Daily Brief | June 18

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Thursday, June 18 — the 169th day of 2026, with 196 days left in the year.

This newsletter is now serving 5,985 Alexandrians, 268 of whom make this newsletter and all that we do possible. Join them.

Two civic moments today, before the news. Early in-person voting opens at 8 a.m. at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections — the first day to cast a ballot for the Aug. 4 primary, a day earlier than the statewide June 19 start because the city office is closed for Juneteenth. And Juneteenth is tomorrow. The city's daylong celebration begins Friday morning.

Croatia returned to Alexandria overnight after Wednesday's 4-2 World Cup loss to England in Dallas — a chaotic match in which Martin Baturina and Petar Musa scored for Croatia in a first half that ended 2-2 before second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford pulled England away. The team resumes training at Episcopal High School later today before traveling to Toronto for Tuesday's match against Panama.

Two retail openings: Van Leeuwen ice cream debuts on King Street today with $1 scoops from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and free tote bags for the first 100 guests. And the healthy fast-casual chain Fresh Healthy Cafe is preparing its first Virginia location at 2040 Jamieson Ave. in Carlyle.

The Alexandria Police Department holds its Public Safety Summit at Virginia Theological Seminary today, an invitation-only gathering of civic leaders and stakeholders to weigh in on Chief Tarrick McGuire's long-term Public Safety Plan.

VRE closes King Street again tonight from 7:30 p.m. through 6:30 a.m. June 24 for bridge replacement work between Russell Road and Daingerfield Road, with traffic detoured to Duke Street.

Here's what's happening in Alexandria.

1️⃣ Croatia falls to England in World Cup, will return to Alexandria to prepare for Panama

Croatia midfielder Martin Baturina, left, and goalkeeper Dominik Livaković answer questions through a translator during a June 11 press conference at Episcopal High School, the team's World Cup base camp in Alexandria. Baturina scored and Livaković made several saves in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to England. (Credit: Ryan Belmore / Alexandria Brief)

Croatia's World Cup opened with a 4-2 loss to England in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday — but for the Alexandria fans who have spent the past week getting to know the team training in their city, the result came with a consolation: the two players who found the net are among the squad's brightest young talents, and both are now headed back to Alexandria.

The team flew back to Dulles Airport last night and returns to its Alexandria base to regroup. Croatia resumes training at Episcopal High School today before facing Panama on June 23 in Toronto, then Ghana on June 27 in Philadelphia.

2️⃣ Healthy fast-casual chain Fresh Healthy Cafe to open first Virginia location in Alexandria

The vacant storefront at 2040 Jamieson Ave. in Alexandria's Carlyle area, where Fresh Healthy Cafe plans to open its first Virginia location. (Google Maps)

Fresh Healthy Cafe, a healthy fast-casual chain built around smoothies, fresh juices and made-to-order food, is preparing to open what the company bills as its first Virginia location in Alexandria's Carlyle area — and has applied for a city permit to add a small amount of outdoor seating.

The restaurant is moving into a previously vacant space at 2040 Jamieson Ave. The company's website lists the Alexandria store as "coming soon," describing it as its first in Virginia. The chain, founded in 2001 and franchised across the United States and Canada, pairs smoothies and fresh-squeezed juices with a menu of bowls, paninis, wraps, salads and soups, with food prepared to order. The Alexandria application describes a similar lineup of smoothies, juice, bowls, paninis, coffee, tea and snacks, with 12 seats inside.

3️⃣ Van Leeuwen ice cream opens on King Street on Thursday with $1 scoops

Van Leeuwen's Old Town shop at 400 King St. opens Thursday, June 18, with the chain's first frozen yogurt in the D.C. region. (Van Leeuwen/Instagram)

Van Leeuwen, the New York ice cream brand known for its rich, custard-style scoops and its dairy-free flavors, opens its first Alexandria location on Thursday, June 18, at 400 King St. in Old Town.

