ALXnow - Alexandria Now

Townhouse development pitched on vacant lot, barbershop site in Parker-Gray

Published March 18, 2026 at 2:45PM

Rendering of new development proposed for 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street in the Parker-Gray District (via City of Alexandria)

A proposed conversion of a vacant lot and a one-story barbershop in the Parker-Gray Historic District into five four-story townhomes is headed to city review.

Eric Bernstein and Kirby Holdings are proposing to build the homes at 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street, located at the intersection with Madison Street. The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review will conduct a public hearing on the concept review proposal at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, at Charles Houston Recreation Center, which is directly across the street from the site.

Around Town

Cherry blossom events arrive with spring starting this week in Old Town

By Emily Leayman

Published March 18, 2026 at 1:45PM

Cherry blossoms in Del Ray (Staff photo by James Cullum)

As cherry blossom season gets into full swing in the D.C. region, Alexandria will try to draw visitors with its own cherry blossom-themed events.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off Friday (March 20) and runs through April 12. According to the National Park Service’s prediction, the Tidal Basin’s famous cherry blossom trees could reach peak bloom from Sunday, March 29 to Wednesday, April 1. The start of the festival coincides with the first day of spring on March 20.

A post from The Little Theatre of Alexandria

The Little Theatre of Alexandria Presents She Loves Me

Published October 6, 2026 at 10:45AM

The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s 2026–27 season continues with She Loves Me, the beloved romantic musical, running October 17 – November 7, 2026.

Thursday through Saturday evening performances at 8:00 PM. Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. Get tickets $36

In a charming 1930s European perfumery, shop clerks Georg and Amalia can’t stand each other. They bicker across the counter by day, never suspecting that each is the anonymous pen pal the other has been falling for by letter. As the holidays approach and the mystery unravels, two unlikely sweethearts discover that love may have been right in front of them all along. Set to a lush, witty score, it’s the same timeless story that inspired the film You’ve Got Mail.

Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Based on the play Parfumerie by Miklós László

Directed and choreographed by Mitchell Aiello, with music direction by Isabel Hernandez-Cata. Produced by Eleanore Tapscott and assistant producer Cassie Cope.

The cast features Shelby Young as Amalia Balash and Antony Galace as Georg Nowack, with Maura Lacy as Ilona Ritter, Brandon Schenk as Steven Kodaly, Michael McGovern as Ladislav Sipos, Phil Krzywicki as Mr. Maraczek and Mylo Cluff as Arpad Laszlo. The ensemble includes Stephen Yednock, Evan Arellano, Dale Dwyer, Lori Bonnette, Alicia Braxton, Rachael Fine, Gavin Hubbard, Jordan Lohmeyer, Jennifer Thomas and Brett Womack.

The Little Theatre of Alexandria is located at 600 Wolfe Street in Old Town Alexandria. Street parking.

Performances are Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $36 (plus $4 service charge). All sales final; limited exchanges available. Box Office: 703-683-0496. Get Tickets

News

City Council considers next renaming of street referencing Confederate military figure

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated March 18, 2026 at 12:11PM

Iverson Street (via Google Maps)

Alexandria City Council’s Naming Committee will host a public hearing next month on a proposal to rename a street in Seminary Hill named after Confederate Brig. Gen. Alfred Iverson.

Ahead of the public hearing, the city wants public feedback on the proposal to rename Iverson Street as Edmonson Street. The proposed name references sisters Mary Edmonson and Emily Edmonson, who were born into slavery, earned their freedom and became important figures in the abolitionist movement.

News

ACPS seeks to hire new Alexandria City High School principal by late May

By Emily Leayman

Published March 18, 2026 at 10:30AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools has started the process of selecting a new principal for its high school in time for the next school year.

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced a hiring process and timeline for the next principal of Alexandria City High School. A job posting was released on Monday, and a community survey to gather input will open today (Wednesday) through March 23.

