ALXnow - Alexandria Now

JUST IN: Democratic firehouse primary for Del. Bennett-Parker’s seat scheduled for Tuesday

Published January 16, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated January 16, 2026 at 12:08PM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, Oct. 18, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Democrats are in for deja vu as this month’s second Democratic firehouse primary will take place Tuesday to fulfill outgoing Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s seat, after her resignation announcement.

The firehouse primary is happening this Tuesday, Jan. 20, according to the Alexandria Democratic Committee. So far, two candidates have entered the race vying for Bennett-Parker’s 5th District seat: City Councilmember R. Kirk McPike and former Alexandria City School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera.

News

Alexandria ceremony honoring MLK Jr. rebukes political violence and racism

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 11:15AM

Attendees at the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Program 2026 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Alexandria honored the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with song, dance and poetry, as well as a thorough rebuke of political violence and societal divisions under the Trump administration last night (Thursday).

The 53rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Program began with an impassioned invocation from the Rev. Quardricos Bernard Driskell of Beulah Baptist Church, who said King is remembered as “a prophet who named America’s sins and paid his life for it.” Driskell denounced current approaches to immigration enforcement, military spending and “taking over sovereign nations for profit, power and greed.”

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

Croatian Football Federation names Alexandria as home base during FIFA World Cup

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 10:15AM

Players with the Croatian Football Federation (via Hrvatski nogometni savez /Facebook)

Soccer fans in Alexandria are in for a treat, as the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has announced it will be staying in Alexandria during the FIFA World Cup this summer.

The team’s base camp will be in Alexandria, where players will stay at the AKA Hotel at 625 First Street in Old Town and train at Episcopal High School as they participate in the World Cup. Games will take place across Canada, Mexico and the United States from Jun. 11 through July 19.

News

Second firehouse primary scheduled next week as Del. Bennett-Parker runs for State Senate

By James Cullum

Published January 16, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated January 16, 2026 at 12:03PM

Virginia Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Fresh from her firehouse Democratic primary win for a State Senate seat, Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) has announced her resignation from the House of Delegates.

The resignation will go into effect Feb. 18, Bennett-Parker said in an email yesterday (Thursday). The delegate won the firehouse primary for the 39th District State Senate in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Now, another firehouse primary to fill her 5th District seat has been scheduled for next Tuesday, as of late Friday morning.

Event

Spooky Trivia Night

October 16, 2026 6:00 pm -7:30 pm

Event location

Cherry On Top

1021 Queen Street

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Add to Calendar

Join us for Trivia Night at Cherry On Top! Grab a team, order your favorite coffee, wine, or snack, and test your knowledge over a fun evening in Old Town. Come with friends or join a team when you arrive. Win a bottle of wine!

Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Crystal, with ‘ears that could hear signals from space’

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 8:45AM

Crystal (courtesy of Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Crystal, a good girl with endearingly pointy ears who is waiting to meet her future family at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

The three-year-old dog weighs 56 pounds and is easily spotted by her brown brindle patches and “ears that could hear signals from space,” an AWLA volunteer wrote. The four-legged pal is full of energy and fond of squeaky toys.

News

Teen pedestrian transported to hospital with serious injuries after Thursday night crash

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 8:15AM

Near N. Van Dorn Street and Holmes Run Parkway (via APD/Facebook)

A 15-year-old was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries last night (Thursday) after being struck by a driver in the Landmark area.

The Alexandria Police Department reported a “serious motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian” at the intersection of northbound N. Van Dorn Street and Holmes Run Parkway. The crash, which reportedly involved a driver in a silver Honda Civic, happened around 7:12 p.m., according to APD dispatches.

News

Morning Notes for January 16, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published January 16, 2026 at 7:30AM

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Michael Wilson)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Jan. 16, 1947, the United Service Organization center on Cameron Street closed. Built during World War II, the USO center provided recreational and social activities for service members. The City of Alexandria later acquired the building for use by the Department of Recreation and today it’s known as the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center.” [Historic Alexandria]

MLK Jr. Day Events, Volunteering in NoVA — “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for racial equality, human rights, and justice for all. Participate in these local service projects around your neighborhood, learn more about the Civil Rights movement, and watch a parade celebrating his life and legacy.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jan 15, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published January 15, 2026 at 8:30PM

Good Thursday 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 — Jan 15, 2026.

7:30 am: Morning Notes for January 15, 2026 | 🗣️ Comments
9:45 am: Six-week Thursday night comedy series at Vola’s Dockside Grill kicks off tonight | 🗣️ Comments
10:45 am: City Council backs union agreements with police, fire and administrative employees | 🗣️ Comments
11:45 am: Historic Alexandria to host kick-off for events, exhibits celebrating America’s 250th anniversary | 🗣️ Comments
1:41 pm: Search of Washington Post reporter’s home took place in Alexandria, FBI confirms | 🗣️ Comments
1:45 pm: Alexandria introduces new leaders, outreach programs at Natural Resources Division | 🗣️ Comments
2:45 pm: City’s top prosecutor will not seek criminal charges for police from August in-custody death | 🗣️ Comments

Here are today’s most-read articles:

Search of Washington Post reporter’s home took place in Alexandria, FBI confirms (1103 views)
City’s top prosecutor will not seek criminal charges for police from August in-custody death (423 views)
Morning Notes for January 15, 2026 (372 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌥️ Friday’s forecast

Clouds will increase today, bringing a high temperature near 37 degrees and a southern wind of 7 to 10 mph. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of snow showers after 1am, with the clouds continuing to increase. The low temperature will be around 32 degrees, accompanied by a southern wind at 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”
– Dalai Lama

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

News

City’s top prosecutor will not seek criminal charges for police from August in-custody death

By Emily Leayman

Published January 15, 2026 at 2:45PM

Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter speaks at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s top prosecutor is declining to bring criminal charges against officers involved in the Alexandria Police Department’s in-custody death of a Woodbridge man last summer.

Officers involved in the Aug. 15, 2025 death of Allan F. Tucker, II, will not be charged, Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter announced this afternoon (Thursday), following investigations by the medical examiner and Northern Virginia’s Critical Incident Review Team.