A rendering of the America 250 sculpture that will be erected in front of the Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)
Sandy Williams IV’s proposal for an art installation in Alexandria to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was approved this week by the city’s Commission for the Arts.
The work, entitled “10:00,” will feature 600 limestone rulers stacked into a 40-inch-by-48-inch-by-50-inch box. Williams has calculated that if you walk at a pace of 1 mile per hour, you cover 17.6 inches every second. Every ruler in the piece will be 17.6 inches long, and Williams says that it takes about 10 minutes (600 seconds) to read the Declaration.
The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for Alexandria from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (via National Weather Service)
The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for Alexandria and surrounding areas in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.
Temperatures as low as 33 degrees will result in frost formation, according to the weather service.
Gabrielle Berg, Northern Virginia Tennis for Fun Chapter Founder, 2026 Youth Leader of the Year Awardee
Khoi Truong, Lake Braddock Boys Tennis Coach, 2026 Coach of the Year Awardee
Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 2026 Tennis Creates Impact Honoree
Game, set, Gala! On Saturday, Nov. 14, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s annual Tennis Creates Gala, presented by QTS, comes to The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, celebrating the transformative power of tennis.
The evening raises critical funds to make the sport accessible to all across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and eastern/southern West Virginia.
Every dollar goes back into local communities through programs like Girls Rule the Court™, which has served more than 2,000 girls, along with Junior Player Scholarships and Tennis in Schools. Gala funds also help restore public courts. Over the last three years, the Foundation has invested $505,000 across 17 public facilities.
Emceeing the evening is Emmy Award-winning ESPN journalist Malika Andrews, host of NBA Today and NBA Countdown, who joined ESPN’s tennis coverage this year for the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Andrews has pointed to the electric moment American tennis is having, with stars like the DMV’s own Frances Tiafoe reaching the 2026 US Open men’s semifinals, and says she’s grateful for the chance to support the sport at the local level.
Joining the celebration is new USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who took the helm of the national governing body in July after over 20 years at Tennis Australia. As he leads the USTA toward its goal of 35 million players by 2035, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation drives the grassroots work to grow the sport right here in the region.
The Foundation will present its Tennis Creates Impact Award to Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 63rd Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, recognizing his leadership in fostering character, community, and well-being through tennis.
The heart of the night is the 2026 Tennis Creates Awards, honoring local changemakers. Alexandria’s Leigh Ann Jackson receives the Adult Leader Award for coaching Girls Rule the Court at Groveton Elementary, where she has served 130 students over five seasons and championed the program’s expansion to Hybla Valley.
Arlington’s Gabrielle Berg earns the Youth Leader Award for founding a Northern Virginia chapter of Tennis For Fun, which runs free year-round clinics for people with special needs in partnership with the Arlington YMCA. Burke’s Khoi Truong, head coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School, is the 2026 Coach of the Year.
They’ll be joined by fellow honorees Dr. Ellen Markowitz (Community Champion), James Skinner (Provider Champion), and Janelle Nichols (Tennis in the Classroom Awardee).
Tickets and tables are now available. Can’t make it? Make a gift to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation or bid in the silent auction to help put a racquet in the hands of the next generation of players.
The Tennis Creates Gala takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA 22102.
View of the Alexandria Canal lock number 4, looking east from North Pitt Street (via City of Alexandria)
D.C.-based real estate investment company Carr Properties has been awarded Alexandria’s top archeology award.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the City Council will announce the award and commend the company for its “commitment to the highest quality archaeological preservation at the site of the Alexandria Canal in Old Town North,” according to a proclamation. Carr Properties partnered with the city after uncovering part of Alexandria’s history as it worked to redevelop a 1980s-era office building into a mixed-use apartment building.
The Alexandria A Cappella Collective – composed of award-winning men's and women's choruses the Harmonizers and Metro Voices, respectively – is excited to announce that registration is open for the ’26-’27 season of its youth chorus, Capital Force! Students learn a unique form of a cappella from top educators and will perform locally and on the Barbershop Harmony Society International stage in February.
The kick off rehearsal includes voice placement, an informal audition, vocal warm-ups, and singing together. You will also learn about the season’s dates and rehearsal expectations. Interested singers are welcome to try the first rehearsal before deciding whether to join.
Dogtoberfest A Celebration of all things Dog…And Cat!. (via Old Town North Community Partnership)
The Old Town North Community Partnership will host its annual Dogtoberfest celebration Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Montgomery Park, featuring live music, costume contests and activities for pets and families.
Local performer Mike Seti will perform from noon to 1 p.m. as part of the Music in Montgomery Park concert series. The free, pet- and family-friendly event will take place at 901 North Royal St. A rain date is scheduled for Nov. 2.
Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)
The Alexandria City Council will meet Tuesday for its regular legislative session, with agenda items ranging from flood preparedness funding to an update on the city’s parking enforcement pilot program.
The meeting begins with a closed executive session at 5:30 p.m., followed by the public session at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 301 King St.
Visitors explore the new plaza on Saturday, October 18th (image courtesy of the Old Town North Alliance)
On This Day in History: Belle Pre Glass Company Plant Burns Down Under Mysterious Circumstances — On this date in 1921, the abandoned Belle Pre Glass Company plant on Madison Street burned down under mysterious circumstances—just one day before the four-acre property was set to be sold. Once one of America’s largest milk bottle manufacturers, Belle Pre opened in Alexandria in 1902 and employed over 250 workers at its peak before filing for bankruptcy in 1912. [Historic Alexandria]
FCPD: Hit-and-Run Victim Was Alive Before Being Hit by Fairfax Police Car — A Fairfax County police officer remains on restricted duty after striking a hit-and-run victim with his police cruiser last month in Hybla Valley. Alexandria resident Trina Jones, 62, who was crossing Richmond Highway outside the Mount Vernon Crossroads shopping center, was first struck by an unknown driver who fled the scene before being hit by the police cruiser on Sept. 24. [FFXnow]
Lance Collins, the vice president and executive director of Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus, with his launch team at the Chamber ALX's Best in Business Awards, Oct. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Since it was announced in August, it was no surprise that the Chamber ALX‘s 2025 Business Leader of the Year Award was presented Thursday night (Oct. 23) to the Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team.
Still, there were a number of other contentious business awards, and ALXnow was at the Westin Alexandria Old Town (400 Courthouse Square) to see them handed out. Below are the winners of the micro, small, medium, large, rising star, non-profit, and overall businesses of the year in Alexandria.
Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high temperature near 61. A light west wind will shift to the northwest at 8 to 13 mph in the morning and may gust up to 22 mph. By Friday night, skies will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to around 39, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” – Malala Yousafzai
