Roberta Finkelstein of Alexandria writes in strong support of Abigail Spanberger for Governor, citing her impressive background and focus on issues critical to Virginians.
This Letter to the Editor is in response to an April 10 ALXnow story on Spanberger’s rally and stance on gun safety.
In an era where reliable local news is more crucial than ever, ALXnow is thrilled to offer readers an enhanced way to stay informed, save time, and directly contribute to the journalism that serves Alexandria. We invite you to become a founding member of the ALXnow Press Club, an exclusive membership designed to bring you closer to the news you care about while championing independent local reporting.
For those who value being in the know and want to ensure the continued vitality of community-focused news, the ALXnow Press Club offers a suite of benefits designed with you in mind:
Visit Alexandria’s President & CEO Todd O’Leary leads with the belief that travel is a force for good, inspiring visitors to deepen their travel experiences by connecting with Alexandria’s myriad stories. That’s why 2026 National Travel and Tourism Week (May 3-9, 2026) isn’t just any week. It’s a time to reflect and celebrate the important role that tourism plays in bringing people together across cultures and geographies, creating shared understandings and memories that last a lifetime. This year’s theme, “Postmarked: Essential,” takes on special significance as Alexandria prepares to host several major events this summer, bringing the stories of our local community onto the world stage.
“This year’s National Travel and Tourism Week celebrations seem particularly fitting, given all the momentum we’re seeing in Alexandria’s hospitality industry,” said Visit Alexandria’s President & CEO Todd O’Leary. “As tourism grows in importance here, the dividends from visitor spending support our small business owners and ultimately our residents. Visit Alexandria is proud of the work done by our local industry to keep this city top of mind for domestic and international travelers.”
Last fall, Visit Alexandria announced that Alexandria’s tourism spending from travelers residing more than 50 miles away grew to $1 billion for the first time in history during calendar year 2024. Additionally, Fiscal Year 2025 city consumption tax revenues reached a record $88 million—supporting core city services, saving the average Alexandria household $832 annually, and sustaining more than 5,700 local jobs.
In conjunction with this year’s America 250th commemorations, Alexandria will host programs, exhibitions, historic tours and signature events, including the three-day Sails on the Potomac festival—all of which showcase Alexandria’s renowned historic character and ever-evolving progressive nature. As Alexandria continues to make waves on the world stage, especially as a destination for sports tourism, the city will serve as the official Team Base Camp for the Croatian National Football Team, a FIFA top ten ranked team, during the World Cup. With state-of-the-art facilities, a wide range of accommodations, a wealth of visitor experiences and incredible transportation access, Alexandria’s prominence in sports tourism is growing. (more…)
Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 64 degrees. East wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches are possible. Scattered showers tonight, mainly before 11 p.m. Patchy fog after 9 p.m. Otherwise, it is cloudy, with a low of around 59 degrees. East wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40%.
The Alexandria City Council met Tuesday evening (May 27) for a Legislative Meeting, where they discussed and voted on several key initiatives, including lease extensions for Torpedo Factory artists, funding for Inova Alexandria Hospital, and updates to the city’s strategic priorities framework.
The meeting began with proclamations recognizing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Sex Education Month.
Come celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s War for Independence with renowned music historians David & Ginger Hildebrand for performances of special period music. The Hildebrands will don period attire to discuss and perform music associated with Alexandria’s sister cities: Caen, France; Dundee, Scotland; Helsingborg, Sweden; and Gyumri, Armenia. Scottish music was especially influential in the American colonies, and once the French joined the Revolutionary cause there were musical celebrations for Generals LaFayette, Rochambeau and other French leaders. This concert event is part of the “Alexandria commemorates America’s 250” campaign. David & Ginger specialize in researching, recording, and performing early American music. Since 1980 they have presented concerts and educational programs throughout the country and abroad at museums, historic sites, schools and universities. Mount Vernon, The National Gallery of Art, The National Archives, and Colonial Williamsburg are among their many past sponsors.
Tickets are $20.
An Alexandria woman has admitted to murder at an Ohio national park after driving hundreds of miles to meet her victim.
Chelsea Perkins, 35, from Alexandria, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and using a firearm during a violent crime on federal property. She entered her plea on May 27 in a federal court in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mark your calendars for June 12, as the Alexandria City Council gears up for its second town hall of the year. The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center Gymnasium (901 Wythe St).
Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, and all council members will be on hand to chat about issues affecting residents and share updates on upcoming projects and initiatives.
A 59-year-old former FedEx driver was charged with grand larceny after more than $210,000 worth of cell phones intended for Verizon were stolen from the company’s shipping center at 4720 Eisenhower Avenue.
The suspect, a Maryland man, was suspended from his position at FedEx on January 15, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. The phones were in several packages intended for the Verizon Wireless store in Springfield (6432 Springfield Plaza).
Alexandria’s 47th Annual Jazz Festival is coming to Waterfront Park on Saturday, June 14. Starting at 3 p.m., this free event will feature a diverse range of talented musicians and jazz styles.
Keanna Faircloth will host the festival, introducing performances by The JoGo Project, Jeanette Berry, We Were Here Before, Fran Vielma Quartet, Carolyn Malachi, and Warren Wolf.
Which business community is better, Old Town or Del Ray? In terms of softball, the arguments will be settled on Monday, June 2, with the seventh annual Del Ray vs. Old Town Softball Game.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins will throw the first pitch at Eugene Simpson Park (426 E. Monroe Avenue) at 6 p.m. The five-inning game will include food trucks and ice cream, and the event is a fundraiser for the Alexandria Little League Scholarship Fund. Del Ray is in the overall series lead with a 4-2 record.
