Daily Brief | May 4

ALEXANDRIA, Va - Good morning, Alexandria. It's Monday, May 4 — the 124th day of 2026, with 241 days left in the year. May the Fourth be with you.

Today marks six months of The Alexandria Brief.

I launched this newsletter in November because I believed Alexandria needed it. Now, 5,839 neighbors receive it every morning. 210 of you are paid members. We're approaching 1,200 stories published. And in April, we added wire coverage from The Associated Press — giving you access to regional and national news alongside everything local.

Here's what I've learned: when news breaks or events happen after 5 p.m. or on weekends, I'm often the only one covering them. That's not a flex. That's the assignment. I believe neighbors deserve to be able to read fair, balanced, and accurate coverage as soon as it's possible — regardless of when news breaks.

Local news without subscribers quietly disappears. The loss is invisible at first — until a zoning decision gets made with no one watching, or a budget passes that no one explains. The Brief exists because readers decided it should. It keeps existing for the same reason.

So here's the ask: if you want someone in the room at the next 7 p.m. meeting, the next Saturday groundbreaking, the next council vote — become a subscriber or paying member. That's how it stays.

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.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, for supporting, and for trusting me to cover the city we share. Here's to the next six months.

Here's what you need to know today.

~ Ryan

Driver on learner's permit cited after hitting 9-year-old with vehicle in Del Ray crosswalk

The collision occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. at Mt. Vernon Avenue and Kennedy Street, according to APD. (APD)

A driver on a learner's permit hit a 9-year-old girl with a vehicle in a Del Ray crosswalk Friday evening, and the child was transported to a hospital as a precaution, Alexandria police told The Alexandria Brief.

The driver, accompanied by a licensed driver as required for permit holders, remained on the scene and was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Alexandria unveils America250 garden flag as 250th events build through summer

Celebrate America's 250th anniversary in 2026 by adorning your garden with Alexandria's very own America250 garden flag. (City of Alexandria)

Historic Alexandria has released an official Alexandria America250 garden flag and is asking residents and businesses to take part in a citywide Plant for America250 initiative ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026.

The 18-by-12.5-inch vertical flag is made of cream-colored woven polyester with the America250 logo printed on both sides.

Here's more info on the flag and what else is coming up for 250th event.

Hank's Pasta Bar's official dine-in launch set for May 7, with grand opening ribbon cutting May 14

*The trattoria above Hank’s Oyster Bar, which features a build-your-own menu, marks a new direction for Chefs Jamie Leeds and Darren Norris.* (DebLindsey Photography/Hank's Pasta Bar)

Hank's Pasta Bar, the upstairs Italian concept above Hank's Oyster Bar in Old Town North, will officially launch full dine-in service on Thursday, May 7, followed a week later by a public grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, May 14.

The restaurant has actually been seating dine-in guests since Wednesday, April 15, in a soft opening used to work out operational details, fine-tune the menu and finish the dining-room build-out, publicist Aviva Goldfarb said in an email. May 7 is when "all the updates will be tested and live," Goldfarb said.

Alexandria launches 'Built to Last' Building Safety Month at Waterfront Park

Director of Code Administration Greg Fields opens the City of Alexandria's 14th annual Building Safety Month kickoff at Waterfront Park on Friday. Fields emceed the program and previewed how green construction, resiliency and artificial intelligence are reshaping the code field. *(Ryan Belmore/The Alexandria Brief)*

A clear sky, a 60-degree breeze off the Potomac, and the strains of "The Star-Spangled Banner" set the tone Friday morning as roughly 100 residents, code officials, contractors, and trade-association partners gathered at Waterfront Park for the kickoff of Alexandria's 14th annual Building Safety Month, under this year's national theme, "Built to Last."

The free event, hosted by the city's Code Administration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1A Prince Street, drew two dozen tents from sponsors, professional associations, and emergency-services agencies. The speaking program began just before noon, with Mayor Alyia Gaskins closing it by signing a proclamation that declared May 2026 Building Safety Month in Alexandria.

