It’s been an intense week in Alexandria.
Here’s a look back on this week’s top stories. Our most-read post was on the shooting of three men in Arlandria on Sunday night (April 27). Police found the victims with gunshot wounds shortly after being called at around 9 p.m. They were transported to area hospitals, and no arrests have been announced. Witnesses heard a barrage of gunfire, and the Alexandria Police Department is asking for help in the investigation.
Karl W. Moritz, Alexandria’s Director of Planning & Zoning, is retiring after 16 years with the city, including 11 years in his current role.
City Manager James Parajon today announced the retirement, which marks the end of Moritz’s 40-year career in planning.
Enjoy the return of jazz at Metropolitan Park with a free concert series co-presented by the DC Jazz Festival and National Landing BID. Listen to live stylings from Go-Go to bossa nova across the four-part series, from 5-7PM on select Thursdays: May 7, May 21, June 4, and June 18.
Refresh with onsite vendors including Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream and Taqueria Xochi, plus free samples from Mocktail Club—non-alcoholic beverages inspired by travel destinations. Take part in artist-led Studio Sessions curated by Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington while enjoying the music. Visit businesses around Met Park to pack a picnic or sit down for a meal after the show.
Music kicks off at 5PM and concludes at 7PM, with a set break in the middle.
Featured Performers and MoCA Studio Sessions
May 7: The JoGo Project (Jazz Meets Go-Go)
Art Activity: “Even Colors Dance (Synesthetic Watercolor)” | Led by David Ignacio, current Resident Artist at Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s main museum
May 21: Joe Brotherton (New Orleans)
Art Activity: “Paper Garden” | Led by Jaqui Falkenheim of Arlington Collage Collective
June 4: Eric Byrd Trio (Acoustic Jazz Piano/Vocals)
Art Activity: “Stitching Systems: Mapping Home” | Led by Lauren Crawford, current Resident Artist at MoCA Arlington’s main museum.
June 18: José Luiz Martins (Brazilian Jazz)
Art Activity: “Day Inking with JD” | Led by JD Deardourff, recent Resident Artist at MoCA Innovation Studio.
For transportation and Met Park information, visit nationallanding.org/met-park/faqs. Met Park is a five-minute walk from the Pentagon City Metro.
Jazz @ Met is presented by DC Jazz Festival and National Landing BID, sponsored by Amazon. Additional support for performances is provided by The Galena-Yorktown Foundation and The Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation.
Note: Performance schedule is subject to change.
Alexandria can look forward to a warm, if breezy, start to the weekend, but umbrellas will be essential as chances for showers and thunderstorms increase Saturday afternoon and become highly likely throughout a cooler, soggy Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Expect highs near 88 degrees Saturday before widespread rain arrives Sunday, when temperatures will only reach the upper 70s and the chance of precipitation climbs to 90 percent.
Alexandria, VA | Revolutionary Fitness, an Old Town-based coaching studio, has announced the launch of Revolutionary 50+, a 12-week semi-private training program designed specifically for men and women over 50 who want to build strength, energy, and long-term health.
The program addresses what owner Charles Augustine calls “a massive gap” in the fitness industry. “The mainstream either treats people over 50 like they’re 25 and breaks them, or treats them like they’re fragile and does nothing for them,” Augustine said. “There’s almost no middle ground, the smart, age-appropriate strength training that the longevity research actually says works.”
City officials are preparing to showcase updated designs for the ongoing Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project at a series of public meetings scheduled throughout May and June.
Residents will have multiple opportunities to view and learn about the latest plans for protecting key areas, including Point Lumley Park, Waterfront Park, and the King Street waterfront area, starting with a presentation to the Board of Architectural Review on May 7th.
Join us for an evening of made-up-on-the-spot improv comedy! We’ll be calling on you to give us suggestions for a totally unique show that’ll never be seen again!
Show is 18+ recommended. Tickets are free, with a $10 suggested donation.
Alexandria is making waves in energy management, earning a 2025 Better Practice Award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative. The city’s Building Performance Program for City Facilities caught officials’ eyes, showcasing innovative energy efficiency approaches.
The award, presented in Washington, D.C. on May 1, highlights Alexandria’s commitment to smart energy practices. Jeremy McPike, Director of the Department of General Services, points out that the city has already cut energy use by about 16% in the last five years. This new program aims to build on that success, keeping Alexandria at the forefront of sustainability efforts.
The air is thick with anticipation, not just mint julep aromas, as the 151st Kentucky Derby approaches tomorrow (May 3). While Alexandria might not have a horse running for the roses at Churchill Downs this year, the city’s rich history and iconic scenery provide ample inspiration for a dream field of contenders we can cheer for in spirit.
As racing fans nationwide pick their favorites, we decided to have a little hometown fun. What if the Derby contenders drew their names not just from pedigrees, but from the very streets, landmarks, and neighborhoods that make Alexandria unique?
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
🌥️ Today’s weather: Isolated showers before 8 a.m., then scattered showers after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87 degrees. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight – Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 10 p.m., then isolated showers between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66 degrees. South wind 5 to 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Virginia voters can begin casting ballots Friday, May 2, as early voting opens for the June 17 primary elections. These primaries will determine party nominees for key statewide offices and legislative seats ahead of the November general election, which could reshape the state’s political landscape.
While Virginia’s gubernatorial race between Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is set, Democrats still have to settle their tickets for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Trump administration told a federal judge Thursday that a Georgetown University scholar’s lawsuit against deportation should be moved from Virginia, where it was filed, to Texas, where he’s jailed over allegations of “spreading Hamas propaganda.”
U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles seemed skeptical of the government’s request, which would involve her dismissing the case in Virginia. She raised concerns that a dismissal in her court would void her order in March to keep Badar Khan Suri in the U.S. while his First Amendment case plays out.
