Author: Emily Leayman

Emily Leayman is the editor of ALXnow and contributes reporting to ARLnow and FFXnow. She was previously a field editor covering parts of Northern Virginia for Patch for more than eight years. A native of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she lives in Northern Virginia.

News

Alexandria maintains top 10 ranking on Travel + Leisure’s best U.S. cities list

By Emily Leayman
Sunny day in Old Town (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Alexandria’s ranking isn’t as high as last year on Travel + Leisure’s annual “Best Cities in the U.S.” list, but it has remained in the top 10.

Travel + Leisure announced the winners of the 2026 World’s Best Awards yesterday (July 7). Winners were determined by feedback from about 207,000 readers around the world.

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News

JUST IN: Resident revived, taken to hospital amid house fire in North Ridge

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum
Fire response in the 2800 block of Valley Drive, July 7, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

First responders revived a resident with a medical emergency during a house fire in Alexandria’s North Ridge neighborhood this afternoon (Tuesday).

The fire was reported around 12:52 p.m. in the 2800 block of Valley Drive. Firefighters came out of the home with a resident who was inside during the fire, according to radio dispatches. An Alexandria Fire Department spokesperson told ALXnow one resident had cardiac arrest on scene and was revived with CPR. The resident was taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center and is intubated.

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News

National Innovation Quarter gets state funding to launch Alexandria tech lab

By Emily Leayman
Virginia Tech in the background of the Potomac Yard Shopping Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

An innovation lab based in Alexandria will be launched through state grants for the new National Innovation Quarter.

The innovation district, launched in February in the area of Arlington and Alexandria called National Landing, received $3.93 million in Go Virginia grants to start up programming. Nearly $2 million in local matching grants will also support the innovation district.

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News

UPDATE: Fireworks suspected in fire that displaced ARHA residents in Braddock Metro neighborhood

By Emily Leayman
Firefighters responding to a fire in the Braddock Metro neighborhood, July 5, 2026 (courtesy of Geoffrey Brown)

Fireworks are believed to be the cause of a fire at an Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority home in the Braddock Metro neighborhood yesterday (July 5).

The fire was reported around 11:01 p.m. on the roof of the home at 1318 Madison Street, part of the Samuel Madden Homes community. Units from Alexandria, Fairfax County and Arlington County had responded to the call and encountered smoke coming from the roof of a three-story rowhome. An Alexandria Fire Department spokesperson told ALXnow the fire had started on the exterior at the gutters and spread to the roof and attic.

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News

Alexandria to celebrate its 277th birthday and America’s 250th with fireworks

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After many of the D.C. region’s fireworks shows have come and gone, Alexandrians will have another to look forward to this weekend.

The Alexandria and USA Birthday Celebration is set for Saturday, July 11 at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street). This year’s event celebrates Alexandria’s 277th birthday and America’s 250th.

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Around Town

Adoptable pet of the week: Mocha will tag along on your outdoor adventures

By Emily Leayman
Adoptable Mocha (via AWLA)

Meet Mocha, a former stray who will melt the heart of her next owner.

Mocha came to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria as a stray and is looking for a home of her own. She prefers the company of people over toys and would love to accompany her owner wherever they venture to.

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News

City Council denies Virginia Paving Company’s five-year extension in West End

By Emily Leayman
Virginia Paving Company facility near the Van Dorn Metro station (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Council voted yesterday (Wednesday) to deny an extension of Virginia Paving Company’s operations in the West End.

The asphalt production plant, which has been at an 11-acre site at 5601 Courtney Avenue since 1960, had been given Jan. 1, 2027 as a date to clear out operations. The special use permit extension would have allowed it to continue to Jan. 1, 2032.

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News

Alexandria charity sends disaster relief to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela

By Emily Leayman
Relief in Venezuela after earthquakes (via Global Empowerment Mission)

In the wake of deadly earthquakes in Venezuela, an Alexandria charity is among the U.S. organizations lending a helping hand.

Various regions of Venezuela are reeling from a humanitarian crisis as the earthquakes have resulted in thousands of confirmed casualties and tens of thousands unaccounted for, as well as building collapses and structural damage.

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News

8th Congressional District candidate forum set for next week in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Shiloh Baptist Church and the NAACP Alexandria Branch will host a candidate forum for the 8th Congressional District race on July 9, 2026 (via Shiloh Baptist Church)

Candidates for the 8th Congressional District will gather in Alexandria for a candidate forum next week.

Shiloh Baptist Church and the NAACP Alexandria Branch will host the candidate forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9 in the Shiloh Baptist Church Worship Center (1401 Jamieson Avenue). Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

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News

Virginia budget provides $1M to rehabilitate Alexandria’s historic Freedom House Museum

By Emily Leayman
Freedom House Museum (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Alexandria’s Freedom House Museum has received $1 million in Virginia’s approved two-year budget to support its continued renovations.

The $1 million in state funding provided in the 2027 fiscal year and matching city funds through the Office of Historic Alexandria will support interior rehabilitation and accessibility improvements at 1315 Duke Street. Historic Alexandria director Gretchen M. Bulova told ALXnow the upgrades will provide public access to the basement where enslaved men were held when it was home to one of the country’s largest slave trading companies.

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Around Town

Alexandria’s Bastille, Andy’s Pizza collect awards at regional RAMMYS

By Emily Leayman
Bastille Brasserie & Bar's Juan Ramirez won the Manager of the Year award at the 2026 RAMMYS (via Bastille/Facebook)

Two restaurants with Alexandria ties have earned RAMMY awards from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.

Winners of the 44th Annual RAMMYs Awards were announced yesterday (Monday) at a gala at The Wharf’s Arena Stage in D.C. The 20 categories of the RAMMYS recognize the D.C. region’s chefs, restaurateurs and other industry professionals.

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