The Alexandria Brief: Friday, December 26
Your daily guide to what's happening in Alexandria
Good morning, Alexandria. Today is Friday, December 26, the 360th day of the year. There are 5 days left in 2025.
I hope everyone had a warm and safe Christmas with family and friends. While many of us were celebrating, Alexandria firefighters stayed busy responding to an apartment fire, a vehicle rescue, and a two-alarm blaze in Fairfax County.
Also today: The zoning lawsuit heads to the Court of Appeals, Alexandria is in line for $10.9 million in federal funding for electric buses, and there’s still plenty to do around town if you’re looking to get out of the house.
Here’s what you need to know today.
~ Ryan
1️⃣ Ice skating, live music options abound
The holiday may be over, but there’s still plenty to do around town. City offices are back open, and trash collection resumes on a one-day delay, though schools remain closed for winter break.
Ice skating continues at Cameron Run Regional Park, with daytime skating running from noon to 5 p.m. and the Ice & Lights: Village & Skating event kicking off at 5 p.m. For families looking for an afternoon activity, the Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library hosts Fun Friday at 3:30 p.m.
The evening offers no shortage of live music. The Birchmere presents the Voices of Motown Christmas Show at 7:30 p.m., while the Satin Doll Quartet plays Laporta’s Restaurant at 7:30 p.m. and the Timmie Metz Band takes the stage at Blackwall Hitch at 9 p.m. For something different, Galactic Panther hosts Rap Is Poetry Open Mic Night at 8 p.m.
Bundle up if you’re heading out — expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 35 and a chance of sleet and rain this afternoon. Rain is likely tonight before 10 p.m.
2️⃣ Plaintiffs appeal dismissal of zoning lawsuit to Virginia Court of Appeals
The legal fight over Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing initiative isn’t over yet. The Coalition for a Livable Alexandria announced Tuesday that it filed a notice of appeal on Dec. 12, two weeks before the deadline under Virginia law.
The appeal follows Judge H. Thomas Padrick Jr.’s Nov. 12 ruling in the city’s favor, which granted summary judgment and dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice. The coalition is continuing to raise money to fund the appeal after clearing $45,000 in outstanding legal fees from the trial court proceedings earlier this month.
The lawsuit challenges the City Council’s 2023 decision to allow construction of up to four housing units on properties previously restricted to single-family homes. The coalition and its law firm, Dunn, Craig & Francuzenko, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
3️⃣ Here’s what’s open and closed in Alexandria as the holidays continue
If you missed trash collection this week, don’t worry — pickups are running on a one-day delay following Christmas and will shift again after New Year’s Day. The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Center opens as scheduled Saturday.
City offices are back open today, but courts remain closed through Thursday and will shut down again Dec. 31 through Jan. 1. All Alexandria libraries reopen today but will close early at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and remain closed Jan. 1. Alexandria City Public Schools students are on winter break through Jan. 3.
DASH bus service will operate on a weekend schedule on New Year’s Day, with lines 102, 103 and 104 suspended. The King Street Trolley continues to run every 15 minutes daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Parking enforcement at metered spaces and residential permit districts will be suspended again on Jan. 1.
4️⃣ Alexandria to receive $10.9 million in federal funding for electric buses
Alexandria is set to receive $10.9 million in federal grant funding to convert buses to low- or no-emission vehicles, part of a nearly $70 million package announced in November by U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
The funding comes from the Department of Transportation’s Low or No Emission program and the Buses & Bus Facilities Program, both part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will receive an additional $50.3 million for bus conversions.
But the future of such funding remains uncertain. Federal support for bike and pedestrian projects in particular faces cuts, with the U.S. Department of Transportation ordered to oppose funding for those initiatives, according to the Virginia Mercury. State and local officials warn the shifts could stall infrastructure projects across Virginia.
Read the latest story via Virginia Mercury - Federal funding shifts cloud Virginia’s transportation plans for 2026.
5️⃣ Alexandria firefighters respond to apartment fire, vehicle rescue on Christmas
Alexandria firefighters had a busy holiday. Engine 206 and Tower 203 responded to a garden apartment fire on Maris Avenue on Christmas evening, according to a Facebook post from Alexandria Firefighters IAFF Local 2141.
Crews also worked to extricate one person from an overturned vehicle on West Braddock Road on Christmas Eve and assisted Fairfax County with a two-alarm fire on Little River Turnpike.
Extra Extra!
Date Announced: The Old Town Farmers’ Market will temporarily move to the 100 block of North Royal Street and the courtyard at Tavern Square on January 10, 2026. (City of Alexandria)
Here’s How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Alexandria (Visit Alexandria)