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Good morning, Alexandria.
It's been a notable week. A World Cup team that made Alexandria home for nearly a month leaves for Philadelphia today. And last night I had a hand in unveiling a community mosaic at the Torpedo Factory that asked Alexandrians what they care about — and that stays up there through the summer. Both, in different ways, were about a community showing up.
If you came to the reception last night — thank you. If you didn't, go see the Tiles & Type mosaic at the Torpedo Factory.
Here's what's happening in Alexandria.
1️⃣ Tiles & Type: 85-tile community mosaic from Local News Day pop-ups unveiled at Torpedo Factory
A community mosaic of 85 tiles created by Alexandrians at three Local News Day pop-ups in April was unveiled Thursday evening at the Torpedo Factory Art Center before a crowd of about two dozen, capping a community journalism project organized by Bloom Labs and supported by three local newsrooms.
The mosaic was assembled from tiles created during pop-up events held over the weekend of April 11-12 at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub in Del Ray, the Old Town North Farmers Market, and the Four Mile Run Farmers Market. The events were part of the inaugural national Local News Day, which drew more than 1,400 local newsrooms and 340 partner organizations across all 50 states in a coordinated push to connect communities with the journalists who cover them.
Read more: Tiles & Type: 85-tile community mosaic from Local News Day pop-ups unveiled at Torpedo Factory
2️⃣ Gvardiol, Moro speak as Croatia holds final Alexandria press conference
Croatia held its final press conference in Alexandria on Thursday, closing out nearly a month based in the city before the team buses to Philadelphia for a decisive World Cup group-stage match against Ghana on Saturday.
It fell to defender Joško Gvardiol and midfielder Nikola Moro to speak on the team's last day of media availability at Episcopal High School, where Croatia has trained throughout the tournament. Both players said the focus now is squarely on Saturday, when Croatia — needing a result to secure its place in the Round of 32 — closes Group L play.
Read more: Gvardiol, Moro speak as Croatia holds final Alexandria press conference
3️⃣ Publisher's Note: Punching above our weight
For the better part of this month, I've spent my afternoons in a press room at Episcopal High School, listening to a World Cup team talk about my city. A team that could have based itself anywhere in North America chose Alexandria, made it home for a month, and is leaving fond of the place. Coach Zlatko Dalić called the city "beautiful" and "peaceful." Marco Pašalić said he felt "right at home."
But this didn't start with the team. It started in May, when the Croatian ambassador and Mayor Alyia Gaskins opened a postage stamp exhibit at the Torpedo Factory and Ambassador Pjer Šimunović borrowed a phrase Alexandrians use about themselves — saying the partnership would let Croatia "punch above our weight." Two small places, proud of being small but mighty, each recognizing the thing they admire most about themselves in the other.
Alexandria already has four sister cities — Dundee, Helsingborg, Caen, and Gyumri. We have a committee, a process, and a city code chapter for adding a fifth. There's an obvious candidate: Rijeka, Croatia's principal seaport, and the city where the torpedo that gave our Torpedo Factory its name was invented. The Vatreni leave Saturday, win or lose. A friendship doesn't have to end when the tournament does. Let's punch above our weight.
Read more: Publisher's Note: Punching above our weight
4️⃣ Mayor Gaskins launches "Art in Every Space" pilot this summer, connecting local artists with Alexandria businesses
Mayor Alyia Gaskins is launching a new community pilot program this summer that will place local artists inside Alexandria businesses and nontraditional spaces across the city.
Art in Every Space, which Gaskins announced at Tuesday's city council meeting, was inspired by a resident's email. "A resident reached out to me about an idea for putting art in more non traditional spaces, recognizing that we have such a thriving arts and cultural community," Gaskins said. "We've identified businesses from car dealerships to real estate agents who are going to be partnering with local artists to do everything from visual art, like paintings and posters, to even pop-ups of like musical performances."
5️⃣ What's happening in Alexandria this weekend: June 26-28
The 9th Annual Alexandria Pride Fair is the centerpiece of the weekend. The free, all-ages event runs Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at John Carlyle Square Park, hosted by the Alexandria LGBTQIA+ Task Force in partnership with the city and community partners. Expect 100 exhibitors, live music, food trucks, free and confidential health testing and vaccines, LGBTQ+ Family Storytime, art and poetry workshops, the Mobile Art Lab, dancing, and a Drag Story Hour anchored by the Alexandria Library — plus connections to LGBTQ+-inclusive services across the city.
Here's a look at all that's happening this weekend.
