Daily Brief | May 6

ALEXANDRIA, Va - Good morning, Alexandria. It's Wednesday, May 6 — the 126th day of 2026, with 239 days left in the year.

First, the traffic update: As of last night, King Street and Commonwealth Avenue were expected to remain closed this morning after VRE bridge work stretched into a third day. Last night, the city said the intersections should reopen this morning.

This is Alexandria Police Week. At 1 p.m. today, APD will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the Fallen Officers Memorial outside department headquarters on Wheeler Avenue. The memorial, unveiled in 2015, honors the 18 Alexandria officers who have died in the line of duty since the department was established in 1870. Tomorrow brings a waterfront wreath laying at 9 a.m. and a memorial church service at 11 a.m. All three events are free and open to the public.

Tonight at 6 p.m., the city kicks off its 19th annual Community Cookout series at Mount Vernon Recreation Center — free food, activities, and a chance to connect with neighbors and city resources. If needed, there is a rain date set for tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Here's what you need to know today.

~ Ryan

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1️⃣ A second Braddock Road safety project heads to the public — this one near the high schools

A City of Alexandria project to develop design options to improve the safety and access for all roadway users on the W. Braddock Road Corridor and N. Howard Street. (City of Alexandria)

The city will host a community open house next month on proposed safety and access improvements along W. Braddock Road and N. Howard Street, a roughly 1.5-mile corridor that serves as a daily walking and biking route between the two campuses of Alexandria City High School.

The open house is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Forum at the Minnie Howard Campus on W. Braddock Road. A brief presentation by the project team will begin at 6 p.m., and residents are invited to drop in throughout the evening to talk with staff about existing conditions and potential changes.

According to the city, the proposed improvements will focus on stronger bicycle connectivity, enhanced crosswalks, signal timing adjustments and safer connections between the Minnie Howard and King Street high school campuses.

2️⃣ King Street, Commonwealth Avenue closures pushed to Wednesday morning as VRE bridge work drags on

Commuters disembark from a Virginia Railway Express train at an Amtrak station in Alexandria, Virginia, US, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A weekend road closure tied to Virginia Railway Express bridge work has now been extended for a second time, with the city telling residents Tuesday afternoon that the intersections of King Street, Russell Road and Commonwealth Avenue will remain shut through this morning.

The latest update was relayed Tuesday by Ursula Ramos, senior communications officer with the City of Alexandria's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, in an email to Rosemont and Taylor Run neighbors that was forwarded to a community listserv. Ramos said the VRE contractor had informed the city that the closures would now stay in place through this morning.

3️⃣ Creative Classics closes Old Town showroom; full inventory heads to auction May 16

The Creative Classics Furniture storefront at 906 King St. on Tuesday. The showroom inside has been cleared and no closure notice is posted. (Ryan Belmore/The Alexandria Brief)

Creative Classics, the designer furniture showroom at 906 King St. in Old Town, has closed, and Rasmus Auctions will conduct the complete liquidation of its inventory later this month.

The online auction, listed as R260288, will start closing at 11:07 a.m. Saturday, May 16. Bidders can inspect items in person from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 13. Pickup is scheduled for Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

The sale will be staged off-site at 5705 General Washington Drive, Suites D and E, inside the Tile Optimal Showroom and Warehouse in Alexandria.

Rasmus described the offering as "not a typical inventory reduction" but a "full showroom event," featuring high-end pieces curated for residential, commercial and design-focused settings. Bidders will find sofas, sectionals, recliners, dining sets, bedroom suites, ottomans, lighting, area rugs, ceramics and wall art across hundreds of lots.

4️⃣ Alexandria sets June 1 unveiling for Potomac midair collision memorial

Alexandria sets date for Potomac crash memorial unveiling at Rivergate City Park (City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria will unveil its memorial to the 67 people killed in the January 2025 midair collision over the Potomac River on June 1 at Rivergate City Park, the city announced Monday.

The ceremony, hosted with Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the park, at 2 Montgomery St. along the Potomac. It is free and open to the public.

The memorial will include a commemorative bench, engraved bricks, a descriptive sign and trees, set in the northeastern portion of the park. The city said the design was shaped in partnership with the families and loved ones of those who died.

