An updated $282 million budget proposal would defer renovations at an Alexandria elementary school while securing funding for two contentious K-8 conversion plans in 2030.
The new Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget from Alexandria City Public Schools comes in at $58 million less than the Alexandria City School Board’s original proposal and remains under the city’s guidance of $285.8 million, following weeks of workshopping by school and city leaders to trim it down.
After 40 years in operation, Alexandria has submitted plans to replace the Old Town Pool, bath house and equipment building.
The 144,000-square-foot Old Town Pool site at 1609 Cameron Street was built in 1975 and is “nearing the end of its usability,” according to a presentation that will go before the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
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
About 250 gravestones at Douglass Memorial Cemetery will be temporarily relocated as a new stormwater improvement project gets underway next month.
Anticipated to begin Jan. 20, the project aims to replace hundreds of feet of aging stormwater pipes and regrade the historic Black cemetery’s drainage systems at 1421 Wilkes Street. Construction will prompt the temporary removal of about 250 gravestones, and will affect traffic along Wilkes Street, City Archaeologist Eleanor Breen told ALXnow.
If you visited Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library recently, you might have noticed a colorful collection of pom-poms planted in the grounds outside.
The whimsical pom-pom garden encouraged donations to the Alexandria Library’s annual Yarn Storm drive, which collected some 400 hats, mittens and scarves for donation to an Alexandria shelter.
Shifting Waters Leadership Institute (SWLI) is bringing a new kind of leadership experience to Old Town Alexandria and DMV area this fall. On November 19 and 20, 2026, the organization will host its inaugural November Leadership Incubator Weekend at COWO & Crèche, a two-day, application-based program built for leaders who are ready to do more than perform their roles well. They are ready to be formed.
The incubator is led by Grace Adofoli, Founder and CEO of SWLI, a leadership development practitioner, executive coach, and 2026 Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 honoree who has worked across leaders in more than thirty countries over the past decade. Her background spans global public health, disaster relief, and community development, including field work in the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Cambodia, alongside service with AmeriCorps and in underserved communities across the United States. She holds an ACC credential through the International Coaching Federation and degrees in public health and social work from the University of Michigan.
One of five winning $50,000 Powerball tickets announced yesterday (Wednesday) was purchased at an Alexandria convenience store.
The winning ticket was purchased at the Tiger Market and Bakery at 3903 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, according to the Virginia Lottery.
The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a string of thefts that occurred at two yoga apparel stores in Old Town this past fall.
The suspects of three Old Town thefts reported between Sept. 30 and late last month have stolen thousands of dollars in merchandise from yoga clothing retailers Alo Yoga and Lululemon on King Street. The incidents are being investigated in connection with other recent thefts in the D.C. region.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Dec. 18, 1900, a cave-in caught several men working on the extension of Southern Railway tracks around the Hunting Creek shoreline. Most escaped serious injury but one suffered a broken collarbone.” [Historic Alexandria]
U.S. Admits Fault in Fatal Mid-Air Collision — “The U.S. government admitted Wednesday that the actions of an air traffic controller and Army helicopter pilot played a role in causing a collision last January between an airliner and a Black Hawk near the nation’s capital, killing 67 people. It was the deadliest plane crash on American soil in more than two decades.” [Associated Press]
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 — Dec 17, 2025.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Rain is likely after 4pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 54. Morning winds will shift south at 5-8 mph. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation. Thursday night will see temperatures rise to around 55 by 3am, accompanied by south winds at 8-17 mph and gusts up to 29 mph. Rain is expected, with a 100% chance of precipitation and new rainfall amounts ranging between half and three-quarters of an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
– Buddha
Thanks for reading!
The last moves of Alexandria’s City Council and staff have been announced, as the years-long renovation project at City Hall and Market Square is just around the corner.
The various arms of the city government will be operating from swing spaces until 2028, when the project is expected to be completed. With more than 300 city staffers already moved to temporary offices, the project will start construction this spring, according to the city.