To mark the opening, the shop is offering $1 scoops — or frozen yogurt — from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and free tote bags for the first 100 guests, according to the company. Van Leeuwen says the Old Town store is its first in the D.C. region to offer frozen yogurt. Opening-day hours run from 11 a.m. to midnight.

4️⃣ Alexandria police to take new Public Safety Plan to the community at invitation-only summit

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) will host its Public Safety Summit on Thursday, June 18, 2026, bringing together invited community members, civic and neighborhood leaders, City leadership, and public safety stakeholders to help shape a long-term vision for public safety in Alexandria. (Alexandria Police Department)

The Alexandria Police Department will host a Public Safety Summit on Thursday, June 18, bringing the long-term strategy Chief Tarrick McGuire has spent recent months presenting to City Council to a wider group of community members and stakeholders.

The invitation-only event, held at Virginia Theological Seminary, gathers invited residents, civic and neighborhood leaders, city officials and public safety stakeholders to weigh in on what the department calls a "collaborative vision roadmap" for its forthcoming Public Safety Plan. APD says the plan is built around partnership, shared responsibility, evidence-based practices and technology.

5️⃣ King Street to close again June 18-24 for VRE bridge replacement work

Commuters disembark from a Virginia Railway Express train at an Amtrak station in Alexandria, Virginia, US, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Virginia Railway Express has scheduled another full closure of King Street next week as it continues replacing two aging rail bridges over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue, part of a sweeping, multi-year rehabilitation of Alexandria Union Station.

The closure will run from 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18, to 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24.

During that period, King Street will be fully closed between Russell Road and Daingerfield Road, with traffic detoured to Duke Street. Commonwealth Avenue will remain open with a single travel lane and alternating traffic directed by flaggers. Sunset Drive will remain completely open.

📰 In brief

Early in-person voting for Alexandria's Aug. 4 dual primary opens today. Any registered Virginia voter may cast a ballot early, and no excuse is required. (The Brief)

The Draft Housing 2040 Plan was approved by the City Council at the June 13 public hearing. The approved Plan will be considered for adoption at the June 23 Legislative Meeting. (City of Alexandria)

Croatian tourists support businesses in Alexandria. (Fox 5)

Start exploring Alexandria’s Black history and cultural experiences for a better understanding of today. (Visit Alexandria)

Region

From support for legislation and ballot referendums to helping states stockpile abortion and miscarriage management drug mifepristone, a growing cohort of governors are banding together as the Reproductive Freedom Alliance. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Wednesday that she has joined the coalition. (The Brief)

While a pending constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to people with felony convictions who have served their sentences awaits Virginians’ approval or rejection in a statewide referendum later this year, thousands of people who should never have lost their right to vote in the first place remain in limbo during this summer’s congressional primary elections. (Virginia Mercury)

Sports

Luinder Avila took a shutout into the sixth, and the Kansas City Royals hit four solo homers in the first three innings of a 6-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. (The Brief)

The Washington Nationals are off today before opening a three-game weekend series at the Tampa Bay Rays Friday at 7:10 p.m. The Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 88-81 on the road Wednesday night and are off until Friday's matchup at the New York Liberty.

The Alexandria Aces (7-6) travel to Gaithersburg tonight to face the Giants at 7 p.m. at Criswell Automotive Field after a 10-8 home win over the D.C. Grays Wednesday at Frank Mann Field.

2026 FIFA World Cup results Wednesday: England 4, Croatia 2 in Dallas, with a Harry Kane brace and goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford for England, and replies from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa for Croatia; Portugal 1, DR Congo 1 in Houston, with Yoane Wissa scoring DR Congo's historic first World Cup point; Ghana 1, Panama 0 in Toronto on a late winner from Antoine Yirenkyi; and Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 1 in Mexico City.

Today's World Cup schedule: Czechia vs. South Africa at noon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (FOX); Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina at 3 p.m. at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (FOX); Canada vs. Qatar at 6 p.m. at BC Place in Vancouver (FS1); and Mexico vs. South Korea at 9 p.m. at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico (FOX).

