Good Saturday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers are likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 87 degrees. Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.
As of 11 p.m. on Friday (May 16), more than 14,250 Dominion Energy customers in Alexandria are experiencing a power outage following severe thunderstorms that passed through the area earlier this evening.
Dominion Energy’s outage map does not have an estimated time of restoration for most of the outages with many stating that the outages are pending investigation and awaiting assignment. Dominion Energy serves more than 70,000 customers in Alexandria.
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…)
It’s finally Friday in Alexandria!
Here’s a look back at our top stories of the week. Topping off our coverage are the delectable poll results on the top three Mexican restaurants in the city. More than 1,800 foodies cast their votes, and Taqueria el Poblano (2400B Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray took the top spot, followed by Taqueria Picoso (1472 N. Beauregard Street) and Los Tios Grill (2615 Mount Vernon Avenue). Do you agree with the results?
The Office of Historic Alexandria is rolling out new initiatives from May 17 to June 24 to honor Pride Month and showcase the city’s LGBTQ+ history.
On May 13, a new website dedicated to Alexandria’s LGBTQ+ history will go live. It will highlight the impact of LGBTQ+ individuals and businesses on the city’s heritage. You can find it at alexandriava.gov/historic-alexandria/lgbtq-history-in-alexandria. The site will feature expanded online storytelling and emphasize Alexandria’s role in LGBTQ+ rights.
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.
After a data breach last year, Alexandria has switched ambulance transportation billing vendors.
It can cost upward of $750 for a ride to the hospital in an ambulance, and the city changed billing providers after “an issue” with the previous vendor, Change Healthcare/Optum/Per Your Health (CHC).
Get ready for the ninth annual Well Ray Festival, Alexandria’s largest outdoor wellness event. It’s happening on Saturday (May 17) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Mt. Vernon and Bellefonte Avenues. And the best part? It’s completely free.
This year’s festival features over 50 wellness and holistic health experts offering a wide range of services. You can get health screenings, therapeutic massages, acupuncture, physical therapy advice, and nutrition tips. There’s also wellness merchandise, food samples, and fun activities for the whole family, including face painting and a rock climbing wall.
If it’s not a bird and not a plane, what is it?
Alexandria can now add another distinction to the list, as the city has the third-most UFO sightings in Virginia, according to the National UFO Reporting Center.
After three years in a row of rising crime in Alexandria, it’s finally trending in the right direction.
Part 1 crimes, or crimes against people, include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft. There were 1,133 total Part I incidents from Jan. 1 to April 30 this year, a decrease of 23%, according to the Alexandria Police Department Crime Dashboard.
David and Carrie Field of Alexandria are among the 2025 Foster Parents of the Year honorees, an honor bestowed by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).
The couple is being recognized for their dedication to providing safe, nurturing homes for children in need.
