The 700 block of Queen Street will be closed to traffic Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. as the Alexandria Library hosts its third annual Black Family Reunion at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library.
The community event, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 717 Queen Street, aims to bring neighborhoods together and help fill gaps in the documented history of Alexandria’s African American community.
Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Friday, Sept. 5, the 248th day of 2025. There are 117 days left in the year.
☀️ Today’s weather
An Alexandria man has been sentenced to four years in prison for conspiring to collect and send the Chinese government national defense information.
Michael Charles Schena, a former South Caribbean Desk Officer in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs with the U.S. State Department, sent classified documents to individuals he believed were agents of the People’s Republic of China, and received between $13,000 and $37,000 in return, according to court records.
A new luxury condominium building in Old Town North is offering eight affordable units to first-time homebuyers who live or work in Alexandria.
The city’s Office of Housing announced on Thursday (Sept. 4), that the eight units at The Whitley, a new 78-unit complex at 811 N. Columbus Street, are available and due to high demand buyers will be chosen in a lottery. The units, ranging from one-to-three bedrooms, will start accepting applications from Friday, Sept. 26, to Friday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.
Del Ray’s final First Thursday of the year has been postponed due to rain.
The event, which featured antique appraisals from three experts, has been rescheduled from today (Sept. 4) to Thursday, Sept. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of Del Ray Psych and Wellness (1900 Mount Vernon Avenue).
Alexandria will eliminate requirements for third-party green building certifications under a new policy aimed at reducing development costs while maintaining environmental standards.
The City Council is expected to consider the updated Green Building Policy later this year after review by the Planning Commission and Environmental Policy Commission. The changes would take effect Jan. 1, replacing the current 2019 policy.
The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning in and around Alexandria.
The warning is in effect until 4:15 p.m., and boaters are cautioned to “seek safe harbor immediately” until a series of severe thunderstorms pass.
A Grammy-nominated quartet will perform this month at Virginia Theological Seminary.
The New York Polyphony will sing at a free concert at VTS’s Immanuel Chapel (3737 Seminary Road) at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Alexandria’s tourism impact, economic trends, upcoming business openings and more will be unveiled later this month in Visit Alexandria‘s annual meeting.
Alexandria’s tourism bureau will hold its annual meeting at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center (5000 Seminary Road) from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25. Tickets cost $40 for Visit Alexandria members and $95 for non-members.
Meet Lena, a 4-year-old black and tan beauty who’s ready to become someone’s devoted companion. This 109-pound sweetheart is available for adoption through the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and embodies the perfect balance of playfulness and affection.
Lena’s volunteers describe her as having “a heart as big as her cuddly body,” and her personality backs up that assessment. She’s an enthusiastic fetch player who will happily chase balls for as long as her human is willing to throw them. But when playtime winds down, this gentle giant transforms into a “leaner” who craves close contact with her favorite people.
While its current CEO is on probation and under investigation for living in a public housing property under his management, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority is being led by an interim CEO, ALXnow has confirmed.
Last month, ALXnow reported that ARHA CEO Erik Johnson was living in an ARHA property, prompting the Alexandria City Council to call for an independent investigation. ARHA has since confirmed that its Deputy Executive Director Rickie C. Maddox is currently working as the organization’s interim CEO.