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 94 degrees. Heat index values as high as 100. Breezy, with a southwest wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 70. West wind 5 to 9 mph, becoming light after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:42 a.m., sunset at 8:36 p.m. 14 hours & 53 minutes of sun. High tide at 11:32 a.m. Low tide at 5:45 a.m. & 6:32 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Crescent.

🗓️ Things To Do

12 p.m.: USA at 250 Art Exhibits at Del Ray Artisans
3 p.m.: Old Town North Farmers’ Market at 901 North Royal Street
5 p.m.: Rombauer Rodeo Wine Tasting at Sonoma Cellar
6 p.m.: Old Town Books Grown Up Book Fair at Continues
6:30 p.m.: Metropolitan School of the Arts to Present Cirque at Rachel Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center
7 p.m.: Alexandria Sister Cities Committee: Music of the American Revolution Concert at The Lyceum

🎶 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.
Blackwall Hitch: Saegin at 5 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: The Walkaways at 7 p.m.
Galactic Panther: Rap is Poetry Open Mic Night at 8 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: Gigi MacLaughlin at 6 p.m.
Lost Boy Cider: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Rook Richards & Luke James Shaffer at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Jester & The Mad Pranksters at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at 7:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: Free Flowing Musical Experience at 9 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

City Government: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Holiday Schedule: Juneteenth | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open at Minnie Howard campus
8 a.m.: In-Person Early Voting Begins for Aug. 4 primary at Office of Voter Registration and Elections, 132 N. Royal St.
10 a.m.: Memorial Pool Open
11 a.m.: Warwick Pool Open
noon: Old Town Pool Open
2 p.m.: Commission for Women Executive Board Meeting (virtual)
5:30 p.m.: ARHA Redevelopment Work Group Meeting
7 p.m.: Park and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting
7 p.m.: Alexandria's Sister Cities' Concert for America250 at the Lyceum
(City of Alexandria calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10:15 & 11:15 a.m.: Stories and Songs at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Storytime in the Reading Garden — Cuentos en el jardín de lectura at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
11 a.m.: Line Dancing 101 at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
noon: Line Dancing 201 at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
1:15 p.m.: Baby Bounce at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
2 p.m.: Nurturing Future Generations — Stories from the Heart of Grandfatherhood with Ted Page (virtual)
3 p.m.: Handcraft Crafternoon at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
3 p.m.: Carefull Knit & Crochet — America250 at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
5 p.m.: Addy's Juneteenth Picnic — an American Girl party at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
5:30 p.m.: Alexandria Oddball Cinema — See for Me at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons Adult Group at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons Teen Group at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
7 p.m.: Great Books Foundation Discussion Group (virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

No meetings or events are scheduled.
(ACPS calendar)

📜 On this day in Alexandria's history

Ivy Hill was Alexandria's first cemetery designed in the garden style — and the first to be situated, by intent, outside the dense urban grid of the city. It would remain in continuous use from that day forward. (Ivy Hill Cemetery)

On June 18, 1856, a horse-drawn omnibus left the corner of King and Washington streets every 15 minutes, carrying Alexandrians northwest along King Street to the formal dedication of Ivy Hill Cemetery. The ceremony featured hymns and prayers on a hillside above Timber Branch, on a 22-acre tract that had been a family burial ground for nearly half a century. By the day of the dedication, almost 80 burial lots had already been sold to Alexandria residents.

On June 18, 1812, President James Madison signed a congressional declaration of war against Great Britain, beginning the conflict known as the War of 1812. The vote in Congress had been the closest war declaration in American history to that point — divided along regional and party lines — but the grievances Madison cited were real and accumulating: years of Royal Navy harassment of American merchant ships on the Atlantic, the impressment of American seamen into British naval service, British armed support of Native nations in the Old Northwest, and a sense in Washington that British policy was, by design, treating the United States as something less than a sovereign nation.

The Alexandria Brief

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

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Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist. Send feedback, questions, story ideas, and news tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.