ALXnow - Alexandria Now

Alexandria police bust alleged sex trafficking at Huntington area massage parlor

Published May 11, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Two women are being held without bond in Alexandria after being arrested for alleged sex trafficking at a massage parlor in the Huntington area of Fairfax County, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

The two Fairfax County residents — ages 51 and 21 — were arrested Monday, May 4, and charged with sex trafficking. The arrests were made after APD, with assistance from the Virginia State Police, served a search warrant at a massage business in the 5900 block of Ashlar Way, near the city border in Huntington.

News

Mount Vernon Avenue bridge fully closing for construction starting Saturday

By Emily Leayman

Published May 11, 2026 at 10:30AM | Updated May 11, 2026 at 11:33AM

The Mount Vernon Avenue/Arlington Ridge Road bridge in 2025 before construction began (via Google Maps)

The Mount Vernon Avenue/Arlington Ridge Road bridge between Arlington and Alexandria will be closed during upcoming construction beginning Saturday (May 16).

The bridge will be fully closed in both directions during construction hours from Saturday, May 16 to Saturday, May 23. Closures will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. There will be no construction or bridge closure on Sunday, May 17.

A post from The Little Theatre of Alexandria

The Little Theatre of Alexandria Presents She Loves Me

Published October 6, 2026 at 10:45AM

The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s 2026–27 season continues with She Loves Me, the beloved romantic musical, running October 17 – November 7, 2026.

Thursday through Saturday evening performances at 8:00 PM. Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. Get tickets $36

In a charming 1930s European perfumery, shop clerks Georg and Amalia can’t stand each other. They bicker across the counter by day, never suspecting that each is the anonymous pen pal the other has been falling for by letter. As the holidays approach and the mystery unravels, two unlikely sweethearts discover that love may have been right in front of them all along. Set to a lush, witty score, it’s the same timeless story that inspired the film You’ve Got Mail.

Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Based on the play Parfumerie by Miklós László

Directed and choreographed by Mitchell Aiello, with music direction by Isabel Hernandez-Cata. Produced by Eleanore Tapscott and assistant producer Cassie Cope.

The cast features Shelby Young as Amalia Balash and Antony Galace as Georg Nowack, with Maura Lacy as Ilona Ritter, Brandon Schenk as Steven Kodaly, Michael McGovern as Ladislav Sipos, Phil Krzywicki as Mr. Maraczek and Mylo Cluff as Arpad Laszlo. The ensemble includes Stephen Yednock, Evan Arellano, Dale Dwyer, Lori Bonnette, Alicia Braxton, Rachael Fine, Gavin Hubbard, Jordan Lohmeyer, Jennifer Thomas and Brett Womack.

The Little Theatre of Alexandria is located at 600 Wolfe Street in Old Town Alexandria. Street parking.

Performances are Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $36 (plus $4 service charge). All sales final; limited exchanges available. Box Office: 703-683-0496. Get Tickets

News

School Board approves changes to agreement with Alexandria Police Department

By James Cullum

Published May 11, 2026 at 9:15AM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board unanimously approved an amended memorandum of understanding with the Alexandria Police Department last Thursday (May 7) to provide school resource officers at the city’s high school and two middle schools.

The previous MOU between ACPS and APD, approved in June 2023, was set to expire June 30. The school system continued using the 2023–2025 MOU, which was extended several times while the new agreement was being revised. The updated MOU was approved without discussion and now goes to City Council for approval.

News

Morning Notes for May 11, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published May 11, 2026 at 7:30AM | Updated May 11, 2026 at 9:29AM

Street in Alexandria's Braddock neighborhood (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On May 11, 1749, colonial Governor William Gooch designated sixty acres of land adjacent to a small bay along the Potomac River in Northern Virginia as the site for a new settlement to be called Alexandria … John West, Fairfax County surveyor, assisted by 17-year-old George Washington, laid out 60 acres for creation of the new town and lots were auctioned off in July 1749.” [Historic Alexandria]

Chamber ALX to Host City Council Breakfast — “Join us for an inside look at Alexandria’s future as City Council members unpack the newly adopted City budget, highlight key investments, and share updates on major initiatives already underway. Learn how local priorities are shaping decisions and driving progress across neighborhoods, services, and community development efforts.” [Chamber ALX]

Event

11th Annual Walk to Bust Cancer

October 18, 2026 7:30 am -12:00 pm

Event location

Fort Hunt Park

8999 Fort Hunt Rd

Alexandria, Virginia 22308

Add to Calendar

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.

News

ACPS teachers decry planned increases to health insurance premiums

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated May 9, 2026 at 12:16PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie KayWyatt unveils her amended Combined Funds FY2027 budget to the Alexandria School Board, May 7, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools staff are decrying the short notice given over an increase to their health insurance premiums, just a day before the month-long open enrollment period.

In an April 30 email, thousands of ACPS staff and retirees were told that health insurance premium rates will increase by 16% for UnitedHealthcare customers and by 8.9% for Kaiser Permanente customers, and that the changes will result in higher employee contributions. Employees who don’t go through the open enrollment process by 11:59 p.m. May 31 will lose their healthcare coverage.

Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Two-year-old Lorelai, who takes her stuffed animals on walks

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2026 at 2:45PM

Lorelai is up for adoption in Alexandria (courtesy of AWLA)

Lorelai is looking for a new home.

The 67-pound, two-year-old pup with a reddish-brown coat also likes to take her stuffed animals on walks, according to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Lorelai came to AWLA’s shelter at 4101 Eisenhower Avenue as a stray.

News

ACPS board celebrates 2026 Principal and Teacher of the Year honorees

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2026 at 1:45PM

(Left to right) ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt, ACPS Principal of the Year Jeanette Vinson, ACPS Teacher of the Year Deedra Robinson of Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School, and School Board Chair Michelle Rief, May 7, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board honored the school system’s 2026 Principal and Teacher of the Year during its meeting last night (Thursday).

This year’s accolades were bestowed to Jeanette Vinson, principal of George Washington Middle School, and Deedra Robinson, an educator at Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School. The School Board celebrated their dedication while recognizing teachers of the year from every public school in Alexandria.

Opinion

Poll: The best brunch spot in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published May 8, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated May 8, 2026 at 1:22PM

When the weekend arrives, brunch has become a staple for Alexandrians looking to enjoy a meal out. The city is home to a variety of restaurants serving everything from eggs Benedict and omelets to chicken and waffles and French toast.

Here are the nominees for “Best Brunch Spot in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your go-to brunch? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Lawn Care Service in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Breakfast Spots in Alexandria. The results are now official:

BeeLiner Diner
Silver Diner
Table Talk Restaurant

#Readers Choice

News

UPDATED: Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redrawn US House maps

By The Associated Press

Published May 8, 2026 at 11:00AM | Updated May 8, 2026 at 3:16PM

Voters at Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a voter-approved Democratic congressional redistricting plan, delivering another major setback to the party in a nationwide battle against Republicans for an edge in this year’s midterm elections.

The court ruled 4-3 that the state’s Democratic-led legislature violated procedural requirements when it placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot to authorize mid-decade redistricting. Voters narrowly approved the amendment on April 21, but the court’s ruling renders the vote’s result meaningless.