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Good morning, Alexandria. It's Monday, May 18— the 138th day of 2026, with 227 days left in the year.
Developing: An officer-involved shooting occurred earlier this morning during a "critical incident" at 27 Canterbury Square, according to the Alexandria Police Department. APD says there is no ongoing threat to the community. More information to come as it becomes available.
A personal note before we get into the rest of the news.
Last week was a whirlwind. My wife and I were in Italy for her niece's wedding when we learned her father had passed away back home in Missouri. Our hearts are both full and heavy — celebrating a beautiful wedding in Varese while saying a goodbye we could never be ready for.
Thank you for your patience and grace with The Alexandria Brief and me last week as I attempted to balance it all. There's still travel and challenges ahead as our family works through this, but I'm back at it. I'm grateful for every one of you who reads and supports this newsletter — and I don't take any of it for granted.
Now, the news.
Dublin → Dulles → my desk. Same Alexandria City Council meeting the whole way. 3,300+ miles, one agenda item.
The Braddock Road bike lane plan is moving forward. City Council voted 4-3 Saturday night to uphold the Traffic and Parking Board's February approval, ending more than 10 hours of staff presentation, public comment, and deliberation. Mayor Gaskins, Vice Mayor Bagley, and Council Members Aguirre and Marks voted in favor. Greene, Chapman, and Elnoubi voted against. Two modifications were attached: a parking bay restored next to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and potential midblock crosswalks subject to feasibility review.
In lighter news: Crooked Run Fermentation has signed a lease for its first Alexandria taproom at 2003 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. Opening later this year.
Tonight at 6:30 p.m., the city hosts a virtual update on the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project — expect discussion on NPS's position reversal and escalating costs.
Sunny and 95 degrees today. Summer is here.
Here's what you need to know today.
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1️⃣ City Council upholds Braddock Road bike lane plan in 4-3 vote
Alexandria's City Council voted 4-3 just after 8:30 p.m. Saturday to uphold the Traffic and Parking Board's February approval of protected bike lanes and parking removal along Braddock Road, ending more than 10 hours of staff presentation, public comment, and deliberation on one of the most contested transportation decisions of the council's year.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, and Council Members Canek Aguirre and Sandy Marks voted in favor. Council Members Jacinta Greene, John Taylor Chapman, and Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi voted against.
The council attached two modifications to the project: a parking bay will be restored next to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on West Braddock Road, and additional midblock crosswalks may be added along the corridor, subject to feasibility review.
I'll have more reaction and coverage throughout the day today.
Read more: City Council upholds Braddock Road bike lane plan in 4-3 vote
2️⃣ Crooked Run begins rolling out details of Del Ray taproom after signing lease
Crooked Run Fermentation has signed a lease for its first Alexandria taproom and begun sharing details of the concept, co-founder Jake Endres said in a Substack post Saturday.
Construction is underway at 2003 Mount Vernon Avenue, the former home of neighborhood dessert shop Dolce & Bean, and the 800-square-foot space is on pace to open later this year, Endres wrote. The Northern Virginia brewery filed an Industry Brewery Application with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority for the Del Ray address in March, as The Alexandria Brief first reported.
Read the full story: Crooked Run begins rolling out details of Del Ray taproom after signing lease
3️⃣ Traffic board to weigh food truck relocation, house manager parking permits Monday
The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board will consider relocating a food truck vending zone, creating a new parking permit for in-home house managers and shifting a passenger pickup zone in Old Town when it meets Monday evening.
The board's 7 p.m. hearing at 2900 Business Center Drive will take up three public hearing items along with a consent agenda addressing parking and turn restrictions. The public can attend in person or via Zoom.
