Daily Brief | June 11

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Thursday, June 11 — the 162nd day of 2026, with 203 days left in the year. This newsletter is now serving 5,954 Alexandrians, 265 of whom keep it free for the other 5,689. Thank you.

The World Cup is here — and so is Croatia. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off this afternoon with Mexico vs. South Africa at 3 p.m. at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Closer to home, the Croatia national team opened its base camp at Episcopal High School Wednesday with the only public-facing community event of its Alexandria stay — several hundred kids on the fields, autographs, and mini soccer balls handed out to fans who'd never been that close to a top-ranked international side. Alexandria's restaurants are leaning in too: Old House Cosmopolitan, Atlas Brew Works, Andy's Pizza, Taqueria Picoso, Union Street Public House, and LaPluma Coffee & Wine Bar are all running World Cup watch parties and specials through the tournament. Visit Alexandria has the full list at visitalexandria.com/world-cup.

In today's news: The Alexandria City School Board is scheduled to adopt the final FY 2027 budget tonight at 6 p.m. at 1340 Braddock Place, with all nine members signing a public explanation of how they got there. Sails on the Potomac arrives at the Alexandria waterfront Friday through Sunday — four tall ships, three days of jazz, two history villages, and a barge-launched fireworks display as the city's marquee contribution to America 250. And Virginia American Water has agreed to settle its rate case for $16.3 million in additional revenue rather than the $22 million it originally sought, after the city of Alexandria and other parties formally opposed the increase. A typical residential water customer would see a monthly increase of about $9.

A few notes for the rest of the week: Friday is the last day of school for ACPS students, ending the 2025-26 school year. Team USA opens its World Cup tournament Friday at 9 p.m. vs. Paraguay. And the city is under a Heat Advisory today, with temperatures climbing to 96 degrees and heat index values as high as 104 — drink water, find shade, and check on neighbors and pets.

Here's what's happening in Alexandria today.

1️⃣ World Cup comes to Alexandria: Croatia opens base camp before hundreds of local kids

Players from Croatia's national team sign autographs and hand out mini soccer balls to young fans after their first open training session at Episcopal High School on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (Ryan Belmore / Alexandria Brief)

The rain held off.

That was the first small victory Wednesday evening at Episcopal High School, where storms in the forecast gave way to clear, 80-degree skies just as several hundred Alexandria children filed onto the fields to watch a World Cup team train in their city for the first time.

The Croatia national team — the Vatreni, or "Blazers," runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and among the world's top-ranked sides — held its first practice and only public-facing community event at the West End campus that will serve as the team's training base through the group stage of the 2026 tournament. By the time the players jogged off the training pitch around 7:15 p.m., the night had delivered the kind of moment the city has been building toward for months: members of one of the planet's most accomplished soccer sides walking to the sidelines to hand out mini soccer balls, sign autographs and pose for photos with kids who, a day earlier, had only seen them on television.

For an evening, the distance between a Balkan football power and a Northern Virginia rec league closed to a few feet of turf.

From elsewhere: Team Croatia receives warm welcome in Alexandria ahead of FIFA World Cup (WUSA9) | FULL: Team Croatia press conference ahead of practice in Alexandria (FOX 5 DC) | Team Croatia training in Northern Virginia for World Cup (Fox 5 DC) | Photos of Croatia Training and Press Conference (Reuters)

2️⃣ Entire ACPS school board signs statement on budget ahead of Thursday adoption

Alexandria City School Board Meeting Room (ACPS)

Hours before it is scheduled to adopt the fiscal 2027 budget Thursday night, the Alexandria City School Board did something it rarely does: All nine members signed a public explanation of how they got there.

The post, published on the ACPS website Wednesday evening, walks readers through Tuesday's add/delete work session, the three-hour meeting at which the board abandoned most of its proposals to restore employee pay after staff warned that doing so could violate the division's collective bargaining commitments. It was written by Kelly Carmichael Booz, Chair Michelle Rief and Alexander Scioscia and co-signed by the other six members.

The board is scheduled to adopt the budget tonight at 6 p.m. at 1340 Braddock Place. Still unresolved is the state budget, which could send anywhere from zero to $3.1 million more to ACPS once the General Assembly reconvenes later this month. The board has said that if the money arrives, compensation is first in line, at the bargaining table.

3️⃣ Tall ships, fireworks, and live music come to Alexandria's waterfront this weekend

A costumed interpreter leads a tour aboard the Providence, Alexandria's own tall ship, along the city waterfront. The Providence is one of four tall ships on view during Sails on the Potomac, the free June 12-14 festival. (Kristian Summerer for Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria's waterfront will host four tall ships, three days of jazz, two history villages and a barge-launched fireworks display this weekend as the city stages "Sails on the Potomac," its marquee contribution to the national America 250 commemoration. Gretchen Bulova, director of Historic Alexandria, previewed the event for the City Council on Tuesday night, and council members spent their questions on the logistical challenge underneath the celebration: how to move what could be a very large crowd on and off the waterfront.

The free festival runs Friday through Sunday, June 12–14, at Waterfront Park along the Alexandria waterfront, the city's signature 250th-anniversary event. Bulova told the council the city is the northernmost affiliate harbor in the Virginia Sail 250 program and is hosting the largest event of its kind in Northern Virginia. Mayor Alyia Gaskins is scheduled to help launch the festival with a formal opening celebration at noon on Friday.

4️⃣ Virginia American Water settles rate case for $16.3 million; Alexandria helped cut the deal

Alexandria City Hall (City of Alexandria)

Virginia American Water has agreed to scale back the rate increase it sought last fall, settling for a $16.3 million annual revenue increase rather than the roughly $22 million it originally requested. The city of Alexandria, which formally opposed the increase, is among the parties that signed the deal.

