The Alexandria City Council (staff photo by James Cullum)
The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday night (Sept. 22) deferred a plan to restrict public behavior in Council Chambers.
City Council took the advice of City Attorney Cheran Ivery to defer the plan, which states that Mayor Alyia Gaskins can oust any public speaker who makes “personal attacks” against City Council members, makes “off-topic” comments or participates in political campaigning. Other amended rules limit the size of signs residents can bring to City Council meetings and ban selfie sticks.
It’s time to dig the pink dress or suit out of the closet, because tickets are still available for the third annual ALX Pink Gala.
The ALX Pink Gala will return to the ALX Community Atrium at 277 S. Washington Street in Old Town on Friday, Sept. 25. Tickets cost $125 apiece, and $175 to attend a rooftop VIP reception. Proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Collective, an Alexandria-based nonprofit that helps women in underserved communities get access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.
This recurring Most and Least Expensive Home feature is sponsored by Adrianna Vallario of Compass, a North Ridge-based Alexandria, VA real estate agent helping buyers, sellers, upsizers, and downsizers, throughout Alexandria City and Northern VA.
In September 2026, 16 detached homes sold, 62 condos sold, and 35 townhomes sold. Detached home sales are down 56% when compared to the same time period last year, condos are down 26%, and townhomes are down 29%.
A commercial building at Plaza 500 (via Google Maps)
Organizations and residents opposed to planned data center development just outside city limits are leading a march starting in Alexandria’s West End.
At 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, the march will run from Aslin Beer Company (950 S. Pickett Street) to the Plaza 500 center (6295 Edsall Road in Lincolnia) where data centers and a proposed substation are planned.
It’s been quite the whirlwind in the past few years for Bishop Ireton High School graduate David De Costa.
De Costa had been named a 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program nominee for Virginia. Locally, the 18-year-old was the high school winner of the George Washington Legacy Foundation Essay Contest, earning a chance to participate in Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade on Feb. 14 and the Friendship Firehouse Annual Breakfast on Feb. 16.
Join Breast Cancer Collective for the 2026 Walk to Bust Cancer on Sunday, October 18, at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria. Walk alongside survivors, caregivers, friends, families, and neighbors for an uplifting community event supporting access to breast cancer screening and care across the DMV. Walk to Bust Cancer brings our community together to turn hope into action and help expand access to timely breast health care. Register to walk, gather your team, and join us at Fort Hunt Park.
On the night of Sept. 1, manager Merve McDonald was behind the counter at Omar’s Pitas & Platters (3100 Richmond Highway) and turned his back momentarily when the commotion started.
Buildings at Carlyle Crossing (staff photo by Angela Woosley)
Meeting on Historic Design Guidelines Scheduled for Wednesday — “The Board of Architectural Review (BAR) Design Guidelines Committee will hold a community meeting on the following date to discuss updated Design Guideline chapters for both the Old and Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray Districts. This meeting is open to the public and testimony or comment will be received. Wednesday, September 23, 2026 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Oswald Durant Center, Community Meeting Room, 1605 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.” [City of Alexandria]
Theogony Student Newspaper Earns State Award Nominations — “The student journalists of Theogony, Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper, have another reason to celebrate. The publication has been named a finalist in eight categories in the 2026 Virginia High School League (VHSL) Media Championships. Hosted in partnership with the VHSL and Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers and Advisers (VAJTA), the Media Championships recognize outstanding work by high school journalists and student media programs across Virginia.” [Alexandria City Public Schools]
Expect rain in the morning before 7 a.m., with cloudy skies and a high near 65°F throughout the day. Northeast winds will be about 11 mph, gusting up to 25 mph, with a 60% chance of rain accumulating between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. Wednesday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 53°F and northeast winds at 10 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
Mount Vernon Community School students react to Washington Commanders players at their school, Sept. 22, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Washington Commanders players helped pack 500 bags of food for students at Mount Vernon Community School in Del Ray on Tuesday (Sept. 22).
Hundreds of students welcomed wide receiver Jaylin Lane, cornerback Rasul Douglas and mascot Major Tuddy in a pep rally in the school auditorium. This was the Commanders’ third annual visit to MVCS in collaboration with the nonprofit Blessings in a Backpack.
A pair of Mallard ducks swim in the Potomac at the Alexandria waterfront (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
President Donald Trump (R) has rolled back a 2009 executive order that has guided mandates for the Chesapeake Bay’s cleanup for more than 17 years. The action took aim at localities like Alexandria with stormwater utility fees.
The White House said the 2009 executive order created a “broad mandate” for states and localities to improve the Chesapeake Bay’s health “without providing clarity on how to implement that order’s requirements.” According to the feds, Virginia — collectively with New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, D.C., Delaware and West Virginia — has met 100% of the goal for sediment reduction, 90% for phosphorus reduction, and 57% for nitrogen reduction.