Read the full story: Traffic board to weigh food truck relocation, house manager parking permits Monday
📰 In brief
The City of Alexandria will host a virtual community update meeting on the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project tonight at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. (The Alexandria Brief)
The City of Alexandria has mailed first-half 2026 real estate tax bills, refuse fees and stormwater utility fees to property owners and mortgage companies, with payment due Monday, June 15, the city announced Friday. (The Alexandria Brief)
Lifestyle & Performance Fitness celebrated the grand opening of its new boutique personal training studio in Del Ray on Saturday, May 16, with a ribbon cutting, studio tours, trainer meet-and-greets and a raffle of personal training sessions. (The Alexandria Brief)
Gunnar Henderson hit his 10th homer and was 4 for 5 with two RBIs to help the Baltimore Orioles avoid a series sweep with a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday. (The Alexandria Brief)
Candidates for ACHS principal share their plans with the community. (Theogony)
The City of Alexandria invites the public to join them for the Student Work Showcase and Community Meeting #6 for the Duke Street Land Use Plan on May 28 at Patrick Henry. Student Work Showcase from 6:30-7:15 p.m., Community Meeting from 7:15-8:30 p.m. (City of Alexandria)
The Alexandria City Council is seeking applicants to fill the vacancies on City of Alexandria boards, commissions, and committees. Council will act on these vacancies at the June 9, 2026, City Council meeting (City of Alexandria)
Citywide street repaving work will not take place the week of May 18-22 due to contractor staffing levels and equipment availability. (City of Alexandria)
Va. officials celebrate the bald eagle’s comeback and centuries as national symbol. (Virginia Mercury)
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation that directs regulators to assign electricity costs to data centers and allows Dominion Energy to spend $900,000 a mile burying local distribution lines. (Inside Climate News)
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Sunny today, with a high near 95 degrees. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 71 degrees. South wind 6 to 9 mph.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:52 a.m., sunset at 8:17 p.m. 14 hours & 24 minutes of sun. High tide at 9:54 a.m. & 10:40 p.m. Low tide at 4:02 a.m. & 5:09 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Crescent.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 4 p.m.: Ice Cream Fundraiser for Lady Parts Road Show at Jeni's Ice Cream
- 6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Clyde’s at Mark Center: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant: Traditional Irish Music at 7 p.m.
- Del Ray Public House: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Epicure on King: Open Mic at 7 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Jim West at 6 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Colby Sard at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
🏛️ City of Alexandria
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin
- 1 p.m.: Commission on Aging Housing Committee
- 4 p.m.: Duke Street Land Use Plan Office Hours (virtual)
- 5 p.m.: Visit Alexandria Board of Governors Meeting
- 5 p.m.: City Council/School Board Subcommittee Meeting
- 5 p.m.: Medicare 101 Presentation
- 6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
- 6:30 p.m.: Waterfront Flood Mitigation Community Update (virtual)
- 7 p.m.: Alexandria Citizen Corps Council Meeting
- 7 p.m.: George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee
- 7 p.m.: Social Services Advisory Board
- 7 p.m.: Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Meeting
- 7 p.m.: Traffic and Parking Board Meeting
- 7 p.m.: BAR Design Guidelines Committee Meeting
- 7:30 p.m.: Environmental Policy Commission Regular Meeting
- (City of Alexandria calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit at Local History/Special Collections
- All day: America 250 Community Mini Art Show at Burke Branch Library
- 9 a.m.: Exhibit: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka at Local History/Special Collections
- 1 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) at Burke Branch Library
- 3 p.m.: AAR Movie Series at Burke Branch Library
- 5 p.m.: Dungeons & Dragons at Burke Branch Library
- 5 p.m.: Medicare 101 at Barrett Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop at Beatley Central Library
- 5:30 p.m.: The CHAT - Change Happens with Alexandria Teens at Beatley Central Library
- 6 p.m.: Horror Fans Unite! at Barrett Branch Library
- 6:30 p.m.: Finding Your Way In: An Enneagram Exploration at Duncan Branch Library
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools
- 5 p.m.: Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee Meeting at School Board Meeting Room
- (ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)
📜 Alexandria History
- Nothing historical to share today.
The Alexandria Brief
Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.
Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist.
The Alexandria Brief has no ads, no paywall, and no corporate owner. Support this work with a monthly or annual subscription, or a one-time contribution.
Send feedback, story ideas, news, and tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
