A new plaque honoring past arborists has been installed at Alexandria’s Fort Ward Park, adding to the existing Charles W. Hendryx Memorial.
City of Alexandria’s Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities spokesperson Catrice Callands confirmed to ALXnow a new plaque was added to the Fort Ward Arborist Memorial. The arborists honored on the plaque are Gregory A. Kernan, Jennifer Hollings, Tere O’Rourke, John Noelle and John Marlin.
A new restaurant self-described as a “five-star dive bar” will cut the ribbon at its new location in Old Town on Thursday.
The Commodore (220 N. Lee Street) is the second location for business partners Rob Van de Graaff and Steve Kim, who also own The Commodore in D.C.’s Dupont Circle. The space was previously home to Mystic BBQ & Grill, which closed last fall after being open for a year and a half. Before that, it was home to Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster BBQ.
Have you checked out Creekside Village Apartments lately? It is time for a fresh look. Under vibrant new management, our Alexandria-area community is undergoing a complete evolution. We are pairing sleek, modern interior updates with the spacious, neighborly atmosphere you want.
Plus, for a limited time, we are offering One Month Free on Select Apartments!*
Whether you are browsing online or actively touring the local market, here is why the newly upgraded Creekside Village belongs at the top of your list.
Sleek Interiors, Completely Refreshed
We are transforming every apartment from top to bottom. Step through the front door to discover premium, high-end details without the luxury price tag:
Exciting Amenity Updates on the Way
The indoor transformations are only the start. Our new management team is heavily investing in the shared spaces to elevate your daily routine:
Alexandria’s annual Adopt-a-Park program is returning this spring, bringing community groups together to beautify the city’s parks and open spaces.
The program is kicking off with a celebration hosted by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities from 6-7:30 p.m. next Wednesday, March 18 at 2900 A Business Center Drive. The event is an opportunity for applicants and groups to connect with fellow volunteers, meet city staff, review updated procedures, get supplies and ask questions about the program.
A dead raccoon found in Old Town last week has tested positive for rabies, according to the Alexandria Health Department.
The animal was recovered after two people reported being bitten by a raccoon in Old Town last Tuesday. It’s not confirmed if the raccoon was responsible for one or both of the attacks, “but the location and aggressive behavior line up with how a rabid raccoon in that area might act,” AHD said in an announcement yesterday (Monday).
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.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On March 10, 1965 construction began to implement the controversial Gadsby’s Urban Renewal Project, in the heart of downtown Alexandria. approved by City Council in a close 4-3 vote. In the early 1960’s “urban renewal” in the United States focused largely on the demolition and reconstruction of deteriorated downtown areas, rather than the restoration of historic buildings to revitalize city centers, a concept that emerged a decade later. In Alexandria, renewal was originally proposed for a twelve block area further west along King Street, but ultimately moved east, centered on the area around Gadsby’s Tavern, City Hall and Market Square.” [Historic Alexandria]
AG Condemns Anti-Redistricting Mailers — “A political action committee opposing Virginia’s April 21 redistricting referendum is facing sharp criticism after sending mailers to voters over the weekend that invoke imagery and language from the civil rights movement — a tactic voting rights advocates and state officials say distorts history and risks misleading voters. The mailers, distributed by a group called Democracy and Justice PAC, led by former GOP Delegate A.C. Cordoza, feature black-and-white imagery reminiscent of 1960s civil rights demonstrations … Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, the state’s first Black attorney general, said the mailers draw on a painful chapter of American history that should not be used as a political tool.” [Virginia Mercury]
Good Monday 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 — Mar 9, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high near 77, accompanied by calm winds that will shift to the south at 5 to 7 mph later in the afternoon. The night will remain mostly clear, with a low around 61 and a gentle south wind of 3 to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
– Thomas Edison
Thanks for reading!
An Alexandria grand jury indicted a former D.C. police officer on more than two dozen felony charges today (Monday) related to a series of sexual assaults in Alexandria last year.
Timothy Valentin, 30, of Fort Washington, Md., is currently accused of multiple sexual assaults in Alexandria and Maryland that occurred between 2024 and 2025. The suspect, an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department until 2022, faces new charges including rape by force, rape by incapacitation and abduction with intent to defile in connection to three cases in Alexandria last year.
Two chefs from Alexandria are vying to be the next “Top Chef” winners as the show’s new season premieres today (Monday).
Anthony Jones, the executive chef at Marcus DC, and Jonathan Dearden, corporate chef at KNEAD Hospitality + Design, are representing Alexandria in season 23 of Top Chef. The first episode will appear on Bravo at 9 p.m. tonight.
The Alexandria City School Board is asking City Council to postpone voting on a resolution this week that would change how the city appropriates funding to the school system.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins introduced the proposal at City Council’s joint work session with the School Board on March 4. The new system would authorize Council to approve funding allocations by major classification, instead of an annual lump sum. School Board Chair Michelle Rief says that more discussion is needed.