📰 In brief

⚓ In Alexandria

HRP Group will host a community meeting this evening at 6 p.m. regarding the transformation of the Potomac River Generating Station. This meeting will focus on the Development Special Use Permit submissions for Blocks B & C, the Waterfront Open Space, the Rail Corridor Open Space, and an update on project status and timeline. (Register via Zoom) (Read more)

Alexandria's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services will repave four streets and install speed cushions on two others during the week of May 4, the city announced in a Friday news release. (Read more)

The Alexandria City Council Naming Committee will broaden its outreach and consider additional names for Iverson Street after a public hearing Thursday drew limited resident feedback on a proposal to rename the Seminary Hill street. (Read more)

FedEx will convert its 4720 Eisenhower Ave. Ship Center to a FedEx Office storefront on June 29, the company told customers this week, ending the city's only dangerous-goods shipping and leaving the West End without a FedEx-operated counter. (Read more)

Beginning today through Sunday, May 10, the Torpedo Factory Art Center will host a special exhibition of Croatian Postage Stamps, presented through the joint efforts of the Croatian Post and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. (Read more)

Reminder: The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) began the first of three weekends of construction on Friday night on two replacement bridge spans across King Street and Commonwealth Avenue. This first construction period began Friday at 7 p.m. and is scheduled to finish by tonight at 10 p.m. CSX will restore track service by Tuesday at 5 a.m. (Read more)

🗞️ Beyond Alexandria

Gov. Spanberger is weighing whether to sign or veto legislation that would, for the first time, allow Virginians to file class action lawsuits in state courts — a shift advocates say would expand access to justice, but one that has drawn pushback over how far the change should go. (Virginia Mercury)

Thousands of Virginians will regain the right to vote next month. (Virginia Mercury)

🏀 Sports

Nasim Nuñez had a pair of run-scoring singles, CJ Abrams had two hits and scored twice, and the Washington Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep. (Read more)

Sofia Cantore scored two goals, Trinity Rodman added a goal and two assists, and the Washington Spirit won their fourth straight with a 4-2 victory over the Orlando Pride on Saturday. (Read more)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Sunny today, with a high near 78 degrees. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 60 degrees. South wind 7 to 9 mph.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:06 a.m., sunset at 8:04 p.m. 13 hours & 57 minutes of sun. High tide at 10:44 a.m. & 11:27 p.m. Low tide at 4:37 a.m. & 5:41 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

9 a.m.: Monday Morning Coffee Club at Rosemont Cellar
6 p.m.: Discover Croatia: A Journey Through Tiny Windows of History - Stamp Unveiling at Torpedo Factory Art Center
6 p.m.: HRP Group Virtual Community meeting on the transformation of the Potomac River Generating Station via Zoom
6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
6:30 p.m.: Alexandria Theology on Tap - Fr. Gregory Pine at Murphy's Grand Irish Pub

🎶 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
10 a.m.: Croatian Postage Stamp Exhibit at Torpedo Factory Art Center
1:30 p.m.: Commission on Aging Executive Committee Meeting
5 p.m.: Visit Alexandria Executive Committee Meeting
6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
(City of Alexandria calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.: Baby Time at Duncan Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Senior Bingo at Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Storytime in the Reading Garden at Beatley Central Library
3 p.m.: AAR Movie Series at Burke Branch Library
4 p.m.: Sensory Storytime at Duncan Branch Library
5 p.m.: Dungeons & Dragons at Burke Branch Library
5:30 p.m.: Teen Takeover at Beatley Central Library
6:30 p.m.: Stability in Motion - Yoga Class at Duncan Branch Library
7 p.m.: Let's Talk Books! - "Land of Milk and Honey" by C. Pam Zhang (virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

6 p.m.: School Board Meeting (Closed Session) at School Board Meeting Room
6:30 p.m.: Athletic Hall of Fame Advisory Committee Meeting at ACHS Media Center
(ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)

📷 Scene in Alexandria

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! Alexandria City Public Schools recently asked Francis C. Hammond Middle School students and staff to share their favorite teacher memories and reflect on the lasting impact educators have made in their lives. (Watch video on Facebook if it doesn't load here)

The Alexandria Brief

Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.

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.