Daily Brief | June 2

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Tuesday, June 2— the 153rd day of 2026, with 212 days left in the year.

Alexandria City Public Schools has officially launched its search for a new superintendent to succeed Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt, who announced in March she'll retire Oct. 1. The board has hired national firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates and opened a community survey, with virtual and in-person community engagement sessions set for June 4 and June 10. The board's last search, in 2022-23, drew 35 applicants and took roughly seven months.

In other news: Thai Peppers, the Mount Vernon Avenue mainstay since 1998, will serve its last meal at the Del Ray location on June 15 after 28 years. Alexandria's first tech startup accelerator — Accelerate ALX, focused on AI, cybersecurity, defense, and a handful of other deep-tech sectors — is now accepting applications, offering mentorship and no-equity participation to founders. And tonight at 6:30 p.m., the Planning Commission takes up the city's draft Housing 2040 plan, the 15-year blueprint that will replace the 2014 Housing Master Plan.

Here's what you need to know today.

1️⃣ ACPS launches superintendent search with community sessions set for June 4 and June 10

Alexandria City School Board Meeting Room (ACPS)

Alexandria City Public Schools has launched its search for a new superintendent, hiring a national search firm and opening a community survey Monday as the district begins the process of replacing Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt, who announced in March she will retire Oct. 1, 2026.

The Alexandria City School Board has partnered with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates — known as HYA — a nationally recognized executive search firm specializing in educational leadership recruitment. The board used McPherson & Jacobson to conduct its last superintendent search in 2022-23, which drew 35 applicants and took roughly seven months from launch to appointment.

2️⃣ Thai Peppers closing its Del Ray location after 28 years; final day is June 15

Thai Peppers, a fixture on Mount Vernon Avenue since 1998, will serve its last meal at its Del Ray location on June 15, the family announced on Instagram Monday.

The restaurant at 2018 Mount Vernon Ave. has been a neighborhood institution for nearly three decades — a place the family described as the setting for "family dinners, first dates, celebrations, comfort meals, and memories shared with generations of our community."

3️⃣ Applications open for Accelerate ALX, Alexandria's first tech startup accelerator

Meet the team behind Accelerate ALX during an info session on June 16 and learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, application process, and what selected founders can expect from the inaugural cohort. (AEDP)

Alexandria's first startup accelerator is now accepting applications, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership announced Monday, marking the latest milestone in a program months in the making.

The program, named Accelerate ALX, is open to Alexandria-based founders building companies in artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, defense, quantum computing, energy, aerospace, robotics and computer services. The accelerator offers mentorship, strategic guidance and ecosystem connections at no cost to participants, with no equity taken.

4️⃣ Alexandria releases draft Housing 2040 plan, public hearing set for tonight

The City of Alexandria released the draft Housing 2040 Plan on May 22 ahead of a June 2 Planning Commission hearing. (City of Alexandria)

The city's Office of Housing has released a draft of Housing 2040, a 15-year blueprint for Alexandria's housing policy, and the Planning Commission is scheduled to take it up at a public hearing tonight.

Housing 2040 would replace the Housing Master Plan that Alexandria adopted in January 2014, which guided city housing policy, programs and investments through 2025. The new plan updates and broadens that earlier framework with new principles, goals and strategies aimed at the housing challenges the city expects to face over the next 15 years, the Office of Housing said.

📰 In brief

Rosy Noguchi, coordinator of Alexandria's Medical Reserve Corps, will receive the 2026 Flora K. Casey Public Health Award, the city's Public Health Advisory Commission announced Monday. (The Alexandria Brief)

A memorial honoring the 67 victims of the mid-air collision involving American Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter has been unveiled in Alexandria near Rivergate Park. (Fox5DC)

A memorial along the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia was dedicated Monday to the 67 people who died in the midair collision in January of last year. (NBC4)

Region

Advocates for a Virginia marriage equality amendment gathered in Richmond on Monday to push for constitutional protections ahead of the November 2026 referendum. Alexandria Democrat Del. Kirk McPike, who is also campaign co-chair, said marriage equality advocates will engage voters in communities statewide in the coming months. (The Alexandria Brief)

Sports

Sandy Alcantara pitched seven steady innings and the Miami Marlins hit three home runs, snapping their five-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday night. (The Alexandria Brief)

The Washington Nationals continue their home series tonight against the Miami Marlins at 6:45 p.m., looking to even the set before Wednesday's afternoon finale.

The Washington Mystics host the Chicago Sky tonight at 7:30 p.m. at CareFirst Arena.

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: Sunny, with a high near 76 degrees. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 57 degrees. Light north wind.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:44 a.m., sunset at 8:28 p.m. 14 hours & 44 minutes of sun.

High tide at 10:18 a.m. & 11:01 p.m. Low tide at 4:13 a.m. & 5:15 p.m.

The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

7 p.m.: Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Company
7:30 p.m.: Bravoholics Summer House Reunion Watch Parties at The Cooper Mill

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Holly Montgomery 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.
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: Round About 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: Happy Together Tour 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
The Commodore: Trivia at 7 p.m.
The Garden Del Ray: Trivia at 7 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

City Government: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open
4 p.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open at Minnie Howard campus
4:30 p.m.: Old Town Pool Open
6 p.m.: Alexandria Police Department Evening Hiring Event
6:30 p.m.: Planning Commission Public Hearing
7 p.m.: Arts Commission Executive Committee Meeting
7:30 p.m.: Public Records Advisory Commission Meeting at the Archives and Records Center
(City of Alexandria calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: Sunshine Readers Book Club (outdoors) at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:15 a.m.: Family Storytime — Martes de niños at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
10:15 & 11:15 a.m.: Rocknoceros at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Bilingual Storytime — Hora de cuentos bilingüe at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
11 a.m.: Baby and Toddler Time — La hora de los bebés y los niños at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
5 p.m.: Duncan and Dragons — Arkipeligo at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
6 p.m.: Divorce: What You Need To Know at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
(Alexandria Library calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

7:30 a.m.: Operational Excellence Committee via Zoom
3:30 p.m.: Virtual Job Fair Series : Student Services/Special Education via Zoom
(ACPS calendar)

ACHS Titans Sports

No games scheduled.
(ACHS Titans sports calendar)

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, story ideas, news, and tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.