Daily Brief | July 7

Good morning, Alexandria.

Yes, the U.S. is out — Belgium sent the Americans home 4-1 Monday night — but don't put away the jersey just yet. The World Cup rolls on, and Alexandria's bars and restaurants are showing every match through July 19. Visit Alexandria has a full roundup of where to watch, from Old House Cosmopolitan Grill and Atlas Brew Works to Bugsy's, Daniel O'Connell's, Murphy's, and more. Today brings two more Round of 16 matches starting at noon.

On the local front, a $4 million state grant is bringing an innovation lab to Potomac Yard, a familiar Del Ray entrepreneur is moving into the Thai Peppers space on Mount Vernon Avenue, and the city is gearing up for a free party on the Potomac this weekend to celebrate its 277th birthday.

Here's what you need to know for Tuesday, July 7.

1️⃣ National IQ's $4M GO Virginia grant will fund an Alexandria innovation lab in Potomac Yard

National IQ is an innovation district in National Landing — a neighborhood spanning Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia — that brings together leaders in academia, entrepreneurship, government, and industry to solve the most pressing challenges at the intersection of national competitiveness and technology. (National IQ)

The $4 million GO Virginia grant awarded to the National Innovation Quarter last month will include an $800,000 innovation lab located in Alexandria's Potomac Yard neighborhood, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership confirmed Monday.

The lab — described in grant materials as a secure facility for emerging technology collaboration and prototyping — will be developed in partnership with Virginia Tech, Inova, the City of Alexandria, National IQ and Arlington. A specific address has not been announced, but AEDP confirmed it will be in Potomac Yard, where Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus anchors Alexandria's stake in the bi-jurisdictional district.

2️⃣ Rosie's Tavern files for liquor license at former Thai Peppers space on Mount Vernon Avenue

The exterior of 2018 Mount Vernon Avenue on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Ryan Belmore/The Alexandria Brief)

Less than a month after Thai Peppers served its final meal in Del Ray, a familiar neighborhood entrepreneur is already moving into the space.

Rosie's Tavern has filed an application with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority for a retail restaurant license at 2018 Mount Vernon Ave., according to state ABC records. The application, filed June 26 under the entity Rosies Tavern, LLC, seeks a license for beer, wine and mixed beverages for both on- and off-premises consumption.

3️⃣ Alexandria turns 277 Saturday with free symphony, fireworks, and cupcakes at Oronoco Bay Park

The City of Alexandria will celebrate its 277th and the USA’s 250th birthday on Saturday, July 11, at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.). (Visit Alexandria)

A city older than the country it helped build turns 277 on Saturday, and it is throwing a party on the Potomac.

The Alexandria & USA Birthday Celebration runs 6 to 9:45 p.m. July 11 at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St. Admission is free. The celebration falls two days shy of the exact anniversary of the city's founding: on July 13, 1749, the first public auction of town lots was held along the Potomac, establishing what would become one of the young nation's busiest ports.

4️⃣ Washington D.C.-area church volunteers collect 180 pounds of trash from Jones Point Park after Fourth of July

Volunteers with New Heaven New Earth Church Washington DC pose with nearly 180 pounds of collected trash beneath the Woodrow Wilson Bridge at Jones Point Park on Monday, July 6. (New Heaven New Earth Church)

The fireworks had barely faded when a group of volunteers was already at work cleaning up what was left behind.

New Heaven New Earth Church Washington DC mobilized local youth and families Monday morning for a post-Fourth of July cleanup at Jones Point Park, collecting nearly 9 industrial-sized trash bags — roughly 180 pounds of trash — in two hours.

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📰 In brief

Virginia Tech's Presidential Search Committee will hold a public listening session at its Alexandria campus later this month, giving D.C.-area members of the university community a chance to weigh in on the search for the institution's next leader. (The Brief)

The intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and East Howell Avenue was closed Monday as Alexandria police investigated a traffic crash. (The Brief)

The city will formally celebrate the rededication of Moses Stevens Street on Saturday, July 11, with a public ceremony at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., from 10 to 11 a.m. (The Brief)

Newly obtained details by 7News reveal that surveillance video from UPS security played a critical role in helping Alexandria police identify and arrest four men accused of attempting to steal packages from a UPS shipping facility. (WJLA)

Virginia is joining a 22-state effort led by New York Attorney General Letitia James urging President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse a new federal policy ending investigations and public reporting of deaths that occur shortly after immigrants are released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. (Virginia Mercury)

Sports

Belgium eliminated the United States 4-1 on Monday night, ending the American run on home soil. Earlier in the day, Spain knocked out Portugal 1-0. The two winners — Belgium and Spain — will meet in the semifinals.

