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

March starting in Alexandria to rally for Virginia data center moratorium

By Emily Leayman
Exterior entrance to Plaza 500 with glass doors, brick walls, and a brick walkway lined by planters and trash cans.
A commercial building at Plaza 500 (via Google Maps)

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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News

Alexandria STEM standout heads to GMU after award-winning high school career

By Emily Leayman
Young man in a black tuxedo and bow tie smiling in a library setting.
David De Costa (courtesy of De Costa family)

It’s been quite the whirlwind in the past few years for Bishop Ireton High School graduate David De Costa.

De Costa had been named a 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program nominee for Virginia. Locally, the 18-year-old was the high school winner of the George Washington Legacy Foundation Essay Contest, earning a chance to participate in Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade on Feb. 14 and the Friendship Firehouse Annual Breakfast on Feb. 16.

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News

Trump repeal of Chesapeake Bay cleanup order targets local stormwater utility fees

By Emily Leayman
A pair of Mallard ducks swim in the Potomac at the Alexandria waterfront (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

President Donald Trump (R) has rolled back a 2009 executive order that has guided mandates for the Chesapeake Bay’s cleanup for more than 17 years. The action took aim at localities like Alexandria with stormwater utility fees.

The White House said the 2009 executive order created a “broad mandate” for states and localities to improve the Chesapeake Bay’s health “without providing clarity on how to implement that order’s requirements.” According to the feds, Virginia — collectively with New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, D.C., Delaware and West Virginia — has met 100% of the goal for sediment reduction, 90% for phosphorus reduction, and 57% for nitrogen reduction.

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News

Carlyle House and Winkler Nature Preserve set for upgrades under new NOVA Parks budget

By Emily Leayman
Winkler Botanical Preserve (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Plans for upgrades at two NOVA Parks-owned Alexandria properties are getting a boost under the regional park system’s latest capital budget.

The fiscal years 2027-2031 budget adopted by the NOVA Parks Board of Directors on Sept. 17 allocates $1.5 million for building renovations at Carlyle House Historic Park (121 N. Fairfax Street) and $1 million for Winkler Botanical Preserve (5400 Roanoke Avenue) entrance improvements.

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News

Mayor urges support for West End businesses disrupted by water main break

By Emily Leayman
Flooded street in front of a Yami Buffet restaurant with water pooling on the road and a dark fenced area nearby.
The water main break Saturday, Sept. 19 near the S. Van Dorn and Pickett Streets intersection (via Alexandria Police/Facebook)

A water main break over the weekend in the West End didn’t just cause disruptions for drivers.

Virginia American Water responded to a water main break on a 12-inch main near the 700 block of S. Pickett Street on the afternoon of Saturday (Sept. 19).

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News

Track vehicle derailment prompts Metro to run limited service on Yellow Line

By Emily Leayman

A derailment involving a track vehicle Sunday (Sept. 20) has prompted Metro to scale back Yellow Line service.

According to Metro, a track vehicle, not a train, derailed amid weekend bridge and track rehabilitation on the Yellow Line. There were no reported injuries.

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Around Town

Alexandria Oktoberfest, Chalk-A-Block, Classic Car Show lead weekend events

By Emily Leayman
Woman crouching beside a child drawing with chalk on the sidewalk near a booth with a North Old Town Alliance banner.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins at a previous Chalk-A-Block in Old Town North (courtesy of Old Town North Alliance)

As September continues, more and more festivals and other events are happening around Alexandria.

Families will find events for all kinds of interests, from shopping and art to history. It’s a busy weekend between Alexandria Oktoberfest, The Lyceum’s Classic Car Show, Old Town Boutique Community’s Alexandria Days and Alexandria Library’s Black Family Reunion. Old Town North particularly has a lot going on — Chalk-A-Block, Alexandria Canal History Pub Crawl and Vintage Flea and Artisans Market.

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Around Town

Adoptable pet of the week: Bonnie will bring her social energy to your home

By Emily Leayman
Dog with a blue collar standing on a bright turquoise backdrop, looking toward the camera (adopt me logo in bottom-left).
Adoptable Bonnie (via AWLA)

Meet Bonnie, a dog whose zest for life and love for people doesn’t go unnoticed.

This 3-year-old confident and social dog from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is ready to make a new family her own. She has moved past the puppy stage but still has plenty of energy for runs, hikes and other adventures. After playtime, she’s happy to settle into cuddle time.

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News

AWLA’s Paws in the Park returns in October with largest adoptable animal section to date

By Emily Leayman
Couple walking two small dogs in blue coats at a busy outdoor market with white tents in a sunny park.
Paws in the Park (via Duane Rogers for AWLA)

As the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, its fall festival will be bigger than ever.

Paws in the Park will return to Oronoco Bay Park, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. The annual event celebrates all things animals, with vendors, adoptable animals, live music, and entertainment for kids and adults. The first 1,000 attendees will get a swag bag.

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News

Visit Alexandria celebrates 30th anniversary as city records $1 billion visitor spending milestone

By Emily Leayman
Man in a dark suit speaks at a podium on a stage, with a large blue screen reading 'TOURISM CHAMPION AWARD' beside him, in an audience hall.
Visit Alexandria President and CEO Todd O’Leary announces the first-ever Tourism Champion Award (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Visit Alexandria founders, city leaders and businesses from the hospitality industry gathered to celebrate the organization’s 30th anniversary and the tourism industry’s achievements Wednesday (Sept. 16).

The milestone came as Visit Alexandria reported strong financial results from visitor spending. At the Visit Alexandria meeting at The Westin Alexandria Old Town, Mayor Alyia Gaskins reported the city had reached a milestone of $1 billion in visitor spending in 2025 for the second consecutive calendar year. The figure applies to visitors coming to Alexandria from 50 or more miles away.

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News

Metro’s Yellow Line service to be suspended over two weekends

By Emily Leayman
The Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Metro riders looking for that Yellow Line shortcut into D.C. won’t find it this weekend.

Metro announced Yellow Line service will be shut down Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20. That’s due to planned bridge and track rehabilitation, according to the transit agency.

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