Around Town

A metaphysical shop and “spiritual apothecary” is reopening in an expanded location early next month in Old Town.

Lumos Collective is moving from its pop-up location at 106 N. St. Asaph Street and will hold grand opening festivities at the new location at 1511 King Street on Sept. 4 and 5. The shop sells candles, ritual oils, tarot and oracle cards, as well as supplies to cast spells and rituals. The business hosts Reiki training events, book swaps and artist markets, and a monthly virtual membership program for “Modern Witches, Mystics & Magic-Makers,” the company says on its website.


News

Residents from eight ZIP codes packed a room in Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library Saturday (Aug. 15) to discuss concerns with the Plaza 500 data center plans just outside Alexandria city limits.

The Alexandria People’s Assembly, an advocacy group formerly known as PLTI of Alexandria that seeks to support marginalized people, organized the community forum.


News

Dorothy Moran, Former Rep. Jim Moran’s Daughter, Dies — “Dorothy Kathleen Moran, an artist and poet whose remarkable survival from childhood brain cancer drew national attention, died peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 11, at her family’s home in Passapatanzy, Virginia … She was the daughter of former U.S. Rep. James P. ‘Jim’ Moran, a Virginia Democrat who represented Northern Virginia’s 8th Congressional District from 1991 until 2015.” [The Zebra]

Rep. Beyer on N. Va. ICE Encounters — “My office has received reports of several other ICE encounters in Northern Virginia in the past 10 days that featured unjustified violence or apparently warrantless detention. The pattern that emerges in the descriptions is of ICE agents stopping people outside or on the street, asking for ID, and often responding with violence when their orders are questioned, regardless of whether those orders violate individuals’ rights. In the case of Carolina Molina, ICE agents were filmed pointing a gun at a citizen because she verbally challenged and filmed them, activities which are protected by the First Amendment. I look forward to meeting with Ms. Molina soon to hear her perspective on these events and discuss next steps.” [Rep. Don Beyer news release]


News

Good Tuesday 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 — Aug 18, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Elderly Alexandria woman loses $77K in scam involving multiple impersonators (2281 views)
  2. Alexandria teen pleads not guilty in manslaughter trial over fatal Potomac Yard Metro chase (1268 views)
  3. National Symphony Orchestra to utilize Alexandria venue amid Kennedy Center shutdown plans (1226 views)
  4. Van Metre buys land for 110 townhomes at Alexandria’s WestEnd development (827 views)
  5. Delivery robot service expanded in Alexandria to Wonder food hall (706 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

It will be sunny, with a high near 89°F, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. Wednesday night could see a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m., with increasing clouds and a low of around 72°F. Winds will be calm, and there’s a 20% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
– William James

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


Event

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Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.


News

A 19-year-old Alexandria woman has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the death of a man who was struck by a train and later died last summer at the Potomac Yard Metro station.

Prosecutors allege that 40-year-old James Halley Lynt was trying to escape being attacked by then-18-year-old Jamayah Burch and her then-17-year-old girlfriend when he jumped from a Metro platform, walked across train tracks and was struck by a train as it left the station.


News

Fairfax-based Van Metre Companies announced today (Aug. 18) the acquisition of a 110-townhome development site at Alexandria’s sprawling WestEnd development.

Van Metre bought the property last month for an undisclosed amount. On blocks L and M of the development at 5801 Duke Street, the three-level townhomes will feature front and rear terraces with private parking garages.


News

Alexandria’s Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center will be among the landing places for the National Symphony Orchestra amid the Kennedy Center’s planned shutdown for renovations.

Forced from the Kennedy Center following approval of a reconstruction project by allies of President Donald Trump, the NSO will split its 2026-27 season among six venues in Washington, D.C., and the capital’s suburbs.


News

An elderly Alexandria woman was scammed of $77,000 in a complex scheme last month by multiple suspects purporting to be representatives from Amazon, the Federal Trade Commission and Bank of America.

On June 26, the victim got a call from “Anna Covery,” a woman claiming to work for Amazon, to inform her that her account was compromised. Covey told her that someone used her account to buy a $1,400 laptop and $200 in accessories, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.


Around Town

The deployment of autonomous sidewalk delivery robots is expanding further in Alexandria.

Serve Robotics announced today (Monday) that the Wonder food hall at 3615 Richmond Highway will offer robot deliveries. The New York City-based Wonder, which has been rapidly expanding in the D.C. region and beyond, opened the Potomac Yard location in January.