What a summer it’s been for tourism in Alexandria.
With tourism boosted by America’s 250th birthday celebration and Alexandria’s participation in a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” hosting a World Cup team, Visit Alexandria CEO Todd O’Leary and staff reported to City Council on Tuesday night (Sept. 8) that hotel stays are up, revenue per available room is up and so is the percentage of visitors staying overnight.
The acting director of Alexandria’s Office of Housing has been chosen to fill the permanent role.
City Manager Jim Parajon appointed Aspasia Xypolia as director of the Office of Housing, the city announced today (Sept. 10). The city had conducted a national search to fill the role after former director Helen McIlvaine announced her retirement at the end of April.
As the state studies a potential consolidation of several Northern Virginia bus systems, year-over-year data showed Alexandria’s DASH continues to see ridership growth.
The data presented to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission on Sept. 3 focused on transit providers in Northern Virginia — Arlington Transit, City of Fairfax CUE, Alexandria DASH, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, Metro and Virginia Railway Express.
The long-awaited Del Ray Gateway/Colasanto Interactive Fountain opened today (Sept. 10) at 2700 Mount Vernon Avenue, according to the city.
“The Colasanto Spray Park project is complete and is open for community enjoyment,” the city said on the project webpage. “The final utility connections were completed in late August.”
Late-night drivers should be prepared for delays during the next drawbridge opening on the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.
The drawbridge will open between 10 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 10) and 5 a.m. Friday (Sept. 11) for maintenance work. According to AlertDC, multiple bridge openings and intermittent traffic stoppages will occur.
Alexandria and the rest of the nation will take a day to reflect and remember Friday (Sept. 11) on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The City of Alexandria will hold its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony from 10-11 a.m. Friday at Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Avenue). The ceremony, remembering the victims, survivors, first responders and others impacted by 9/11, will include a presentation of colors, remarks by Mayor Alyia Gaskins and public safety officials and a return to quarters ceremony.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On September 10, 1955, within just a few years of doubling the size of the City of Alexandria by annexing land west of Quaker Lane from Fairfax County, the City completed its first comprehensive land use plan and economic base survey. In a demonstration of civic pride, these actions, and several others made in 1955 to create or reorganize City departments, were publicly presented at a special Municipal Exhibition-Demonstration that highlighted new services and activities offered by the City to its citizens, and a vision for the future. The ambitious municipal program, authorized by Mayor Leroy S. Bendheim and City Council, and implemented by City Manager Edward G. Heatwole, provided the foundation for modern day Alexandria.” [Historic Alexandria]
Changes to Blue and Yellow Line Service Today and Tomorrow — “Sept. 10 – Sept. 11 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., the Yellow Line will run modified service operating between Huntington & Mt. Vernon Sq only, and trains will single track on the Blue Line between Van Dorn St & Braddock Rd.” [Metro/Bluesky]
Good Wednesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Sep 9, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 89°F, a slight chance of showers early, and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with southwest winds at 6 to 8 mph. Thursday night will see showers and thunderstorms before 3am, then likely showers, with a low around 68°F and northwest winds at 3 to 5 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall between a quarter and half an inch possible. See more from Weather.gov.
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
Thanks for reading!
Mayor Alyia Gaskins told city leaders on Tuesday that she does not “see a role for Flock” cameras in Alexandria.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, two City Council members joined Gaskins in the sentiment after a presentation by Police Chief Tarrick McGuire on license plate reader (LPR) technology used in the city. The Alexandria Police Department has 61 license plate readers and other cameras along public roadways, according to Flock’s transparency portal.
Alexandria is looking for ways to relieve businesses from the years-long renovation impacts of City Hall and Market Square in Old Town.
With parking temporarily halted on the streets next to the property at 301 King Street, sidewalks closed and the sound of continual construction, businesses in a one-block radius of the building are feeling the effects.
Office vacancies are trending down in Alexandria, although Old Town and Old Town North are going against the trend.
That’s according to the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership’s Mid-Year Market Report released Tuesday (Sept. 8) looking at commercial real estate trends for the first half of the year through June 30, 2026.