Kaitlyn Chen scored 14 points off the bench and the Golden State Valkyries shut down the Washington Mystics 62-49 on Monday night for their fifth straight victory. (The Brief)

James Wood hit a grand slam in the fifth inning and the Washington Nationals overcame a five-run deficit and held off the Houston Astros 12-11 in the opener of a three-game series Monday night. (The Brief)

Alex Ovechkin is returning for a 22nd season with the Washington Capitals. Will this be the final act of his illustrious career? (The Brief)

Veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas has agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a contract for next season, according to a person familiar with the deal. (The Brief)

The Alexandria Aces (13-14) are off today as the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League holds its 2026 All-Star Game against the Valley League at Shirley Povich Field in Rockville at 7 p.m. Four Aces were selected to the CRSCBL roster: catcher Matthew Pazak (UPenn), first baseman Hunter White (West Liberty), and outfielders Daniel McGinnis and Jack Warner (both UPenn). Alexandria returns to action Thursday at Southern Maryland, 5 p.m.

More Alexandria — every day. Follow The Brief on Bluesky and Instagram.

Today in Alexandria

On July 7, 1925, Alexandria's first traffic light became operational at King and Washington Streets. (Historic Alexandria

For a city that has watched more than two centuries of American history unfold within its borders, Alexandria has an unusual concentration of civic anniversaries on July 7. Four separate moments — spanning federal architecture, military occupation, public education, and the arrival of the automobile — all took place on this date between 1838 and 1925.

⛅ Weather

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Isolated showers, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 85 degrees. Calm wind becoming northeast at around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then scattered showers. Patchy fog between midnight and 2 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 69 degrees. Light northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:50 a.m., sunset at 8:35 p.m. 14 hours & 45 minutes of sun.

High tide at 1:47 a.m. & 2:07 p.m. Low tide at 8:24 a.m. & 8:22 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: In-person early voting open at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N. Royal Street)
1 p.m.: Arts in Every Space launch event at Corcoran McEnearney, 109 Pitt St.

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Justin Gillen Trio at 9 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Cooper Mill: Music Bingo at 6 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Antonio James at 6 p.m.
Lost Dog Cafe: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pete Baker at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Trivia at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Sun Kil Moon with Lisa Cerbone at 7:30 p.m.
The Commodore: Trivia at 7 p.m.
The Garden Del Ray: Trivia at 7 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

City Government: Open | Flag Status: Full Staff
Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
6 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open
10 a.m.: Board of Equalization Hearing at Office of Real Estate Assessments
10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.: Memorial Pool Open
12 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.: Old Town Pool Open
2 p.m.: Commission on Aging Work Group for Medicare (virtual)
6 p.m.: APD Evening Hiring Event at Police Headquarters
7:30 p.m.: Public Records Advisory Commission at Archives and Records Center
(City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

All day: PINGO! — Plastic Free Bingo at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10 a.m.: Sunshine Readers — An outside book club! at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
10:15 a.m.: Family Storytime — Martes de niños at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
10:15 a.m.: Groovy Nate at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
10:30 a.m.: Playtime! — ¡Hora de jugar! at Beatley Central Library Reading Garden
11:15 a.m.: Groovy Nate at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
2 p.m.: Baby and Toddler Play Date at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
2 p.m.: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are — and How to End the Cycle (Virtual)
5 p.m.: Duncan and Dragons — The Kingdoms of Living Giants at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
6 p.m.: Technología y Entrenamiento Profesional — Sesiones de español at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
6:30 p.m.: Summer Teen Volunteer Orientation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
(Alexandria Library calendar)

⚽ Sports

12 p.m.: World Cup Round of 16 — Argentina vs. Egypt
4 p.m.: World Cup Round of 16 — Switzerland vs. Colombia
6:45 p.m.: Nationals vs. Astros at Nationals Park (Game 2 of 3)
7 p.m.: Cal Ripken Sr. League All-Star Game vs. Valley League at Shirley Povich Field, Rockville

The Alexandria Brief

Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.

Publisher: Ryan Belmore. Send news and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.

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