The Alexandria Brief: Monday, January 19
House District 5 primary is Tuesday; MLK Day job fair today; General Assembly advances constitutional amendments
Good morning, Alexandria. Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
City offices are closed today, but there’s still plenty happening — including a job fair that’s drawn more than 200 registrants and a primary election just two days away.
Four Democrats will appear on Tuesday’s House District 5 firehouse primary ballot after a fourth candidate filed on Sunday. I sat down with three of them Sunday night to talk housing, education, and protecting Alexandrians from the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Republicans named their nominee — setting up a Feb. 10 special election that will also feature the Senate District 39 race.
In Richmond, Alexandria’s lawmakers voted to advance four constitutional amendments to an April referendum and introduced bills on housing, education, and workers’ rights. And in business news, Alexandria has its first distillery since Prohibition.
Here’s what you need to know today.
1️⃣ Four Democrats, one Republican set for House District 5 showdown
The race to replace Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker is set. Four Democrats filed by Sunday’s deadline and will appear on Tuesday’s firehouse primary ballot: Kirk McPike, Eileen Cassidy Rivera, Greg Darrall, and Chris Leibig. McPike, a city councilman, and Rivera, a former School Board member, were the first to announce. Leibig, a criminal defense attorney, jumped in late last week. Darrall filedon Sunday. Voting is on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Beatley Library and Charles Houston Recreation Center.
The Alexandria Brief hosted live virtual conversations with McPike, Rivera, and Leibig on Sunday ahead of the primary. All three discussed their priorities on housing, education, protecting federal workers and immigrant communities, and what sets them apart. We’ve reached out to Darrall, and the invitation remains open.
On the Republican side, Mason Butler — a federal contractor and 2024 City Council candidate — was named the GOP nominee Sunday after he was the sole applicant and the party canceled its planned canvass. Butler will face the Democratic primary winner in the Feb. 10 special election. That same ballot will feature the Senate District 39 race between Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and Republican Julie Lineberry.
Read more
Fourth candidate files for House District 5; primary is Tuesday
A conversation with Chris Leibig, House District 5 candidate
A conversation with Eileen Cassidy Rivera, House District 5 candidate
2️⃣ General Assembly Week 1: Constitutional amendments advance, Alexandria lawmakers introduce housing and education bills
General Assembly advanced four constitutional amendments to a statewide referendum expected in April during the first week of the 60-day legislative session. The measures cover redistricting, reproductive rights, voting rights and marriage equality. Sen. Adam Ebbin voted for all four. Dels. Charniele Herring and Elizabeth Bennett-Parker co-patroned the redistricting and marriage equality amendments. Del. Alfonso Lopez co-patroned three amendments but did not vote on redistricting — The Alexandria Brief has reached out to Lopez for comment.
The redistricting amendment, which would allow lawmakers to redraw Virginia’s congressional maps mid-decade, passed on party-line votes. Democrats framed it as a defensive response to Republican-led map changes in other states. Republicans warned it would undo voter-approved protections against gerrymandering. The amendments now await action from Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who was inaugurated Friday.
Alexandria-area lawmakers also introduced bills on housing, education, firearms and workers’ rights. Bennett-Parker filed measures on affordable housing preservation, free school breakfast and rental application fees. Lopez introduced bills protecting students from immigration-status discrimination and reversing recent Superintendent of Public Instruction actions. Herring filed legislation banning non-compete agreements for health care workers. Spanberger will address a joint session of the General Assembly on Monday.
Read more:
General Assembly Week 1: What Alexandria’s lawmakers voted on, introduced
Alexandria lawmakers back constitutional amendments on redistricting, reproductive rights
3️⃣ Business Brief: Alexandria gets its first distillery since Prohibition; upscale gym proposed for South Patrick Street
Motherwell Distilling Co. has brought distilling back to Alexandria — the city’s first since Prohibition shut down its last operation nearly a century ago. Master Distiller Vince Crisler welcomed visitors to the 877 S. Pickett St. location Friday, pouring samples of Brickwater Bourbon, a 100-proof high-rye bourbon named for Phoenix Mill, the city’s last gristmill. The company debuted at the Del Ray Farmers Market in December, selling 150 bottles of Batch 001. Brickwater Bourbon is available at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray.
In other business news, a Scandinavian-inspired bodybuilding gym with a rooftop workout area is proposed for South Patrick Street, and a restaurant and market are proposed at Watergate at Landmark. The Croatian national football team will stay at the AKA Hotel and train at Episcopal High School during the FIFA World Cup this summer. MetroStage has raised more than two-thirds of its $3 million goal for a new permanent home at 915 N. Fairfax St., targeting a late 2026 opening. And two restaurant weeks are coming — Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week runs Jan. 19-25, with Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week following Jan. 23 through Feb. 1.
Also: The Commodore is bringing its “five-star dive bar” to Old Town in March, Crooked Beat Records has raised nearly $18,000 toward flood recovery, and DASH is expanding its electric bus charging network.
