Church in March 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Shiloh Baptist Church is among more than 30 historically Black churches to receive a new grant aimed at preserving and restoring their buildings.

The church at 1401 Jamieson Avenue has received $360,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund as part of its Preserving Black Churches grant program. Recipients were announced last week.

Around Town

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail receive ‘Trail of the Year’ award for renovation efforts

By Emily Leayman

Published March 2, 2026 at 3:15PM

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail win the Trail of the Year Award from the Public Lands Alliance (via Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail/Facebook)

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail, a volunteer group dedicated to trail maintenance and education efforts, was recognized with an award last month for its trail renovation work.

The organization was honored with the “Trail of the Year” award from the Public Lands Alliance at the nonprofit’s conference in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 23. The group received the award for its partnership with the National Park Service to renovate the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s trail surface and rest areas from 2024 to 2025.

News

Alexandria’s congressional primary elections moved to August amid redistricting push

By Emily Leayman

Published February 26, 2026 at 9:20AM

Voters at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The 2026 congressional primaries in Alexandria and the rest of Virginia will be delayed until August, leaving more time for candidate filings after the fate of mid-decade redistricting is decided.

Alexandria’s General Registrar Angie Maniglia Turner confirmed to ALXnow that the city will have its primary elections on Aug. 4. According to Maniglia Turner, the city’s only primaries in 2026 are Sen. Mark Warner (D)’s U.S. Senate seat and U.S. House of Representatives.