What a hot week in Alexandria.
With temperatures hovering in the mid-90s, the week started with a power outage at a 17-story apartment building in Landmark area. The outage lasted five days and residents had to find accommodations until the building reopened Friday afternoon.
The November 2 general election is less than four months away, and nearly all of the candidates running for City Council spent most of their money in last month’s Democratic primary.
Republican candidate Darryl Nirenberg has $48,552 in the bank — more than anyone else running for Council.
If you’re looking for a brand-new home that lives like a single-family house, with no HOA and an easy walk to Potomac Yard, your search may end on E. Reed Ave. Located at 29 and 31 E. Reed Ave. in Arlandria, these two attached homes bring modern design and everyday convenience to a residential block between Potomac Yard and Del Ray.
Brought to you by Midtown Partners, a multifamily and boutique home builder rooted in the Northern Virginia real estate landscape since 2010, the homes were built with practical, well-considered layouts in mind.
E. Reed Ave. puts a lot within reach on foot:
Each priced at $1,324,000, the homes offer about 3,185 square feet across three finished levels:
With projects across Alexandria and Arlington, Midtown Partners focuses on well-built homes in walkable, established neighborhoods. The E. Reed homes continue that approach: new construction designed to fit the way people live today.
Only two homes are available. Schedule your private tour today.
View photos, floor plans, and connect with Midtown Partners.
Where you live in Alexandria can determine your life expectancy, and a newly released City plan is focusing on removing the effects of decades of discriminatory practices.
The Community Health Improvement Plan 2025 (CHIP) is a blueprint to address poverty, mental health, and housing policies and systems in the city. For instance, the average life expectancy in the city’s heavily Hispanic Arlandria neighborhood is 78, while more affluent areas like Old Town have a life expectancy of 87.
At its October general membership meeting, the NAACP Alexandria Branch 7043 Nominating Committee presented its slate for the 2027–2028 term and named John Hopkins-Gillispie as its nominee for Branch President.
Hopkins-Gillispie is a life member of the branch. He has chaired the Freedom Fund Dinner for the past two years, and this year’s dinner raised more than $40,000 for the branch. He serves on the Legal Redress Committee, reviewing discrimination complaints brought to the branch. He has provided input on issues from the Alexandria Police Department’s hate crimes policy to the proposed Edsall Road data center. He also represents the branch as co-chair of the host committee for the 2027 Virginia State Conference convention.
With the city hoping Landmark development and the West End Transitway will help turn the Van Dorn corridor into a new commercial hub, developers near the Mark Center are hoping to cash in.
According to Maya Contreras, principal planner for Alexandria, plans are in the works to add new density to a stormwater pond near the Hilton (5000 Seminary Road) and to a site originally planned to be an office space, but will likely become something else.
Spend the evening with Washington Spirit alum and former USWNT player Joanna Lohman, a true DMV women’s soccer legend.
This is your chance to meet Joanna in person, hear the stories behind the career, the competition, and The Amazing Race, and experience the kind of sports moment you’ll still be talking about long after the night is over.
After a break last year, National Night Out is returning on Tuesday, August 3.
The annual community-building campaign brings the Alexandria Police Department, Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office and other City agencies into communities for cookouts as part of a nationwide crime and drug prevention effort.
Local musicians bring jazz home with Yellow Door Concert series — “The Ambrose’s founded the Yellow Door Concert Series in 2018 after noticing a lack of opportunity for community members to experience the arts and music in Alexandria. They named the series after the yellow doors they have at their home. Robyn, a classical bass player, and Vaughn, a jazz saxophone player, began the predominantly jazz concert series by hosting their first concerts inside their home in Alexandria.” [Zebra]
Alexandrians eliminated from ‘Crime Scene Kitchen’ reality show — “Alexandria’s own Erinn Roth and Amanda Carter went out on a high note from the competitive cooking show on FOX.” [Alexandria Living]
The Friendship Firehouse Festival is back on this year after having been cancelled last year due to — you know.
The festival is an annual celebration of the Friendship Firehouse (107 S Alfred Street) in Old Town that opened in 1855, and has since been run as a museum focusing on fire-fighting history and fire safety. The museum hosts community events throughout the year, and holds preserved historic artifacts.
Rigoberto Ferman, a former chef at the The Alexandrian hotel in Old Town, is opening “Ferman Bar and Grill” in Arlandria on Monday, July 19.
Ferman, who cooked at The Alexandrian and Hotel Monaco for 15 years, spent the last three months renovating the interior of 4112 Mount Vernon Avenue. The space was formerly occupied by Chirilagua Pollo & Steak, and the overhaul includes new flooring, the installation of three new booths and an extended counter.
As the Hotel Indigo plans to open up its parking, the neighborhood will be losing a garage right across the street.
The Planning Commission will discuss both matters on Sept. 9, and will review plans to convert The Strand Parking garage (101 Duke Street) to a series of townhouses.
In honor of Veterans Day, Imperium Strength & Longevity, a private strength-training studio in Old Town Alexandria, is launching a permanent Military Appreciation Program for active-duty military personnel, reservists, National Guard members, and veterans.
The program offers substantial savings on both introductory training and ongoing membership:
