Table of Contents
Your free daily roundup of Alexandria news, events, and sports — published online and delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
Good morning, Alexandria.
The city turns 277 on Saturday, and the weekend is shaping up to be a full one — fireworks and a free symphony at Oronoco Bay Park Saturday evening, the Moses Stevens Street rededication Saturday morning, and the Aces hosting the Gaithersburg Giants tonight at Frank Mann Field. Keep an eye on the forecast, though: showers and thunderstorms are possible Friday and Saturday before things clear out Sunday.
On the news front, the Alexandria City School Board has new leadership heading into the 2026-27 school year, with Christopher Harris unanimously elected chair Thursday night. And after years of delays, the city's waterfront flood mitigation project takes its first visible step forward next week, with crews beginning underground utility investigation work along King Street, Union Street and the waterfront starting July 13.
Here's what you need to know for Friday, July 10.
1️⃣ Alexandria School Board elects Christopher Harris as chair for the coming year
The Alexandria City School Board unanimously elected Christopher Harris as its chair for the 2026-27 school year at its annual organizational meeting Thursday, elevating the District C representative from vice chair to the board's top leadership post.
Harris succeeds Dr. Michelle Rief, who had served as chair since 2023 and did not seek the position again. Rief presided over the start of Thursday's meeting, then handed the gavel to Chief Academic Officer Dr. Pierrette Finney — filling in as the superintendent's designee — to conduct the chair election. Board member Ryan Reyna nominated Harris, and no other members were nominated.
The board also elected Alexander Crider Scioscia as vice chair, also unanimously, on a nomination from Rief. Board leadership terms run one year, with the chair and vice chair elected by the board at each annual organizational meeting.
2️⃣ Alexandria moves forward with redesigned waterfront flood project as utility investigation work begins July 13
Crews will fan out across Old Town's waterfront streets beginning July 13 to investigate underground utilities, the first visible sign of progress on Alexandria's long-delayed waterfront flood mitigation project since City Council formally authorized a redesigned approach last month.
The city's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services announced the work, which runs through July 24, will involve excavating small test pits at locations along King Street, The Strand, Union Street between King and Prince, Prince Street, and within Waterfront Park and Point Lumley Park. The investigation is designed to identify the location and depth of existing underground utilities as part of the design process.
3️⃣ AEDP and MOVE Business Chamber launch program to help aspiring food entrepreneurs open in Northern Virginia
The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and MOVE Business Chamber have launched a new program designed to help aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs navigate the path from idea to opening day, with a free public kickoff session scheduled for July 29 in Alexandria.
The F&B Business Readiness Program will guide a select cohort of founders through six weekly sessions covering every stage of launching a food business, from concept validation and business planning to funding, permitting, operations, and marketing. The cohort runs August 5 through September 9, meeting Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in Alexandria.
4️⃣ What's happening in Alexandria this weekend: July 10-12
Alexandria turns 277 this weekend, and the city is celebrating with America's 250th. Fireworks light up Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday with live music kicking off at 6 p.m. — just keep an eye on the sky, as scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Friday and Saturday before clearing out Sunday.
Earlier Saturday, the city marks another milestone with the Moses Stevens Street re-dedication at the Alexandria Black History Museum, part of the Confederate street renaming program. Here's everything on the calendar this weekend.
📰 In brief
Alexandria City Council proclaimed Tuesday, August 4, as National Night Out in the City of Alexandria at its July 1 legislative meeting, with Police Chief Tarrick McGuire urging residents to sign up and setting an ambitious goal: break last year's citywide record of more than 50 events. (The Brief)
On a Saturday afternoon in September, participants in the 2nd Annual Canal Crawl will walk through Old Town North with discounted drinks in hand, tracing the path of a waterway that helped build Alexandria into a commercial powerhouse — and then quietly vanished beneath the streets. (The Brief)
Alexandria agricultural producers are among those eligible for emergency federal loans after the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated the city and dozens of surrounding jurisdictions as natural disaster areas following a devastating spring frost and freeze that swept Virginia from March 17 through May 4. (The Brief)
A contemporary art exhibition featuring two renowned Congolese artists opens today at 532 Yoga, Arts, & Culture in Old Town, running through Sept. 10. (The Brief)
Cherry on Top Coffee & Wine Bar, which is located at 1021 Queen Street, will celebrate their grand opening today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m. (Cherry on Top/IG)
National Harbor Sphere will stand 302 feet, first site plan reveals. At that height, the sphere will be visible from Alexandria's Old Town waterfront across the Potomac. (WBJ)
Virginia shifted from fourth to third place in CNBC’s annual “top states for business” rankings, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Thursday. (Virginia Mercury)
⚽ Sports
France defeated Morocco 2–0 Thursday afternoon in the World Cup quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals. The next quarterfinal is today — Spain vs. Belgium at 3 p.m. The semifinals are set for next week.
For a month this summer, Zlatko Dalić held court in a press room at Episcopal High School, fielding questions about his team, his tactics, and the Northern Virginia city that had become Croatia's World Cup home. Now the coach Alexandria came to know over that month is stepping away. (The Brief)
The Washington Commanders are retiring John Riggins’ No. 44 during the upcoming NFL season, the team announced Thursday. (The Brief)
Alexandria native Owen Hull expected to hear name called this weekend at MLB Draft. (WJLA)
The Alexandria Aces (13-15), third in the South Division, had Thursday's game at Southern Maryland postponed.
Today's Schedule
- 3 p.m.: World Cup quarterfinal — Spain vs. Belgium
- 6:30 p.m.: Alexandria Aces vs. Gaithersburg Giants at Frank Mann Field
- 6:45 p.m.: Nationals vs. Yankees at Nationals Park
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 92 degrees. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72 degrees. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:52 a.m., sunset at 8:34 p.m. 14 hours & 42 minutes of sun.
High tide at 4:36 a.m. & 5:20 p.m. Low tide at 11:48 a.m. & 11:13 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Crescent.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: In-person early voting open at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N. Royal Street)
- 6:30 p.m.: Alexandria Aces vs. Gaithersburg Giants at Frank Mann Field
- 6:30 p.m.: Friday Night Run Club at Daniel O'Connell's
- 7 p.m.: Trivia Night at Historic Sites at Carlyle House
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Bobby Thompson at 9 p.m.
- Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
- Clyde's at Mark Center: Jonathan Quigley at 9 p.m.
- Del Ray Public House: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Hummingbird: Scott Solo Acoustic at 6 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 7:30 p.m.
- Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
- Murphy’s Pub: Pat Carroll at 9 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Punko Pops at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook at 7:30 p.m.
- The Garden Del Ray: Ashleigh Chevalier at 5 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
- 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool open
- 10 a.m.: Memorial Pool open
- 11 a.m.: Warwick Pool open
- 12 p.m.: Old Town Pool open
- 5 p.m.: Conversational Tour: America250-Who We Remember at Gadsby's Tavern Museum
- 6:30 p.m.: Community Family Picnic at Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center
- (City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- All Day: PINGO! - Plastic Free Bingo at Beatley Central Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Baby Storytime at Burke Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Rhythmaya: Bollywood Dance at Beatley Central Library
- 11 a.m.: Bar C Ranch: Amazing Adaptations at Charles Barrett Recreation Center
- 1 p.m.: Low Vision Resource Group at Beatley Central Library
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
🗓️ On This Day in Alexandria History
On July 10, 1861, Alexandrians who fled Union occupation were formally activated into the 17th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment under Colonel Montgomery Corse. The regiment fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from First Manassas through the surrender at Appomattox in 1865. Alexandria remained an occupied city for the entirety of the war. (City of Alexandria)
No paywall. No ads. No corporate owner. Just independent Alexandria journalism, funded by neighbors.
