Daily Brief | July 8

Good morning, Alexandria.

Travel + Leisure readers ranked Alexandria ninth best in the country — the fifth straight year the city has cracked the top ten. More than 207,000 readers cast votes across the magazine's 31st annual World's Best Awards, placing Alexandria behind Santa Fe, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Chicago, Fort Worth, Honolulu, and New York.

A new 242-page study from the Office of Historic Alexandria documents the role Market Square played as a site where enslaved people were bought, sold and punished — with researchers identifying at least 50 slave sales at the block that today sits in front of City Hall. The findings will shape how the city interprets that space during the current renovation. It's the kind of history that doesn't make the tourism brochures, but it matters.

Mayor Gaskins also launched her Art in Every Space pilot Tuesday, placing original work by local artists inside Alexandria businesses at no cost to anyone — artist, business, or taxpayer. About 60 people turned out for the kickoff at Corcoran McEnearney on Pitt Street. And over at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, staff scrambled over the Fourth of July weekend to move nearly 50 animals to emergency foster homes after a power outage knocked out air conditioning on a 100-degree day.

Here's what you need to know for Wednesday, July 8.

1️⃣ Mayor Gaskins kicks off 'Art in Every Space' pilot, filling Alexandria businesses with local artwork

Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks at the launch of her Art in Every Space pilot program Tuesday at Corcoran McEnearney in Old Town. (Ryan Belmore/The Alexandria Brief)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins launched her Art in Every Space initiative Tuesday afternoon with a reception at Corcoran McEnearney's Old Town office, filling the 109 Pitt St. real estate firm's walls with original work by local artists and drawing roughly 60 residents, business owners, and artists for the kickoff.

The pilot program, which runs through Sept. 30, places original artwork by Alexandria-based artists inside local businesses at no cost to the artist, the business, or the city. Participating venues so far include WineGallery108 and Cameron Cafe, with a map of all locations expected to be released soon.

2️⃣ Alexandria ranks ninth among the best cities in the U.S., Travel + Leisure readers say

Shopping on King Street (Tibor Nemeth/Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria has landed on Travel + Leisure's list of the ten best cities in the United States for the fifth consecutive year, scoring 83.53 out of 100 in the magazine's 2026 World's Best Awards to come in ninth.

The ranking is determined by reader votes. This year more than 207,000 readers cast 661,000 votes across more than 10,000 properties in the awards' 31st year. Alexandria placed behind Santa Fe, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Chicago, Fort Worth, Honolulu and New York — and ahead of Greenville, S.C., Bend, Ore., Nashville and Asheville.

3️⃣ At least 50 slave sales took place at Market Square. A new 242-page study documents what happened there — and what urban renewal erased

A 19th-century manuscript map of Alexandria's Market Square block, held at Alexandria Library Special Collections, shows the structures, lot lines and alleys that once filled the space now occupied by the open plaza at City Hall. The map is among the primary sources used in a new 242-page documentary study published by the Office of Historic Alexandria. (Alexandria Library Special Collections)

A sweeping new documentary study of Alexandria's Market Square traces the block's history from its founding in 1749 through the urban renewal era, with extensive new research into its role as a site where enslaved people were bought, sold and punished — findings that will shape how the city interprets the space during the current renovation of City Hall.

The 242-page report, written by Dr. Greg A. Beaman and published as Alexandria Archaeology Publication No. 149, was funded by a Commonwealth History Fund grant from the Virginia Museum of History & Culture awarded to the Office of Historic Alexandria in February 2025.

4️⃣ Power outage on 100-degree day prompted AWLA to move nearly 50 animals to emergency foster homes over Fourth of July weekend

Volunteers carry a small animal enclosure out of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter on July 3 as staff worked to relocate nearly 50 animals to emergency foster homes following a power outage that knocked out air conditioning during triple-digit heat. *(Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)*

A power outage at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter on one of the hottest days of the year sent staff and volunteers scrambling over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, temporarily relocating nearly 50 animals to emergency foster homes within hours.

The outage, which struck the morning of July 3, knocked out both power and air conditioning at the city-owned shelter at 4101 Eisenhower Ave., operated by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria under a contract with the city. Temperatures that day exceeded 100 degrees.

