The Alexandria Library will unveil an upgraded online catalog system on August 19, which will require all library branches to close for the day as staff migrate to the new platform.
The new integrated library system, provided by Innovative Clarivate, promises to enhance the user experience for both patrons and staff while making the library’s collection of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other materials easier to discover and access.
If you’re looking for a place to eat, a number of Alexandria restaurants have been named 2025 RAMMY Honors finalists by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.
Nominations were announced in April, and the winners will be declared at the RAMMYS Awards & Gala on August 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Nominees were only eligible if they were in business throughout 2024.
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.
Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Thursday, July 10, the 191st day of 2025. There are 174 days left in the year.
⛈️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Light southwest wind. The chance of precipitation is 40%.
Rubbing elbows with community leaders and participating in interactive workshops are in store for participants of Alexandria’s upcoming 12th annual Youth Leadership Conference.
Registration for rising 9th to 12th graders closes Aug. 8, and the event will be held Aug. 12-14 (Tuesday to Thursday) at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive). This year’s theme is “Young Voices, Powerful Choices!”
High school students from across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region are invited to participate in Dialogue for Democracy at George Mason University!
Hosted by the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, this event offers high school students an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about democracy, civic engagement, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Alexandria and surrounding areas effective until 8:45 PM tonight, as Doppler radar shows thunderstorms capable of producing dangerous rainfall rates approaching the region.
The warning, issued at 5:44 PM, covers Alexandria along with Arlington County, northeastern Fairfax County, Falls Church, Washington D.C., and south central Montgomery County in Maryland. Weather officials warn that rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches within 20 minutes are anticipated, with total additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches possible across the warned area.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to address barriers that prevent residents in historically excluded communities from accessing veterinary care, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The one-year Incubator grant will focus on neighborhoods near the Mark Center off North Beauregard Street, where rising costs and geographical, cultural, and systemic barriers have left many pet owners without adequate veterinary resources.
The City of Alexandria launched a major accessibility improvement project at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility on Tuesday (July 8), marking the beginning of a six-month construction effort designed to make the popular community hub more accessible to all residents.
The Phase 1 project, which runs through January 31, 2026, will incorporate several key accessibility features, including a new accessibility lift in the main lobby, a more accessible front desk, additional family-changing rooms, and a new lifeguard office. The facility will remain open throughout most of the construction period.
The City of Alexandria’s Community Cookout, initially scheduled for the Andrew Adkins Public Housing Community tonight (July 9), has been moved indoors to the Charles Houston Recreation Center due to a thunderstorm weather advisory, city officials announced on Wednesday.
The event, organized by the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA), will take place at 6 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center located at 901 Wythe Street. Residents can expect a variety of free activities, including games, giveaways, and opportunities to connect with neighbors and learn about city services and programs.
Visitors at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate will have to wait until this December to see the founding father’s fully renovated mansion.
Since January 2024, the mansion in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County has undergone a comprehensive renovation, leaving large sections unavailable for the public.