Read more
4️⃣ Today: MLK Day job fair connects residents with employers, police recruiters
More than 200 people have registered for “Building the Dream Together,” a Martin Luther King Jr. Day job fair and community service event hosted by Shiloh Baptist Church and the city of Alexandria. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School, 1501 Cameron St.
City agencies, nonprofit partners, and local businesses will be on hand. The Alexandria Police Department will conduct on-the-spot assessments for prospective officers, offering qualified candidates a direct entry point into a public safety career. Attendees can also participate in workshops on mastering the 30-second pitch, healthcare hiring trends, tech careers, personal branding, and what recruiters look for in candidates.
Read more
5️⃣ On the Docket: School Board budget, Vision Zero update, Duke Street workshops
It’s a busy week for Alexandria meetings. The School Board meets on Thursday to receive Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s proposed FY 2027 budget — kicking off budget season with work sessions and public hearings to follow. The Transportation Commission meets on Wednesday for the first public hearing on the GO Alex Fund, a developer-funded mobility program that held $535,000 as of July 2025. Staff is proposing $220,000 in expenditures for surveys, grant matches, and bicycle safety education.
The city has also secured a $600,000 federal grant to update its Vision Zero Action Plan, which set a goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries by 2028 — now just two years away. The funding will support updated crash analysis and road safety audits of up to three corridors. Alexandria marked a milestone when 2023 ended with zero traffic fatalities, but serious injuries rose from 10 in 2022 to 17 in 2023.
The city is also hosting three Duke Street Land Use Plan workshops this week at Port City Brewing on Tuesday, and Patrick Henry Recreation Center on Wednesday and Thursday. The online open house closes January 23. City offices are closedon Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and trash collection is delayed one day for the rest of the week.
Read more
On the Docket: A weekly preview of city and school board meetings (January 19–24)
Alexandria secures $600K to update Vision Zero plan two years from deadline
📰 Extra! Extra!
Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week runs today through Sunday, January 5, featuring hundreds of restaurants across the D.C. region. Ten Alexandria restaurants are participating, offering three-course menus at various price points: $25 or $35 for brunch or lunch, and $40, $55, or $65 for dinner. (The Alexandria Brief)
A 45-year-old man shot himself in the leg Sunday morning in Alexandria, according to dispatch records. (The Alexandria Brief)
Mayor Alyia Gaskins will join urban planners and a science fiction author at the National Building Museum next month for a discussion on building healthier, more equitable cities. (The Alexandria Brief)
Fresh off a record-breaking fifth-place finish in 2025, Alexandria is once again vying for a spot among America’s best cities in Travel + Leisure’s prestigious World’s Best Awards survey. (The Alexandria Brief)
The global vinyl record industry will descend on Old Town Alexandria this spring when Making Vinyl, the premier conference for record manufacturers and industry professionals, hosts its first-ever Washington, D.C.-area event. (The Alexandria Brief)
A new scholarship initiative aimed at supporting the next generation of finance professionals has been established by Simon Joseph, founder of Joseph Wealth, based in Alexandria. (Street Insider)
The state of Maryland announces plans to build a new Sphere venue in National Harbor. You’ll be able to see it from Alexandria. (Sphere Entertainment)
🗓️ Today in Alexandria
It will be sunny today, with a high near 43 degrees. South wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 17 degrees. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Sunrise at 7:22 a.m., sunset at 5:14 p.m. There will be 9 hours & 51 minutes of sun.
Events & Things To Do
9 a.m.: Monday Morning Coffee Club at Rosemont Cellar
6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
Live Music & Entertainment
219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant: Traditional Irish Music Session at 7 p.m.
Del Ray Pizzeria: 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
Government: Closed. Flag: Full Staff. Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: 1 day slide
City Offices Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr Day
RPCA Closure: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
10 a.m.: Building the Dream Together at Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School
7 p.m.: George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee at Lloyd House
Alexandria City Public Schools
No school for students
Alexandria Library
All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit at Local History/Special Collections
All day: Winter Lego Building Contest (Virtual)
On this day in Alexandria
1807: Robert Edward Lee, a descendant of one of Virginia’s oldest families, was born at the Lee family seat, Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County. He was the son of Revolutionary War hero, Major General Henry Lee III, known as “Light Horse Harry” lee, and his second wife, Anne Hill Carter. Two years after he was born, his father was placed in debtor’s prison, and when he was released in 1810, the family moved to Alexandria, and the following year took up residence at a home on Oronoco Street, owned by William Henry Fitzhugh, a relative of Anne Lee, and adjacent to the famous “Lee Corner” at Washington Street where other Lee family members maintained homes. In 1812, Henry Lee traveled to the West Indies, where he died in 1818, leaving his wife and six children to be cared for by relatives. As a child, Robert attended school locally, at both the school operated by Benjamin Hallowell and at the Alexandria Academy, a free school for local boys. In 1825, he enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated second in his class.