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Good morning, Alexandria. It's Wednesday, May 13 — the 133rd day of 2026, with 232 days left in the year.
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History was made last night.
Sandy Marks was sworn in as Alexandria's newest council member, giving the city its first female-majority council in its 276-year history. Marks — the 17th woman to serve on the dais — read aloud the names of all 16 women who came before her, then told a capacity crowd: "The days of timidity are over. We need to make some moves."
Her first major vote comes Saturday.
Council holds its monthly public hearing at 9:30 a.m., with the contested Braddock Road bike lane appeal headlining the docket. Both sides have been making their case for months — on listservs, in petitions, on yard signs, at a six-hour hearing in February. Saturday, the seven members on the dais decide.
Here's what you need to know today.
~ Ryan
Programming note: I'm off my normal publishing schedule and frequency for a few days. I'll be back up to speed on Monday.
1️⃣ Alexandria City Council to weigh Braddock Road bike lane appeal at Saturday public hearing
The Alexandria City Council will hold its monthly public hearing on Saturday, May 16, at 9:30 a.m., with a contested Braddock Road bike lane appeal headlining a docket that also covers a new Old Town Pool, several city property leases and a slate of zoning changes.
The meeting will be held at City Council Chambers inside the Del Pepper Community Resource Center at 4850 Mark Center Drive, with electronic participation available via Zoom webinar.
Read the full story: Alexandria City Council to weigh Braddock Road bike lane appeal at Saturday public hearing
2️⃣ Alexandria to host virtual community update on waterfront flood mitigation project May 18
The City of Alexandria will host a virtual community update meeting on the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project on Monday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom webinar.
City staff will provide an overview of the impact of the National Park Service's position reversal and escalating project costs, the findings of the 1 Prince Street cost analysis, alternative flood mitigation options that have been considered and an overview of the infrastructure concept under development given the project changes.
Read the full story: Alexandria to host virtual community update on waterfront flood mitigation project May 18
3️⃣ Alexandria's Out of School Time Power-On Program opens registration for 2026-27 year
The City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities will offer its Out of School Time Power-On Program for children in kindergarten through sixth grade during the 2026-27 school year, with registration beginning next month.
The afterschool program will run Monday, Aug. 24, through Thursday, June 17, from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Start and end dates are subject to change based on the Alexandria City Public Schools traditional school calendar.
Read the full story: Alexandria's Out of School Time Power-On Program opens registration for 2026-27 year
4️⃣ Sandy Marks sworn in, giving Alexandria first female-majority council
Sandy Marks was sworn in to the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday night, giving the city its first female-majority council in its 276-year history. A capacity crowd packed the Del Pepper Community Resource Center for the ceremony, where Marks — the 17th woman to serve on the dais — read aloud the names of all 16 women who came before her. "Because of the events of this evening, because of the will of the citizens of Alexandria, Virginia, the first female-led governing majority was just born," Marks said to a standing ovation.
With her swearing-in, two Jewish women now serve on council — Marks joins Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley. Asked about her priorities, Marks pointed to education, housing affordability, climate justice, and economic development. "The days of timidity are over," she said. "We need to make some moves."
Read the full story via The Zebra: Sandy Marks Sworn In, Giving Alexandria First Female-Majority Council
📰 In brief
Crash shuts down S. Alfred Street in Alexandria (DC News Now)
U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine on Tuesday announced $21,024,663 in federal funding to improve airport infrastructure across Virginia. (Kaine)
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE), and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-OR) today welcomed Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA) as a new Co-Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. (Beyer)
After Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed twin bills on Monday, Virginia is now on track to establish a paid family and medical leave program by 2028. The new law builds on the governor’s campaign promises and several years of work by state lawmakers who have long championed the measure. (Virginia Mercury)
James Wood hit his 12th home run of the season, and Luis Garcia Jr. and Daylen Lile each went deep twice as part of a six-homer night by the Washington Nationals in a 10-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. (The Alexandria Brief)
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
A chance of showers today between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 78 degrees. South wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Showers and thunderstorms tonight before 1 a.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 54 degrees. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:57 a.m., sunset at 8:12 p.m. 14 hours & 15 minutes of sun. High tide at 5:46 a.m. & 6:16 p.m. Low tide at 12:31 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Crescent.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 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.
- Aslin ALX: Mahjong at 6:30 p.m.
- Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
- Augie's: Mackenzie Ryan at 5 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.
- The Birchmere: Marc Broussard with Sway Wild at 7:30 p.m.
🏛️ City of Alexandria
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin
- 8 a.m.: Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
- 9 a.m.: Walk In Wednesday Hiring Event — Alexandria Police Department
- 11 a.m.: Alexandria Police Department Blood Drive — open to APD personnel and city residents
- 5:30 p.m.: Alexandria Transit Co. Board of Directors Meeting
- 5:30 p.m.: ACRP Steering Committee
- 6 p.m.: Community Cookout
- 6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
- 6:30 p.m.: Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission Meeting
- (City of Alexandria calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Stitcher's Space at Burke Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time at Beatley Central Library
- 11 a.m.: Just Babies at Barrett Branch Library
- 3:30 p.m.: Ink & Intrigue: Burke's Mystery Book Club - "A Rising Man" by Abir Mukherjee (virtual)
- 5 p.m.: Spitfire Club at Duncan Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop at Beatley Central Library
- 6 p.m.: Literary Virginia Book Group: "Hell Put to Shame" (virtual)
- 6:30 p.m.: English Language Learning at Duncan Branch Library
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools
- 6 p.m.: Alexandria City Community Cookout at Mason at Van Dorn Apartments
- (ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)
📜 Alexandria History
On May 13, 1904, in the center of the intersection of Prince and South Washington Streets, a decorative iron fence, cast iron urns and landscaping was installed around the statue Appomattox, the location where upwards of 800 Alexandria troops gathered in the early morning hours of May 24, 1861 as Union troops began their Civil War occupation of Alexandria. In May 1889, the statue sculpted by Caspar Buberl, based on a soldier in John Elder’s battlefield painting of the same name, was installed at the site. The statue and monument originally stood on roads of dirt and cobblestone, which were improved in 1897 with asphalt. In 1901, the land around the monument was enhanced with grass, floral beds, and granite curbing in a quatrefoil design. Four gas lamps lighted the plot, which measured 60 by 40 feet. The fencing, installed in 1904, was later damaged when a bicyclist crashed into it. As automobile traffic increased, the park-like grounds around the statue were reduced and in 1923, the land was rounded into a circle, with a diameter of approximately 20 feet. In the early 1930s, construction of the George Washington Parkway, which incorporated the full length of Washington Street, had the greatest impact. Landscaping was eliminated, leaving a small circle of grass and a simple curb around the monument base.
The Alexandria Brief
Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.
Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist.
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Send feedback, story ideas, news, and tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
