Alexandria City Council on Wednesday (April 29) approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal to increase metered parking fees and parking ticket fines.
Without discussion, City Council approved raising parking meter rates from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55. The approvals were part of Parajon’s $979.1 million Fiscal year 2027 budget, which Council approved Tuesday night without a real estate tax increase.
A block party involving numerous independent boutiques is coming to Old Town this weekend.
The Old Town Boutique Community, an organization of 30 small businesses in Old Town, will host the Spring Fling: An Old Town Block Party, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (May 2). The family-friendly block party will feature activities for all ages, including tarot card readings, build-your-own flower bouquets and other hands-on crafts, outdoor yoga sessions and snow cones.
Noteworthy: Combination of historic character & modern luxury
Two blocks from the heart of Old Town, this home offers a rare combination of historic character, modern luxury, and livable space. Just minutes from King Street, the waterfront, restaurants, shops, and parks, you will be directly in the center of it all. This 3-bedroom, 3-bath residence spans approximately 2,600+ square feet and has been thoughtfully updated to support both everyday living and effortless entertaining. The home features high-end appliances, including Miele, Sub-Zero, and Viking, paired with a layout that feels intuitive, comfortable, and functional. Built in the early 1800s, the home is an example of Alexandria’s historic “flounder house” style, though what stands out most is how seamlessly that history has been adapted for modern living. Original hardwood floors anchor the heart of the home, while preserved architectural details, particularly in the family room, highlight its 200-year legacy. The upper level includes a flexible primary suite with an adjoining office or sitting room, offering an ideal work-from-home setup or private retreat. A standout feature is the redesigned, two-tier courtyard, creating a true outdoor living environment rarely found in Old Town. Entered through a private gate and enhanced with thoughtful landscaping, the space includes both an upper courtyard and a lower patio with direct access from the kitchen, allowing for seamless indoor-outdoor living and entertaining. Additional features include a copper roof and six fireplaces, further reinforcing the home’s blend of enduring craftsmanship and modern updates.
Data Center Tax Exemption Debate Continues for State Budget — “As lawmakers work behind closed doors to finalize the state’s $212 billion budget before the next fiscal year begins in July, negotiations hinge on whether the data center industry’s sales and use tax exemption should end, or continue with new requirements.” [Virginia Mercury]
AG Jay Jones on Supreme Court Voting Rights Decision — “I want to assure Virginians that my office will always fight to defend not only the right to vote but also equal representation under the law, and any efforts to illegally disenfranchise or impede access to the ballot box will be met with swift and aggressive legal action.” [Office of Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones]
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 — Apr 29, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
It will be mostly sunny with a high near 67°F and a northwest wind blowing at about 15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 44°F and a lighter northwest wind at 7 to 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
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– Stephen Curry
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oin us for our free movie night @ AlexRenew Terrace!
Join us Saturday, May 16th for the Eisenhower Partnership Movie Night, presented by Burke and Herbert Mortgage! We will be showing the Emperors New Groove!
Alexandria City Public Schools is asking the city for permission to use a temporary parking lot in Potomac Yard — once part of the former arena proposal — for school buses this summer.
ACPS filed a special use permit application with the city asking to temporarily use a 45,000-square-foot lot for three months at 3331 Exchange Avenue in the Potomac Yard neighborhood. The property was pitched in 2023 as a new $2 billion home for the Washington Wizards and Capitals before losing support in Alexandria and fizzling out with lawmakers in Richmond.
On Tuesday, City Manager Jim Parajon unveiled a plan to catalyze a two-phase development of the former Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North with a $135 million city investment.
The $135 million, 30-year tax increment financing agreement would be funded by projected future tax revenues at the 19-acre mixed-use site through the creation of a Community Development Agency. Under the proposal outlined to City Council, Parajon said the $135 million investment would spark more than $2 billion in private sector investment and generate more than $770 million in tax revenues.
A longtime Italian restaurant in Old Town is celebrating its rebranding with a special dinner tomorrow night (Thursday).
Il Porto Ristorante is working on “refreshing the brand” at 121 King Street, with plans for a new logo, revised website and updated menus “to reflect a more modern look while staying true to what Il Porto has always been,” a spokesperson told ALXnow.
The Pride of Baltimore II will be sailing into Alexandria Thursday for several days of tours and sails.
The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, a drawbridge on the Capital Beltway (I-495), will open at midnight Thursday (April 30) to allow the ship to pass. Drivers should expect delays during the drawbridge opening and follow signs displayed on the bridge, according to the city government.
Two teenagers and an adult were arrested and charged with malicious wounding after an alleged attempted robbery that left a teenager with non-life-threatening stab wounds in Alexandria’s West End.
The victim reported the incident to police at around 3:20 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in the 2100 block of N. Early Street, which is near the intersection with W. Braddock Road. The victim told police he was approached by four Hispanic males, and that one of them — wearing a black ski mask and holding a knife — stabbed him in the face, according to Alexandria Police Department dispatches.