Under the agreement, a typical residential water customer would see a water bill increase of about $9 a month, according to the settlement — down from the roughly $11 the company projected when it filed in November. In Alexandria, only the water increase applies, because the city receives wastewater service from AlexRenew rather than Virginia American Water.

The World Cup is in Alexandria. The school board adopts its budget tonight. Tall ships arrive at the waterfront tomorrow. If today's edition has you covered, send it to a neighbor — local journalism grows when readers share it.

📰 In brief

As the Alexandria-based National Science Foundation starts giving out fewer grants, people worldwide will potentially lose out from potential research findings that could help improve their lives. (The Alexandria Brief)

Region

The months of weekend Metro closures at Crystal City station are over, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced, wrapping up the disruptive construction work two weeks ahead of schedule. (The Alexandria Brief)

After years of fine-tuning and preparation, a 2021 law allowing Virginians with certain past felony convictions to have their criminal records sealed will take effect July 1. Lawmakers and advocates say this will allow former felons without new convictions to expand their housing and employment options. (Virginia Mercury)

Sports

Bryce Eldridge hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to cap an incredible comeback by the San Francisco Giants, who scored 10 runs over the final two innings of an 11-10 victory against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. (The Alexandria Brief)

The Alexandria Aces (4-3) return home tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Frank Mann Field for a battle for second place in the South Division, hosting the Southern Maryland Senators (4-3). Both teams sit 1.5 games behind the Metro South County Braves, who have won five straight. The Aces' Wednesday road game at the SS-T Thunderbolts was postponed.

The Washington Nationals (35-34) return home Friday for a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners (36-33) at Nationals Park, with first pitch at 6:45 p.m.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway today with Mexico vs. South Africa at 3 p.m. at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — 16 years to the day after the two teams met in the 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg. South Korea vs. Czechia follows at 10 p.m. Team USA opens its tournament Friday at 9 p.m. vs. Paraguay. Croatia — currently based in Alexandria for its World Cup preparation — opens Tuesday, June 23 vs. Panama in Toronto. All matches air on FOX and FS1.

Croatia training sessions, budget votes, weekend festivals, tall ships on the Potomac — covering Alexandria takes time. 265 readers fund this newsletter so every Alexandrian can read it free. Join them with a monthly, annual, or one-time contribution.

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96 degrees. Heat index values as high as 104. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73 degrees. Southwest wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening. The chance of precipitation is 50%.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:42 a.m., sunset at 8:33 p.m. 14 hours & 51 minutes of sun. High tide at 5:07 a.m. & 5:44 p.m. Low tide at 12:07 p.m. & 11:39 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Crescent.

🗓️ Things To Do

12 p.m.: USA at 250 Art Exhibit at Del Ray Artisans
3 p.m.: Old Town North Farmers’ Market at 901 North Royal Street
5 p.m.: Historic Happy Hours at The Wharf
5 p.m.: WEBA June Professional Networking Social at Port City Brewing Company

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Mike Kelley & Friends at 9 p.m.
Alexandria Bier Garden: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Aslin ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Atlas ALX: Bingo at 7 p.m.
Continues: Spark Trivia Night at 7 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: The Walkaways at 8:30 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Ken Kilpatrick Trio at 6 p.m.
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: Dave Manley and Mauricio Miranda at 6 p.m.
Lost Boy Cider: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Rook Richards and Pat Garvey at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Punko Pops at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Jazz Funk Soul at 7:30 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

City Government: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
4 p.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open at Minnie Howard campus
4:30 p.m.: Commission on Aging Meeting (virtual)
4:30 p.m.: Warwick Pool Open at Warwick pool
4:30 p.m.: Old Town Pool Open at Old Town pool
5 p.m.: Historic Happy Hours at The Wharf Restaurant
5 p.m.: Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy Community Meeting
6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Fairlington Presbyterian Church
6 p.m.: Clifford Avenue Pocket Park Community Meeting
7 p.m.: Commission on Information Technology Monthly Meeting (virtual)
7:30 p.m.: Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Special Board Meeting (interim CEO interviews continue)
(City of Alexandria calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:15 & 11:15 a.m.: Stories and Songs at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Story Time at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Preschool Story Time at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
noon: Line Dancing 201 at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
2 p.m.: American Style Mahjong at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: Art with Julie — Summer Journals at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
5:30 p.m.: Tai Chi at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
6 p.m.: Sit & Stitch at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons Adult Group at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
6 p.m.: Duncan Literary Society at The Company of Books, 2200 Mount Vernon Ave.
7 p.m.: 5 Ways To Work With Your Lawyer (virtual)
7 p.m.: Author Talk — Matt Dinniman on "A Parade of Horribles" (virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

Teacher Work Day - Early release for students, half-day teacher work day.
6 p.m.: School Board Meeting - Adoption of the Adjusted CF & CIP Budgets at School Board Meeting Room
(ACPS calendar)

📜 On this day in Alexandria's history

On June 11, 1904, an act of childhood curiosity nearly turned into tragedy when the two youngest children of Thomas Hayden discovered a dynamite-filled shell in a junk pile near their home on the south side of Duke Street, between Lee and Union.

Following Croatia's stay in Alexandria? I want to hear what coverage you'd find most useful — daily updates, player profiles, the bigger picture, the economic ripple effects. Reply to this email — I'm shaping the coverage around what readers want.

The Alexandria Brief

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

Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist.

Got a story idea, news the city should know, or a calendar event we missed? Send it to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.