Around Town

The wheels on a Del Ray preschooler’s birthday party bus went round and round Alexandria last week.

Four-year-old Rowan Gilbart celebrated his best birthday yet with a DASH charter bus ride and tour of the system’s facilities on Friday. The Del Ray kid “loves riding the bus,” mother Erica Toler told ALXnow, and the duo regularly take Line 33 to get to preschool and other places around town.


Around Town

From historical tours and adult field trips to trivia nights, several events coming to Alexandria this winter will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The various roles Alexandria played in the forging of the U.S. will be told in events across the city. The events are compiled in a list by the American Revolution 250 Commission, or VA250, which was established by the General Assembly in 2020.


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News

An emergency protective order has been issued against an Alexandria man after he allegedly stabbed his girlfriend’s son in the face with a fork on New Year’s Day.

The 41-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with malicious wounding after the incident, which occurred at around 11:30 a.m. in an apartment at the 5300 block of Essex Court in the West End, near the Winkler Botanical Preserve.


Announcement

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

The city of Alexandria will host a virtual meeting this Thursday covering the pre-construction phase of renovations at City Hall and Market Square.

Currently in its architectural and engineering design phase, the multimillion-dollar project includes renovations at City Hall, a redesign of Market Square and an underground parking garage. More than 300 city employees have already relocated to temporary swing spaces, and the rest are expected to do so by the end of the month, according to a city announcement.


Event

Raise a glass to culture and camaraderie at the 2026 whisky tasting event. Guests will enjoy a guided tasting across the whisky regions of Scotland, gaining insights into the craftsmanship and culture behind each pour. This informative program will help you learn all about the rich tapestry that is Scotch whisky, enable you to sample five different whiskies from across Scotland, and provide an opportunity to ask questions and share personal insights. VIP ticket holders will receive two additional exclusive samples of rare whiskies. All attendees will take home a souvenir Glencairn glass, perfect for continuing their whisky journey. Tickets are $100 for VIP or $75 for general admission (listed as a separate event on Alexandriava.gov/Shop), with hors d’oeuvres included. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for non-whisky drinkers. A raffle will also be held with prizes, with tickets available for cash purchase at the event. Minimum age: 21. All proceeds support the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee and its mission to support the educational and cultural exchanges between Alexandria, VA and her sister cities of Dundee, Scotland and Helsingborg, Sweden.

Please note: You do not need to print off tickets. Your name will be on the registration list for the event.


News

After a reported uptick in flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses in the city, the Alexandria Health Department is recommending the flu shot and and other preventative measures to stay healthy.

Flu-related emergency department visits more than tripled in Alexandria during the last two weeks of December, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health. Alexandria’s current flu vaccination rate is low, sitting at less than 30% of the population, AHD spokesperson Eve Elliott told ALXnow.


News

Old Town-based Burke & Herbert Bank is expanding its reach after acquiring a Pennsylvania bank in a multimillion-dollar deal.

Burke & Herbert is acquiring Camp Hill, Pa.-based LinkBank for $354.2 million, a deal expected to close in the second half of 2026. The merger will expand the bank into Pennsylvania and increase its footprint to 100 locations across six states, according to a press release.


News

The Planning Commission will host a work session tomorrow (Tuesday) on a draft plan for the future of Duke Street.

Still in its infancy, the Duke Street Land Use Plan is intended to guide city officials in the development of the Duke Street corridor from the former Landmark Mall to Alexandria Union Station. The document is expected to be ready for City Council consideration and adoption from late 2026 to early 2027, according to the city.


News

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Jan. 5, 1874, the old George’s Tavern, also known as the Old English House on the northwest corner of Cameron and North Royal Streets, caught fire and was severely damaged, burned beyond repair. Seen in the background of this Civil War era photo of Union soldiers taken in front of Gadsby’s Tavern, the dormered building is further marked by a large horizontal sign extending over the public sidewalk reading ‘Restaurant.'” [Historic Alexandria]

Beyer Responds to Military Strike in Venezuela — “I’ve always opposed American attacks on Venezuela and I oppose them now. You don’t need sympathy for Maduro to grasp that attacking another country for unclear, shifting rationales without domestic support or a clear plan for the day after won’t make us safer. The Administration lied to Congress and launched an illegal war for regime change and oil. Foolhardy and wrong.” [Rep. Don Beyer]


News

Good Friday 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 — Jan 2, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Winning $1M lottery ticket sold at Del Ray convenience store (4632 views)
  2. Median apartment rents in Alexandria post first year-over-year drop since 2020 (756 views)
  3. AFD battalion chiefs not entitled to overtime pay, appeals court rules (421 views)
  4. Morning Notes for January 2, 2026 (333 views)
  5. Christmas tree collection in Alexandria starts today (238 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Undercover police arrest Woodbridge teen for drug and firearm possession in Alexandria (6601 views)
  2. Yellow Line extends service further into D.C. and Maryland (4552 views)
  3. ‘Wonder’ food hall plans grand opening next week in Potomac Yard (3989 views)
  4. Alexandria seeks to streamline office-to-residential conversions (2862 views)
  5. VDOT open house to discuss proposed upgrades to S. Van Dorn Street at Alexandria border (2437 views)
  6. After 50 years, Chris Collins wants dance studio to stay in Alexandria (2344 views)
  7. VSP: Suspect in stolen vehicle rammed trooper after attempted traffic stop in Alexandria (2070 views)
  8. Ulta Beauty ‘opening soon’ in Potomac Yard Center (1585 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌥️ Saturday’s forecast

The weather will be mostly cloudy with a high around 36 degrees and a light north wind. On Saturday night, there’s a slight chance of snow before 1am, followed by a transition from cloudy to partly cloudy skies and a low temperature near 27 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 20%, with calm winds throughout. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.”
– Chris Grosser

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!