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Alexandria Restaurant Week returns Aug. 22-31 with nearly 90 participants

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria Restaurant Week (Credit: Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria Restaurant Week, one of the city’s biggest summer events, will return Aug. 22-31 with dozens of participating restaurants offering special prix fixe menus across the city’s diverse neighborhoods.

The 10-day culinary event, hosted twice yearly by Visit Alexandria since 2009, will feature multi-course prix fixe dinner menus at $30, $40 or $50 per person. Select fast-casual restaurants throughout Alexandria will also offer additional special offers, making it easy to sample a wide range of cuisines at every budget.

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Man indicted on murder, child abuse charges in infant death

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 21-year-old Alexandria man has been indicted on murder and child abuse charges in connection with the death of his 3-month-old daughter nearly two years ago.

Travon Anthony Hugee was charged by a grand jury on Aug. 11 following a lengthy investigation into the infant’s death on July 19, 2023, according to a press release Thursday from the Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

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Alexandria schools reject federal Title IX demands

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Alexandria City Public Schools has rejected federal demands to change policies allowing transgender students to use facilities matching their gender identity, defying a U.S. Department of Education ultimatum that required a response by today’s deadline.

In a statement released Friday at 12:24 p.m., School Board Chair Dr. Michelle Rief and Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced that ACPS “disagrees with the legal analysis in the Letter of Findings, and cannot agree to the VRA [Voluntary Resolution Agreement] currently proposed by OCR.”

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Alexandria schools face federal Title IX deadline today

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

UPDATE: Alexandria City Public Schools has rejected federal demands to change transgender policies, keeping current inclusive policies in place.

Alexandria City Public Schools faces a critical deadline today to respond to federal demands that it change policies allowing transgender students to use facilities matching their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding and potential legal action.

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Spitfire Club concludes second annual summer camp for Alexandria girls

By Ryan Belmore
Spitfire Club's second annual summer camp. (Photo Credit: Kathryn Hopper)

The Spitfire Club wrapped up its second annual Camp Spitfire this week, providing 50 girls from across Alexandria with a week of reading, community building, and confidence-boosting activities at Trinity United Methodist Church.

The weeklong camp, which concluded Tuesday, centered around the organization’s core values of curiosity, resilience, empathy, authenticity, and tenacity. Campers kicked off the week exploring the question “How can we show up as our most authentic selves?”

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Adoptable dog of the Week: Lucas seeks walking buddy as AWLA waives large dog fees

By Ryan Belmore
Lucas (Credit: AWLA)

Lucas, a 7-month-old black and white pup with striking blue eyes, is looking for his forever home through the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s “Back to School” adoption event.

The 64-pound mixed breed has already mastered leash walking and would make an ideal companion for hiking or neighborhood strolls, according to AWLA volunteer Maria Stebbins. Lucas also excels at fetch and enjoys squeaky toys.

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Former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson named NOVA Parks Executive Director

By Ryan Belmore
Justin Wilson has been selected as NOVA Parks next Executive Director (Photo provided by NOVA Parks)

Former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson has been selected as the next executive director of NOVA Parks, the regional park authority announced Friday.

Wilson, who served 14 years on the Alexandria City Council, including two terms as mayor, will assume the role of Executive Director in a full-time capacity beginning Oct. 6, succeeding Paul Gilbert, who announced his retirement in April after 20 years leading the organization. During Gilbert’s tenure, NOVA Parks expanded significantly, adding 15 new parks and acquiring more than 1,800 acres of parkland through 22 acquisition transactions.

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ARHA CEO responds to tenant complaints, acknowledges past challenges

By Ryan Belmore
ARHA properties in Old Town, Alexandria. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority CEO Erik C. Johnson issued a lengthy statement Thursday morning acknowledging “valid” tenant concerns and detailing reforms implemented since he took the helm in September 2024.

The statement comes two days after ALXnow reported that tenants plan to protest on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at ARHA headquarters over delayed payments, service issues, and other problems.

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Notes: Alexandria veteran wins $10K pitch contest for AI-driven genomics startup

By ALXnow.com
Yusuf N. Henriques, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of IndyGeneUS Bio. (Photo Credit: IndyGeneUS Bio)

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph in the morning. The chance of precipitation is 40%.

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Bidding suspended on Alexandria home as two other properties head to tax sale Wednesday

By Ryan Belmore
5340 Holmes Run Parkway (via tacssale.com)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated with developments as of Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. Bidding has been suspended on one of the three properties originally scheduled for tax sale.

Bidding was suspended Friday on one of three Alexandria properties scheduled for tax sale next week, while the other two properties continued to attract bids ahead of Wednesday’s auction deadline.

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