Ryan Belmore | ALXnow

WHAT’S NEW: Visit Alexandria unveils new waterfront experiences, dining options and major events

Published March 11, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated March 11, 2025 at 1:37PM

Running along the Alexandria waterfront with the Tall Ship Providence in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)

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Running along the Alexandria waterfront with the Tall Ship Providence in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)[/caption]

Alexandria is welcoming a wave of new developments across the city, from waterfront dining to boutique retail and major upcoming events that promise to draw visitors from around the world.

Claire Mouledoux, Visit Alexandria's senior vice president of marketing and communications, presented the city's latest attractions during the "What's New 2025" event at Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard on Tuesday.

Around Town

Things to do in Alexandria this week: March 10 – 16

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 10, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated March 10, 2025 at 1:31PM

The Boyle School of Irish Dance at Alexandria's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Saint Patrick’s Day festivities are in full swing this week, with live music and Irish step dancing performances, bar crawls, and other events planned ahead of the holiday.

For a full rundown of all the fun happening this week and weekend, head to the complete list of events and listings below.

News

Notes: Alexandria Chamber opens nominations for 40 Under 40, 40 Over 40, and Community Champions awards

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 10, 2025 at 7:30AM

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65 degrees. Light southwest wind. Tonight – Mostly clear, with a low of around 40 degrees. Light and variable wind.

News

Morning Notes: Soul singer Robert E. Person to dazzle at MetroStage concert

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 9, 2025 at 8:07AM | Updated March 10, 2025 at 7:29AM

MetroStage presents Soulful Serenade: An Evening with Robert E. Person. Photo Credit: MetroStage

Good Sunday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 62 degrees. Light southwest wind becoming west 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 37 degrees. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Monday will be sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

News

Alexandria unveils historic marker honoring ‘The Minnie Howard Five’

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 8, 2025 at 12:45PM | Updated March 8, 2025 at 2:34PM

Members of the Belk and Bradby families joined public officials to cut the ribbon the new historic marker on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Photo Credit: Ryan Belmore

A new historic interpretation sign now stands at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus, commemorating five young Black students who integrated the formerly all-white Minnie Howard Elementary School in 1960.

The sign, unveiled Saturday during a special ceremony attended by more than 100 people, honors Judy Belk, Vickie Belk, Marie Bradby, Deborah Bradby, and James O. Bradby – known as the "Minnie Howard Five."

News

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria offering Spring Break Camp for animal-loving kids

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 8, 2025 at 10:00AM

Ghost is currently available to adopt at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Credit: AWLA

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) is running a Spring Break Camp for kids in grades two through five from March 24 to 28.

The camp runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, giving children the chance to hang out with adoptable shelter animals, learn from staff, and participate in animal-themed activities.

News

Alexandria man faces charges in State Department espionage case

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 8, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated March 8, 2025 at 10:06AM

U.S. Department of State. Credit U.S. Department of State on Facebook

A U.S. Department of State employee from Alexandria is facing federal charges for allegedly participating in a criminal conspiracy to gather, transmit, or lose national defense information.

Michael Charles Schena, 42, who held a top-secret security clearance, is accused of communicating with people he met online and providing them with sensitive information in exchange for payments, according to a press release published on Friday from the U.S. Department of Justice. This activity allegedly began in April 2022.

News

Notes: City seeks dozens of volunteers for citizen boards and commissions

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 8, 2025 at 8:00AM

Alexandria City Hall in Old Town in 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Saturday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today's weather: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 55 degrees. Northwest wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 32 degrees. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.

News

200 block of King Street to close to vehicles for six months beginning March 14

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 7, 2025 at 5:00PM

The 200 block of King Street in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is expanding its pedestrian-friendly initiative in Old Town. On March 14, Phase 2 of a pilot walk-only zone for the 200 block of King Street will kick off.

The City’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services announced the pilot will run through September 30. A Phase 1 holiday season trial ran from November 22, 2024, to January 3, 2025.

News

Beyer calls out Elon Musk’s DOGE strategy as ‘cruel’ and ‘inefficient’

By James Cullum and Ryan Belmore

Published March 7, 2025 at 3:54PM

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer called out Elon Musk at his office in Old Town on March 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) criticized Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s efficiency efforts as “cruel” and “inefficient” during a roundtable on potential Medicaid cuts on Friday.

When asked in his Old Town office by ALXnow, Beyer shared the following:

News

Congressman Beyer warns of devastating impact of Medicaid cuts

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum

Published March 7, 2025 at 3:47PM | Updated March 7, 2025 at 6:18PM

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (center) hosting a roundtable discussion on the potential impact of Medicaid cuts, from his Old Town office, along with Del. Mark Sickles (D-17), on left, with Colleen Leners, the regional director of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Freddy Mejia, a policy director at The Commonwealth Institute and Mary Lee Ruby, March 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) is sounding the alarm about proposed Medicaid cuts that could have devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of Virginians who rely on the program for healthcare.

Beyer hosted a roundtable at his Alexandria office Friday with elected leaders, healthcare providers, advocates, and affected Virginians to discuss the potential impact of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts proposed in a budget resolution passed by House Republicans last week.