News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 17, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow Daily Debrief header over a dusk city river skyline. Date: Aug 17, 2026 (informational hero image).

Good Monday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 17, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. JUST IN: Thousands without power along Quaker Lane in Alexandria (2321 views)
  2. Horror and sci-fi bookstore Long Dark House to hold grand opening in early September (611 views)
  3. Morning Notes for August 17, 2026 (416 views)
  4. Alexandria wants feedback on updated design guidelines for historic districts (407 views)
  5. Roof replacement sought at Old Town’s Carlyle House to avoid water damage (371 views)
  6. Alexandria woman draws from personal experience to write book about finding inner strength (202 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

Sunny conditions are expected, with temperatures reaching a high of 87°F and northwest winds blowing at 6 to 8 mph. By Tuesday night, the weather will become partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 69°F and a light northwest wind continuing. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
– William James

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

JUST IN: Thousands without power along Quaker Lane in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Map showing a beige polygon outlining a neighborhood boundary around N Quaker Ln and W Braddock Rd near Fairlington, VA.
Outages reported in Alexandria on Aug. 17 (via Dominion Energy)

Thousands of Dominion Energy customers in a portion of Alexandria are experiencing power outages this afternoon (Monday).

Dominion Energy’s outage map shows 2,160 outages around the Taylor Run, Seminary Hill and Fairlington neighborhoods with small extensions into North Ridge and Rosemont.

Go to JUST IN: Thousands without power along Quaker Lane in Alexandria Read more

Alexandria wants feedback on updated design guidelines for historic districts

By James Cullum
Town homes in Old Town, Alexandria. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Plan to refurbish that creaky old porch or add an EV charger in a historic district? Consider holding off until at least Wednesday (Aug. 19).

That’s when the Board of Architectural Review Design Guidelines Committee is hosting a community meeting on updated design guidelines for the city’s Parker-Gray and Old & Historic Alexandria Districts. The meeting is open to the public, and the committee will receive public comments.

Go to Alexandria wants feedback on updated design guidelines for historic districts Read more

Roof replacement sought at Old Town’s Carlyle House to avoid water damage

By James Cullum
Carlyle House in Alexandria (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Some exterior changes could be coming to Carlyle House in Old Town.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is asking the city to approve a plan to replace the wood shingles with a standing seam metal roof on the nearly 275-year-old mansion at 121 N. Fairfax Street. The first mansion ever constructed in Alexandria was built by city founder and merchant John Carlyle in 1751.

Go to Roof replacement sought at Old Town’s Carlyle House to avoid water damage Read more

Morning Notes for August 17, 2026

By ALXnow.com
The Old Town Alexandria waterfront (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On August 17, 1814, towards the end of the War of 1812, Alexandrians agonized in desperation as they waited for a pending British attack. Capt. James Gordon, commander of a fleet of British ships, sailed into the mouth of the Potomac hoping to draw the Americans attention away from a pending attack from the north on the nation’s capital. Gordon’s ships included the 38-gun HMS Seahorse, the 36-gun Euryalus, the ‘rocket’ vessel Erebus, and several bomb vessels, the Aetna, Devastation, and Meteor. All that lay between the prosperous town of Alexandria and the attack force was the fortification at Fort Washington (then called Fort Warburton), and the shallow depths and shoals of the riverbed. Gordon’s boats were slowed for days on at least twenty occasions due to grounding but, assisted by his second in command, Charles Napier, he persevered. Finally closing in on the Maryland fort, which was blown-up by its panicked commander almost immediately upon Gordon’s order to fire, the prize of Alexandria was now in site.” [Historic Alexandria]

Former Old Town Business Association Leader Joins Breast Cancer Collective — “Charlotte Hall, one of Alexandria’s most recognizable community and small-business leaders, has been named interim executive director of the Breast Cancer Collective, effective Monday, Aug. 17. The appointment places Hall at the helm of the Alexandria-based nonprofit as its board begins a search for a permanent executive director and prepares for a busy fall fundraising and outreach season.” [The Zebra]

Go to Morning Notes for August 17, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 14, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALX now logo with the headline 'Daily Debrief for Aug 14, 2026' over a group of people outside a building at an event.

