Ryan Belmore is a journalist based in Alexandria, Virginia. He served as Publisher of ALXnow from March to October 2025. He can be reached at [email protected].
The City of Alexandria is asking residents to share their thoughts on improving the Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skatepark, the city’s only skateboarding spot.
The Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities has set up two events this month to hear what the community wants:
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) held its first community meeting on school boundary redistricting Tuesday evening. Three draft boundary maps were presented to address school capacity and utilization issues across the district.
More than 300 individuals participated online, with dozens more attending in person at Alexandria City High School, as district officials and consultants explained the redistricting process that began in July 2023.
The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style is set for May 18, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. along the 200-500 blocks of King Street. This free event is open to everyone.
On March 19, 2025, Principle Gallery (208 King Street) will host a Poster Reveal Reception from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to honor Thomas Kuester, the artist behind this year’s festival poster.
The Office of Historic Alexandria wants your help with a national study on how museums impact society. It’s one of 40 institutions chosen for the Museum Social Impact in Practice (MSIIP) study, and it needs at least 150 people to visit three museums and share their thoughts.
This study, backed by the American Alliance of Museums and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, runs until July. If you participate and complete the survey, you’ll get a special gift, an invite to hear about the results in November and free membership to the ALXHistoryLovers Society.
Dr. La’Tonya Rease Miles, an Alexandria native and first-generation college graduate, will return to her hometown on May 21 for a book signing and discussion at the James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library.
The event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Beth Patridge Meeting Room. Miles will share insights from her memoir, “Smart Girl,” and discuss her experience as a first-generation college student.
A new community health survey reveals that Alexandria residents consider mental health and substance use the most pressing health issues in the city. The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) conducted the survey in fall 2024, gathering insights from over 2,000 residents about the city’s health challenges, strengths, and areas for improvement.
During a webinar presenting the survey results, AHD officials reported, “Mental health; alcohol, drug, and opiate use; and obesity, physical activity, and nutrition are ranked as Alexandria’s biggest health issues.”
The City of Alexandria is asking residents to weigh in on its Draft One-Year Action Plan for Housing and Community Development for fiscal year 2026. The plan, covering July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, opened for public review starting today (March 17, 2025).
Residents have a 30-day window to provide feedback, ending April 16, 2025. The city offers several ways to participate, including written comments and speaking at a public hearing.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers, mainly before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 60 degrees. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low of around 37 degrees. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Good Sunday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 72 degrees. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
The Federal Aviation Administration is implementing sweeping safety measures at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. These changes include permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations and the closure of a controversial flight route.
These actions come after urgent recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board following a deadly midair collision on January 29 between a U.S. Army helicopter and a commercial airliner that claimed 67 lives.
The City of Alexandria invites the community to a resource fair, “The Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Bonanza“, on Thursday, March 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Market Square (301 King St.).
According to the city, this is an opportunity for residents to learn about key investments in youth programming, housing, public safety, infrastructure, and economic development. City staff will be on site to answer questions, provide resources, and collect feedback.
