Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Monday, Sept. 15, the 258th day of 2025. There are 107 days left in the year.
🌤️ Today’s weather: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Light northeast wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. Mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 63. Northeast wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
The Sweetside Coffee and Creamery opened this week next to Northside 10 restaurant at 10 E. Glebe Road in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood.
The shop, operated by Northside 10, posted on Instagram Thursday that it was “ready to have some fun in the Sweetside.”
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 City of Alexandria is asking residents to weigh in on proposed safety and accessibility improvements along a stretch of Braddock Road that community members have identified as one of the most dangerous corridors in the city.
The project focuses on Braddock Road between Russell Road and North West Street, connecting residential neighborhoods to the Braddock Road Metrorail Station and popular walking and biking trails. The Virginia Department of Transportation has designated the section between Mount Vernon Avenue and North West Street as a top priority for pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades statewide.
Rep. Don Beyer will host a financial guidance workshop for current and former federal workers on Sept. 20, as his Northern Virginia district grapples with reported mass layoffs across federal agencies under the Trump administration.
The free event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Paragon Theaters on Founders Avenue in Falls Church, is part of Beyer’s “Rising to Meet the Challenge” series aimed at supporting constituents affected by current federal policies.
Join us for our second annual CatRad Halloween Eve! A night of ghoulish fun, spooky treats, and a wicked good time!
It's time for CatRads 2nd Annual Halloween Eve! Join us at St. Elmo's Old Town North for an evening of Halloween fun. Join us for:
The City of Alexandria unveiled a Virginia State Historic marker Saturday commemorating Colored Rosemont, a thriving African American neighborhood that existed from 1926 until it was dismantled in the mid-20th century through discriminatory housing policies.
The ceremony took place at the intersection of Wythe and West streets, near where the community once stood, bounded by Pendleton, Fayette, Madison, and N. West streets. Mayor Alyia Gaskins, descendants of former residents, and representatives from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources gathered for the dedication.
Some dogs are puppies at heart, no matter their age, but Shyla embraces her senior status with the grace and social charm of someone who knows exactly what she wants out of life. At 12 years old, this 62-pound beauty is proof that the golden years can be the best years.
Shyla is what you might call the social butterfly of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. If dogs had retirement communities, she’d be the resident who never misses bingo night and always has the best stories to share over dinner. This tan and white sweetheart thrives on companionship and social interaction, lighting up whenever someone tells her how pretty she is—which, let’s be honest, probably happens quite often.
Twenty-one Alexandria residents signed up to speak during the public discussion period at Saturday’s City Council meeting, addressing issues ranging from housing authority conditions to international divestment and waterfront development.
The large turnout required the council to extend its usual public comment format, with 15 speakers addressing the council at the beginning of the meeting and six additional speakers heard after regular business concluded.
The Alexandria City Council unanimously voted Saturday to permanently close the 200 block of King Street to vehicular traffic, extending the city’s pedestrian zone after a successful pilot program.
The 7-0 vote on second reading makes the closure effective immediately, eliminating 16 metered parking spaces and one short-term visitor space in front of the Alexandria Visitor Center.
Alexandria residents have plenty of options to choose from this weekend, with sunny skies and temperatures in the low-to-mid 80s creating ideal conditions for outdoor activities. The 23rd Annual Alexandria Art Festival serves as the marquee event alongside multiple farmers markets and live entertainment venues.
The Alexandria Art Festival runs both Saturday and Sunday at John Carlyle Square Park starting at 10 a.m., offering visitors a chance to browse local artwork while enjoying perfect fall weather with highs near 83 degrees Saturday and 86 Sunday. Art enthusiasts can also check out the Fall Arts & Crafts Fair at Made in ALX and Art in the Alley on Fort Hunt Road, both beginning Saturday morning.