Read more: What's happening in Alexandria this weekend: June 26-28
📰 In brief
Speaking during his weekly remote availability with Virginia reporters, Sen. Mark Warner on Thursday accused President Donald Trump of abandoning a major bipartisan housing bill at the last minute, criticized the administration's deal to end the war with Iran, and warned that the new acting intelligence chief poses a danger to national security. (The Brief)
Drivers on northbound Interstate 395 should expect overnight single-lane closures on most weekends starting Friday night as crews rehabilitate a bridge along a stretch that runs between Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria. (The Brief)
Councilman John Taylor Chapman has announced plans for Summer Roundtable Sessions on international economic development, improving non-profit partnership with ACPS, and improving our city's night scene at the Charles Houston Rec Center. (Chapman4Council on Instagram)
Fox 5's Bob Barnard joins us from GW Middle School in Alexandria, VA, where kids are having fun at a soccer camp. (Fox 5 DC)
An amendment to return 45% of funds earned through the regional carbon market to rate-paying residents, small business and churches is part of the two-year budget Virginia lawmakers passed Monday, which is now under review by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. (Virginia Mercury)
Lacking Trump’s signature, a major congressional housing bill with Va. roots still has a path to law. (Virginia Mercury)
Sports
The Alexandria Aces fell 8-6 to the Bethesda Big Train Thursday night at Frank Mann Field, dropping to 10-10 on the season.
The Philadelphia Phillies rallied from an early five-run deficit and beat the Washington Nationals 10-5 on Thursday night. (The Brief)
The United States lost 3-2 to Türkiye in the final seconds of stoppage time Thursday night at SoFi Stadium, with substitute Kaan Ayhan's late goal stunning the Americans on the last touch of the match. The U.S. had already clinched Group D and will advance to the Round of 32. In other matchday-three results: Ecuador upset Germany 2-1 in front of 80,663 at MetLife Stadium to set a new all-time World Cup attendance record; Ivory Coast beat Curaçao 2-0 at Lincoln Financial Field; the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1 to win Group F; Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 to advance together; and Australia and Paraguay played to a scoreless draw that sent the Socceroos through as Group D runners-up.
Top draft pick AJ Dybantsa arrives in Washington, ready to work on turning the Wizards around. (The Brief)
The NFL announced dates and details on Thursday for the 2027 NFL draft to be held in Washington, D.C. (The Brief)
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 5am, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Light northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:44 a.m., sunset at 8:37 p.m. 14 hours & 52 minutes of sun.
High tide at 6:35 a.m. & 7:07 p.m. Low tide at 12:13 a.m. & 1:19 p.m.
The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 8 a.m.: WEBA June Coffee & Collaboration with AEDP at Beeliner Diner
- 6:30 p.m.: Friday Night Run Club at Daniel O'Connell's
- 6:30 p.m.: Alexandria Aces versus Metro South County Braves at Frank Mann Field
- 7 p.m.: Pride Prom 2026: Starry Night at Torpedo Factory Art Center
- 7 p.m.: Trivia Night at Historic Sites at Carlyle House
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Myles Deep at 9 p.m.
- Clyde's at Mark Center: Jonathan Qugley at 9 p.m.
- Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
- Del Ray Public House: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 7:30 p.m.
- Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
- Murphy’s Pub: Pat Garvey & Rook Richards at 9 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Bitterluck at 9 p.m.
- Pork Barrel BBQ: Scott Fallon at 8:30 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Vincent Ingala at 7:30 p.m.
- The Garden: Farah Camille at 5 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open
- 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open
- 10 a.m.: Memorial Pool Open
- 11 a.m.: Warwick Pool Open
- noon: Old Town Pool Open
- 5 p.m.: Conversational Tour — America 250: Who We Remember at Gadsby's Tavern Museum
- (City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Baby Storytime at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Munit and Z Lovebugs at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 2 p.m.: Nature Friends Show and Tell at Patrick Henry Recreation Center
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
⚽ Sports
- 3 p.m.: World Cup — Norway vs. France at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough; Senegal vs. Iraq at BMO Field, Toronto
- 6:30 p.m.: Alexandria Aces host the Metro South County Braves at Frank Mann Field
- 7:05 p.m.: Washington Nationals at Baltimore Orioles, Camden Yards
- 7:30 p.m.: Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun
- 8 p.m.: World Cup — Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium; Uruguay vs. Spain at Guadalajara Stadium
- 11 p.m.: World Cup — Egypt vs. Iran at Seattle Stadium; New Zealand vs. Belgium at BC Place Vancouver
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The Alexandria Brief
Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.
Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist. Send tips, photos, and story ideas to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
Copyright 2026 Alexandria News LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
