Longtime land use attorney Mary Catherine Gibbs was sworn in as Alexandria’s newest General District Court judge for the 18th Judicial District.
Gibbs was sworn in Thursday night (June 25) to a six-year term by retired Circuit Court Judge Nolan B. Dawkins. Mayor Alyia Gaskins presented Gibbs with her commission from Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).
After news broke this week that the Tall Ship Providence was suspending operations, a nonprofit aimed at creating a national maritime museum along the Alexandria waterfront has gone public.
Marion Smith, president of the United States Maritime Foundation, told ALXnow the organization has entered into a legal agreement with the property owner at 1 Prince Street and is currently fundraising and looking for a second location for additional programming nearby. He also said the foundation is working to acquire the Tall Ship Providence Foundation’s floating pier, the Tall Ship Providence itself and take over its entire operation at Waterfront Park after signing a memorandum of understanding to do so by 2028.
Finn & Fire, an upscale Peruvian and Japanese fusion restaurant focused on steak and seafood, began its soft opening in Old Town.
The restaurant at 111 N. Pitt Street comes from owner Ghazal Amir, who also owns Crab Cab Bar and Kitchen in Fairfax County. It replaces Kismet Modern Indian, which closed in 2025 after nearly four years.
On hot summer days, there’s nothing better than cooling off at a local pool. Alexandria has a variety of options for families, from public pools to swim clubs and even a waterpark with a wave pool and slides.
Here are the nominees for “Best Pool in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your go-to pool? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for the Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Ice Cream Shop in Alexandria. The results are now official:
Join Mayor Gaskins and the community for a celebration send-off as Alexandria’s Mayor’s Cup Rugby team prepares to compete against Dundee, Scotland!
This free, family-friendly event is a chance to meet the players, learn about the sport, and show your support before the team takes the pitch overseas.
Meet Rufus, a handsome older dog looking for a home for his golden years.
This 10-year-old dog is outgoing and loves to make new friends, according to an Animal Welfare League of Alexandria volunteer. He is eager to make a loving companion for his next family.
Maritime Museum on Alexandria Waterfront Sought — “The United States Maritime Foundation is under contract to acquire a site adjacent to Alexandria’s Waterfront Park at 1 Prince St. for the planned museum, expected to be around 50,000 square feet, per Marion Smith, the foundation’s president.” [Washington Business Journal]
Alexandria Resident Julie Carey Retires from NBC4 —”Raised in Iowa in a family of journalists, Carey has lived in Alexandria with her husband, a managing editor for Bloomberg. She has also been active as a volunteer in Alexandria Public Schools and within her church throughout her time in the community.” [The MoCo Show]
Good Thursday 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 — Jun 25, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
There is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 5 p.m., with partly sunny skies and a high of 92°F. Southwest winds will be 6 to 8 mph. Friday night, there is a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., with patchy fog possible after 3 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low of around 70°F and variable winds. Rainfall may reach between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Thanks for reading!
Alexandria City Council voted Tuesday to create an ad hoc committee to discuss possible Alexandria City School Board election reforms such as terms and the size of the nine-member board.
City Council’s approval allows the committee to discuss term lengths, staggered term elections and overall board size and composition. The action comes after School Board Chair Michelle Rief requested the joint committee to seek city charter amendments on School Board terms. Specifically, the School Board is requesting moving members from three-year terms to four-year staggered terms, with one member from each of the three School Board districts being elected each year.
Eight months after opening on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar will hold a ribbon cutting today (Thursday).
The Asian fusion restaurant serving Japanese sushi and Thai street food, the restaurant at 1909 Mount Vernon Avenue had a soft opening last October. The ribbon cutting will be held at 4 p.m. and will be attended by business leaders from the Del Ray Business Association.