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📰 In brief

A house fire on the 2800 block of Valley Drive Tuesday afternoon injured two people, both of whom were transported to the hospital. (The Brief)

ACPS is asking businesses, community groups and residents to help fill 3,500 backpacks with school supplies before the 2026-27 school year begins. (The Brief)

King Arthur Baking Company is hiring a baking school manager for its upcoming Alexandria location. (The Brief)

Several candidates vying for Virginia's 8th Congressional District seat will gather in Alexandria Thursday evening for a candidate forum at Shiloh Baptist Church. (The Brief)

A contemporary art exhibition featuring two renowned Congolese artists opens Thursday at 532 Yoga, Arts, & Culture in Old Town. (The Brief)

A classically trained singer who describes herself as an "opera comedian" is bringing a cabaret concert to Old Town later this month. (The Brief)

The Alexandria City School Board convenes its annual organizational meeting Thursday, electing leadership for the new school year. (The Brief)

Cubbies Beef and Dogs will begin serving authentic Chicago Italian beef and hot dogs at 2216 Mount Vernon Avenue on July 18. (Cubbies on IG)

Alexandria record store devastated by floods finds new location (WTOP)

Check out this new pirate ghost tour in Old Town Alexandria. (WTOP)

Alexandria's former power plant site set for waterfront transformation. (Axios)

Sports

Argentina edged Egypt 3–2 in a World Cup Round of 16 match Tuesday afternoon. Switzerland advanced past Colombia after a 0–0 draw. No World Cup action today — the quarterfinals begin Thursday with France vs. Morocco at 4 p.m. and Friday with Spain vs. Belgium at 3 p.m.

Khris Middleton is being traded back to the Washington Wizards on a partially guaranteed, three-year deal that could be worth as much as $17.6 million. (The Brief)

Jose Altuve homered, Nick Allen drove in a season-high three runs and the Houston Astros beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Tuesday night. (The Brief)

The owner of Washington's NBA and NHL teams received a letter from the chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on China asking him to cut ties with Alibaba. (The Brief)

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

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: Scattered showers, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83 degrees. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71 degrees. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:50 a.m., sunset at 8:35 p.m. 14 hours & 44 minutes of sun.

High tide at 2:39 a.m. & 3:07 p.m. Low tide at 9:28 a.m. & 9:11 p.m. The moon phase is a Last Quarter moon.

🗓️ 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)
5 p.m.: Arts in Every Space launch event at AV Actions
5 p.m.: Rosemont Citizens Association Happy Hour at Rosemont Cellar
6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Ruby Tucker Family Center
6 p.m.: Literary Libations: July Book Club at The Study at Morrison House
6 p.m.: Military Appreciation Night at Continues Arcade
6:30 p.m.: Sushi & Cider at Lost Boy Cider
7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
Southside 815: Rook Richards at 9:30 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
8 a.m.: Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission meeting at Lloyd House
10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.: Memorial Pool open
11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.: Warwick Pool open
7 p.m.: Sister Cities Event Planning Subcommittee at Lily's Chocolate and Coffee
(City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

All day: PINGO! — Plastic Free Bingo at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10 a.m.: Artificial Intelligence for Beginners at Beatley Central Library (registration required)
10:30 a.m.: Stitcher's Space — Sew, quilt, knit, crochet, embroider! at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Paleontology Playtime at Beatley Reading Garden (ages 0–6)
11 a.m.: Just Babies — Solo Los Bebés at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (ages 0–12 months)
2 p.m.: Prehistoric Painting — Make and Paint Your Own Dino! at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
3:30 p.m.: Ink & Intrigue: Burke's Mystery Book Club — "The Dentist" by Tim Sullivan (Virtual)
4 p.m.: Sand Art Terrariums at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (ages 6+; registration required)
5 p.m.: Peter Wood: Collector of the Impossible at Beatley Central Library (ages 6–12)
6 p.m.: Literary Virginia Book Group — "A Calamity of Souls" by David Baldacci (Virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

⚽ Sports

6:45 p.m.: Nationals vs. Astros at Nationals Park (Game 3 of 3)

🗓️ On This Day in Alexandria History

National Fruit Product Company fire, 1925. (Library of Congress)

On July 8, 1925, a fire destroyed the National Fruit Product Company cider vinegar plant at the intersection of North Henry and Pendleton Streets. Several fire companies responded, the mayor himself helped battle the blaze, and more than a dozen firefighters needed medical treatment. The intense fire drew a large crowd of spectators to the 100 block of Wythe Street. (Historic Alexandria)

On July 8, 1946, the first public meeting of the Alexandria Historical Society was held at Gadsby's Tavern on North Royal Street. The organization, dedicated to preserving and sharing the city's heritage, was formed at a moment of renewed civic pride: that same year, Old Town was designated as the nation's third official historic district, following only Charleston and New Orleans. (Historic Alexandria)

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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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