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Good morning, Alexandria. It's Friday, May 22— the 142nd day of 2026, with 223 days left in the year.
Thank you to the 242 readers who support The Brief. Your subscriptions and contributions keep this newsletter free for all 5,901 of us — and keep me doing the work. I'm grateful for every one of you.
A few things to start your long weekend: a regional board has awarded Alexandria $160,000 for a citywide bike network study and a safety review of Mount Vernon Avenue, the city's outdoor pools open for the season tomorrow with a discount still available on passes, and our full guide to a (rainy) Memorial Day weekend is below. Bring an umbrella today — it's a near-certain washout, with a high of just 62 degrees and a 100% chance of rain.
Here's what you need to know today.
1️⃣ TPB approves $160K for Alexandria bike network, Mount Vernon Avenue safety study
Alexandria will receive $160,000 in technical assistance for a citywide bicycle network analysis and a safety study along Mount Vernon Avenue after the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board approved the awards at its meeting Wednesday in Washington.
The board signed off on $980,000 across 12 local planning projects through two regional programs — the Transportation Land-Use Connections (TLC) Program and the Regional Roadway Safety Program (RRSP). Alexandria drew funding under both, with its awards split evenly between the two. As previewed Tuesday, every funded project this year is in Maryland or Virginia.
Read more: TPB approves $160K for Alexandria bike network, Mount Vernon Avenue safety study
2️⃣ What's happening in Alexandria this Memorial Day weekend: May 22-25
A wet start gives way to a brighter finish this Memorial Day weekend. Friday and Saturday look soggy, with showers and a 90% chance of rain both days and highs stuck in the low 60s — so the farmers markets, walking tours, and the season's first pool openings may come with a poncho. The skies start clearing Sunday, climbing to a near-75 high, and Memorial Day itself should land mostly cloudy and warm, around 79, with just a chance of an afternoon shower.
Rain or shine, there's plenty on the calendar: Old Town and Del Ray farmers markets, history tours from Gadsby's Tavern to the Lee-Fendall House, live music every night, and on Monday, a Memorial Day ceremony honoring Capt. Rocky Versace and the 68 Alexandrians lost in the Vietnam War.
Here's a look at everything on the calendar this weekend.
Read more: What's happening in Alexandria this Memorial Day weekend: May 22-25
3️⃣ Chamber ALX names second 40 Over 40 class for 2026
The Chamber ALX on Thursday announced its second annual 40 Over 40 class, recognizing 40 accomplished professionals across business, government, education, the arts, nonprofits and other fields.
The chamber said the program honors leaders who exemplify wisdom, experience and long-term impact, and whose professional achievements and community leadership continue to shape the city. It plans to spotlight each honoree on social media in the coming weeks.
Read more: Chamber ALX names second 40 Over 40 class for 2026
4️⃣ League of Women Voters to host Alexandria post-legislative town hall May 28
Alexandria residents can put questions to their state lawmakers next week at a post-legislative town hall hosted by the League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City.
The free event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at the temporary City Council chambers inside the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive.
Scheduled to attend are state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39), House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-4), Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3) and Del. Kirk McPike (D-5). The League says the lawmakers will discuss this year's General Assembly session, answer questions and take part in a community conversation about issues facing Alexandria and Virginia.
Read more: League of Women Voters to host Alexandria post-legislative town hall May 28
5️⃣ Alexandria's outdoor pools open Saturday with 15% off season passes
Alexandria's three outdoor pools open for the season Saturday, May 23, and residents have until May 25 to lock in a 15% discount on season passes, the city's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities announced.
Memorial Pool, Warwick Pool and Old Town Pool will all open Saturday, along with the free Potomac Yard Park Interactive Fountain. Resident teen passes for swimmers ages 13 to 17 are $39 for the full season.
