Virginia state Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, launched his campaign Wednesday for the U.S. Senate, setting up a high-stakes 2026 challenge to three-term Democratic Sen. Mark Warner.
Reeves made his announcement on social media, leaning heavily on his background in the military, law enforcement and the General Assembly.
Alexandria ranked second on a new list of the best places to live on the East Coast, according to real estate experts surveyed by Travel + Leisure magazine.
The city was praised for its proximity to Washington, D.C., while offering lower costs than the nation’s capital, according to the article published Monday.
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.
For more information, visit TennisCreatesGala.com.
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce announced finalists Wednesday for its 2025 Best in Business Awards, describing the Oct. 23 ceremony as “our very own version of the Oscars.”
The awards will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Westin Alexandria Old Town, 400 Courthouse Square, with Burke & Herbert Bank presenting the event. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception at 7:30 p.m.
Wesley Housing will develop 88 affordable rental apartments on land donated by JBG SMITH as part of the large-scale Potomac Yard redevelopment, the organizations announced in a press release provided to ALXnow this morning.
The six-story building planned for a 0.55-acre parcel at 601 E. Glebe Road will feature predominantly two- and three-bedroom family units serving households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. Average rents will target families at 60% of AMI.
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.
The Eisenhower West Landmark Van Dorn Implementation Advisory Group will meet Monday, Sept. 29, to discuss progress on the redevelopment of the former Landmark Mall site and other West End projects.
The advisory group will meet at 7 p.m. at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Ave. The agenda includes progress on the WestEnd development and updates on other key West End projects.
The Spooky Mad Science Expo will celebrate its 10th anniversary Saturday, Oct. 18, transforming the Patrick Henry Recreation Center into what organizers call a “STEAM wonderland.”
The free event, running from 3 to 7 p.m. at 4653 Taney Ave., expects to draw families and students for hands-on science activities with a Halloween theme. A rain date is scheduled for Oct. 25.
The daily noon flag salute at Mission BBQ in Alexandria (Fairfax County) carries extra weight this week following the death of Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Kraus, son of the restaurant chain’s co-founder Bill Kraus.
Kraus, 39, was among four elite “Night Stalker” soldiers killed when their MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during routine training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state on September 17, according to CBS News.
Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Wednesday, Sept. 24, the 267th day of 2025. There are 98 days left in the year.
⛈️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers, mainly after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82°F. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. A chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight, mainly after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69°F. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
A longtime Alexandria yoga studio that has been operating from a temporary location since April has found a permanent new home in the city’s emerging Old Town North Arts & Cultural District, bringing together wellness and contemporary art in what organizers say is a first-of-its-kind collaboration.
532 Yoga, Arts & Culture opened Tuesday at Madison Place, 500 Montgomery Street, Suite 120, marking the next chapter for the studio that left its Washington Street location of 13 years in April and has been operating from a pop-up space at Founders Hall since mid-April, according to a press release and previous ALXnow reporting.
