Around Town

A new Thai restaurant has opened in Alexandria’s Oakville development, between Potomac Yard and Del Ray.

Dok Khao Thai Eatery is currently in a soft opening at 2514 Richmond Highway with an all-day, Thai street food-inspired menu with more than a dozen specials from owner and chef Porntipa Pattanamekar, also known as “Chef Pat.” The restaurant includes an all-day menu and full-service bar, with space for about 100 guests.


News

A Maryland man charged with threatening Alexandria judges and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office staffers allegedly compared himself to Luigi Mangione — the man charged with the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — according to an Alexandria Police Department search warrant affidavit.

Lindolfo Pedraza has been held without bond since his Jan. 28 arrest at home in Allegany County, Md., and his case will head to a jury trial on Monday, April 13. The 53-year-old is accused of going to a judge’s home and sending threatening emails to two judges and deputy commonwealth’s attorneys involved in a 2021 case in which he lost custody of his son, according to the recently released search warrant affidavit.


Around Town

To mark America’s 250th anniversary, the Alexandria Beautification Commission is hoping to meet a goal of 250 “patriotic gardens” planted by residents and business owners.

The Beautification Commission is launching a Plant for America250 challenge, seeking to have 250 properties to plant red, white and blue native plants this spring.


News

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On March 19, 1855, a fire destroyed the Friendship Firehouse on South Alfred Street. The fire broke out around 11 p.m. and though the equipment and engine were saved, the structure was destroyed. A new firehouse, which still stands today, was completed later that year.” [Historic Alexandria]

City Hosts Potomac Sewage Spill Meeting on Thursday — “The City of Alexandria invites the community to a Town Hall with DC Water on the Potomac Interceptor Response at 7 p.m. on Thursday, 3/19 in the Lee Center Auditorium (1108 Jefferson St.). Attendees can also participate online via Zoom. [City of Alexandria/X]


Event

July 9th, Revolutionary Fitness, Old Town Alexandria

Your bathroom scale can’t tell you if you’re losing fat or losing muscle. It can’t see the visceral fat wrapping around your organs. It can’t measure the bone density that determines whether you stay strong and independent into your 60s, 70s, and beyond.


News

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 — Mar 18, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Townhouse development pitched on vacant lot, barbershop site in Parker-Gray (918 views)
  2. City Council considers next renaming of street referencing Confederate military figure (626 views)
  3. ACPS seeks to hire new Alexandria City High School principal by late May (560 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 55 degrees and a gentle south wind at 5 to 7 mph. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 40 degrees and a light south wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Do not watch the clock. Do what it does. Keep going.”
– Sam Levenson

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


News

A proposed conversion of a vacant lot and a one-story barbershop in the Parker-Gray Historic District into five four-story townhomes is headed to city review.

Eric Bernstein and Kirby Holdings are proposing to build the homes at 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street, located at the intersection with Madison Street. The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review will conduct a public hearing on the concept review proposal at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, at Charles Houston Recreation Center, which is directly across the street from the site.


Around Town

As cherry blossom season gets into full swing in the D.C. region, Alexandria will try to draw visitors with its own cherry blossom-themed events.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off Friday (March 20) and runs through April 12. According to the National Park Service’s prediction, the Tidal Basin’s famous cherry blossom trees could reach peak bloom from Sunday, March 29 to Wednesday, April 1. The start of the festival coincides with the first day of spring on March 20.


News

Alexandria City Council’s Naming Committee will host a public hearing next month on a proposal to rename a street in Seminary Hill named after Confederate Brig. Gen. Alfred Iverson.

Ahead of the public hearing, the city wants public feedback on the proposal to rename Iverson Street as Edmonson Street. The proposed name references sisters Mary Edmonson and Emily Edmonson, who were born into slavery, earned their freedom and became important figures in the abolitionist movement.


News

Alexandria City Public Schools has started the process of selecting a new principal for its high school in time for the next school year.

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced a hiring process and timeline for the next principal of Alexandria City High School. A job posting was released on Monday, and a community survey to gather input will open today (Wednesday) through March 23.