5️⃣ Kay-Wyatt to unveil adjusted ACPS budget Thursday after city falls $5.6M short of board's request

ACPS board to weigh $5.6M in budget cuts as Kay-Wyatt unveils adjusted spending plan Thursday. (ACPS)

The public will get its first look Thursday at how Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt proposes to reconcile the school board's adopted budget with the smaller appropriation the City Council approved last week.

Kay-Wyatt is scheduled to present recommended adjustments to the FY 2027 combined funds and Capital Improvement Program budgets at the school board's regular meeting at 6 p.m. at 1340 Braddock Place. The recommendations have not been publicly disclosed in advance.

Thursday's presentation kicks off the final stretch of the budget process. The board is targeting a June 11 vote on the combined funds and CIP budgets.

📰 In brief

A 28-year-old Alexandria man was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a years-long conspiracy to traffic counterfeit pills containing carfentanil, fentanyl and heroin. (Read more)

The Del Ray Business Association is putting its Well Ray Festival on hold this year, the group announced in its Monday newsletter, marking the second signature DRBA community event to undergo a significant change this spring. (Read more)

APD is continuing a high-visibility traffic enforcement campaign that targets speeding, failure to yield, and distracted driving, with messaging directed at both drivers and pedestrians, the department said Tuesday. (Read more)

"A new seasonal lunch menu is bringing fresh daytime energy to Old Town. The Majestic introduces simple, modern dishes designed for both locals and visitors". (Theogony)

The top Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee sent the head of the Alexandria-based U.S. Patent and Trademark Office a letter on Tuesday demanding more answers about his office's alleged role in concealing information about President Donald Trump's Board of Peace. (Reuters)

Byron Buxton hit a three-run homer, Brooks Lee drove in three runs and Taj Bradley struck out eight in six solid innings to help the Minnesota Twins beat the Washington Nationals 11-3 on Tuesday night. (Read more)

Today in Alexandria

As part of Alexandria Police Week, APD will host a Wreath Laying Ceremony today at 1 p.m. to honor officers who died in the line of duty. (Read more)

The city will kick off its 19th annual Community Cookout series today at 6 p.m. at Mount Vernon Recreation Center. (Read more)

⛅ Weather

Showers today, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 p.m. High near 78 degrees. South wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely tonight. Cloudy, with a low around 53 degrees. West wind 6 to 8 mph becoming north after midnight.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:04 a.m., sunset at 8:06 p.m. 14 hours of sun. High tide at 12:05 a.m. & 11:54 a.m. Low tide at 5:48 a.m. & 6:50 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

10 a.m.: Discover Croatia: A Journey Through Tiny Windows of History  at Torpedo Factory
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.
Evening Star Cafe: Open mic at 8:30 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: Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra at 7:30 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin
8:45 a.m.: Supplemental Retirement Plan Pension Board
9 a.m.: Walk In Wednesday Hiring Event — Alexandria Police Department
10 a.m.: Croatian Postage Stamp Exhibit at Torpedo Factory Art Center
11 a.m.: Beautification Commission Plaque Dedication at Fort Ward Arborist Living Memorial
11 a.m.: Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Meeting
Noon: Commission on Employment Executive Meeting
1 p.m.: APD Wreath Laying Ceremony — honoring fallen officers as part of Alexandria Police Week 2026
6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
6 p.m.: Independent Community Policing Review Board
7 p.m.: Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing
(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
5 p.m.: Paws to Read at Beatley Central Library
5 p.m.: Spitfire Club at Duncan Branch Library
5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop at Beatley Central Library
6:30 p.m.: English Language Learning at Duncan Branch Library
7 p.m.: Monthly Meditation (virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

6 p.m.: Alexandria City Community Cookout at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
(ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)

📜 On This Day in Alexandria History

On May 6, 1851, the first Orange and Alexandria (O & A) Railroad engine moved through Alexandria’s newly constructed Wilkes Street tunnel, running between Royal Street and the Potomac waterfront corridor. The Orange and Alexandria Railroad was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1848, to run between Alexandria to Gordonsville, Virginia, and connected with several other railroads at Manassas Junction, allowing travel in virtually every direction through the state. During the 1850’s the railroad was a force for great commerce, shipping agricultural produce and goods through the state, and from Virginia to other markets, faster and less expensive than ever before. By 1861 however, as a result of its strategic location and multiple connections, the O & A became a major prize of both Union and Confederate forces who continually fought over its control during the Civil War. As the sole rail link between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, control of the O & A was critical to each side’s pursuit of victory in the four-year conflict. ~ Historic Alexandria

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