Longtime land use attorney Mary Catherine Gibbs was sworn in as Alexandria’s newest General District Court judge for the 18th Judicial District.
Gibbs was sworn in Thursday night (June 25) to a six-year term by retired Circuit Court Judge Nolan B. Dawkins. Mayor Alyia Gaskins presented Gibbs with her commission from Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).
After news broke this week that the Tall Ship Providence was suspending operations, a nonprofit aimed at creating a national maritime museum along the Alexandria waterfront has gone public.
Marion Smith, president of the United States Maritime Foundation, told ALXnow the organization has entered into a legal agreement with the property owner at 1 Prince Street and is currently fundraising and looking for a second location for additional programming nearby. He also said the foundation is working to acquire the Tall Ship Providence Foundation’s floating pier, the Tall Ship Providence itself and take over its entire operation at Waterfront Park after signing a memorandum of understanding to do so by 2028.
Finn & Fire, an upscale Peruvian and Japanese fusion restaurant focused on steak and seafood, began its soft opening in Old Town.
The restaurant at 111 N. Pitt Street comes from owner Ghazal Amir, who also owns Crab Cab Bar and Kitchen in Fairfax County. It replaces Kismet Modern Indian, which closed in 2025 after nearly four years.
After multiple failed attempts over the past decade to bring a Business Improvement District to Old Town, Alexandria City Council is asking for other strategies to give the corridor an economic boost.
On Tuesday (June 23), City Council endorsed a memo from Council Members Sandy Marks and John Taylor Chapman directing the city manager to assess “how we can address the needs of the Old Town business corridor a little more intentionally.” City staff will review existing research on services and financial investments the city is making in Old Town and alternative options to boost tax revenue.
Amid parking challenges for residents and visitors in Old Town, the Traffic and Parking Board approved additional parking spaces yesterday (Monday).
The changes respond to concerns from several businesses about parking availability east of Washington Street in Old Town. One of the major factors was the City Hall and Market Square renovation project, which temporarily closed the 180-space Market Square Garage in early 2026 and requires construction staging areas on surrounding streets.
King Arthur Baking Company is setting its sights on later this year for the opening of its permanent location in Old Town Alexandria.
The Alexandria-based Tall Ship Providence Foundation is suspending its educational and tour programs on the Potomac River, effective Friday, June 26, the organization announced today (Monday).
The decision, which was recently made by the nonprofit’s board, means Tall Ship Providence will be sold if significant funding is not found, the organization’s Executive Director Kathy Seifert told ALXnow. As it stands, the bar at the floating pier at Waterfront Park will stay open to pay for upkeep of the ship, which Seifert says will stay docked in Alexandria until the end of the summer.
After nearly a year in development, a new café and wine bar in Old Town is soft opening this week.
Owner Ksenia Varakina is opening Cherry On Top at 1021 Queen Street from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday (June 24), and told ALXnow the grand opening will be on July 10. The shop is expected to offer selections of wine, espresso beverages, charcuterie and pastries.
Alexandria will get a long holiday weekend packed with Juneteenth festivities, Father’s Day events, Pride Month celebrations and summer solstice events.
As some workers get a day off for the federal Juneteenth holiday, Alexandria will host events like the Juneteenth Festival at Charles Houston Recreation Center, Washington Revels Jubilee Voices Juneteenth Concert at Shiloh Baptist Church and Memorial at Douglass Cemetery.
A new bridal boutique is preparing to open its doors in Old Town on Friday, June 26.
The White Magnolia Bridal Collection will open its doors at 123 N. Henry Street, offering a curated collection of bridal gowns priced between $1,800 and $6,000 from designers including Antonio Gual, BECCAR, Calla Blanche, and Sara Gabriel. The business will be open Tuesday to Saturday by appointment only.
There’s more than one reason to stay up late — the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will be opening twice in the early hours of Tuesday morning (June 16).
The bridge will first open at 12:01 a.m. for the passing of the Gazela, a 19th-century fishing vessel docked in Alexandria over the weekend as part of the city’s America250 celebration. The opening will last 15 to 20 minutes, according to DC Police Traffic on X.
