ALXnow - Alexandria Now

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 11, 2026

Published February 11, 2026 at 8:30PM

Good Wednesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 11, 2026.

7:30 am: Morning Notes for February 11, 2026 | 🗣️ Comments
9:15 am: Valentine’s Day events and dining specials coming to Alexandria this weekend | 🗣️ Comments
10:50 am: Whiskey from new Alexandria distillery is coming to city’s Virginia ABC stores | 🗣️ Comments
11:45 am: Braddock Road corridor bike and pedestrian improvements slated for city review this month | 🗣️ Comments
2:15 pm: Longtime director of Carpenter’s Shelter is stepping down next month to lead Reston nonprofit | 🗣️ Comments
2:30 pm: Proposals to limit ICE activity and more Alexandria-supported bills advance in General Assembly | 🗣️ Comments
3:45 pm: Old Town couple cuts ribbon on ‘Sundara Indian Restaurant & Cafe’ at Braddock Metro Center | 🗣️ Comments
3:50 pm: City Council requests April 21 special election date to fill vacant council seat | 🗣️ Comments

Here are today’s most-read articles:

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

8:00 pm: School of Rock

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect to see mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 38 degrees. The northwest wind will be blowing at a speed of 11 to 15 mph, alongside gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 24 degrees, and a northwest wind blowing at roughly 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

News

City Council requests April 21 special election date to fill vacant council seat

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2026 at 3:50PM

Voters at Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council last night (Tuesday) unanimously approved a resolution asking the Alexandria Circuit Court to set an April 21 special election date to fill the council seat vacated by Del.-elect R. Kirk McPike.

April 21 is the same date as a statewide referendum, and city staff and the city’s registrar of voters recommended holding the special election on that date to “reduce election costs and avoid voter confusion associated with multiple elections held in close succession,” according to the resolution.

A 5-Star workday in the heart of Old Town Alexandria

By Sponsor

Published April 27, 2026 at 10:45AM

Image from A 5-Star Workday in the Heart of Old Town Alexandria

At Carr Workplaces King Street, experience a 5-star rated workspace on Google—designed to support your entire workday in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.

Start your morning with an easy Metro commute
Power through your day in a private office with on-site support
Recharge with access to a fitness center and showers
When it’s time to connect, host clients at nearby restaurants or step out onto King Street for a change of pace—all just steps from your office.

This is more than a place to work—it’s a seamless, full-day experience built around how you actually live and work.

Work smarter, feel better, and enjoy every part of your day from start to finish.

Inquire Now

Around Town

Old Town couple cuts ribbon on ‘Sundara Indian Restaurant & Cafe’ at Braddock Metro Center

By Katie Taranto

Published February 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

Mary Ardolino cuts the ribbon on Sundara Indian Restaurant & Cafe with her husband, chef Subheesh Manikoth (second from right), surrounded by friends and family (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A local Indian restaurant founded by an Old Town couple is celebrating the start of a new chapter in Alexandria.

After about 18 months of planning and renovations, Sundara Indian Restaurant & Cafe is reopening in a new space on the ground floor of 1320 Braddock Place in Suite 105. It’s a hard-earned milestone for the business, which grappled with unexpected delays and rising renovation costs to reopen after departing from an Arlington VFW post in summer 2024, following a zoning dispute.

Announcement

Lead the Next Chapter at Wood & Iron Gameday — Now Hiring an Operating Partner

By Competitive benefits, profit sharing, and real growth opportunity for exper

Published April 23, 2026

Take the next step in your hospitality career with Wood & Iron Gameday. We are hiring an Operating Partner to help lead and grow our brand at our newly opened location in Virginia Square, Arlington, VA.

This role requires hospitality management experience, a commitment to team development, and a hands-on leadership style. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including PTO, healthcare, 401K, and profit sharing, along with strong growth potential.

News

Proposals to limit ICE activity and more Alexandria-supported bills advance in General Assembly

By Emily Leayman

Published February 11, 2026 at 2:30PM

Wendy Ginsberg, the City of Alexandria's legislative director, provided a mid-session General Assembly update to City Council (via City of Alexandria)

As the General Assembly reaches mid-session, the City of Alexandria is supporting nearly 400 proposed bills, including restrictions on immigration enforcement.

Wendy Ginsberg, the city’s legislative director, provided a mid-session General Assembly update to City Council yesterday (Tuesday). According to Ginsberg, city staff have reviewed 584 bills for potential impacts to the city. During the presentation, Councilman Abdel Elnoubi requested an update on the immigration enforcement-related bills, which Ginsberg said are continuing to make progress.

Event

Afternoon Matinee Movie – Under the Tuscan Sun (At (Germantown, MD))

May 31, 2026 2:45 pm -6:00 pm

BlackRock Center For The Arts

12901 Town Commons Dr

Germantown, Maryland 20874

Website Contact Social

Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

News

Longtime director of Carpenter’s Shelter is stepping down next month to lead Reston nonprofit

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2026 at 2:15PM

Shannon Steene, executive director of Carpenter's Shelter (courtesy photo)

Shannon Steene, the longtime executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, is stepping down next month, the organization announced today (Wednesday).

After 11 years leading one of Northern Virginia’s largest homeless shelters, Steene will be departing the role to be the CEO of Reston-based Cornerstones, providing advocacy and support to people who need food, shelter, housing, child care and other services in northwestern Fairfax County and eastern Loudoun County.

News

Braddock Road corridor bike and pedestrian improvements slated for city review this month

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2026 at 11:45AM

Yates Corner at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Braddock Road (Staff photo by James Cullum)

A proposal for new bike lanes, enhancements to pedestrian crossings and shorter crossing distances at key intersections on Braddock Road are up for review this month by Alexandria’s Traffic and Parking Board.

A city-recommended design concept calls for several Braddock Road upgrades between Russell Road and West Street. The city has worked on the Braddock Road Trail Access and Corridor Improvements project since last year as a response to concerns from Alex311, the 2023 Safe Routes to School walk audit at George Washington Middle School and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Around Town

Whiskey from new Alexandria distillery is coming to city’s Virginia ABC stores

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2026 at 10:50AM

Owners and staff at Motherwell Distilling Co. in Alexandria's West End, Feb. 6, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Whiskey from a new distillery in the West End will soon be sold at ABC stores in the city, the company’s owner tells ALXnow.

Motherwell Distilling Co. launched operations at 877 S. Pickett Street in December, led by business partners Vince and Marcy Crisler and Andrea and Adam Bennett. The new distillery, which is the first of its kind in Alexandria since the Prohibition era, now has its sights set on distribution.

Around Town

Valentine’s Day events and dining specials coming to Alexandria this weekend

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2026 at 9:15AM

Red wine pour at Trademark (via Trademark/Facebook)

A lovely Valentine’s Day weekend is coming to Alexandria.

There’s still time to make reservations or sign up for events at venues across the city. It all starts on Friday, Jan. 13, otherwise known as Galentine’s Day, followed by events on Valentine’s Day this Saturday.

News

Morning Notes for February 11, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published February 11, 2026 at 7:30AM

Snow and ice in February 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On February 11, 1799, Alexandrians celebrated the annual Birthnight Ball at Gadsby’s Tavern, with guest of honor George Washington. Washington was actually born on that same date in 1732, but according to the Julian calendar.” [Historic Alexandria]

McPike, Bennett-Parker Win Elections — Last night, voters elected departing City Councilman R. Kirk McPike and Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker to the House of Delegates and the State Senate, respectively. Both Democrats received over 80% of the vote in their respective elections. [ALXnow]