Event

The Thirteen Presents BRAHMS & BONDS

October 16, 2026 7:30 pm -9:00 pm

Event location

Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall

4915 E Campus Drive

Alexandria, Virginia 22311

Add to Calendar

"The Thirteen sings with striking color and richness" – The Washington Post
The critically acclaimed professional choir performs Brahms' genre-defying masterpiece, "Ein deutsches Requiem," in the composers own version for piano four hands with world-renowned pianist Brian Ganz and Eric Conway, paired with Margaret Bonds' Credo, set to a text by W.E.B. Du Bois and also accompanied by piano.

News

Morning Notes for March 18, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published March 18, 2026 at 7:30AM

A pier on the Alexandria waterfront along the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On March 18, 1784, Revolutionary War hero Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Steuben, better known as Gen. Baron Von Steuben, passed through Alexandria after visiting with his former commander, General George Washington at Mount Vernon. The Prussian-born military genius was Washington’s chief of staff during the final years of the war and a brilliant scholar on tactics and discipline. He was also the author of the military drill manual for the United States that remained in effect until the War of 1812.” [Historic Alexandria]

Traffic Signal Upgrades Continue — “Our team continues installing adaptive signal control technology to help traffic flow more efficiently. The work locations for the week of March 16 are Van Dorn/Braddock and Van Dorn/Eastbound Duke.” [Alexandria T&ES/X]

News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Mar 17, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published March 17, 2026 at 8:30PM

Good Tuesday 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 — Mar 17, 2026.

7:30 am: Morning Notes for March 17, 2026 | 🗣️ Comments
9:15 am: Woman assaulted, flashed in West End park assault | 🗣️ Comments
10:30 am: March Madness in Alexandria: Where to watch and find deals | 🗣️ Comments
1:45 pm: Del Ray restaurant owners to open concept at former pizza shop in Del Ray | 🗣️ Comments
2:45 pm: MacMillan Spirit House closes in Old Town North amid landlord rent dispute | 🗣️ Comments
3:45 pm: Memorabilia-filled Del Ray pop-up dive bar to open at the end of March | 🗣️ Comments
5:00 pm: JUST IN: Full Potomac River advisory lifted by state health department | 🗣️ Comments

Here are today’s most-read articles:

Del Ray restaurant owners to open concept at former pizza shop (1573 views)
Woman assaulted, flashed in West End park assault (1290 views)
MacMillan Spirit House closes in Old Town North amid landlord rent dispute (1090 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

👉 8:30 am: Eisenhower Partnership City Manager’s Breakfast
👉 10:00 am: Spring Book Sale, Mar 18-23

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 42 degrees and light, variable winds shifting to the south at 6 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low of around 31 degrees and a southeast wind at about 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
– Lao Tzu

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

News

JUST IN: Full Potomac River advisory lifted by state health department

By Emily Leayman

Published March 17, 2026 at 5:00PM

Views by the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia’s recreational water advisory has been lifted for the remaining part of the Potomac River affected by the Jan. 19 sewage spill, the state’s health department announced today (Tuesday).

The Virginia Department of Health’s advisory is no longer in effect in the Potomac River between the Capital Beltway/American Legion Bridge and Route 120/ Chain Bridge. The advisory, first issued Feb. 13, had been partially lifted on March 5 between Route 120 Chain Bridge to Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in King George County. The change is effective immediately.

Around Town

Memorabilia-filled Del Ray pop-up dive bar to open at the end of March

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2026 at 3:45PM

Beer signage at the Del Ray Dive at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

After a weather delay, a popular Del Ray pop-up bar’s next rendition is opening at the end of this month.

Owner Bill Blackburn told ALXnow that the Del Ray Dive at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue has everything a good dive bar needs, from fake wooden paneling to Alexandria memorabilia, and even a White Claw claw machine.

Around Town

MacMillan Spirit House closes in Old Town North amid landlord rent dispute

By Katie Taranto

Published March 17, 2026 at 2:45PM

MacMillan Spirit House at 500 Montgomery Street (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A restaurant and bar with a focus on spirits has closed after nearly two years in Old Town North amid a legal battle with the landlord over rent.

The MacMillan Spirit House is no longer in business at 500 Montgomery Street, the MacMillan Restaurant Group confirmed to ALXnow. The spirit house first opened in late March 2024, as a sister establishment to the MacMillan Whisky Room at the Mosaic District in Fairfax County.