Flavor, fundraising and friendly competition are coming to Del Ray with the return of the Del Ray Chili Cook Off this month.
The annual culinary competition by the Del Ray Citizens Association is open to individual and team entries from Del Ray residents. It will kick off at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 in the gymnasium at Commonwealth Academy.
A teacher at Alexandria City High School has been awarded a $5,000 grant to create a project commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year.
ACHS math teacher Essie Jones is one of 51 educators nationwide to be selected for a Teaching America250 Award. The grant will allow her to “design and implement an engaging learning experience that helps students explore the history of America’s founding and the ideals of the Declaration of Independence,” according to Alexandria City Public Schools.
A water main relocation project is coming to a stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in and around Del Ray, where one of the city’s biggest flood mitigation projects is planned.
Virginia American Water, the city’s drinking water utility, said it is starting a water main relocation on Commonwealth Avenue. The work is taking place between the 3700 block of Commonwealth Avenue and Ashby Street, and is intended to make space for new, larger stormwater pipes as part of the city’s Commonwealth, Ashby, Glebe Flood Mitigation Project in northern Del Ray.
The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City, in partnership with Arlington County Public Library, invites you to an open discussion on managing local government in a changing environment.
Join Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz and Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon for a conversation about how local governments are adapting to shifts in federal funding and changes at the state level. The discussion will explore how these evolving conditions may impact local priorities, services, and decision-making in our communities.
Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar just hit a milestone.
On Saturday, Feb. 28, the restaurant at 112 King Street will host its 20th anniversary party. The festivities start at noon with live music and continue for 12 hours, featuring raffles, contests and happy hour from 3-5 p.m. with $6 pints of Guinness — the price of a pint back in 2006.
Online event (see link)
MOVING UP or MOVING AWAY WEBINAR
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Senate Passes Bill Restricting Local ICE Activity — “The Virginia Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would place hefty guardrails on any proposed 287(g) agreements allowing local law enforcement to carry out federal immigration functions … ‘I’m seeking to give some comfort to thousands of men, women and children in the Commonwealth who are living in fear that federal agents might send them or their family members to a country they fled, or a country they have never been to,’ said Democratic state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, who put forward the bill.” [ARLnow]
Ramadan Mubarak — “Muslims worldwide will begin daily fasting from dawn to sunset as Ramadan starts, marking a period of worship, reflection and charity. The holy month, the ninth in the Islamic lunar calendar, brings families together for meals to break the fast.” [AP]
Good Tuesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 17, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
There is a slight chance of rain after 2pm, with fog expected before 9am, followed by mostly cloudy conditions and a high temperature near 58°F. Southwest winds will be 5 to 10 mph, with gusts of up to 20 mph, and a 20% chance of precipitation. For Wednesday night, the clouds will gradually clear, leading to a low temperature around 43°F. Southwest winds initially at 5 to 8 mph will turn calm after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”
– Milton Berle
Thanks for reading!
A child care center is slated to be part of the future WestEnd development replacing the former Landmark Mall.
Tierra Encantada, a Spanish immersion day care, confirmed to ALXnow that it will open at the WestEnd Alexandria development.
Five Democratic candidates for an open seat on the Alexandria City Council participated in their first forum together on Monday night in Del Ray.
The Del Ray Business Association’s forum was held in a packed house at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue). All five candidates running in the firehouse primary on Feb. 21 participated in the event and discussed a wide array of issues affecting Del Ray in particular and the city in general.
The Alexandria Learning Cooperative wants to expand into a full-time private school and move operations to Fairlington United Methodist Church.
The school has submitted a special use permit application to transition from a homeschool cooperative into a full-time private school for up to 75 students. The move means renting out three classrooms at Fairlington UMC and expanding its current two-day-a-week program to allow for full-time Montessori-inspired classes for kids ages 5 to 9, where students learn at their own pace in mixed-age classes.
