News | ALXnow - Part 177

This Week in Alexandria: Army Band concerts, pub crawls, and Shrek under the stars

Published July 14, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated July 15, 2025 at 7:35AM

A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria kicks off the week with Monday’s Bastille Day 5K, setting the tone for seven days of diverse summer entertainment. Highlights include the 4th Annual Student Art Exhibit opening Thursday at Nepenthe Gallery and Friday’s U.S. Army Band concert at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall.

Weekend options range from Saturday’s 12th Annual Old Town Pub Crawl and family-friendly “Shrek!” screening at AlexRenew Terrace to The Birchmere’s Fleetwood Mac tribute show. Sunday features three farmers markets, chamber music at the Lyceum, and jazz legend Hubert Laws at The Birchmere.

Alexandria City Council, School Board to discuss DASH transition, collective bargaining, and more during joint meeting

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 1:30PM

School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council and School Board have several big-picture items up for discussion early next month.

On Monday, August 4, the Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee will discuss a proposal to put Alexandria City High School kids on DASH buses starting in fall 2026, collective bargaining with ACPS staff, and the school system’s Long-Range Educational Facilities Plan.

‘HomeGrown: A Daytime Eatery’ opens August 11 in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 12:30PM | Updated July 17, 2025 at 12:40PM

Homegrown is opening at 1600 King Street on Aug. 11, 2025 (via Instagram)

A new restaurant is officially opening its doors on August 11 in Old Town.

HomeGrown: A Daytime Eatery will formally open in the space formerly occupied by BRABO Brasserie in the Archer Hotel Old Town Alexandria. The restaurant, which has more than a dozen locations throughout the country, was announced last November. This is their first Virginia location.

Park and Recreation Commission to consider Skateboard Park design changes at Thursday hearing

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 11:30AM

Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skatepark (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, July 17, to discuss proposed changes to the Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skateboard Park (3540 Wheeler Avenue) as part of an amendment to the neighborhood park improvement plan.

The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street). The commission will review design recommendations and consider amendments to the 2015 Neighborhood Park Improvement Plan, specifically recommendation number 5 related to both Luckett Ballfield and the Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skateboard Park.

Connect with Alexandria’s most engaged audience

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 14, 2025 at 10:30AM

Alexandria businesses and organizations have stories worth telling. Whether you’ve launched a new menu item, earned an industry award, or opened your doors for the first time, ALXnow helps you connect with the community that matters most.

Share Your News Through ALXnow Announcements

Alexandria SOHO Program seeks mentors for 2025-26 school year

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 14, 2025 at 9:35AM

Become a SOHO Mentor for the 2025-26 School Year! (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria’s award-winning Space of Her Own (SOHO) program is looking for mentors who will spend a school year helping fifth-grade girls build confidence through art and STEM projects—culminating in transforming each child’s bedroom into a personalized space of her own.

The unique mentoring program pairs women one-to-one with local fifth-graders for weekly sessions from September through early June. Mentors and their mentees collaborate on professionally-led creative projects, then work together with the girl’s family to redesign her sleeping space using what they’ve created.

Notes: Mill Road, Trinity Drive among streets being repaved this week

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 14, 2025 at 8:00AM | Updated July 14, 2025 at 10:25AM

Construction workers repave a street in Old Town Alexandria (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Monday, July 14, the 195th day of 2025. There are 170 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3 p.m. High near 89 degrees. Calm wind becoming south around six mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 80%—new rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

TD Bank to open new King Street location in October

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 13, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated July 14, 2025 at 10:26AM

TD Bank rendering at 515 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

TD Bank will relocate its Alexandria branch from 119 S Washington Street to 515 King Street on October 11, 2025, according to a customer notification letter dated July 10, 2025.

The new location will be situated next to Tatte Bakery & Cafe in Old Town Alexandria.

Notes: New arcade bar prepares for “beta test” opening in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 13, 2025 at 10:35AM | Updated July 14, 2025 at 10:26AM

Continues is coming soon. (via Continues)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Sunday, July 13, the 194th day of 2025. There are 171 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 88 degrees. Southeast wind 3 to 6 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40%.

PHOTOS: Thousands gather for Alexandria’s 276th Birthday Bash at Oronoco Bay

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2025 at 6:15AM | Updated July 14, 2025 at 10:29AM

The grand finale of Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria celebrated its 276th and the U.S.’s 249th birthday in style along the Potomac River at Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday (July 12).

Thousands attended the annual event. For about four hours, the park was turned into a maze of beach blankets, lawn chairs, and barefoot kids with lightsabers and bubble guns. Flanked onstage by City Council and city staff, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Poet Laureate Maria Cristina Donoso made brief remarks before the program was turned over to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, which wrapped up in time for a spectacular fireworks show (see video below).

Morning Notes: Alexandria turns 276 tonight with free fireworks and family festival

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 12, 2025 at 7:00AM

The fireworks at Alexandria's 275th birthday celebration along the waterfront in Old Town, July 13, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Saturday, July 12, the 193rd day of 2025. There are 172 days left in the year.

On this day in 1955, the Alexandria City Council refused a request to build a drive-in movie theater in the West End. The Alexandria Amusement Co. wanted to open a drive-in south of Duke Street near Cameron Station, but area residents complained that the theater would cause traffic problems and the light and sound at night would be a nuisance.