Read more: Alexandria's outdoor pools open Saturday with 15% off season passes
📰 In brief
The City of Alexandria has posted a new City Council group photo following the May 12 swearing-in of Councilwoman Sandy Marks, who won a special election to fill the seat. The council is now Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, and council members Canek Aguirre, John Taylor Chapman, Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi, Jacinta Greene, and Sandy Marks. (City of Alexandria)
From a feature film to reality TV and a couple of short films, here's what's looking for actors and extras in and around the city right now. (The Alexandria Brief)
Historic Alexandria welcomes guests to an evening of fun, games, and history at the Annual Pride Month Edition of Tavern Games Night at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum on June 5. (City of Alexandria)
The red-and-white checkered colours of Croatia are already rolling through the streets of Alexandria as excitement builds ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (The Dubrovnik Times)
Reminder: All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Other schedule changes and closures are listed here. (City of Alexandria)
Region
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on Thursday approved the design for the triumphal arch that President Donald Trump wants built at an entrance to the nation's capital, a key step in the project's process but one that has no immediate bearing on the timeline for construction. (The Alexandria Brief)
The Virginia Railway Express is making it easy to celebrate Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation in style this year, with the return of VRE Fireworks Trains on Saturday, July 4, 2026. (VRE)
Virginia will remain one of only two states without a formal class action process in its state courts after Gov. Abigail Spanberger this week vetoed legislation that would have allowed groups of Virginians with similar legal claims to sue collectively in a single case. (Virginia Mercury)
The U.S. Department of Education’s move last week to dissolve an office dedicated to ensuring that English learners and immigrant students gain English proficiency and academic success has prompted uncertainty among Virginia’s schools and students. (Virginia Mercury)
Sports
Bo Bichette hit a two-run single, David Peterson earned his first victory as a starter this season, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 Thursday to earn a four-game series split. (The Alexandria Brief)
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: Showers. High near 62 degrees. Northeast wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch are possible.
Tonight: Showers. Low around 51 degrees. East wind 7 to 9 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:50 a.m., sunset at 8:20 p.m. 14 hours & 30 minutes of sun. High tide at 1:33 a.m. & 1:48 p.m. Low tide at 7:57 a.m. & 8:40 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Crescent.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 8 a.m.: WEBA May Coffee & Collaboration at Van Dorn Diner
- 6:30 p.m.: Friday Night Run Club at Daniel O'Connell's
- 7 p.m.: Guided Meditation with Cats at Mount Purrnon Cat Café & Wine Bar
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Phil Gates at 9 p.m.
- Alexandria Bier Garden: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Blackwall Hitch: Merlon Devine at 5 p.m.
- Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
- Daniel O'Connell's: Luke Shaffer at 9:30 p.m.
- Del Ray Public House: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Epicure on King: Live music at 6:30 p.m.
- Evening Star Cafe: Starryville at 8:30 p.m.
- Galactic Panther: Superplex, George Peters and Michael C. Michael at 7 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Lenny Stevens at 6 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 7:30 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: Chris Rote at 7 p.m.
- Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
- Murphy’s Pub: Rocky Guttmann & Rook Richards at 9 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Everyday Catastrophe, One Slack Mind, and Blazoner at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- St. Elmo's Del Ray: Poetry Reading at 7 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Marcus Miller at 7:30 p.m.
- The Light Horse: Lloyd Braun Band at 9:30 p.m.
- The Little Theatre of Alexandria: The Drowsy Chaperone at 8 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.
🏛️ City of Alexandria
City Government: Open | Flag Status: Full Staff | Trash Collection: 1-Day Slide | Recycling Collection: On Time | Yard Waste Collection: 1-Day Slide
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
- (City of Alexandria calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit — The Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program at Local History/Special Collections
- All day: America 250 Community Mini Art Show at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 9 a.m.: Exhibit: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka — The Struggle and Beyond at Local History/Special Collections
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools
- No meetings are scheduled.
- (ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)
Ryan Belmore
📜 On this day in Alexandria History
On May 22, 1802, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, wife of the nation's first president, died of a severe fever at age 70, in the small, third-floor bed-chamber at Mount Vernon that she had moved to after her husband’s death in 1799. In the extended period of her bereavement, her health declined steadily, and a visitor to Mount Vernon in 1801 remarked, “She speaks of death as a pleasant journey.” Although technically America’s first “First Lady” that term was not in presidential jargon at the time George Washington served as Commander in Chief, and she was instead referred to simply as “Lady Washington.” A year after Washington died, his widow freed all slaves previously under his ownership and closed up their former bedroom on the second floor of the expansive residence, moving to a small room on the third floor. She was interred beside the “Father of Our County” on the grounds of the estate.
On May 22, 1947, Alexandria’s largest movie theatre, the Virginia, was dedicated at 601 First Street, with the feature presentation “Carnival in Costa Rica” starring Dick Haymes, as the opening night billing. The new theatre added 1,200 seats to the city’s theatre inventory, far surpassing its closest competitors, the Reed Theatre at 1,100 and the Vernon at 980 seats respectively, and increasing capacity at the city’s nine theatres to 9,000 seats. Designed by architects John and Drew Eberson, the theatre reportedly had the largest stage and screen in the Washington metropolitan area. The General Electric Co. featured the new and innovative lighting installed in the theatre as part of its nationwide advertising in 1949.
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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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