Good Friday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 14, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Morning Notes for August 14, 2026 (426 views)
  2. New Alexandria Map Society launches to show cartography isn’t just for scholars (362 views)
  3. Man cut with scissors during altercation at Van Dorn Street Metro station (350 views)
  4. Boat passage to prompt another drawbridge opening on Woodrow Wilson Bridge this weekend (350 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. APD to refund, dismiss tickets after speed camera error in the West End (4700 views)
  2. Alexandria teen’s Eagle Scout project focuses on teaching kids to protect waterways (2478 views)
  3. Founding Farmers plans on-site distillery at Alexandria location (2405 views)
  4. Woodrow Wilson Bridge to have multiple drawbridge openings tonight (1991 views)
  5. South Korean coffee shop chain Twosome Place to open in Old Town (1945 views)
  6. Mayor says Flock camera data not shared with ICE amid recent enforcement in Alexandria (1791 views)
  7. T&ES director recommends Russell Road alternative after board approves parking removals (1456 views)
  8. Alexandria’s Amanda Congialdi, quarterback of the D.C. Divas, eyes a final title (1351 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

🌤️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 88°F and an east wind around 5 mph. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy with a low near 72°F and a southeast wind between 3 and 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”
– Plutarch

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

Boat passage to prompt another drawbridge opening on Woodrow Wilson Bridge this weekend

By Emily Leayman
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge at sunset (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

If you missed the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge’s drawbridge opening last night, there’s another chance to witness — or avoid — it.

The drawbridge on the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) will open from 11 p.m. to 11:20 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 16), according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The opening will allow the boat My Podium to pass underneath the bridge.

Go to Boat passage to prompt another drawbridge opening on Woodrow Wilson Bridge this weekend Read more

Man cut with scissors during altercation at Van Dorn Street Metro station

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An attack with scissors led to two arrests at the Van Dorn Street Metro station early Friday (Aug. 14).

Metro Transit Police responded around 12:30 a.m. to a report of a potential stabbing at one of the station’s bus bays. A police investigation determined two men had an altercation, and one was attacked with scissors and received a cut on the elbow.

Go to Man cut with scissors during altercation at Van Dorn Street Metro station Read more

Morning Notes for August 14, 2026

By ALXnow.com
A woman in a dark blazer speaks to a small crowd outside a house while photographers film the scene; a man in red shorts and bow tie stands nearby as onlookers watch.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger stopped by Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats in Old Town on Thursday (Aug. 13), and met with owner Brandon Byrd (on right) to talk about his small business. Spanberger was in town after visiting Neighborhood Health in Fairfax County, and just before stopping at the opening of a new apartment complex in Arlington. (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “Late in the War of 1812, during August 1814, Alexandrians recognized their increasing peril as British ships inched their way northward, up the Potomac. Responding to the pending emergency, on the 14th day of that month, the commercial banks of Georgetown, Washington and Alexandria agreed to loan the Federal government $200,000 for the purpose of providing a defense for the district. The Alexandria town and county militia were soon called out en masse and ordered to cross the Potomac to take up a post between Piscataway and Fort Washington. They took with them nearly all the arms and artillery belonging to the town, leaving Alexandria defenseless. Thus, when the militia retreated to the Virginia countryside and Captain Dyson, commander of Ft. Washington, blew up the fortress, Alexandria’s fate was sealed.” [Historic Alexandria]

Alexandria Restaurant Week Begins Today — “Alexandria Restaurant Week, held twice a year in January and August, will be held over 10 days from Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 23. Full-service restaurants will serve prix fixe dinner menus at $35, $45 or $55 per person, and fast casual restaurants will have their own offers.” [ALXnow]

Go to Morning Notes for August 14, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 13, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 13, 2026 over an aerial rooftop parking lot view with branding text

Good Thursday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 13, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Woodrow Wilson Bridge to have multiple drawbridge openings tonight (510 views)
  2. Grace Taylor appointed as acting ACPS superintendent as permanent search continues (508 views)
  3. Morning Notes for August 13, 2026 (481 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

🌥️ Friday’s forecast

Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 88°F and a 30% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms after 5 PM. In the evening, there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms until 10 PM, followed by showers after 2 AM, with a low around 71°F and light, variable winds. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.”
– Malala Yousafzai

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

The Twig prepares for 84th annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour to support Inova hospital

By Beth Lawton
Inside the 810 Prince Street home on a previous Historic Alexandria Homes Tour (courtesy of Home Visions Media)

Tickets are on sale now for the popular fall historic homes tour organized by The Twig.

The 84th annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Ticket sales end on Sept. 10. There are 1,400 tickets available — 200 more than last year — and the event usually sells out.

Go to The Twig prepares for 84th annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour to support Inova hospital Read more
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