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Good morning, Alexandria. It's Wednesday, June 3— the 154th day of 2026, with 211 days left in the year.
Three event-driven stories shape today's edition. The city is asking for input on a Safe Routes to School proposal along Russell Road near Naomi Brooks Elementary that could remove up to 20 on-street parking spaces in Rosemont — the comment window closes June 10. The West End Business Association's inaugural Best of the West End Festival is just three days away, with the full vendor map and lineup now out ahead of Saturday's free event at Cameron Station. And Alexandria Pride returns June 27 with its largest lineup yet — 100 exhibitors, drag story hours, free health services, and live music at John Carlyle Square Park.
Heads up for the rest of the week: FOX 5 broadcasts live from Waterfront Park on Friday morning from 7 to 11 a.m. as part of its Zip Trips series. The public is invited to attend. And the weather is on Alexandria's side again today — sunny and near 83 degrees, the warmest day yet this week, good for the city's community cookout tonight at Princess Square.
Here's what you need to know today.
1️⃣ City seeks input on Russell Road parking changes near Naomi Brooks Elementary; comment deadline June 10
The City of Alexandria is seeking public feedback on proposed pedestrian safety improvements along Russell Road near Naomi Brooks Elementary School that could remove as many as 20 on-street parking spaces in the Rosemont neighborhood.
The project, part of the city's Safe Routes to School program, focuses on a stretch of Russell Road between West Maple and West Myrtle streets. Two design concepts are under consideration.
2️⃣ Best of the West End Festival is this Saturday — here's what to know
The West End Business Association's inaugural Best of the West End Festival is four days away, and organizers have released a full event map and vendor lineup ahead of Saturday's celebration in Cameron Station.
The festival runs noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 6, along Ben Brenman Park Drive. Admission is free.
Read more: Best of the West End Festival is this Saturday — here's what to know
3️⃣ Alexandria Pride returns June 27 with 100 exhibitors, drag story hours and live music at John Carlyle Square Park
Alexandria's annual Pride fair returns later this month with its largest lineup yet, bringing 100 exhibitors, live music, drag story hours and free health services to John Carlyle Square Park on Saturday, June 27.
The 9th Annual Alexandria Pride runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at John Carlyle Square Park, 825 John Carlyle St. Admission is free and the event is open to the community.
4️⃣ FOX 5 to broadcast live from Alexandria's waterfront Friday morning as part of annual Zip Trips series
FOX 5 will broadcast live from Alexandria's Waterfront Park this Friday morning as part of its annual Zip Trips summer series, which highlights communities across the Washington region each week.
The four-hour broadcast runs from 7 to 11 a.m. Friday, June 5, at Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St. The public is encouraged to attend.
📰 In brief
The Alexandria Black History Museum will host a free lecture and book signing Saturday morning featuring Jeffrey Bennett, author of The Black Belt of Virginia: Untold Stories of African American History. (The Alexandria Brief)
Experts from academia, clinical care, industry ,and government gathered in Alexandria to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are rapidly reshaping pediatric health, from early-stage scientific discovery to real-world clinical care. (Virginia Tech)
The Alexandria Library welcomed nine young artists to display a creation of their choice for library visitors to admire. (Theogony)
VRE will operate on the S+ Schedule today due to the Long Bridge project and construction at Alexandria Station. Visit the schedules page to view the S+ schedule and plan your commute.
Region
The Trump administration is scrapping plans to create a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of the Republican president, the Justice Department's top official said Tuesday in retreating from a program that faced setbacks in the courts and a fierce political backlash that had threatened to stall key elements of the White House agenda. (The Alexandria Brief)
Sports
Joe Mack, Heriberto Hernández and Otto Lopez hit successive home runs in the fifth inning to power the Miami Marlins past the Washington Nationals 7-3 on Tuesday night. (The Alexandria Brief)
The Washington Nationals close their series with the Miami Marlins this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at Nationals Park, trying to avoid a sweep before heading west for a four-city road trip beginning Friday in Arizona.
Shakira Austin scored 17 points, Kiki Iriafen had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and the Washington Mystics beat the Chicago Sky 90-72 on Tuesday night. (The Alexandria Brief)
Today in Alexandria
📰 June 3 in Alexandria history: The Alexandria Herald begins publication, joining the city's early newspaper landscape
On June 3, 1811, John Corse and Nathaniel Rounsavell published the first edition of The Alexandria Herald, a six-page semiweekly newspaper that would chronicle Alexandria's commercial and civic life for the next 15 years and circulate national news, including some of President James Madison's addresses on the War of 1812.
⛅ Weather
Sunny, with a high near 83 degrees. North wind 5 to 9 mph. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 60 degrees. Calm wind.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:44 a.m., sunset at 8:29 p.m. 14 hours & 45 minutes of sun.
High tide at 10:52 a.m. & 11:36 p.m. Low tide at 4:50 a.m. & 5:49 p.m.
The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 6 p.m.: 2026 Global Running Day 5k/10k at Port City Brewing Company
- 7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
- Aslin ALX: Majjong at 6:30 p.m.
- Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
- Augie's: Live music at 5 p.m.
- Evening Star Cafe: Open Mic at 6 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: Line Dancing at 6:30 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Port City Brewing Company: Bluegrass Jam Night at 7 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- Southside 815: Rook Richards at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Happy Together Tour 2026 at 7:30 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
- 10 a.m.: Alexandria Transit Company (ATC) Board Committee Meeting (virtual)
- noon: Commission on Employment Executive Meeting
- 4 p.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open at Minnie Howard campus
- 4:30 p.m.: Warwick Pool Open at Warwick pool
- 6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Princess Square (300 block of N. West Street)
- 7 p.m.: Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing
- 7 p.m.: Independent Community Policing Review Board Meeting
- (City of Alexandria calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- 10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Stitcher's Space at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 11 a.m.: Just Babies — Solo Los Bebés at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- noon: Author Talk — "The Crown's Silence: The Hidden History of the British Monarchy and Slavery" with historian Brooke Newman (virtual)
- 2 p.m.: 250th Film Festival — "Glory" at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 2 p.m.: Author Talk — State Fair Crafts with Smithsonian Curator Mary Savig (virtual)
- 4 p.m.: Paws to Read at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 6 p.m.: The America 250 Book Club at Local History/Special Collections
- 7 p.m.: Monthly Meditation (virtual)
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools
- 6 p.m.: Alexandria City Community Cookout at Princess Square
- (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.
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