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

State trooper rescues kitten discovered on I-395 in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Kitten rescued from I-395 in Alexandria (via Virginia State Police)

A kitten had the luck of nine lives when it was rescued from Interstate 395 late Friday (June 5) in Alexandria.

Virginia State Police were alerted around 11:54 p.m. to a kitten that a driver observed on the interstate near the King Street exit. A state trooper safely retrieved the 4-week-old kitten, which was then taken to a nearby animal hospital.

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Around Town

From Croatian festival to Best of the West: Guide to Alexandria’s June 5-7 weekend events

By Emily Leayman
Taste of Del Ray in 2023 (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

The first weekend of June brings plenty of summer happenings, from a welcome celebration for the Croatian National Football Team to other food festivals, concerts and tours.

Events like Best of the West, Flavors and Sounds of Croatia in Alexandria and the sold-out Taste of Del Ray will keep foodies satisfied this weekend. History fans will enjoy the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex Walking Tour. Musicians will also treat the community to free concerts with Alexandria Citizens Band: A Journey Through American Music and LIVE at the Lyceum: Piano & Friends Concert.

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Around Town

Adoptable pet of the week: Pint-sized Layla makes a good lap dog

By Emily Leayman
Adoptable Layla (via Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Layla, a pint-sized pup who will be your loyal companion once she warms up to you.

This 4-year-old dog is timid when meeting new people, but an Animal Welfare League of Alexandria volunteer told ALXnow patience goes a long way with her.

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Around Town

Alexandria to mark Pride Month with fair, markets, prom and bar crawl

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria’s 8th Annual Pride Fair at Market Square on Saturday, June 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

An earlier version of this story said Metro would have a shutdown the weekend of June 19-21, but Metro has finished its Crystal City station project and cancelled the upcoming shutdown.

Members of Alexandria’s LGBTQ+ community are celebrating Pride Month with events throughout June.

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News

Alexandria proposes converting parking spaces to pocket park in Del Ray

By Emily Leayman
Locations of proposed pocket park at 3000 Fulton Street (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) has proposed the conversion of parking spaces to a pocket park in the Del Ray neighborhood.

The proposed pocket park would be located on a current parking island at 3000 Fulton Street at the Clifford and Commonwealth Avenues intersection. The parking island provides space for about five to six standard passenger vehicles.

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News

UPDATED: Residents escape house fire in Del Ray

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum
Firefighters on the roof of the house fire in Del Ray on June 3, 2026 (via AFD/Facebook)

The Alexandria Fire Department say there were no firefighter or resident injuries from a house fire in Del Ray Wednesday afternoon (June 3).

Around 3:05 p.m., AFD was dispatched to the 2600 block of E. Randolph Avenue. According to AFD, firefighters found the blaze in the backyard area that had extended into the home.

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News

ACPS Early Childhood Center courtyard dedicated as ‘Owen’s Place’ in tribute to principal’s late son

By Emily Leayman
The new "Owen's Place" dedication at the Early Childhood Center on June 2, 2026 (via ACPS)

A courtyard at Alexandria City Public Schools’ Early Childhood Center is now named in honor of the principal’s late son.

ACPS held a naming ceremony Tuesday (June 2) for the courtyard at the Early Childhood Center (5651 Rayburn Avenue). The name “Owen’s Place” references Owen Michael Wagner, the late teenage son of the center’s first principal, Heidi Haggerty-Wagner.

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News

JUST IN: Voluntary water conservation recommended in drought watch issued in D.C. region

By Emily Leayman
Water faucet (via Imani/Unsplash)

A drought watch with a call for voluntary water conservation has been issued for the D.C. region today (June 3).

The Metropolitan Council of Governments Drought Coordination Committee recommended the drought watch, which increases coordination, communications and monitoring of the water supply. Precipitation, groundwater levels, streamflow and reservoir levels are factors in COG’s decision to declare a drought watch.

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Around Town

West End Business Association brings expanded ‘Best of the West’ festival to Ben Brenman Park

By Emily Leayman
Beeliner Diner at Best of the West in 2023 (via West End Business Association/Facebook)

The West End Business Association continues to look for ways to raise the visibility of West End businesses with its returning festival in a larger-than-ever format.

Best of the West will return for a third year from 12-6 p.m. Saturday, June 6 in Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive) in the Cameron Station neighborhood. The free event will have restaurants and other business vendors, community organization booths, a Port City Brewing Company beer garden, arts and crafts and a live music stage. Ben Brenman Drive will be closed for booths leading up to the park’s gazebo.

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Around Town

Thai Peppers to close after more than 27 years in Del Ray

By Emily Leayman
Thai Peppers Restaurant (via Google Maps)

Thai Peppers Restaurant will say farewell to Del Ray after more than 27 years.

The restaurant, located at 2018 Mount Vernon Avenue and dating back to 1998, announced it will have its final day of business on Monday, June 15. The owners cited their plans to retire and “hopefully relax on a beach in Phuket sipping Singhas and Mai Tais.”

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News

JUST IN: ACPS launches superintendent search ahead of Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s resignation

By Emily Leayman
ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at Alexandria City High School's 25th anniversary celebration of the film Remember The Titans, Sept. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools is officially searching for a new superintendent ahead of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s resignation on Oct. 1.

The search process launched Monday (June 1), about two months after Kay-Wyatt submitted her resignation. The Alexandria City School Board has brought on executive search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to lead the recruitment effort.

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